Comfortable diaper

• US 8,791,318 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Becker, Uwe Jurgen, Busam, Ludwig, Ehrnsperger, Bruno Johannes, Lindner, Torsten, Link, Siegfried, Maier, Volker, Siddiquee, Sanaul Kabir, Stiehl, Gabriele, Tombuelt, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chapman, Ginger T
• Application Number:
  US12/781,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 604/365, 604/366, 604/367, 604/378
• US Class Current: 604/366
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15203 Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency chemical aspects A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5323 having absorbent material located in discrete regions, e.g. pockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/534 having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence; homogeneous cores with tissue wrapping A61F13/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/535 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes A61F13/5323, A61F13/537 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/539 characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530481 having superabsorbent materials, i.e. highly absorbent polymer gel materials

Abstract

An absorbent article, preferably a disposable absorbent article such as a diaper, is disclosed that provides an improved immobilization of absorbent polymer material when the article is fully or partially urine loaded. This absorbent core is useful for providing an absorbent article of increased wearing comfort. Specifically disclosed is an absorbent core useful for an absorbent article comprising a substrate layer and absorbent material, the absorbent material comprising an absorbent polymer material, the absorbent material optionally comprising absorbent fibrous material, the absorbent fibrous material not representing more than 20% of the weight of absorbent polymer material, wherein the absorbent material is immobilized when wet such that the absorbent core achieves a wet immobilization of more than 50%, preferably of more than 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% according to the Wet Immobilization Test described herein.

Claims

1. An absorbent core useful for an absorbent article comprising a substrate layer, an absorbent polymer material, and a thermoplastic material, wherein said thermoplastic material contacts said substrate layer and said absorbent polymer material, wherein the areas of direct contact between said thermoplastic material and said substrate material form areas of junction, wherein said areas of junction have a diameter of at least about 0.5 mm and less than about 10 mm, wherein said areas of junction are arranged along lines which form an angle with longitudinal edges of the absorbent core, wherein said absorbent core comprises less than about 20% of an absorbent fibrous material,

wherein said thermoplastic material has a softening point in a range from about 50°

C. to about 300°

C., a glass transition temperature of less than about 25°

C., and a storage modulus G′

measured at 60°

C. of less than about 300,000 Pa,

wherein said thermoplastic material substantially immobilizes said absorbent polymer material,

and said absorbent polymer material is immobilized when wet such that said absorbent core achieves a wet immobilization of more than about 50% according to the Wet Immobilization Test described herein.

2. An absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic material is a hot melt adhesive.

3. An absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic material is fiberized.

4. An absorbent core according to claim 1, the absorbent core having a distribution of absorbent polymer material wherein the distribution of absorbent polymer material is profiled.

5. An absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein said absorbent polymer material is present throughout the area of said absorbent core in an average basis weight of at least about 100 g/m².

6. An absorbent core according to claim 1, comprising at least two substrate layers.

7. An absorbent core according to claims 6, wherein at least one of said substrate layers comprises a permanently hydrophilic non-woven.

8. An absorbent core according to claim 1, comprising at least one substrate layer and at least one cover layer.

9. An absorbent core according to claims 8, wherein at least one of said substrate layers of at least one of said cover layers comprises a permanently hydrophilic non-woven.

10. An absorbent core according to claim 1 having a crotch width of less than about 80 mm.