Absorbent articles with channels and/or pockets

• US 9,216,118 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Roe, Donald Carroll, Kreuzer, Carsten Heinrich, Wciorka, Maja
• Primary Examiner(s): Flick, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAIRELL, AUNDRIA C
• Application Number:
  US13/709,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20140163506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.101
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49001 having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49007 Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/495 with faecal cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/511 Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/514 Backsheet, i.e. the impermeable cover or layer furthest from the skin A61F13/15211, A61F13/15252 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53 characterised by the absorbing medium A61F13/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/532 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad
• 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 13/537 characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer A61F13/538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53051 being only in particular parts or specially arranged
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530868 characterized by the liquid distribution or transport means other than wicking layer A61F13/537 takes precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed, in part, to an absorbent article comprising an absorbent core enclosing an absorbent material comprising superabsorbent polymers. The absorbent core comprises a first channel and a second channel, both of which are substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers and are at least partially oriented in a longitudinal direction of the article. The first and second channels each have lateral widths taken parallel to a lateral axis. The absorbent core comprises a pocket that is substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers and that has a portion on a longitudinal axis of the article. The pocket has lateral widths taken parallel to the lateral axis. A profile of the sum of the lateral widths of the first and second channels and the lateral widths of the pocket over a longitudinal length of at least 50 mm taken along the longitudinal axis has two separate substantially constant portions.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a front waist edge;

a rear waist edge longitudinally opposing the front waist edge;

a first side edge;

a second side edge laterally opposing the first side edge;

a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of the front waist edge to a midpoint of the rear waist edge;

a lateral axis extending from a midpoint of the first side edge to a midpoint of the second side edge;

a liquid permeable topsheet;

a liquid impermeable backsheet;

a pair of barrier leg cuffs extending at least partially between the front waist edge and the rear waist edge on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, wherein each barrier leg cuff comprises;

a proximal edge joined to the topsheet or the backsheet; and

a free terminal edge; and

an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet and comprising a core wrap enclosing an absorbent material, wherein the core wrap comprises a first material and a second material, wherein the first material forms a C-wrap only partially around the second material, wherein the absorbent material comprises at least 80% of superabsorbent polymers by weight of the absorbent material, wherein the absorbent core comprises a first continuous channel substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers and at least partially oriented in the longitudinal direction of the article, wherein the absorbent core comprises a second continuous channel substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers and at least partially oriented in the longitudinal direction of the article, wherein the first and second channels each have lateral widths taken parallel to the lateral axis, wherein the absorbent core comprises a pocket that is substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers and that has a portion on the longitudinal axis, wherein the pocket has lateral widths taken parallel to the lateral axis, and wherein a profile of the sum of the lateral widths of the first and second channels and the lateral widths of the pocket over a longitudinal length of at least 50 mm taken along the longitudinal axis has two separate substantially constant portions.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the sum of the lateral widths of the first channel, the second channel, and the pocket at a point along the longitudinal axis is in the range of 20 mm to 100 mm.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent article comprises a front waist region, a rear waist region, and a crotch region extending between the front waist region and the rear waist region.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein a portion of the pocket is in the rear waist region and is a BM pocket.

5. The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein a portion of the pocket is in the front waist region and is a urine management pocket.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the pair of barrier leg cuffs both extend outwardly from the topsheet.

7. An absorbent article comprising:

a front waist region;

a rear waist region;

a crotch region extending intermediate the front waist region and the rear waist region;

a front waist edge;

a rear waist edge longitudinally opposing the front waist edge;

a first side edge;

a second side edge laterally opposing the first side edge;

a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of the front waist edge to a midpoint of the rear waist edge;

a lateral axis extending from a midpoint of the first side edge to a midpoint of the second side edge;

a liquid permeable topsheet;

a liquid impermeable backsheet;

a pair of barrier leg cuffs extending at least partially between the front waist edge and the rear waist edge on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, wherein each barrier leg cuff comprises;

a proximal edge joined to the topsheet or the backsheet; and

a free terminal edge; and

an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet and comprising a core wrap enclosing an absorbent material, wherein the core wrap comprises a first material and a second material, wherein the first material forms a C-wrap only partially around the second material, wherein the absorbent material comprises at least 80% of superabsorbent polymers by weight of the absorbent material, wherein the absorbent core comprises a first continuous channel substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers and at least partially oriented in the longitudinal direction of the article, wherein the first channel has lateral widths taken parallel to the lateral axis, wherein the absorbent core comprises a second continuous channel substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers positioned in the rear waist region adjacent to the rear waist edge and having a portion on the longitudinal axis, and wherein the sum of the lateral widths of the first channel and the second channel at a point on the longitudinal axis that is 15 mm or less from the rear waist edge is greater than zero.

8. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein the sum of the lateral widths of the first channel and the second channel at a point on the longitudinal axis that is 10 mm or less from the rear waist edge is greater than zero.

9. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein the sum of the lateral widths of the first channel and the second channel at a point on the longitudinal axis that is 5 mm or less from the rear waist edge is greater than zero.

10. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein the pair of barrier leg cuffs both extend upwardly relative to the topsheet.

11. An absorbent article comprising:

a front waist region;

a rear waist region;

a crotch region extending between the front waist region and the rear waist region;

a front waist edge;

a rear waist edge longitudinally opposing the front waist edge;

a first side edge;

a second side edge laterally opposing the first side edge;

a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of the front waist edge to a midpoint of the rear waist edge;

a lateral axis extending from a midpoint of the first side edge to a midpoint of the second side edge;

a liquid permeable topsheet;

a liquid impermeable backsheet;

a pair of barrier leg cuffs extending at least partially between the front waist edge and the rear waist edge on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, wherein each barrier leg cuff comprises;

a proximal edge joined to the topsheet or the backsheet; and

a free terminal edge; and

an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet and comprising a core wrap enclosing an absorbent material, wherein the core wrap comprises a first material and a second material, wherein the first material forms a C-wrap only partially around the second material, wherein the absorbent material comprises at least 80% of superabsorbent polymers by weight of the absorbent material, wherein the absorbent core comprises a pocket substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers, and wherein a portion of the pocket extends along a portion of the longitudinal axis.

12. The absorbent article of claim 11, wherein the pocket is positioned at least partially in the rear waist region.

13. The absorbent article of claim 11, wherein the pocket is positioned at least partially in the crotch region.

14. The absorbent article of claim 11, wherein the pocket is positioned at least partially in the front waist region.

15. The absorbent article of claim 11, wherein the pocket has lateral widths measured parallel to the lateral axis in the range of 20 mm to 70 mm.

16. The absorbent article of claim 11, wherein the absorbent material comprises a continuous channel substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers and at least partially oriented in the longitudinal direction of the article.

17. The absorbent article of claim 16, wherein the absorbent material comprises a second continuous channel substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers and at least partially oriented in the longitudinal direction of the article.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the second channel is positioned on the same side of the longitudinal axis as the channel.

19. The absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the second channel is positioned on a different side of the longitudinal axis as the channel.

20. The absorbent article of claim 19, wherein the channel has lateral widths taken parallel to the lateral axis, wherein the second channel has lateral widths taken parallel to the lateral axis, and wherein the pocket has lateral widths taken parallel to the lateral axis, and wherein a profile of the sum of the lateral widths of the channel, the second channel, and the pocket over a longitudinal length of at least 30 mm taken along the longitudinal axis has two substantially constant portions and one portion larger than the two substantially constant portions.

21. The absorbent article of claim 11, wherein the pair of barrier leg cuffs both extend upwardly relative to the topsheet.

22. A sanitary napkin comprising:

a front region;

a rear region;

a crotch region extending intermediate the front region and the rear region;

a front edge;

a rear edge longitudinally opposing the front edge;

a first side edge;

a second side edge laterally opposing the first side edge;

a longitudinal axis extending from a midpoint of the front edge to a midpoint of the rear edge;

a lateral axis extending from a midpoint of the first side edge to a midpoint of the second side edge;

a liquid permeable topsheet;

a liquid impermeable backsheet; and

an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet and comprising a core wrap enclosing an absorbent material, wherein the core wrap comprises a first material and a second material, and wherein the first material forms a C-wrap only partially around the second material, wherein the absorbent material comprises at least 80% of superabsorbent polymers by weight of the absorbent material, wherein the absorbent core comprises a first channel substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers and at least partially oriented in the longitudinal direction of the sanitary napkin, wherein the first channel has lateral widths taken parallel to the lateral axis, wherein the absorbent core comprises a second continuous channel substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers positioned in the rear region adjacent to the rear edge and having a portion on the longitudinal axis, and wherein the sum of the lateral widths of the first channel and the second channel at a point on the longitudinal axis that is 5 mm or less from the rear edge is greater than zero.

23. The sanitary napkin of claim 22, wherein the absorbent core comprises a third continuous channel substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers positioned in the front region adjacent to the front edge and having a portion on the longitudinal axis, and wherein the sum of the lateral widths of the first channel and the second channel at a point on the longitudinal axis that is 3 mm or less from the front edge is greater than zero.