Absorbent articles having three dimensional substrates and indicia

• US 10,973,702 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2016
• Issued: 04/13/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Smith, Alizha Victoria, Fites, Theodore Cory, Erdem, Gueltekin, Kreisel, Sascha, Isele, Olaf Erik Alexander, Rosati, Rodrigo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kidwell, Michele M
• Application Number:
  US15/232,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20170056256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49 Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51104 the top sheet having a three-dimensional cross-section, e.g. corrugations, embossments, recesses or projections
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5116 being formed of multiple layers A61F13/5123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5123 the apertures being formed on a multilayer top sheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51394 creating a visual effect, e.g. having a printed or coloured topsheet, printed or coloured sub-layer but being visible from the topsheet, other than embossing for purposes of bonding, wicking, acquisition, leakage-prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/515 characterised by the interconnection of the topsheet and the backsheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53713 the layer having a promotional function on liquid propagation in the vertical direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/55115 characterized by the features before use, e.g. how are the diapers folded or arranged in a package
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4587 with channels or deep spot depressions on the upper surface A61F13/4704 and A61F13/49001 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8497 having decorations or indicia means

Abstract

An absorbent article comprises a three-dimensional liquid permeable topsheet. The topsheet comprises a first layer comprising a hydrophobic material and a second layer comprising a hydrophilic material. The first layer is joined to the second layer. The topsheet comprises a plurality of recesses, a plurality of projections, and a plurality of land areas. The land areas surround at least a majority of the plurality of projections and a plurality of the recesses. The absorbent article comprises a liquid impermeable backsheet, an acquisition material, an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the acquisition material and the liquid impermeable backsheet, and an indicia. The indicia is on the acquisition material or the liquid permeable topsheet. The indicia is visible from a wearer-facing side of the absorbent article. The indicia is different color than the acquisition material or the liquid permeable topsheet.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a liquid permeable, three-dimensional topsheet, comprising;

a first nonwoven layer comprising a hydrophobic material; and

a second hydrophilic nonwoven layer wherein the first nonwoven layer is joined to the second nonwoven layer;

wherein the topsheet comprises a plurality of recesses, a plurality of projections, and a plurality of land areas, wherein the land areas surround at least a majority of the plurality of projections and a plurality of the recesses, wherein the plurality of recesses, the plurality of projections, and the plurality of land areas, together form a first three-dimensional surface on a first side of the topsheet and a second three-dimensional surface on a second side of the topsheet, wherein a majority of the projections have a z-directional height in the range of about 500 μ

m to about 4000 μ

m, according to the Projection Height Test, wherein a majority of the recesses define an aperture at a location most distal from a top peak of an adjacent projection, and wherein the majority of the recesses have a z-directional height in the range of about 500 μ

m to about 2000 μ

m, according to the Recess Height Test; and

wherein the topsheet has an overall z-directional height in the range of about 1000 μ

m to about 6000 μ

m, according to the Overall Substrate Height Test;

a liquid impermeable backsheet;

an acquisition material;

an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the acquisition material and the liquid impermeable backsheet; and

an indicia on the acquisition material or the liquid permeable topsheet, wherein the indicia is visible from a wearer-facing side of the absorbent article, and wherein the indicia is a different color than the acquisition material or the liquid permeable topsheet.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the liquid permeable topsheet has an opacity in the range of about 30% to about 55%, according to the Opacity Test herein.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein a majority of the apertures in the topsheet have an effective aperture area in the range of about 0.5 mm² to about 3 mm², according to the Aperture Test, and wherein the topsheet has a % effective open area in the range of about 5% to about 25%, according to the Aperture Test.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein a portion of the projections and a portion of the recesses are formed by a portion of the first nonwoven layer and a portion of the second nonwoven layer.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first nonwoven layer is joined to the second nonwoven layer by adhesive bonding, mechanical bonding, or by passing heated air through the topsheet.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first nonwoven layer comprises a plurality of first fibers, wherein the second nonwoven layer comprises a plurality of second fibers, and wherein the first and second fibers are different.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the indicia comprises a printed adhesive or a printed ink having a pigment.

8. The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein the pigment is the color blue.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein two adjacent apertures are separated by a projection and a land area along a lateral axis of the topsheet, and wherein two adjacent projections are separated by an aperture and a land area along the lateral axis of the topsheet.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein two adjacent apertures are separated by a projection and a land area along a longitudinal axis of the topsheet, and wherein two adjacent projections are separated by an aperture and a land area along the longitudinal axis of the topsheet.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein substantially all of the recesses define an aperture, and wherein substantially all of the projections comprise a hollow arched portion.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the apertures comprise:

a first set of apertures together forming a first line in the topsheet; and

a second set of apertures together forming a second line in the topsheet;

wherein the first line is generally parallel with the second line.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the apertures are formed through the first nonwoven layer and the second nonwoven layer.

14. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the majority of the apertures forms a first plane of the bottommost portion of the topsheet, wherein a top peak of the majority of the projections forms a second plane of the topmost portion of the topsheet, and wherein the land areas are positioned intermediate the first plane and the second plane.

15. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first three-dimensional surface has a geometric roughness value in the range of about 3.0 to about 3.6, according to the Descriptive Analysis Roughness Test.

16. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the z-directional height of the majority of the projections to a % effective open area of the topsheet is in the range of about 95 to about 150.

17. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core comprises an absorbent material comprising at least 90% superabsorbent polymers by weight of the absorbent material, and wherein the absorbent article has one or more channels defined therein.

18. A package comprising a plurality of the absorbent articles of claim 1, wherein the package has an in-bag stack height in the range of about 70 mm to about 100 mm, according to the In-Bag Stack Height Test.

19. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first nonwoven layer comprises fibers that are at least 0.5 denier greater than the denier of the fibers of the second nonwoven layer.

20. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first nonwoven layer comprises fibers having a denier in the range of about 2 to about 4, and wherein the second nonwoven layer comprises fibers having a denier in the range of about 1.5 to about 3.

21. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first nonwoven layer has a basis weight in the range of at least 1 to about 3 times greater than a basis weight of the second nonwoven layer.

22. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the liquid permeable topsheet comprises fibers, wherein the fibers comprise an opacifying agent, and wherein the opacifying agent is present in the fibers in the range of about 0.1% to about 2%, and wherein the opacifying agent comprises titanium dioxide.

25. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the topsheet comprises cotton fibers.

27. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the second nonwoven layer is free of a film.

28. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first nonwoven material forms a portion of a wearer-facing surface along a central longitudinal axis of the absorbent article.

23. An absorbent article comprising:

a liquid permeable, three-dimensional topsheet, comprising;

a first nonwoven layer comprising a hydrophobic material; and

a second hydrophilic nonwoven layer wherein the first nonwoven layer is joined to the second nonwoven layer, wherein the absorbent article has a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the first nonwoven layer and the second nonwoven layer both overlap the central longitudinal axis;

wherein the topsheet comprises a plurality of recesses, a plurality of projections, and a plurality of land areas, wherein the land areas surround at least a majority of the plurality of projections and a plurality of the recesses, wherein the plurality of recesses, the plurality of projections, and the plurality of land areas, together form a first three-dimensional surface on a first side of the topsheet and a second three-dimensional surface on a second side of the topsheet, wherein a majority of the projections have a z-directional height in the range of about 500 μ

m to about 4000 μ

m, according to the Projection Height Test, wherein a majority of the recesses define an aperture at a location most distal from a top peak of an adjacent projection, and wherein the majority of the recesses have a z-directional height in the range of about 500 μ

m to about 2000 μ

m, according to the Recess Height Test; and

wherein the topsheet has an overall z-directional height in the range of about 1000 μ

m to about 6000 μ

m, according to the Overall Substrate Height Test;

a liquid impermeable backsheet;

an acquisition material;

an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the acquisition material and the liquid impermeable backsheet; and

an indicia on the acquisition material or the liquid permeable topsheet, wherein the indicia is visible from a wearer-facing side of the absorbent article, wherein the indicia comprises an adhesive comprising a blue pigment, and wherein the indicia is a different color than the acquisition material or the liquid permeable topsheet.

26. The absorbent article of claim 23, wherein the topsheet comprises cotton fibers.

24. An absorbent article comprising:

a liquid permeable, three-dimensional topsheet, the topsheet comprising;

a first nonwoven layer comprising a hydrophobic material; and

a second hydrophilic nonwoven layer wherein the first nonwoven layer is joined to the second nonwoven layer;

wherein the topsheet comprises a plurality of recesses, a plurality of projections, and a plurality of land areas, wherein the land areas surround at least a majority of the plurality of projections and a plurality of the recesses, wherein the plurality of recesses, the plurality of projections, and the plurality of land areas, together form a first three-dimensional surface on a first side of the topsheet and a second three-dimensional surface on a second side of the topsheet, wherein a majority of the projections have a z-directional height in the range of about 500 μ

m to about 4000 μ

m, according to the Projection Height Test, wherein a majority of the recesses define an aperture at a location most distal from a top peak of an adjacent projection, and wherein the majority of the recesses have a z-directional height in the range of about 500 μ

m to about 2000 μ

m, according to the Recess Height Test; and

wherein the topsheet has an overall z-directional height in the range of about 1000 μ

m to about 6000 μ

m, according to the Overall Substrate Height Test;

a liquid impermeable backsheet;

an acquisition material; and

an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the acquisition material and the liquid impermeable backsheet;

wherein one of the topsheet, the acquisition material, or another layer intermediate the topsheet and the absorbent core has a different color than a different one of the topsheet, the acquisition material, or the another layer intermediate the topsheet and the absorbent core, wherein the indicia has a different color than the acquisition material or the topsheet, and wherein the indicia comprises an adhesive or an ink.