Wearable article having a temperature change element

• US 20020169427A1
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Roe, Donald C., Carlin, Edward P., Allen, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,642,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15 Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body non-absorbent catamenial receptacles A61F5/44; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49406 the edge leakage prevention means being at the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53704 the layer having an inhibiting function on liquid propagation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53717 the layer having a promotional function on liquid propagation in the horizontal direction

Abstract

A wearable article useful for facilitating toilet training is provided. The wearable article includes a temperature change element providing a cool/wet signal when wetted which causes discomfort to the wearer. The temperature change element comprises a temperature change substance disposed on an impermeable material in order to maximize the thermal signal provided to the skin of the wearer.

Claims

1. A wearable article worn about the lower torso of a wearer, the wearable article comprising a temperature change element including a permeable layer, an impermeable layer disposed in a face-to-face arrangement with the permeable layer, and a temperature change substance interposed between the permeable layer and the impermeable layer, wherein urine deposited onto the temperature change element can penetrate through the permeable layer in a z direction to the impermeable layer and wherein the impermeable layer prevents urine from passing completely through the temperature change element in the z direction and supports the movement of urine in an x-y plane to wet the temperature change substance.

2. The wearable article as defined in claim 1 wherein the temperature change element exhibits a total unit area energy change ranging from 0.05 to about 30 cal/cm².

3. The wearable article as defined in claim 1 wherein the temperature change element exhibits a total unit area energy change ranging from about 0.05 cal/cm² to about 5 cal/cm².

4. The wearable article as defined in claim 1 wherein the temperature change substance includes an endothermic salt.

5. The wearable article as defined in claim 1 wherein the temperature change element is elastically foreshortened.

6. The wearable article as defined in claim 1 wherein the temperature change element comprises a multiplicity of compartments and the temperature change substance is disposed in each of the compartments.

7. The wearable article as defined in claim 1 wherein the temperature change element comprises a multiplicity of fluid channels disposed parallel to the multiplicity of compartments.

8. The disposable diaper as defined in claim 1, wherein the permeable layer faces the body of the wearer.

9. A disposable diaper having a longitudinal axis, a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region interposed therebetween, the disposable diaper comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet joined to the backsheet, the topsheet having a body-facing surface;

an absorbent core disposed intermediate the backsheet and the topsheet; and

a temperature change element disposed on the topsheet, the temperature change element including a permeable layer, an impermeable layer disposed opposite the permeable layer, and a temperature change substance interposed therebetween, wherein urine deposited onto the temperature change element can penetrate through the permeable layer in a z direction to the impermeable layer and wherein the impermeable layer prevents urine from passing completely through the temperature change element in the z direction and supports the movement of urine in an x-y plane to wet the temperature change substance.

10. The disposable absorbent article as defined in claim 9 wherein the temperature change element exhibits a total unit area energy change ranging from ranging from about 0.05 cal/cm²to about 30 cal/cm².

11. The disposable absorbent article as defined in claim 9 wherein the temperature change element exhibits a total unit area energy change ranging from ranging from about 0.05 cal/cm² to about 5 cal/cm².

12. The disposable absorbent article as defined in claim 9 wherein the temperature change substance includes an endothermic salt.

13. The disposable absorbent article as defined in claim 9 wherein the temperature change element is elastically foreshortened.

14. The disposable absorbent article as defined in claim 9 wherein the topsheet is elastically foreshortened and the temperature change element is attached to the topsheet.

15. The disposable absorbent article as defined in claim 14 wherein the elastically foreshortened topsheet comprises an elongated slit opening which aligns with a wearer'"'"'s anus for receiving and isolating fecal material.

16. The disposable absorbent article as defined in claim 9 wherein the temperature change element further comprises a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a center disposed therebetween, wherein the first end, second end and center of the temperature change element are discretely attached to the body-facing surface of the topsheet in the first waist region, the second waist region, and the crotch region, respectively.

17. The disposable absorbent article as defined in claim 9 wherein the topsheet is permeable and wherein the temperature change element is interposed between the topsheet and the absorbent core such that at least a portion of the topsheet forms the permeable body facing surface of the temperature change element.

19. The disposable absorbent article as defined in claim 18, wherein the temperature change substance is interposed between the topsheet and the impermeable layers.

20. The disposable absorbent article as defined in claim 18 wherein the impermeable members of the temperature change elements are elastically foreshortened.

21. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 18 wherein the permeable topsheet comprises two Z-folds parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the impermeable members are disposed within the two Z-folds.

22. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 21, wherein the two Z-folds further comprise two elastic members disposed along outside edges of the two impermeable members.

24. The disposable diaper as defined in claim 23, wherein the temperature change substance is disposed on the body-facing surface of the permeable layer in parallel regions covered by the longitudinal edges of the impermeable layer.

26. The disposable diaper as defined in claim 25, wherein the temperature change substance is disposed between the permeable layer and the barrier leg cuff.

18. A disposable diaper having a longitudinal axis, a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region interposed therebetween, the disposable diaper comprising:

a backsheet,

a permeable topsheet joined to the backsheet, the topsheet having an upper body-facing surface and a lower surface;

an absorbent core disposed intermediate the backsheet and the topsheet; and

a plurality of temperature change elements disposed on the topsheet parallel to and spaced apart from the longitudinal axis, wherein the temperature change elements comprise permeable layers formed by the topsheet, impermeable layers formed by impermeable members interposed between the topsheet and the absorbent core, and a temperature change substance disposed on the topsheet, wherein urine deposited onto the temperature change element can penetrate through the topsheet in a z direction to the impermeable members and wherein the impermeable members prevent urine from passing completely through the temperature change element in the z direction and supports the movement of urine in an x-y plane to wet the temperature change substance.

23. A disposable diaper having a longitudinal axis, a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region interposed therebetween, the disposable diaper comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet joined to the backsheet;

an absorbent core disposed intermediate the backsheet and the topsheet; and

a temperature change element disposed on the topsheet along the longitudinal axis, the temperature change element includes a permeable layer having a body facing surface, a temperature change substance disposed on the permeable layer, and an impermeable layer partially wrapped around the permeable layer such that longitudinal edges of the impermeable layer stop short of meeting, leaving a center portion of the body facing surface of the permeable layer exposed.

25. A disposable diaper having a longitudinal axis, a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region interposed therebetween, the disposable diaper comprising:

a backsheet;

a top sheet joined to the backsheet;

an absorbent core disposed intermediate the backsheet and the topsheet; and

impermeable barrier leg cuffs disposed on the topsheet parallel to the longitudinal axis and

temperature change elements disposed on the barrier leg cuffs, each of the temperature change elements includes a permeable layer having a body facing surface, an impermeable layer formed by the barrier leg cuff, and a temperature change substance disposed on the permeable layer.