Absorbent articles having a sensation aspect

• US 20080071239A1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Nandrea, Jennifer Joan, Nishikawa, Masaharu
• Granted Patent: US 7,910,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/505 with separable parts, e.g. combination of disposable and reusable parts, A61F13/20, A61F13/49003 take precedence; supporting or fastening means A61F13/56; belts or the like A61F13/64

Abstract

An absorbent article includes a backsheet having a longitudinal axis, a topsheet attached to the backsheet and having a body-facing surface, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. The article may also include barrier leg cuffs. The article further includes a sensation aspect, which sensation aspect may be provided between the core and the topsheet. The sensation aspect may be, for example, a temperature sensation aspect. A visible indicator may be associated with the sensation aspect.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet having a body-facing surface;

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

a temperature sensation aspect that produces a change in temperature when wet, the sensation aspect including a carrier layer and a temperature sensation agent, the sensation aspect being provided between the core and the topsheet;

wherein

positioning of the temperature sensation aspect on the core correlates to a sensation aspect position of the core and wherein the sensation aspect position on the core absorbs less urine than surrounding areas of the core and is a targeted zone of reduced absorbent capacity.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensation agent is sorbitol.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2, further comprising a three-dimensional film provided over the temperature sensation agent, the three-dimensional film being suited for reducing contact of the temperature sensation agent with skin.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising an acquisition layer between the absorbent core and the sensation aspect, wherein the acquisition layer wicks urine from the sensation aspect position of the core.

5. An absorbent article comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet having a body-facing surface;

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

a temperature sensation aspect that produces a change in temperature when wet, the sensation aspect including a carrier layer and a temperature sensation agent, the sensation aspect being provided between the core and the topsheet;

wherein the temperature sensation aspect is configured for increased urine flow therethrough.

6. The absorbent article of claim 5, wherein the temperature sensation agent is sorbitol.

7. The absorbent article of claim 5, further comprising a three-dimensional film provided over the temperature sensation agent, the three-dimensional film being suited for reducing contact of the temperature sensation agent with skin.

8. The absorbent article of claim 5, wherein the temperature sensation agent is provided in concentrated areas on the sensation aspect.

9. The absorbent article of claim 5, wherein the carrier layer is hydrophilic.

10. The absorbent article of claim 5, wherein the sensation aspect further includes travel paths for urine flow.

11. The absorbent article of claim 10, wherein the travel paths comprise slits or holes in the temperature sensation aspect.

12. An absorbent article comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet having a body-facing surface;

an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet;

first and second barrier cuffs;

a temperature sensation aspect that produces a change in temperature when wet, the sensation aspect including a carrier layer and a temperature sensation agent, the sensation aspect being provided with at least one of the first and second barrier cuffs;

wherein the temperature sensation aspect is configured to enhance contact of the temperature sensation agent with skin of a wearer; and

an acquisition layer for wicking urine from the absorbent core to at least one of the first and second barrier cuffs.

13. An absorbent article comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet having a body-facing surface;

an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet;

a waist region;

a temperature sensation aspect that produces a change in temperature when wet, the sensation aspect including a carrier layer and a temperature sensation agent, the sensation aspect being provided at least at the waist region, wherein the temperature sensation aspect is configured to enhance contact of the temperature sensation agent with skin of a wearer; and

an acquisition layer for wicking urine from the absorbent core to the waist region.

14. An absorbent article comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet having a body-facing surface;

an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet;

a waist region; and

a temperature sensation aspect that produces a change in temperature when wet, the sensation aspect including a carrier layer and a temperature sensation agent and having a three-dimensional shape, wherein the temperature sensation aspect is configured to enhance contact of the temperature sensation aspect with skin of a wearer.

15. The absorbent article of claim 14, wherein the three-dimensional shape is imparted by providing a three-dimensional film over the temperature sensation agent.

16. The absorbent article of claim 14, wherein the sensation aspect comprises folds.

17. An absorbent article comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet having a body-facing surface;

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

a temperature sensation aspect that produces a change in temperature when wet, the sensation aspect including a carrier layer and a temperature sensation agent, the sensation aspect being provided between the core and the topsheet;

wherein the sensation aspect comprises a top surface and a bottom surface wherein the bottom surface of the sensation aspect floats over the core.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the top surface comprises an adhesive region, the top surface being coupled to the topsheet via the adhesive region, and wherein the adhesive region extends over substantially less than the entire surface.

20. The absorbent article of claim 18, wherein the graphic indicator has a gender-specific design.

19. An absorbent article comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet having a body-facing surface;

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

a temperature sensation aspect that produces a change in temperature when wet, the sensation aspect including a carrier layer and a temperature sensation agent, the sensation aspect being provided between the core and the topsheet;

wherein the temperature sensation aspect includes a graphic indicator for indicating placement or action of the sensation aspect.

21. The absorbent article of claim 19, wherein the sensation aspect has a color contrasting with a color of the absorbent article.

22. The absorbent article of claim 21, wherein the color of the sensation aspect darkens when wet.

23. The absorbent article of claim 19, wherein the graphic indicator appears when the sensation aspect becomes wet.

24. The absorbent article of claim 19, further comprising an active graphic, the active graphic being triggered by activation of the sensation aspect.

25. The absorbent article of claim 24, wherein the active graphic is provided on at least an exterior of the absorbent article.

26. The absorbent article of claim 24 wherein the active graphic is provided on at least an interior of the absorbent article.

27. The absorbent article of claim 24, the sensation aspect comprising a temperature sensation agent, wherein the graphic indicator is provided by coloring the sensation agent.

28. A set of gender specific absorbent articles, each absorbent article comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet having a body-facing surface;

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

a temperature sensation aspect that produces a change in temperature when wet, the sensation aspect including a carrier layer and a temperature sensation agent, the sensation aspect being provided between the core and the topsheet;

wherein at least one characteristic of the temperature sensation aspect is different for the absorbent article for a boy than for the absorbent article for a girl.

29. The set of gender specific absorbent articles of claim 28, wherein the at least one characteristic is an orientation of the temperature sensation aspect and wherein the temperature sensation aspect is oriented generally in the front region and extending to the crotch region of the absorbent article for a boy and is oriented generally in the crotch region of the absorbent article for a girl.

30. The set of gender specific absorbent articles of claim 28, wherein the at least one characteristic is a size of the temperature sensation aspect and wherein the temperature sensation is smaller in the absorbent article for a boy than in the absorbent article for a girl.

31. The set of gender specific absorbent articles of claim 28, wherein the at least one characteristic is an amount of temperature sensation agent in the temperature sensation aspect and wherein the absorbent article for a girl contains a higher amount of sensation agent than the absorbent article for a boy.

32. A set of absorbent articles increasing in size, each absorbent article comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet having a body-facing surface;

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

a temperature sensation aspect that produces a change in temperature when wet, the sensation aspect including a carrier layer and a temperature sensation agent, the sensation aspect being provided between the core and the topsheet;

wherein

the temperature sensation aspect increases in size as the absorbent article increases in size.

33. A set of absorbent articles increasing in size, each absorbent article comprising:

a backsheet;

a topsheet having a body-facing surface;

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

a temperature sensation aspect that produces a change in temperature when wet, the sensation aspect including a carrier layer and a temperature sensation agent, the sensation aspect being provided between the core and the topsheet;

wherein

the amount of sensation agent increases as the absorbent article increases in size.