Absorbent Core For Disposable Absorbent Articles

• US 20120316529A1
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Kreuzer, Carsten Heinrich, Rosati, Rodrigo, Arizti, Blanca, Jackels, Hans Adolf, Bianchi, Ernesto G., Roe, Donald Carroll
• Granted Patent: US 9,974,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/366
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/533 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/536 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/041 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

Absorbent cores for disposable absorbent articles are provided. The absorbent cores each comprise at least two absorbent structures comprising a substrate layer and an absorbent layer, of which one absorbent structure comprises channels and one is free of channels.

Claims

1. An absorbent core comprising first and second absorbent structures, each absorbent structure comprising a substrate layer and an absorbent layer comprising absorbent polymer particles, and supported by the substrate layer, each of the absorbent layers comprising:

i. transverse and longitudinal dimensions;

ii. a pair of opposing longitudinal edges extending in the longitudinal dimension;

iii. a pair of opposing transverse edges extending in the transverse dimension;

iv. front, crotch and back regions arranged sequentially in the longitudinal dimension; and

v. two longitudinal portions delimited by a plane perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the absorbent layer;

wherein the absorbent layer of the first absorbent structure comprises two or more channels having a width of at least 3 mm, or of at least 4% of the transverse dimension of the absorbent layer, which are substantially free of the absorbent polymer particles and which extend through the thickness of the absorbent layer;

wherein the absorbent layer of the second absorbent structure is free of the channels; and

wherein each longitudinal portion of the absorbent layer of the first absorbent structure comprises at least one longitudinal channel extending in the longitudinal dimension of the absorbent layer and being present in any of the crotch region and the front region with the proviso that the absorbent layer is free of channels extending up to the longitudinal and transverse edges of the absorbent layer.

2. The absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein any of the first and second absorbent structures comprises an absorbent layer which comprises less than 5% by weight of cellulose.

3. The absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein each of the longitudinal channels extends across from 15% to 90% of the longitudinal dimension of the absorbent layer.

4. The absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent layer of the first absorbent structure comprises four longitudinal channels, two of the channels being in the front region of the absorbent layer and two of the channels being in the crotch region of the absorbent layer.

5. The absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent layer of the first absorbent structure comprises six longitudinal channels, two of the channels being in the front region of the absorbent layer, two of the channels being in the crotch region of the absorbent layer and two of the channels being in the back region of the absorbent layer.

6. The absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal channels in the crotch region are separated by a distance of at least 10% of the transverse dimension of the absorbent layer in the crotch region.

7. The absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent layer of the first absorbent structure comprises transverse channels having a width of at least 3 mm which are substantially free of the absorbent polymer particles in the front region or the back region of the absorbent layer.

8. The absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein the channels are straight channels, oblique channels, curved channels, angled channels, ramified channels and combinations thereof.

9. The absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent polymer particles are immobilized on the substrate layer by a thermoplastic adhesive material.

10. The absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein the channels have a width of from 6 mm to 10 mm.

11. The absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein the substrate layer of the first absorbent structure undulates into the channels.

12. The absorbent core according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent core comprises an acquisition system.

13. A disposable diaper having a transverse and longitudinal dimension comprising a backsheet, a topsheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween, the absorbent core being according to claim 1.

14. The disposable diaper according to claim 13, wherein the first absorbent structure faces toward the topsheet of the diaper.

15. The disposable diaper according to claim 13, wherein the first absorbent structure faces toward the backsheet of the diaper.