Absorbent Articles Having Pockets and Related Methods Therefor

• US 20140371700A1
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Patel, Harish A., Gahan, Richard E., Narvekar, Vishal
• Granted Patent: US 10,369,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/534 having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence; homogeneous cores with tissue wrapping A61F13/53
• 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 13/539 characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530153 being long
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530562 being arranged in discontinuous pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/20 containing organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/24 Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

The present disclosure provides articles having an absorbent core. The absorbent core has a plurality of segmented volumes possessing an absorbent material therein. Suitable articles which may be formed with this absorbent core include, for example, diapers such as infant diapers, juvenile diapers and training pants, feminine hygiene products such as menstrual pads, adult incontinence products such as adult briefs, protective underwear, pads and bladder control pads, pet training pads, and other disposable products utilized to absorb fluids.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a fluid permeable inner layer;

an impermeable outer layer; and

an absorbent layer disposed between the permeable inner layer and the impermeable outer layer, the absorbent layer comprising superabsorbent material in a plurality of pockets at least partially defined by a net having filaments thereof secured to the permeable inner layer.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent layer further comprises fluff pulp in at least one of the plurality of pockets.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the net is comprised of a polymeric material having a melting point less than a melting point of a material comprising the permeable inner layer.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein the polymeric material of the net is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, and polyamide.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pockets is defined by the net adhesively secured to the permeable inner layer and to the impermeable outer layer.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pockets is substantially about the size.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the superabsorbent material comprises starch-graft polymers and cross-linked polyacrylate polymers.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the superabsorbent material is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, polysuccinimide, and hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the net having filaments is comprised of cotton with a thread count per square inch of in a range of from 2×

2 to 8×

8, wherein at least a portion of the filaments are secured to the permeable inner layer and to the impermeable outer layer with an adhesive.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the pockets are sized to have at least one dimension in a range of from about 0.125 inch to about 1 inch.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1 having at least a portion of said plurality of pockets with a first area and at least a portion of said plurality of pockets with a second area, said first area greater than the second area, and wherein said at least a portion of said plurality of pockets with said first area disposed at a peripheral zone of the absorbent article.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the filaments is comprised of an elastomeric material with a diameter in a range of from about 250 microns to about 500 microns.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of diapers and protective undergarments.

14. A method of preparing an absorbent article having a permeable inner layer and an impermeable outer layer having a network of filaments, the method comprising disposing superabsorbent material between the network of filaments and securing at least a portion of the network of filaments to at least one of the fluid permeable inner layer and the impermeable outer layer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein securing the at least a portion of the network of filaments comprises melting at least a portion of the filaments.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein securing the at least a portion of the network of filament defines an absorbent layer having a plurality of pockets and wherein the method further comprises disposing fluff pulp into at least a portion of the plurality of pockets.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein securing the at least a portion of the network of filaments comprises adhesively securing at least a portion of the network of filaments to the impermeable outer layer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein adhesively securing the at least a portion of the network of filaments to the impermeable outer layer comprises applying, on at least one of the impermeable outer layer and the network of filaments, an adhesive comprising at least one hydrophilic polymer.

19. A protective undergarment comprising:

a top sheet;

a bottom sheet; and

an absorbent core disposed between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, the absorbent core comprising a superabsorbent material in a plurality of pockets at least partially defined by a net having filaments thereof secured to the top sheet or bottom sheet.