Package of absorbent articles utilizing a shaped nonwoven

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11925541-B2
Application number	US-202318301526-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2023
Priority date	Jul 31, 2015
Publication date	Mar 12, 2024
Grant date	Mar 12, 2024

Abstract

A package of personal care articles. Each of the personal care articles has a nonwoven substrate as a component. The nonwoven substrate can have a first surface defining a plane of the first surface and a non-regular pattern of a plurality of three-dimensional features extending outwardly from the plane of the first surface. The non-regular pattern can include a first zone of first three-dimensional features and a second zone of second three-dimensional features, wherein in at least one of the first or second zones of the plurality of three-dimensional features has a first three-dimensional feature having a first intensive property and a second three-dimensional feature having a second, different intensive property. The personal care articles can be compressed in the package.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A package comprising:
a plurality of personal care articles;
each of the plurality of personal care articles comprising an outer cover, the outer cover comprising a nonwoven substrate, wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises spunbond fibers, wherein the nonwoven substrate retains at least 60% of caliper after being tested according to the Compression Aging Test herein, the nonwoven substrate comprising:
a first surface defining a plane of the first surface and a length and width defining an overall area;
a plurality of three-dimensional features extending outwardly from the plane of the first surface, wherein the plurality of three-dimensional features comprise:
a first zone within the overall area having a first pattern of first three-dimensional features having a basis weight having a first value; and
a second zone within the overall area having a second pattern of three-dimensional features having a basis weight having a second, different value;
wherein the first pattern of three-dimensional features is different from the second pattern of three-dimensional features, and wherein the second zone at least partially surrounds the first zone; and

the personal care articles being folded about a lateral axis and compressed in the package.

2. The package of claim 1 , wherein the package has an in-bag stack height of less than about 100 mm, according to the In-Bag Stack Height Test herein.

3. The package of claim 1 , wherein the package has an in-bag stack height of between about 80 mm and about 110 mm, according to the In-Bag Stack Height Test herein.

4. The package of claim 1 , wherein the personal care articles are diapers.

5. The package of claim 1 , wherein the second, different value is at least 1.5 times different than the first value.

6. The package of claim 1 , wherein the first three-dimensional features are bounded by regions of higher density.

7. The package of claim 1 , wherein the second three-dimensional features are bounded by regions of higher density.

8. The package of claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises starch, starch derivatives, cellulose, or cellulose derivatives.

9. A personal care article comprising:
an outer cover, the outer cover comprising a nonwoven substrate, wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises spunbond fibers, the nonwoven substrate comprising:
a first surface defining a plane of the first surface and a length and width defining an overall area;
a plurality of three-dimensional features extending outwardly from the plane of the first surface, wherein the plurality of three-dimensional features comprise:
a first zone within the overall area having a first pattern of first three-dimensional features having a basis weight having a first value; and
a second zone within the overall area having a second pattern of three-dimensional features having a basis weight having a second, different value;
wherein the first pattern of three-dimensional features is visually discernible from the second pattern of three-dimensional features, and wherein the second zone at least partially surrounds the first zone;

a backsheet; and
an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate a topsheet and the backsheet; and
wherein the outer cover retains at least 60% of caliper after being tested according to the Compression Aging Test herein.

10. The personal care article of claim 9 , wherein the personal care articles are diapers.

11. The personal care article of claim 9 , wherein the personal care articles are sanitary napkins.

12. The personal care article of claim 9 , wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises starch, starch derivatives, cellulose, or cellulose derivatives.

13. The personal care article of claim 9 , wherein the second, different value is at least 1.5 times different than the first value.

14. The personal care article of claim 9 , wherein the first three-dimensional features are bounded by regions of higher density.

15. The personal care article of claim 9 , wherein the second three-dimensional features are bounded by regions of higher density.

16. A package comprising:
a plurality of personal care articles;
each of the plurality of personal care articles comprising an outer cover, the outer cover comprising a nonwoven substrate, wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises spunbond fibers, wherein the nonwoven substrate retains at least 60% of caliper after being tested according to the Compression Aging Test herein, the nonwoven substrate comprising:
a first surface defining a plane of the first surface and a length and width defining an overall area;
a plurality of three-dimensional features extending outwardly from the plane of the first surface, wherein the plurality of three-dimensional features comprise:
a first zone within the overall area having a first pattern of first three-dimensional features, wherein the first three-dimensional features are bounded by regions of higher density; and
a second zone within the overall area having a second pattern of three-dimensional features, wherein the second three-dimensional features are bounded by regions of higher density;
wherein the first pattern of three-dimensional features is different from the second pattern of three-dimensional features, and wherein the second zone at least partially surrounds the first zone; and

the personal care articles being folded about a lateral axis and compressed in the package.

17. The package of claim 16 , wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises starch, starch derivatives, cellulose, or cellulose derivatives.

18. The package of claim 16 , wherein the first zone has a different basis weight as the second zone.

19. The package of claim 16 , wherein the package has an in-bag stack height of less than about 100 mm, according to the In-Bag Stack Height Test herein.

20. The package of claim 16 , wherein the package has an in-bag stack height of between about 80 mm and about 110 mm, according to the In-Bag Stack Height Test herein.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Ashraf Arman
• Weisman Paul Thomas

Classifications

• A61F13/55115 Primary

  characterized by the features before use, e.g. how are the diapers folded or arranged in a package · CPC title

• A61F13/15203

  Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency (chemical aspects A61L15/00) · CPC title

• A61F13/15658

  Forming continuous, e.g. composite, fibrous webs, e.g. involving the application of pulverulent material on parts thereof · CPC title

• A61F13/51104

  the top sheet having a three-dimensional cross-section, e.g. corrugations, embossments, recesses or projections · CPC title

• A61F13/551 Primary

  Packaging before or after use {(general packaging of absorbent pads B65D85/00)} · CPC title