Absorbent article having intake structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9308138-B2
Application number	US-201114129401-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2011
Priority date	Jun 28, 2011
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

An absorbent article including a fluid permeable topsheet, a fluid impermeable backsheet and an absorbent core enclosed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent core includes a first absorbent layer having an opening extending therethrough. A fluid flow control structure is arranged between the first absorbent layer and the backsheet. The fluid flow control structure is a layered structure including a non-perforated fibrous polymeric layer and a first perforated polymeric layer having a basis weight of from 50 g/m 2 to 100 g/m 2 .

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, side edges extending in the longitudinal direction and end edges extending in the transverse direction and comprising:
a fluid permeable topsheet,
a fluid impermeable backsheet, and
an absorbent core enclosed between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core comprising,
a first absorbent layer having an opening that passes through the first absorbent layer from one major surface to an opposing major surface and therebetween the opening is surrounded by a closed periphery of first absorbent layer,
a fluid flow control structure, and
a second absorbent layer arranged between the fluid flow control structure and the fluid impermeable backsheet,

wherein the fluid flow control structure is arranged between said first absorbent layer and said backsheet, said fluid flow control structure being a layered structure comprising a non-perforated fibrous polymeric layer and a first perforated polymeric layer, and
wherein the opening extends along a longitudinal center line of the absorbent article, the longitudinal center line being in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, and the fluid permeable top sheet is in direct contact with the fluid flow control structure via the opening.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the first perforated polymeric layer has a basis weight of from 60 g/m 2 to 100 g/m 2 .

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the first perforated polymeric layer is a nonwoven, a film or a film/nonwoven laminate.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the first perforated polymeric layer is a three-dimensionally formed layer having penetrating apertures extending from a first surface of the first perforated polymeric layer towards a second surface of the first perforated polymeric layer and forming protrusions on said second surface.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 4 , wherein the first perforated polymeric layer is arranged with said second surface facing the non-perforated fibrous polymeric layer.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 4 , wherein the first perforated polymeric layer is arranged with said second surface facing away from the non-perforated fibrous polymeric layer.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 4 , wherein the average size of the apertures in the first perforated polymeric layer is 0.5-5 mm.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein open areas of the first perforated polymeric layer comprise 5-30% of the first perforated polymeric layer.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein said fluid flow control structure is a three-layer structure consisting of the non-perforated fibrous polymeric layer, the first perforated polymeric layer and a second perforated polymeric layer, the non-perforated fibrous polymeric layer being sandwiched between the first perforated polymeric layer and the second perforated polymeric layer.

10. The absorbent article according to claim 9 , wherein apertures in the first perforated polymeric layer and the second perforated polymeric layer are out of register with each other.

11. The absorbent article according to claim 9 , wherein the second perforated polymeric layer has a basis weight of from 50 g/m 2 to 150 g/m 2 .

12. The absorbent article according to claim 9 , wherein the second perforated polymeric layer is a three-dimensionally formed layer having apertures extending from a first surface of the second perforated polymeric layer towards a second surface of the second perforated polymeric layer and forming protrusions on said second surface of the second perforated polymeric layer.

13. The absorbent article according to claim 12 , wherein the second perforated polymeric layer is arranged with said second surface of the second perforated polymeric layer facing the non-perforated fibrous polymeric layer.

14. The absorbent article according to claim 12 , wherein the second perforated polymeric layer is arranged with said second surface of the second perforated polymeric layer facing away from the non-perforated fibrous polymeric layer.

15. The absorbent article according to claim 12 , wherein the average size of the apertures in the second perforated polymeric layer is 0.5-5 mm.

16. The absorbent article according to claim 9 , wherein open areas of the second perforated polymeric layer comprise 5-30% of the second perforated polymeric layer.

17. The absorbent article according to claim 9 , wherein the second perforated polymeric layer is a nonwoven, a film or a film/nonwoven laminate.

18. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of said fluid flow control structure at 5 kPa is 60-80% of the thickness at 0.5 kPa at a first, second and third compression performed according to the compression test disclosed herein.

19. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the bending stiffness of the layered structure in said fluid flow control structure is 0.5-5 N as measured by the modified ASTM D 4032-82 CIRCULAR BEND PROCEDURE.

20. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the basis weight of the non-perforated fibrous polymeric layer is from 20-120 gsm.

21. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the opening extends through an entire crotch portion of the absorbent article.

22. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid permeable topsheet is not perforated.

23. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the polymers in the first perforated polymeric layer are selected from polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides and blends and combinations thereof, and the first perforated polymeric layer has a basis weight from 50 g/m 2 to 150 g/m 2 .

24. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid permeable top sheet is in contact with the first absorbent layer of the absorbent core at an area other than where the opening is located.

25. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid permeable top sheet is in contact with the fluid flow control structure via the opening, such that a cavity is formed along the longitudinal center line of the absorbent article.

Assignees

• Andersson Patrik
• Lundman Malin
• Bergstrom Per
• Sca Hygiene Prod Ab

Inventors

• Andersson Patrik
• Lundman Malin
• Bergstrom Per

Classifications

• A61F2013/530875

  having holes · CPC title

• A61F13/53752

  the layer is embedded in the absorbent core · CPC title

• A61F13/53756

  the layer facing the back-sheet · CPC title

• A61F13/53717 Primary

  the layer having a promotional function on liquid propagation in the horizontal direction · CPC title

• A61F13/537 Primary

  characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer {(A61F13/538 takes precedence)} · CPC title