Absorbent articles with channels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9987176-B2
Application number	US-201414467095-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2014
Priority date	Aug 27, 2013
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed, in part, to an absorbent article comprising a liquid management system (LMS) and an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate a topsheet and a backsheet. The LMS defines one or more channels therein. The one or more channels of the LMS may at least partially overlap or not overlap with channels defined in the absorbent core.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An absorbent article comprising:
a central longitudinal axis;
a total longitudinal length extending in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis;
a front waist region;
a rear waist region;
a crotch region positioned intermediate the front waist region and the rear waist region, wherein the front waist region, the rear waist region, and the crotch region each define ⅓ of the total longitudinal length of the absorbent article;
a liquid permeable topsheet forming a portion of a wearer-facing surface of the absorbent article;
a liquid impermeable backsheet;
an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the liquid impermeable backsheet and comprising an absorbent material, wherein the absorbent material is positioned within a core wrap, wherein the absorbent material comprises superabsorbent polymers, and wherein the absorbent core defines a first channel substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers; and
a liquid management system positioned at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the core wrap, wherein the liquid management system is free of any superabsorbent polymers, wherein the liquid management system defines a second channel therethrough, wherein the second channel extends into the front waist region, wherein the second channel is free from overlap with the central longitudinal axis, wherein the second channel is substantially material free, and wherein a portion of the liquid permeable topsheet is recessed into the second channel.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the liquid permeable topsheet is recessed into the first channel.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the core wrap comprises a first substrate and a second substrate.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first channel does not overlap the second channel.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first channel partially overlaps at least a portion of the second channel.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first channel is free from overlap with the central longitudinal axis.

7. The absorbent article of claim 6 , wherein the absorbent core comprises a third channel substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers, and wherein the third channel is free from overlap with the central longitudinal axis.

8. The absorbent article of claim 7 , wherein the first channel is positioned on a first side of the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the third channel is positioned on a second side of the central longitudinal axis.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the liquid permeable topsheet defines a plurality of apertures.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the liquid management system defines a third channel therethrough, wherein the second channel is positioned on a first side of the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the third channel is positioned on a second side of the central longitudinal axis and is substantially material free.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the liquid impermeable backsheet is joined to the portion of the liquid permeable topsheet within the second channel.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the liquid management system comprises more than one layer, and wherein one of the layers comprises cross-linked cellulose fibers.

13. An absorbent article comprising:
a central longitudinal axis;
a liquid permeable topsheet forming a portion of a wearer-facing surface of the absorbent article;
a liquid impermeable backsheet;
an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the liquid impermeable backsheet and comprising an absorbent material, wherein the absorbent material is positioned within a core wrap, wherein the absorbent material comprises at least 85% of superabsorbent polymers by weight of the absorbent material, and wherein the absorbent core defines a first channel substantially free of the superabsorbent polymers and that is free from overlap with the central longitudinal axis;
a first material positioned at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the core wrap, wherein the first material is substantially free of any superabsorbent polymers; and
a second material positioned at least partially intermediate the first material and the core wrap, wherein the second material is substantially free of any superabsorbent polymers, wherein the second material defines a second channel therethrough that is free from overlap with the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the second channel is substantially material free;
wherein a portion of the first material is recessed into the second channel.

14. The absorbent article of claim 13 , wherein the portion of the first material is recessed into the first channel.

15. The absorbent article of claim 13 , wherein the first channel substantially overlaps the second channel.

16. The absorbent article of claim 13 , wherein the first material has a first color and the second material has a second color, and wherein the first color and the second color are different.

17. The absorbent article of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the liquid permeable topsheet is recessed into the second channel.

18. The absorbent article of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the liquid impermeable backsheet is recessed into the first channel.

19. The absorbent article of claim 13 , wherein the second material comprises cross-linked cellulose fibers.

20. The absorbent article of claim 13 , wherein the second material comprises wet-laid cellulosic material.

21. The absorbent article of claim 13 , wherein the first material comprises a carded, resin bonded, nonwoven material.

22. The absorbent article of claim 13 , wherein the first material is at least partially joined to the liquid impermeable backsheet within the first or second channel.

23. An absorbent article comprising:
a central longitudinal axis;
a total longitudinal length extending in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis;
a front waist region;
a rear waist region;
a crotch region positioned intermediate the front waist region and the rear waist region, wherein the front waist region, the rear waist region, and the crotch region each define ⅓ of the total longitudinal length of the absorbent article;
a liquid permeable topsheet forming a portion of a wearer-facing surface of the absorbent article;
a liquid impermeable backsheet film;
an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the liquid impermeable backsheet film and comprising an absorbent material, wherein the absorbent material is positioned within a core wrap, and wherein the absorbent core defines a first channel substantially free of the absorbent material; and
a liquid management system positioned at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the core wrap, wherein the liquid management system is free of any superabsorbent polymers, wherein the liquid management system defines a second channel therethrough, wherein the second channel extends into the front waist region, wherein the second channel is free from overlap with the central longitudinal axis, wherein the second channel is substantially material free.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Roe Donald Carroll
• Chatterjee Aniruddha
• Greening Ii Nelson Edward
• Grenberg Sharon Irene
• Kreuzer Carsten Heinrich
• Martynus Cornelia Beate
• O'Reilly Marie Brigid
• Rosati Rodrigo
• Sautter Sandra
• Simon Beate
• Stelzig Lutz
• Walther Rachael Eden

Classifications

• A61F2013/530649

  in sponge or foam · CPC title

• A61F13/533

  having discontinuous areas of compression · CPC title

• A61F2013/53734

  with compressed lines · CPC title

• A61F2013/530051

  being made in cross-linked cellulosic fibres · CPC title

• A61F2013/15487

  Capillary properties, e.g. wicking · CPC title