# US 10,478,354 B2 · Absorbent article with a fluid-entangled body facing material including a plurality of hollow projections > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,354 B2 - Document ID: US10478354B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/232,849 - Filed: 2016-08-10 - Published: 2016-12-29 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-31 - Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Applicants: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Inventors: Scott S. C. Kirby; David Glen Biggs; Andrew Thomas Hammond; Eric Donald Johnson; Candace Dyan Krautkramer; Robert Lee Popp; Leila Joy Roberson; Daniel Robert Schlinz; Kendell Jean Wendrick; Niall Finn; Andy R. Butler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478354B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/5125: {the apertures not being formed through the complete thickness of the topsheet, e.g. blind holes (blind holes in a single layered topsheet A61F13/51104)} - A61F 13/51108: {the top sheet having corrugations or embossments having one axis relatively longer than the other axis, e.g. forming channels or grooves in a longitudinal direction} - A61F 13/5116: {being formed of multiple layers (A61F13/5123 takes precedence)} - A61F 2013/51014: {characterized by the connection between the fibres} - A61F 2013/51178: {with the combination of nonwoven webs} - A61F 2013/5307: {characterized by the quantity or ratio of superabsorbent material} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article comprising: an outer cover; a body facing material; and an absorbent body disposed between the outer cover and the body facing material, wherein the body facing material comprises a fluid-entangled laminate web comprising: a first layer comprising a first plurality of fibers and having a first surface and an opposed second surface, wherein the first layer has a basis weight of between about 10 grams per square meter and about 40 grams per square meter; a second layer comprising a second plurality of fibers and having an inner surface and an opposed outer surface, wherein portions of the second surface of the first layer are in contact with the inner surface of the second layer, wherein at least a portion of the first plurality of fibers or the second plurality of fibers are fluid-entangled with at least a portion of the other of the first plurality of fibers or the second plurality of fibers; a plurality of hollow projections formed from at least a portion of the second plurality of fibers, the plurality of hollow projections extending from the outer surface of the second layer in a direction away from the first layer; and a and area, wherein the plurality of hollow projections are surrounded by the land area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first layer is a continuous fiber web. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first layer is a spunbond web. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises a staple fiber web. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the second layer has a basis weight of between about 20 grams per square meter and about 70 grams per square meter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the laminate web has a basis weight of between about 30 grams per square meter and about 110 grams per square meter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the portion of the second plurality of fibers forming the hollow projections is different than the portion of the second plurality of fibers fluid-entangled with the first plurality of fibers. ### Claim 8 An absorbent article comprising: an outer cover; a body facing material; an absorbent body disposed between the outer cover and the body facing material, wherein the body facing material comprises: a first layer comprising a plurality of fibers and having a first surface and an opposed second surface; a second layer comprising a plurality of fibers and having an inner surface and an opposed outer surface, wherein portions of the second surface of the first layer are in contact with the inner surface of the second layer; a plurality of hollow projections formed from a first portion of the plurality of fibers of the second layer, the plurality of projections extending from the outer surface of the second layer in a direction away from the first layer; and a land area, wherein the plurality of projections are surrounded by the land area, wherein a second portion of the plurality of fibers of the second layer are fluid-entangled with at least a portion of the plurality of fibers of the first layer, and wherein the second layer has less fiber-to-fiber bonding or fiber entanglement than the first layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The absorbent article of claim 8, wherein the first layer is a continuous fiber web. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The absorbent article of claim 8, wherein the first layer is a spunbond web. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The absorbent article of claim 8, wherein the first layer has a basis weight of between about 10 grams per square meter and about 40 grams per square meter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The absorbent article of claim 8, wherein the second layer has a basis weight of between about 20 grams per square meter and about 70 grams per square meter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The absorbent article of claim 8, wherein the body facing material has a basis weight of between about 30 grams per square meter and about 110 grams per square meter. ### Claim 14 An absorbent article comprising: an outer cover; a body facing material; and an absorbent body disposed between the outer cover and the body facing material, wherein the body facing material comprises: a first layer comprising a first plurality of fibers and having a first surface and an opposed second surface; a second layer comprising a second plurality of fibers and having an inner surface and an opposed outer surface, wherein portions of the second surface of the first layer are in contact with the inner surface of the second layer, wherein at least some of the first plurality of fibers or the second plurality of fibers are fluid-entangled with at least some of the other of the first plurality of fibers or the second plurality of fibers; and a plurality of hollow projections formed from at least a portion of the second plurality of fibers, the plurality of hollow projections extending from the outer surface of the second layer in a direction away from the first layer; and wherein a majority of the plurality of hollow projections have a round shape when the laminate web is viewed from a top view, and wherein the second layer has less fiber-to-fiber bonding or fiber entanglement than the first layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The absorbent article of claim 14, wherein the portion of the second plurality of fibers forming the plurality of projections k different than at least some of the second plurality of fibers fluid-entangled with the first plurality of fibers.