# US 11,707,390 B2 · Absorbent articles having a secondary topsheet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,707,390 B2 - Document ID: US11707390B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/043,207 - Filed: 2018-07-24 - Published: 2019-01-24 - Granted: 2023-07-25 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-24 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Fancheng Wang; Tong Jia; Xiaoxin Liu; Zifang An - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11707390B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/5123: {the apertures being formed on a multilayer top sheet} - A61F 13/5116: {being formed of multiple layers (A61F13/5123 takes precedence)} - A61F 13/512: characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations - A61L 15/24: Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof {(A61L15/225 takes precedence)} - A61L 15/26: Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof {(A61L15/225 takes precedence)} - A61L 15/28: Polysaccharides or their derivatives {(A61L15/225 takes precedence)} - A61L 15/425: {Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges} - A61F 2013/51019: {being cellulosic material} - A61F 2013/51021: {being chemically modified} - A61F 2013/51026: {being in thermoplastic material} - A61F 2013/51033: {being hydrophilic} - A61F 2013/5127: {characterized by the dimension of apertures} - 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) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract An absorbent article having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable sheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a secondary topsheet disposed between the topsheet and the absorbent core is described. The secondary topsheet has a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is located between the topsheet and the second layer, and a mean pore size of the first layer is larger than a mean pore size of the topsheet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable sheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a secondary topsheet disposed between the topsheet and the absorbent core, wherein the secondary topsheet comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being located between the topsheet and the second layer, wherein a mean pore size of the first layer is larger than a mean pore size of the topsheet; wherein the mean pore size is determined by the pore size measurement method defined in the test methods section herein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein a mean pore size of the first layer is substantially equal to or larger than a mean pore size of the second layer. ### Claim 3 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the topsheet comprises nonwoven. ### Claim 4 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the topsheet comprises cotton fibers. ### Claim 5 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the topsheet comprises at least 5% of cotton fibers by weight of the topsheet. ### Claim 6 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the topsheet comprises 100% cotton fibers by weight of the topsheet. ### Claim 7 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the secondary topsheet is an integrated web. ### Claim 8 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least part of fibers of the second layer extended into the first layer. ### Claim 9 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first layer comprises a first thermoplastic fiber. ### Claim 10 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second layer comprises at least about 10% cellulose-based fibers by weight of the second layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The absorbent article according to claim 10, wherein the cellulose-based fibers are selected from the group consisting of cotton, hemp, pulp and rayon, cupra, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second layer comprises a second thermoplastic fiber. ### Claim 13 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first layer comprises nonwoven. ### Claim 14 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first layer comprises a first fiber and a second fiber, wherein a fiber thickness of the first fiber differs from a fiber thickness of the second fiber. ### Claim 15 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first layer and the second layer are hydrophilic. ### Claim 16 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first layer comprises less than about 10% cellulose-based fibers by weight of the second layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) The absorbent article according to any of claims 1-15, wherein the first layer is free from cellulose-based fibers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The absorbent article according to claim 16, wherein an amount of cellulose-based fibers in the first layer by weight of the first layer is lower than an amount of the cellulose-based fibers in the second layer by weight of the second layer proviso that the first layer comprises cellulose-based fibers. ### Claim 19 The absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a weight ratio of the first layer to second layer is in the range of from about 1:9 to about 9:1.