# US 11,896,466 B2 · Absorbent articles having shaped, soft and textured nonwoven fabrics > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,466 B2 - Document ID: US11896466B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/435,805 - Filed: 2019-06-10 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-12 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Sara L. Giovanni; Arman Ashraf; Paul T. Weisman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896466B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/15203: {Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency (chemical aspects A61L15/00)} - A61F 13/15642: {by depositing continuous layers or pads of fibrous material on single sheets or webs} - A61F 13/15707: {Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping} - A61F 13/51104: {the top sheet having a three-dimensional cross-section, e.g. corrugations, embossments, recesses or projections} - 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 13/51121: {characterised by the material} - A61F 13/51394: {creating a visual effect, e.g. having a printed or coloured topsheet, printed or coloured sub-layer but being visible from the topsheet, other than embossing for purposes of bonding, wicking, acquisition, leakage-prevention} - A61F 13/514: Backsheet, i.e. the impermeable cover or layer furthest from the skin {(A61F13/15211, A61F13/15252 take precedence)} - A61F 13/51401: {characterised by the material} - A61F 13/51456: {characterised by its properties} - A61F 13/51462: {being defined by a value or parameter} - A61F 13/51474: {characterised by its structure} - A61F 13/51476: {being three-dimensional, e.g. embossed, textured, pleated, or with three-dimensional features, like gathers or loops} - A61F 13/51496: {having visual effects} - D04H 3/007: Addition polymers - D04H 3/018: characterised by the shape - D04H 3/147: Composite yarns or filaments - D04H 3/16: with bonds between thermoplastic filaments produced in association with filament formation, e.g. immediately following extrusion - A61F 13/84: Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads - A61F 2013/15357: {Stiffness, e.g. Taber rigidity} - A61F 2013/51038: {being a mixture of fibres} - A61F 2013/51088: {in very fine microtexture} - A61F 2013/51452: {being nonwovens} - A61F 2013/5149: {being embossed} - A61F 2013/8497: {having decorations or indicia means} - D10B 2401/021: hydrophobic - D10B 2401/022: hydrophylic - D10B 2509/026: Absorbent pads; Tampons; Laundry; Towels - 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) - D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B) - D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES ## Abstract Absorbent articles are provided that comprise shaped, soft and textured nonwoven fabrics. The nonwoven fabrics may be a topsheet and an outer cover nonwoven material of the absorbent article. A portion of a wearer-facing surface of the topsheet may have a TS7 in the range of about 1 dB V2 rms of about 1 to about 4.5 dB V2 rms and a TS750 in the range of about 6 dB V2 rms to about 30 dB V2 rms. A portion of a garment-facing surface of the outer cover nonwoven material may have a TS7 in the range of about 1 dB V2 rms of about 1 to about 4.5 dB V2 rms and a TS750 in the range of about 6 dB V2 rms to about 30 dB V2 rms. The nonwoven fabrics of the present disclosure provide soft materials with texture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article comprising: a topsheet; a backsheet film; an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet; an outer cover nonwoven material in a facing relationship with at least a portion of the backsheet film, the outer cover nonwoven material comprising a nonwoven fabric comprising a garment-facing surface; wherein the outer cover nonwoven material is hydrophobic; the nonwoven fabric comprising a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on the garment-facing surface, each of the three-dimensional features defining a microzone comprising a first region and a second region, the first and second regions having a difference in values for an intensive property, wherein the intensive property is one or more of: thickness, basis weight, and volumetric density; wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises bond skinning, wherein the bond skinning comprises thermally bonding fibers to form a film skin, and wherein an amount of thermal bonding in the first region differs from an amount of thermal bonding in the second region; wherein the first region has a Time to Wick value in the range of about 10 second to about 60 seconds, according to the Time to Wick Test Method; wherein the second region has a Time to Wick value in the range of about 0.5 seconds to about 10 seconds, according to the Time to Wick Test Method; wherein a portion of the garment-facing surface has a total region one, lower basis weight area of about 5% to about 25% of a total area of the portion of the garment-facing surface, with a remainder of the portion of the garment-facing surface being a total region two, higher basis weight area, the portion having a TS7 value in the range of about 1 dB V2 rms to about 4.5 dB V2 rms, according to the Emtec Test; and wherein the portion of the garment-facing surface has a TS750 value in the range of about 6 dB V2 rms to about 30 dB V2 rms, according to the Emtec Test. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the portion of the garment-facing surface has a D value in the range of about 2 mm/N to about 6 mm/N. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises a spunbond nonwoven fabric. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the topsheet comprises a second nonwoven fabric, the second nonwoven fabric comprising a wearer-facing surface; the second nonwoven fabric comprising a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on the wearer-facing surface, each of the three-dimensional features defining a microzone comprising a third region and a fourth region, the third and fourth regions having a difference in values for an intensive property, wherein the intensive property is one or more of: thickness, basis weight, and volumetric density; wherein a portion of the wearer-facing surface of the topsheet has a TS7 value in the range of about 1 dB V2 rms to about 4.5 dB V2 rms, according to the Emtec Test; and wherein the portion of the wearer-facing surface of the topsheet has a TS750 value in the range of about 6 dB V2 rms to about 30 dB V2 rms, according to the Emtec Test. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the portion of the wearer-facing surface of the topsheet has a D value in the range of about 2 mm/N to about 6 mm/N. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the nonwoven fabric of the outer cover nonwoven material and/or the second nonwoven fabric of the topsheet comprise crimped fibers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein in at least one of the microzones the third region of the at least one microzone is hydrophobic and the fourth region of the at least one microzone is hydrophilic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein in at least one of the microzones the fourth region of the at least one microzone comprises a surfactant and the third region of the at least one microzone is surfactant free. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein in at least one of the microzones the third region of the at least one microzone exhibits a Contact Angle of greater than 90 degrees, according to the Contact Angle Test Method. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the difference in thickness between the first and second regions of at least one microzone is greater than about 25 microns, according to the Micro-CT Intensive Property Measurement Method. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the difference in basis weight between the first and second regions of at least one microzone is greater than about 5 gsm, according to the Micro-CT Intensive Property Measurement Method. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the difference in volumetric density between the first and second regions of at least one microzone is greater than about 0.042 g/cc, according to the Micro-CT Intensive Property Measurement Method. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the difference in thickness between the third and fourth regions of at least one microzone is greater than about 25 microns, according to the Micro-CT Intensive Property Measurement Method. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the difference in basis weight between the third and fourth regions of at least one microzone is greater than about 5 gsm, according to the Micro-CT Intensive Property Measurement Method. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the difference in volumetric density between the third and fourth regions of at least one microzone is greater than about 0.042 g/cc, according to the Micro-CT Intensive Property Measurement Method. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the portion of the garment-facing surface has a TS750 in the range of about 6 dB V2 rms to about 15 dB V2 rms, according to the Emtec Test. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the portion of the wearer-facing surface has a TS750 in the range of about 6 dB V2 rms to about 15 dB V2 rms, according to the Emtec Test. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the portion of the garment-facing surface has a total region one area in the range of about 5% to about 25% of a total area of the portion of the garment-facing surface, with the remainder of the portion of the garment-facing surface being a total region two area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 4) The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the portion of the wearer-facing surface has a total region one area in the range of about 5% to about 25% of a total area of the portion of the wearer-facing surface, with the remainder of the portion of the wearer-facing surface being a total region two area. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the nonwoven fabric further comprises a wearer-facing surface, and wherein the bond skinning is applied only to the garment-facing surface such that fibers on the wearer-facing surface comprise no thermal bonding. ### Claim 21 An absorbent article comprising: a topsheet; a backsheet film; an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet film; an outer cover nonwoven material in a facing relationship with at least a portion of the backsheet film, the outer cover nonwoven material comprising a nonwoven fabric comprising a garment-facing surface; wherein the outer cover nonwoven material is hydrophobic; first and second visually discernible zones on the garment-facing surface; each of the first and second visually discernible zones having a pattern of three-dimensional features; each of the three-dimensional features defining a microzone comprising a first region and a second region; the first and second regions having a difference in values for an intensive property; the difference in values for an intensive property for at least one of the microzones in the first zone is different from the difference in values for the intensive property for at least one of the microzones in the second zone; wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises bond skinning, wherein the bond skinning comprises thermally bonding fibers to form a film skin, and wherein an amount of thermal bonding in the first region differs from an amount of thermal bonding in the second region; wherein the first region has a Time to Wick value in the range of about 10 second to about 60 seconds, according to the Time to Wick Test Method; wherein the second region has a Time to Wick value in the range of about 0.5 seconds to about 10 seconds, according to the Time to Wick Test Method; wherein a portion of the garment-facing surface has a total region one, lower basis weight area of about 5% to about 25% of a total area of the portion of the garment-facing surface, with the remainder of the portion of the garment-facing surface being a total region two, high basis weight area, the portion having a TS7 value in the range of about 1 dB V2 rms to about 4.5 dB V2 rms, according to the Emtec Test; and wherein the portion of the garment-facing surface has a TS750 value in the range of about 6 dB V2 rms to about 30 dB V2 rms, according to the Emtec Test.