Matched material combinations for absorbent articles and the like
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorHeather Sorebo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An in-vitro method is provided for determining an optimal combination of materials with respect to a particular menstrual flow condition for use in a feminine care absorbent article. The method involves using a simulated menstrual fluid at a controlled subject flow rate that corresponds to an actual menstrual flow condition, and observing the performance of different material combinations in the in-vitro test as an indication of their respective performance in actual use.
Claims21
An in-vitro method for determining an optimal combination of materials with respect to a particular menstrual flow condition for use in a feminine care absorbent article, said method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a subject flow rate corresponding to the flow rate of menstrual fluid for a particular menstrual flow condition;
- providing a simulated menstrual fluid to a flow rate controllable metering device;
- dispensing the simulated menstrual fluid onto a first combination of materials at the subject flow rate;
- observing whether the combination of materials adequately perform their intended purpose in the feminine care product at the subject flow rate;
- varying at least one of the materials in the combination and repeating the steps of dispensing the simulated menstrual fluid and observing the performance of the combination of materials;
- and
- selecting an optimal combination of the materials based on their performance when subjected to the simulated menstrual fluid at the subject flow rate.
An in-vitro method for determining an optimal combination of cover material and surge material with respect to a particular menstrual flow condition for use in a feminine care absorbent article, said method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a subject flow rate corresponding to the flow rate of menstrual fluid for a particular menstrual flow condition;
- providing a simulated menstrual fluid to a flow rate controllable metering device;
- dispensing the simulated menstrual fluid onto a first combination of cover material and surge material at the subject flow rate;
- observing whether the simulated menstrual fluid delivered at the subject flow rate penetrates sufficiently through the cover material and the surge material;
- selecting at least one other combination of cover material and surge material and repeating the steps of dispensing the simulated menstrual fluid and observing the degree of menstrual fluid penetration;
- rejecting any combination of cover material and surge material that does not adequately allow penetration of the simulated menstrual fluid through the surge material;
- and
- selecting an optimal combination of cover material and surge material from the remaining combinations based on the menstrual fluid penetration characteristics of the materials at the subject flow rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.