Unitary absorbent structure
AssigneeWeyerhaeuser Company
InventorMichael J. Iskra
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A unitary absorbent structure is provided with an absorbent pad that includes at least an absorbing layer of absorbent material for absorbing and holding body fluids. A facing layer of body fluid-pervious material is placed the adjacent the absorbing pad. The facing layer and absorbing layer are positioned in face-to-face contact with the contacting faces bonded together over substantially the entire contact area. A fluid-distributing layer may be adhered to one surface of the absorbing layer. A backing sheet may be disposed adjacent the absorbent pad, and edge portions of the backing sheet may be wrapped around the edges of the structure and heat sealed to the facing layer.
Claims14
A unitary absorbent structure comprising:
- an absorbing layer of material for absorbing and holding body fluids, said absorbing layer having two oppositely facing surfaces defined within peripheral edges of said absorbing layer;
- a facing layer of body fluid-pervious material adjacent said absorbing layer, said facing layer having two oppositely facing surfaces defined within peripheral edges of said facing layer;
- said facing layer and said absorbing layer being positioned with one of said absorbing layer surfaces confronting one of said facing surfaces in face-to-face contact with the contacting surfaces being thermally bonded together within said peripheral edges to minimize relative displacement and distortions whereby liquid transport from said facing layer into said absorbing layer is facilitated;
- and
- a superabsorbent material applied to said absorbing layer of said absorbent material,
- said contacting surfaces of said facing layer and said absorbing layer being thermally bonded by bonding of said facing layer to fibers of said material of said absorbing layer which said fibers do not have superabsorbent material applied thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.