US 5,334,177 A · Enhanced core utilization in absorbent products

Abstract

A core component for use in a fluid-absorbing article, such as a diaper, incontinence pad, catamenial device or the like is described, which core component has a plurality of core zones comprising a zone of vulnerability positioned in said core component for maximum potential exposure to wetting, and at least one additional core zone arranged in an area of reduced potential exposure to initial wetting and in direct or indirect fluid receivable relation from the zone of vulnerability. The zone of vulnerability has a wadding component comprising synthetic fiber of filament and has a greater average pore size and greater average fractional value of fiber volume to fiber surface area than the average pore size and average fractional value of fiber volume to fiber surface area of the wadding component in the at least one additional core zone. When two or more additional core zones are used, the average fractional value of fiber volume-to-fiber surface area and the average pore size within the wadding components of the additional core zones decrease in value from zone to zone with increased distance from the zone of vulnerability and with reduced risk of initial wetting. The wadding component in the zone of vulnerability may be further characterized by having a greater average liquid-solid contact angle than the average liquid-solid contact angle in the wadding components in the additional core zones. A fluid absorbing article and a method for increasing fluid receptivity, fluid storage efficiency, and reduced rewet characteristics utilizing the core component of the invention are also described.

Claims51

Dependent claims

A core component for use in a fluid-absorbing article having a plurality of zones comprising:

(a) a zone of vulnerability positioned in said core component for maximum exposure to initial wetting, the zone of vulnerability having a wadding component comprising synthetic fiber;
and
(b) at least one additional core zone in the core component having a wadding component and arranged in the core component in an area of reduced potential exposure to initial wetting and in fluid-receivable relation to said zone of vulnerability;
wherein the wadding component in the zone of vulnerability has (1) a greater average pore size than the average pore size of the wadding components in the at least one additional core zone and (2) a higher average fractional fiber volume-to-fiber surface area value than the average fractional fiber volume-to-fiber surface area in the wadding component of the at least one additional core zone.

1 more element

A core component for use in a fluid-absorbing article having a plurality of zones comprising:

(a) a zone of vulnerability positioned in said core component for maximum potential exposure to initial wetting, said zone of vulnerability having a wadding component comprising synthetic fiber or filament;
and
(b) a plurality of additional core zones in the core component each having a wadding component and arranged in the core component in an area of reduced potential exposure to initial wetting and in fluid-receivable relation to said zone of vulnerability;
wherein (A) the wadding component in the zone of vulnerability has (1) greater average pore size than the average pore size of the wadding components within the additional core zones and (2) a higher average fractional value of fiber volume-to-fiber surface area than the average fractional value of fiber volume-to-fiber surface area within the wadding components of the additional core zones and (B) the average fractional value of fiber volume-to-fiber surface area and the average pore size within the wadding components of the additional core zones decrease in value frown zone to zone relative to increased distance from the zone of vulnerability and to decreased potential exposure to initial wetting.

1 more element

A core component for use in a fluid-absorbing article for enhanced fluid retention and control having a plurality of zones characterized by:

(a) a zone of vulnerability positioned in said core component for maximum exposure to initial wetting, said zone of vulnerability having a wadding component comprising synthetic fiber or filament;
and
(b) a plurality of additional core zones in the core component each having a wadding component and arranged in the core component in areas of reduced potential exposure to initial wetting and in fluid-receivable relation from said zone of vulnerability;
wherein the wadding component in the zone of vulnerability is characterized by (1) a greater average pore size and greater average liquid-solid contact angle than the average pore size and average liquid-solid contact angle of the wadding components within the additional core zones and (2) a higher average fractional value of fiber volume to fiber surface area than the average fractional value of fiber volume to fiber surface area within the wadding components of the additional core zones;
and wherein the average fractional value of fiber volume to fiber surface area, the average liquid-solid contact angle, and average pore size within the wadding components of said additional core zones decrease in value from zone to zone in general proportion to increased geometric distance from said zone of vulnerability and corresponding decreased exposure to initial wetting.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Enhanced core utilization in absorbent products

Life of this patent

Enhanced core utilization in absorbent products

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51