Absorbent particles, especially catamenials, having improved fluid directionality, comfort and fit
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsHugh A. Thompson, Gerald A. Young, Thomas W. Osborn, III, Charles W. Chappell, John L. Hammons, James C. Horney, Lee M. Hines
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Absorbent articles, especially sanitary napkins, contain fibers with intra-fiber capillary channels. In-use, the capillary channel fibers direct menses to a storage layer, thereby minimizing product failure and staining of undergarments. The capillary channel fibers can protrude into, or through, a topsheet to provide very aggressive transport of vaginal discharges.
Claims15
An absorbent article having a long axis and a short axis, comprising:
- (a) a fluid permeable formed-film topsheet having a back face and a fluid-receiving front face, said topsheet having multiple openings communicating between said front face and said back face for passage of fluid through said topsheet;
- (b) an intermediate layer comprising substantially curled polymeric fibers having external intrafiber capillary channels sized to draw fluid away from the openings in said topsheet, said curled fibers being positioned such that the external intrafiber capillary channels lie substantially parallel to the long axis of said article, said intermediate layer underlying the back face of said topsheet and being in fluid-transporting contact therewith;
- (c) a fibrous moisture-absorbing structure underlying said intermediate layer and in fluid-transporting contact therewith, said moisture-absorbing structure comprising multiple non-capillary channel fibers, said non-capillary channel fibers in said moisture-absorbing structure arranged such that spacings between said non-capillary channel fibers perform a relatively strong capillary function to draw fluid away from the external intrafiber capillary channels in the curled fibers of said intermediate layer;
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- (d) a fluid impermeable backsheet underlying said moisture-absorbing structure.
An article according to claim I wherein portions of the curled fibers in said intermediate layer at least partially protrude into said moisture-absorbing structure.
An absorbent article having a long axis and a short axis, comprising:
- (a) a fluid permeable fibrous topsheet having a back face and a fluid-receiving front face, said topsheet having multiple interfiber openings communicating between said front face and said back face for passage of fluid through said topsheet;
- (b) an intermediate layer comprising substantially curled polymeric fibers having external intrafiber capillary channels sized to draw fluid away from the openings in said topsheet, said curled fibers being positioned such that the external intrafiber capillary channels lie substantially parallel to the long axis of said article, said intermediate layer underlying the back face of said topsheet and being in fluid-transporting contact therewith;
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- (c) a fibrous moisture-absorbing structure underlying said intermediate layer and in fluid-transporting contact therewith, said moisture-absorbing structure comprising multiple non-capillary channel fibers, said non-capillary channel fibers in said moisture-absorbing structure arranged such that spacings between said non-capillary channel fibers perform a relatively strong capillary function to draw fluid away from the external intrafiber capillary channels in the curled fibers of said intermediate layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.