Absorbent core structure comprised of storage and acquisition cells
AssigneeParagon Trade Brands, Inc.
InventorAndrew T. Baker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides an absorbent core structure comprising storage cells and acquisition cells in a honeycomb-like configuration. Absorbent core structures according to the invention are useful, for example, for absorbent cores for disposable absorbent garments. Within the storage cells of the absorbent core structure is deposited a quantity of a superabsorbent material. The acquisition cells are devoid of superabsorbent material or other materials that would impede liquid movement therethrough and are preferably open. The acquisition cells can thus function as channels that allow liquids to be freely distributed within the absorbent core structure by mass flow and/or capillary action, thus helping to prevent gel blocking.
Claims18
An absorbent core structure comprising a plurality of absorbent arrays, each absorbent array comprising (a) facing liquid-pervious sheet portions and superabsorbent material disposed between the sheet portions, the facing sheet portions being attached to each other to define a plurality of discrete liquid-absorbent storage cells that contain the superabsorbent material, wherein each absorbent array is attached to another of the absorbent arrays, and (b) a plurality of acquisition cells between the absorbent arrays that are devoid of material that would impede liquid movement therethrough, wherein the acquisition cells expand upon liquid absorption by the storage cells.
An absorbent core structure comprising a plurality of absorbent arrays and a plurality of acquisition cells that are devoid of material that would impede liquid movement through the acquisition cell, each of the absorbent arrays comprising facing liquid-pervious sheet portions and superabsorbent material disposed at spaced locations between the sheet portions, the opposed sheet portions being attached to each other between the locations of the superabsorbent material to define a plurality of discrete liquid-absorbent storage cells, each of the storage cells containing a superabsorbent material, wherein each of the absorbent arrays is attached to another of the absorbent arrays to define a plurality of the acquisition cells between the adjacent absorbent arrays and the storage cells, the acquisition cells expand upon liquid absorption by the storage cells, and the storage cells and acquisition cells are in a honeycomb-like configuration.
A disposable absorbent garment comprising:
- a liquid-impervious backing sheet;
- a liquid-pervious liner sheet;
- and
- an absorbent core between the backing and liner sheets, the absorbent core comprising (a) a plurality of absorbent arrays, each absorbent array comprising facing liquid-pervious sheet portions and superabsorbent material disposed between the sheet portions, the opposed sheet portions being attached to each other to define a plurality of discrete liquid-absorbent storage cells that contain the superabsorbent material, wherein each absorbent array is attached to another of the absorbent arrays, and (b) a plurality of acquisition cells between the absorbent arrays that are devoid of material that would impede liquid movement therethrough, wherein the acquisition cells expand upon liquid absorption by the storage cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.