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US 5,803,920 AGranted
Thin absorbent article
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorThomas Harry Gilman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thin absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, is disclosed which is designed to reduce leakage of body fluid during use. The absorbent article includes a liquid-permeable cover, a liquid-impermeable baffle and an absorbent positioned between the cover and the baffle. The absorbent article has a crush recovery value of at least about 15 mm, a wet load value of at least about 300 grams, a stress value of less than about 100 grams/mm, and a thickness of less than about 5 millimeters. An apparatus for measuring the crush recovery an absorbent article is also disclosed.
Claims41
An absorbent article comprising:
- a) a liquid-permeable cover;
- b) a liquid-impermeable baffle;
- and
- c) an absorbent positioned between said cover and said baffle, and said article having a crush recovery value of at least about 15 mm, a wet load value of at least about 300 grams, a stress value of less than about 100 grams/mm, and a thickness of less than about 5 millimeters;
- wherein the crush recovery value and wet load value are measured by
- (1) providing a Sintech.RTM. 1/S testing apparatus or an Instron.RTM. testing apparatus having opposed, coaxially aligned arms, one of which arms is movable relative to the other arm at a predetermined speed, said testing apparatus further having first and second rectangular frame members which are interleaved to operate in unison;
- the first frame member having a first plate and a second plate, each of the first and second plates having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the second plate having a shoulder;
- the testing apparatus further having at least two support members, said support members being located at the corners of the first and second rectangular frame members and joining the plates on the first frame member;
- the shoulder on the second plate being provided with a first set of flexible wands oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another;
- the second frame member having a third plate and a fourth plate, each of the third and fourth plates having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the fourth plate having a shoulder;
- the testing apparatus further having at least two additional support members, said additional support members being located at the corners of the third and fourth rectangular frame members and joining the plates on the third frame member;
- the shoulder on the second plate being provided with a second set of flexible wands oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another;
- the first and second sets of wands being arranged to intermesh with but not contact one another;
- (2) securing the testing apparatus in a vertical orientation;
- (3) adjusting the first and second frame members a predetermined distance apart;
- (4) removing any wings, flaps, panels, tabs or appendages from the absorbent article to be tested;
- (5) wetting the absorbent article with 25 cubic centimeters of 0.9 percent saline solution;
- (6) centering the wetted absorbent article in the apparatus;
- (7) zeroing the load cell of the testing apparatus;
- (8) actuating the tester to separate the arms at a predetermined rate, whereby to crush the wetted absorbent article;
- (9) measuring the distance to which the absorbent article was crushed;
- (10) measuring and recording the maximum force applied to the wetted absorbent article as it is crushed, as the wet load value of the absorbent article;
- (11) retracting the arms of the tester to their original preset position;
- (12) measuring the recovered width of the absorbent article after approximately 30 seconds;
- (13) recording the crush recovery value as the recovered width minus the distance to which the absorbent article was crushed;
- and wherein the stress value is determined by running a test identical to that outline above, except that the absorbent article is not wetted with saline, to determine the dry load value of the absorbent article and recording the stress value as the dry load value of the article divided by the thickness of the article.
23 more elements
An absorbent article comprising:
- a) a liquid-impermeable baffle;
- and
- b) an absorbent secured to said baffle, and said article having a crush recovery value of at least about 15 mm, a wet load value of at least about 300 grams, a stress value of less than about 100 grams/mm, and a thickness of less than about 5 millimeters;
- wherein the crush recovery value and wet load value are measured by
- (1) providing a Sintech.RTM. 1/S testing apparatus or an Instron.RTM. testing apparatus having opposed, coaxially aligned arms, one of which arms is movable relative to the other arm at a predetermined speed, said testing apparatus further having first and second rectangular frame members which are interleaved to operate in unison;
- the first frame member having a first plate and a second plate, each of the first and second plates having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the second plate having a shoulder;
- the testing apparatus further having at least two support members, said support members being located at the corners of the first and second rectangular frame members and joining the plates on the first frame member;
- the shoulder on the second plate being provided with a first set of flexible wands oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another;
- the second frame member having a third plate and a fourth plate, each of the third and fourth plates having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the fourth plate having a shoulder;
- the testing apparatus further having at least two additional support members, said additional support members being located at the corners of the third and fourth rectangular frame members and joining the plates on the third frame member;
- the shoulder on the second plate being provided with a second set of flexible wands oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another;
- the first and second sets of wands being arranged to intermesh with but not contact one another;
- (2) securing the testing apparatus in a vertical orientation;
- (3) adjusting the first and second frame members a predetermined distance apart;
- (4) removing any wings, flaps, panels, tabs or appendages from the absorbent article to be tested;
- (5) wetting the absorbent article with 25 cubic centimeters of 0.9 percent saline solution;
- (6) centering the wetted absorbent article in the apparatus;
- (7) zeroing the load cell of the testing apparatus;
- (8) actuating the tester to separate the arms at a predetermined rate, whereby to crush the wetted absorbent article;
- (9) measuring the distance to which the absorbent article was crushed;
- (10) measuring and recording the maximum force applied to the wetted absorbent article as it is crushed, as the wet load value of the absorbent article;
- (11) retracting the arms of the tester to their original preset position;
- (12) measuring the recovered width of the absorbent article after approximately 30 seconds;
- (13) recording the crush recovery value as the recovered width minus the distance to which the absorbent article was crushed;
- and wherein the stress value is determined by running a test identical to that outline above, except that the absorbent article is not wetted with saline, to determine the dry load value of the absorbent article, and recording the stress value as the dry load value of the article divided by the thickness of the article.
22 more elements
An absorbent article comprising:
- a) a liquid-permeable cover;
- b) a liquid-impermeable baffle;
- and
- c) an absorbent positioned between said cover and said baffle, and said article having an absorbent capacity of at least 20 grams, a crush recovery value of at least about 15 mm, a wet load value of at least about 300 grams, a stress value of less than about 100 grams/mm, and a thickness of less than about 5 millimeters;
- wherein the crush recovery value and wet load value are measured by
- (1) providing a Sintech.RTM. 1/S testing apparatus or an Instron.RTM. testing apparatus having opposed, coaxially aligned arms, one of which arms is movable relative to the other arm at a predetermined speed, said testing apparatus further having first and second rectangular frame members which are interleaved to operate in unison;
- the first frame member having a first plate and a second plate, each of the first and second plates having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the second plate having a shoulder;
- the testing apparatus further having at least two support members, said support members being located at the corners of the first and second rectangular frame members and joining the plates on the first frame member;
- the shoulder on the second plate being provided with a first set of flexible wands oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another;
- the second frame member having a third plate and a fourth plate, each of the third and fourth plates having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the fourth plate having a shoulder;
- the testing apparatus further having at least two additional support members, said additional support members being located at the corners of the third and fourth rectangular frame members and joining the plates on the third frame member;
- the shoulder on the second plate being provided with a second set of flexible wands oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another;
- the first and second sets of wands being arranged to intermesh with but not contact one another;
- (2) securing the testing apparatus in a vertical orientation;
- (3) adjusting the first and second frame members a predetermined distance apart;
- (4) removing any wings, flaps, panels, tabs or appendages from the absorbent article to be tested;
- (5) wetting the absorbent article with 25 cubic centimeters of 0.9 percent saline solution;
- (6) centering the wetted absorbent article in the apparatus;
- (7) zeroing the load cell of the testing apparatus;
- (8) actuating the tester to separate the arms at a predetermined rate, whereby to crush the wetted absorbent article;
- (9) measuring the distance to which the absorbent article was crushed;
- (10) measuring and recording the maximum force applied to the wetted absorbent article as it is crushed, as the wet load value of the absorbent article;
- (11) retracting the arms of the tester to their original preset position;
- (12) measuring the recovered width of the absorbent article after approximately 30 seconds;
- (13) recording the crush recovery value as the recovered width minus the distance to which the absorbent article was crushed;
- and wherein the stress value is determined by running a test identical to that outline above, except that the absorbent article is not wetted with saline, to determine the dry load value of the absorbent article, and recording the stress value as the dry load value of the article divided by the thickness of the article.
23 more elements
An absorbent article comprising:
- a) a liquid-permeable cover;
- b) a liquid-impermeable baffle;
- and
- c) an absorbent positioned between said cover and said baffle, said absorbent constructed of a multi-layered material having passages formed therein such that any point within said absorbent is at a distance of less than about 2 millimeters away from one of said passages, said passages facilitate the movement of body fluid deposited on said cover down into said absorbent, and said article having a crush recovery value of at least about 15 mm, a wet load value of at least about 300 grams, a stress value of less than about 100 grams/mm, and a thickness of less than about 5 millimeters,
- wherein the crush recovery value and wet load value are measured by
- (1) providing a Sintech.RTM. 1/S testing apparatus or an Instron.RTM. testing apparatus having opposed, coaxially aligned arms, one of which arms is movable relative to the other arm at a predetermined speed, said testing apparatus further having first and second rectangular frame members which are interleaved to operate in unison;
- the first frame member having a first plate and a second plate, each of the first and second plates having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the second plate having a shoulder;
- the testing apparatus further having at least two support members, said support members being located at the corners of the first and second rectangular frame members and joining the plates on the first frame member;
- the shoulder on the second plate being provided with a first set of flexible wands oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another;
- the second frame member having a third plate and a fourth plate, each of the third and fourth plates having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the fourth plate having a shoulder;
- the testing apparatus further having at least two additional support members, said additional support members being located at the corners of the third and fourth rectangular frame members and joining the plates on the third frame member;
- the shoulder on the second plate being provided with a second set of flexible wands oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another;
- the first and second sets of wands being arranged to intermesh with but not contact one another;
- (2) securing the testing apparatus in a vertical orientation;
- (3) adjusting the first and second frame members a predetermined distance apart;
- (4) removing any wings, flaps, panels, tabs or appendages from the absorbent article to be tested;
- (5) wetting the absorbent article with 25 cubic centimeters of 0.9 percent saline solution;
- (6) centering the wetted absorbent article in the apparatus;
- (7) zeroing the load cell of the testing apparatus;
- (8) actuating the tester to separate the arms at a predetermined rate, whereby to crush the wetted absorbent article;
- (9) measuring the distance to which the absorbent article was crushed;
- (10) measuring and recording the maximum force applied to the wetted absorbent article as it is crushed, as the wet load value of the absorbent article;
- (11) retracting the arms of the tester to their original preset position;
- (12) measuring the recovered width of the absorbent article after approximately 30 seconds:
- (13) recording the crush recovery value as the recovered width minus the distance to which the absorbent article was crushed;
- and wherein the stress value is determined by running a test identical to that outline above, except that the absorbent article is not wetted with saline, to determine the dry load value of the absorbent article, and recording the stress value as the dry load value of the article divided by the thickness of the article.
23 more elements
An absorbent article having a longitudinal central axis, said article comprising:
- a) a liquid-permeable cover;
- b) a liquid-impermeable baffle;
- c) a transfer layer positioned between said cover and said baffle, said transfer layer having a plurality of apertures formed therein;
- d) an absorbent positioned between said transfer layer and said baffle;
- and
- e) a resilient layer positioned between said absorbent and said baffle, said article having a crush recovery value of at least about 15 mm, a wet load value of at least about 300 grams, a stress value of less than about 100 grams/mm, and a thickness of less than about 5 millimeters,
- wherein the crush recovery value and wet load value are measured by
- (1) providing a Sintech.RTM. 1/S testing apparatus or an Instron.RTM. testing apparatus having opposed, coaxially aligned arms, one of which arms is movable relative to the other arm at a predetermined speed, said testing apparatus further having first and second rectangular frame members which are interleaved to operate in unison;
- the first frame member having a first plate and a second plate, each of the first and second plates having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the second plate having a shoulder;
- the testing apparatus further having at least two support members, said support members being located at the corners of the first and second rectangular frame members and joining the plates on the first frame member;
- the shoulder on the second plate being provided with a first set of flexible wands oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another;
- the second frame member having a third plate and a fourth plate, each of the third and fourth plates having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the fourth plate having a shoulder;
- the testing apparatus further having at least two additional support members said additional support members being located at the corners of the third and fourth rectangular frame members and joining the plates on the third frame member;
- the shoulder on the second plate being provided with a second set of flexible wands oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another;
- the first and second sets of wands being arranged to intermesh with but not contact one another;
- (2) securing the testing apparatus in a vertical orientation;
- (3) adjusting the first and second frame members a predetermined distance apart;
- (4) removing any wings, flaps, panels, tabs or appendages from the absorbent article to be tested;
- (5) wetting the absorbent article with 25 cubic centimeters of 0.9 percent saline solution;
- (6) centering the wetted absorbent article in the apparatus;
- (7) zeroing the load cell of the testing apparatus;
- (8) actuating the tester to separate the arms at a predetermined rate, whereby to crush the wetted absorbent article;
- (9) measuring the distance to which the absorbent article was crushed;
- (10) measuring and recording the maximum force applied to the wetted absorbent article as it is crushed, as the wet load value of the absorbent article;
- (11) retracting the arms of the tester to their original preset position;
- (12) measuring the recovered width of the absorbent article after approximately 30 seconds;
- (13) recording the crush recovery value as the recovered width minus the distance to which the absorbent article was crushed;
- and wherein the stress value is determined by running a test identical to that outline above, except that the absorbent article is not wetted with saline, to determine the dry load value of the absorbent article, and recording the stress value as the dry load value of the article divided by the thickness of the article.
25 more elements
An absorbent article having a longitudinal central axis, said article comprising:
- a) a liquid-permeable cover;
- b) a liquid-impermeable baffle;
- c) a transfer layer positioned between said cover and said baffle, said transfer layer having a plurality of apertures formed therein;
- d) an absorbent positioned between said transfer layer and said baffle, said absorbent being constructed of a multi-layered material having passages formed therein;
- and
- e) a resilient layer positioned between said absorbent and said baffle, said article having a crush recovery value of at least about 15 mm, a wet load value of at least about 300 grams, a stress value of less than about 100 grams/mm, and a thickness of less than about 5 millimeters,
- wherein the crush recovery value and wet load value are measured by
- (1) providing a Sintech.RTM. 1/S testing apparatus or an Instron.RTM. testing apparatus having opposed, coaxially aligned arms, one of which arms is movable relative to the other arm at a predetermined speed, said testing apparatus further having first and second rectangular frame members which are interleaved to operate in unison;
- the first frame member having a first plate and a second plate, each of the first and second plates having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the second plate having a shoulder;
- the testing apparatus further having at least two support members, said support members being located at the corners of the first and second rectangular frame members and joining the plates on the first frame member;
- the shoulder on the second plate being provided with a first set of flexible wands oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another;
- the second frame member having a third plate and a fourth plate, each of the third and fourth plates having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the fourth plate having a shoulder;
- the testing apparatus further having at least two additional support members, said additional support members being located at the corners of the third and fourth rectangular frame members and joining the plates on the third frame member;
- the shoulder on the second plate being provided with a second set of flexible wands oriented parallel to and spaced apart from one another;
- the first and second sets of wands being arranged to intermesh with but not contact one another;
- (2) securing the testing apparatus in a vertical orientation;
- (3) adjusting the first and second frame members a predetermined distance apart;
- (4) removing any wings, flaps, panels, tabs or appendages from the absorbent article to be tested;
- (5) wetting the absorbent article with 25 cubic centimeters of 0.9 percent saline solution;
- (6) centering the wetted absorbent article in the apparatus;
- (7) zeroing the load cell of the testing apparatus;
- (8) actuating the tester to separate the arms at a predetermined rate, whereby to crush the wetted absorbent article;
- (9) measuring the distance to which the absorbent article was crushed;
- (10) measuring and recording the maximum force applied to the wetted absorbent article as it is crushed, as the wet load value of the absorbent article;
- (11) retracting the arms of the tester to their original preset position;
- (12) measuring the recovered width of the absorbent article after approximately 30 seconds;
- (13) recording the crush recovery value as the recovered width minus the distance to which the absorbent article was crushed;
- and wherein the stress value is determined by running a test identical to that outline above, except that the absorbent article is not wetted with saline, to determine the dry load value of the absorbent article, and recording the stress value as the dry load value of the article divided by the thickness of the article.
25 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.