# US 5,916,204 A · Method of forming a particle size gradient in an absorbent article

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- Number: US 5,916,204 A
- Document ID: US5916204A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 09/013,325
- Filed: 1998-01-26
- Granted: 1999-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 1994-12-08
- Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
- Inventors: John Milani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5916204A

## CPC

- A61F 13/532: inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad
- A61F 13/15658: {Forming continuous, e.g. composite, fibrous webs, e.g. involving the application of pulverulent material on parts thereof}
- A61F 13/534: having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad (A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence)
- A61F 2013/15406: {Basis weight}
- A61F 2013/15422: {Density}
- A61F 2013/15447: {Fibre dimension, e.g. denier or tex}
- A61F 2013/15463: {Absorbency}
- A61F 2013/530576: {having different size in different parts}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

An absorbent structure containing an absorbent particle size gradient is disclose. The absorbent structure may also include a fiber size gradient. The absorbent structure may also include absorbent particles coupled to loosely distributed fibers and more particularly, the absorbent particles may be electrostatically couple to the loosely distributed fibers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of making an absorbent article having a length dimension, a width dimension and a height dimension, and having a generally continuous size gradient of absorbent particles in at least one said dimension, comprising:
a. passing a population of multiple-sized absorbent particles through a gradient forming chamber;
b. subjecting the particles to a corona charge while within the gradient forming chamber; and
c. applying the corona charged absorbing particles to a support layer in a generally continuous absorbent particle size gradient in at least one said dimension of the absorbent article.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the particle size gradient dimension is expanded by increasing the corona charge.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the particle size gradient dimension is contracted by decreasing the corona charge.