Thin absorbent pads for food products
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsMonica Carlise Fontenot, Fung-Jou Chen
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Abstract
Thin absorbent food pads with a bulk under 0.5 cm are provided having an insulation layer and from 3 to 30 sheets of compressed wet resilient cellulosic material wherein the absorbent pad has an absorbent capacity of at least 10 grams fluid per gram absorbent material and which expands in volume by at least 50%, relative to dry volume, upon wetting. The thin absorbent pads may be provided by calendering the insulation layer and cellulosic sheets under a force of about 100 to 1500 pounds per linear inch, thereby reducing the bulk of the pad by 30 to 60% and creating a pad which will significantly expand upon wetting to achieve an aqueous absorbent capacity of about 0.85 grams fluid per square centimeter (5.5 g/square inch).
Claims25
An absorbent food pad comprising:
- a film;
- an absorbent core attached to said film, said absorbent core comprising from 3 to 30 sheets of mechanically compressed cellulosic material wherein the mechanically compressed sheets are wet resilient and further wherein the absorbent pad has a bulk less than 0.5 cm, an aqueous absorbent capacity of at least 10 grams fluid per gram absorbent material and further wherein the volume of the absorbent core is capable of expanding at least about 50% in volume, relative to the dry volume, upon wetting;
- and
- wherein said absorbent core absorbs and retains standing fluids when food rests upon said film.
An absorbent pad for a food product comprising:
- a film;
- an absorbent core attached to said film, said absorbent core comprising a plurality of wet resilient sheets of mechanically compressed cellulosic material wherein said absorbent core has an absorbent capacity of at least 0.90 grams fluid per square centimeter and wherein the absorbent pad has a bulk of less than about 0.5 cm;
- and
- wherein said absorbent core absorbs and retains standing fluids when said food product rests upon said film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.