Absorbent article having a cellulosic transfer layer
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsFung-jou Chen, Rebecca Lyn Dilnik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An absorbent article having a transfer layer is disclosed. The transfer layer is positioned between the cover and absorbent and has a mean free path ranging from about 50 microns to about 200 microns. In a preferred embodiment the transfer layer is composed of substantially a cellulosic material. Advantageously, the transfer layer is effective in distributing both the fluid-like and viscous constituents of body fluids such as menses permitting greater utilization of the absorbent capacity of the absorbent article.
Claims20
An absorbent article comprising an absorbent having a bodyfacing surface, and a transfer layer superposed over at least a portion of the bodyfacing surface and in liquid communication with said absorbent, said transfer layer comprising structural elements defining a mean free path within the range of 50 microns to about 200 microns, the mean free path being defined as an average of edge-to-edge uninterrupted distances between all pairs of said structural elements and the mean free oath being determined by dividing a void space fraction within a field by a quotient of a number of fiber intercepts with test lines in the field, divided by total unit length of all the test lines in the field.
An absorbent article comprising:
- a. a liquid-permeable cover;
- b. an absorbent;
- and
- c. a cellulosic transfer layer positioned between said cover and said absorbent and which is in liquid communication with said absorbent, said transfer layer comprising structural elements defining a mean free path within the range of 50 microns to about 200 microns and a mean pore size ranging from about 18 microns to about 60 microns, the mean free path being defined as an average of edge-to-edge, uninterrupted distances between all pairs of said structural elements and the mean free path being determined by dividing a void space fraction within a field by a quotient of a number of fiber intercepts with test lines in the field, divided by total unit length of all the test lines in the field.
A sanitary napkin comprising:
- a. a liquid-permeable cover;
- b. a liquid-impermeable baffle;
- c. an absorbent between said cover and said baffle;
- and
- d. a cellulosic transfer layer positioned between said cover and said absorbent and which is in liquid communication with said absorbent, said transfer layer structural elements defining a mean free path
- within the range of 50 microns to about 200 microns and a mean pore size ranging from about 18 microns to about 60 microns, the mean free path being defined as an average of edge-to-edge, uninterrupted distances between all pairs of said structural elements and the mean free path being determined by dividing a void space fraction within a field by a quotient of a number of fiber intercepts with test lines in the field, divided by total unit length of all the test lines in the field.
A sanitary napkin comprising:
- a. a liquid-permeable cover;
- b. a liquid-impermeable baffle;
- c. an absorbent between said cover and said baffle;
- and
- d. a cellulosic transfer layer positioned between said cover and said absorbent, said transfer layer comprising structural elements defining a mean free path within the range of 50 microns to about 200 microns, a mean pore size ranging from about 18 microns to about 60 microns, and a bovine blood absorbency rate of less than about 20 seconds, the mean free path being defined as an average of edge-to-edge, uninterrupted distances between all pairs of said structural elements and the mean free path being determined by dividing a void space fraction within a field by a quotient of a number of fiber intercepts with test lines in the field, divided by total unit length of all the test lines in the field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.