Disposable diaper having a humidity transfer region, Breathable zone panel and separation layer

An absorbent article, comprising:

• a front waistband section, a rear waistband section and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections;
• a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer;
• a liquid permeable topsheet layer positioned in facing relation with said backsheet layer;
• an absorbent body for storing absorbed liquid, said absorbent body located between said backsheet layer and topsheet layer and including an absorbent material which provides for a level of moisture retention therein, said absorbent body having a humidity transfer zone portion wherein said humidity transfer zone portion comprises a substantially hydrophobic, nonwettable fibrous material which has an average basis weight within the range of about 5-300 gsm and a density of not more than about 0.1 gm/cc, said nonwettable fibrous material configured to limit a presence and wicking therein of liquid and to limit an occluding of said nonwettable fibrous material by liquid, said humidity transfer zone portion thereby exhibiting a relatively lower level of moisture retention as compared to other areas of said absorbent body where said liquid is normally stored;
• and
• spacing means including at least one separation layer located between said topsheet layer and said absorbent body, said at least one separation layer providing for effective fluid transfer between said topsheet layer and said absorbent body, and said spacing means composed of substantially hydrophobic material and having a total bulk thickness within a range of about 0.07-0.51 cm (measured dry at 0.207 kPa);
• and
• a vapor permeable panel, which is substantially liquid impermeable and is connected to said backsheet layer in at least one of said waistband sections of said article, said vapor permeable panel arranged in an operable adjacent registry with at least a portion of said nonwettable fibrous material of said humidity transfer zone portion to extend at least partially thereover, said connection of said vapor permeable panel to said backsheet layer and said registry of said vapor permeable panel over said humidity transfer zone portion arranged to allow movement of air into said nonwettable fibrous material through said vapor permeable panel, and said vapor permeable panel arranged to allow said movement over an area within the range of about 5-400 sq. cm.

An absorbent article, which generally delimits a front waistband section, a rear waistband section and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections, the article comprising:

• a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer;
• a liquid permeable topsheet layer positioned in facing relation with said backsheet layer;
• an absorbent body for storing absorbed liquid, said absorbent body located between said backsheet layer and topsheet layer and including an absorbent material which provides for a level of moisture retention therein, said absorbent body having a humidity transfer zone portion wherein said humidity transfer zone portion comprises a substantially hydrophobic, nonwettable fibrous material which has an average basis weight within the range of about 5-300 gsm and a density within the range of about 0.001-0.05 gm/cc, said nonwettable fibrous material configured to limit a presence and wicking therein of liquid and to limit an occluding of said nonwettable fibrous material by liquid, said humidity transfer zone portion thereby exhibiting a relatively lower level of moisture retention as compared to other areas of said absorbent body where said liquid is normally stored;
• at least one liquid permeable separation layer located between said topsheet layer and said absorbent body, said at least one separation layer allowing fluid transfer between said topsheet layer and said absorbent body, said at least one separation layer composed of substantially hydrophobic material, and said at least one separation layer and top sheet layer having a combined bulk thickness of at least about 0.078 cm (at 0.207 kPa);
• and
• a vapor permeable panel, which is substantially liquid impermeable and is connected to said backsheet layer at at least one of said waistband sections of said article, said vapor permeable panel arranged in an operable adjacent registry with at least a portion of said nonwettable fibrous material of said humidity transfer zone portion to extend at least partially thereover, said connection of said vapor permeable panel to said backsheet layer and said registry of said vapor permeable panel over said humidity transfer zone portion arranged to allow movement of air into said nonwettable fibrous material through said vapor permeable panel, said vapor permeable panel comprising a calendered composite fibrous web which includes a barrier layer composed of meltblown fibers bonded to a reinforcing layer, said reinforcing layer having a grab tensile strength within the range of about 1500-10,000 grams/inch.

An absorbent article, comprising

• a front waistband section, a rear waistband section and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections;
• a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer;
• a liquid permeable topsheet layer positioned in facing relation with said backsheet layer;
• an absorbent body for storing absorbed liquid, said absorbent body located between said backsheet layer and topsheet layer and including an absorbent material which provides for a level of moisture retention therein, said absorbent body having a humidity transfer zone portion wherein said humidity transfer zone portion comprises a substantially hydrophobic, nonwettable fibrous material which has an average basis weight of not more than about 550 gsm, said nonwettable fibrous material configured to limit a presence and wicking therein of liquid and to limit an occluding of said humidity transfer zone portion by held liquid, said humidity transfer zone portion thereby exhibiting a relatively lower level of moisture retention as compared to other areas of said absorbent body where said liquid is normally stored;
• spacing means located between said topsheet layer and said absorbent body, said spacing means providing for effective fluid transfer between said topsheet layer and said absorbent body, and said spacing means composed of substantially hydrophobic material and having a total bulk thickness of at least about 0.04 cm (measured dry at 0.207 kPa);
• and
• a vapor permeable panel, which is substantially liquid impermeable and is connected to extend from said backsheet layer at a waistband section of said article, said panel arranged in an overlying registry with at least a portion of said nonwettable fibrous material of said humidity transfer zone portion to extend at least partially thereover, said connection of said vapor permeable panel to said backsheet layer and said registry of said vapor permeable panel over said humidity transfer zone portion arranged to allow movement of air into said nonwettable fibrous material through said vapor permeable panel.

An absorbent article, comprising:

• a front waistband section, a rear waistband section, and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections;
• a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer;
• a liquid permeable topsheet layer positioned in facing adjacent relation with said backsheet layer;
• a vapor permeable panel connected to said backsheet layer in at least one of said waistband sections of said article, said vapor permeable panel composed of a material which is substantially liquid impermeable and has a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of at least about 2000 gm/sq.m/24 hr;
• and
• an absorbent body for storing liquid, said absorbent body having a basis weight within the range of about 400-1200 gsm and including a humidity transfer zone portion which comprises a substantially hydrophobic, nonwettable fibrous material having an average basis weight within the range of about 5-300 gsm and a density within the range of about 0.001-0.05 gm/cc, said nonwettable fibrous material configured to limit a presence and wicking therein of liquid and to limit an occluding of said nonwettable fibrous material by liquid, said humidity transfer zone portion thereby exhibiting a relatively lower level of moisture retention as compared to other areas of said absorbent body where said liquid is normally stored, said absorbent body located between said backsheet layer and topsheet layer and arranged with at least a portion of said nonwettable fibrous material in an underlying, operably adjacent, facing registry with said vapor permeable panel, said connection of said vapor permeable panel to said backsheet layer and said registry of said vapor permeable panel with said humidity transfer zone portion arranged to allow movement of air into said nonwettable fibrous material through said vapor permeable panel over a panel area of at least about 22 sq. cm.

An absorbent article, comprising:

• a front waistband section, a rear waistband section, and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections;
• a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer;
• a liquid permeable topsheet layer positioned in facing adjacent relation with said backsheet layer;
• a vapor permeable panel which is substantially liquid impermeable and is connected to said backsheet layer in at least one of said waistband sections said vapor permeable panel composed of a material having a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of at least about 2000 gm/sq.m/24 hr.;
• and
• an absorbent body for storing absorbed liquid, said absorbent body located between said backsheet layer and topsheet layer and including an absorbent material which provides for a level of moisture retention therein,
• said absorbent body having a humidity transfer zone portion wherein said humidity transfer zone portion comprises a substantially hydrophobic, nonwettable fibrous material having an average basis weight within the range of about 5-300 gsm and a density within the range of about 0.001-0.05 gm/cc,
• said nonwettable fibrous material configured to limit a presence and wicking therein of liquid and to limit an occluding of said nonwettable fibrous material by liquid, and said nonwettable fibrous material located in one or more apertures formed through the absorbent body, said humidity transfer zone portion thereby exhibiting a relatively lower level of moisture retention as compared to other areas of said absorbent body where said liquid is normally stored,
• said humidity transfer zone portion is located in an operably adjacent, facing registration with said vapor permeable panel,
• said one or more apertures and nonwettable fibrous material provide for a Frazier air porosity value of at least about 15.25 m3/min/m2, and
• said connection of said vapor permeable panel to said backsheet layer and said registration of said humidity transfer zone portion with said vapor permeable panel arranged to allow movement of air into said nonwettable fibrous material through said vapor permeable panel over a panel area of at least about 22 sq. cm.

An absorbent article, which generally delimits a front waistband section a rear waistband section and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections, the article comprising:

• a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer;
• a liquid permeable topsheet layer positioned in facing relation with said backsheet layer;
• an absorbent body for storing absorbed liquid, said absorbent body located between said backsheet layer and topsheet layer and including an absorbent material which provides for a level of moisture retention therein, said absorbent body having a humidity transfer zone portion wherein said humidity transfer zone portion comprises a substantially hydrophobic, nonwettable fibrous material having an average basis weight within the range of about 5-300 gsm located in one or more apertures which are entirely spaced from longitudinally opposed waistband edges of said absorbent body and are formed through said absorbent body, said nonwettable fibrous material configured to limit a presence and wicking therein of liquid and to limit an occluding of said nonwettable fibrous material by liquid, said humidity transfer zone portion thereby exhibiting a relatively lower level of moisture retention as compared to other areas of said absorbent body where said liquid is normally stored;
• and
• a vapor permeable panel, which is substantially liquid impermeable and is connected to said backsheet layer in at least one of said waistband sections, said vapor permeable panel arranged in an operable adjacent registry with at least a portion of said nonwettable fibrous material of said humidity transfer zone portion to extend at least partially thereover, said connection of said vapor permeable panel to said backsheet layer and said registry of said vapor permeable panel with said humidity transfer zone portion arranged to allow movement of air into said nonwettable fibrous material through said vapor permeable panel.

An absorbent article, which generally delimits a front waistband section, a rear waistband section and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and rear waistband sections, the article comprising:

• a substantially vapor impermeable backsheet layer;
• a liquid permeable topsheet layer positioned in facing relation with said backsheet layer;
• an absorbent body for storing absorbed liquid, said absorbent body located between said backsheet layer and topsheet layer and including an absorbent material which provides for a level of moisture retention therein, said absorbent body having a humidity transfer zone portion wherein said humidity transfer zone portion comprises a substantially hydrophobic, nonwettable fibrous material which has an average basis weight within the range of about 5-300 gsm and is configured to span across an entire waistband edge of said absorbent body, said nonwettable fibrous material configured to limit a presence and wicking therein of liquid and to limit an occluding of said nonwettable fibrous material by liquid, said humidity transfer zone portion thereby exhibiting a relatively lower level of moisture retention as compared to other areas of said absorbent body where said liquid is normally stored;
• and
• a vapor permeable panel, which is substantially liquid impermeable and is connected to said backsheet layer in at least one of said waistband sections, said vapor permeable panel arranged in an operable adjacent registry with at least a portion of said nonwettable material of said humidity transfer zone portion to extend at least partially thereover, said connection of said vapor permeable panel to said backsheet layer and said registry of said vapor permeable panel with said humidity transfer zone portion arranged to allow movement of air into said nonwettable fibrous material through said vapor permeable panel.