US 6,383,960 B1 · Layered absorbent structure

Layered absorbent structure

AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.

InventorsRob David Everett, Thomas Gerald Bolwerk, Richard Norris Dodge, II, Violet May Grube, Yong Li, Debra Jean McDowall, Shannon Kathleen Melius, Lawrence Howell Sawyer, David Louis Zenker, Xiaomin Zhang, Sylvia Bandy Little, Billie Jean Matthews, Sridhar Ranganathan, Stanley Michael Gryskiewicz, Kuo-Shu Edward Chang

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

A distinctive absorbent article includes an absorbent core having multiple absorbent layers, wherein the absorbent layers interact in such a manner which preferentially locates absorbed liquid in an appointed, high saturation wicking layer. The localization of the liquid within this wicking layer increases the potential of this layer to move liquid through capillary action due to the higher saturation level and increased amount of liquid available. The intake capability of the absorbent system is maintained or improved over current systems by keeping a second layer of the absorbent system at low saturation levels through as many insults of the product as possible, while providing optimum intake performance through appropriate control of the composite properties. The low saturation in this layer provides void volume for the incoming insult as well, as a high permeability, thus increasing the intake rate of the absorbent system as a whole, but the structure of the low saturation layer is also balanced to provide an appropriately high level of capillary tension to provide enough control of the liquid to stop leakage from occurring. This low saturation layer is used in addition to a surge material and provides intake functionality in addition to that provided by the surge material. In particular aspects of the invention, the body side layer of the absorbent core does not extend over the entire surface of the overall absorbent core, therefore is not used as the high saturation, wicking layer, but as the intake layer. This arrangement also allows the intake layer to be in direct contact with the incoming liquid, therefore allowing for more immediate access and improved intake function.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An absorbent article, comprising:

a backsheet layer;
a substantially liquid permeable topsheet layer;
and
an absorbent composite structure sandwiched between said backsheet and topsheet layers, said absorbent composite including an absorbent core having a first, superabsorbent containing, fibrous primary layer region and at least a second, superabsorbent containing, fibrous primary layer region;
wherein
at least one of said first and second primary layer regions has a Liquid Wicking Value of at at least one of said primary layer regions includes a superabsorbent material which exhibits a Tau value of not less than about 0.8 min.

3 more elements

An absorbent article which includes an absorbent core having a first, superabsorbent containing, fibrous primary layer region and at least a second, superabsorbent containing, fibrous primary layer region;

wherein
said absorbent core has a longitudinal length, a lateral width and an appointed front-most edge;
said first primary layer region has a basis weight of not less than about 100 g/m2 and not more than about 500 g/m2;
said first primary layer region has a first layer region density of not less than about 0.03 g/cm3 and not more than about 0.4 g/cm3;
said first primary layer region includes fibrous material in an amount which is not less than about 25 wt % and is not more than about 80 wt %;
said fibrous material includes fibers having fiber sizes which are not less than about 4 μm and not more than about 20 μm;
said fibrous material includes fibers which exhibit a water contact angle of not more than about 65 degrees;
said first primary layer region includes a superabsorbent material in an amount which is not less than about 20 wt % and is not more than about 75 wt %;
said superabsorbent material in said first primary layer includes superabsorbent particles having particle sizes which are not less than about 140 μm and are not more than about 1000 μm;
said superabsorbent material in said first primary layer has a MAUL value of not less than about 20 g/g;
said superabsorbent material in said first primary layer has a Tau value of not less than about 0.8 min;
and
said first primary layer region has a Liquid Wicking Value of at least about 36%.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/519,045Filed 3 Mar 2000 · continuation in part

Priority

8 Oct 1997

Granted

7 May 2002

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A61F 13/535
Having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad: inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of…
A61F 2013/530481
Characterised by the absorbing medium: having superabsorbent materials, i.e. highly absorbent polymer gel materials
A61F 2013/5355
Inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes: with terraced core
Y10T 442/481
Including a free metal or alloy constituent: chemically deposited metal layer [e.g., chemical precipitation or electrochemical deposition or…

Family

Application60/061,450Us provisional application · filed 8 Oct 1997

Application60/061,452Us provisional application · filed 8 Oct 1997

Application60/061,376Us provisional application · filed 8 Oct 1997

Application60/061,416Us provisional application · filed 8 Oct 1997

Application60/062,173Us provisional application · filed 16 Oct 1997

Application60/062,174Us provisional application · filed 16 Oct 1997

Application60/062,190Us provisional application · filed 16 Oct 1997

Application60/062,189Us provisional application · filed 16 Oct 1997

Application09/096,652Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Jun 1998

US 6,383,960 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.