Absorbent structure having enhanced intake performance characteristics and method for evaluating such characteristics
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorJeffrey M. La Fortune
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An absorbent structure is constructed of hydrophilic fibers and superabsorbent material and has a permeability as determined by an Absorbent Structure Permeability Test and a normalized retention capacity as determined by a Retention Capacity Test. The absorbent structure has an intake factor of at least about 3 wherein the intake factor is defined as the absorbent structure permeability divided by the normalized retention capacity. In another embodiment, the absorbent structure is constructed at least in part of a superabsorbent material and has an intake factor of at least about 3 and less than about 50.
Claims31
An absorbent structure comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fibers and superabsorbent material, the absorbent structure having a permeability as determined by an Absorbent Structure Permeability Test and a normalized retention capacity as determined by a Retention Capacity Test, said absorbent structure having an intake factor of at least about 3 wherein the intake factor is defined as the absorbent structure permeability divided by the normalized retention capacity.
An absorbent structure comprising at least in part a superabsorbent material, said absorbent structure having a permeability as determined by an Absorbent Structure Permeability Test and a normalized retention capacity as determined by a Retention Capacity Test, said absorbent structure having an intake factor of at least about 3 and less than about 50 wherein the intake factor is defined as the absorbent structure permeability divided by the normalized retention capacity.
An absorbent article for personal wear, said absorbent article comprising:
- a liner adapted for contiguous relationship with the body of the wearer;
- an outer cover in superposed relationship with the liner;
- and
- an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover, the absorbent body comprising at least in part an absorbent structure having a permeability as determined by an Absorbent Structure Permeability Test and a normalized retention capacity as determined by a Retention Capacity Test, said absorbent structure having an intake factor of at least about 3 and less than about 50 wherein the intake factor is defined as the absorbent structure permeability divided by the normalized retention capacity.
A method of rating the liquid intake performance of an absorbent structure, said method comprising:
- conducting an Absorbent Structure Permeability Test to determine a permeability of the absorbent structure;
- conducting a Retention Capacity Test to determine a retention capacity of the absorbent structure;
- and
- determining an intake factor of the absorbent structure wherein the intake factor defines a rating indicative of at least one liquid intake performance characteristic of the absorbent structure, said intake factor determining step comprising dividing the absorbent structure permeability by the retention capacity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.