# US 7,291,763 B2 · Absorbent barrier structures having a high convective air flow rate and articles made therefrom > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,291,763 B2 - Document ID: US7291763B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/384,771 - Filed: 2006-03-20 - Published: 2006-07-20 - Granted: 2007-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2000-06-21 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Srinivas Krishnaswamy Mirle; Mattias Schmidt; John Ferney McKibben; Cornelia Sprengard-Eichel; Suna Polat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7291763B2 ## CPC - B32B 5/22: characterised by the presence of two or more layers which {are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed (layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles next to a foam layer B32B19/047, next to a layer made of particles B32B19/048, or next to a fibrous or filamentary layer B32B19/06; paper layer or cardboard layer next to a paper layer or cardboard layer B32B29/005, next to a foam layer B32B29/007, next to a fibrous or filamentary layer B32B29/02, or next to a particulate layer B32B29/04)} - A61F 13/51456: {characterised by its properties} - A61F 13/5146: {having apertures of perforations} - A61F 13/51462: {being defined by a value or parameter} - A61F 13/53704: {the layer having an inhibiting function on liquid propagation} - A61F 13/53756: {the layer facing the back-sheet} - A61F 13/539: characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers - B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)} - B32B 27/02: in the form of fibres or filaments {(not used)} - B32B 27/12: next to a fibrous or filamentary layer - B32B 27/32: comprising polyolefins {(comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30)} - A61F 13/51478: {being a laminate, e.g. multi-layered or with several layers} - A61F 2013/51411: {being impervious to fluids but not for air or vapours} - A61F 2013/51421: {only in special places} - Y10T 442/2164: Coating or impregnation specified as water repellent - Y10T 442/2189: Fluorocarbon containing - Y10T 442/659: Including an additional nonwoven fabric - Y10T 442/66: Additional nonwoven fabric is a spun-bonded fabric - Y10T 442/696: Including strand or fiber material which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous compositions, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.] - Y10T 442/697: Containing at least two chemically different strand or fiber materials - Y10T 442/699: Including particulate material other than strand or fiber material - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Absorbent articles which provide superior protection against wet through under impact or sustained pressure, and high convective air flow therethrough for skin health and comfort benefits. An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core and an absorbent barrier structure, wherein the absorbent barrier structure has a hydrohead value of at least about 10 mBars; a convective air permeability of at least about 10 Darcy/mm; and a liquid impact transmission value of less than about 20 g/m2. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core and an absorbent barrier structure, wherein the absorbent barrier structure has a hydrohead value of at least about 10 mBars; a convective air permeability of at least about 10 Darcy/mm; and a liquid impact transmission value of less than about 20 g/m2 and wherein said absorbent barrier structure is substantially free of a film; and wherein the barrier structure comprises: a reservoir zone, and a barrier zone at least partially disposed between the absorbent core and the reservoir zone, and wherein the reservoir zone has a porous structure selected from the group consisting of a fibrous web, a fibrous wad, a foam, and combinations thereof, and wherein the reservoir zone has an absorbency at least about 20% less than that of the absorbent core and the hydrohead value of the barrier zone is higher than the hydrohead value of the reservoir zone and the hydrohead value of the absorbent core. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the absorbent barrier structure has an absorbency of at least about 1 g/g. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the absorbent barrier structure has a static liquid transmission value of less than about 6.5 g/m2 at 2 minutes after impact and less than 13 g/m2 at 15 minutes after impact. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the absorbent barrier structure has a basis weight of at least about 30 g/m2 and a thickness less than about 1.5 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the reservoir zone has a basis weight of at least about 15 gsm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the reservoir zone comprises at least about 70 wt % of cellulosic fibers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6 wherein the reservoir zone further comprises additives selected from the group consisting of synthetic fibers, chemical bonding agents, crosslinking agents, debonding agents, wet strength resins, liquid or moisture absorbing agents, odor absorbing agents, antimicrobials, coloring agents, stiffening agents and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the hydrohead value of the barrier zone is at least about 10 mBars. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the barrier zone is made from polymeric materials selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, olefinic copolymers, polyesters, polyamides, polyalkylene oxides, polyvinyl alcohols, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the barrier zone includes a fibrous web selected from the groups consisting of a woven web, a knitted web, a spunbond nonwoven web, a meltblown nonwoven web, a spunbond/meltblown nonwoven web, a spunbond/meltblown/spunbond nonwoven web, a carded nonwoven web, an air-laid nonwoven web, a hydro-entangled nonwoven web, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 11 An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core and an absorbent barrier structure, wherein the absorbent barrier structure has a hydrohead value of at least about 10 mBars; a convective air permeability of at least about 10 Darcy/mm; and a liquid impact transmission value of less than about 20 g/m2 and wherein said absorbent barrier structure is substantially free of a film; and wherein the barrier structure comprises: a reservoir zone, and a barrier zone at least partially disposed between the absorbent core and the reservoir zone, and wherein the reservoir zone has a porous structure selected from the group consisting of a fibrous web, a fibrous wad, a foam, and combinations thereof, and wherein at least one surface of the reservoir zone or the barrier zone is treated with a hydrophobic agent, wherein the hydrophobic agent is a fluorocarbon. ### Claim 12 An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core, a topsheet, an outer cover and an absorbent barrier structure, wherein the absorbent barrier structure has a hydrohead value of at least about 10 mBars; a convective air permeability of at least about 10 Darcy/mm; and a liquid impact transmission value of less than about 20 g/m2 and wherein said absorbent barrier structure is substantially free of a film; and wherein the barrier structure comprises: a reservoir zone, and a barrier zone at least partially disposed between the absorbent core and the reservoir zone, and wherein the reservoir zone has a porous structure selected from the group consisting of a fibrous web, a fibrous wad, a foam, and combinations thereof, and wherein the absorbent core is disposed between the topsheet and the outer cover; and the absorbent barrier structure is disposed between the absorbent core and the outer cover; wherein a combination of the absorbent barrier structure and the outer cover has a hydrohead value of at least about 25 mBars; a convective air permeability of at least about 10 Darcy/mm; a liquid impact transmission value of less than about 20 g/m2; and MVTR of no more than 3500 g/m2/24 hrs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The absorbent article of claim 12 wherein the outer cover is a nonwoven web, an apertured film or a laminate thereof. ### Claim 14 An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core, a topsheet, an outer cover and an absorbent barrier structure, wherein the absorbent barrier structure has a hydrohead value of at least about 10 mBars; a convective air permeability of at least about 10 Darcy/mm; and a liquid impact transmission value of less than about 20 g/m2 and wherein said absorbent barrier structure is substantially free of a film; and wherein the barrier structure comprises: a first barrier zone disposed adjacent to a garment-facing surface of the absorbent core, a reservoir zone disposed between the first barrier zone and the outer cover, and second barrier zone disposed at least partially between the reservoir zone and die outer cover, and wherein the reservoir zone has a porous structure selected from the group consisting of a fibrous web, a fibrous wad, a foam, and combinations thereof, and wherein the absorbent core is disposed between the topsheet and the outer cover; and the absorbent barrier structure is disposed between the absorbent core and the outer cover; wherein a combination of the absorbent barrier structure and the outer cover has a hydrohead value of at least about 25 mBars; a convective air permeability of at least about 10 Darcy/mm; and a liquid impact transmission value of less than about 20 g/m2. ### Claim 15 An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core and a barrier structure, wherein the barrier structure has a convective air permeability of greater than about 10 Darcy/mm; a liquid impact transmission value of less than about 20 g/m2; and a post-compression air permeability decrease of no more than about 35% and wherein said absorbent barrier structure is substantially free of a film; and wherein the barrier structure comprises: a reservoir zone, and a barrier zone at least partially disposed between the absorbent core and the reservoir zone, wherein the reservoir zone comprises a fibrous web and has an absorbency at least about 20% less than that of the absorbent core and the barrier zone has a hydrohead value that is higher than that of the reservoir zone and that of the absorbent core. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The absorbent article of claim 15 wherein the barrier structure has a hydrohead value of at least about 10 mBars. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The absorbent article of claim 15 wherein the absorbent barrier structure has a basis weight of at least about 30 g/m2 and a thickness less than about 1.5 mm. ### Claim 18 An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core, a topsheet, an outer cover and a barrier structure, wherein the barrier structure has a convective air permeability of greater than about 10 Darcy/mm; a liquid impact transmission value of less than about 20 g/m2; and a post-compression air permeability decrease of no more than about 35% and wherein said absorbent barrier structure is substantially free of a film; and wherein the barrier structure comprises: a reservoir zone, and a barrier zone at least partially disposed between the absorbent core and the reservoir zone, wherein the reservoir zone comprises a fibrous web, and wherein the absorbent core is disposed between the topsheet and the outer cover; and the barrier structure is disposed between the absorbent core and the outer cover; wherein a combination of the barrier structure and the outer cover has a hydrohead value of at least about 10 mBars; a convective air permeability of at least about 10 Darcy/mm; and a liquid impact transmission value of less than about 20 g/m2. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The absorbent article of claim 18 wherein the reservoir zone is a cellulosic web, the barrier zone is a nonwoven web, and the outer cover is a nonwoven web or an apertured film. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The absorbent article of claim 19 wherein the barrier structure comprises a first fibrous barrier zone disposed adjacent to a garment-facing surface of the absorbent core and a reservoir zone disposed between the fibrous barrier zone and the outer cover.