# US 7,608,748 B2 · Absorbent sanitary product

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- Number: US 7,608,748 B2
- Document ID: US7608748B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/576,088
- Filed: 2004-09-27
- Published: 2007-04-05
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2003-11-29
- Assignees: Paul Hartmann AG
- Inventors: Matthias Zoch; Wolfgang Ostertag
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608748B2

## CPC

- B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)}
- A61F 13/15658: {Forming continuous, e.g. composite, fibrous webs, e.g. involving the application of pulverulent material on parts thereof}
- A61F 13/531: having a homogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad (A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence)
- A61F 13/534: having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad (A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence)
- A61L 15/60: Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
- D04H 1/407: containing absorbing substances, e.g. activated carbon
- D04H 1/4291: Olefin series
- D04H 1/544: Olefin series
- D04H 1/559: the fibres being within layered webs
- D04H 1/593: to layered webs
- D04H 3/02: characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of yarns or filaments
- D04H 13/00: Other non-woven fabrics
- A61F 2013/15967: {by meltblown technique}
- A61F 2013/530496: {being fixed to fibres}
- A61F 2013/530547: {positioned in a separate layer or layers}
- A61F 2013/530554: {and being fixed to a web}
- A61F 2013/530583: {characterized by the form}
- B32B 2262/0253: Polyolefin fibres
- B32B 2262/0284: Polyethylene terephthalate [PET] or polybutylene terephthalate [PBT]
- B32B 2264/00: Composition or properties of particles which form a particulate layer or are present as additives
- B32B 2307/54: Yield strength; Tensile strength
- B32B 2307/726: Permeability to liquids, absorption
- B32B 2307/728: Hydrophilic
- B32B 2309/14: Velocity, e.g. feed speeds
- B32B 2555/02: Diapers or napkins
- Y10T 442/614: Strand or fiber material specified as having microdimensions [i.e., microfiber]
- Y10T 442/621: Including other strand or fiber material in a different layer not specified as having microdimensions
- Y10T 442/68: Melt-blown nonwoven 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 442/699: 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)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The invention relates to a disposable absorbent sanitary product for absorbing bodily fluids, such as diapers, incontinence pads, sanitary towels or panty liners. The product comprises a top sheet, at least sections of which are permeable to liquid, a bottom sheet, at least sections of which are liquid-tight and an absorbent body that is situated between the top sheet and the bottom sheet. According to the invention, the absorbent body comprises a first storage layer (20, 26, 30) for permanently storing bodily fluids, the layer containing 5-30 wt. % hydrophilic melt-blown microfibers (22), 70-95 wt. % particulate super-absorbent material (24) and optionally a maximum 10 wt. % particulate or fibrous component. The surface density of the melt-blown microfibers (22) is 625 g/m2 and the microfibers (22) are interconnected, in a manner having strength when wet, by a plurality of melt bonds, wherein the melt-blown microfibers (22) form a dense, three-dimensional network that surrounds and immobilises the particulate super-absorbent material (24). Very few or no melt bonds are provided between the melt-blown microfibers (22) and the particulate super-absorbent material (24), such that the storage layer (20, 26, 28) has a wet-strength of at least 40% of the dry strength, as measured in the machine direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A disposable sanitary product, a diaper, an incontinence pad, a sanitary towel, or a panty liner for absorbing body liquids, the product comprising:
a top sheet at least sections of which are permeable to liquid;
a bottom sheet at least sections of which are impermeable to liquid; and
an absorbent body disposed between said top sheet and said bottom sheet, said absorbent body comprising a storage layer for permanently storing body liquids, the storage layer having 5 to 30 weight % of hydrophilic melt-blown microfibers and 70 to 95 weight % of particulate superabsorbing material, wherein a mass per unit area of said melt-blown microfibers is 6 to 25 g/m2, said melt-blown microfibers being connected to each other by a plurality of melt connections to ensure stability in a wet state in such a manner that said melt-blown microfibers form a dense, three-dimensional network which surrounds and immobilizes said particulate superabsorbing material, wherein substantially no melt connections are provided between said melt-blown microfibers and said particulate superabsorbing material, said storage layer having a strength in a wet state, measured in a machine direction, of at least 40% of a strength thereof in a dry state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sanitary product of claim 1, wherein said storage layer further comprises up to 10 weight % of a further particulate or fibrous component.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sanitary product of claim 1, wherein an average size of said particulate superabsorbing material DSAP is 100 to 800 μm and a thickness of said storage layer D1sp is between DSAP * 1.5 and DSAP * 5, between DSAP * 1.5 and DSAP * 4, between DSAP * 1.5 and DSAP *3, or between DSAP * 1.5 and DSAP * 2.5.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sanitary product of claim 1, wherein an absorption level of said storage layer is at least 2 cm, at least 3 cm, at least 4 cm, at least 5 cm, or at least 6 cm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sanitary product of claim 1, wherein said storage layer has a bottom absorbent layer facing said bottom sheet, said bottom absorbent layer having melt-blown microfibers of an amount of 100 to 50 weight %, 100 to 60 weight %, 100 to 70 weight %, 100 to 80 weight %, or of 100 to 90 weight %.

### Claim 6

A disposable sanitary product, a diaper, an incontinence pad, a sanitary towel, or a panty liner for absorbing body liquids, the product comprising:
a top sheet at least sections of which are permeable to liquid;
a bottom sheet at least sections of which are impermeable to liquid; and
an absorbent body disposed between said top sheet and said bottom sheet, said absorbent body comprising a storage layer for permanently storing body liquids, the storage layer having 5 to 30 weight % of hydrophilic melt-blown microfibers and 70 to 95 weight % of particulate superabsorbing material, wherein a mass per unit area of said melt-blown microfibers is 6 to 25 g/m2, said melt-blown microfibers being connected to each other by a plurality of melt connections to ensure stability in a wet state in such a manner that said melt-blown microfibers form a dense, three-dimensional network which surrounds and immobilizes said particulate superabsorbing material, wherein substantially no melt connections are provided between said melt-blown microfibers and said particulate superabsorbing material, said storage layer having a strength in a wet state, measured in a machine direction, of at least 40% of a strength thereof in a dry state, wherein said storage layer has a top absorbent layer facing said top sheet, said top absorbent layer having melt-blown microfibers in an amount of 100 to 50 weight %, 100 to 60 weight %, 100 to 70 weight %, 100 to 80 weight %, or 100 to 90 weight %.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The sanitary product of claim 5, wherein a mass per unit area of said bottom absorbent layer is 2 to 10 g/m2 or 2 to 5 g/m2 and a fiber diameter of said melt-blown microfibers of said bottom absorbent layer is smaller than a fiber diameter of said melt-blown microfibers of said storage layer.

### Claim 8

A disposable sanitary product, a diaper, an incontinence pad, a sanitary towel, or a panty liner for absorbing body liquids, the product comprising;
a top sheet at least sections of which are permeable to liquid;
a bottom sheet at least sections of which are impermeable to liquid; and
an absorbent body disposed between said top sheet and said bottom sheet, said absorbent body comprising a storage layer for permanently storing body liquids, the storage layer having 5 to 30 weight % of hydrophilic melt-blown microfibers and 70 to 95 weight % of particulate superabsorbing material, wherein a mass per unit area of said melt-blown microfibers is 6 to 25 g/m2, said melt-blown microfibers being connected to each other by a plurality of melt connections to ensure stability in a wet state in such a manner that said melt-blown microfibers form a dense, three-dimensional network which surrounds and immobilizes said particulate superabsorbing material, wherein substantially no melt connections are provided between said melt-blown microfibers and said particulate superabsorbing material, said storage layer having a strength in a wet state, measured in a machine direction, of at least 40% of a strength thereof in a dry state, wherein said storage layer has a top absorbent layer facing said top sheet, said top absorbent layer having melt-blown microfibers in an amount of 100 to 50 weight %, 100 to 60 weight %, 100 to 70 weight %, 100 to 80 weight %, or 100 to 90 weight %, wherein a mass per unit area of said top absorbent layer is 2 to 10 g/m2 or 2 to 5 g/m2 and a fiber diameter of said melt-blown microfibers of said top absorbent layer is smaller than a fiber diameter of said melt-blown microfibers of said storage layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The sanitary product of claim 5, wherein said melt-blown microfibers of said bottom absorbent layer are thermally compatible with said melt-blown microfibers of said storage layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The sanitary product of claim 6, wherein said melt-blown microfibers of said top absorbent layer are thermally compatible with said melt-blown microfibers of said storage layer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The sanitary product of claim 1, further comprising a porous or fibrous layer disposed between said storage layer and said top sheet to rapidly absorb liquid.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The sanitary product of claim 1, wherein a strength in a wet state is at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% of a strength in a dry state.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The sanitary product of claim 1, wherein said storage layer consists essentially of melt-blown microfibers and particulate superabsorbing material.