PANT-TYPE ABSORBENT ARTICLE
Disclosed is an absorbent article having a back elastic belt comprising a waist guard portion extending towards the crotch region from a closed base line towards an open edge, wherein the waist guard portion is partially bonded to the remainder of the back elastic belt to define a pocket.
This application is a continuation of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to, Patent Application No. PCT/CN2021/077841, filed on Feb. 25, 2021, which claims priority to Patent Application No. PCT/CN2020/077152, filed on Feb. 28, 2020 and Patent Application No. PCT/CN2020/104295, filed on Jul. 24, 2020, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to pant-type absorbent articles having a protective measure for preventing leakage of low viscosity bodily exudates, while also maintaining other functions as a pant-type wearable article.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONInfants and other individuals wear absorbent articles such as diapers to receive and contain urine and other body exudates. Pull-on absorbent articles, or pant-type absorbent articles, such as described in PCT Publication WO 2006/17718A, are those which are donned by inserting the wearer's legs into the leg openings and sliding the article up into position about the lower torso. Pant-type absorbent articles have become popular for younger babies requiring a soft fit around the waist opening and leg openings. Pant-type absorbent articles have also become popular for females having heavy flow or overnight usage during menstruation periods. One function desired for a pant-type article is a protective measure for preventing leakage of low viscosity bodily exudates through the waist opening. Those pant-type articles having less material around the waist opening for breathability purpose or otherwise, may have risk of leakage from the waist opening, particularly when the wearer is lying on his/her back or belly.
Pant-type articles may take various structures wherein the circumference of the waist opening and vicinity thereof is made elastic enough to facilitate the wearer or the caregiver to expand the article and insert the wearer's legs into the leg openings for wearing the article. Accordingly, pant-type articles provide only a very small range of size adjustment or body configuration adjustment based on the structural limitations of the article. As such, pant-type articles are typically so configured to accommodate size and configuration ranges by providing the elastic belt region very stretchable and comfortable to wear, yet with reliable fit such that sufficient protection against sagging and leakage may be provided. It is desired that such basic functions of the elastic belt region may be maintained even with introduction of the aforementioned protective measure.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need for an absorbent article provided with a protective measure for preventing leakage of low viscosity bodily exudates from the waist opening, while maintaining good stretchability for ease of application, good fit for preventing sagging, good comfort and softness, and good breathability. There is also a need for providing such an absorbent article which can be economically made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to an absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction comprising a front elastic belt, a back elastic belt, a crotch region, a waist opening, and a pair of leg openings; the crotch region extending longitudinally between the front elastic belt and the back elastic belt;
the absorbent article comprising an absorbent main body extending the entire longitudinal dimension of the crotch region and further extending partly into each of the front elastic belt and the back elastic belt, the absorbent main body comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent material region sandwiched therebetween, and a pair of inner cuffs disposed along both transverse edges extending in the longitudinal direction and superposing the topsheet, wherein the inner cuffs extend from the topsheet toward the longitudinal axis to form a free edge;
the entirety of the length of the transverse edges of the front elastic belt is seamed with a certain length of the transverse edges of the back elastic belt to define a pair of side seams, wherein the side seams have a seam length LS;
the back elastic belt divided into multiple zones spanning in the transverse direction and defined by its location from the distal edge to the proximal edge relative to the percentage of the seam length LS wherein the distal edge is considered 0% and the proximal edge is considered 100% wherein; a waist guard portion is disposed within a location of from about 25% to about 60% of LS, the waist guard portion extending towards the crotch region from a closed base line towards an open edge, wherein the waist guard portion is partially bonded to the remainder of the back elastic belt to define a pocket;
wherein each free edge of the pair of inner cuff comprises an unattached portion unattached to the topsheet and extending from the front region through the crotch region to the back region, an attached portion attached to the topsheet and adjacent the unattached portion, and a dividing point separating the attached portion and the unattached portion, wherein at least some portion of the unattached portion comprises a longitudinally extending inner cuff elastic body in active elasticity;
wherein the dividing point of the inner cuff is positioned superposing the pocket, or within about 5 mm more proximal from the open edge of the waist guard portion in the longitudinal direction.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and which like designations are used to designate substantially identical elements, and in which:
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meaning specified thereafter:
“Absorbent article” refers to articles of wear which may be in the form of pants, taped diapers, incontinent briefs, feminine hygiene garments, and the like, so configured to also absorb and contain various exudates such as urine, feces, and menses discharged from the body. The “absorbent article” may serve as an outer cover adaptable to be joined with a separable disposable absorbent insert for providing absorbent and containment function, such as those disclosed in PCT publication WO 2011/087503A.
“Pant” refers to disposable absorbent articles having a pre-formed waist and leg openings. A pant may be donned by inserting a wearer's legs into the leg openings and sliding the pant into position about the wearer's lower torso. Pants are also commonly referred to as “closed diapers”, “prefastened diapers”, “pull-on diapers”, “training pants” and “diaper-pants”.
“Longitudinal” refers to a direction running substantially perpendicular from a waist edge to an opposing waist edge of the article and generally parallel to the maximum linear dimension of the article.
“Transverse” refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
“Proximal” and “distal” refer respectively to the position closer or farther relative to the longitudinal center of the article.
“Inward” and “outward” refer respectively to the position closer or farther relative to the transverse center of the article.
“Body-facing” and “garment-facing” refer respectively to the relative location of an element or a surface of an element or group of elements. “Body-facing” implies the element or surface is nearer to the wearer during wear than some other element or surface. “Garment-facing” implies the element or surface is more remote from the wearer during wear than some other element or surface (i.e., element or surface is proximate to the wearer's garments that may be worn over the disposable absorbent article).
“Disposed” refers to an element being located in a particular place or position.
“Joined” refers to configurations whereby an element is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to the other element and to configurations whereby an element is indirectly secured to another element by affixing the element to intermediate member(s) which in turn are affixed to the other element.
“Film” refers to a sheet-like material wherein the length and width of the material far exceed the thickness of the material. Typically, films have a thickness of about 0.5 mm or less.
“Water-permeable” and “water-impermeable” refer to the penetrability of materials in the context of the intended usage of disposable absorbent articles. Specifically, the term “water-permeable” refers to a layer or a layered structure having pores, openings, and/or interconnected void spaces that permit liquid water, urine, or synthetic urine to pass through its thickness in the absence of a forcing pressure. Conversely, the term “water-impermeable” refers to a layer or a layered structure through the thickness of which liquid water, urine, or synthetic urine cannot pass in the absence of a forcing pressure (aside from natural forces such as gravity). A layer or a layered structure that is water-impermeable according to this definition may be permeable to water vapor, i.e., may be “vapor-permeable”.
“Extendibility” and “extensible” mean that the width or length of the component in a relaxed state can be extended or increased.
“Elasticated” and “elasticized” mean that a component comprises at least a portion made of elastic material.
“Elongatable material”, “extensible material”, or “stretchable material” are used interchangeably and refer to a material that, upon application of a biasing force, can stretch to an elongated length of at least about 110% of its relaxed, original length (i.e. can stretch to 10 percent more than its original length), without rupture or breakage, and upon release of the applied force, shows little recovery, less than about 20% of its elongation without complete rupture or breakage as measured by EDANA method 20.2-89. In the event such an elongatable material recovers at least 40% of its elongation upon release of the applied force, the elongatable material will be considered to be “elastic” or “elastomeric.” For example, an elastic material that has an initial length of 100 mm can extend at least to 150 mm, and upon removal of the force retracts to a length of at least 130 mm (i.e., exhibiting a 40% recovery). In the event the material recovers less than 40% of its elongation upon release of the applied force, the elongatable material will be considered to be “substantially non-elastic” or “substantially non-elastomeric”. For example, an elongatable material that has an initial length of 100 mm can extend at least to 150 mm, and upon removal of the force retracts to a length of at least 145 mm (i.e., exhibiting a 10% recovery).
“Dimension”, “Length”, “Width”, “Pitch”, “Diameter”, “Aspect Ratio”, “Angle”, and “Area” of the article are all measured in a state wherein the article is extended to the Full Stretch Circumference W1according to the “Whole Article Force Measurement” herein, and utilizing a ruler or a loupe, unless specified otherwise.
“Color” or “Colored” as referred to herein includes any primary color except color white, i.e., black, red, blue, violet, orange, yellow, green, and indigo as well as any declination thereof or mixture thereof. The color white is defined as those colors having a L* value of at least 94, an a* value equal to 0±2, and a b* value equal to 0±2 according to the CIE L* a* b* color system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe absorbent article (20) may be a belt-type pant as in
The absorbent main body (38) comprises a topsheet (34), a backsheet (36) and an absorbent material region (62) disposed between the topsheet (34) and the backsheet (36). The absorbent main body (38) may further comprise an outer cover layer (42) for covering the garment-facing side of the backsheet (36). The topsheet (34) may be a water permeable substrate. The backsheet (36) may be a water impermeable film. The outer cover layer (42) may be a nonwoven sheet. The absorbent main body (38) comprises an absorbent material region (62) for absorbing and containing body exudates disposed on the absorbent main body (38), and an absorbent material non-existing region (61) surrounding the periphery of the absorbent material region (62). The area adjacent the front and back longitudinal end edges of the absorbent main body (38) comprise the backsheet (36). The absorbent material non-existing region (61) may be made of the topsheet (34) and/or the backsheet (36) and/or the outer cover layer (42) and/or other parts configuring the absorbent main body (38). In the embodiment shown in
The absorbent material region (62) may comprise an absorbent layer and an acquisition layer. The absorbent layer is the region wherein absorbent materials having a high retention capacity, such as superabsorbent polymers, are present. The absorbent layer may be substantially cellulose free. Superabsorbent polymers of the absorbent layer may be disposed between first and second layers of material immobilized by a fibrous layer of thermoplastic adhesive material. The first and second layers of materials may be nonwoven fibrous webs including synthetic fibers, such as mono-constituent fibers of PE, PET and PP, multiconstituent fibers such as side by side, core/sheath or island in the sea type fibers. Such synthetic fibers may be formed via a spunbonding process or a meltblowing process. The acquisition layer facilitates the acquisition and the distribution of body exudates and may be placed between the topsheet (34) and the absorbent layer. The acquisition layer may include cellulosic fibers.
The absorbent layers may be disposed in plurality in the absorbent material region (62). Some portions of the absorbent layers may be configured to have substantially no absorbent material to form a channel or a plurality of channels. Channels may be useful for allowing the absorbent material region (62) to bend upon swelling with fluids, such that the absorbent article conforms to the wearer's body after swelling and prevent sagging of the article. The channels may also be formed in the acquisition layer, and may be configured to at least partly match the channels of the absorbent layer in the thickness direction.
Referring to
The elastic belt (40) of the article of the present invention acts to dynamically create fitment forces and to distribute the forces dynamically generated during wear. The front and back elastic belts (84, 86) may be joined with each other only at the side edges (89) to form side seams (32), a waist opening and two leg openings. Each leg opening may be provided with elasticity around the perimeter of the leg opening. The elasticity around the leg opening may be provided by the combination of elasticity from the front elastic belt (84), the back elastic belt (86), and the outer cuffs (64).
The longitudinal length of the backsheet (36) and the outer cover layer (42) may be the same, or may be varied. For example, the outer cover layer (42) may have a shorter length compared to that of the backsheet (36), such that the outer cover layer (42) is devoid where the absorbent main body (38) overlaps the elastic belt (40). By such configuration, the elastic belt may have better breathability. Further, such configuration may provide cost saving. The transverse width of the backsheet (36) and the outer cover layer (42) may be the same, or may be varied. For example, the backsheet (36) may have a shorter transverse width compared to that of the outer cover layer (42). By such configuration, the longitudinal side edges (48) of the crotch panel (56), which make part of the leg openings, may have better breathability. Further, such configuration may provide cost saving. The backsheet (36) may extend to the transversely extending end edges (50) of the absorbent main body (38) for providing leakage prevention.
For the belt-type pant, the longitudinal length LB of the back elastic belt (86) and the longitudinal length LF of the front elastic belt (84) may be provided the same, or the back elastic belt (86) may have a greater longitudinal length LB as in
The front elastic belt (84) and back elastic belt (86) are configured to impart elasticity to the belt (40). Referring to
The tensile stress (N/m) of the entirety of the front and back elastic belts (84, 86), respectively, may be profiled in order to provide the functional benefits of the present invention, such as ease of stretch and application, while also maintaining certain force during wear, to prevent the article from sagging after loading. When the elasticity of the front and back elastic belts (84, 86) are provided by a plurality of elastic members (96F, 96S) running in the transverse direction, the tensile stress may be adjusted by one or more of the following methods; 1) elongation rate of the elastic member (96F, 96S); 2) density (dtex) of the elastic member (96F, 96S); 3) longitudinal pitch of multiple elastic members (96F, 96S); and 4) effective length of elasticity of the elastic member (96F, 96S) in the transverse direction. By elongation, “0% elongation” is meant the original length of the elastic member.
Referring to
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Referring to
The Waist Guard Portion (WGP) may be configured in a certain way relative to the absorbent main body to provide improved function. As mentioned above, the area of the pocket (103P) is so configured to provide the pocket (103P) substantially superposing the backsheet (36), preferably completely superposing the backsheet (36). When the backsheet (36) extends to the end edge (50) of the absorbent main body (38), the end edge of the backsheet (36) matches the end edge (50) of the absorbent main body (38). Referring to
Referring to
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Referring to
When the Waist Guard Portion (WGP) is not disposed on the front elastic belt, the front elastic belt may be divided into 4 zones wherein: 0-25% is the waist zone (102), 25-50% is the distal tummy zone (104), 50-85% is the proximal tummy zone (106), and 85-100% is the leg zone (108). When there is an elastic member disposed at 25% from the distal edge (88), such elastic member is considered to be included in the waist zone (102). When there is an elastic member disposed at 50% from the distal edge (88), or 85% from the distal edge (88), such elastic member is considered to be included in the proximal tummy zone (106).
When the Waist Guard Portion (WGP) is disposed on the back elastic belt and not disposed on the front elastic belt, the tensile stress of the protective zone (103) may be provided higher than the tensile stress of either the back waist zone (102), or the buttock zone (105). When the Waist Guard Portion (WGP) is disposed on the back elastic belt and not disposed on the front elastic belt, the tensile stress of the front proximal tummy zone (106) may be provided higher than the tensile stress of any of the front waist zone (102), the front distal tummy zone (104), or the front leg zone (108). The tensile stress of the front proximal tummy zone (106) may be higher than the tensile stress of any other zone, either in the front or the back. When comparing all of the zones of the front elastic belt and the back elastic belt, the tensile stress may be provided greatest in the order of: the front proximal tummy zone (106), followed by the protective zone (103). Without being bound by theory, such profiling of the tensile stress per zone is believed to provide the article of the present invention with a shaped elastic belt (40) that conforms well to a human body, such as in
In the present invention, at least one of the inner sheet (92), the outer sheet (94), or the outer cover layer (42) may further comprise a plurality of apertures, wherein the individual aperture may be in the shape of an oval, or polyhedron, while having an aspect ratio of no more than about 3, or no more than about 2.5. The individual aperture may have a transverse dimension APT of at least about 0.4 mm, or from about 0.4 mm to about 2.0 mm, and a longitudinal dimension APL, wherein APT is at least about 10% greater than APL. Further, the individual apertures may be spaced apart from each other with a longitudinal pitch DF2 of no more than about 5 mm, and APL is not larger than 50% of DF2, or APL is from about 12% to about 30% of DF2. Apertures of such size, shape, and spacing may be visible to the naked eye on the garment-facing surface. When apertures are provided on the outer sheet (92), this may connote breathability and high quality of the gathers made by the contraction of the elastic members of the elastic belt (40), even when the gathers are in contracted state. By providing apertures on the outer sheet (92) and the outer cover layer (42) and further coordinating the patterns of apertures, this may enhance integral appearance of the elastic belt (40) and absorbent main body (38).
Referring to
Force is measured using an Electronic Tensile Tester with a computer interface such as the MTS Criterion C42 running TestWorks 4 Software (available from MTS SYSTEMS (CHINA) CO., LTD) or equivalent instrument. A load cell is selected so that force results for the samples tested will be between 10 and 90% of capacity of the load cell used. The instrument is calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions. All testing is performed in a room maintained at 23±2° C. and 50±5% relative humidity.
The tensile tester is fitted with hanger-type sample holding fixtures (300) as shown in
Gauge Circumference=2×(H+D+πD/2)
where H is the vertical gap between the horizontal bar sections (302), and D is the outer diameter of the bar.
The instrument is set up to go through the following steps:
An article (20) sample is inserted onto the upper horizontal bar section (302) so that the bar passes through the waist opening and one leg opening of the article. The crosshead is raised until the specimen hangs above the lower bar and does not touch lower bar (302). The load cell is tared and the crosshead is lowered to enable the lower bar (302) to be inserted through the waist opening and other leg opening without stretching the article. The article is adjusted so that the longitudinal centerline L1 of the article is in a horizontal plane halfway between the upper and lower bars (302). The center of the side portion in contact with the bar (302) is situated on the same vertical axis as the instrument load cell. The crosshead is raised slowly while the article is held in place by hand as necessary until the force is between 0.05 and 0.1 N, while taking care not to add any unnecessary force. The gauge circumference at this point is the Initial Gauge Circumference. The test is initiated and the crosshead moves up at 254 mm/min until a force of 19.6 N is attained, then the crosshead immediately returns to the Initial Gauge Circumference at the same speed. The maximum circumference at 19.6 N and the force at 70% of the maximum circumference during the loading segment and unloading segment of the test are recorded.
The maximum circumference at 19.6 N is defined as the Full Stretch Circumference (mm). The Full Stretch Circumference (mm)×0.7 is defined as the 70% Stretch Circumference. The Waist Circumference Force is defined as the force at 70% stretch circumference during the load (extension) segment of the test. Five samples are analyzed and their average are calculated and reported to the nearest 0.01 N, respectively.
Belt Zone Tensile Stress MeasurementThe tensile stress (N/m) is calculated by tensile force (N) divided by the specimen width (m). Force may be measured using an Electronic Tensile Tester with a computer interface such as the MTS Criterion C42 running TestWorks 4 Software (available from MTS SYSTEMS (CHINA) CO., LTD) or equivalent instrument. A load cell is chosen so that force results for the samples tested will be between 10% and 90% of capacity of the load cell. The instrument is calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions. All testing is performed in a room maintained at 23±2° C. and 50±5% relative humidity. The instrument is equipped with single line contact grips at least as wide as the test specimen.
To obtain test specimens, the sample article is cut open along the side seams (32), and the front and belt elastic belt sections (40) are removed from the absorbent main body (38) by separating the bonding between them, and further the Waist Guard Portion (WGP) is separated from the belt to which it is attached. Cold Spray may be used, paying attention not to make wrinkles in the belt sections. Care is taken not to spray on any belt elastic member (96F, 96S). The obtained elastic belt samples are severed into zones (102, 103, 1031-WGEP, 1031-CP, 104, 105, 106, 108) according to the present invention with care not to cut any elastic member (96F, 96S). Samples are pre-conditioned at 23° C.±2 C.° and 50%±5% relative humidity for two hours prior to testing.
The instrument is set up to go through the following steps. Initial Gauge Length is calculated from the Initial Gauge Circumference which is determined during the Whole Article Force Test using separate identical articles, as described above. Initial Gauge Length=0.5×Initial Gauge Circumference. The final gauge length is calculated from the Full Stretch Circumference which is determined during the Whole Article Force Test, as described above.
One end of the specimen is clamped into the upper clamp and the load is tared. The other end of the specimen is clamped into the lower clamp. Approximately 5 mm of each end of the specimen is behind the contact line of the grip. The test is started and the specimen is extended to the final gauge length at a crosshead speed of 254 mm/min, then immediately returned to the original gauge length at the same speed. The specimen is extended in the article transverse direction during the test. The unload force at 70% of the Final Gauge Length during the unload segments of the test is recorded.
Five articles are analyzed and the unload forces are recorded for each of the zones. The average tensile force (N) is calculated to the nearest 0.01 N for each. The tensile stress for each zone is calculated by the average tensile force (N) divided by the average specimen width (m) and reported to the nearest 0.1 N/m.
Side Leakage TestSide Leakage is measured by analyzing a particular portion of an absorbent article after subjecting the article sample through an insulting protocol.
1. Sample InspectionAn article sample is unjoined of its side seams and inspected of its absorbent main body (38) to identify the narrowest transverse dimension of the backsheet (36) in the crotch region (30).
Such inspected sample is not used for the insulting protocol below. Referring to
The following artificial fecal material and artificial urine material are prepared in the indicated amount. The material are filled in syringes.
Artifical fecal material: 80 ml of 0.5% Carboxyvinyl polymer solution in distilled water to achieve a viscosity of up to 10 Pa×sec @ 1sec−1. Blue dye (Brilliant Blue food additive colours, from Tianjin Duofuyuan industrial co.ltd) was added in an amount to provide the material clearly discernible to the naked eye.
Artificial urine material: 100 ml of saline
Samples are preconditioned at 23° C.±2 C.° and 30%±5% relative humidity for 24 hours before testing. The sample is applied on a mannequin available from JP, Kato of the intended size of the article. (For the Examples herein, a Size 3 mannequin having a waist circumference of 447 mm, a hip circumference of 450 mm, and a leg circumference of 270 mm is used.) with care such that the inner cuff free edge is opened at the crotch region, and the mannequin is placed in back laying position.
50 ml artificial urine material is applied at a rate of 5 ml/second to mannequin urinating point and wait for 1 minute. Another 50 ml artificial urine material is applied in the same manner and wait for 1 minute. 50 ml artificial fecal material is applied to wearer facing side of the back elastic belt at 120 mm from the waist opening and wait for 1 minute. Another 30 ml artificial fecal material is applied in the same manner and wait for 1 minute.
Place the mannequin in a sitting position and place paper towel at back waist area. Place the mannequin in back laying position on the pre-weighed paper towel. The same sitting—laying position change is done for additional 2 times. If leakage is identified on the paper towel, the sample is considered to have failed the insulting protocol, and is not sent for the following procedures.
4. Sample PreparationIn the laying position, the sample is removed from the mannequin by tearing open the side seams and with care not to cause movement of artificial fecal material in the sample. The sample removed as such is attached to a horizontal plane utilizing double side tape wherein the back belt is stretched to its maximum dimension, as in
The photographs taken are acquired as images and imported into ImageJ software (version 1.53c, National Institute of Health, USA) or equivalent. The analyzing region image is cropped from the original images. Use Rectangle to choose the region of interest (ROI), then use ImageJ “Crop” to get the ROI.
The cropped images are splitted into three 8-bit grayscale images containing the red, green and blue components of the original using Image, Color, Split Channels. The window names have an appended (red), (green) and (blue). Among these 3 Channels, the Channel with the highest contrast is chosen for next step analysis.
Use threshold tool to automatically segment contaminated area from background. Use Image, Adjust, Threshold and choose “Intermodes” method with “B&W” mode to segment the contaminated area.
The images obtained by this step were subject to Use Analyze, Set scale to set the image scale.
The parameters used are: Distance in pixels: 0, Known distance: 0.00, Pixel aspect ratio: 1.0, Unit of length: pixel, and choose the check box “Global”. After setting the image scale, use Analyze, and Analyze Particles to count the contaminated area. The analysis parameters used are: Size (pixel2): 0-Infinity; Circularity: 0:00-1.00; check box: only choose “Display results”, and then start the analysis.
Choose “Results” window, “Area” column, and sum all the areas up as the contaminated area. Contaminated area=Σ1nArea.
Calculate the contaminated area relative to the entire Analyzing region, respectively. Side Leakage Percentage=contaminated area/cropped image area, the cropped image area=image width×image height, pixel as the unit. The left and right images from 5 samples are analyzed, and their average are calculated and reported to the nearest 1%.
EXAMPLES Examples 1-2 and Comparative Example 1Examples 1-2 of the present invention and Comparative Example 1 of the prior art are belt-type pant absorbent articles in Size 3 (M size) having an elastic profiling of the back elastic belt and inner cuff dimensions according to Table 1 below. For each example, the protective zone comprising the Waist Guard Portion (WGP) was positioned at 28% to 55% of LS only on the back elastic belt. For each example, the 2 elastic strands on the Correlated Portion (CP) had an elastic cut window. For each example, there were 18 elastic members each disposed on the front elastic belt and the back elastic belt. The tensile stress of the Waist Guard Elastic Portion (WGEP) and the Correlated Portion (CP) according to the Belt Zone Tensile Stress Measurement herein, were measured. All examples were subject to the Side Leakage Test herein to measure the Side Leakage Percentage. Results are also provided in Table 1.
Examples 1-2 as well as Comparative Example 1 provide good stretchability for ease of application, good fit for preventing sagging, good comfort and softness, and good breathability. Compared to Comparative Example 1, Examples 1-2 provide improved protection against side leakage of low viscosity fecal matter.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
Claims
1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction comprising a front elastic belt, a back elastic belt, a crotch region, a waist opening, and a pair of leg openings; the crotch region extending longitudinally between the front elastic belt and the back elastic belt; the absorbent article comprising an absorbent main body extending the entire longitudinal dimension of the crotch region and further extending partly into each of the front elastic belt and the back elastic belt, the absorbent main body comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent material region sandwiched therebetween, and a pair of inner cuffs disposed along both transverse edges extending in the longitudinal direction and superposing the topsheet, wherein the inner cuffs extend from the topsheet toward the longitudinal axis to form a free edge; the entirety of the length of the transverse edges of the front elastic belt is seamed with a certain length of the transverse edges of the back elastic belt to define a pair of side seams, wherein the side seams have a seam length LS; the back elastic belt divided into multiple zones spanning in the transverse direction and defined by its location from the distal edge to the proximal edge relative to the percentage of the seam length LS wherein the distal edge is considered 0% and the proximal edge is considered 100% wherein; a waist guard portion is disposed within a location of from about 25% to about 70% of LS, the waist guard portion extending towards the crotch region from a closed base line towards an open edge, wherein the waist guard portion is partially bonded to the remainder of the back elastic belt to define a pocket; wherein each free edge of the pair of inner cuff comprises an unattached portion unattached to the topsheet and extending from the front region through the crotch region to the back region, an attached portion attached to the topsheet and adjacent the unattached portion, and a dividing point separating the attached portion and the unattached portion, wherein at least some portion of the unattached portion comprises a longitudinally extending inner cuff elastic body in active elasticity; wherein the dividing point of the inner cuff is positioned superposing the pocket, or within about 5 mm more proximal from the open edge of the waist guard portion in the longitudinal direction.
2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the attached portion is provided along the free edge and with a transverse dimension overlapping the inner cuff elastic body.
3. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the entire length of the unattached portion is in active elasticity.
4. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the inner cuff further comprises an auxiliary attached portion, wherein the auxiliary attached portion extends longitudinally and is provided outward from the inner cuff elastic body.
5. The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the auxiliary attached portion superposes the pocket.
6. The absorbent article of claim 5, wherein the dividing point is positioned more distal than the proximal edge of the auxiliary attached portion.
7. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein within the waist guard portion, the inner cuffs and the waist guard portion are unbonded to each other.
8. The absorbent article claim 1, wherein the waist guard portion comprises a waist guard elastic portion having a longitudinal dimension of no greater than about 40 mm, the remainder of the back elastic belt superposing the waist guard elastic portion is defined a correlated portion, wherein the tensile stress of the waist guard elastic portion is at least about 25% higher than the tensile stress of the correlated portion.
9. The absorbent article claim 1, wherein the area of the pocket substantially superposes the backsheet.
10. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the article has a Side Leakage Percentage of less than 50%, according to the measurements herein.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 28, 2022
Publication Date: Nov 17, 2022
Inventors: Xu GAO (Beijing), Hiroshi FUJIKAWA (Himeji), Qi YANG (Beijing), Koichi MORIMOTO (Beijing), Abhishek SURUSHE (Kelkheim)
Application Number: 17/875,471