Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-23
2001-08-21
Weiss, John G. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
C604S385010, C604S385030, C604S386000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06277106
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article having an improved fastenability about the waist of a wearer. In particular, the present invention relates to a disposable diaper which includes an adhesive to assist the care-giver in positioning and fastening the diaper about the waist of the wearer.
Disposable absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence articles, training pants and the like are well known to those skilled in the art. Such absorbent articles generally include a front portion, a rear portion and a crotch portion connecting the front portion to the rear portion. As used herein, reference to a front portion refers to that part of the absorbent article which is generally located on the front of a wearer when in use. Reference to the rear portion refers to the portion of the absorbent article generally located at the rear of the wearer when in use, and reference to the crotch portion refers to that portion which is generally located between the legs of the wearer when in use.
Many of the conventional absorbent articles, and diapers in particular, are typically fastened about the waist of the wearer using fasteners which can be releasably engaged together. The fasteners generally include a pair of first fasteners which are located on the side edges of the rear portion of the absorbent article and at least one second fastener which is located on the front portion of the absorbent article. In use, the first fasteners are configured to be releasably engageable with the second fastener to fasten the absorbent article about the waist of the wearer.
The process used to fasten such conventional absorbent articles about a wearer typically includes the following steps: (1) placing the absorbent article in a laid out flat configuration; (2) positioning the back torso of the wearer on the rear portion of the absorbent article; (3) bringing the front portion of the absorbent article between the legs of the wearer; (4) extending the fasteners about the side regions of the waist of the wearer; and (5) releasably engaging the fasteners together to secure the absorbent article about the waist of the wearer. Such an involved process can be extremely difficult for a care-giver to accomplish. For example, after bringing the front portion of the absorbent article between the legs of the wearer, the care-giver typically uses one hand to hold the front portion of the absorbent article against the stomach of the wearer, while the other hand releasably engages the fasteners about one side of the wearer. The care-giver must then switch hands and complete the same procedure on the opposite side of the wearer. In such a process, it can be very difficult for the care-giver to maintain the absorbent article in a proper position while releasably engaging the fasteners together along both side edges of the waist of the wearer. This is particularly true when the wearer is very active.
As a result, the conventional absorbent articles and the process of fastening such articles about the waist of a wearer have not been completely satisfactory. The design of the conventional absorbent articles and the complex process required in using them can easily frustrate the care-giver or person fastening the article about the wearer. Moreover, the conventional article design and fastening process can result in an improper positioning of the absorbent article about the wearer. Such improper positioning can result in an undesirable increase in leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article and decreased consumer acceptance. Typically, when using the conventional absorbent articles, the care-giver may be required to readjust or reposition the absorbent article two or more times to achieve the optimum placement and fit of the article about the wearer.
Many conventional absorbent articles have included fasteners which are attached to tabs of material or ears which extend beyond the side edges of the absorbent article to improve the fastenability of the absorbent article about the waist of the wearer. However, although such improvements have increased the ease of fastening, it remains desirable to provide an absorbent article which has an improved fastenability about the waist of the wearer. In particular, it is desirable to provide an absorbent article having improved fastening ergonomics which can result in an improved fit and positioning of the absorbent article about the wearer upon an initial fastening to provide improved performance.
Moreover, conventional absorbent articles which have utilized leg and waist gathers have still had a tendency to leak body exudates at the leg and waist regions. Further, the waist regions on conventional absorbent articles have also undesirably rolled over or sagged and drooped after a period of usage. Accordingly, it is also desirable to provide an absorbent article which has reduced leakage and which has waist regions which have a reduced tendency to roll over or droop.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In response to the discussed difficulties and problems, a new disposable absorbent article having an improved fastenability about a wearer has been discovered.
In one aspect, the present invention concerns an absorbent article which includes a front portion, a rear portion, a crotch portion which extends between and connects the front portion to the rear portion, a pair of side edges and a pair of longitudinal end edges. The absorbent article also includes an outer cover, a bodyside liner which is superposed on the outer cover and which includes a bodyfacing surface and an absorbent core which is located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner. The absorbent article further includes an adhesive which is located on the bodyfacing surface of the bodyside liner. The adhesive is configured to provide a peel strength of no more than about 300 grams per centimeter of width of the adhesive pattern.
In another aspect, the present invention concerns an absorbent article which includes an adhesive which is located on the bodyfacing surface of the bodyside liner and which is configured to at least temporarily secure the absorbent article to a wearer's body. The adhesive is configured to provide a peel strength of no more than about 300 grams per centimeter of width, an aged shear strength of no more than about 500 grams per square centimeter and a cyclic shear value of no more than about 100 cycles. In a particular aspect, the adhesive is located on the bodyfacing surface of the bodyside liner in the front portion of the absorbent article. In such a configuration, the adhesive is configured to at least temporarily secure the front portion of the absorbent article to the wearer's body to assist in positioning and fastening the absorbent article about the wearer's body.
In yet another aspect, the present invention concerns a diaper which includes a front portion, a rear portion, a crotch portion which extends between and connects the front portion to the rear portion, a pair of side edges and a pair of longitudinal end edges. The diaper also includes an outer cover, a bodyside liner which is superposed on the outer cover and which includes a bodyfacing surface, an absorbent core which is located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and an adhesive. The adhesive is located on the bodyfacing surface of the bodyside liner adjacent at least a portion of the longitudinal end edge of the diaper in the front portion of the diaper. The adhesive is configured to at least temporarily secure the front portion of the diaper to a wearer's body to assist in positioning and fastening the diaper about the wearer's body. In a particular aspect, the adhesive is configured to provide a peel strength of no more than about 300 grams per centimeter of width and an initial shear strength of no more than about 600 grams per square centimeter.
The present invention can advantageously provide an absorbent article which has improved fastenability. The absorbent article according to the different aspects of the present invention has
Betrabet Chinmay Suresh
Boudry Kristina Michelle
Lachapell Ruth Ann
Yu Lisha
Curtin Jeffrey B.
Dudkowski Alyssa A.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Weiss John G.
LandOfFree
Absorbent article having an improved fastenability does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Absorbent article having an improved fastenability, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Absorbent article having an improved fastenability will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2487083