Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-20
2004-09-14
Reichle, K. M. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
C604S364000, C604S365000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06790203
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an absorbent product, such as a diaper, a pant diaper, an incontinence pad, a sanitary towel or the like. The absorbent product has an absorption body with a generally oblong shape including two longitudinal sides, two transverse sides, a longitudinal center line, a transverse center line, and also including a first, liquid-permeable surface layer and a second, liquid-impermeable surface layer, a liquid-impermeable backing layer, an absorption body positioned between said liquid-permeable surface layer and said backing layer, two leakage barriers made of flexible material in the longitudinal direction on each side of the longitudinal center line and the first, liquid-permeable surface layer, each of the leakage barriers having a first edge permanently fastened along the first, liquid-permeable surface layer and a second edge which extends mainly in the direction of the longitudinal center line of the absorbent product, each of the leakage barriers also having a first surface and a second surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order to prevent the risk of leakage at the side edges of an absorbent product, some absorbent products have what are known as standing or raised leakage barriers, also referred to as inner liquid barriers, standing barriers or cuffs, in most cases fastened in association with a liquid-permeable surface layer on the product. The function of the leakage barrier is to prevent liquid leaking out at the edges of the absorbent product and, if appropriate, to prevent leakage of solids such as excrement. These leakage barriers are located inside the leg elastic, which shapes the product and constitutes an outer liquid barrier, also referred to as the outer leakage barrier, and are usually made of an essentially liquid-impermeable material, for example fiber fabric, which is also known as non-woven. Sometimes, the barriers can also be made of liquid-permeable material. The leakage barriers are formed by a web, one longitudinal edge of which is fastened to the absorbent product and the other, free edge of which is intended to bear against the wearer. The free edge is elastically gathered by means of an elastic thread which is incorporated into the edge of the web. Examples of absorbent articles with leakage barriers (or what are known as liquid barriers) are described in, for example, WO-A1-9207533, U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,278, U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,489, SE-T3-0264238 and GB-A-2188532. When the absorbent product has leakage barriers arranged inside flexible side flaps on both sides of the absorption body of the product, it is usual for the surface material between the two inner leakage barriers, that is to say in the liquid-receiving area, to be liquid-permeable, while the surface material outside the leakage barriers is essentially liquid-impermeable.
On diapers with what are known as inner leakage barriers, for example, the barrier will, during use, be positioned so that it bears against the leg and buttocks of the wearer and is to prevent leakage there. Each time urine is discharged into the diaper, a certain quantity comes into contact with the wearer. It takes a little time before the urine penetrates the surface layer and is absorbed in the absorbent layer, so a certain volume of urine will flow in the absorbent product on top of the surface layer. This is the volume which the barrier is to prevent leaking out at the edges of the absorbent product.
New problems arise precisely because of the purpose and material characteristics of the leakage barriers. The leakage barriers, which are essentially liquid-impermeable, can, when the product is put on the wearer, lie over the liquid-permeable surface layer instead of fitting tightly around the thighs and buttocks of the wearer. This may be as a result of the product having been tightened too firmly, incorrectly, carelessly or the like. When a leakage barrier lies incorrectly, there may be unfavourable consequences in the form of poor fit and unoptimized dimensional stability. The greatest problem, however, is in the increased risk of leakage. There are two main reasons for increased leakage, the first being that the leakage barriers are no longer positioned where they are intended to be, which can give rise to openings between the thighs of the wearer and the product, where liquid can escape. The second is that the leakage barriers can lie on the liquid-permeable surface layer and thus prevent the liquid from being admitted into and absorbed in the absorption body. Instead, the liquid runs on or via the liquid-impermeable surface of the leakage barriers, and thus gives rise to leakage and discomfort.
For bedridden wearers, the problem is marked when the person fitting the absorbent product may perhaps be unable to arrange everything properly. The wearer may be, for example, a heavy person, while the person applying the product might not have sufficient strength in order to perform all the necessary lifting and turning. This means that it is important to ensure everything is correct the first time the absorbent product is put on, so that no further action has to be taken.
The problem of leakage barriers lying incorrectly is especially marked with an absorbent product with a narrow crotch portion, that is to say the distance between the longitudinal sides of the absorption body is relatively small. The leakage barriers may then cover a greater percentage of the area of the liquid-permeable surface layer and thus indirectly of that surface of the absorption body facing the wearer than if the distance between the longitudinal sides of the absorption body is relatively great. In the same way, a high leakage barrier, that is to say a barrier where the distance between the longitudinal edges of the leakage barrier is great, can cover a greater percentage of the area of the liquid-permeable surface layer and thus indirectly of the absorption body than if the distance between the longitudinal edges of the leakage barrier is small.
An object of the invention is to solve these problems in a refined manner which is comfortable for the wearer.
SUMMARY
According to one embodiment of the claimed invention, an absorbent product of the type mentioned in the introduction has been produced, which product essentially eliminates the problems associated with previously known such products. The first surface and/or the second surface of each leakage barrier is fastened to or near to the first, liquid-permeable surface layer and/or the second, liquid-impermeable surface layer.
According to one embodiment, the first surface and/or second surface of each said leakage barrier is temporarily fastened by a binder which loses its adhesive and/or cohesive capacity during use of the absorbent product, the first surface and/or second surface of each leakage barrier then coming away from its fastening surface and becoming a raised leakage barrier.
A binder can be an agent which has an adhesive and/or cohesive capacity, for example glue or wax, but it is also possible to use a binder such as, for example, ultrasonic welding and thermal welding.
Here and henceforth, the term fastening surface means one or more surfaces to which the binder (which is intended to lose its adhesive and/or cohesive capacity during use) is applied on the leakage barriers. The surface or surfaces where the binder is applied, that is to say the fastening surface, can in principle have any shape and be positioned in one or more different places on the leakage barriers. Here and henceforth, the term fastening surface does not therefore contain any limitation in terms of the number or shape of fastening surfaces.
It is of course impossible to avoid an interaction among various parameters, for example temperature, atmospheric humidity, choice of material, tensile forces or shear forces etc., which together contribute to a binder losing its adhesive and/or cohesive capacity, but it is in most cases possible to distinguish the major influencing factor. Here, a major influencing factor means a factor which, without the other factors, wo
Reichle K. M.
SCA Hygiene Products AB
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