Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-25
2001-01-23
Weiss, John G. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
C442S370000, C442S394000, C442S398000, C604S384000, C604S385101
Reexamination Certificate
active
06177607
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an absorbent product having at least a top layer, an absorbent core, and a breathable outer cover material. A fibrous nonwoven web having fibers of relatively high denier is disposed between the absorbent core and the breathable outer cover, causing a reduction in surface dampness on the outer surface of the breathable outer cover material when the absorbent core is wet without significantly reducing breathability of the outer cover when the absorbent product is dry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Absorbent articles, such as diapers, child training pants, adult incontinence garments, swim wear and the like, typically include at least a liquid-permeable top layer for direct contact with the wearer, an absorbent core layer, and a substantially liquid-impermeable outer cover material. The absorbent core is positioned between the top layer and the outer cover material. When the absorbent article is exposed to a liquid insult, liquid passes through the top layer and into the absorbent core. The outer cover prevents the liquid in the absorbent core from leaving the garment.
Many of today's absorbent garments utilize breathable outer cover materials. Breathable outer cover materials are substantially impermeable to liquids, but are permeable to water vapor. Breathable outer cover materials permit escape of water vapor from the absorbent garment, increasing the garment comfort and reducing skin rashes and other irritations that result when water vapor is trapped inside the garment and heated by the wearer's body. Many of today's absorbent garments are highly breathable, for maximum wearer comfort.
One shortcoming of breathable absorbent articles is a cold, damp, clammy feel that often occurs on the outside of the garment, i.e., on the outside of the outer cover material. As liquid water in the absorbent core evaporates and passes through the outer cover material, the associated evaporative cooling causes a lowering of temperature of the absorbent core and adjacent outer cover material, resulting in a clammy, damp-feeling outer cover. There is thus a need or desire in the absorbent garment industry for absorbent articles which are highly breathable, yet which reduce or avoid the perceived dampness caused by evaporative cooling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an absorbent article having a breathable outer cover material and reduced perceived outer cover dampness. The absorbent article includes at least a liquid-permeable top layer, a breathable, substantially liquid impermeable outer cover material, and an absorbent core layer between the top layer and the outer cover material. The outer cover material includes a breathable film laminated to a nonwoven filament web, and is positioned with the film facing inward (i.e., toward the absorbent core) and with the nonwoven web facing outward. In accordance with the invention, a second nonwoven filament web is interposed between the absorbent core and the breathable outer cover material. The filaments of the second nonwoven web have a mean denier which is higher than the mean denier of the filaments of the first nonwoven web in the outer cover material.
The presence of the second (inner) nonwoven filament web, having the higher denier filaments, reduces dampness of the exposed surface of the first nonwoven web, by providing an air gap between the absorbent core and outer cover. This air gap separates the absorbent core from the outer cover, and provides thermal insulation between the cooled absorbent core and the fingers of the hand touching the outer cover. The thermal conductivity of the outer cover system is thus lowered, and heat from the hand is lost to a lesser degree. This results in a perceived warmer and drier diaper surface. The clammy and cold feelings are reduced, promoting perceptions of dryness and clothlike feel.
At deniers of 2 and higher, the inner nonwoven web generally possesses high enough bulk to provide sufficient thermal insulation. At deniers less than 2, the nonwoven web of the outer cover possesses an excellent clothlike feel.
With the foregoing in mind, it is a feature and advantage of the invention to provide an absorbent article with a breathable outer cover system whose thermal conductivity is favorably decreased by the addition of a nonwoven web with fibers greater than 2 denier between the outer cover and absorbent core.
It is also a feature and advantage of the invention to provide a breathable absorbent article having a dampness-inhibiting layer which does not inhibit breathability.
It is also a feature and advantage of the invention to provide an absorbent article having a breathable outer cover which remains warm and dry to the touch under a wide variety of conditions.
The foregoing and other features and advantages will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying examples and drawings. The detailed description, examples and drawing are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
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Blaney Carol Ann
McCormack Ann Louis
Paul Susan Carol
Kidwell Michele
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Pauley Peterson Kinne & Fejer
Weiss John G.
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