Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-16
2001-12-11
Ruhl, Dennis (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
C604S385010, C442S334000, C442S352000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06329565
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to an absorbent structure and method for liquid distribution and retention. In one aspect, this invention relates to a composite absorbent structure and method for liquid distribution and retention in a disposable absorbent product. In one aspect, this invention relates more particularly to a high integrity, thin, multifunctional material for liquid intake, distribution, and retention in a disposable absorbent product.
2. Background
Disposable absorbent products are used extensively for body waste management. These disposable absorbent products employ an absorbent structure or structures to manage body waste effectively. The absorbent structure or structures within the disposable absorbent product must take up and retain the body wash within the absorbent product.
INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION
A body waste management absorbent product is insulted with a liquid in a relatively centralized location. By insulted is meant an addition of a body exudate to a target area of the absorbent product. To prevent leakage caused by the presence of more liquid than absorbent capacity in the centralized insult location, there is a need for the absorbent structure to transport the liquid away from the centralized insult location to a more distant location in the absorbent product. The absorbent structure or structures within the absorbent product first must take up the liquid into the absorbent product, then distribute the liquid, and retain the liquid within the absorbent product.
If the distribution of the liquid by the absorbent structure within the absorbent product is not adequate, the efficiency of the absorbent structure's utilization of its capacity will be low.
To overcome problems of poor distribution, commercially available absorbent products often are designed with an excess absolute liquid saturated retention capacity. In this way, the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent product often is not utilized efficiently.
An increase in liquid distribution efficiency by the absorbent structure potentially would provide a drier absorbent product, e.g., a drier diaper, together with improved aesthetics of appearance of the absorbent product in use.
An increase in liquid distribution efficiency by the absorbent structure potentially would allow either a higher realized liquid saturation level for an absorbent product using the same amount of absorbent structure or the use of less absolute capacity to achieve the same realized liquid saturation level in the absorbent product without any increase in liquid leakage. The use of less absorbent structure to achieve the same realized liquid saturation level in an absorbent product would result in less absorbent product being disposed to the environment.
There is a need therefore to produce an absorbent structure able to exceed the liquid transport properties of known absorbent structures. There is a need also to produce an absorbent structure capable of quickly transporting liquid from a centralized insult location to a preferred, more distant location within the absorbent product.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an absorbent structure and method for liquid distribution and retention.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a composite absorbent structure and method for use in disposable absorbent products.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite absorbent structure and method for use in a thin, disposable absorbent product.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite absorbent structure and method for use in a thin, disposable absorbent product, e.g., such as an infant diaper.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite absorbent structure and method for use in a disposable absorbent product having a relatively low volume.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite absorbent structure and method for use in a disposable absorbent product having a relatively low volume and a relatively high capacity.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable absorbent product including a liquid-permeable top-sheet, a backsheet attached to the topsheet, and an absorbent structure positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent structure provides the composite absorbent structure of the present invention.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent from a review of the figures of the drawings and the detailed description which follow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a composite absorbent structure and method including providing a first wicking layer having preferred liquid transport properties in a preferred contact with a second absorbent retention layer. The composite absorbent structure of the present invention provides preferred liquid transport and liquid retention properties. The composite absorbent structure has a first wicking layer in a preferred contact with the second retention layer by a novel intimate contact means effective to achieve a Contact Intimacy Ratio providing the preferred liquid transport and liquid retention functions when the first wicking layer and the second absorbent retention layer are combined together in accordance with the present invention.
In one aspect, a bonding agent is used in the present invention in combination with the first wicking layer of wettable fibers and a second retention layer of a hydrogel-forming polymeric material, preferably superabsorbent, to form a composite absorbent structure having the preferred Contact Intimacy Ratio and providing the preferred liquid transport function and the preferred liquid retention function.
In one aspect, the bonding agent used in the present invention in combination with the first wicking layer and the second retention layer includes sheath/core polyethylene/polypropylene fibers. In one aspect, the bonding agent includes Danaklon sheath/core polyethylene/polypropylene fibers. In one aspect, the bonding agent includes a hydrophilic hot melt adhesive. In one aspect, the bonding agent includes a polyaminoamide epichlorohydrin wet strength resin.
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ASTM D 5729-95, “Standard Test Method for Thickness of Nonwoven Fabrics,” 3 pp.
Dutkiewicz Jacek K.
Goerg-Wood Kristin Ann
Guay Donald Francis
Kalmon Michael Franklin
Kressner Bernhardt Edward
Connelly Thomas J.
Glantz Douglas G.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Pugliese, III Sebastian G.
Ruhl Dennis
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