Diaper

Details Diaper Diaper

1997-06-06

2001-09-25

Weiss, John G. (Department: 3761)

Surgery

Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material

Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...

C604S378000, C604S380000, C604S381000, C604S382000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06293933

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to diapers especially for infants, but also for incontinence protection and napkins and more in details to the type of diapers including at least one at least partly moisture tight enclosing layer and one or more inner layers having a good absorption ability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are known different ways of controlling the absorption of liquid in the absorbing layer.
SE 400 459 discloses a disposable diaper wherein an absorbing layer is provided with a number of through openings. The absorbing layer is freely arranged relating to a tight rear or outside layer and is covered by a moisture permeable inner or forward layer. The idea with this is that moisture will be able to pass through the inner layer simultaneously as it is partly absorbed, pass through the through openings towards the rear of the absorbing layer in order to, aided by the tight outside layer, be distributed or spread over the absorbing layer.
DE3 426 897 discloses another solution of a similar kind. It includes a tight outer or rear layer, an absorbing filling and an inner layer and also in this case the absorbing layer is provided with one or more through openings. The inwardly facing covering layer is double and includes a first tight layer having holes corresponding to those of the absorbing layer and an outer layer of non-woven material. The intention hereby is to gain the advantage that liquid can be spread on the non-woven woven material in order to eventually reach the position of any of the openings and pass through the non-woven material and through any of the holes in the tight foil layer to reach the openings of the absorbing layer so that the moisture can be absorbed essentially through the edges of the latter openings.
Common features of the known constructions are that they, in spite of the increase of the absorption area by the holes or openings provided and the passages arranged at the inner layer, are unable to take care in a desired and intended way, of concentrated volumes of liquid within a limited area, the result being that the liquid is distributed over the entire inside of the diaper and easily leaks out at the edges. It also occurs that liquid in free state fills one or any of the openings of the absorbing layer and to oversaturation fills the adjoining absorption material portions whereas the rest of the absorbing layer is unutilized and only eventually will take in the absorption. Local oversaturation of the absorbing layer will result in leak risks back towards the carrier or laterally at the edges.
It has been established that, in known constructions, the absorbing ability of the absorbing material is poorly taken advantage of. An estimation discloses that only about half of the material is used which means that half of it is disposed of unused. One reason behind the faulty effect seems to be that once the material absorbs liquid, it has a tendency to compact and form clods and this prevents the liquid from spreading. One reason behind this tendency to form lumps or clods is that the material consists of long and short fibers. The movements of the user result in separation of the fiber material so that the continuous layer or body of fiber material disintegrates into smaller gatherings or lumps of fibers. The gaps or cracks formed between the separate gatherings or lumps make the intended distribution of liquid over the entire absorbing layer or body impossible, which results in local oversaturation and leaking in spite of the fact that only a fraction of the capacity of the material has been taken advantage of.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One essential object of the invention is to bring about a diaper or the like which is so arranged that it has an improved ability to absorb and keep liquid and moisture without leaking and in more detail, a diaper where the absorbing material is utilized to a high degree in order to reach this high absorption ability.
Another object of the invention is to conceive a diaper having the ability to temporarily store liquid in free state before its absorption.
Another object is to improve the function of a diaper by keeping the absorption material in its place.
One more object is to minimize the leak risk resulting from local oversaturation of the absorption material.
Still another object is to increase the absorption area without reducing the total absorption capacity, establish a quicker absorption with a reduced amount of absorption material and reduce the cost.
As a result of the reduced amount of absorbing material, the demand to use biodegradable, i.e. compostable, material at a price not exceeding the current price of diapers is met.
A final object is also to bring about a diaper comfortable to wear and which presents a dry inner face towards the user after having absorbed liquid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects can be readily attained in a diaper or the like hygienic product comprising:
(a) an outer layer essentially impermeable to liquid;
(b) an absorption body adjacent the outer layer, the absorption body having a thickness and defining at least one recess, the absorption body defining a plurality of channels extending from an edge of the at least one recess in different directions, the channels extending from the edge of the at least one recess towards an outer edge of the absorption body, the at least one recess and the channels extending therefrom have a depth corresponding to at least part of the thickness of the absorption body; and
(c) a layer permeable to liquid secured to the outer layer at least in a position chosen from the group consisting of the at least one recess, the channels and the at least one recess and channels thereby stabilizing the absorption body.
Desirably, the diaper or the like hygienic product further comprises an inner layer at least partially permeable to liquid inwardly adjacent the absorption body and the permeable layer secured to the outer layer, the absorption body being between the inner and outer layers. The absorption body defines the at least one recess at a permeable portion of the inner layer. The channels together with the at least one recess form, between the outer and inner layers, a defined storage space for temporary storing of liquid in free state awaiting absorption.
In yet another feature of the invention, the inner layer presents a portion permeable to liquid in an area essentially corresponding with the area of the at least one recess of the absorption body and areas impermeable to liquid covering at least a portion of at least some of the channels extending from the at least one recess.
The invention will be fully understood when reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3430629 (1969-03-01), Murphy
patent: 3559649 (1971-02-01), Grad
patent: 3693622 (1972-09-01), Jones
patent: 3763502 (1973-10-01), Lauman
patent: 4184498 (1980-01-01), Franco
patent: 4503098 (1985-03-01), Potts
patent: 4592751 (1986-06-01), Gegleys
patent: 4678464 (1987-07-01), Holtman
patent: 4753644 (1988-06-01), Cottenden et al.
patent: 4892535 (1990-01-01), Bjornberg et al.
patent: 5300053 (1994-04-01), Genaro
patent: 5308344 (1994-05-01), Toth
patent: 5451442 (1995-09-01), Pienick et al.
patent: 5743776 (1998-04-01), Igaue et al.
patent: 3 426 897 (1986-01-01), None
patent: 400 459 (1974-04-01), None

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