Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Including aperture
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-30
2001-09-18
Copenheaver, Blaine (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Including aperture
C428S137000, C428S138000, C428S409000, C604S370000, C604S378000, C604S381000, C604S383000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06291050
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to topsheet systems for absorbent articles, such as feminine hygiene products, employing hydrophilicity gradients for enhanced fluid handling performance. More particularly, the present invention relates to topsheet systems which exhibit hydrophilicity gradients which are sustainable under in-use conditions and which may be readily and efficiently manufactured.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has long been known in the field of disposable absorbent articles that it is extremely desirable to construct absorptive devices, such as disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinent briefs, bandages, wound dressings, and the like, which are highly effective in receiving and containing urine, menses, and other body exudates. Accordingly, it is generally desirable to promote rapid fluid transfer in a direction away from the wearer and into a retentive structure, while resisting fluid transfer in the reverse direction either toward the wearer or toward external garments or surfaces.
One viable prior art solution to the former problem has been to utilize a covering or topsheet on the exposed, wearer-contacting surface which comprises a web of formed, apertured thermoplastic film. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,314, issued to Radel et al. on Aug. 3, 1982, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, discloses a representative formed film of this variety. Such webs utilize capillary fluid transport to conduct fluid away from one surface (wearer-contacting) into and through the web via three-dimensional capillaries formed into the material, and then into the underlying absorbent structure. In order to address consumer concerns with regard to plastic-like appearance and feel, webs of this variety have been developed which include an interconnected structure of fiber-like appearance in the interest of generating a more cloth-like, aesthetically-pleasing appearance. In addition, apertured, formed thermoplastic film webs have been developed which further include microscopic surface texturing (microtexture) and/or microscopic apertures (microapertures) to further enhance the visual and tactile impression of such webs. Representative film webs of this variety are discloses in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,045, issued to Ahr et al. on Jul. 31, 1984, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,643, issued Dec. 16, 1986 to Curro et al., the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
While capillary webs of the foregoing varieties are effective in transporting fluid, their effectiveness is limited in that such capillary structures can only move fluid once it reaches the capillary interior. Fluid which wets and remains on wearer contacting surfaces contributes to a “wet” tactile feeling or impression, and to the extent that such fluid may be colored or opaque also contributes to a “stained” visual impression. Surface textures naturally occurring in the material of the web or imparted thereto in formation further increase the likelihood that residual fluid will be trapped or retained on the wearer-contacting surface rather than entering capillary structures for transport away from the surface. Thus, surface topographies which contribute to desirable visual and tactile impressions when dry can also tend to retain residual fluid on the exposed surface and thus reduced desirability under in-use conditions.
Various approaches in the art have attempted to address these issues, including the use of topically-applied hydrophobic surface treatments on the wearer-contacting surface of such webs and surfactants contained within or topically applied to such webs on the garment-facing side of such webs. However, the topical application of such materials to three-dimensional polymeric webs presents certain processing challenges in order to obtain the desired level and orientation of the applied material to achieve the desired level of fluid handling performance.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a topsheet system with enhanced effectiveness in transporting fluid away from one surface which is initially contacted by a fluid.
More particularly, it would be desirable to retain visual and tactile properties of webs having fibrous or otherwise textured surfaces while promoting more rapid and more complete fluid transport away from the wearer-contacting surface and into the interior of an associated absorbent article.
More particularly, it would be desirable to provide such a web which provides desirable visual and tactile characteristics and which may be readily and economically produced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apertured polymeric film web having a first surface, a second surface generally parallel to and spaced apart from said first surface, and a plurality of fluid passageways extending between the first surface and the second surface to place the first surface and the second surface in fluid communication with one another. The web is formed of a polymeric film comprising at least one bulk modified layer, the bulk modified layer comprising a substantially homogeneous, stabilized dispersion comprising a comparatively low surface energy material in a polymeric material. The comparatively low surface energy material, referred to herein as a hydrophobic additive, imparts hydrophobicity to the web's first surface, thereby promoting enhanced effectiveness in transporting fluid away from the first surface of the web, particularly when used in combination with a hydrophilic adhesive applied to the web's second surface in a topsheet system of the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment the web is used as a topsheet in an absorbent article. In a more preferred embodiment, the web is used as a topsheet in an absorbent article, and the topsheet further includes a hydrophilic adhesive deposited thereon. When used as a topsheet in an absorbent article, the topsheet is peripherally joined with a backsheet and an absorbent core is positioned between the second surface of the topsheet and the backsheet. The second surface of the topsheet is preferably joined to the absorbent core by the hydrophilic adhesive.
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Cree James William
Taylor Gregory Wade
Bullock Roddy M.
Chevalier Alicia
Copenheaver Blaine
Hughett Eileen L.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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