KR20010053448A - Absorbent Undergarments with Improved Absorbency System - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aqueous liquid impermeable backing member having a peripheral edge, an aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner having a peripheral edge, and an absorbent pad ubiquitous with a factor of at least 0.27. It is about. The absorbent body is less than 0.27 when the length of the absorbent pad in the rear region of the garment is divided by the length of the absorbent pad in the front and center regions of the garment and the length of the absorbent pad in the front region of the garment is the absorbent pad of the garment. Disposed in the front, center and rear regions of the garment to be greater than the length of the garment.

Description

Absorbent Undergarments with Improved Absorbency System

Currently, various types of garments are commercially available to absorb human emissions. Examples of these garments include infant diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence garments, and the like. In general, the basic structure of these classes of garments requires an aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent pad containing one or more layers for receiving and absorbing the discharge, and an aqueous liquid impermeable backing member for containing the discharge. Shall be.

Some of these garments perform satisfactorily for their intended purpose, but are still more capable of having improved emissions containment characterized by improved absorbent properties, improved availability of absorbent materials, as well as minimal discomfort to the wearer. Discrete undergarments need to be provided. More specifically, to date undergarments of this type have not been designed to facilitate the transfer of aqueous liquids to the entire area of the absorbent layer or layers, including the far end. As a result, excretion absorption is concentrated in narrow areas of the absorbent layer, making most of the absorbent capacity of the undergarment unusable.

Undergarments and most other absorbent personal care garment like products are commonly worn in "J" shapes. The front section of the undergarment is worn lower on the wearer's body than the rear section of the undergarment. As a result, the center of the undergarment typically does not coincide with the point of insult. The insert point occurs for the front region of the undergarment. Undergarments currently do not adequately provide absorbent material at the point of insult. Moreover, undergarments with absorbent pads with a centrally located acquisition band do not provide the expected absorbency, resulting in product failure.

To date, some undergarments for absorbing and containing human emissions are typically bulky and somewhat ineffective. Typically, absorbent pads produce bulky shapes where most of the absorbent capacity is not useful as a whole, creating bulky shapes, particularly in the central and rear regions. Clearly, undergarments of this style are inconvenient to wear, especially if the wearer is an active adult. Moreover, this form of undergarment is not used, resulting in expensive and inefficient placement of the absorbent material in the wasteful rear zone.

Therefore, it is clear that there is a need for an absorbent undergarment that is still comfortable when worn and has improved absorption and containment properties of the undergarment.

<Summary of invention>

The present invention provides improved absorbent undergarments with improved absorbent and containment properties as well as improved comfortable properties. The undergarment of the present invention is provided with absorbent pads disposed predominantly in the front and center regions so that they are not symmetrically positioned in the longitudinal dimension of the garment so that the absorbent pads are generally formed in anatomically comfortable conditions in a flat state. It is easy to form a comfortable garment. Moreover, the ratio (skew factor) of the absorbent pad length in the rear region divided by the combined absorbent pad length in the central and front regions of the garment should be less than about 0.270. The undergarment also provides an effective seal between the undergarment and the wearer, as well as an elasticized design that facilitates the formation of a pocket structure in the central portion, making the undergarment comfortable to wear and having improved containment properties. . Preferred embodiments of the present invention also have a generally continuous and constant ratio of fibers and superabsorbents in the CD and MD directions through the dimensions of the absorbent pads to facilitate rapid aqueous liquid transfer in the x, y and z directions. To provide.

In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a generally rectangular aqueous liquid impermeable backing member having a peripheral edge, a generally rectangular aqueous liquid impermeable bodyside liner having a peripheral edge, wherein the bodyside liner is near its peripheral edge. A garment for use in absorbing and containing effluent, characterized in that it is associated with a back member. The garment further includes a generally absorbent pad generally rectangular between the bodyside liner and the back member. It may be desirable to contain a surge layer for containing a large amount of aqueous liquid jet between the bodyside liner and the absorbent pad, or a ledget between the absorbent pad and the back member, or both a gauze and surge layer. . Ideally, the gauze and surge layers should be localized in the front and center regions of the product and need not be present in the rear regions.

Further aspects of the invention will be apparent in the following description.

<Definition>

As used herein, the term "aqueous liquid impermeable" describes a layer or laminate, urine through the layer or laminate under normal use conditions in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the layer or laminate at the point of contact of the aqueous liquid. This means that no aqueous liquid, such as passing through.

“Rear, posterior side or posterior” associated with the human anatomical aspect is defined in relation to FIG. 1. 3 illustrates a transverse or transverse plane passing through a central portion of the illustrated undergarment that divides the illustrated undergarment into a front half and a rear half. The "rear", "rear" or "rear" of the wearer will include a portion from the centerline on one side of the wearer to a similar point on the other side of the wearer surrounding the back.

The term "rear zone" is the rear one third of the total garment length worn on the back of the wearer's body.

The term "barrier fabric" or "barrier" means a fabric that is relatively impermeable to delivery of aqueous liquids, ie fabrics having a blood strikethrough rate of 1.0 or less according to ASTM Test Method 22.

Alternatively, "barrier fabric" means a fabric that prevents penetration of aqueous liquids and / or particulates to useful levels. Generally speaking, the property of preventing aqueous liquid penetration is measured by hydrostatic head test, penetration test, water spray penetration test and the like. Unless otherwise specified, substances that prevent aqueous liquid penetration are subject to the standard hydraulic test AATCCTM No. By hydrostatic head determined according to 127-1977 is meant a material having at least about 20 cm. For example, the material preventing such aqueous liquid penetration can have a hydrostatic head of at least 60 cm. Properties that prevent particulate ingress can be measured by determining the air filter retention of the dry particles and can be expressed as particle holdout efficiency. In particular, particle resistance efficiency refers to the efficiency of a material that prevents particles of a particular size range from passing through it. Particle resistance efficiency is, for example, IBR Test Method E-217, Revision G (January 15, 1991) (performed by InterBasic Resources, Inc., Grass Lake, Michigan, USA). It can be measured by determining the air filter retention of the dry particles using a test such as. Generally speaking, high particle resistance efficiencies are desired for barrier fabrics. Preferably, the barrier fabric should prevent penetration by tap water pillars of at least about 20 cm and / or have a particle resistance efficiency of at least about 40% for particles larger than about 0.1 microns in diameter.

The term "blend" means a mixture of two or more polymers, and the term "alloy" refers to a subclass of blend in which the components are incompatible but compatible. The terms “miscible” and “immiscible” are defined as blends in which the free energy of mixing is negative and positive, respectively. In addition, the term “compatibility” is defined as a method of modifying the interfacial properties of an immiscible polymer blend to produce an alloy.

The term "coupled" means the joining, adhering, connecting, attaching, etc. of two components. Two components will be considered to be bound together when they are bound indirectly to each other or directly to each other, such as when each is directly bonded to an intermediate component.

The term "bonded carded web" is made from staple fibers that are passed through a combing or carding unit that splits the staple fibers and aligns them in a machine direction to produce a generally machine oriented fibrous nonwoven web. Means web. Typically, such fibers are obtained with bales that are placed in a picker that separates the fibers prior to the carding unit. Once the web is formed, it is joined by one or more of several known bonding methods. One such bonding method is powder bonding, in which the powdery adhesive is distributed throughout the web and is typically activated by heating the web and adhesive with hot air. Another suitable joining method is pattern joining, which typically uses a heated rolled roll or an ultrasonic joining device to bond the webs across its entire surface if necessary, but typically together fibers in a local joining pattern. Combine. Another suitable and well known bonding method is breathable bonding, especially when using bicomponent staple fibers.

The term "bulk" refers to the thickness of a sample measured with a Model 49-70 thickness tester, commercially available from Testing Machines Incorporated (Amerityville, NY). The thickness tester is equipped with a round foot of 5.08 cm (2 inches) in diameter and the measurement is carried out under an applied pressure of about 0.014 atm (0.2 psi (lb / in ² )). Bulk measurements of samples that are substantially dry (i.e., moisture content generally measured by conventional methods are generally less than about 10% by weight) can be referred to as dry bulk.

The term "CD direction" means the cross or short direction of the product and is generally perpendicular to the MD or machine direction.

The term "cellulose fiber" is a cellulose that is present as a single component in large natural aggregates such as wood pulp, sugar squeeze tailings of sugar cane and cotton linter, or as a derivative of natural aggregates such as alpha pulp or viscose rayon. It means the fiber which consists of (water-wetting linear polysaccharide).

The term "center zone" refers to the center 1/3 of the total garment length present between the front and rear zones of the product in the wearer's body.

The term "closely adjacent" means that one component and another component are in a proximal position that can be practically achieved due to other nearby structures, manufacturing limitations, comfort or fit considerations, and the like.

The term " coform " means a method in which one or more meltblown dieheads are arranged near a chute that adds another material to the web while creating the web. Such other materials may be, for example, pulp, superabsorbent particles, cellulose or staple fibers. Coform methods are described in commonly assigned Lau, U.S. Patent 4,818,464 and Anderson et al., U.S. Patent 4,100,324. Webs produced by the coform method are generally referred to as coform materials.

The term “consisting mainly of” does not exclude the presence of additional substances that do not significantly affect the desired properties of a given composition or product. Examples of this kind of material will include, without limitation, pigments, antioxidants, stabilizers, surfactants, waxes, flow promoters, particulates, and materials added to enhance the processability of the composition.

The term "continuous" means that the described structure is a closed loop structure. The continuous structure may be a unit, that is, a one-piece structure, or may consist of individual components suitably joined together to form a closed loop.

The term "disposable" means that the described garment or product is intended to be discarded, not used, washed and reused again until it is soiled by urination, defecation or otherwise.

Alternatively, the term "disposable" is not only limited to a single or limited use of the article, but is also inexpensive to the consumer to be discarded when it becomes dirty after only one or several uses or becomes unusable for other reasons. It also means a product.

“Placed”, “placed on…”, “placed with…”, “placed on…”, “placed near ...” or variations thereof It means that it can be integrated or united with other components, or it means a separate structure in which one component is joined or linked to another component or placed together or near.

The term "elastic" or "elastomer", when associated with a fiber, film, or fabric, can be stretched to a biased stretch length that is at least about 150% or at least 1.5 times its unstretched relaxation length when biasing is applied, It means a material that recovers at least 50% of its elongation upon release of elongation bias force.

The terms "elastic", "elastic" or "elasticized" mean a property of a material that allows a material or composite elastic material to recover at least a portion of its original size and shape after the force causing deformation is removed ( Expressed as a%).

The term "elasticizable" describes a temporarily suppressed elasticized or elastic member that, when activated, can restore its elasticity.

The term " elasticized " means to give elasticity by appropriate bonding of an inelastic material with an elastic material.

The term "elongation" refers to the ratio of the length of the material after extension to the length of the material before extension and is represented by [(extended length-original length) / original length] × 100.

"Extensible", "extensible", "extension", "extension", "extension properties" or variations thereof means that the material can increase its length (expressed in length units).

"Extended", "extend", "extended" or a variant thereof refers to a change in length of the material due to elongation, expressed in units of length.

The term "fabric" refers to both woven, knitted and nonwoven webs.

The term "filament" refers to a component having a high ratio of length to diameter or width, and may consist of fibers, threads, strands, yarns, or the like, or a combination of these components.

The term "processed product" means a product that has been suitably manufactured for its intended purpose.

The term "flexible" means a substance that is obsolete and conforms to the general shape and contour of the human body.

The term "front", "front" or "front" includes the front portion of an article or garment that is complementary to the terms "back", "back" or "back".

The term "front" or "rear" is used throughout this specification to indicate a relationship to the garment itself, rather than to indicate where the garment takes when the garment is positioned to the wearer.

The term "front zone" is the front one-third of the total garment length worn on the front of the wearer's body.

The term "fully corrugated" means that the material near the opening or border is corrugated along its entire periphery, for example when associated with an opening or border means.

The term "garment" means any kind of non-medical garment that may be worn. This includes industrial workwear and coveralls, undergarments, pants, shirts, jackets, gloves, socks and the like.

Alternatively, the term "garment" refers to all kinds of clothing that can be worn. This includes industrial workwear and coveralls, undergarments, pants, shirts, jackets, gloves, socks and the like.

The term "hydrophilic" means a fiber or fiber surface that is wetted by an aqueous liquid in contact with the fiber. The degree of wetting of the materials can be described by the contact angles and the surface tensions of the materials and liquids involved. Apparatus and techniques suitable for measuring the wettability of particular fiber materials or blends of fiber materials may be provided by the Cahn SFA-222 Surface Force Analyzer System. When measured with this system, fibers with a contact angle of less than 90 ° are referred to as “wetability”, ie, “hydrophilic” and fibers with a contact angle greater than 90 ° are referred to as “non-wetting”, ie, “hydrophobic”.

The term "intake layer" or "intake material" or "surge layer" means a material designed to help slow and diffuse the surge of an aqueous liquid introduced into an absorbent pad. Examples of these materials are D. U.S. Patent No. 5,192,606 to D. Proxmire et al., Issued March 9, 1993; U.S. Patent No. 5,486,166 to Ellis et al., Issued January 23, 1996; Ellis US Patent No. 5,490,846, issued February 13, 1996, and Hanson et al. US Pat. No. 5,509,915, issued April 23, 1996, and described in this document. The contents are incorporated herein by reference.

The term "integration" refers to several parts of a single unit component, not discrete structures that are bonded to, put together or near each other.

The term “inwardly” or “outwardly” means the position relative to the center of the absorbent garment, in particular close to or far from the transverse and / or longitudinal direction from the longitudinal and transverse centers of the absorbent garment. It means to fall off.

When “bonding”, “bonding”, “bonded” or a variant thereof is used when describing a relationship between two or more components, the components are heat sealed, ultrasonically bonded, thermally bonded, adhesive, stitched. It can mean that they can be connected together by any suitable means such as. In addition, the components may be directly bonded together, or one or more components may be inserted between them all of which may be linked together.

The term "layer" when used alone may have two meanings, either a single component or multiple components.

The term "liquid" refers to a substance that, when poured or placed into a container, takes the internal shape of the container and flows. In the present specification, liquid means an aqueous material.

The terms "liquid communication" or "liquid transfer" refer to (or two) through or between two structures in the absence of an aqueous liquid impermeable barrier that prevents an aqueous liquid from moving between (or along) two structures. Refers to the ability of the aqueous liquid to migrate).

The term "liquid impermeable", when used to describe a layer or laminate comprising at least one aqueous liquid impermeable film or layer and at least one aqueous liquid permeable film or layer, refers to an aqueous liquid contact point under ordinary conditions of use. Means that the aqueous liquid does not pass through the laminate in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the laminate. Although the liquid may be spread or transported parallel to the plane of the aqueous liquid impermeable film or layer, this is not considered to be within the definition of "aqueous liquid impermeability" when used in connection with a laminate.

Or it describes the laminate as a two or three layer laminate consisting of an "aqueous liquid impermeable film" and an "aqueous liquid permeable layer". This avoids describing "laminate" as an aqueous liquid impermeable and relies on an aqueous liquid impermeable film for its impermeable properties. It is noted that the aqueous liquid may be wicking / spreading in the nonwoven layer and possibly to the top / most edge of the film, which, without using the above description, may consider the laminate to be aqueous liquid “permeable”. .

The term "MD direction" is the longitudinal or longitudinal direction of the product, typically the direction in which the product is made.

The term "member", when used alone, may have two meanings: single component or multiple components.

The term "microfiber" refers to small diameter fibers having an average diameter of about 75 microns or less, such as about 0.5 microns to about 50 microns in average diameter, or in particular, microfibers have an average diameter of about 2 microns to About 40 microns. Another frequently used expression for fiber diameter is denier, which is defined as g per 9000 m of fiber, squared the fiber diameter (microns), by multiplying it by density (g / cc), again by 0.00707 Can be calculated. Low denier refers to fine fibers, and high denier refers to thick or heavy fibers. For example, given that the diameter of the polypropylene fiber is 15 microns, it can be converted to denier by multiplying it by 0.89 g / cc and then multiplying by 0.00707. Thus, the 15 micron polypropylene fiber has about 1.42 (15 ² x 0.99 x 0.00707 = 1.415) denier. Outside the United States, "tex" is more commonly used as a unit of measurement, which is defined as g per kilometer of fiber. The text can be calculated as denier / 9.

The term "monocomponent fibers" means fibers formed from one or more extruders using only one polymer. This does not mean to exclude fibers produced from one polymer to which a small amount of additive is added for coloring, antistatic, lubricity, hydrophilicity, and the like. These additives (eg titanium dioxide added for coloring) are generally present in amounts of less than 5% by weight, more typically less than about 2% by weight.

The term "multilayer laminate" refers to US Pat. No. 4,041,203 to Brock et al., US Pat. No. 5,169,706 to Collier et al., US Pat. No. 5,145,727 to Potts et al. Some layers, such as spunbond / meltblown / spunbond (SMS) laminates and others described in US Pat. No. 5,188,885 to Patent 5,178,931 and Timmons et al., And others are meltblown. Means laminate. Such laminates can be prepared by sequentially placing a spunbond fabric layer, followed by a meltblown fabric layer, and finally another spunbond layer, on a moving forming belt, and then bonding the laminate by the following method. Alternatively, the fabric layers can be made separately, collected in rolls and combined in separate bonding steps. Such fabrics typically have a basis weight of about 6 to 400 gsm (about 0.1 to 12 osy), or more specifically about 26.79 to 101.73 gsm (about 0.75 to 3 osy). In addition, the multilayer laminate may have several meltblown layers or multiple spunbond layers in a number of different configurations and may include film F or other materials such as coform materials such as SMMS, SM, SFS, etc. Can be.

The term "non-elastic" means all materials that do not fall within the definition of "elastic".

The term "nonwoven" or "nonwoven web" refers to a web having a structure of interlaid individual fibers or threads, rather than in an identifiable manner as in knitted fabrics. Nonwoven or nonwoven webs have been formed from many methods such as, for example, meltblowing methods, spunbonding methods, and bonded carded web methods. The basis weight of a nonwoven is typically expressed in osy (oz of material per square yard) or gsm (g of material per square meter), and useful fiber diameters are typically expressed in microns. (Remember to multiply osy by 33.91 if you want to convert osy to gsm).

The term "nonwoven web" means a web of material formed without the aid of a textile weaving or knitting method.

Or a web having the structure of individual fibers or threads interleaved rather than any identifiable repeating pattern. Nonwoven webs have been formed in the past by various methods such as, for example, meltblowing methods, spunbonding methods, and bonded carded web methods.

Or a web of material formed without the aid of a textile weaving or knitting method. Nonwoven webs have been formed from many methods such as, for example, meltblowing methods, spunbonding methods, and bonded carded web methods. The basis weight of the nonwoven is typically expressed in ounces per square yard (osy) or g per square meter (gsm), and useful fiber diameters are typically expressed in microns.

The term "operably bonded", "elastically associated" or "associated with" refers to the attachment of an elastic member to another component, together with or attached to that component. It means that an elastic member laid or formed from the component provides the component with elastic properties. When referring to the attachment of an inelastic member to another component, it is meant that the member and component are attached together or put together in a suitable manner to allow them to perform their intended or described function without completely inhibiting the properties of the individual components. . Attaching or releasing may be direct, such as directly attaching or placing one member to one component, or indirect by placing another member or component between the first member and the first component. Or, joining an elastic member and an inelastic member so that two joined members exhibit elastic or elastic properties.

Alternatively, the term "operably bonded" refers to the attachment of an elastic member to another component, when the elastic member is attached or connected to the component, or when treated by heat or chemicals or by stretching or the like. Imparting elastic properties to the component; When referring to the attachment of an inelastic member to another component, it is meant that the member and component can be attached in a suitable manner such that they perform the intended or described function of the joint. Bonding, attachment, connection, etc. can be direct, such as directly joining one member to one component, or can be indirect by placing another member between the first member and the first component.

The term "outer" refers to the position relative to the center of the absorbent garment, and in particular to the transverse and / or longitudinal direction away from the longitudinal and transverse centers of the absorbent article.

The term " partially elastic " means a substrate, garment, portion of garment, or the like that is at least partially elastic.

As in SAP or SAM, the term "particle" refers to a geometric or non-geometric form such as, but not limited to, spherical grain, cylindrical fibers or strands, flat or rough surfaces, sheets, ribbons, strings, strands, and the like. Means. When used in an absorbent structure, the particles may be loosely formed into a shaped structure or compressed into a shaped form.

The term "permeable" or "permeable" (also "permeable") means the ability of an aqueous liquid, such as a gas, to pass through a particular porous material. Permeability can be expressed as unit volume per unit time per unit area, for example cubic feet per minute per square foot of material (eg ft ³ / min / ft ² ). Permeability is determined using a Frazier Air Permeability Tester (manufactured by Frazier Precision Instrument Company) and instead of having a sample size of 17.78 cm x 17.78 cm (7 ″ × 7 ″), 20.32 cm x 20.32 cm (8 ″) Measurements are made in accordance with Federal Test Method 5450, Standard No. 191A, except for 8 x 8 ″). Although permeability is generally expressed as the ability of air or other gas to pass through the permeable sheet, a sufficient level of gas permeability may correspond to a level of aqueous liquid permeability that enables the practice of the present invention. For example, sufficient levels of gas permeability allow an appropriate level of aqueous liquid to pass through the permeable sheet with or without the aid of driving forces such as, for example, application vacuum or application gas pressure.

The term " personal hygiene article " refers to diapers, training pants, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products and sanitary napkins.

Or “personal hygiene article” means diapers, stool training pants, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, and sanitary napkins.

The term “polymer” generally includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers such as polymers such as blocks, grafts, random and alternating copolymers, terpolymers, and the like and blends and modifications thereof. In addition, unless specifically limited otherwise, the term "polymer" shall include all possible geometrical arrangements of the molecule. This arrangement includes, but is not limited to, isotactic, syndiotactic, and random symmetry.

The term "pulp" refers to pulp containing fibers derived from natural sources such as woody and non-woody plants. Woody plants include, for example, deciduous and coniferous trees. Non-woody plants include, for example, sugar squeezed steaming of cotton, flax, african rapeseed, latex secreting plants, yam, jute and sugar cane.

"Removably attached", "removably coupled", "removably engaged" or a variant thereof is connected such that the two components remain connected if there is no separation force applied to one or both of the components, or Meaning that the components can be connected and that the components can be separated without substantially permanent deformation or rupture. The required separation force typically exceeds that encountered while wearing an absorbent garment.

"Shrinkage" or its deformation means a change in the length of the elongated material that decreases when removing the force causing the extension.

The term "side" refers to the position where one side of the body faces the support surface in front.

The term “spunbonded fiber” refers to a small diameter fiber formed by extruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of typically circular microcapillaries of a spinneret and then rapidly reducing the diameter of the extruded filaments, for example For example, US Pat. No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., US Pat. No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., US Pat. No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., US Pat. And 3,341,394, US Pat. No. 3,502,763 to Hartman et al., And US Pat. No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al. Spunbond fibers are generally not tacky when they are deposited on a collecting surface. Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and have an average diameter (from at least 10 samples) of greater than 7 microns, in particular about 10-20 microns.

The term "staple fiber" means a length cut from natural fibers or, for example, filaments made. Staple fibers are typically about 3 to about 7.5 mm in length.

The term "stretch coupling" means how the elastic member is bonded to another member with only the elastic member extending at least about 25% of its relaxation length. The term "stretch bond laminate" refers to a composite elastic material made according to the stretch bonding method, ie the inelastic layer is corrugated when the layers are joined together with only the elastic layer extended so that the layers are relaxed. Such laminates typically have longitudinal stretching properties and can be stretched to the extent that the pleated nonelastic material allows the elastic material to be stretched between the bond points. One type of stretch-bonded laminate is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 4,720,415 to Vander Wielen et al., Which uses multiple layers of the same polymer produced from multiple rows of extruders. Other composite elastic materials include U.S. Pat. 4,789,699 to Kieffer et al., U.S. Patent 4,781,966 to Taylor et al., U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,657,802 and 4,652,487 to Morman, and Morman et al. US Patent No. 4,655,760.

The term “substrate”, “surface” or “sheet” refers to a layer, laminate, or composite structure (eg, top) that can be a film or woven web or nonwoven web that is air, gas, and / or aqueous liquid permeable or impermeable. Sheet, back sheet, and absorbent medium therebetween.

The term "superabsorbent" means an absorbent material capable of absorbing at least about 10 g of an aqueous liquid (e.g., an aqueous liquid absorbed by absorbing distilled water per gram of absorbent material while soaked in liquid for 4 hours). Substantially all of it under a compressive force of about 0.102 atm (about 1.5 psi) or less).

The term "surface" includes air, gas and / or aqueous liquid permeable or impermeable layers, films, wovens, nonwovens, laminates, composites, and the like.

The term "surge layer" means a material intended to help slow and diffuse the surge of an aqueous liquid introduced to an absorbent pad. Examples of surge materials are D. US Pat. No. 5,192,606 to Proxmeier et al., Dated March 9, 1993; US Pat. No. 5,486,166 to Ellis et al., Dated January 23, 1996; US Pat. No. 5,490,846 to Ellis et al. Published date: February 13, 1996) and Hanson et al., US Pat. No. 5,509,915 (issued date: April 23, 1996), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The term "tension" means the force that causes the extension of the body, or the balancing force in the body that resists the extension. Tensile is expressed in g.

The term "thermoplastic" means a material that softens when exposed to heat and substantially returns to a non-softened state when cooled to room temperature.

"Breath bonding" or TAB means a method of joining a nonwoven bicomponent fibrous web in which air is hot enough to melt one of the polymers that are the raw materials for the manufacture of the fibers of the web through the web. The air speed is 100 to 500 feet per minute and the residence time can be as long as 6 seconds. Melting and inventory of the polymer provide the bond. Breathable bonding has relatively limited variability, and because breathable bonding TAB requires the melting of at least one component to achieve bonding, the two components are limited to including a web or an adhesive that is a similar conjugate fiber. In the venting combiner, air having a temperature higher than the melting temperature of one component and lower than the melting temperature of the other component enters the perforated roller from the surrounding hood through the web and supporting the web. Alternatively, the vent coupler may be a flat arrangement where air enters the web vertically downward. These two types of working conditions are similar, the main difference being in the geometry of the web during bonding. Hot air melts the low melting polymer component, thereby forming bonds between the filaments to integrate the web.

The term "two-dimensional" refers to a garment, such as a diaper, which can be opened and laid flat without any structure being torn destructively. This kind of garment does not have continuous leg and waist openings when opened and laid flat, and requires a refastening device such as adhesive tape to attach to the wearer.

The term "undergarment" means a substantially rectangular adult urinary incontinence absorbent product spanning the wearer by a strap attached to the waist region of the product. An example is the commercial DEEPEND® Elastic Leg Undergarments.

The present invention is intended to more effectively contain and absorb personal hygiene products, more specifically absorbent diapers, pull-on pants, briefs and absorbent undergarments, and more specifically body excretion An absorbent undergarment incorporating an absorbent pad moved forward.

1 is a perspective view of a particular embodiment of the present invention with a portion of the liquid impermeable back removed to expose the internal structure of the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the particular embodiment of FIG. 1 in extended conditions with a liquid permeable liner facing the viewer and a portion of the liquid permeable liner and a portion of the absorbent layer removed.

3 is a cross-sectional view of a particular embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along section line 3-3 of FIG.

3A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along section line 3-3 of FIG.

4A is a perspective view of certain embodiments of the present invention with a portion of the liquid impermeable backing member removed such that the internal structure of the embodiment is exposed.

4B is a top view of a particular embodiment of FIG. 4A in an extended state with a liquid permeable liner facing the viewer and a portion of the liquid permeable liner and a portion of the absorbent layer removed.

4C is a cross-sectional view of the particular embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along section line 3-3 of FIG. 4B.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent pad taken along section line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing a uniform distribution of fibers and superabsorbent materials. FIG.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent pad taken along section 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing a uniform distribution of fibers and superabsorbent materials having a propylated mood weight distribution. FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent pad taken along section line 2-2 of FIG. 2 showing a uniform distribution of fibers and superabsorbent materials.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent pad taken along section 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing a layered distribution of fibers and superabsorbent materials.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent pad taken along section 2-2 of FIG. 2 showing the wave distribution of the superabsorbent material and the fibers with little superabsorbent material at the end. FIG.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent pad taken along section line 2-2 of FIG. 2 showing a non-uniform distribution of fibers and superabsorbent material in the cross section of the absorbent pad.

8 is an extended plan view of the undergarment in which the absorbent pad is symmetrically disposed;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the unfolded undergarment in which the absorbent pads are arranged in the MD direction.

10 is an extended plan view of an undergarment in which the absorbent pad and the high basis weight pocket are disposed ubiquitous in the MD direction.

Fig. 11 is an extended plan view of the pants in which the absorbent pads are disposed unevenly arranged.

12 is an extended plan view of the planar arrangement of the profile absorbent pad.

<Description of Specific Embodiment>

1 to 3, one particular embodiment of the present invention, generally indicated at 20, is illustrated.

The garment 20 includes an aqueous liquid impermeable backing member 22 that is generally rectangular in shape. The garment 20 has peripheral edges 24, including side edges 26 and 28, front edge 30, and rear edge 32.

The absorbent garment 20 is sandwiched between the back member 22, the substantially aqueous liquid permeable body side liner 40, and the back member 22 overlying the outer member 38 and the body side liner 40. And absorbent pads 58 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 4A, 4B, and 4C). The undergarment shown in the figures is only one embodiment of the invention. The back member 22 and bodyside liner 40 are preferably longer and wider than the absorbent pad 58 so that the periphery of the back member 22 and bodyside liner 40 is ultrasonically bonded, thermally bonded, adhesive or otherwise suitable. Means are used to form edges that can be sealed to each other. In the sealing area, leg elastics 96 and 108 may be incorporated between the back member 22 and the bodyside liner 40. The absorbent pad 58 may be attached to the back member 22 and / or the bodyside liner 40 using ultrasonic bonding, adhesives or other suitable means. (See FIGS. 1 and 2). In some embodiments, the absorbent garment 20 also includes an outer member 38. The outer member 38 is attached to the back member 22 using ultrasonic bonding, adhesives or other suitable means. The bodyside liner 40 is designed to be positioned towards the wearer and is referred to as the body face surface 21 of the undergarment 20. Inversely, the back member 22 is designed to be positioned toward the outer member 38 and the wearer's coat and is referred to as the garment face surface 23 of the garment 20.

The garment 20 can be made by providing a bodyside liner 40 and back member 22 material, and individual absorbent pads 58 sandwiched between the back member 22 and the bodyside liner 40. have. Outwardly of the absorbent pad 58, the back member 22 and the periphery of the side and end of the bodyside liner 40 are joined to form a central zone 35, a front zone 37 and a rear zone 39 to each other. Can be sealed. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, for the purposes of the present invention, the central section 35 is one third center of the total product length lying between lines 4-4 and 5-5. Anterior zone 37 is one-third of the overall product length of garment 20 between line 4-4 and front distal edge 30 of garment 20, typically worn against the front of the wearer's body. do. The posterior zone 39 of the garment 20 is one-third of the garment 20 length between lines 5-5 and the rear end edge 32 of the garment 20, typically at the back of the wearer's body. Is worn against. Absorbent pad 58 may optionally be T-shaped, I-shaped, elliptical, hourglass, rectangular or irregularly shaped. Moreover, the absorbent pad 58 may also include a recessed portion 900 in the longitudinal side 62 opposite the 64 of the absorbent pad 58. The leg cut 900 can improve the fit of the garment 20 when the reduced volume between the wearer's legs reduces or prevents gaps, as well as improved comfort as well as preventing leakage. Other materials used in garment 20, including but not limited to bodyside liner 40, back member 22, and outer member 38, may also be shaped to include leg cut 900. However, in some embodiments, other materials, including bodyside liner 40, back member 22, and outer member 38 are not shaped to include leg cut 900, and absorbent pad 58 is leg cut. It may be desirable to be shaped to include 900. The absorbent pad 58, leg cut 900, and leg elastics 96 and 108 are typically localized toward the front end edge 30 of the garment 20 without being symmetrically positioned in the garment.

Throughout the specification the term "generally rectangular" is used by the applicants. However, the term is not intended to limit only to rectangles. Instead, the term may include rectangles, ellipses, racetrack patterns, hourglass shapes, bilobal shapes, and geometric shapes that are any arbitrary shape whose length is greater than or less than the width.

The back member 22 needs to prevent the aqueous liquid from seeping into the overcoat when discharge occurs on the absorbent pad 58 of the garment 20. The back member 22 is located inside the outer member 38 of the garment 20 and typically consists of an aqueous liquid impermeable film such as polyethylene. The aqueous liquid impermeable back member 22 has an outer surface 34 facing outwardly of the wearer and an inner surface 36 facing away from the wearer. In the manufacture of the garment 20, the back member 22, which acts as a barrier, prevents the movement of the aqueous liquid through the garment 20 by manufacturing the back member 22 to prevent penetration that normally occurs in a worn state. It should be delayed. The back member 22 is preferably characterized in that it comprises a material formed or treated to be aqueous liquid impermeable. Alternatively, the back member 22 may be characterized as comprising an aqueous liquid permeable material, and other suitable means (not shown) such as an aqueous liquid impermeable layer associated with the absorbent pad 58 may be employed. The movement of the aqueous liquid out of) can be prevented. The garment 20 can be made aqueous liquid impermeable by any method well known in the art to coat the absorbent pad 58 or to fix the individual aqueous liquid impermeable material to the absorbent pad 58. The back member 22 may be characterized as including a thin film aqueous liquid impermeable web or sheet of plastic film, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or similar material. Other acceptable materials include a single spunbonded layer of materials of this type, two layers of spunbonded and meltblown materials, or three layers of spunbonded-meltblown-spunbonded materials. Suitable foam materials can also be used, as well as materials that are both aqueous liquid impermeable and water vapor permeable.

Alternatively, the back member 22 may be characterized as including a nonwoven fibrous web suitably constructed and arranged to have low aqueous liquid permeability. Alternatively, the back member 22 may be characterized as including laminated or laminated materials, such as thermally bonded plastic films and nonwoven web composites. Alternatively, the back member 22 consists of an aqueous liquid impermeable film and foam that is permeable to water vapor in normal wearing conditions. More preferably, if the member 22 has an approximately 800 g / m water vapor transmission rate of ^2/24 hours as measured by ASTM E96-92. One example of a suitable film is 39.4 g / m manufactured by Mitsui under the tradename ESPOIR® N-TAF-CT and sold by Consolidated Thermoplastics (CT). ^2/24 Hours microporous film.

The outer member 38 is soft and gives the wearer a soft touch. The outer member 38 can be an aqueous liquid permeable that allows the aqueous liquid to permeate easily to its thickness or any soft flexible porous sheet that is impermeable to penetration of the aqueous liquid to its thickness. Suitable outer members 38 may comprise various materials such as natural fibers (eg wool or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (eg polyester or polypropylene fibers), or blends or reticulated foams of natural and synthetic fibers and It can be made from perforated plastic films.

There are numerous fabrication techniques that can be used to fabricate the outer member 38. For example, the outer member 38 may be a woven web or a nonwoven web or sheet, such as a spunbond, meltblown or bonded-carded web made of synthetic polymer filaments such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, or the like, or rayon. Or a web of natural polymer filaments such as cotton. Bonded-carded webs can be thermally bound or sprayed with a binder by means well known to those skilled in the textile arts. Suitably, the outer member 38 is a spunbond nonwoven. Ideally, the outer member 38 is a spunbond polypropylene nonwoven with a wire mesh bonding pattern. Suitably, the spunbond material is commercially available from Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Roswell, GA. The outer member 38 has a weight of about 10.17 gsm to about 67.82 gsm (about 0.3 oz / yd ² (osy) to about 2.0 osy) and alternatively has a weight of about 20.35 gsm (about 0.6 osy). The outer member 38 of the garment 20 may be printed, colored or decoratively embossed. The outer member 38 has a pore size that allows for the passage of air, sweat and sweating due to the breathability of the material. The outer member 38 may be perforated with discrete slits or holes that are optionally embossed or extended therewith.

The garment 20 further includes a generally rectangular aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40 that is approximately the same value as the aqueous liquid impermeable back member 22. The aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40 has a peripheral edge 42 which is characterized by including a front edge 44, a rear edge 46 and side edges 48 and 50. The aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40 has an outer surface 52 facing outwardly to the wearer and an inner surface 54 facing toward the wearer.

Bodyside liner 40 is made of a nonwoven or other soft material in contact with the operator skin. Bodyside liner 40 is described in more detail below. Bodyside liner 40 is soft and gives the wearer a soft touch. The bodyside liner 40 may be any soft flexible porous sheet that is aqueous liquid permeable to facilitate penetration of the aqueous liquid to its thickness. Suitable bodyside liners 40 are a wide range of materials, such as natural fibers (eg, wool or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (eg, polyester or polypropylene fibers), or blends of natural and synthetic fibers. , Or from reticular foams and perforated plastic films.

The bodyside liner 40 is formed of an aqueous liquid permeable material such that aqueous liquid excretion, and possibly semisolid excretion, may also pass through the absorbent pad 58 and be absorbed by the absorbent pad 58. Suitable bodyside liner 40 is a nonwoven web, spunbond, meltblown or bonded-carded web, a perforated film, or a rayon or cotton, made of synthetic polymer filaments or fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, and the like. It may consist of a web of natural polymer filaments or fibers. Moreover, bodyside liner 40 may be treated with a surfactant to assist in aqueous liquid delivery. Suitably, bodyside liner 40 is a spunbond nonwoven. Suitably, the spunbond material is commercially available from Kimberley-Clark Corporation, Roswell, GA. The bodyside liner 40 of the underpants has a weight of about 10.17 gsm to about 67.82 gsm (about 0.3 oz / yd ² (osy) to about 2.0 osy), alternatively about 16.96 gsm (about 0.5 osy) Has weight. The bodyside liner 40 of the underpants may be printed, colored or decoratively embossed. Bodyside liner 40 may also be a nonwoven web or sheet of polyolefin fibers, such as polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene, Rayon, chisso, and the like. Bodyside liner 40 may also be a perforated plastic film, an elongated plastic web material, or a scrim material. The bodyside liner 40 has a pore size that allows air, sweat, and sweat to pass easily due to the breathability of the material. Bodyside liner 40 may optionally be embossed or perforated with individual slits or holes extending therefrom.

Ideally, the fabric of bodyside liner 40 is a trade mark of Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Company, Inc., Danbury, Connecticut, under the trade name of TRITON X-102. The surface of the fabric used herein refers to both woven, knitted, and nonwoven fibrous webs The term "nonwoven web" refers to a textile weaving or knitting process. Means a web of material that is formed without help.

As an alternative material, the aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40 can be made from a carded web of polyester fibers bonded to a spunbonded polypropylene or polyethylene carrier sheet. The carded material is made from about 20 to about 60 weight percent polypropylene or polyethylene and about 80 to about 40 weight percent polyester. The basis weight of the material may be from about 30 gsm to about 70 gsm.

What is generally designated 74 and can be regarded as a container defining the internal capacity of the garment 20 is that the aqueous liquid impermeable backing member 22 and the aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40 have their respective peripheral edges ( Are formed in the vicinity of 24 and 42). The inner capacity container 74 constitutes the rest of the garment 20, characterized in that it comprises an absorbent pad 58.

The aqueous liquid impermeable back member 22 and the aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40 are essentially the same in width and length. The width of the back member 22 and the bodyside liner 40 is about 102 mm (about 4 inches) to about 254 mm (about 10 inches), more preferably about 127 mm (about 5 inches) to about 254 mm ( About 10 inches), most preferably about 127 mm (about 5 inches) to about 229 mm (about 9 inches). The length of the back member 22 and bodyside liner 40 is about 381 mm (about 15 inches) to about 1016 mm (about 40 inches), more preferably about 533 mm (about 21 inches) to about 737 mm ( About 29 inches), most preferably about 584 mm (about 23 inches) to about 711 mm (about 28 inches). In certain embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 3A, the width of the back member 22 and bodyside liner 40 is about 229 mm (about 9 inches) and the length is about 687 mm. (About 27 inches).

<Absorbent pad area>

1, 2, 4A, and 4B, the absorbent pad 58 is generally rectangular in shape and is surrounded by side edges 62 and 64, front end edge 66, and rear end edge 68. As shown in FIG. Edge 60. Absorbent pad 58 has an outer surface 70 facing outwardly of the wearer and an inner surface 72 facing away from the wearer.

The porous fiber matrix of the absorbent pad 58 is preferably fluff and superabsorbent, which may be formed in various ways, for example, according to the teachings of Mazurak and Fries described in US Pat. No. 4,381,782. It is an airlaid bat of material, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 5, 5A, 6, 7, 7A and 7B, absorbent pad 58 is a dry forming mixture of superabsorbent material (SAP) 202 and fibers 201, preferably dry pulp pulp. It may be characterized by including a mixture. Most preferably, the mixing of the fluff fibers 201 and the superabsorbent material 202 is uniform, as shown in FIGS. 5, 5A and 6. Less preferably, as shown in FIGS. 7, 7A and 7B, the mixture is laminated (see FIG. 7) and forms an image to place the superabsorbent material 202 in one particular machine direction position (see FIG. 7A) or , May be stacked so as to be placed in a narrow band in the crossing direction (see FIG. 7B) or both. It is also possible to use fibers 201 other than fluff pulp, such as chemically stiff thermomechanical pulp. Moreover, the absorbent pad 58 may be characterized as including absorbent material 201 other than the dry forming fluff 201 and the SAP 202. For example, the coform materials mentioned in US Pat. No. 4,818,464 to Lau and US Pat. No. 4,100,324 to Anderson can be used to make absorbers as long as they also contain superabsorbent materials. Furthermore, wet formed composite materials can also be used which comprise a combination of fibers and superabsorbent materials disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,651,862 to Anderson et al. Stabilized airlaid materials can also be used as absorbent materials, characterized in that they comprise a mixture of fibers, binder fibers, and superabsorbent materials bound together by latex bonds or breathable bonds. In addition, all materials known in the art that serve to absorb body emissions can be used to make absorbent pads 58 as shown in the present invention.

Superabsorbent material 202 is a conventional hydrogel polymer that is preferably sufficiently crosslinked to render the material substantially water insoluble. Crosslinking can be formed, for example, by irradiation or by covalent bonds, ionic bonds, van der Waals bonds or hydrogen bonds. Suitable materials 202 are commercially available from various vendors such as Dow Chemical Company (Drytech 2035 LD), Hoechst-Celanese Corporation, and Allied-Colloid. Typically, the superabsorbent material 202 may absorb water at least about 15 times its weight, and preferably absorb water at least about 25 times its weight.

The superabsorbent material 202 may be distributed or otherwise incorporated into the absorbent pad 58 using various techniques. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 7A, and 7B, the superabsorbent material 202 may be distributed substantially uniformly in the fibers 201 included in the absorbent pad 58. The material 202 is also unevenly distributed in the fibers 201 of the absorbent pad 58 so that when measured by moving inwardly from the back member 22 and observing the concentration, the concentration of the superabsorbent material 202 is increased. It can form a general continuous gradient that increases or decreases. Alternatively, the superabsorbent material may be characterized as including a separate layer spaced apart from the fibers 201 of the absorbent pad 58, or may include a separate layer integrated with the absorbent pad 58. can do.

The absorbent pad 58 may also include a wrap layer 80 to assist in maintaining the integration of the fiber absorbent pad 58 (see FIG. 3A). The wrap layer 80 may be formed of a cellulose tissue or spunbond, meltblown or bonded-carded web material, consisting of synthetic polymer filaments such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, or natural polymer filaments such as rayon or cotton. It may be characterized by including.

The absorbent pad 58 should have an aqueous liquid capacity sufficient to absorb about 10 g to about 1500 g of effluent. The absorbent pad 58 should preferably have a capacity (described below) and preferably have a thickness of less than about 25 mm, thereby providing a flexible fit without bulking. The dose of the absorbent pad 58 should have a total dose of about 200 g to about 1300 g. Desirably, the absorbent pad 58 should have a total capacity of about 300 g to about 1200 g. More preferably, the total capacity of the absorbent pad 58 should be about 400 g to about 800 g.

The total capacity of the absorbent pad 58 is measured using the absorbent pad 58, the bodyside liner 40, the back member 22, and the outer member 38 of the garment 20. The saturated retention capacity is the value of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent garment 20, for the undergarment 20. Saturated retention capacity is measured as follows. The undergarment 20 to be tested having a moisture content of less than about 7% by weight is weighed and soaked in an excess of room temperature (about 23 ° C.) saline described below. The material is left to immerse for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, the undergarment (20) was removed from the saline solution and Teflon (Teflon®) coated glass fiber screen with a 0.635 cm (0.25 inch) opening (Taconic Plastics Inc., Petersburg, NY, USA) ), Then placed in a vacuum box and coated with a flexible rubber dam material. A vacuum of 3.5 kPa (0.5 lb / in ² ) is applied to the vacuum box for 5 minutes. The undergarment 20 is weighed again. The amount of aqueous liquid held by the test substance is measured by subtracting the dry weight of the undergarment 20 from the wet weight of the undergarment 20 (after vacuum application), and the amount of the aqueous solution retained as a saturated holding capacity. Record in g.

Saline is about 0.9% by weight aqueous sodium chloride solution. A suitable product is S / P Certified Blood Saline, commercially available from Baxter Diagnostics, McGau Park, Illinois.

Absorbent pad 58 is characterized by including a material adapted to absorb and retain urine, menstrual blood, blood or other body excretion. Absorbent pad 58 may be characterized as including various natural or synthetic absorbent materials such as cellulose fibers, surfactant treated meltblown fibers, wood pulp fibers, recycled cellulose or cotton fibers, blends of pulp and other fibers, and the like. . Absorbent pad 58 also typically includes a compound such as 0 to 95% by weight of an organic or inorganic superabsorbent material that can absorb water at least about 15 times, preferably 25 times, its weight. Can be increased. Organic superabsorbent materials may include natural materials such as pectin, guar gum and peat, as well as synthetic materials such as synthetic hydrogel polymers. The hydrogel polymers are, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, alkali metal salts of polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers, polyvinyl ethers, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl morpholinone, vinyl Polymers and copolymers of sulfonic acids, polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl pyridine and the like. Other polymerized polymers may include hydrolyzed acrylonitrile graft starch, acrylic acid graft starch and isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymers, and mixtures thereof. Suitable superabsorbent materials are described in US Pat. No. 4,699,823 to Kelenberger et al., Issued October 13, 1987, and US Pat. No. 5,147,343 to Kellenberger, issued September 15, 1992. Which is incorporated herein by reference. Superabsorbent materials are commercially available from various vendors such as Dow Chemical Company, Stockhausen, Inc., Hoechst Celanese Corporation and Allied Colloids. The absorbent pad 58 may also include a tissue layer or acquisition or distribution layer to maintain the integration of the fiber absorbent and aid in the transport of the aqueous liquid.

The absorbent undergarment 20 may also include additional components to aid in the acquisition, distribution, and storage of body emissions. For example, the absorbent undergarment 20 is a transfer layer described in US Pat. No. 4,798,603 to Meyer et al., Issued January 17, 1989, or issued January 23, 1996, U.S. Patent 5,486,166 to Bishop et al., U.S. Patent 5,364,382 to Latimer et al., U.S. Patent 5,490,846 to Ellis et al., U.S. Pat. 5,429,629, US Pat. No. 5,509,915 to Hanson et al., US Pat. No. 5,192,606 to Proxmeir et al., And European Patent Application No. 0 539 703 A1, published May 5, 1993. A handling layer may be included, which patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference. This layer is also referred to as an acquisition / distribution layer. The surge layer is about 0 cm (about 0 inches) to about 10.2 cm (about 4 inches) from the front terminal edge 66 of the absorbent pad 58, more typically the front terminal edge 66 of the absorbent pad 58. From about 0 cm (about 0 inch) to about 5.1 cm (about 2 inch), most typically from about 0 cm (about 0 inch) to about 2.5 cm (about) from the front end edge 66 of the absorbent pad 58 1 inch).

The length of the surge layer is typically about 12.7 cm (about 5 inches) to about 48.3 cm (about 19 inches), more typically about 20.3 cm (about 8 inches) to about 40.6 cm (about 16 inches), most typically Is about 25.4 cm (about 10 inches) to about 35.6 cm (about 14 inches). The length of the surge layer is generally about 30.5 cm (about 12 inches).

Acquisition / distribution layer 78 is disposed in aqueous liquid storage layer 76 towards body side surface 21 of absorbent pad 58 to slow and diffuse surges of aqueous liquid that may be introduced into absorbent pad 58. do. Acquisition / distribution layer 78 comprises a vented bonded carded web consisting of 40% 6 denier polyester fibers sold from Hoechst Celanes Corporation and 60% 3 denier polypropylene / polyethylene sheath core bicomponent fibers sold from Chiso Corporation. It can be characterized as, the total mood weight is from about 50 gsm to about 120 gsm.

One suitable absorbent pad 58 has an aqueous liquid storage layer 76 having a basis weight of absorbent components such as fluff, pulp, and superabsorbent (SAP) generally continuous throughout the MD length of the absorbent pad 58. It is characterized by including. The distribution of the absorbent component is substantially uniform in at least the y direction, preferably in the x direction and the y direction, and may be uniform in the z direction in the absorbent pad 58. The basis weight of the absorbent pad 58 may be about 80 gsm to about 1,000 gsm. More preferably, acquisition layer 78 is disposed in aqueous liquid storage layer 76 which is typically moved onto aqueous liquid storage layer 78. The fluff pulp / SAP ratio may be about 100: 0 to about 40:60, more typically about 80:20 to about 50:50.

The absorbent pad 58 provides a feature that allows the transport of an aqueous liquid in the x and y directions and in a direction that can be characterized as in the z direction. The transport of the aqueous liquid in the z direction is the wicking characteristic and the movement of gravity flow in which the aqueous liquid moves away from the wearer's body. The transport of the aqueous liquid in the x and y directions is the movement and / or wicking of the aqueous liquid along the length and width of the absorbent pad 58. As can be appreciated, the movement of the aqueous liquid both away from the wearer and along the length and width of the absorbent pad 58 is the area of the absorbent pad 58 because the aqueous liquid moves toward the most distal end of the absorbent pad 58. Increase the use of, and consequently, improve the absorbent properties of the absorbent pad 58.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4B, the absorbent pad 58 has a width measured between its side edges 62 and 64. The absorbent pad 58 has a length measured between its front and rear end edges 66 and 68. The width and length of the absorbent pad 58 is less than the corresponding width and length of the container 74, which is composed of the back member 22 and the aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40, respectively. The width of the container 74 is measured between the side edges 26 and 28 of its garment 20, and the length of the container 74 is between the front and rear edges 30 and 32 of the garment 20. Is measured.

The overall length of the absorbent pad 58 should be appropriate to prevent leakage of the aqueous liquid when sleeping or sitting. The total length is at least about 305 mm (about 12 inches) and extends beyond the central zone 35 along the longitudinal centerline A-A of the undergarment 20. Alternatively, the length should be about 305 mm (about 12 inches) to about 762 mm (about 30 inches), more typically about 381 mm (about 15 inches) to about 584 mm (about 23 inches). The usual range of lengths is from about 381 mm (about 15 inches) to about 533 mm (about 21 inches), more typically about 432 mm (about 17 inches) to about 508 mm (about 20 inches). Optimally, the absorbent pad 58 is about 483 mm (about 19 inches) in length.

The width of the absorbent pad 58 extending beyond the central zone 35 should be at least as wide as the width of the absorbent pad 58 in the central zone 35. The width of the absorbent pad 58 may be narrowed beyond the central region 35, but leakage leakage may be impaired. In some cases, the width of the absorbent pad 58 is wider than the central zone 35, especially when the garment 20 includes the leg cut 900 in the central zone 35. Since the absorbent pad 58 is mainly disposed in the front region 37, the central region 35, which is a position to move forward along the longitudinal axis of the garment 20, and less in the rear region 39, It will be appreciated that the leg cut 900 will also be moved forward along the longitudinal axis of the garment 20 to position the garment 20 on the wearer's body. The width of the absorbent pad 58 extending beyond the central zone 35 is about 64 mm (about 2.5 inches) to about 305 mm (about 12 inches), alternatively from about 102 mm (about 4.0 inches) to about 254 mm (about 10 inches). Typically ranges from about 127 mm (about 5 inches) to about 229 mm (about 9 inches).

The present invention includes various shapes of the absorbent pad 58. One preferred composite is a non-rectangular shape, such as an hourglass shape or an I-beam absorbent pad 58. Another preferred absorbent pad 58 embodiment is a rectangular shape with a circular end. In essence, rectangular shaped absorbent pads 58 (ie, hourglass shapes) can be squared at the ends to provide a more comfortable body rim fit while providing a smoother appearance at the rear of the garment 20. More preferred.

The absorbent pad 58 is positioned to be symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis A-A of the garment 20 and ubiquitous about the central transverse axis B-B of the garment 20. In other words, the side edges 62 and 64 of the absorbent pad 58 are the same distance from the side edges 48 and 50 of the respective aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40. The front and rear terminal edges 66 and 68 of the absorbent pad 58 are not the same distance from the front and rear edges 44 and 46 of the respective aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40, respectively. The absorbent pad 58 is disposed mainly in the front region 37 and the central region 35. The front end edge 66 of the absorbent pad 58 is about 12.7 cm (about 5 inches) to about 2.5 cm (about 1 inch) from the front edge 30 of the garment 20, more preferably about 10.2 cm (About 4 inches) to about 5.1 cm (about 2.0 inches), most preferably about 10.2 cm (about 4 inches) to about 3.8 cm (about 1.5 inches). At best, the distance is about 7.6 cm (about 3 inches). The rear distal edge 68 of the absorbent pad 58 is 7.6 cm (about 3 inches) to about 17.8 cm (about 7 inches) from the rear edge 32 of the garment 20, more preferably about 10.2 cm ( About 4 inches) to about 17.8 cm (about 7 inches), most preferably about 11.4 cm (about 4.5 inches) to about 17.8 cm (about 7 inches).

1, 9, 10, 11, and 12, in order to further understand what an absorbent pad 58 omnipresent along a central transverse axis means, defining the “local variation coefficient” of the absorbent pad 50. It is helpful, that is, the longer the length of the absorbent pad 58 present in the front region 37 than the rear region 39 (the absorbent pad 58 is not placed symmetrically in the garment 20 and is the front side). Ubiquitous) serves to define the present invention with the presence of an absorbent pad 58. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “not placed symmetrically” means that the absorbent pad 58 is at least about 20 mm longer in the front region 37 than in the rear region 39. The omnipresent coefficient is calculated using the following steps.

1. The length of the garment is divided into three zones of equal length: the front zone 37, the central zone 36 and the rear zone 39.

2. Measure the length of the absorbent pad 58 in the longitudinal or MD direction along line A-A in FIG. 2 in each zone 35, 37 and 39 of the garment 20.

3. The localization coefficient is calculated by dividing the length of the absorbent pad 58 in the rear zone 39 by the sum of the lengths of the absorbent pad 58 in the front zone 37 and the central zone 35.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 9, 10, 11, and 12, absorbent garments 20, such as undergarments, diapers, briefs, pants, etc., have a wide range of product lengths to suit a variety of users, from infants to adults. As such, the localization coefficient associated with the presence of more absorbent pads 58 in the front region 37 than in the rear region 39 is a function of defining the amount of front omnipresent of the absorbent pad 58 for all product lengths. Do it. The localization coefficient is a function of the overall length of the absorbent pad 58 and indicates how it is laid in the disposable underpants 90, the undergarment 20, or other absorbent personal care products. Since the overall length of the disposable underpants 90 or undergarment 20 affects how long the pads are in the front zone 37, the central zone 35 and the rear zone 39, the ubiquitous coefficient may also be Function of garment length The position of the absorbent pad 58 in any garment 20 depends on how the garment 20 is designed to fit the wearer's body and the ability of the manufacturing process to control the position of the absorbent pad 58. do. For the purposes of the present invention, the localization coefficient may be any value less than about 0.270. If the absorbent pad 58 is not located in the rear zone 39, the ubiquity coefficient is zero. Accordingly, the range of localization coefficients disclosed herein for the absorbent garment 20 with an absorbent pad 58 of greater length in the front region 37 than in the rear region 39 is from 0 to 0.270. In the case of the undergarment type incontinence garment 20 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the range of the localization coefficient is 0 to 0.270, more preferably 0.1 to 0.264. For diapers (not shown), briefs (not shown) and disposable underpants (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12), the range of ubiquitous modulus is preferably 0 to 0.270, more preferably 0 to 0.20, most preferably Preferably from 0.07 to 0.195.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention with respect to FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 5, 6, and 9, the undergarment 20 has a length of 687 mm, a width of 218 mm, an MD length of 483 mm and a CD width of 114. and an absorbent pad 58 that is mm. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the absorbent pad 58 includes 210 gsm (g / m ² ) of the DOW 2035 superabsorbent material 202 (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich.) And Alliance ) CR1654 fluff pulp fibers 201 comprising a homogeneous mixture of 391 gsm. It also contains a mixture of 40% by weight of 6 denier polyester fibers from Hoechst Celanese and 60% by weight of 3 denier sheath core polyethylene / polypropylene crimp fibers from Chiso Corporation, Japan, with a basis weight of 85 gsm and a length of 305. carded web intake material 79 in undergarment 20, mm and 76 mm wide. The intake material 79 is positioned between the bodyside liner 40 and the absorbent pad 58. Absorbent pad 58 has a retention capacity of about 500 g of 0.9% sodium chloride water. Importantly, the absorbent pad 58 is positioned in the undergarment 20 such that the front end edge 66 of the absorbent pad 58 is 76 mm from the front end edge 30 of the undergarment 20. This places 31.7% of the length of the absorbent pad 58 in the machine direction in the front region 37 of the undergarment 20, and 47.4% of the length of the absorbent pad 58 is the central region of the undergarment 20. 35, only 20.9% of the length of the absorbent pad 58 is in the rear region 39 of the undergarment 20. The localization coefficient of the absorbent pad 58 is 0.264 and is calculated as follows (see FIG. 9).

1. Undergarment 20 consists of a front zone 37, a central zone 35 and a rear zone 39, each 687 mm long and each obtained by dividing 687 by 3 is 229 mm long.

2. The absorbent pad 58 is 483 mm long and is located 76 mm from the front terminal edge of the undergarment 20. Subtracting 76 mm from 229 mm (the length of the front section 37) leaves 153 mm of the absorbent pad 58 in the front section 37.

3. Subtracting 153 mm from the total length of the absorbent pad 58 of 483 mm leaves 330 mm of the central region 35 and rear region 39 of the undergarment 20. 229 mm of this length is the central zone 35.

4. Subtracting 153 mm of the absorbent pad 58 in the front region 37 and 229 mm in the central region 35 from the total length of the absorbent pad 58 of 483 mm leaves 101 mm, which is the rear region ( 39).

5. The localization coefficient is calculated by dividing 101 mm in the rear zone by the sum of 153 mm in the front zone 37 and 229 mm in the central zone 35. The result of the ubiquity coefficient is 0.264.

The placement of the absorbent pad 58 is symmetrical in the CD dimension of the undergarment 20 along the central longitudinal axis in FIG. 2. Further, the intake material 79 is arranged such that its front end edge 82 is 102 mm from the front end edge 30 of the undergarment 20. This results in 41.6% of the intake material 78 in the front zone 37 and 58.4% in the central zone 35. No part of the intake material 79 is located in the rear zone 39. When worn on the wearer's body, the shape allows the majority of the absorbent pads 58 to be in front of the wearer, which is more desirable to be used. The undergarment 20 shown in FIG. 8 has a symmetrical arrangement of the absorbent pads 58, which results in lower utilization of the absorbent pads 58 and unsightly and uncomfortable volumes in the rear region 39. The arrangement of the absorbent pads 58 at the front and back of the product is identical.

In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 5, 6 and 10, the undergarment 20 is 687 mm long and 218 mm wide, with MD length 423 mm on the distal end and width It is characterized in that it comprises an absorbent pad 58 which is 156 mm and 94 mm in cut 900 along line 4-4. The cut 900 is 290 mm long and is symmetrically positioned starting 70 mm from the front end edge 66 and the rear end edge 69 of the absorbent pad 58. However, the cut 900 is not symmetrically located from the front terminal edge 66 and the rear terminal edge 68. The absorbent pad 58 also has a gauze 140 positioned between it and the aqueous liquid impermeable back member 22 (FIGS. 1 and 4). Gauze 140 is 275 mm long and 89 mm wide. The front end edge 144 of the gauze 140 is 146 mm from the front end edge 30 of the undergarment 20. 5 and 6, absorbent pad 58 is 115 gsm (g / m ² ) and Alliance CR1654 fluff of DOW 2035 superabsorbent material 202 (available from Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI). Pulp fibers 201 are characterized in that they comprise a homogeneous mixture of 215 gsm. Also characterized by a mixture of 40% by weight of 6 denier polyester fibers of Hoechst Celanese and 60% of 3 denier sheath core polyethylene / polypropylene crimped fibers of Chiso Corporation, Japan, with a basis weight of 85 gsm and a length of 330 In the undergarment 20, mm and 76 mm wide, there is a carded web intake material 79. The intake material 79 is positioned between the bodyside liner 40 and the absorbent pad 58. Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, the gauze 140 is a DOW 2035 superabsorbent material 202 (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI) 143 gsm (g / m ² ) and Alliance CR1654 fluff pulp fibers 201, characterized in that it comprises a homogeneous mixture of 267 gsm. The combined retention capacity of the absorbent pad 58 and the gauze 140 is about 500 g of 0.9% sodium chloride water. Importantly, the absorbent pad 58 is positioned in the undergarment 20 such that the front end edge 66 of the absorbent pad 58 is 74 mm from the front end edge 30 of the undergarment 20. This places 36.6% of the length of the absorbent pad 58 in the machine direction in the front region 37 of the undergarment 20, and 54.1% of the length of the absorbent pad 58 is in the central region 35. Only 9.3% of the length of the pad 58 is the rear region 39 of the undergarment 20. The localization coefficient of the absorbent pad 58 is 0.102. The absorbent pad 58 and intake material 79 arrangement is symmetrical in the CD dimension of the undergarment 20 along the central longitudinal axis 4-4 (see FIG. 2). Moreover, the intake material 79 is positioned so that its front end edge is 99 mm from the front end edge 30 of the undergarment 20. The result is that 41.6% of the length of the intake material is in the front zone 37 and 58.4% of the length of the intake material 79 is in the central zone 35. No part of the length of the intake material 79 is located in the rear zone 39. When worn on the wearer's body, the shape allows the majority of the absorbent pads 58 to be in front of the wearer, which is more desirable to be used. As shown in FIG. 8, the undergarment 20 has a symmetrical arrangement of the absorbent pads 58, thereby leading to lower utilization of the absorbent pads and causing unsightly and uncomfortable volumes in the posterior zone 39. And in the rear the position of the absorbent pad 58 is the same.

5, 6 and 11, in another embodiment, the disposable underpants 90 are 845 mm in length and have a width of 715 mm according to lines 9-9 and in the central zone 35 along lines 8-8. And an absorbent pad 89 having a minimum width of 120 mm, 89 mm at the center of the leg cut 900 along the lines 8-8 and MD 438 mm at the distal end and 153 mm CD width. Absorbent pad 58 is located on aqueous liquid impermeable backing member 750. The absorbent pad 58 also has a high basis weight pocket region 141 that is 279 mm long, 89 mm wide along lines 8-8, and 102 mm wide at the distal end. 5 and 6, the absorbent pad 58 has a DOW 2035 superabsorbent material 202 (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI) at the distal regions 700 and 701 (g / m ^2). ) And alliance CR1654 fluff pulp fibers 201 215 gsm. In pocket zone 140, the basis weight of superabsorbent material 202 is 261 gsm and the basis weight of fluff pulp fiber 201 is 435 gsm. Also characterized by a mixture of 40% by weight of 6 denier polyester fibers of Hoechst Celanese and 60% of 3 denier sheath core polyethylene / polypropylene crimped fibers of Chiso Corporation, Japan, with a basis weight of 85 gsm and a length of 330 Carded web intake material 79 is in disposable underpants 90, mm and 76 mm wide. The intake material 79 is positioned between the bodyside liner 40 and the absorbent pad 58. The retention capacity of the absorbent pad 58 is about 500 g of 0.9% sodium chloride water. Importantly, the absorbent pad 58 is positioned in the disposable underpants 90 such that the front end edge 710 of the absorbent pad 58 is 163 mm from the front end edge 710 of the disposable underpants 90. Moreover, the front end edge 720 of the pocket region 141 is located 222 mm from the front end edge 710 of the disposable underpants 90. Finally, 85 gsm of surge material (intake material) having a length value of 279 mm and a width of 64 mm is positioned to extend equal to the pocket area at the length value, and is located centrally at the width value to absorb the absorbent pad (58). Is located on the body side of the. The retention capacity of the absorbent pad 58 is about 500 g of 0.9% sodium chloride water. Due to this, 27.1% of the length of the absorbent pad 58 is located in the front region 37 of the disposable underpants 90 in the machine direction, and 64.2% of the length of the absorbent pad 58 is the central region of the disposable underpants 90. Located at 35, 8.7% of the length of the absorbent pad 58 is located at the rear region 39 of the disposable underpants 90. The localization coefficient of the absorbent pad 58 is 0.095. Moreover, 21.5% of the length of the pocket zone 141 is located in the front zone 37, 78.5% of the length of the pocket zone 141 is located in the central zone 35, and 0.0% of the length of the pocket zone 141 is rearward. Located in Zone 39. The absorbent pad 58 and intake material 79 positions are symmetrical in the CD value of the disposable underpants 90 along the central longitudinal axis AA in FIG. 12. When worn on the wearer's body, the shape allows the majority of absorbent pads to be in front of the wearer, which is more desirable to be used. In contrast to the symmetrical arrangement of the absorbent pads 58 in the MD length of the disposable underpants, which leads to the same placement of the absorbent pads 58 at the front and back of the product, the above-mentioned ubiquitous shape has a higher usability of the absorbent pads 58. And prevents tacky and uncomfortable volume in the rear region 39 of the disposable underpants 90.

5, 6 and 12, in another embodiment the disposable underpants 90 are 845 mm in length and 715 mm in width at the ends along lines 9-9 and 120 in the central region along lines 8-8. and an absorbent pad 58 of 89 mm at the center of the leg cut 900 along a line 8-8 with an MD length of 489 mm at the distal end and a CD width of 153 mm at the distal end. . Absorbent pad 58 is located on aqueous liquid impermeable backing member 750. The absorbent pad 58 also has a high basis weight pocket section 143 of length 489 (total length of the absorbent pad 58), 89 mm wide along lines 8-8 and 102 mm wide at the distal end. Have 5A and 6, the absorbent pad 58 has a DOW 2035 superabsorbent material 202 (Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI) 114 gsm (g / m) in the lateral distal regions 721 and 722. ² ) and Alliance CR1654 fluff pulp fibers 201 comprising a uniform mixture of 232 gsm. In pocket zone 143, the basis weight of the superabsorbent material is 282 gsm and the fluff pulp is 591 gsm. The retention capacity of the absorbent pad 58 is about 800 g of 0.9% sodium chloride water. Importantly, the absorbent pad 58 is disposed in the disposable underpants 90 such that the front end edge 710 of the absorbent pad 58 is 112 mm from the front end edge 710 of the disposable underpants 90. Finally, 85 gsm of surge material (intake material) 79 with a length value of 279 mm and a width of 64 mm is located 187 mm from the front end edge of the disposable underpants 90 and on the body side of the absorbent pad 58. It is centered in the width reading along the central longitudinal axis AA located at. As a result, 34.7% of the length of the absorbent pad 58 is located in the front region 37 of the disposable underpants 90 in the machine direction, and 57.6% of the length of the absorbent pad 58 is the central region of the disposable underpants 90. Located at 35, 7.7% of the length of the absorbent pad 58 is located at the rear region 39 of the disposable underpants 90. The localization coefficient of the absorbent pad 58 is 0.082. The absorbent pad 58 and intake material 79 arrangement is symmetrical in the CD value of the disposable underpants 90 along the central longitudinal axis AA. When worn on the wearer's body, the shape allows the majority of the absorbent pads 58 to be in front of the wearer, which is more desirable to be used. In contrast to the symmetrical arrangement of the absorbent pads 58 in the MD length of the disposable underpants, which results in the same placement of the absorbent pads 58 at the front and back of the product, the above-mentioned ubiquitous shape is better than that of the absorbent pads 58. It causes high usability and prevents tacky and uncomfortable volume in the rear region 39 of the disposable underpants 90.

The leg elastics 96 have a front edge 98, a rear edge 100, an outer side edge 102 and an inner side edge 104. The leg elastics 96 are secured adjacent to the side edges 48 of the aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40 so as to be spaced inwardly therefrom. The leg elastics 96 are disposed such that the front edge 98 and the rear edge 100 are at the same distance from each of the front and rear edges 44 and 46 of the aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40. However, the leg elastics 96 may be arranged differently in addition to their front and rear edges 98 and 100 and the same distance arrangement from their front and rear terminal edges 44 and 46 of the aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40. have. The leg elastics 96 may be disposed such that the front and rear edges 98 and 100 are at the same distance from the front and rear terminal edges 66 and 68 of the absorbent pad 58. In addition, the leg elastics 96 may be disposed such that the front and rear edges 98 and 100 are not at the same distance from the front and rear terminal edges 66 and 68 of the absorbent pad 58.

The second leg elastic 108 has a front edge 110, a rear edge 112, an inner side edge 114 and an outer side edge 116. The leg elastics 108 are attached to the aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40 so as to adjoin their side edges 50 and are spaced inwardly of the side edges 50. The leg elastics 108 are arranged such that their front edges 110 and rear edges 112 are spaced the same distance from their respective front and rear edges 44 and 46 of the aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40. The leg elastics 108 may also be arranged other than the same distance arrangement. The leg elastics 108 may be disposed such that the front and rear edges 110 and 112 are at the same distance from the front and rear terminal edges 66 and 68 of the absorbent pad 58. In addition, the leg elastics 96 may be disposed such that the front and rear edges 98 and 100 are not at the same distance from the front and rear terminal edges 66 and 68 of the absorbent pad 58.

The leg elastics 96 and 108 can be designed to closely follow the edge of the absorbent pad 58 to the outside of the central zone 35 and to move the leg elastics 96 and 108 away from the absorbent pad 58, Absorbent pads 58 hinder the ability of leg elastics 96 and 108 to provide better gaskets near the wearer's legs. In addition, when the absorbent pad 58 absorbs and expands the body discharge, the leg elastics 96 and 108 disposed as described above can better contact and comfort the wearer's body. This arrangement of leg elastics 96 and 108 is particularly advantageous in garments 20 having leg cuts 900, and the fit, protection and comfort of the garment 20 is improved.

In one preferred embodiment, the leg elastics 96 and 108 are sandwiched between the back member 22 and the bodyside liner 40 and attached to the garment 20 and are generally ultrasonically bonded, heated / pressurized, or adhesive. It is attached to the garment in its extended state by means known in the art, including bonding. Leg elastomers 96 and 108 are typically attached in the stretched state by means known in the art, including ultrasonic bonding, heating / pressurizing bonding or adhesive bonding. Materials suitable as elastomers include, but are not limited to, elastic strands, yarn rubbers, flat rubbers, elastic tapes, film rubbers, polyurethanes and elastomers, tape-like elastomers or foam polyurethanes, or formed elastic or inelastic scrims. Suitable materials are commercially available under the trade name Lycra (registered trademark) of DuPont Company, Wilmington, Delaware.

In other embodiments, the leg elastics 96 and 108 are generally between the outer member 38 and the back member 22 in a stretched state by means known in the art, such as ultrasonic bonding, heating / pressurizing bonding or adhesive bonding. Sandwiched and attached to the garment 20.

The leg elastomers 96 and 108 have a width of about 1.6 mm (about 0.0625 inches) to about 25 mm (about 1 inch), more typically about 6 mm (about 0.25 inch) to about 25 mm (about 1 inch), Most typically, about 6 mm (about 0.25 inch) to about 18 mm (about 0.75 inch), such as 13 mm (0.5 inch). Leg elastomers 96 and 108 are applied under stretching of about 100% to about 350%, more typically about 150% to about 275%, most typically about 225% to about 275%.

Leg elastomers 96 and 108 may be characterized as including threads, strands, ribbons, bands, films, elastic nonwovens or composites. Threads, strands, ribbons or bands may be multiple and applied as a composite. The number of elastic material pieces included in the leg elastics 96 and 108 is about 1 to about 6, more typically about 2 to about 5, most typically about 3 to about 4. Preferably, when the leg elastics 96 and 108 are threads, 1 to 6 threads are used as the leg elastics 96 and 108, and the threads are from about 1.6 mm (0.0625 inches) to about 13 mm (0.5 inches). , More preferably about 1.6 mm (about 0.0625 inches) to about 6 mm (about 0.25 inches), most preferably about 3 mm (about 0.125 inches) apart.

The thread may be made of any suitable elastomeric material. One suitable material is a spandex such as Lycra® thread of DuPont Company, Wilmington, Delaware, USA. Suitable leg elastomers 96 and 108 are from about 470 to about 1200, more typically from about 620 to about 1000, most typically from about 740 to leg elastomers 96 and 108, consisting of about 3 to about 6 threads. It contains threads of about 940 decitex (g / 10000 m). Adhesive 118 (FIG. 3), which is typically applied in a meltblown or swirl pattern using currently known techniques, may have leg elastics 96 and 108 attached to outer member 38, bodyside liner 40, or backside. Used to couple to member 22. Preferably, adhesive 118 is only applied to leg elastics 96 and 108. Suitable adhesives include, for example, the Findley H2096 hot melt adhesive commercially available from Ato Findley Adhesives, Milwaukee, WI.

In one embodiment, leg elastics 96 and 108, to provide a snug fit near the wearer's legs and to flank the central zone 35 to form a cradle structure near the absorbent pad 58. ) Is applied to the back member 22 or the bodyside liner 40 under stretching from about 225% to about 275%. The leg elastics 96 and 108 are more preferably sandwiched between the outer member 22 and the bodyside liner 40 under stretching of about 200%.

In other embodiments that provide a snug fit near the wearer's legs and hang down to the sides of the central zone 35 to form a cradle structure near the absorbent pads 58, the leg elastics 96 and 108 are about 200 It is applied to the outer member 38 or the back member 22 under the stretching of% to about 250%. The leg elastics 96 and 108 are more preferably sandwiched between the outer member 38 and the back member 22 under stretching of about 200%.

In some embodiments, it is generally desirable for the leg elastics 96 and 108 to be centrally located between the front terminal edge 66 and the rear terminal edge 68 of the absorbent pad 58.

In certain embodiments, leg elastics 96 and 108 are made of urethane. However, the present invention includes that the leg elastomers 96 and 108 may be made of natural rubber or other synthetic elastic materials.

When stretched for adhesion to garment 20, leg elastics 96 and 108 are about 35.6 cm (about 14 inches) long and about 1.06 cm (about 0.42 inches) wide. When the leg elastics 96 and 108 are relaxed, each of them is about 16.5 cm in length and about 1.27 cm in width.

A pair of slits, such as a buttonhole, 120 and 122 are a conveyor consisting of an aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40, and an aqueous liquid impermeable back member 22 adjacent the front edge 30 of the garment 20. It is contained in 74. The other pair of slits 124 and 126, such as buttonholes, may be formed of a container consisting of an aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner 40 and an aqueous liquid impermeable backing member 22 adjacent to the rear edge 32 of the garment 20 ( 74). Strap 130 having retainers 132 and 134 like buttons at opposite ends, respectively, extends between slits 120 and 124. Another strap 136 with retainers 138 and 139 like buttons at opposite ends, respectively, extends between the slits 122 and 126. Such support systems are described in US Pat. No. 4,315,508 to Bolick, issued February 16, 1982, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In addition, another means for securing the garment near the wearer includes a mechanical type of fastener. These include snaps, buckles, clasps, hooks and loops, end extensions, tabs, adhesive tapes, and the like, and are designed or modified to interlock or engage the outer cover of some types of complementary devices or garments. In addition, elastic fasteners are also used to ensure a better fit of such garments. Other absorbent garments 20 may include a fully enclosed or prefastened waist band.

The leg elastics 96 and 108 effectively seal between the wearer's body and the garment 20 to provide good containment in the central zone 35.

<Example 1>

Ten incontinence persons were hired to measure practically where in the undergarment would be wet when used. Each person was provided with a Defand® undergarment, commercially available from Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Dallas, Texas. The Defand® undergarment has an overall product length of 686 mm and the absorbent pad is 534 mm in length, with the front and rear end edges of the absorbent pad 76 mm from each front and rear end edge of the undergarment. It was placed symmetrically on the undergarment. The front of each product was marked so that the investigator could see which end was in front of the body. Each person was instructed to wear the undergarment as they normally would, in addition to putting the used product in a box rather than when it was normally used. Each box unit consisted of three main pieces: a flat piece of cardboard, a plastic bag and an outer box approximately the size of an undergarment with a peel strip under the center. The person was instructed to carefully place the used undergarment because the undergarment does not naturally exist and stretches if it is not careful to remove the peel strip. They were then slipped onto cardboard to place the product in plastic bags and boxes. Each product had a matching diary sheet that allowed us to know the leak report for a particular product during the investigation. Each person was given 4 products to wear for 24 hours.

Each used product was measured to determine which area of the product fits between the user's legs and what is the typical insulator distance from the front and rear distal edges of the absorbent pad. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

Insulation distance analysis (distance from the front end edge of the undergarment) Longitudinal distance range on the user's leg (from the front end edge of the undergarment product) Average distance of insert wetting from the front end edge of the absorbent pad Average distance of insert wetting from the rear end edge of the absorbent pad 198 to 256 mm 58 mm 211 mm

A comparison of the data in the table of the listed undergarment product dimensions showed that the input of urine in the product was very ubiquitous in front of the garment. The center point of the product was 343 mm for the entire product length and 267 mm for the absorbent pad. Since all numbers in Table 1 above are less than 343, it is suggested that more effective and better performing products should focus the absorbent pads more forward.

<Example 2>

The undergarment was sent to 87 incontinence persons (female 65, male 22) using the under garment under everyday use conditions. A diary sheet, in which a person records information about leaks, was provided for every individual product. All used products were returned and weighed to determine the amount of urine contained. The best application model for leak data was determined using a stepwise procedure for logistic regression from the combined data. The purpose of logistic regression is to describe the relationship between leakage and a set of annotation variables (code, urine g, sex, activity, and human hip size).

The undergarment product tested had an overall value of about 22.1 cm (about 8.7 inches) in width and 68.6 cm (about 27 inches) in length and was generally a design as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9. The absorbent pads were all 48.26 cm (19 inches) long. The pads had a ratio of 35% superabsorbent to 65% fluff fiber over the entire length with a target density of 0.160 g / cm ³ . In addition, all products were approximately 7.6 cm (3 inches) wide and 30.5 cm (12 inches) long with a basis weight of 85 gsm.

Products A and B had absorbent pads having a width of 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) and differed in position of the absorbent pad relative to the front of the undergarment and the position of the intake layer relative to the front of the absorbent pad as shown in Table 2 below. It was.

Products C and D had I shaped absorbent pads of the widest portion 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) and the narrowest portion 8.9 cm (3.5 inches). The length of the narrow portion of the pad (3.5 cm) was 8.9 cm (10 inches). The product may have a position of the absorbent pad relative to the front of the undergarment, the position of the intake layer relative to the front of the absorbent pad, and a length of 25.4 cm (10 inches) and a width of 8.9 cm (3.5 inches) of the absorbent pad relative to the front of the absorbent pad. It differed in the position of the narrow part.

The above is as Table 2 below.

Absorbent Pad Length (cm (inch)) Distance A Street b Distance C A 48.26 (19) 4 3.5 Not measurable B 48.26 (19) 3 One Not measurable C 48.26 (19) 4 3.5 4.5 D 48.26 (19) 3 One 3

Distance A. Distance from the absorbent pad to the front of the undergarment in cm

Distance B. Distance from the intake layer to the absorbent pad in cm

Distance C. Distance from the front of the absorbent pad to the front of the absorbent pad (cm (inch)) with a width of 8.9 cm (3.5 inches).

Referring to FIG. 9, Table 3 below calculates the percentage of absorbent pads 58 and intake material 79 of the front zone 37, the central zone 35 and the rear zone 39 of the undergarment 20. The data in Table 2 was used for this purpose. The data clearly shows that codes B and D have an absorbent pad 58 and intake material 79 that are more ubiquitous forward of the undergarment 20 than codes A and C.

Pad and Intake Layer Percentage (Front Zone, Center Zone, and Rear Zone) code Ubiquity % Absorbent Pads in Front Zone Absorbent Pad% in Central Area Absorbent pad% in the rear area Intake layer% in front zone % Intake layer in central zone % Intake layer in rear zone A Not ubiquitous 26.3 47.4 26.3 10.2 75.1 14.7 B 0.264 31.7 47.4 20.9 42.0 58.0 0.0 C Not ubiquitous 26.3 47.4 26.3 10.2 75.1 14.7 D 0.264 31.7 47.4 20.9 42.0 58.0 0.0

The leak likelihood data in Table 4 below shows that the leak performance is improved when the absorbent component, absorbent pad and intate layer are localized against the front of the undergarment. Codes B and D had the lowest potential for leakage, and likewise, code D, which is highly ubiquitous for leg cuts, had the lowest potential for leakage.

Possible leaks at various urine loads (g) 25 g 125 g 350 g A 0.076 0.142 0.440 B 0.051 0.106 0.414 C 0.051 0.109 0.440 D 0.041 0.095 0.436 NOTE: The likelihood of a leak is the probability of a product leaking if a certain amount is loaded during use. A 100% chance of leaks is a probability of 1.00.

<Example 3>

Two absorbent pad products were tested for leak protection performance. The pants were sent to 72 incontinence people (44 females, 28 males) using the pants under everyday conditions of use. A diary sheet, in which a person records information about leaks, was provided for every individual product. All used products were returned and weighed to determine the amount of urine contained. A best fit model for leak data was determined using a stepwise procedure for logistic regression from the combined data. The purpose of logistic regression is to describe the relationship between leakage and a set of annotation variables (code, urine g, sex, activity, and human hip size).

Products tested were standard disposable pants and SureCare® Slip-On manufactured by Inbrand Corporation, Maritta, GA. Slip-on products are conventional pants with symmetrically placed absorbent materials in product assembly, whereas standard disposable pants are more ubiquitous in absorbent pads and smaller in capacity than Surecare products. The Surecare product was 660 mm long and had an essentially rectangular absorbent pad of 550 mm long and 127 mm wide. The absorbent pad had 90 gsm superabsorbent material and 1062 gsm fluff pulp. The absorbent pad is placed 55 mm away from the front and rear end edges of the garment.

The standard disposable underpants (see FIG. 11) had a product length of 781 mm. The absorbent pad was 400 mm long, 165 mm wide at the distal end, and 90 mm wide at the center. The pads were placed 160 mm away from the front end edge of the pants and 221 mm away from the back end edge of the pants. The pad was characterized as comprising 110 gsm of superabsorbent material and 165 gsm of fluff fiber. In addition, the standard disposable underpants were 292 mm long, 90 mm wide, 185 mm away from the front end edge of the pants, and 304 mm away from the rear end edge of the pants between the absorbent pad and the back member. The gauze consisted of 180 gsm superabsorbent material and 270 gsm fluff fiber. The density of the pads and gauze was about 0.160 gm / cc. In addition, the standard disposable pants had 100 gsm of intake material having a width of 64 mm and a length of 203 mm. The front end edge of the intake material was placed 216 mm away from the front end edge of the standard disposable pants and 362 mm away from the rear end edge of the standard disposable pants. The ratio of absorbent pads and gauze in the front zone, center zone and back zone is shown in Table 5. Table 5 shows that absorbent pads, gauze and intake materials of standard disposable pants are localized in the front of the product so that the proportion of absorbent in the front is high, while Surecare products have their absorbent pads symmetrically placed.

Dimensional Comparison of Standard Disposable Underpants and Surecare Slip-on product Absorbent Ingredient % In forward area % In central area % In posterior region 0.9% saline holding capacity Sure Care Absorbent pads 30.0 40.0 30.0 726 g Standard disposable underpants Absorbent Pad Gazein Take Material 25.025.721.2 65.074.378.8 9.80.00.0 480 g

In Table 5, the Surecare product does not have a ubiquity coefficient because the absorbent pads are placed symmetrically. On the other hand, the localization coefficient of the absorbent pad of the standard disposable pants is 0.111, which indicates that the absorbent core is much localized in the front.

The leak information in Table 6 (expressed as the amount of urine (g) leaked by 20% (LD20) and 50% (LD50) of the product) is determined by the standard disposable underpants with an absorbent anterior portion 20% and 50% Indicates that it provides better leakage protection because it requires more urine to leak.

Surecare Slip-On vs. Standard Disposable Underpants product gender LD20 (g) LD50 (g) Sure Care Men and women 24084 367231 Standard disposable underpants Men and women 294294 450441

While various patents and other references have been cited herein to the extent that there is any discrepancy between the incorporating material and the incorporating material in the described specification, the described specification is for reference. In addition, while the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, all such changes, substitutions, and other changes contained in the appended claims are considered to be within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims (57)

Define an initial unfolded shape having longitudinal and transverse axes, a front zone and a rear zone generally opposed on the longitudinal axis, and a central zone disposed between the front and rear zones, the front zone , The length along the longitudinal axis of each of the rear zone and the central zone Aqueous liquid impermeable backing member, An aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner connected to said back member near the periphery of said bodyside liner and back member, A generally rectangular absorbent pad positioned between said bodyside liner and said back member in said peripheral plate of said connected liner and back member, said generally rectangular absorbent pad having a front end edge and a rear end edge, and 1/3 of the length of a disposable absorbent garment comprising elastic pleats arranged along the longitudinally extending edge of the periphery, providing a disposable absorbent garment that is elastically shrinkable and comforts the body near the wearer's crotch. ego, The absorbent pad is such that the length of the absorbent pad in the rear zone divided by the length of the absorbent pad in the front zone and the central zone is less than 0.27, and the length of the absorbent pad in the front zone is Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that disposed in the zones greater than the length of the absorbent pad in the rear zone. 10. The disposable part of claim 1 further comprising a front waist region and a back waist region generally opposed on said longitudinal axis, and a crotch region disposed between said front waist region and said back waist region. Absorbent garment. 3. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 2 wherein the front waist region further comprises a front edge and the rear waist region further comprises a rear edge. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the front end edge of the absorbent pad is disposed about 17.78 cm (about 7 inches) to about 7.62 cm (about 3 inches) away from the front edge of the front waist zone, The posterior distal edge is a disposable absorbent garment disposed about 10.16 cm (about 4 inches) to about 25.4 cm (about 10 inches) from the rear edge of the posterior lumbar region. 5. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 4 wherein said absorbent pad is located symmetrically about said longitudinal axis. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 1, wherein the absorbent pad is about 38.1 cm (about 15 inches) to about 53.34 cm (about 21 inches) in length. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 2, wherein the absorbent pad has a length of about 38.1 cm (about 15 inches) to about 53.34 cm (about 21 inches). The disposable absorbent garment of claim 1, wherein the absorbent pad is about 55% to about 80% of the length of the back member. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 1, wherein the disposable absorbent garment is generally rectangular in shape. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 1 having a generally rectangular shape with leg cuts. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 1, further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner, wherein the surge layer is located symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the unfolded garment and is less than the length and width of the absorbent pad. Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that it has a small length and width. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 1, wherein the absorbent pad is generally rectangular in shape. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 1, wherein the absorbent pad is generally I-shaped. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a generally rectangular pledget disposed between the absorbent pad and the back member, the gauze positioned symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal and transverse axes of the unfolded garment. And having a length and width less than the length and width of the back member, wherein the gauze, the elastic pleats and the absorbent pad together function to form a cup-shaped portion near the wearer's crotch when the garment is worn. Disposable absorbent garments. 16. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 15 further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner, wherein the surge layer is located symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the unfolded garment and is less than the length and width of the absorbent pad. Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that it has a small length and width. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a generally rectangular gauze disposed between the absorbent pad and the back member, wherein the gauze is located symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the unfolded garment. Having a length and width less than a width, wherein the gauze, the elastic pleats and the absorbent pad together function to form a cup-shaped portion near the wearer's crotch when the garment is worn. 19. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 18 further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner, wherein the surge layer is located symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the unfolded garment and is less than the length and width of the absorbent pad. Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that it has a small length and width. Define an initial unfolded shape having longitudinal and transverse axes, a front zone and a rear zone generally opposed on the longitudinal axis, and a central zone disposed between the front and rear zones, the front zone , The length along the longitudinal axis of each of the rear zone and the central zone Aqueous liquid impermeable backing member, An aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner connected to said back member near the periphery of said bodyside liner and back member, A generally rectangular absorbent pad positioned between the bodyside liner and the back member in a plate around the connected liner and back member, symmetrically about the longitudinal axis and having a front end edge and a rear end edge, And 1/3 of the length of a disposable absorbent garment comprising elastic pleats arranged along the longitudinally extending edge of the periphery, providing a disposable absorbent garment that is elastically shrinkable and comforts the body near the wearer's crotch. ego, The absorbent pad is such that the length of the absorbent pad in the rear zone divided by the length of the absorbent pad in the front zone and the central zone is less than 0.27, and the length of the absorbent pad in the front zone is Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that disposed in the zones greater than the length of the absorbent pad in the rear zone. 22. The disposable part of claim 21 further comprising a front waist region and a back waist region generally opposed on said longitudinal axis, and a crotch region disposed between said front waist region and said back waist region. Absorbent garment. 23. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 22 wherein said anterior waist region further comprises an anterior edge and said posterior waist region further comprises a posterior edge. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the front end edge of the absorbent pad is disposed about 12.7 cm (about 5 inches) to about 2.54 cm (about 1 inch) away from the front edge of the anterior waist region. The posterior distal edge is a disposable absorbent garment that is disposed about 7.62 cm (about 3 inches) to about 17.78 cm (about 7 inches) from the rear edge of the posterior lumbar region. 22. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 21 wherein the absorbent pad is about 30.48 cm (about 12 inches) to about 76.2 cm (about 30 inches) in length. 23. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 22 wherein the absorbent pad is about 30.48 cm (about 12 inches) to about 76.2 cm (about 30 inches) long. 22. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 21 wherein the length of the absorbent pad is from about 30% to about 100% of the length of the back member. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 21, wherein the disposable absorbent garment is generally rectangular in shape. 23. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 21 in the shape of a generally rectangular shape with leg cuts. 22. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 21 further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner, wherein the surge layer is located symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the unfolded garment and is less than the length and width of the absorbent pad. Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that it has a small length and width. 22. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 21 wherein the absorbent pad is generally rectangular in shape. 22. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 21 wherein the absorbent pad is generally I-shaped. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a generally rectangular gauze disposed between the absorbent pad and the back member, wherein the gauze is symmetrically positioned with respect to the longitudinal and transverse axes of the unfolded garment. A length and width less than the length and width of the member, wherein the gauze, elastic pleats and the absorbent pad together function to form a cup-shaped portion near the wearer's crotch when the garment is worn. 35. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 34 further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner, wherein the surge layer is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the unfolded garment and is less than the length and width of the absorbent pad. Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that it has a small length and width. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a generally rectangular gauze disposed between the absorbent pad and the back member, wherein the gauze is located symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the unfolded garment and has a length of the absorbent pad. And a length and width less than width, wherein the gauze, the elastic pleats, and the absorbent pad together function to form a cup shape near the wearer's crotch when the garment is worn. 38. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 37, further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner. 38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner, wherein the surge layer is located symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the unfolded garment and is less than the length and width of the absorbent pad. Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that it has a small length and width. Longitudinal and transverse axes, front and rear zones generally opposed on the longitudinal axis, and central zones disposed between the front and rear zones, and generally opposed on the longitudinal axis, and Define an initial unfolded shape having a front waist region further comprising a front edge and a rear waist region further comprising a rear edge, and a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the rear waist region, wherein the front region, the The length along the longitudinal axis of each of the rear zone and the central zone Aqueous liquid impermeable backing member, An aqueous liquid permeable bodyside liner connected to said back member near the periphery of said bodyside liner and back member, Located between the bodyside liner and the back member in the peripheral plate of the connected liner and back member, having a front end edge and a rear end edge, located symmetrically about the longitudinal axis, the front end edge About 12.7 cm (about 5 inches) to about 2.54 cm (about 1 inch) away from the anterior edge of the anterior lumbar region, and the posterior distal edge is about 7.62 cm (about 3 from the posterior edge of the posterior lumbar region). Inches) to about 17.78 cm (about 7 inches) generally rectangular absorbent pads, and 1/3 of the length of a disposable absorbent garment comprising elastic pleats arranged along the longitudinally extending edge of the periphery, providing a disposable absorbent garment that is elastically shrinkable and comforts the body near the wearer's crotch. ego, The absorbent pad is such that the length of the absorbent pad in the rear zone divided by the length of the absorbent pad in the front zone and the central zone is less than 0.27, and the length of the absorbent pad in the front zone is Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that disposed in the zones greater than the length of the absorbent pad in the rear zone. 41. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising a front waist region and a back waist region generally disposed on the longitudinal axis, and a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, wherein the front waist region And the rear waist zone further comprises a rear edge. 41. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 40 wherein the absorbent pad is about 30.48 cm (about 12 inches) to about 76.2 cm (about 30 inches) long. 42. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 41 wherein the absorbent pad is about 30.48 cm (about 12 inches) to about 76.2 cm (about 30 inches) in length. 41. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 40 wherein the length of the absorbent pad is from about 30% to about 100% of the length of the back member. 41. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 40 wherein the disposable absorbent garment is generally rectangular in shape. 41. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 40 in a generally rectangular shape with leg cuts. 41. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 40 further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner. 41. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner, wherein the surge layer is located symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the unfolded garment and is less than the length and width of the absorbent pad. Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that it has a small length and width. 41. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 40 wherein said absorbent pad is generally rectangular in shape. 41. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 40 wherein said absorbent pad is generally I-shaped. 41. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising a generally rectangular gauze disposed between the absorbent pad and the back member, wherein the gauze is symmetrically positioned with respect to the longitudinal and transverse axes of the unfolded garment. Having a length and width less than the length and width of the member, the gauze, elastic pleats and the absorbent pad together function to form a cup shape near the wearer's crotch when the garment is worn Garment. 52. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 51 further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner. 53. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner, wherein the surge layer is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the unfolded garment and is less than the length and width of the absorbent pad. Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that it has a small length and width. 41. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising a generally rectangular gauze disposed between the absorbent pad and the back member, the gauze being symmetrically positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the unfolded garment. And a length and width less than a width, wherein the gauze, elastic pleats and the absorbent pad together function to form a cup-shaped portion near the wearer's crotch when the garment is worn. 55. The disposable absorbent garment of claim 54 further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner. 55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a surge layer disposed between the absorbent pad and the bodyside liner, wherein the surge layer is located symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the unfolded garment and is less than the length and width of the absorbent pad. Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that it has a small length and width. Longitudinal and transverse axes, front and rear zones generally opposed on the longitudinal axis, and central zones disposed between the front and rear zones, and generally opposed on the longitudinal axis, and Define an initial unfolded shape having a front waist region further comprising a front edge and a rear waist region further comprising a rear edge, and a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the rear waist region, wherein the front region, the The length along the longitudinal axis of each of the rear zone and the central zone An aqueous liquid fire that is generally rectangular in shape, about 10.16 cm (about 4 inches) to about 25.4 cm (about 10 inches) wide and about 50.8 cm (about 20 inches) to about 76.2 cm (about 30 inches) long. Transparent backing member, An aqueous liquid permeable body side liner having dimensions similar to the dimensions of the back member and connected to the back member near the periphery of the back side member; Positioned between the bodyside liner and the back member in a plate around the connected liner and back member, having a front end edge and a rear end edge, the width being generally from about 40% to about 90% of the width of the back member; Rectangular absorbent pad, and 1/3 of the length of a disposable absorbent garment comprising elastic pleats arranged along the longitudinally extending edge of the periphery, providing a disposable absorbent garment that is elastically shrinkable and comforts the body near the wearer's crotch. ego, The absorbent pad is such that the length of the absorbent pad in the rear zone divided by the length of the absorbent pad in the front zone and the central zone is less than 0.27, and the length of the absorbent pad in the front zone is Disposable absorbent garment, characterized in that disposed in the zones greater than the length of the absorbent pad in the rear zone.