MXPA99011176A - Absorbent composite web - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an absorbent composite web comprising a primary material having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of apertures extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. Furthermore, a secondary material is positioned adjacent to the primary material bottom surface. The secondary material extends into the plurality of apertures in the primary material.

Description

ABSORBENT COMPOSITE FRAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an absorbent composite web comprising a perforated primary material, fluid distribution, and a secondary absorbent material. The apertures of the primary material are substantially filled by the secondary material which can also cover the lower surface of the primary material thus producing a multi-layer, absorbent composite web.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been widely known in the art of the disposable absorbent article that it is extremely desirable to construct absorption devices such as disposable diapers, catamenial pads, sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, incontinence pads, and the like, which have a dry surface feel to the user to improve the comfort of use and to minimize the development of undesirable skin conditions due to prolonged exposure of moisture absorbed within the absorbent article. Accordingly, it is generally desirable to promote the transfer of fluid in a direction away from the user and into an absorbent element, while resisting fluid transfer in the reverse direction. Conventional absorbent articles typically include an absorbent element (sometimes referred to as an absorbent core) elastically interposed of a fluid-permeable element that is in contact with the body (sometimes referred to as a top sheet or a wrapper) and a protective barrier impermeable to the fluid that (sometimes referred to as a back sheet). The absorbent element is, of course, intended to receive and contain body fluids such as menses and urine. The element that is in contact with the body is intended to provide greater or lesser comfort and dry feeling contact with the surfaces of the body while allowing free passage of the fluids therethrough and towards the absorbent element. The protective barrier is intended to prevent bodily fluids, which are issued or which escape from the absorbent element, from soiling the wearer's garment. The comfort of the user is enhanced if the absorbent article, in addition to its properties of high fluid transmission capacity and fluid retention, exhibits the characteristic of fluid transmission capacity in a single direction. This will improve it which is known as the rewet characteristic of the absorbent product. The fluid must quickly and easily transmit through the upper sheet and into the absorbent core. As the absorbent core becomes saturated, the fluid will tend to pass back through the absorbent article, or rewet, causing discomfort to the user. Since the absorbent core becomes increasingly saturated during use or is subjected to a pressure, there will be a tendency for the fluid to transmit backwards through the cover, or to rewet the surface of the cover and consequently the body of the cover. user. This discomfort caused by rewetting can cause the user to discard the absorbent product before its useful life has ended. Therefore, it is desirable to inhibit this rewet and thus reduce the user's discomfort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the invention provides an absorbent composite web comprising a primary material having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of openings extending therethrough from the upper surface to the lower surface. In addition, a secondary material is preferably placed adjacent to the lower surface of the primary material whereby the secondary material extends toward the plurality of openings within the primary material. In an application of the modality of this, the secondary material of the weft may comprise from about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight of the cellulosic material. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the secondary material may comprise from about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight of synthetic material. One screen of the present invention preferably comprises a secondary material having both cellulosic material and synthetic material. Preferably, the weft of the present invention comprises a primary material which may comprise two-component fibers, one-component fibers, three-component fibers or a combination of the three.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the primary material may further comprise a wetting agent, for example, a surfactant, to carry the fluid away from the user and / or from the upper surface of the primary material. Also preferably, the secondary material may comprise an element selected from the group consisting of gelling absorbent material, superabsorbent polymers, silica, perfume, cyclodextrins, zeolite, charcoal, silica, cyclodextrins and combinations thereof. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the weft may further comprise a tertiary material having a top surface placed immediately adjacent to the bottom of the secondary material. In one embodiment of the present invention, a disposable diaper comprises a chassis having an upper surface and a lower surface, a front portion, a rear portion positioned opposite the front portion, a crotch portion positioned between the front portion and the rear portion, a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, a pair of end edges that are parallel to the transverse axis and a pair of longitudinal edges that are parallel to the longitudinal axis. The chassis further comprises a top sheet and a back sheet attached to the top sheet. The back sheet has an internal surface and an external surface. A fluid handling member is placed between the top sheet and the back sheet. The fluid handling member comprises a primary material having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of openings extending from the upper surface of the primary material to its lower surface. In addition, a secondary material is placed adjacent to the bottom surface of the primary material. The secondary material extends towards the plurality of openings in the primary material. The fluid handling member may comprise at least a portion of the topsheet and / or the absorbent core. Also, if there is a top sheet and / or a separate absorbent core, the fluid handling member which is preferably located between and is positioned adjacent the top sheet and the absorbent core, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Although the description concludes with the claims pointing out in a particular way and claiming differently the exposed matter that is considered as formant of the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following descriptions which are taken in combination with the accompanying drawings, in which they use similar designations to designate substantially identical elements, and in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the absorbent composite web of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the part of a shaped screen used in a process for the formation of a primary material; Figure 3A is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a relief portion; Figure 3B is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a raised portion; Figure 3C is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a raised portion; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a composite weft absorbing the present invention; Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of an absorbent composite web of the present invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of a diaper embodiment employing or a fluid handling member the present invention; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a weft formation process of the absorbent composite web of the present invention; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the absorbent composite web of the present invention; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the absorbent composite web of the present invention; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the absorbent composite web of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As used herein, the term "absorbent article" refers to devices that are absorbed and contain body exudates, and, more specifically, refer to devices that are placed against or close to the user's body to absorb and contain the various exudates discharged from the body. The term "disposable" is used herein to describe absorbent articles that are not intended to be washed or restored or otherwise used as an absorbent article (i.e., they are intended to be discarded after only one use). , and, preferably, to be recycled, composted or otherwise disposed of in an environmentally compatible manner). A "unitary" absorbent article refers to the absorbent articles that are formed of separate parts joined together to form a coordinated entity such that they do not require separate manipulated parts such as a separate bra and pad. Figure 1 provides a perspective view of a weft 10 or an absorbent composite web 10. By the terms "weft" and "absorbent composite web" we will be understood herein as a multi-layer absorbing or fluid transport and retention structure made of two or more different parts, where at least a part of the structure functions mainly to transport the fluid. The screen 1 0 preferably comprises a primary material 1 5 formed by a first series of fibers 17. The primary material 1 5 comprises an upper surface 16, which preferably gives to a user when the 1 0 screen is used in a disposable absorbent article . Opposed to the upper surface 16 is the lower surface 1 8 of the primary material 15. As seen in Figure 1, the primary material 15 is formed in such a manner to provide openings 25 in all of the primary material 15. These openings 25 extend from the top surface 16 to the bottom surface 1 8 of the primary material 1 5. The openings 25 can be randomly assigned throughout the primary material 1 5 a these can be located in any conceivable organized or regular configuration throughout the primary material 1 5. Preferably, the openings 25 will be formed in a regular manner from the top to the bottom. Also, the openings 25 may comprise a wider opening in the upper part 16 than in the lower surface 18 and the reverse is also natural. The secondary material 20 is formed from a second series of fibers 22. The secondary material comprises an upper surface 21 and a lower surface 23. The upper surface 21 of the secondary material 20 is located adjacent to the lower surface 18 of the primary material 1 5. As clearly seen in Figure 1, the secondary material 20 not only forms a layer which is adjacent to the lower surface 1 8 of the primary material 1 5, but is also inserted into the openings 25 of the primary material 15. Therefore, as the fluid tackles the upper surface 1 6 of the primary material 1 5, it will also immediately undertake at least a portion of the secondary material 20, ie, those portions within the openings 25. Figure 1 provides a view in which the secondary material 20 which located within the openings 25 appears to be at the same level as the upper surface 16 of the material 1. This is a preferred embodiment, however, the secondary material 20 may extend from about a quarter from the base of an opening 25 to approximately the total height of an aperture 25. However, for optimal performance, it is believed presently that the level of the secondary material 20 within an opening 25 should be approximately equal to the upper surface 1 6 of the primary material 1 5. Preferably, the first series of fibers 17 used to form the primary material 15 are insensitive to moisture. By the term "moisture insensitive" it will be understood herein that the fibers will substantially not absorb any fluid within their structure and furthermore will not collapse as a result of the fluid loading. In addition, the fibers 17 will remain intact upon the occurrence of the fluid supply and, very importantly, will not retain any liquid. The purpose of the fibers 1 7 is to collect the fluid quickly and transport it only as quickly out of its structure to the fibers 22 of the secondary material 20 for storage. To further adapt this transport function of the primary material 1 5, the density of the primary material 1 5 must be less than the density of the secondary material 20. Although the density of the primary material 15 is preferably less than the density of the secondary material 20, it should distinguish that the hollow volume, which is the inverse of the density here, is preferably higher for the primary material 15 than for the secondary material 20. In practice, the hollow volume is related to the number of voids or separate volume (ie, spaces) per gram of fibers. It is desirable that there are more open spaces in the primary material 15 than in the secondary material 20 to create a density gradient across the two materials, by which the fluid is easily and quickly sucked from the primary material into the secondary material. As previously noted, the primary material 1 5 is to be formed in such a way as to allow its structure to rapidly receive the fluids and then transport them to the secondary material 20 without the collapse of the primary material 1 5. In this way, the Primary material 15 will then be capable of receiving multiple fluid inflows and then transferring these fluids to secondary material 20. Generally, due to that material within openings 25 and that the secondary layer located below the primary layer comprises the same fibers, that is, the second series of fibers 22, each will have approximately the same density. However, any of the material within the openings 25 or the secondary material layer located below the primary layer can be further densified through compaction or the addition of certain elements which may include, but are not limited to, gelling absorbent material, superabsorbent polymers, silica, perfume, cyclodextrins, absorbent foam, thermally capable fibers, charcoal, zeolite, etcetera. For example, in one embodiment, the secondary material may be densified by elements which then cause it to have a greater density than both of the primary material 15 and the material within the openings 25. In such an embodiment, the density gradients are established through the primary material 15 to the secondary material 20 as well as through the material within the openings 25 towards the secondary material 20; this is a preferred modality. Also, the material within the openings 25 can be made to be more dense than the secondary material 20. In an alternate embodiment of the present, the densities for each component of the 1 0 screen can have densities that are all approximately equal. In such a case, there is little or nothing of the discernible density gradient established through the primary material 15, the secondary material 20, or the material within the openings 25. Preferably, the secondary material 20 will have a higher basis weight than the primary material. 15. This corresponds to the secondary material 20 also preferably having higher density than the primary material 15 and helps to ensure that a density gradient is established from the primary material 1 5 to the secondary material 20. The sizes of both primary material 15 and the secondary material 20 is within the ranges of 0.5 to 10 millimeters, preferably one to five millimeters and more preferably 1.5 to 2.0 millimeters. The basis weights for the primary material 1 5 and for the secondary material 20 are in the ranges of 20 to 3000 g / m2, preferably 40 to 1000 g / m2 and more preferably 50 to 300 g / m2. In an alternate embodiment of the present, density gradients are created within either the primary material 15, the secondary material 20, or both. When a density gradient is established within the primary material 15, it is also related to the variable pore sizes established throughout the primary material 15 and is thus also referred to as the pore size gradient. The density within the primary material 15 can be made to be less dense towards its upper surface 16 and denser toward the upper surface 21 of the secondary material 20, i.e., the lower surface of the primary material 15. Internal densification can be performed by compacting the fibers within the primary material 1 5 and / or through the formation of the primary material 1 5 from identical or similar fibers of variable denier, i.e. the coarseness or fineness of a fiber. Similarly, the secondary material 20 can be densified internally, whereby the portion of the material 20 closest to the upper surface 21 is less dense than the portion closest to the lower surface 23 of the secondary material 20. Again, This internal densification can be performed through the compaction of the fibers within the secondary material 20 and / or through the formation of the secondary material 20 from similar or similar fibers of variable denier, that is, the coarseness or fineness of a fiber. The variable denier of the fibers within a material establishes the density gradient or the gradient of the pore sizes within the materials. Preferably, the upper denier fibers, which correspond to the rougher fibers, will reside closer to the main and top surfaces of the primary and secondary materials. The lower denier fibers will then therefore preferably reside closer to the lower or lower surfaces of the primary and secondary materials. These preferred constructions create primary and secondary materials that are less dense on their upper surfaces and denser on their lower surfaces. Specifically, coarser upper fibers (ie, those having higher deniers) are more resilient and less structurally compressive and thus allow the creation of larger hollow volumes in the upper surfaces of a material. The finer upper fibers (ie, those with lower deniers) are less resilient and more structurally compressive and thus allow the creation of greater compaction and smaller hollow volumes in the lower surfaces of a material. It is preferred that the lower or lower portion of a material is more dense and that its upper portions are less dense to receive fluids quickly., thus dragging them away from the upper surfaces and keeping them within the lower surfaces of a material away from their upper surfaces. Figure seven shows a cross-sectional view of a weft 10 having a primary material 15 and a secondary material 20 which has been internally densified with fibers 17 and fibers 22, respectively. As has been mentioned above, this internal densification may have occurred, either through the compaction of the fibers and / or through the inclusion of denier fibers is variable. It should be noted that although the primary material 15, for example, may comprise fibers 1 7 of variable deniers, the base weights of the fibers are all approximately equal. That is, the base weights of the fibers do not vary as the denier of the fibers within a material varies. It is further distinguished that the internal densification of the fibers can occur through the use of variable fiber types having different weights, thicknesses, mass densities and other attributes that may affect the density within the materials 15 and 20. The primary material 1 5 may also be formed from a non-woven web, which may be a spunbonded web, a meltblown web, a carded bonded web, or an air-bonded, thermally bonded web. The non-woven web can be made of fiber-forming polymers such as, for example, polyesters, polyamines, and polyolefins. Exemplary polyolefins include one or more of polypropylene, polyethylene, ethylene copolymers, propylene copolymers, and butene copolymers. In another preferred embodiment, the non-woven web may comprise two-component fibers. The two-component fiber used herein is preferably a heat-bondable two-component fiber having an inner core component and an outer shell component, wherein the inner core component has a higher melting point than the outer shell component. The fiber is typically hydrophobic, but can be made hydrophilic by incorporating a surfactant into the shell of the two-component fiber and / or by treating the outer surface of the shell with a surfactant. Exemplary two-component fibers and the processes for producing them are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,456,982 entitled "Two-component synthesis fiber and process for producing the same", issued to Hansen et al. On October 10. of 1995, and U.S. Patent No. 5,603,707 entitled "Absorbing article having a rewet barrier", issued to Trombetta et al. on February 18, 1997, each of which patents are incorporated herein by reference. Whatever the two-component fiber used here, it must be substantially insensitive to moisture so as not to absorb an amount of fluid that would either hinder the rewetting of the primary material 15 or cause the structural integrity of the primary material to collapse. or be compromised in another way. The primary material 1 5 must have an operable level of density and basis weight to quickly acquire and then drain the liquid surges towards the underlying secondary material, thus remaining substantially empty to receive the subsequent liquid charges, i.e. rush The primary material 15 should have sufficient void volume capacity to temporarily retain the amount of liquid that is typically discharged by a user during a single liquid load or loads in the frame 10. Insufficient void volume capacity may result in waterlogging of the liquid. excessive liquid against the user's skin or in excessive fluid leakage. It should be noted herein that the primary material 15 preferably substantially comprises non-cellulosic material or any type of absorbent fiber that would retain and not substantially transfer all of the fluid received by the primary material 15 to the secondary material 20 and / or the fibers. 22 within an opening 25. The secondary material 20 preferably comprises from about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight of cellulosic material and from about 10% by weight to about 90% by weight of synthetic material. More preferably, the secondary material 20 comprises from about 10% by weight of a synthetic fiber such as polyolefin to about 90% by weight of a cellulosic fiber such as wood pulp or rayon. The purpose of the secondary material is to create an absorbent, liquid retention structure for the fluid conveyed to the secondary material 20 by the primary material 15. This is especially effective where the weft 10 is only or the absorbent and fluid retention structure primary within the absorbent article. The absorbent materials suitable for use in the secondary material 20 are ground wood pulp, which is generally referred to as air felt, accreted cellulose wadding; melt blown polymers including coform; chemically hardened, modified or cross-linked cellulosic fibers; synthetic fibers such as bent polyester fibers, polyester, polyamines and polyolefins; peat moss; tissue including tissue wraps and tissue laminates; absorbent foams; absorbent sponges; superabsorbent polymers; gelling absorbent materials; or any equivalent material or combinations of materials, or mixtures thereof. Figure 2 provides a perspective view of a section of the forming process for the screen 1 0. Specifically, a first series of fibers 1 7 for the primary material 15 are shown as being placed on a shaped screen 80 having portions in relief Alternating 70 in everything. Figure 2 shows the shaped screen 80 which is partially filled with fibers 17, but in practice, this screen 80 would be completely filled from one part to the other with the fibers 17. In addition, the relief portions 70 are shown to be pyramidal shape. However, as shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 3C, the relief portions can be of any shape desired by the manufacturer, eg, pyramidal, conical, cylindrical, polygonal, spherical, etc. , to produce an opening with desired shape 25, for example, openings having conical, pyramidal, polygonal, cylindrical, spherical types, etc. It is noted herein that various types of relief portions 70 may be used on a shaped screen 80. The type of relief portion 70 used will depend on the shape, contour and structure of the desired openings within the primary material 15.

Figures 4 and 4A show cross sections of two 1 0 -shapes. Both figures show an additional absorbent material 30 located adjacent to the lower surface of the secondary material 20. Figure 4A shows an additional absorbent material 30 placed adjacent to the bottom surface of the material Secondary 20. Figure 4A depicts an alternate embodiment here, wherein the additional absorbent material is placed adjacent to the weft 1 0. The absorbent material 30 may be the same or similar to the absorbent material used in the secondary material 20. In a of the absorbent article, the absorbent material 30 may represent an absorbent core (e.g., absorbent core 540 of Figure 5). In another preferred embodiment herein, both of the primary and secondary materials may substantially and / or fully comprise an absorbent and / or fluid acquisition foam. For the structure disclosed in the present invention, the primary material may comprise a foam substantially for fluid acquisition and fluid distribution, while the secondary material may comprise a substantially fluid absorbing and retaining foam, each of which materials being preferably a functional absorbent material. Suitable examples of functional absorbent materials of the present are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,387,207 issued to Dyer et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,563, 179 issued to DesMarais et al., And in the patent application. No. 08 / 370,922 (DesMarais et al.) entitled "Absorbent foam materials for aqueous fluids made from high internal phase emulsions having high water-to-oil ratios" and 08 / 484,727 (DesMarais et al.) entitled " Foam materials for insulation derived from high internal phase emulsions ", all of whose references are incorporated by reference. Where fluid acquisition and absorption foams are used for the frame 10, the structure of the frame 1 0 will be similar to that shown in Figure 1. Specifically, the fluid acquisition layer would be the primary material 15, and the fluid absorption layer would be the secondary material 20. In one embodiment, the 1 0 screen comprising the fluid acquisition and absorbent foams mentioned above will not substantially comprise fibers or additives (for example, charcoal, perfume, etc.). In another embodiment, the web 10 comprising the fluid acquisition and absorption foams may comprise fibers and / or additives. Also disclosed in Figures 4 and 4a are the additives and elements included within the secondary material 20. The elements 40 may be materials responsible for adding fluid absorption, odor control, fragrance release, etc. These elements can be selected from the group consisting of gelling absorbent materials, zeolite, charcoal, silica, cyclodextrins, heat-binding fibers, perfume and combinations thereof. It is further distinguished herein that the 1 0 screen can comprise as many levels or layers of material as desired by a manufacturer. In fact, multiple layers, ie, at least two, of different types of fibers with denier, base weights, and varying material sizes can be employed as part of the invention herein.

Figure 8 describes an alternative embodiment of the present, wherein a 1 0 frame comprises layers or multiple levels of material. A primary material 15 is positioned adjacent to a secondary material 20, which is positioned adjacent to a tertiary material 30. Also, the openings 25 of varying shapes are arranged within the primary and secondary materials and lead to the tertiary material 30. These openings 25 they can, either, be filled with an absorbent material of fibers similar to those in the materials underlying the primary material., and / or the openings 25 may be unfilled and thus serve as an immediate conduit to the materials underlying the primary material 1 5. For example, the central opening of the frame 10, that is, that opening 25 which has The pyramidal or conical shape is not substantially filled with any fiber, absorbent or otherwise. It would serve to allow the fluid to enter directly into the secondary material 20 and the tertiary material 30 as it collides with an unfilled hole 25. It is noted herein that the fibers within the openings 25 of Figure 8 are shown as fibers of the tertiary material 30, however, these fibers can also be of secondary material 20. It is further noted here that any of the elements mentioned here (for example, perfume, odor absorbers, etc.) can also be located within the secondary material 20 and / or the tertiary material 30 of the weft 10 of Figure 8. A combination of unfilled and filled openings 25 can be used in the two-layer or multilayer absorbent composite wefts 10 of the present. By the term "multi-layer" is meant a composite screen of the present having at least two levels of material within its structure. Suitable odor and / or perfume control agents are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,591,146 issued to Hasse on January 7, 1997 and in U.S. Patent Application No. 08 / 635,221. filed April 1, 1996, entitled "Absorbent article with agents that conceal the odor released by the fastening system" and United States Patent Applications No. 08 / 764,817 filed on December 12, 1996; entitled "A diaper that has perfume areas", each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Figure 9 discloses an alternate embodiment, wherein the openings 25 extend from the upper surface 21 toward the lower surface 23 of the secondary material 20. This is an inversion of the structure of the frame 10 in Figure 1. Additionally, the fibers 17 within the openings 25 are those fibers that form the primary material 1. The screen 1 0 of Figure 9 is shown in reverse, whereby the lower surface 23 of the secondary material is shown facing upwards. This view of the weft is intended to clearly indicate the openings 25 and fibers 17 that are located therein. In practice, the primary material of Figure 9 is that material that it gives to a user and the secondary material gives away from a user. While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed here that as fluid is acquired in the upper surface 16 of the primary material 1 5 in Figure 9, the fluid will travel through the openings 25 along the fibers 1 7 I to an underlying absorbent element or to secondary material 20 for storage. It is distinguished in the present that the frame 10 in Figure 9 is not a structure that is unique as the frame 10 in Figure 1. That is, there should be an accompanying absorbent element positioned adjacent to or almost adjacent the bottom surface 23 of the secondary material 20. It is not the intention of any embodiment of the present to allow fluid flow through an absorbent composite web 1 0 of the present without its capture and storage.

EB Disposable diaper A preferred embodiment of the disposable, unitary absorbent article of the present invention is diaper 50 shown in Figure 5. As used herein, the term "diaper" refers to an absorbent article generally worn by infants, and incontinent persons who It is worn around the user's torso. In other words, the term "diaper" includes baby diapers, training pants, adult incontinence devices, etc. However, it should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention herein can be applied to other absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, tampons, and interlabial devices. The diaper 50 of the present invention, as shown in Figure 5, comprises a liquid-impermeable backsheet 530 and a liquid-permeable upper sheet 520 attached to the backsheet 530. The topsheet 520 has a lower surface (not shown) ) positioned away from a wearer and a top surface facing the user's skin when the diaper 50 is being used. In addition, an absorbent core 540 is positioned between the topsheet 520 and the backsheet 530. Figure 5 provides a view of diaper plant 50 of the present invention in its non-contracting, flattened state (ie, with the contraction induced by the elastic pulled outwardly) with parts of the structure that are cut away to more clearly show the construction of the diaper 50 and with the part of the diaper 50 that gives away from the wearer, the upper surface, facing the viewer. As shown in Figure 5, diaper 50 preferably comprises a topsheet 520 permeable to liquid; a back sheet 530 impervious to the liquid attached to the upper sheet 520; an absorbent core 540 positioned between the topsheet 520 and the backsheet 530, the absorbent core 540 having a garment facing surface 542 and a body facing surface 544 that is located opposite to the surface that towards the garment 542. The diaper 50 preferably further comprises elastic folds for the leg 550; a multiple layer elastic waist feature designated as 560; and a generally multiple clamping system designated 570. The diaper in Figure 5 further discloses a fluid handling member 1 00 positioned between the top sheet 520 and the back sheet 530. The fluid handling member 100 (or web 10) of Figure 1) comprises a primary material 1 5 having an upper surface 16, a lower surface 1 8 (Figure 1), and a plurality of openings 25 extending from the upper surface 1 6 towards the lower surface 1 8 of the primary material 15. A secondary material 20 (Figure 1) is placed adjacent to the lower surface 18 of the primary material. The secondary material 20 extends toward the plurality of openings 25 within the first material 1 5. The fluid handling member 1 00 of the present is of the same type and structure as the weft 10 previously described herein. In all embodiments where an absorbent core 540 and an upper sheet 520 are used, the fluid handling member 1 00 will be placed between the surface facing the body 544 of the absorbent core 540 and the lower surface of the top sheet . When an upper sheet 520 and an absorbent core 540 are both employed within the diaper 50, the fluid handling member 100 will be placed directly adjacent the lower surface of the upper sheet and the surface facing the body 544 of the absorbent core 540 In addition, the upper surface 16 of the primary material 15 is placed adjacent to the garment surface or lower part of the upper sheet, while the lower surface of the secondary material is placed adjacent the surface facing the body 544 of the absorbent core 540 In an alternate mode here, the upper surface 1 6 of the primary material 1 5 can, at least, be partially embedded with the upper sheet 520 and can also serve as the part of the upper sheet 520 which is held directly against a user. Correspondingly, the lower surface of the secondary material 20 may be embedded at least partially within the backsheet 530. Most preferably, the fluid manner member 100 is attached to the upper sheet 520 and / or the backsheet 530 to avoid the deflection of the fluid handling member 1 00 within the diaper 50. Suitable fastening means for securing the fluid handling member 1 00 to either the top sheet 520, the absorbent core 540, the back sheet 530, or to a combination of these can be adhesives, ultrasonic bonding, thermal bonding, mechanical dynamic bonding, pleating or a combination of any of these fixing means. The diaper 50 is shown in Figure 5 to have an outer surface 82, an inner surface 84 opposite the outer surface 82, a first waist region 86, a second waist region 88, and a periphery 51 that is defined by the outer edges of the diaper 50, in which the longitudinal or lateral edges are designated 55 and the end edges are designated 57. (Although the skilled artisan will recognize that a diaper is usually described in terms of having a pair of waist regions and a crotch region between waist regions, in this application, for simplicity of terminology, diaper 50 is described as having only waist regions that include a portion of the diaper that would typically be designated as part of the crotch region). The inner surface 84 of the diaper 50 comprises that part of the diaper 50 which is located adjacent the user's body during use (i.e., the inner surface 84 is generally formed by at least a portion of the upper sheet 520 and other components that can be attached to the upper sheet 520). The outer surface 82 comprises that part of the diaper 50 that is positioned away from the wearer's body (i.e., the outer surface 82 is generally formed by at least a portion of the back sheet 530 and other components that can be attached to the back sheet 530). (As used herein, the portion of the diaper 50 or of the components that face the wearer is also referred to as the surface facing the body.) Similarly, the portion that faces away from the wearer is also referred to as the surface that faces the body. the first waist region 86 and the second waist region 88 extend, respectively, from the end edges 57 of the periphery 51 to the lateral center line 53 of the diaper 50. FIG. 5 also shows the longitudinal center line 59. Figure 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the diaper 50, in which the upper sheet 520 and the back sheet 530 have length and width dimensions generally greater than those of the absorbent core 540. The upper sheet 520 and the backsheet 530 extends beyond the edges of absorbent core 540 to thereby form the periphery 51 of diaper 50. The diapers of the present invention may have a configuration number. well known, with the absorbent cores thereof which are adapted to the present invention. Exemplary configurations are generally described in U.S. Patent No. 3,860,003 issued to Buell on January 14, 1975.; U.S. Patent No. 5,151,592 issued to Buell et al. on September 29, 1992; U.S. Patent No. 5,221, 274 issued to Buell et al. on June 22, 1993. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. Another diaper configuration to which the present invention can be readily adapted is described in copending United States patent application Serial No. 08 / 203,456, filed on February 28, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference. The absorbent cores of the diapers described in these patents can be adapted in light of the teachings herein to include the absorbent composite web of the present invention. A topsheet 520 that is particularly suitable for use in the diaper 50 is carded and thermally bonded by means well known to those skilled in the art of fabrics. A top sheet satisfactory for the present invention comprises polypropylene fibers of cut length having a denier of about 2.2. As used herein, the term "cut length fibers" refers to those fibers having a length of at least about 15.9 mm. Preferably, the topsheet has a basis weight of about 14 to about 25 grams per square meter. A suitable top sheet is manufactured by Veratec, Inc. A Division of International Paper Company, of Walpole, Massachusetts under the designation P-8. The topsheet 520 of the diaper 50 is preferably made of a hydrophilic material to promote the rapid transfer of the liquid (eg, urine) through the topsheet. If the upper sheet is made of a hydrophobic material, at least the upper surface of the upper sheet is treated so that it is hydrophilic in such a way that liquids will transfer more rapidly through the upper sheet. This decreases the likelihood that body exudates will flow out of the top sheet instead of being drawn through the top sheet and absorbed by the absorbent core. The upper sheet can be made hydrophilic by treating it with a surfactant. Suitable methods for treating the topsheet with a surfactant include spraying the top sheet material with the surfactant and immersing the material within the surfactant. A more detailed discussion of such treatment and hydrophilic ability is contained in U.S. Patent No. 4,988,344 entitled "Absorbent Articles with Multi-Layer Absorbent Layers" issued to Reising et al. On January 29, 1991, and in U.S. Patent No. 4,988,345 entitled "Absorbent Articles with Rapid Acquisition Absorbent Nuclei" issued to Reising on January 29, 1991, each of which is incorporated by reference herein. In a preferred embodiment of a diaper as described herein, the backsheet 530 has a modified hourglass shape, extending beyond the absorbent core at a minimum distance of about 1.3 cm to about 6.4 cm around the total periphery of the diaper. The absorbent core 540 may be any size or shape compatible with the diaper 50. A preferred embodiment of the diaper 50 has a modified, asymmetric T-shaped absorbent core 540 having ears in the first waist region but a generally rectangular shape in the second waist region. Exemplary absorbent structures for use as the absorbent core of the present invention which have achieved wide acceptance and commercial success are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,610,678 entitled "High Density Absorbent Structure" issued to Weismann et al. September 1986; U.S. Patent No. 4,673,402 entitled "Absorbent articles with cores in double layers" issued to Weisman et al. on June 16, 1987; U.S. Patent No. 4,888,231 entitled "Absorbent Core Having a Dust Cap" issued to Angstadt on December 1, 1989; and U.S. Patent No. 4,834,735 entitled "High density absorbent members having lower density and lower basis weight acquisition zones", issued to Alemany et al. on May 30, 1989. The absorbent core may further comprise the dual core system containing a core of acquisition / distribution of chemically hardened fibers placed on the storage absorbent core as detailed in U.S. Patent No. 5,234,423, entitled "Absorbing article with characteristic elastic waist and increased absorbency" issued to Alemany et al. on August 10, 1993, and in U.S. Patent No. 5, 147,345, entitled "High efficiency absorbent articles for incontinence management" issued to Young, LaVon, and Taylor on April 15. September 1, 1992. All of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. The backsheet and the topsheet are positioned adjacent the garment surface and the body surface, respectively, of the absorbent core. The absorbent core is preferably bonded to the topsheet, the backsheet, or both, in any manner as is known by attachment means (not shown in Figure 5) such as those well known in the art. However, embodiments of the present invention are contemplated wherein portions of the total absorbent core are disengaged from either the top sheet, the back sheet or both. For example, the backsheet and / or the topsheet can be secured to the absorbent core or to each other by a uniform, continuous adhesive layer, a layer of shaped adhesive, or an array of separate lines, spirals or spots of adhesive. Adhesives that have been found to be satisfactory are manufactured by H. B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, under the designation HL-1258 or H-2031. The attachment means will preferably comprise an open-pattern network of filaments of adhesive as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,573,986, issued to Minetola et al., March 4, 1986, and which is incorporated herein by reference. reference. An exemplary attachment means of an open-filament pattern network comprises several lines of adhesive filaments twisted in a spiral pattern as illustrated by the apparatus and method shown in United States Patent No. 3,91,11. 73 issued to Sprague, Jr., on October 7, 1975, United States Patent No. 4,785,996 issued to Zwieker et al. On November 22, 1978, and in United States Patent No. 4,842,666 issued to Werenicz on June 27, 1989. Each of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the joining means may comprise heat bonds, pressure joints, ultrasonic joints, mechanical dynamic joints, or any other suitable joining means or combinations of these joining means as are known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the diaper 50 further comprises elastic folds for the leg 550 to provide improved fluid containment and other exudates from the body; an elastic waist feature 560 that provides improved fit and containment; and a fastening system 570 that forms a side closure, which maintains the first waist region 86 and the second waist region 88 in an overlapping configuration such that lateral stresses are maintained around the circumference of the diaper, to keep the diaper on the user. The diaper 50 may also comprise elasticized side panels (not shown) in the waist regions 86 and 88 to provide an elastically extensible feature that provides greater comfort and contour fit and greater effective application of the diaper 50. Elasticized folds for the leg 550 they can be constructed in a number of different configurations, including those described in U.S. Patent No. 3,860,003 issued to Buel on January 14, 1974; U.S. Patent No. 4,909,803 issued to Aziz et al. on March 20, 1990; U.S. Patent No. 4,695,278 issued to Lawson on September 22, 1987, and U.S. Patent No. 4,795,454 issued to Dragoo on January 3, 1989, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The elasticized waist feature preferably comprises an elasticized waistband (not shown) that can be constructed in a number of different configurations, including those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,51,595, issued to Kievit and others on May 7. 1 985; U.S. Patent No. 5,026,364 issued to Robertson on June 25, 1 991; and the aforementioned United States Patent No. 5,151,092 issued to Buell et al. on September 29, 1992, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The elasticized side panels can be constructed in a number of configurations. Examples of diapers with elasticized side panels placed on the ears (ear flaps) of the diaper are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,857,067, issued to Wood et al. On August 15, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 4,381,781, issued to Sciaraffa et al. on May 3, 1983; U.S. Patent No. 4,938,753, issued to Van Gompel et al. on July 3, 1990; and in United States Patent No. 5, 151, 092, issued to Buel et al. on September 29, 1992; each of which are incorporated here by reference. Exemplary fastening systems 570 are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,846,815, issued to Scripps on July 1, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 4,894,060, issued to Nestegard on January 16, 1990; U.S. Patent No. 4,946,527, issued to Battrell on August 7, 1990; U.S. Patent No. 3,848,594, issued to Buell on November 9, 1974; U.S. Patent No. B1 4,662,875, issued to Hirotsu et al. on May 5, 1987; and in United States Patent No. 5,151,092, issued to Buell et al. on September 29, 1992; each of which are incorporated here by reference. The diaper 50 is preferably applied to a wearer by placing one of the waist regions, preferably the second waist region 88, under the user's back and pulling the rest of the diaper between the user's legs in such a way that the other region of waist, preferably the first waist region 86, is positioned across the front of the user. The clamping system is then applied to make a lateral closure.

The absorbent composite webs of the present invention are also useful in training pants. The term "training pants", as used herein, refers to disposable garments that have fixed sides and leg openings. The training pants are placed in the position in the user by inserting the user's legs towards the leg openings and sliding the training pants into position around the user's lower torso. Suitable training pants are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,246,433 issued to Hasse et al., September 21, 1993, which is incorporated herein by reference. Another disposable absorbent article for which the absorbent composite wefts of the present invention are useful, are articles for incontinence. The term "incontinence article" refers to pads, undergarments (pads held in place by a suspension system of the same type, such as a belt, or the like), inserts for absorbent articles, capacity enhancers for articles absorbent, truss, bed pads, and the like regardless of whether they are worn by adults or other incontinent persons. Suitable incontinence articles are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,597,760 and 4,597,761 each issued to Buell on July 1, 1986; U.S. Patent No. 4,704, 1 1 5 issued to Buell on November 3, 1987; U.S. Patent No. 4,909,802 issued to Ahr et al .; U.S. Patent No. 4,964,860 issued to Gipson et al. on October 23, 1990; and in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 07 / 637,090 filed by Noel et al. on January 3, 1992 (PCT Publication No. WO92 / 1 1 830 published July 23, 1992).

The process The absorbent composite web 1 0 or the fluid handling member 1 00 herein is formed through a preferred process comprising the steps of supplying a first series of fibers, preferably being insensitive to moisture, to a configured screen that it has a plurality of raised and recessed portions. Next, the first series of fibers are placed on the shaped screen similar to one seen in Figure 2 to form a primary material having an upper surface, a lower surface and a plurality of openings extending from the upper surface to the bottom surface of the primary material. Once the openings have been formed, the primary material and the configured screen are separated from each other. The openings of the primary material are then filled with a second series of fibers. Once the openings 25 are filled, this second series of fibers then preferably forms a layer of a secondary material that is placed on the lower surface of the primary material. That is, the secondary material is placed adjacent to the bottom surface of the primary material. Finally, the primary material and the secondary material can be joined to each other preferably through heat to form a thermally bonded multi-layer absorbent composite web. In another process, the joining step for joining the primary and secondary materials together can be accomplished through any other conventional means for joining webs simultaneously such as adhesives, pressure joints, ultrasonic joints, mechanical dynamic joints, pleating or any other fixing means or combinations of these fixing means as are known in the art. Although the particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended to protect in the appended claims all these changes and modifications that are within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. REVIVAL DICATIONS 1. A screen having at least two types of materials therein, characterized in that said screen comprises a primary material having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of openings extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, and said The weft comprises a secondary material having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface of said secondary material being placed adjacent to the lower surface of the primary material, the secondary material extending towards the plurality of openings in the primary material. The weft according to claim 1, wherein said weft is a fluid handling member positioned within a disposable absorbent article, said absorbent article comprising a chassis having an upper surface and a lower surface, a front portion, a rear portion positioned opposite the front portion, a crotch portion located between the front portion and the rear portion, a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, a pair of end edges and a pair of longitudinal edges, said chassis comprising a sheet upper, a back sheet attached to the upper sheet, the back sheet having an inner surface and an outer surface, the fluid handling member being positioned between the upper sheet and the back sheet. The weave according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the secondary material comprises cellulosic material, synthetic material, or both. 4. The web according to claim 3, wherein said cellulosic material is selected from the group consisting of ground wood pulp, creped cellulose wadding, chemically hardened cellulosic fibers, and combinations thereof. The weft according to claim 3, wherein said synthetic material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamines, polyolefins, absorbent foams, absorbent sponges, superabsorbent polymers, gelling absorbent materials, zeolite, charcoal, silica, cyclodextrins and combinations thereof. The weft according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the primary material comprises fibers of two components, fibers of a single component or both, and wherein the primary material further comprises a wetting agent applied thereon. The weft according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the primary material comprises a fluid acquisition foam and said secondary material comprises a fluid absorption foam. The weft according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the weft further comprises a tertiary material having a top surface placed immediately adjacent to the bottom surface of the secondary material and a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface of the tertiary material . SUMMARY The present invention provides an absorbent composite web comprising a primary material having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of openings extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. In addition, a secondary material is placed adjacent to the bottom surface of the primary material. The secondary material extends towards the plurality of openings in the primary material.