BE1022643B1 - ABSORBENT BABY DIAPER ARTICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an absorbent article suitable for use as a diaper having a chassis with optimized dimensions for an improved fit around the waist of the wearer, and relates to an absorbent core for the absorbent article and a method of manufacturing the absorbent article.

Description

ABSORBENT BABY DIAPER ARTICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention belongs to the technical field of absorbent hygiene products. In particular, the present invention relates to an absorbent article for absorbing body fluids and secretions, such as urine and faecal material. More specifically, the present invention relates to absorbent undergarments, such as disposable diapers, which are formed to collect and retain faecal material and prevent leakage.

BACKGROUND

Currently, disposable absorbent articles are commonly used in the care of infants, children, and incontinent adults, and have generally replaced reusable cotton absorbent articles. A typical disposable absorbent article, especially diapers, generally consists of a composite structure, often referred to as a chassis, comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core between topsheet and backsheet. Additionally, other components, such as fasteners, side panels, inclusion flaps, leg cuffs, etc., can be attached to the chassis to obtain the final diaper.

Since tailor-made disposable absorbent articles are commercially impracticable, an optimum number of article types must be found, which is a compromise between ensuring that each person, baby or adult, finds an appropriate size of article, and minimizing the number production lines in order to produce the disposable products as cheaply as possible. Hereby it appears necessary to identify which shapes and relative dimensions of the components of the article are important parameters for ensuring a good fit for the majority of the wearers, while limiting the number of production lines and the production costs.

It is an object of the present invention to solve at least some of the aforementioned problems.

To this end, it is an object of the invention to provide a disposable absorbent article with an optimized fit to provide it around the waist of the said wearer, preferably babies or infants, and thereby the risk of leakage of body secretions or urine along the leg openings or waist opening of the absorbent article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an absorbent article suitable to be worn around the lower torso of a wearer, such as a disposable baby diaper, according to claim 1.

The product of the present invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art products, since it provides an article with an optimum absorbency while guaranteeing an optimum fit for the wearer and reducing overall production costs. In one embodiment, the present invention provides such articles that can be manufactured without loss of laminated material due to cutting. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention provides such articles that can be manufactured with a minimum of adhesions, in particular without the need to adhere side panels to a laminate. In one embodiment, the article comprises an absorbent core with a width-to-length ratio that has the optimum dimensions to absorb body fluids during micturition and reduce the leakage of these fluids.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of an absorbent article according to the present invention in an elongated and flat-laid state with the surface of the article coming into contact with the wearer facing the viewer and with an absorbent core having a general rectangular configuration.

Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of an absorbent article according to the present invention in an elongated and flat-laid. stands with the surface of the article that comes into contact with the wearer facing the viewer, similar to Figure 1, but with an absorbent core with a general dog bone or hourglass configuration.

Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of another embodiment of an absorbent article according to the present invention in an elongated and flat-laid state with the surface of the article coming into contact with the wearer facing the viewer, with an absorbent core having a generally rectangular configuration.

Figure 4 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of an absorbent article according to the present invention in an elongated and flat-laid state with the surface of the article coming into contact with the wearer facing the viewer, similar to Figure 3, but with an absorbent core with a general dog bone or hourglass configuration.

Figure 5 shows a perspective front view of the disposable absorbent article of Figs. 3 wherein the fasteners are extended and connected to the front region of the absorbent article to arrange the front and back regions of the article at the wearer's waist after the article has been pulled over the wearer's hips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article suitable to be worn around the lower torso of a wearer, particularly suitable for use as a diaper.

The citation of numerical intervals by the end points includes all numbers and fractions that are within that interval, as well as the recited end points.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used to make the invention public, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as generally understood by someone of ordinary skill in the technical field to which this invention belongs. By way of further guidance, definitions of terms are included to better understand the teachings of the present invention.

As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

The term "% weight" (weight percent), throughout and throughout the specification, unless otherwise specified, refers to the relative weight of the respective component based on the overall weight of the composition. "A," "an," and "an" as used herein refer to both the singular and the plural unless the context clearly assumes otherwise. By way of example, a "landing zone" refers to one or more than one landing zone. "Approximately" as used herein, referring to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount, a duration, and the like, is intended to include variations of +/- 20% or less, preferably +/- 10% or less , more preferably +/- 5% or less, even more preferably +/- 1% or less, and even more preferably +/- 0.1% or less of the specified value, insofar as such variations are indicated to be included in the disclosed invention. However, it is to be understood that the value at which the "approximately" determination is used is itself specifically disclosed. "Absorbent article" refers to devices that absorb and retain liquid, and more specifically refers to devices that are placed against or in proximity to the wearer's body to absorb and retain the various secretions discharged by the body. The absorbent articles include, but are not limited to, diapers, adult incontinence briefs, training pants, diaper holders and liners, sanitary napkins, and the like, as well as surgical dressings and sponges.

The "absorbent medium" or "absorbent core" or "absorbent body" are used herein as synonyms, and refer to the absorbent structure positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet of the absorbent article in at least the crotch region of the absorbent article and is in able to absorb and retain liquid body secretions. The size and the absorbent capacity of the absorbent medium should be compatible with the size of the intended support and the liquid charge provided by the intended use of the absorbent article. Furthermore, the size and absorption capacity of the absorbent medium can be varied to accommodate carriers ranging from babies to adults. It can be manufactured in a wide variety of shapes (for example, rectangular, trapezoidal, T-shape, I-shape, hourglass shape, etc.) and from a wide variety of materials. Examples of commonly occurring absorbent materials are cellulose fluff pulp, tissue layers, highly absorbent polymers (so-called super-absorbent polymer particles (SAP)), absorbent foam materials, absorbent non-woven materials or the like. It is common to combine cellulose fluff pulp with superabsorbent polymers in an absorbent material. "Acquisition and distribution layer", "ADL" or "flow management part" are used herein as synonyms, and refer to a bottom layer which is preferably a non-woven wick layer under the topsheet of an absorbent product, which speeds up transport and distribution of fluids over the absorbent core. The flow management portion is typically less hydrophilic than the retention portion, and has the capacity to rapidly collect and temporarily retain fluid streams, and to transport fluid from its initial entry point to other parts of the absorbent structure, particularly the retention portion. This configuration can help to prevent the fluid from flowing and collecting on the portion of the absorbent garment positioned against the wearer's skin, thereby reducing the wearer's sense of moisture. Preferably, the flow management portion is placed between the topsheet and the retention portion.

The term "adhesive as used herein refers to any suitable hot melt, water or solvent based adhesive that can be applied to the surface of a film layer in the required pattern or network of adhesive areas around the film nonwoven laminate of the present invention. Accordingly, suitable adhesives include conventional hot melt adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, and reactive adhesives (ie, polyurethane).

As used herein, the term "adhesive bonding" means a bonding process that forms a compound by using an adhesive. Such adhesive can be used by various processes such as groove coating, sprayed coating and other surface applications. Furthermore, such adhesive can be applied to a product component and then exposed to a pressure such that the contact of a second product component with the product component comprising adhesive forms an adhesive bond between the two components.

As used herein, an "air-formed web" refers to a material comprising cellulose fibers such as those from fluff pulp that were separated, such as by a hammer mill process, and then deposited on a porous surface without the presence of a substantial amount of binding fibers. For example, air-shaped materials used as the absorbent core in various diapers are a typical example of an air-shaped material.

As used herein, an "air laid web" is a fibrous structure formed essentially by a process that involves depositing air entrained fibers on a mat, typically in the presence of bonding fibers, and typically followed by a densification and thermal bonding. In addition to traditional thermally bonded air-laid structures (those formed in the presence of non-sticky binder materials and substantially thermally bonded), the scope of the term "air-laid" according to the present invention may also include coforms made by the combination of air-entrained dry, dispersed cellulose fibers with meltblown synthetic polymer fibers while the polymer fibers are still sticky. Furthermore, an air-shaped web to which subsequently a binder material is added may also fall within the scope of the term "air laid" according to the present invention. The binder can be added to an air-formed web in liquid form (e.g., an aqueous solution or melt) by spray nozzles, directional injection or impregnation, vacuum draw, foam impregnation, and so on. Solid binder particles can also be added by mechanical or pneumatic means.

As used herein, the term "associated" includes configurations in which the topsheet is connected directly to the backsheet by attaching the topsheet directly to the backsheet, and configurations in which the topsheet is attached to the backsheet by attaching the topsheet to intermediate members who are on in turn are attached to the backsheet. The topsheet and the backsheet can be directly attached to each other by adhesives such as adhesives, sonic bonds, thermal bonds or any other adhesives known in the prior art. For example, a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive, a sprayed pattern of adhesive or a series of separate lines, swirls or stains of structural adhesive can be used to adhere topsheet to backsheet. It should be clear here that the above-described adhesive means can also be used to interconnect and assemble the various other component parts of the article described herein.

The terms "back region" and "back region" are used herein as synonyms and refer to the region of the absorbent article that is in contact with the wearer's back when the absorbent article is worn.

The term "backsheet" refers to a material that forms the outer cover of the absorbent article. The backsheet prevents partitions contained in the absorbent structure from wetting articles that are in contact with the disposable absorbent article, such as bed sheets and overclothes. The backsheet can be a single layer of material or can be a composite layer that is composed of multiple components that are assembled or laminated side-by-side. The backsheet can be the same or different in different parts of the absorbent article. At least in the region of the absorbent medium, the backsheet consists of a liquid-impermeable material in the form of a thin plastic film, e.g. a polyethylene or polypropylene film, a non-woven material with a liquid-impermeable material, a hydrophobic non-woven material that resists liquid penetration, or a laminate of a plastic film and a non-woven material. The backsheet material can be air permeable such that water vapor can escape from the absorbent material, while liquids are still prevented from passing through. Examples of breathable backsheet materials are porous polymer films, non-woven laminates of spunbond and meltblown layers and laminates of porous polymer films and non-woven materials.

The terms "abdominal region", "front region" and "anterior region" are used herein as synonyms and refer to the region of the absorbent article that is in contact with the wearer's abdomen when the absorbent article is being worn.

The term "blend" means a blend of two or more polymers while the term "alloy" means a subclass of blends in which the components are immiscible but made compatible.

As used herein, the "body facing" or "body side" surface means that surface of the article or component that is intended to be arranged or placed toward or adjacent to the wearer's body during normal use, while the "outgoing" means " outward-facing "," garment-turned side "or" garment-side "surface is on the opposite side, and is intended to be suitably turned away from the wearer's body during normal use. Such outgoing surface can be adapted to be fitted to or adjacent to the wearer's undergarments when the absorbent article is being worn. "Connected" refers to the joining, attachment, connection, attachment, or the like, of at least two elements. Two elements will be considered connected when they are directly connected to each other or indirectly to each other, such as when each is directly linked to intermediate elements.

The term "air permeable" refers to films that have a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of at least 300 grams / m2 - 24 hours.

A "carded web" refers to webs made from staple fibers controlled by a combing or carding unit, which opens the staple fibers and directs them according to the machine direction to form a generally machine direction-oriented fibrous non-woven web. The web is then bound by one or more known binding methods. Connecting non-woven webs can be achieved by a number of methods; powder binding, wherein a powdered adhesive or binder is distributed through the web and then activated, usually by heating the web and the adhesive with hot air; pattern binding in which heated calendar rolls or ultrasonic binding equipment is used to bind the fibers together, usually in a localized binding pattern, although the web can be bound over its entire surface if desired; air-binding, wherein air that is hot enough to soften at least one component of the web is passed through the web; chemical bonding, using, for example, latex adhesives deposited on the web by, for example, spraying; and consolidation by mechanical methods such as needle felting and water entanglement.

As used herein, the term "cellulose" is intended to include any material that has cellulose as its main constituent, and specifically comprises at least 50 weight percent cellulose or a cellulose derivative. Thus, the term includes cotton, typical wood pulp, non-woody cellulose fibers, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, artificial silk, thermomechanical wood pulp, chemical wood pulp, dissolved chemical wood pulp, silk plant, or bacterial cellulose.

The "chassis" refers to a fundamental constituent of an absorbent article on which the rest of the structure of the article is built up or applied, e.g., in a diaper, the structural elements that, when configured to wear, the diaper takes the form of a brief or pants, such as a backsheet, a topsheet, or a combination of a topsheet and a backsheet. "Covorm" as used herein is intended to describe a mixture of meltblown fibers and cellulose fibers formed by the air formation of a meltblown polymeric material while simultaneously blowing air-suspended cellulose fibers into the stream of meltblown fibers. The coform material can also include other materials, such as super-absorbent particles. The meltblown fibers containing wooden fibers are collected on a forming surface, as provided by a perforated belt. The forming surface may comprise a gas-permeable material, such as spunbonded fabric material, which is placed on the forming surface. "Compression" refers to the process or result of printing by applying force to an object, thereby increasing the density of the object. "Include", "include", and "include", and "include from" as used herein are synonymous with "consist of", "consist of", "consist of", or "contain", "contain", "contain ", and are inclusive or open terms indicating the presence of what follows, eg component and which do not exclude or prevent the presence of additional, non-recited components, features, element, members, steps, known from or described in the state under the technique.

The term "mainly consisting of" does not exclude the presence of additional materials that do not significantly affect the desired characteristics of a particular composition or product. Exemplary materials of this kind may include, without limitation, pigments, antioxidants, stabilizers, surfactants, waxes, current promoters, solvents, particles, and materials that are added to increase the processability of the composition.

A diaper may include "inclusion flaps" or "barrier cuffs," used herein as synonyms. Inclusion flaps are generally considered to be particularly suitable for the containment of faecal matter and to prevent the lateral flow of liquid waste until the liquid waste can be absorbed by the absorbent article. Many constructions of containment flaps are known. Such containment flaps generally consist of a proximal edge intended to be attached to the absorbent article, and an opposite distal edge that is generally not attached to the absorbent article along at least a portion of its length. An elastic member is generally located adjacent the distal edge to help maintain the containment flap in an upright condition and to maintain a sealing contact between the distal edge of the containment flap and a wearer's body during use. The elastic member is generally positioned between two layers of material so that the elastic does not come into contact with the body of a wearer. The containment flaps can be made from a wide variety of materials such as polypropylene, polyester, artificial silk, nylon, foam, plastic films, molded films, and elastic foams. Various production techniques can be used to manufacture the containment flaps. For example, the containment flaps can be woven, non-woven, spunbond, carded, cast, blown, or the like.

A diaper may include leg containment gaskets. Leg "containment packs" help prevent leakage of bodily secretions when the wearer exerts compressive forces on the absorbent article. In particular, the stiffness of the leg containment gaskets prevents twisting and bundling of the leg openings of the absorbent article which can lead to leakage. In addition, the elasticity and formability of the leg containment gaskets ensure that the body facing surface of the leg containment gaskets form a suitable seal against the wearer's body. The physical properties of the leg containment gaskets, such as the thickness and stiffness, also function to keep the topsheet and absorbent core away from the wearer's body during use. Thus, an empty volume is created between the wearer's body and the topsheet and absorbent core of the absorbent article to help retain body secretions. "Continuous" means that the structure described is a closed-loop structure. The continuous structure can be single, i.e., a one-piece structure, or can be made from individual elements, suitably assembled to form a closed loop.

A "continuous waist belt" is a belt of material that circles and fits the waist of a garment, such as a diaper or pants, and is generally positioned along the wearer's waist. The waistband preferably creates a seal against the waist so that physical secretions cannot leak from the areas between the waistband and the waist of the wearer. It can be an elastomeric, cotton-like, non-woven fibrous material, such as an elastomer stretch bonded laminated web or an elastomer meltblown web. By correct selection of materials, the continuous waistband can be temporarily elastically limited, such as by compression. Once temporarily elastic limited, the elastic material from which the waistband is comprised can be activated, such as by heat treating, to regain a state of elasticity. "Conventional hot-melt adhesive" means a composition that generally consists of several components. These components typically include one or more polymers to provide cohesive force (e.g., aliphatic polyolefins such as poly (ethylene-co-propylene) copolymer; ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers; styrene-butadiene or styrene isoprene block copolymers; etc.); a resin or an analogous material (sometimes referred to as a tackifier) to provide adhesion power (e.g., hydrocarbons distilled from petroleum distillates; resins and / or resin esters; terpenes derived from, for example, wood or citrus, etc.); optional waxes, plasticizers, or other materials to alter viscosity (i.e., fluidity) (examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, mineral oil, polybutene, paraffin oil, ester oils, and the like); and / or other additives including, but not limited to, antioxidants or other stabilizers. A typical hot melt adhesive composition may comprise from about 15 to about 35 weight percent cohesive force polymer or polymers; from about 50 to about 65 percent by weight of resin or other tackiness promoter or tackiness promoters; from more than zero to about 30 weight percent plasticizer or other viscosity change agent; and optionally less than about 1 weight percent stabilizer or other additive. It is to be understood that other adhesive compositions are possible that include different weight percentages of these components.

The term "density" or "concentration" when referring to the absorbent material, in particular SAP, of a layer refers to the amount of the absorbent material divided by the surface of the layer over which the absorbent material is spread.

A diaper refers to an absorbent article that is generally worn by infants on the lower torso. To use the diaper around the wearer's waist, the diaper is typically first placed between the wearer's legs and then attached around the wearer's waist using fasteners, preferably in a reclosable manner around the wearer's diaper to remove after or during use.

The term "disposable" is used herein to describe absorbent articles that are generally not intended to be washed or otherwise repaired or reused as an absorbent article (ie, they are intended to be discarded after single use and, preferably to be recycled, composted or otherwise disposed of in an environmentally compatible manner).

As used herein, the term "elastic resistance" describes an elastic force that attempts to resist an applied tensile force, whereby a material provided therewith tends to contract to an unstressed configuration in response to an stretching force.

As used herein, the terms "elastic", "elastomeric", "elasticity" or derivatives thereof are used to describe the capacity of various materials and articles provided with them, to undergo a reversible strain under tension, e.g., to be stretched or extended, in at least one direction when a force is applied to the material and to return substantially to their original dimensions when relaxed, ie, when the force is released, without tearing or breakage. Preferably, it refers to a material or composite that can be extended in at least one direction by at least 50% of its relaxed length, ie extended to at least 150% of its relaxed length, and which when released from the applied tension is at least 40% of its extension. Accordingly, upon release of the applied voltage at 50% elongation, the material or composite will contract to a relaxed length of no more than 130% of its original length. Examples of suitable elastomeric materials include polyether-polyamide block copolymers, polyurethanes, synthetic linear ABA and AB block copolymers, chlorinated rubber / EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) blends, EPDM (ethylene-propylene diene monomer) rubbers, EPDM, (ethylene-propylene monomer) rubbers, blends from EPDM / EPM / EVA, and the like.

The term "made elastic" refers to a material, layer, or substrate that is not naturally elastic, but that is made elastic by, for example, suitably joining an elastic material, a layer, or a substrate. "Extension" means the ratio of the extension of a material to the length of the material prior to the extension (expressed in percent), as represented by the following: "Extension" means the change in length of a material through stretching (expressed in units of length).

As used herein, the term "extensible" means extendable in at least one direction, but not necessarily recyclable.

The term "fabric" is used to refer to all woven, knitted and non-woven fibrous webs. "Fasteners" are typically applied to the rear area of the diaper to provide a mechanism for holding the diaper on the wearer. Fasteners, such as tape tape fasteners, snaps, pins, belts, hooks, buckles, "hook / mushroom and loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO®-type fasteners) and the like, can be used and are typically applied to the lateral, side ends of the back area of a diaper to provide a mechanism for holding the diaper over the waist of the wearer in a conventional manner Tape tape fasteners can be any of those known in the art, and are typically applied to For example, self-adhesive fasteners, mechanical fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, pins or buckles can be used alone or in combination, for example, the fasteners can be self-adhesive fasteners made to be reversibly attached to a landing zone piece attached to the front area of the diaper to provide a resealable adhesive seal provisioning system.

The term "finished" or "final", when used in relation to a product, means that the product was suitably manufactured for its intended purpose.

The term "flexible" refers to materials that are compliant and that readily adapt to the general shape and contours of the wearer's body.

As used herein, the term "article of clothing" means any type of clothing that can be worn. This includes diapers, training pants, incontinence products, surgical gowns, industrial work clothes and covers, underwear, pants, shirts, jackets and the like.

Many of the known superabsorbent polymer particles exhibit gel blockage. "Gel blocking" occurs when superabsorbent polymer particles get wet and the particles swell to block fluid transmission to other areas of the absorbent structure. The wetting of these other areas of the absorbent member therefore takes place via a very slow diffusion process. In practical terms, this means that the acquisition of liquids due to the absorbent structure is much slower than the speed at which the liquids are discharged, especially in miction situations. Leakage of the absorbent article can occur well before the particles of SAP in the absorbent member are only close to full saturation or before the liquid can disperse or wick past the "blocking" particles to the rest of the absorbent member. Gel blocking can be a particularly acute problem if the superabsorbent polymer particles do not have suitable gel strength and deform under stress as soon as the particles swell with absorbed liquid.

The term "drawing" includes, but is not limited to, any type of design, image, sign, number, codes, words, patterns, or the like. For a product such as a baby diaper, a drawing will generally include items associated with little boys and girls, such as multicolored trucks, planes, balls, dolls, bows, or the like. "Water entanglement process" refers to the production of non-woven webs. The process involves directing a series of water jets to a fibrous web that is worn on a moving porous belt. The jets of water go down through the mass of fibers and when making contact with the surface of the belt, the rays bounce back and break them up: the energy that is released causes entanglement of the mass of fibers.

The term "high absorption material" refers to materials that are capable of absorbing at least 10 times their own weight in liquid. The high absorption material may comprise absorbent gel-forming materials, such as super-absorbent polymers. Superabsorbent polymers are water-swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic materials capable of absorbing at least about 20 times their own weight of an aqueous solution containing 0.9 weight percent of sodium chloride. The absorbent gel-forming materials can be natural, synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. In addition, the absorbent gel-forming materials may be inorganic materials, such as silica gels, or organic compositions such as cross-linked polymers. The term "cross-linked" refers to any means to effectively make water-soluble materials substantially water-insoluble but swellable. Such agents may include, for example, physical confusion, crystalline domains, covalent bonds, ionic complexes and associations, hydrophilic associations such as hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic associations or Van der Waals forces. Examples of synthetic absorbent gel-forming material polymers include the alkali metal and ammonium salts of poly (acrylic acid) and poly (methacrylic acid), poly (acrylamides), poly (vinyl ethers), maleic anhydride copolymers with vinyl ethers and alpha-olefins, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone), poly (vinyl morpholinone) ), poly (vinyl alcohol), and mixtures and copolymers thereof. Further polymers suitable for use in the absorbent structure include natural and modified natural polymers, such as hydrolyzed acrylonitrile-grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and natural gums such as alginates, xanthan gum, locust bean gum and of such. Mixtures of natural and wholly or partially synthetic absorbent polymers can also be used. Synthetic absorbent gel-forming materials are typically xerogels that form hydrogels when wetted. However, the term "hydrogel" is also commonly used to refer to both wetted and non-wetted forms of the material. The high-absorption material can have any of a wide variety of geometric shapes. It is generally preferred that the high absorption material is in the form of individual particles. However, the high-absorption material can also be in the form of fibers, flakes, rods, spheres, needles, spiral or semi-spiral, cube, rod-like, polyhedral, or the like. Conglomerates of particles of high absorption material can also be used. The high absorbent material may be present in the absorbent core in an amount of about 5 to about 100 weight percent and desirably from about 30 to about 100 weight percent based on the total weight of the absorbent core. The distribution of the high-absorption material within the various parts of the absorbent core may vary depending on the anticipated end use of the absorbent core. The high absorption material can be arranged in a generally separate layer within the matrix of hydrophilic fibers. Alternatively, the absorbent core may comprise a laminate of fibrous webs and high-absorption material or other suitable means to maintain a high-absorption material in a localized area.

A "hook-and-loop fastener" refers to complementary fasteners that have a "hook" portion and a "loop" portion and that are resealable. The term "hook" as used herein refers to any element suitable for entering into a connection with another element, the so-called "loop" portion. The term "hook" is not limited to "hooks" in their normal sense, but may include any form of attachment elements, either in one direction or in two directions. The term "loop" is also not limited to "loops" in their normal sense, but also encompasses any structure suitable for a "hook" fastener to attach to. Examples of "loop" materials are fibrous structures, such as non-woven materials.

The term "hydrophilic" describes fibers or the surfaces of fibers that are wetted by the aqueous liquids in contact with the fibers. The degree of wetting of the materials can in turn be expressed in terms of the contact angles and the surface tensions of the liquids and materials in question. The term "wettable" is intended to refer to a fiber that makes an air contact angle with a liquid, such as water, synthetic urine, or an aqueous saline solution of 0.9% by weight, of less than 90 °, while "hydrophobic" or "non-wettable" fibers describe fibers that have contact angles equal to or greater than 90 °.

As used herein, the term "impervious" generally refers to articles and / or elements that cannot be substantially permeated by an aqueous liquid throughout their full thickness under a pressure of 1.0 kPa or less. Preferably, the impervious article or element is not permeable to an aqueous liquid under pressures of 3.4 kPa or less. More preferably, the impervious article or element is not permeable to an aqueous liquid under pressures of 6.8 kPa or less. An article or an element that is not impenetrable is permeable. "Integral" is used to refer to various portions of a single unitary element rather than to the individual structures that are bonded or placed close together. "Connecting", "connecting", "connected" or variations thereof, when used to describe the relationship between two or more elements, means that the elements can be connected in any suitable manner, such as heat sealing, ultrasonic bonding, thermal bonding, by adhesives, stitching, or the like. Furthermore, the elements can be connected directly, or they can comprise one or more elements positioned between them, which are all connected together.

The term "flat-laid state" is intended to refer to the article when it is flattened in a plane or substantially flattened in a flat, in its stretched, flat state with all elastic contractions and gatherings removed. "Laminate" refers to elements that are attached together in a layered arrangement.

The use of the term "layer" can refer to, but is not limited to, any type of substrate, such as a woven web, non-woven web, films, laminates, composites, elastomeric materials, or the like. A layer can be liquid and air permeable, permeable to air but impermeable to liquids, impermeable to both air and liquids, or the like. When used in the singular, it can have the double meaning of a single element or of a majority of elements.

The crotch portion of the absorbent article preferably includes opposite longitudinal side portions that includes a pair of elastically made, longitudinally-extending, "leg cuffs." The leg cuffs are generally adapted to fit around the legs of a wearer during use and serve as a mechanical barrier to the lateral flow of body secretions. The leg cuffs are made elastic by leg elastics. The diaper may further comprise a front waist elastic and a rear waist elastic. Materials suitable for use in forming leg elastics are known in the prior art. Examples of such materials are bundles or ribbons of a polymer, elastomeric material that are attached to the diaper at the leg cuff in an elongated state, or that are attached to the diaper while the diaper is pleated, so that elastic contracting forces are transmitted to the leg cuff . Examples of suitable elastomeric materials that can be used include polyether-polyamide block copolymers, polyurethanes, synthetic linear ABA and AB block copolymers, chlorinated rubber / EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) blends, EPDM (ethylene-propylene diene monomer) rubbers, EPM (ethylene- propylene monomer) rubbers, blends of EPDM / EPM / EVA, and the like. "Liquid" means a non-gaseous substance and / or a material that flows and can take the inner form of a container into which it is poured or placed. "Longitudinal" is a direction parallel to the maximum linear dimension of the article .

The term "meltblown fibers" means fibers formed by extrusion of a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries into molten wires or filaments in a high-speed gas stream (e.g. air) which causes the filaments of the molten thermoplastic material will decrease in diameter, which can go to a microfiber diameter. Generally, meltblown fibers have an average fiber diameter of up to about 10 microns. After the formation of the fibers, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high speed gas stream and deposited on a collecting surface to form a web of randomly arranged meltblown fibers.

The term "non-elastic" refers to any material that does not fall within the definition of "elastic" above.

The term "non-woven fabric or web" means a sheet of material that has a structure of individual fibers or threads that are inlaid, but not in a regular manner such as occurs with stitching or weaving processes. Non-woven fabrics or webs can be made by many processes, such as meltblown processes, spunbond processes, and bound carded web processes. "Pants body" refers to a garment that has a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, similar to shorts, swimwear, or the like. The garment described may or may not have a manually tearable side seam.

The terms "particle", "particles", "particle," particles "and the like mean that the material is generally in the form of individual units. The units may comprise granules, powder, spheres, pulverized materials or the like, as well as combinations thereof The particles may have any desired shape such as, for example, cubic, rod-like, polygonal, spherical or semi-spherical, rounded or semi-rounded, angular, irregular, etc. Shapes that have a large largest dimension / smallest size ratio, such as needles, flakes, and fibers, are also contemplated to be included herein The terms "particle" or "particle" may also include an agglomerate comprising more than one individual particle, particle, or the like. particle or any agglomerate desired therefrom, are composed of more than one type of material.

The term "polymer" generally includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers, for example, block, graft, random and alternating copolymers, terpolymers, etc., and mixtures and derivatives thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term "polymer" will encompass all possible geometric configurations of the material. These configurations include, but are not limited to, isotactic, syndiotactic and random symmetries.

By the term "prepackaged" as used herein, it is meant that one or more absorbent articles are packaged in a single unit before being stacked. "Pulp fluff" or "fluff pulp" refer to a material made up of cellulose fibers. The fibers can be either natural or synthetic, or a combination thereof. The material is typically low in weight and has absorbent properties. "Reclosable" refers to the property of two elements that are capable of reversibly attaching, separating, and further being reversibly attached without substantial permanent deformation or cracking.

The "retention portion" or "liquid absorption layer" are used herein as synonyms, and form part of the absorbent medium. This portion may comprise a matrix of hydrophilic fibers, such as a web of cellulose fluff mixed with particles of high absorption material. In particular arrangements, the retention portion may comprise a mixture of superabsorbent hydrogel-forming particles and synthetic polymer meltblown fibers, or a mixture of superabsorbent particles with a fibrous coform material comprising a mixture of natural fibers and / or synthetic polymer fibers. The superabsorbent particles can be mixed substantially homogeneously with the hydrophilic fibers, or can be mixed non-uniformly. For example, the concentrations of superabsorbent particles can be arranged in a non-stepwise gradient through a substantial portion of the thickness of the absorbent structure, with lower concentrations to the body side of the absorbent structure and relatively higher concentrations to the outside of the absorbent structure. The superabsorbent particles can also be arranged in a generally discrete layer within the matrix of hydrophilic fibers. In addition, two or more different kinds of superabsorbent materials can be selectively arranged at different locations within or according to the fiber matrix.

As used herein, the term "sheet" or "sheet material" refers to woven materials, non-woven webs, polymer films, polymeric gauze-like materials, and polymeric foam layers.

The absorbent article can also include side panels. The "side panels" may have any shape such as, but not limited to, a square, rectangular, triangular, circular, and stair-like shape. They can be attached to the respective opposite side portions of the rear region, by a known method, such as heat sealing or adhesive bonding. The side panels can also be integrally formed with the rear area by projecting outwardly and connecting the respective topsheet and / or backsheet and / or absorbent medium in lobes which are in the form of the side panels. Preferably, the side panels are formed by laminating a layer of a non-woven fabric, a layer of a thermoplastic film and a layer of an elastic material. The layer of the elastic material can be positioned between the non-woven fabric layer and the thermoplastic film using adhesive layers. The layer of the non-woven fabric can be made from natural fibers, synthetic fibers or a blend of natural fibers and synthetic fibers. The layer of the thermoplastic film can be made of polyethylene or polypropylene.

The term "spunbonded fibers" refers to fibers formed by extrusion of molten thermoplastic polymers in the form of filaments or fibers from a majority of relatively fine, usually circular, capillaries of a spinneret, after which the extruded filaments rapidly pass through an eductive or other known draw mechanism to provide the filaments with molecular orientation and physical strength. The average diameter of spunbond fibers is typically in the range of 15-60 µm or higher. The spinneret can either be a large spinneret that has several thousands of holes per meter width or can be banks of smaller spinnerets comprising, for example, only 40 holes.

The term "spunbond meltblown spunbond" (SMS) non-woven fabric as used herein refers to a multilayer composite sheet that comprises a web of meltblown fibers sandwiched between and bonded to two spunbond layers. An SMS non-woven fabric can be formed in line by successively providing a first layer of spunbonded fibers, a layer of meltblown fibers, and a second layer of spunbonded fibers on a moving porous collected surface. The assembled layers can be bonded by allowing them to pass through a narrowing formed between two rollers that can be heated or unheated and smooth or patterned. Alternatively, the individual spunbond and meltblown layers may be formed in advance and optionally bonded and collected individually such as by winding the fabrics on rolls. The individual layers can then be assembled and bonded at a later time to form an SMS non-woven fabric. Additional spunbond and / or meltblown layers may be incorporated into the SMS fabric, for example spunbond meltblown meltblown spunbond (SMMS), etc. "Staple fibers" refer to commercially available fibers that include diameters ranging from less than about 0.001 mm to more than about 0.2 mm; they come in many different forms such as short fibers ranging from about 10 to 50 mm in length and long fibers with a length greater than 50 mm, preferably up to 100 mm.

By "elongation" is meant that the material has the capacity to extend beyond its original size in at least one dimension when subjected to a tensile force (ie, tension) applied in the direction of that dimension, without the material being break. An extension of for example 50% means that the material with a first length of 100 mm has reached a length of 150 mm. The rack can be in one direction, two directions, or multiple directions. The specific stretching properties of a material can vary along any stretch vectors. The term may include elastic materials, as well as nonwovens that are inherently extensible, but not necessarily in an elastic manner. Such nonwovens can be made to behave in an elastic manner by attaching them to elastic films.

The use of the term "substrate" includes, but is not limited to, woven or non-woven webs, porous films, ink permeable films, paper, composite structures, or the like.

Superabsorbent materials suitable for use in the present invention are known in the art, and may exist in any workable form, such as in particle form, fibers, and mixtures thereof. Generally speaking, the "superabsorbent material" may be a water-swellable, generally water-insoluble, hydrogel-forming polymeric absorbent material, capable of at least about 15, suitably about 30, and possibly about 60 times or more of its weight in physiological salt solution (e.g. a saline solution with 0.9% weight of NaCl). The superabsorbent material can be biodegradable or bipolar. The hydrogel-forming polymeric absorbent material may be formed from organic hydrogel-forming polymeric material, which may include natural material such as agar, pectin and guar gum; modified natural materials such as carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxyethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl cellulose; and synthetic hydrogel-forming polymers. Synthetic hydrogel-forming polymers include, for example, alkali metal salts of polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene maleic anhydride. Copolymers, polyvinyl ethers, polyvinyl morpholinone, polymers and copolymers of vinyl sulfonic acid, polyacrylates, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl pyridine, and the like. Other suitable hydrogel-forming polymers include hydrolyzed acrylonitrile grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch, and isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymers and mixtures thereof. The hydrogel-forming polymers may be slightly cross-linked to make the material substantially water-insoluble. Cross-linking can, for example, be done by radiation or covalent, ionic, Van der Waalse, or hydrogen bonds. The superabsorbent material may suitably be applied to a designated storage or retention portion of the absorbent system, and may optionally be employed in other components or portions of the absorbent article. The superabsorbent material may be included in the absorbent layer or other liquid storage layer of the absorbent article of the present invention in an amount of up to about 60% by weight. Typically, the superabsorbent material, when present, will be provided in an amount of from about 5% to about 40% by weight based on the total weight of the absorbent layer. "Superabsorbent polymer particles" or "SAPs" refer to water-swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic materials that are capable of, in the most favorable conditions, at least about 10 times their weight, or at least about 15 times their weight, or at least about Be able to absorb 25 times their weight in an aqueous solution comprising 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride. In absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence diapers, etc., the particle size typically ranges between 100 to 800 µm, preferably between 300 to 600 µm, more preferably between 400 to 500 µm.

The term "target area" refers to an area of an absorbent core where it is particularly desirable to initially contact the majority of a fluid fiction, such as urine, menururation, or bowel movement. In particular, a target target area, for an absorbent core with one or more fluid target points during use, refers to the area of the absorbent core that extends over a distance equal to 15% of the total length of the composite from each target point in both directions. "Tension" includes a force along one axis that attempts to cause the elongation of a body or the balancing force within that body that attempts to withstand the elongation.

As used herein, the term "thermoplastic" is intended to describe a material that softens when exposed to heat and that substantially returns to its original state when cooled to room temperature.

The term "topsheet" refers to a liquid permeable sheet material that forms the inner cover of the absorbent article and which is placed in direct contact with the wearer's skin during use. The topsheet is typically used to help isolate the wearer's skin from liquids trapped in the absorbent structure. The topsheet may include a non-woven material, e.g., spunbond, meltblown, carded, water-entangled, wet-laid, etc. Suitable non-woven materials may be composed of artificial fibers such as polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, viscose, artificial silk, etc., or natural fibers. , such as wood pulp or cotton fibers, or from a blend of natural and artificial fibers. The topsheet material can further be composed of two fibers, which can be bonded together in a bonding pattern. Further examples of topsheet materials are porous foams, perforated plastic films, laminates of non-woven materials and perforated plastic films etc. The materials suitable as topsheet materials should be soft and non-irritating to the skin and should be easily penetrating to body fluid, e.g. urine or menstrual fluids. The topsheet may further be different in different parts of the absorbent article. The topsheet fabrics can be composed of a substantially hydrophobic material, and the hydrophobic material can optionally be treated with a surfactant or otherwise processed to achieve a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity. "Training pants" or "pants diaper", as used herein, refers to disposable garments designed for children as wearers, which have a waist opening and leg openings. A pant diaper can be applied to the wearer by inserting the wearer's legs into the leg openings and sliding the pant diaper into position around the wearer's lower torso. A pant diaper can be preformed by any suitable technique including, but not limited to, securing two portions of the article using resealable and / or non-resealable connections, (e.g., seam, weld, adhesive, cohesive joint) , fastener, etc.). A trouser diaper can be preformed anywhere along the perimeter of the item (eg, attached to the side, attached to the front waist). While the terms "pants diaper" or "pants diapers" are used herein, a pants diaper is also commonly referred to as "closed diapers", "preformed diapers", "pull-on pants", "training pants" and "diaper pants".

As used herein, the terms "transversal" or "lateral" refer to a line, axis, or direction that is within the plane of the absorbent article and is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. "Ultrasonic welding" refers to a technology that joins two materials together by melting them with heat generated by ultrasonic oscillation and then laminating them together such that the molten materials flow and the space goes between the two untreated portions of the two respective materials filling up. When cooling and forming, the two materials are connected together.

As used herein, the term "water-swellable, water-insoluble" is intended to refer to a material that, when exposed to an excess of water, swells to its equilibrium volume but does not dissolve in the solution. For example, a water-swellable, water-insoluble material generally retains its original identity or physical structure during absorption of the water, but in a highly expanded state, so it must have sufficient physical integrity to withstand current and fusion with neighboring particles. resist.

By the term "packaging material" as used herein is meant a flexible material, preferably a sheet material whose thickness is smaller, preferably much smaller, than its width or length, such as a sheet, a film or a film. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the above-mentioned packaging material can be rolled up.

Due to the high concentrations of superabsorbent particles or other high-absorption material in the retention portion, there may be an increased difficulty in retaining the high-absorption particles within the retention portion and limiting the movement or migration of superabsorbent materials to the body side of the diaper. To improve the retention of the high-absorption material, the absorbent structure may comprise an improved outer package, such as an "envelope sheet", immediately placed adjacent to and around the retention portion. The wrapping sheet is preferably a layer of absorbent material that covers most of the body side and outside surfaces of the retention portion, and preferably substantially encloses all peripheral edges of the retention portion such that a substantially full envelope is formed around it. Alternatively, the wrapping sheet may be provided with an absorbent cover that covers most of the body side and outside surfaces of the retention portion, and substantially encloses only the lateral side edges of the retention portion. Accordingly, both the linear and inwardly bent portions of the lateral side edges of the envelope sheet would be closed around the retention portion. In such an embodiment, however, the end edges of the wrapping sheet would not be completely closed around the end edges of the retention portion to the waistband regions of the article. The wrapping sheet may include a multi-element wrapping sheet comprising a separate body-side wrapping layer and a separate outer-wrapping layer, each extending beyond all or some of the peripheral edges of the retention portion. Such an envelope sheet configuration may, for example, facilitate the formation of a substantially complete cover and closure around the peripheral edges of the retention portion. The body side and outside layers of the wrapping sheet may be substantially composed of the same materials, or may be composed of different materials. The outer layer of the wrapping sheet may, for example, be composed of a relatively lower weight-base material that has a relatively high porosity, such as a wet-strength cellulose fabric composed of softwood pulp. The body side layer of the wrapping sheet may comprise any of the previously described wrapping fabric materials, which have a relatively low porosity (may, for example, comprise a meltblown web composed of meltblown polypropylene fibers or a low porosity cellulose web composed of a hardwood / softwood blend). fiber). The low porosity body side layer can help in better preventing migration of superabsorbent particles to the wearer's skin and the high porosity, low weight outer layer layer can help in reducing costs.

An absorbent article refers to devices that absorb and retain liquid, and more specifically refers to devices that are placed against or in proximity to the wearer's body to absorb and retain the various secretions discharged by the body. The absorbent articles include, but are not limited to, diapers, adult incontinence briefs, training pants, diaper holders and liners, sanitary napkins, and the like, as well as surgical dressings and sponges.

Preferably, an absorbent article comprises a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the above-mentioned longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis is hereby conventionally chosen in the front-to-back direction of the article when reference is made to the article being carried, and the transversal axis is conventionally selected in the left-to-right direction of the article when reference is made to the item being worn. The disposable absorbent articles may comprise a liquid permeable topsheet, a backsheet connected to the topsheet, and an absorbent core that is placed and held between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet is effectively permeable to the liquids intended to be retained or stored by the absorbent article, and the backsheet may or may not be substantially impermeable or otherwise effectively impermeable to the intended liquids. The absorbent article may include other components such as liquid-absorbing layers, acquisition and distribution layers, liquid winding layers, liquid recording layers, transfer layers, barrier layers, packaging layers, wrapping sheets and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

A garment indicates any type of clothing that can be worn. This includes diapers, training pants, incontinence products, surgical gowns, industrial work clothes and covers, underwear, pants, shirts, jackets and the like. A diaper refers to an absorbent article that is generally worn by infants on the lower torso. To use the diaper around the wearer's waist, the diaper is typically first placed between the wearer's legs and then attached around the wearer's waist using fasteners, preferably in a reclosable manner around the wearer's diaper to remove after or during use.

An absorbent article, such as a diaper, preferably consists of a front region, also called a "front section", "front waistband region", "front section" or similar, a back region, also "back region", "rear section", "rear waistband region" referred to as "," rear portion "or the like, and an intermediate crotch region or" crotch region "interconnecting the front and back regions. As used herein, the reference to a "front" portion refers to that portion of the diaper that is generally positioned at the front of an infant during use. The reference to the "back" or "back" portion refers to the portion of the diaper that is generally positioned on the back of the infant during use, and a reference to the "crotch" portion refers to that portion that overlies the is generally positioned between the legs of an infant during use. The crotch region is an area where fluid mictures typically occur repeatedly.

Preferably, a diaper comprises an outer surface, an inner surface opposite to the outer surface, and a periphery defined by the outer edges of the diaper, said outer edges include side edges that extend substantially along a longitudinal direction and define transversely opposite edges of the diaper, and a front end end and a back end end that extend substantially along the transverse direction and define longitudinally opposite edges of the diaper.

The inner surface of the diaper preferably consists of that portion of the diaper that is placed against the wearer's body during use, i.e. the inner surface is generally formed by at least a portion of the topsheet and other components attached to the topsheet. The outer surface preferably consists of that portion of the diaper that is positioned away from the wearer's body, i.e. the outer surface is generally formed by at least a portion of the backsheet and other components attached to the backsheet. The front area extends from the front-end edge of the periphery to a lateral center line or transverse axis of the diaper. The rear area extends from the rear end edge of the periphery to a lateral center line or a transverse axis of the diaper.

Preferably, a diaper comprises a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent medium suitable between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet, the backsheet and the absorbent medium can be made of any suitable material known to a person skilled in the art. The topsheet is generally positioned on or close to the body side surface of the article, while the backsheet is generally positioned on or close to the garment-side surface of the article. Optionally, the topsheet may be provided on or close to the body side surface of the article and at least partially on or close to the garment side surface of the article, e.g., by wrapping the topsheet around the absorbent medium and / or the backsheet. Optionally, the article may comprise one or more separate layers additionally to the backsheet and positioned between the backsheet and the absorbent medium. The topsheet and backsheet are connected or associated together in an effective way. Preferably, the topsheet and the backsheet are adhered to each other at or close to the edges and / or edges of the absorbent article. The absorbent medium preferably comprises absorbent material optionally attached to or packaged in one or more covering sheets or wrapping sheets. Examples of commonly occurring absorbent materials are cellulose fluff pulp, tissue layers, highly absorbent polymers (so-called super-absorbent polymer particles (SAP)), absorbent foam materials, absorbent non-woven materials or the like and any combination thereof. It is common to combine cellulose fluff pulp with superabsorbent polymers in an absorbent material.

Preferably, an absorbent article such as a diaper comprises a chassis that refers to a fundamental constituent of the absorbent article on which the rest of the structure of the article is built up or applied over, e.g., in a diaper, the structural elements that, when configured to wear, the diaper takes the form of a slip or pants, such as a backsheet, a topsheet, or a combination of a topsheet and a backsheet, preferably the chassis comprises a laminate comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and a absorbent medium between the topsheet and the backsheet.

Preferably, a diaper includes inclusion flaps or barrier cuffs. The containment flaps are generally considered to be particularly suitable for the containment of faecal matter and to prevent the lateral flow of liquid waste until the liquid waste can be absorbed by the absorbent article. Many constructions of containment flaps are known. Such containment flaps generally consist of a proximal edge intended to be attached to the absorbent article, preferably to or near the side edges and / or the front and / or rear edge of the diaper, and an opposite distal edge that is generally is not attached to the absorbent article along at least a portion of its length. An elastic member is generally located adjacent the distal edge to help maintain the containment flap in an upright condition and to maintain a sealing contact between the distal edge of the containment flap and a wearer's body during use. The elastic member is generally positioned between two layers of material so that the elastic does not come into contact with the body of a wearer. The containment flaps can be made from a wide variety of materials such as polypropylene, polyester, artificial silk, nylon, foam, plastic films, molded films, and elastic foams. Various production techniques can be used to manufacture the containment flaps. For example, the containment flaps can be woven, non-woven, spunbond, carded, cast, blown, or the like.

Preferably because a diaper leg containment gaskets. Leg containment packs help prevent leakage of bodily secretions when the wearer exerts compressive forces on the absorbent article. In particular, the stiffness of the leg containment gaskets prevents twisting and bundling of the leg openings of the absorbent article which can lead to leakage. In addition, the elasticity and formability of the leg containment gaskets ensure that the body facing surface of the leg containment gaskets form a suitable seal against the wearer's body. The physical properties of the leg containment gaskets, such as the thickness and stiffness, also function to keep the topsheet and absorbent core away from the wearer's body during use. Thus, an empty volume is created between the wearer's body and the topsheet and absorbent core of the absorbent article to help retain body secretions.

Preferably, a diaper comprises a pair of elastically made, longitudinally-extending leg cuffs that can be at least partially attached to the opposed longitudinal side portions of the crotch portion, positioned close to the side edges of the diaper. The leg cuffs are generally adapted to fit around the legs of a wearer during use and serve as a mechanical barrier to the lateral flow of body secretions. The leg cuffs are preferably made elastic by leg elastics. Preferably, a diaper comprises a front waist elastic in the front area and / or a rear waist elastic in the rear area, said front and / or rear waist elastic allows elastic to stretch the front and / or rear area in at least the transverse direction, respectively. Materials suitable for use in shaping leg and / or waist elastics are known in the prior art. Examples of such materials are bundles or ribbons of a polymer, elastomeric material that is attached to the diaper, e.g., at the leg cuff in an elongated state, or which is attached to the diaper while the diaper is pleated so that elastic contracting forces are transmitted on the leg cuff or front and / or back elastic. Examples of suitable elastomeric materials that can be used include polyether-polyamide block copolymers, polyurethanes, synthetic linear ABA and AB block copolymers, chlorinated rubber / EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) blends, EPDM (ethylene-propylene diene monomer) rubbers, EPM (ethylene- propylene monomer) rubbers, blends of EPDM / EPM / EVA, and the like.

The diaper may also comprise side panels. The side panels can be of any shape such as, but not limited to, a square, rectangular, triangular, circular, and trapezoidal shape. They can be attached to the respective opposite side portions of the rear region, by a known method, such as heat sealing or adhesive bonding. The side panels can also be integrally formed with the rear area and / or front area by projecting outwardly and connecting the respective topsheet and / or backsheet and / or absorbent medium in lobes which are in the form of the side panels. The side panels are preferably formed by laminating a layer of a non-woven fabric, a layer of a thermoplastic film and a layer of an elastic material. The layer of the elastic material can be positioned between the non-woven fabric layer and the thermoplastic film using adhesive layers. The layer of the non-woven fabric can be made from natural fibers, synthetic fibers or a blend of natural fibers and synthetic fibers. The layer of the thermoplastic film can be made of polyethylene or polypropylene.

Preferably, a diaper includes fasteners that can be applied to the rear waistband region of the diaper to provide a mechanism for holding the diaper on the wearer. Fasteners, such as self-adhesive fasteners and / or mechanical fasteners, for example tape tape fasteners, snaps, pins, belts, hooks, buckles, "hook / mushroom" and loop fasteners (e.g. VELCRO® type fasteners) and the like can be used. and are typically applied to the lateral, side ends of the back waistband region of a diaper to provide a mechanism to hold the diaper over the wearer's waist in a conventional manner. Tape tape fasteners can be any of those known in the art, and are typically applied to the corners of the diaper. For example, self-adhesive fasteners, mechanical fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, pins or buckles can be used alone or in combination. For example, the fasteners may be self-adhesive fasteners made for reversible adhesion to a landing zone piece adhered to the diaper waistband region of the diaper to provide a resealable self-adhesive fastening system. In preferred embodiments, the fastening means may comprise a primary fastening system and optionally one or more secondary fastening systems, the primary fastening system preferably comprising a pair of fastening members, preferably fixed to both edges of the rear region of the chassis and a landing member or landing zone at both edges of the chassis. front area of the chassis.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides an absorbent article suitable for use as a diaper, comprising a liquid-impermeable backsheet, a liquid-permeable topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet, the backsheet and the absorbent core together form a chassis of the absorbent article. The topsheet, the backsheet and the absorbent medium can be made of any suitable material known to a person skilled in the art. The topsheet is generally positioned on or close to the body side surface of the article, while the backsheet is generally positioned on or close to the garment-side surface of the article. Optionally, the article may comprise one or more separate layers that are additional to the backsheet and are inserted between the backsheet and the absorbent medium. The topsheet and the backsheet are connected or associated together in an effective way.

The absorbent article further comprises a front region, a rear region and from an intermediate crotch region interconnecting the front region and the rear region, thereby forming a longitudinal axis that travels from the front region across the crotch region to the rear region, and a transverse axis generally perpendicular is with the longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis is hereby conventionally chosen in the front-to-back direction of the article when reference is made to the article being carried, and the transversal axis is conventionally selected in the left-to-right direction of the article when reference is made to the item being worn. When used herein, the reference to a "front area" refers to that portion of the diaper that is generally positioned at the front of an infant during use. The reference to the "back region" refers to the portion of the diaper that is generally positioned on the back of the infant during use, and reference to "crotch region" refers to that portion that is generally between the legs of an infant positioned during use. The crotch region is an area where fluid mictures typically occur repeatedly. Fastener finding is in the rear region of the absorbent article and a landing zone is in the front region of the absorbent article to provide a resealable self-adhesive fastening system to enclose the diaper around the infant's waist. In a preferred embodiment the fixing means comprise hook and loop fixing means.

The absorbent article may also include other components, such as liquid-absorbing layers, acquisition and distribution layers, liquid winding layers, liquid recording layers, transfer layers, barrier layers, packaging layers, wrapping sheets and the like, as well as combinations thereof. Disposable absorbent articles and the components thereof can be effective to provide a body-turned surface and a garment-turned surface.

Preferably, the chassis comprises two side edges along the longitudinal axis, and a front edge and rear edge in the front area and rear area of the absorbent article, respectively. Specifically, the chassis of the absorbent article in a flat-laid state comprises a width to length ratio determined by the ratio between the minimum width measured along the transverse axis between the two side edges of the chassis and the maximum length measured along the longitudinal axis between the front edge and the rear edge of the chassis, which has a value between 0.2 and 0.8, more preferably between 0.3 and 0.7, most preferably between 0.4 and 0.6. In a preferred embodiment, the chassis of the absorbent article in a flat-laid state comprises a width to length ratio of about 0.20, 0.21, 0.22, 0.23, 0.24, 0.25, 0.26, 0.27, 0.28, 0.29, 0.30, 0.31, 0.32 , 0.33, 0.34, 0.35, 0.36, 0.37, 0.38, 0.39, 0.40, 0.41, 0.42, 0.43, 0.44, 0.45, 0.46, 0.47, 0.48, 0.49, 0.50, 0.51, 0.52, 0.53, 0.54, 0.55, 0.56, 0.57 , 0.58, 0.59, 0.60, 0.61, 0.62, 0.63, 0.64, 0.65, 0.66, 0.67, 0.68, 0.69, 0.70, 0.71, 0.72, 0.73, 0.74, 0.75, 0.76, 0.77, 0.78, 0.79 or 0.80.

The term "flat-laid state" is intended to refer to the article when it is flattened in a plane or substantially flattened in a flat, in its stretched, flat state with all elastic contractions and gatherings removed. FIG. 1-4 shows examples of absorbent articles in their flat-laid state.

In a preferred embodiment, the maximum length measured along the longitudinal axis between the front edge and the rear edge of the chassis comprises a value of around 30 cm, 31 cm, 32 cm, 33 cm, 34 cm, 35 cm, 36 cm, 37 cm, 38 cm , 39 cm, 40 cm, 41 cm, 42 cm, 43 cm, 44 cm, 45 cm, 46 cm, 47 cm, 48 cm, 49 cm, 50 cm, 51 cm, 52 cm, 53 cm, 54 cm or 55 cm, while the minimum width measured along the transversal axis between the two side edges of the chassis is preferably a value of around 15 cm, 16 cm, 17 cm, 18 cm, 19 cm, 20 cm, 21 cm, 22 cm, 23 cm, 24 cm or 25 cm.

An absorbent article comprising a chassis with a width to length ratio with a value that varies according to the values provided in the present invention has an optimized fit to provide the intended wearer around the waist, preferably babies or infants, thereby reducing the chance of leakage of physical excretions or urine along the leg openings or waist opening of the absorbent article.

In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent core comprises a width-to-length ratio, determined by the ratio between the width of the absorbent core measured in the transverse direction, substantially in the middle of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction and the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction, which has a value between 0.1 and 0.5, more preferably between 0.2 and 0.4. An absorbent core with this width-to-length ratio has the optimum dimensions to absorb bodily fluids during mictations and to reduce leakage of these fluids. The absorbent core can comprise any possible shape, as long as the width-to-length ratio of the absorbent core has a value between 0.1 and 0.5. In one embodiment, the absorbent core comprises a general dog bone configuration along the longitudinal axis. In another embodiment, the absorbent core comprises a general rectangular configuration along the longitudinal axis. In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent core comprises a width to length ratio of around, 0.10, 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, 0.14, 0.15, 0.16, 0.17, 0.18, 0.19, 0.20, 0.21, 0.22, 0.23, 0.24, 0.25, 0.26 , 0.27, 0.28, 0.29, 0.30, 0.31, 0.32, 0.33, 0.34, 0.35, 0.36, 0.37, 0.38, 0.39, 0.40, 0.41, 0.42, 0.43, 0.44, 0.45, 0.46, 0.47, 0.48, 0.49 or 0.50.

In a preferred embodiment, the width of the absorbent core measured in the transversal direction substantially in the middle of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction comprises a value of around 5 cm, 6 cm, 7 cm, 8 cm, 9 cm, 10 cm, 11 cm, 12 cm, 13 cm, 14 cm or 15 cm, while the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction comprises a value of around 25 cm, 26 cm, 27 cm, 28 cm, 29 cm, 30 cm, 31 cm, 32 cm, 33 cm, 34 cm, 35 cm, 36 cm, 37 cm, 38 cm, 39 cm or 40 cm.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the width of the chassis, being the distance between the two side edges of the chassis measured along the transversal axis, varies along the longitudinal axis. The maximum width of the chassis is here in the front and rear areas of the absorbent article, and a minimum cross-width determined by the minimum width of the chassis measured in the crotch region of the absorbent article is smaller than the maximum width of the chassis. This results in a chassis with a substantially dog bone or hourglass configuration along the longitudinal axis, thereby forming two front side panels in the front area and two rear side panels in the rear area of the absorbent article. Preferably, the width-to-length ratio of the front or rear region, determined by the ratio between the maximum width measured along the transverse axis between the two side edges of the chassis in the front or rear region of the absorbent article and the maximum length measured along the longitudinal axis between the front edge and the rear edge of the chassis, a value between 0.5 and 0.9, more preferably between 0.6 and 0.8. In a preferred embodiment, the chassis of the absorbent article in a flat-laid state comprises a width to length ratio of the front or rear regions of around 0.50, 0.51, 0.52, 0.53, 0.54, 0.55, 0.56, 0.57, 0.58, 0.59 0.60, 0.61, 0.62, 0.63, 0.64, 0.65, 0.66, 0.67, 0.68, 0.69, 0.70, 0.71, 0.72, 0.73, 0.74, 0.75, 0.76, 0.77, 0.78, 0.79, 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84 , 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89 or 0.90.

In a preferred embodiment, the maximum length measured along the longitudinal axis between the front edge and the rear edge of the chassis comprises a value of 40 cm, 41 cm, 42 cm, 43 cm, 44 cm, 45 cm, 46 cm, 47 cm, 48 cm, 49 cm, 50 cm, 51 cm, 52 cm, 53 cm, 54 cm or 55 cm, while the maximum width measured along the transverse axis between the two side edges of the chassis in the front or rear region of the absorbent article is preferably a value comprises of around 25 cm, 26 cm, 27 cm, 28 cm, 29 cm, 30 cm, 31 cm, 32 cm, 33 cm, 34 cm or 35 cm.

The advantage of a chassis with a general dog bone or hourglass configuration is that no additional side panels have to be provided on the absorbent article, since these are automatically formed by the shape of the chassis. Fixing means are preferably provided on the rear side panels of the absorbent article, preferably one on each rear side panel. In a preferred embodiment, the rear region and / or the fastening means are at least partially made elastic or comprise an elastic member to improve the fit of the rear region of the absorbent article around the wearer's waist. The fixing means can for instance be fixed to the rear side panels with an elastic fixing part. In another embodiment, a portion of the back region is made elastic by inserting an elastic material between the topsheet and the backsheet, thereby making that portion elastic.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the width of the chassis, being the distance between the two side edges of the chassis measured along the transverse axis, remains substantially the same along the longitudinal axis, resulting in a chassis with a substantially rectangular configuration along the longitudinal axis. .

The advantage of having a chassis with a substantially rectangular configuration is that when the diaper is produced, the chassis comprising the topsheet, backsheet and absorbent inserted between the topsheet and the backsheet can easily be cut into the desired rectangular shape without any loss of material, which is the case when a chassis with a general dog bone or hourglass configuration is cut, where the narrow part in the crotch area is cut away.

In a preferred embodiment, two elastic rear side panels are attached to the side edges of the substantially rectangular chassis in the rear area of the absorbent article, preferably one to each side edge, to improve the fit of the rear area of the absorbent article around the wearer's waist. . Preferably, fasteners are attached to the elastic rear side panels, preferably one fastener on each side. In a preferred embodiment, two front side panels are attached to the side edges of the chassis in the front region of the absorbent article, to provide "grip" points and assist in positioning the front region of the diaper around the wearer's front waist.

The absorbent article may further comprise additional components known to a person skilled in the art, such as inclusion flaps, leg cuffs, and / or inclusion gaskets. In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent article comprises inclusion flaps and leg cuffs.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an absorbent core suitable for use in an absorbent article, wherein the absorbent core comprises a width to length ratio determined by the ratio between the width of the absorbent core measured in the transversal direction substantially the center of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction and the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction, between 0.1 and 0.5, more preferably between 0.2 and 0.4. In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent core comprises a width to length ratio of around, 0.20, 0.21, 0.22, 0.23, 0.24, 0.25, 0.26, 0.27, 0.28, 0.29, 0.30, 0.31, 0.32, 0.33, 0.34, 0.35, 0.36 , 0.37, 0.38, 0.39 or 0.40.

In a preferred embodiment, the width of the absorbent core measured in the transversal direction substantially in the middle of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction comprises a value of around 5 cm, 6 cm, 7 cm, 8 cm, 9 cm, 10 cm, 11 cm, 12 cm, 13 cm, 14 cm or 15 cm, while the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction comprises a value of around 25 cm, 26 cm, 27 cm, 28 cm, 29 cm, 30 cm, 31 cm, 32 cm, 33 cm, 34 cm, 35 cm, 36 cm, 37 cm, 38 cm, 39 cm or 40 cm.

In a final aspect, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing an absorbent article. Preferably the method comprises the steps of providing a topsheet, backsheet and an absorbent core and combining topsheet, backsheet and absorbent core with the absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet around the base for the chassis of the absorbent core. Optionally, extra layers or components can be inserted between the topsheet and the backsheet. After combining topsheet, backsheet, absorbent core and optionally additional layers or components, the chassis is cut into a desired shape, i.e. general dog bone or hourglass configuration or a general rectangular configuration. The advantage of cutting the chassis in a general dog bone or hourglass configuration is that no additional side panels need to be made or attached to the chassis. The materials for the side panels are often more expensive than the materials to provide the chassis, so an economically more advantageous absorbent article can be manufactured. The advantage of cutting the chassis in a general rectangular configuration is that no material is lost while cutting the chassis, while when the chassis is cut with a general dog bone or hourglass configuration, the narrow portion in the crotch area is cut away, resulting in loss of material during the production of the absorbent article. However, in the case of a rectangular configuration, additional side panels must be attached to the chassis both on the side edges of the chassis in the front area and in the rear area of the absorbent article. After cutting the chassis and optionally attaching front and / or rear side panels to the chassis (in the case of a rectangular configuration), the method further comprises the steps of adding the fasteners and optionally a landing zone. Finally, the containment flaps, leg cuffs or other components are optionally attached to the absorbent article.

In the following, the invention and the further embodiments are described with reference to the figures. These are not intended to, nor should they be interpreted, to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an absorbent article according to an embodiment of the present invention, here representing a disposable diaper (1).

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the diaper (1) defines a front region (2), a rear region (4), and a crotch region (3) extending between the front and rear regions (2) and (4). The front area (2) includes that portion of diaper (1) that, when worn, is placed on the front of the wearer, while the back area (4) includes that portion of diaper (1) that, when worn, on the back of the carrier is placed. The crotch region (3) of the diaper (1) includes the portion of diaper (1) that, when worn, is placed between the wearer's legs and covers the wearer's lower torso. The diaper includes a longitudinal axis (L) conventionally selected in the front-to-back direction of the article when reference is made to the article being worn and extends from the front region (2) through the crotch region (3) to the rear region (4). The diaper further comprises a transverse axis (T) perpendicular to the aforementioned longitudinal axis.

The diaper (1) comprises an absorbent chassis (6) configured to hold and / or absorb any body exudates discharged by the wearer. The chassis (6) is defined by two side edges (8) along the longitudinal axis (L) and a front (9) and a rear edge (10) on the front (2) and rear area (4) of the diaper (respectively) 1). The absorbent chassis (6) comprises a backsheet (not visible), a topsheet (5) connected to the backsheet in a supported relationship, and an absorbent core (7A) positioned between the topsheet (5) and the backsheet. The topsheet (5) and the backsheet can be bonded directly to each other around the outer periphery of the chassis (6) in any way known in the prior art such as adhesive bonds, sonic bonds or thermal bonds. For example, a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive, a sprayed or meltblown pattern of adhesive, or a series of lines, swirls, or stains of adhesive can be used to adhere topsheet (5) to backsheet. It should be noted that both the topsheet (5) and the backsheet do not have to extend all the way to the outer periphery of chassis (6). For example, the backsheet can extend to the outer periphery of the chassis (6), while the topsheet (5) can be attached to the backsheet within the outer periphery of chassis (6), or more to the longitudinal center line of the diaper ( 1).

The absorbent chassis (6) is generally conformable and capable of absorbing and retaining body secretions. The size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent chassis (6) should be compatible with the size of the intended wearer and the fluid charge provided by the intended use of the diaper (1).

The topsheet (5) of the absorbent chassis (6), as illustrated in FIG. 1 illustrates a body-turned surface intended to be worn close to the wearer's body and is compliant, soft to the touch and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. Furthermore, the topsheet (5) may be less hydrophilic than the absorbent core (7A), to provide a relatively dry surface for the wearer, and may be sufficiently porous to be fluid permeable, allowing fluid to penetrate easily through its thickness . A suitable topsheet (5) can be made from a wide selection of web materials, such as porous foams, net-like foams, perforated plastic films, natural fibers (e.g. wooden or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester or polypropylene fibers), or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. The topsheet (5) is used to help isolate the wearer's skin from liquids retained in the absorbent core (7A) of absorbent chassis (6).

The topsheet fabrics may be composed of a substantially hydrophobic material and the hydrophobic material may optionally be treated with a surfactant or otherwise processed to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity.

The topsheet (5) and the backsheet are generally attached to each other to form a bag in which the absorbent core (7A) is positioned to provide the absorbent chassis (6). Topsheet (5), backsheet and the absorbent core (7A) (7B), can be assembled in a variety of well-known diaper configurations.

The absorbent core (7A), as illustrated in Fig. 1, is placed between topsheet (5) and the backsheet to form the absorbent chassis (6). The absorbent core (7A) is desirably conforming and capable of absorbing and retaining body secretions. The absorbent core (7A) can be of any shape and can have a generally discrete layer within the matrix of hydrophilic fibers. Alternatively, the absorbent core (7A) may comprise a laminate of fibrous webs and high absorption material or other suitable means for maintaining high absorption material in a local area.

The chassis (6) according to this embodiment has a general rectangular configuration, whereby the width measured along the transverse axis (T) between the side edges (8) of the chassis (6) does not vary substantially along the longitudinal axis (L). The width-to-length ratio of the chassis (6) is determined by the ratio between the minimum width (T6, min) measured along the transverse axis (T) between the two side edges (8) of the chassis (6) and the maximum length (U, max) measured along the longitudinal axis (L) between the front edge (9) and the rear edge (10) of the chassis (6) and comprises a value of around 0.4 according to this specific embodiment.

The absorbent core (7A) according to this embodiment also comprises a general rectangular configuration along the longitudinal axis (L). The width-to-length ratio of the absorbent core (7A) is determined by the ratio between the width (T7a, min) of the absorbent core measured in the transverse direction substantially in the middle of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction (L7a, max) and the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction (L7a, max) and according to this specific embodiment comprises a value of around 0.2.

Two elastic rear side panels (11) are provided on the side edges (8) of the chassis (6) in the rear area (4) of the diaper (1), one on each side edge (8). Two fasteners (13) are attached to the side panels, one on each side panel (11). Preferably, the fastening means (13) comprises a hook portion adapted to be reversibly secured to a loop portion located on the front area of the diaper on the backsheet (not shown). The fasteners (13) are configured to hold the diaper (1) around the wearer's waist, to hide the absorbent chassis (6) from view, and to provide a garment-like appearance.

Two front side panels (12) are provided on the side edges (8) of the chassis (6) in the front area (2) of the diaper (1), one on each side edge (8). These front side panels (12) provide "grip" points and assist in positioning the front area of the diaper around the wearer's front waist.

The diaper (1) may further comprise other elements such as leg elastics and / or containment flaps (14). It should be noted that individual components of the diaper (1) may be optional depending on the intended use of the diaper (1).

As illustrated in Figs. 1, the chassis (6) of the diaper (1) may comprise a pair of containment flaps (14) configured to form a barrier to the lateral flow of body exudates. The containment flaps (14) may be provided along the laterally opposite side edges (8) of the chassis (6). Each containment flap defines a bonded edge and a non-bonded edge (not visible). The bonded edge of each of the containment flaps (14) is attached to the side edges (8) of the chassis (6) while the non-bonded edge remains unbound from the chassis (6) in at least the crotch region (3) of the diaper (1) ). The bonded edge of the containment flaps (14) can be attached to the chassis (6) by any means known in the art. For example, the fixed edge of the flaps (14) can be bonded to the chassis (6) ultrasonically, thermally or with an adhesive. In a particular aspect, the unattached edge of each of the containment flaps (14) remains unbound from the side edges (8) of the chassis (6) along substantially the full length of the unattached edge to improve performance. Each of the containment flaps (14) may also include at least one elongated elastic member (not visible) connected to the non-attached edge of the containment flap (14) and formed to hold the non-attached edge together and form a seal against the wearer's body during use. The containment flaps (14) can extend longitudinally along the full length of the chassis (6) or can extend along only a portion of the length of the chassis (6). When the containment flaps (14) are shorter than the length of the chassis (6), the containment flaps (14) can be selectively placed anywhere along the side edges (8) of the chassis (6). In a particular aspect of the invention, the containment flaps (14) extend along the full length of the chassis (6) to better hold the body exudates. Alternatively, the containment flaps (14) may be integral with the backsheet or the topsheet (5) of the chassis (6).

Each containment flap (14) is also formed such that the non-attached edge of the containment flaps (14) tends to position itself in the space of the chassis (6) to a generally straight and perpendicular configuration, especially in the crotch area (3) during use. The non-bonded edge of each containment flap (14) is desirably positioned away from the chassis (6) during use, thereby providing a barrier to the lateral flow of body secretions. Preferably, the non-bonded edge of each containment flap (14) remains in contact with the body of the wearer, while the chassis (6) may be positioned in the space away from the wearer's body during use. Typically, an elastic member is attached to the non-bonded edge of each containment flap (14) to keep the non-bonded edge in the space away from the chassis (6). For example, the elastic member can be attached to the non-bonded edge in an elastically contracted state such that the contraction of the elastic member holds or contracts and shortens the non-bonded edge of the inclusion flap (14).

The disposable diaper (1) of the various aspects of the present invention may further comprise elastics at the front and rear edges (9) (10) and the side edges (8) of the diaper (1) to further prevent leakage of body secretions and supporting the chassis (6).

FIG. 2 shows a diaper similar to FIG. 1, with the same components and the same dimensions and shape of the chassis (6), but the absorbent core (7B) has a different shape than in FIG. 1. The shape here consists of a general dog bone or hourglass configuration whereby the width of the absorbent core, measured along the transverse axis along the longitudinal axis, varies. The maximum width of the absorbent core is in the front and / or rear region of the absorbent article and the minimum width of the absorbent core measured in the crotch region of the absorbent article is smaller than the maximum width measured in the front region and in the rear region of the absorbent article. absorbent article. The absorbent core is shown here with the maximum width measured in the front area and the maximum width in the rear area being the same, although it is also possible that the largest width of the absorbent core is only in the front area or in the rear area, with a larger " lob "providing the front or rear area, respectively (not shown). For example, the maximum width of the absorbent core may be in the rear area of the absorbent article, resulting in a larger "lob" in the rear area. This is often used for absorbent articles, and especially diapers, which are used at night when the wearer is often lying on his back, resulting in a greater flow of bodily excretions to the rear area of the absorbent article. The provision of a larger "lob" in the absorbent core in the rear region helps in preventing unwanted leakage during such a scenario.

The width-to-length ratio of the absorbent core (7B) is determined by the ratio between the width (T7b, min) of the absorbent core measured in the transverse direction substantially in the middle of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction (L7b, max) and the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction (L7B, max), and according to this specific embodiment comprises a value of around 0.2.

FIG. 3 illustrates an absorbent article according to another embodiment of the present invention, here representing a disposable diaper (15).

Similar as for FIG. 1 and 2, the diaper (15) defines a front region (16), a rear region (18), and a crotch region (17) extending between and the front and rear regions (16) and (18). The diaper includes a longitudinal axis (L) conventionally selected in the front-to-rear direction of the article when reference is made to the article being worn and extends from the front region (16) through the crotch region (17) to the rear area (18). The diaper further comprises a transverse axis (T) perpendicular to the aforementioned longitudinal axis.

The diaper (15) comprises an absorbent chassis (19) defined by two side edges (22) along the longitudinal axis (L) and a front edge (23) and a rear edge (24) at the front (16) and rear area, respectively (18) of the diaper (15). The absorbent chassis (19) includes a backsheet (not visible), a topsheet (20) connected to the backsheet in a supported relationship, and an absorbent core (21A) positioned between the topsheet (20) and the backsheet. The topsheet (20) and the backsheet are generally joined together to form a bag in which the absorbent core (21A) is positioned to provide the absorbent chassis (19) using similar means as described above.

The chassis (19) according to this embodiment has a general dog bone or hourglass configuration, whereby the width of the chassis (19), being the distance between the two side edges (22) of the chassis (19) measured along the transversal axis (T) , varies along the longitudinal axis (L). The maximum width (Tig, max) of the chassis (19) is placed in the front area (16) and the rear area (18) of the absorbent article, and a minimum crotch width (Tig, max), defined by the minimum width of the chassis ( 19) measured in the crotch region (17) of the absorbent article, is smaller than the maximum width (Tig, max) of the chassis (19), thereby forming two front side panels (29) in the front region (16) and two rear side panels (28) in the rear area (18) of the absorbent article. Two fasteners (25) are attached to the rear side panels (28), one on each side panel (28). Preferably, the fastening means (25) comprise a hook portion adapted to be reversibly attached to a loop portion (not shown) located in the front area (16) of the diaper on the backsheet. The two front side panels (29) provide "grip" points and assist in positioning the front area (16) of the diaper (1) around the wearer's front waist.

The crotch width to length ratio of the chassis (19) is determined by the ratio between the minimum width (Tig, min) measured along the transverse axis (T) between the two side edges (22) of the chassis (19) and the maximum length (Lig, max) measured along the longitudinal axis (L) between the front edge (23) and the rear edge (24) of the chassis (19) and comprises a value of around 0.48 according to this specific embodiment.

The width-to-length ratio of the front or rear area of the chassis (19) is determined by the ratio between the maximum width (T19, max) measured along the transverse axis (T) between the two side edges (22) of the chassis (19) in the front (16) or rear area (18) of the absorbent article and the maximum length (Lig, max) measured along the longitudinal axis (L) between the front edge (23) and the rear edge (24) of the chassis and according to this specific embodiment comprises a value of around 0.66.

To improve the fit of the back area around the wearer's waist while using the diaper, a portion of the back area is made elastic (26; area indicated by 3 lines).

The absorbent core (21A) according to this embodiment comprises a general rectangular configuration along the longitudinal axis (L). The width-to-length ratio of the absorbent core (2IA) is determined by the ratio between the width (T2ia, min) of the absorbent core measured in the transverse direction substantially in the middle of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction (L2ia, max) and the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction (L2ia, max) and according to this particular embodiment comprises a value of around 0.3.

The diaper (15) may further comprise other elements such as leg elastics and / or containment flaps (27), similar as described above. It should be noted here that individual components of the diaper (15) may be optional depending on the intended use of the diaper (15).

FIG. 4 shows a diaper similar to FIG. 3, with the same components and the same dimensions and shape of the chassis (19), but the absorbent core (21B) has a different shape as in FIG. 3. The shape here comprises a general dog bone or hourglass configuration whereby the width of the absorbent core, measured along the transversal axis, varies along the longitudinal axis. The maximum width of the absorbent core is in the front and / or rear region of the absorbent article and the minimum width of the absorbent core measured in the crotch region of the absorbent article is smaller than the maximum width measured in the front region and in the rear region of the absorbent article. absorbent article. The absorbent core is shown here with the maximum width measured in the front area and the maximum width measured in the rear area being the same, although it is also possible that the largest width of the absorbent core is only in the front area or in the rear area, with a larger one "lob" providing in the front area or rear area, respectively (not shown).

The width-to-length ratio of the absorbent core (21B) is determined by the ratio between the width (T21B, min) of the absorbent core measured in the transverse direction substantially in the middle of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction (L21B, max) and the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction (L21B, max), and according to this specific embodiment comprises a value of around 0.3.

FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of the front area (16) of a diaper (15) corresponding to the diaper (15) of FIG. 3 with a rectangular absorbent core (21A; indicated by the dotted line), the fastening means (25) being attached to the rear side panels (28) of the rear area (18) being attached to the backsheet (29) on the front area (16) ) of the diaper (15), thereby providing two leg openings (30) close to the crotch region (17) through which the wearer's legs can be placed, as well as a waist opening (31) that accommodates the wearer's waist. Also visible is the topsheet (20) of the absorbent article.

Claims (13)

CONCLUSIONS A disposable absorbent article, suitable for use as a diaper, comprising a liquid impervious backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the topsheet, the backsheet and the absorbent core together forming a chassis of the absorbent article, the absorbent article comprises a front region, a rear region and an intermediate crotch region interconnecting the front region and the rear region, a longitudinal axis extending from the front region across the crotch region to the rear region, and a transverse axis extending across the is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein there are fasteners in the rear region of the absorbent article and a landing zone is in the front region of the absorbent article, and wherein the chassis comprises two side edges along the longitudinal axis, and a front edge and trailing edge in the front area and a rear region of the absorbent article wherein the chassis of the absorbent article in a flat-laid state comprises a width-to-length ratio determined by the ratio between the minimum width measured along the transversal axis between the two side edges of the chassis and the maximum length measured along the longitudinal axis between the front edge and the rear edge of the chassis, between 0.2 and 0.8, more preferably between 0.3 and 0.7, characterized in that the article comprises a front elastic in the front area and / or a rear elastic in the rear area wherein the aforementioned front and / or rear waist elastic is adapted to elastically stretch the front and / or rear area in at least the transverse direction, respectively. Absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the absorbent core comprises a width-to-length ratio determined by the ratio between the width of the absorbent core measured in the transversal direction substantially in the middle of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction and the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction, between 0.1 and 0.5, more preferably between 0.2 and 0.4. Absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the width of the chassis, being the distance between the two side edges of the chassis measured along the transversal axis, varies along the longitudinal axis, wherein the maximum width of the chassis is in the front area and the rear area of the absorbent article, and a minimum cross-width determined by the minimum width of the chassis measured in the crotch area of the absorbent article is smaller than the maximum width of the chassis, resulting in a chassis with a substantially dog bone or hourglass configuration along the longitudinal axis, thereby forming two front side panels in the front area and two rear side panels in the rear area of the absorbent article, the width-to-length ratio of the front or rear area determined by the ratio between the maximum width measured along the transverse axis between the two side edges of the chassis in the front or rear region of the absorbent article and the maximum length measured along the longitudinal axis between the front edge and the rear edge of the chassis, a value comprised between 0.5 and 0.9, more preferably between 0.6 and 0.8. Absorbent article according to claim 3, characterized in that the rear region and / or the fixing means are made at least partially elastic or comprise an elastic part. . Absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the width of the chassis, being the distance between the two side edges of the chassis measured along the transversal axis, remains substantially the same along the longitudinal axis, resulting in a chassis with a substantially rectangular configuration along the longitudinal axis. An absorbent article according to claim 5, characterized in that the absorbent article further comprises two elastic rear side panels that are attached to the side edges of the chassis in the rear region of the absorbent article, to which preferably the fastening means are attached. An absorbent article according to claim 6, characterized in that the absorbent article comprises two front side panels that are attached to the side edges of the chassis in the front region of the absorbent article. An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-7, characterized in that the absorbent core comprises a general dog bone configuration along the longitudinal axis. Absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-7, characterized in that the absorbent core comprises a general rectangular configuration along the longitudinal axis. Absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-9, characterized in that the absorbent article further comprises containment flaps and / or leg cuffs along the side edges of the chassis. Absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-10, characterized in that the fastening means comprise hook-and-loop fastening means. An absorbent core suitable for use in an absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-11, wherein said absorbent core comprises a width-to-length ratio determined by the ratio between the width of the absorbent core measured in the transversal direction substantially in the middle of the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction and the maximum length of the absorbent core measured in the longitudinal direction, between 0.1 and 0.5, more preferably between 0.2 and 0.4. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims 1-11, comprising at least the following steps: a. Providing the topsheet, the backsheet and the absorbent core; b. combining said topsheet, backsheet and absorbent core where the absorbent core is positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet; c. attaching other components comprising the front waist elastic and / or the rear waist elastic respectively to the front area and / or the rear area of the article.