Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31F—MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31F1/00—Mechanical deformation without removing material, e.g. in combination with laminating
  • B31F1/08—Creasing
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B3/00—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form
  • B32B3/26—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer
  • B32B3/28—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer characterised by a layer comprising a deformed thin sheet, i.e. the layer having its entire thickness deformed out of the plane, e.g. corrugated, crumpled
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/15577—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing
  • A61F13/15699—Forming webs by bringing together several webs, e.g. by laminating or folding several webs, with or without additional treatment of the webs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/15577—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing
  • A61F13/15707—Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
  • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
  • A61F13/51104—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin the top sheet having a three-dimensional cross-section, e.g. corrugations, embossments, recesses or projections
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
  • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
  • A61F13/5116—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin being formed of multiple layers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
  • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
  • A61F13/512—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/53—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium
  • A61F13/531—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having a homogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad
  • A61F13/532—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having a homogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad
  • A61F13/533—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having a homogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad having discontinuous areas of compression
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/53—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium
  • A61F13/534—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad
  • A61F13/537—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer
  • A61F13/53743—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer characterised by the position of the layer relative to the other layers
  • A61F13/53747—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer characterised by the position of the layer relative to the other layers the layer is facing the topsheet
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/53—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium
  • A61F13/534—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad
  • A61F13/537—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer
  • A61F13/5376—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer characterised by the performance of the layer, e.g. acquisition rate, distribution time, transfer time
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/53—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium
  • A61F13/539—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C53/00—Shaping by bending, folding, twisting, straightening or flattening; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C53/22—Corrugating
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C53/00—Shaping by bending, folding, twisting, straightening or flattening; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C53/22—Corrugating
  • B29C53/24—Corrugating of plates or sheets
  • B29C53/28—Corrugating of plates or sheets transverse to direction of feed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
  • B32B27/12—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B37/00—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
  • B32B37/14—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers
  • B32B37/144—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers using layers with different mechanical or chemical conditions or properties, e.g. layers with different thermal shrinkage, layers under tension during bonding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
  • B32B5/02—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer
  • B32B5/022—Non-woven fabric
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/53—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium
  • A61F13/534—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad
  • A61F13/537—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer
  • A61F2013/53765—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer characterized by its geometry
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2305/00—Condition, form or state of the layers or laminate
  • B32B2305/10—Fibres of continuous length
  • B32B2305/20—Fibres of continuous length in the form of a non-woven mat
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
  • B32B2307/70—Other properties
  • B32B2307/726—Permeability to liquids, absorption
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2555/00—Personal care
  • B32B2555/02—Diapers or napkins

Definitions

• the present invention is directed to corrugated laminates of two or more layers which can use among other materials films and nonwovens to form the laminates.
• the laminates have a wide variety of applications, including, but not limited to cover materials for personal care absorbent articles.
• Laminates are composite materials made from two or more layers or sheets of material which have been attached to one another.
• the resultant laminates can be used for a number of applications including for example, cover materials for personal care absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, feminine hygiene products such as sanitary napkins, incontinence devices, bandages and the like. All of these products typically include a body side liner or cover, an outer cover or backing sheet and an absorbent core disposed between the body side liner and the outer cover.
• Plastic films have the advantage that they are liquid impervious. As a result, they are commonly used as the outer cover material for such articles. If perforated or otherwise apertured, they can pass liquids thereby making them useable as body side liners for the same articles.
• Nonwovens generally by design are both liquid and gas permeable. As a result, when used as body side liners, they will readily pass body fluids such as urine and menses. If the pore structure of such nonwovens is made, for example, sufficiently small, the same nonwovens also tend to become resistant to liquid penetration and therefore can be used as outer cover materials as well.
• the present invention is directed to corrugated laminates of two or more layers of material.
• the laminates comprise a first sheet of material attached to a second sheet of material at one or more locations between the sheets which result in a plurality of generally parallel corrugations forming a series of peaks separated by a series of valleys.
• the laminate in the vicinity of the peaks has a first density and in the vicinity of the valleys has a second density with the second density being greater than the first density.
• the materials from which the first and second sheets may be formed vary widely and include, but are not limited to, films, wovens, nonwovens, foams and laminates of one or more of the foregoing materials.
• films, wovens, nonwovens, foams and laminates of one or more of the foregoing materials In order to obtain the density differential between the peaks and valleys of the laminate it is desirable that at least one of the materials be made from a compressible web which is capable of having its density changed.
• a fibrous nonwoven web is but one example of such a material.
• the laminate according to the present invention in addition to having a density differential, it is also possible to have a pore size differential in the laminate according to the present invention.
• the laminate in the vicinity of the peaks may have a first average pore size and in the vicinity of the valleys may have a second average pore size with the first average pore size being greater than the second average pore size.
• the size and spacing of the peaks and valley will vary depending upon the particular end use. Generally, however, the laminates will have spacing between adjacent peaks of from about 2 to about 7 millimeters and the vertical height of the laminate will range between about 0.5 and about 5 millimeters especially when such materials are being used in conjunction with personal care absorbent articles.
• Personal care absorbent articles include such products as diapers, feminine hygiene products including sanitary napkins and pantiliners, incontinence devices, training pants, bandages, wipes and the like. Typically these articles will have a design which will include a body side liner and an outer cover with an absorbent core disposed therebetween. Such articles will also typically have a longitudinal and a transverse axis with the longitudinal axis corresponding to the longer dimension of the product.
• the laminate of the present invention is particular well- suited for use as body side liner in such personal care absorbent articles.
• the corrugations act to distance the product from the user and to trap solid particulate matter in the valleys of the corrugations thereby providing enhanced comfort to the user.
• the corrugations can be positioned to be generally parallel to either or both the transverse and longitudinal axes of the product.
• the body side liner can be designed to have two side regions separated by a central region with the corrugations in the central region being generally perpendicular to the corrugations in the two side regions.
• the first and second layers of material are placed in generally face to face relationship and then at least one of the first or second layers is stretched. While in a stretche d state, the two layers are bonded together at spaced apart generally parallel bond lines to form the laminate. Once the bon ⁇ ing has taken place, the laminate is allowed to relax thereby forming a plurality of corrugations which include an alternating series of peaks and valleys with the laminate in the vicinity of the peaks having a first density and in the vicinity of the valleys having a second density with the second density being greater than the first density.
• the process can be varied as, for example, by deleting the stretching step and/or applying and adhesive between the first and second layers to further aid in the bonding.
• One apparatus used to form laminates according to the present invention includes a first geared tooth roll having a plurality of teeth about its periphery with these teeth" defining a first angle therebetween.
• This first geared tooth roll is designed to intermesh with a second geared tooth roll which also has a plurality of teeth about its periphery which define a second angle therebetween.
• the angles are designed such that the first angle of the teeth on the first roll are greater than the second angle of the teeth on the second roll.
• Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a nonwoven and film corrugated laminate according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a partial cut-away perspective view of a personal care absorbent article, in this case a sanitary napkin, which utilizes a nonwoven and film corrugated laminate according to the present invention as the body side liner of the personal care absorbent article.
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the personal care absorbent article of Figure 2 taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.
• Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a process for forming a nonwoven and film corrugated laminate according to the present invention.
• Figure 5 is a schematic side view of another process for forming a nonwoven and film corrugated laminate according to the present invention.
• Figure 6 is a partial side view of a pair of geared corrugating rolls which can be used in conjunction with the process shown in Figure 5.
• Figure 7 is a top plan view of a body side liner of a personal care absorbent product utilizing a laminate according to the present invention.
• Figure 8 is a top plan view of a body side liner of a personal care absorbent product utilizing a laminate according to the present invention.
• Figure 9 is a top plan view of a body side liner of a personal care absorbent product utilizing a laminate according to the present invention.
• Figure 10 is a top plan view of a body side liner of a personal care absorbent product utilizing a laminate according to the present invention.
• Figure 11 is a photomicrograph of the material according to the present invention as described in Example 1.
• Figure 12 is a photomicrograph of the.material according to the present invention as described in Example 2.
• FIG. 1 of the drawings there is shown a laminate 10 according to the present invention, including a first layer 12 and a second layer 14. While this is the most basic embodiment of the present invention, it should be appreciated that more complex embodiments can be made by adding additional layers (not shown) to the laminate 10 and these additional embodiments are also contemplated to fall within the scope of the present invention.
• Both the first layer 12 and the second layer 14 can be made from a wide variety of materials including but not limited to films and fibrous nonwoven webs as well as combinations of the two materials.
• the first layer 12 is a layer of film with a plurality of apertures 13 defined therein and the second layer 14 is shown as a layer of fibrous nonwoven web material
• other materials can be used for either or both the first layer 12 and the second layer 14. Examples of other materials include, but are not limited to, foams, tissues, coform materials and combinations of the forgoing materials.
• a body side liner for a personal care absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, it is desirable that at least one of the layers be a compressible web.
• a web which, when subjected to compression and/or bonding techniques, will have an increase in its density and a reduction in the average pore size of the structure in specified areas of the structure.
• Foams and fibrous structures such as wovens and nonwovens are particularly good examples of compressible webs.
• suitable nonwoven webs include, for example, air laid and wet laid " webs as well as bonded carded webs, all of which are typically made from staple length or shorter fibers.
• the fibers themselves may be natural or synthetic as well as a blend of fibers as is possible, for example, in coform materials.
• Synthetic fibers which are made from or include materials which are thermobondable have been found to work particularly well as they can be heat bonded to one another as well as to other fibers which is helpful when changing the density of the second layer as is required by the present invention.
• ulticonstituent and multicomponent fibers such as biconstituent and bicomponent fibers have been found to work particularly well.
• Nonwoven webs made from more continuous fibers such as spunbond fibers and meltblown fibers can also be used to form one or both of the layers of the present invention. These fibers also may be made from single and/or multiconstituent or multicomponent fibers.
• the films used with the present invention can be made in a wide variety of thicknesses and from a wide variety of polymers. If the laminate formed by the present invention is intended to pass liquids, the film should be provided with apertures or other pores of sufficient size so as to be able to pass liquids including body fluids such as blood, urine or menses. In addition, if desired, it is possible to make the film layer breathable, especially when the laminate is being used as an outer cover on a personal care absorbent article. Breathability can be imparted by, for example, using fillers in the film polymer formulation, extruding the filler/polymer formulation into a film and then stretching the film sufficiently to create voids around the filler particles, thereby making the film breathable.
• the film is to be bonded to a fibrous nonwoven layer, it may be desirable to make it from or design it such that it is heat bondable to the " other layer of the laminate.
• the two layers 12 and 14 are bonded to one another along a plurality of bond lines 16 in such a fashion that a plurality of longitudinal and/or transverse pleats or corrugations are formed in the laminate 10.
• These bond lines may be continuous or discontinuous and will be generally parallel to one another.
• generally parallel it is meant that the bond lines themselves or an extension of the bond lines will either not intersect or if they do intersect, the interior angle formed by the intersection will be less than or equal to 45 degrees.
• the areas 18 adjacent the bond lines 16 in the compressible fibrous nonwoven layer have an increased density as compared to the density of the portions 20 of the compressible web 14 intermediate the bond sites 16. This is because the fibers of the compressible web 14 are more tightly compacted in the areas 18 surrounding the bond lines 16. As a result, the material in these areas has a higher density and smaller pore sizes than the material in the areas 20 intermediate the bond lines 16.
• the laminate material 10 of the present invention can be used, for example, on a personal care absorbent article 40 as a body side liner 42 with the second layer 14 position adjacent an absorbent core 44 or some other internal component of the article 40.
• a personal care absorbent article 40 as a body side liner 42 with the second layer 14 position adjacent an absorbent core 44 or some other internal component of the article 40.
• Such articles 40 will also typically include some type of backing or outer cover 46 such as a plastic film or other generally liquid impervious material.
• a structure can be formed which will have less affinity for body fluids in the raised or convex areas 20 which are adjacent the wearer's skin and a higher affinity for the same fluid in the more densified areas 18 around the bond sites 16 where the fluid can then be transferred to the absorbent core 44.
• the laminate 10 has raised peaks separated by valleys with the raised areas or peaks being in vertical registry with the less dense areas 20 and the valleys being in vertical registry with the bond lines 16.
• the material is particularly well-suited for use as a liner on a sanitary napkin, incontinence device or other product designed to receive and absorb more viscous and/or particulate containing fluids such as is the case with blood, menses and feces. These materials which do not readily flow through the liner material can collect in the valleys which in turn distances these materials from the user's skin thereby providing improved dryness and comfort.
• one method and apparatus for forming materials according to the present invention involves stretching one of the two layers 12 and 14 in one direction prior to the bonding of the stretched layer to the non- stretched layer. Once the two layers have been bonded to one another the stretching or tensional forces can be relaxed thereby causing the composite to retract and corrugate or pleat.
• the nonwoven second layer 14 can be stretched in the machine direction and then bonded to the film layer 12.
• the film layer 12 can be stretched and then bonded to the unstretched fibrous nonwoven second layer 14.
• the first layer 12 which in this case for illustration purposes only is a film
• the second layer 14 which is a fibrous nonwoven web
• the second layer is unwound in such a fashion that as it comes into the bonding apparatus 34, it is in a stretched or tensioned condition. This can be accomplished, for example, by braking and/or driving the second unwind 32 at a speed which is less than the speed of the first unwind 30/first layer 12 and less than the rotational surface speed of the corrugated bonding roll 35 which is part of the bonding apparatus 34.
• the laminate By stretching one of the two layers in a direction transverse to the bond lines, the laminate will corrugate in between the bond lines 16 when the tension is released.
• the corrugated bonding roll 35 imparts bond lines which are transverse to the machine direction of the material.
• the corrugated bonding roll 35 can have its teeth running parallel to the machine direction of the apparatus in which case the stretching of one of the layers must be in the cross-machine direction.
• the bonding and corrugating apparatus 34 includes a corrugated or geared tooth bonding roll 35 and an ultrasonic horn 38.
• the ultrasonic horn is activated and as each of the raised tooth portions of the bonding- roll 35 comes in registry with the horn 38 bonding results whereas between the teeth no bonding takes place.
• a line of bonding is achieved between the first laye ' r 12 and the second layer 14 with the- nonwoven material being more densely compacted at the bond sites 16 and the areas 18 immediately surrounding the bond sites 16 as compared to the convex portions 20 intermediate the areas 18.
• an adhesive spray applicator 33 may be positioned between the two layers 12 and 14 to spray or otherwise apply a layer of adhesive to one or both the layers 12 and 14 prior to their entering the bonding apparatus 34.
• corrugations or pleats caused by stretching one of the first and second layers, bonding the layers together and then retracting the overall laminate.
• the corrugations or pleats increase the overall surface area per unit area of laminate 10 thereby making the laminate thicker and more bulky.
• FIG. 5 of the drawings A second process and apparatus for forming laminates 10 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. This process is similar to and run in the same manner as the process shown in Figure 4. As a result, like reference numerals are used for like elements. The main difference is in the bonding apparatus 34.
• the bonding apparatus 34 in Figure 4 includes a geared tooth bonding roll 35 and an ultrasonic horn 38.
• the ultrasonic horn 38 has been replaced with a second geared tooth bonding roll 36 which is designed to intermesh with the first geared tooth bonding roll 35.
• a second geared tooth bonding roll 36 which is designed to intermesh with the first geared tooth bonding roll 35.
• heat be applied to one or both of the webs either just before or during bonding. Consequently, one or both of the bonding rolls 35 and 36 may be heated to thermally bond the two layers of material together. If the bonding rolls are not heated, then a preheating of the webs must take place as with, for example, an infrared or through-air bonding apparatus 37 positioned just before the bonding apparatus 34.
• an adhesive spray applicator 33 may be positioned between the two layers 12 and 14 to spray or otherwise apply adhesive to one or both the layers 12 and 14 prior to their entering the bonding and corrugating apparatus 34.
• the first geared tooth bonding roll 35 has a plurality of teeth 50 which are designed to intermesh with the valleys 51 between the teeth 53 on the second geared tooth bonding roll 36.
• the apices 55 of each of the teeth 50 form and angle A while the valleys 51 between the teeth 53 of the bonding roll 36 form a second angle B.
• Angle A is designed to be greater than angle B.
• Variations to the two processes described above include imparting corrugations or pleats to the laminate by making one of the two layers from a heat retractable or heat shrinkable material.
• a heat retractable or heat shrinkable material examples include oriented films that are not heat set and elastomeric materials made from resins including, for example, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyolefins and polyacetates.
• the heat shrinkable layer is bonded to the other layer using one of the bonding mechanisms described above and, once bonded, the laminate is subjected to a sufficient amount of heat to cause the heat shrinkable layer to retract thereby causing the laminate to corrugate or pleat.
• either the first layer or the second layer can be made heat shrinkable. Care should be taken though that the amount of heat needed to effect shrinking does not destroy the bonding between the layers.
• Yet another means for imparting corrugations or pleats to the laminate involves stretching one of the layers and bonding it to the other layer with the other layer being made from a heat shrinkable material. Once the two layers are bonded, the tension in the stretched layer can be relaxed and heat can be applied to the laminate thereby providing two means within the same laminate for creating corrugations or pleats.
• FIG 8 of the drawings there is shown a body side liner 100 which has two side regions 102 and 104 separated by a central region 106.
• the central region 106 contains the corrugations while the side regions 102 and 104 are devoid of any corrugations.
• Figure 9 is the same as Figure 10 but for the fact that the corrugations in the central region 106 are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 110 and generally perpendicular to the transverse axis 112 whereas the corrugations in Figure 8 are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 110.
• generally perpendicular it is meant that the bonds lines or an extension thereof intersect at an interior angle which is greater than 45 degrees and less than or equal to 90 degrees.
• the body side liner 100 has corrugations in all regions 102, 104 and 106 with the corrugations in the central region 106 being generally perpendicular to the corrugations in the side regions 102 and 104.
• the direction of the corrugations in region 106 as compared to regions 102 and 104 can be reversed.
• the absorption time test indicates the intake rate for a material or laminate using of synthetic menstrual fluid.
• the composition of the synthetic menstrual fluid comprised, on a weight percent basis, approximately 82.5% water, 15.8% polyvinyl pyrrolidone and 1.7% salts, coloring agents, and surfactants. It has a viscosity of 17 centipoise and a surface tension of 53.5 dynes per centimeter.
• a 3 inch by 5 inch (7.6 cm by 12.7 cm) sample of the test material was placed on top of nonabsorptive surface and insulted with 10 cc of synthetic menstrual fluid delivered from a fluid reservoir having a 2 inch by 0.5 inch (5.1 cm by 1.3 cm) delivery slot.
• the block was marked with a level line to indicate when 8 of the 10 cc has been delivered.
• the time to absorb 8 cc of fluid was then measured in seconds.
• a lower absorption time as measured in seconds was an indication of a faster intake rate for a particular material.
• the values reported in the Examples were based upon an average of five samples.
• the thickness of the materials, including laminates, was measured using the Starrett Bulk test. Under this test a 12.7 x 12.7 centimeter sample of the material was compressed under a load of 0.05 pounds per square inch (3.5 grams per square centimeter) and the thickness was measured while under this load. Higher numbers indicate a thicker material. Five samples were measured for each material and then averaged. Values given are for the average.
• the method involves taking several representative cross sections of a laminate sample and photographing the fiber network of the cross section by image analysis.
• the Pore Size is determined by measuring the distance between the fibers as the image is scanned from bond line to bond line and is reported in millimeters.
• the Density Gradient is calculated by measuring the vertical height of several scan lines from bond line to bond line and dividing the basis weight by the measured height.
• a cut section of sample was placed face up in an embedding mold. Enough embedding medium was added to completely saturate and surround the sample. After curing, additional medium was added and cured where samples had floated, resulting in part of the sample not being fully embedded.
• Cured molds were trimmed with a belt sander to expose the sample and produce faces parallel to the Y-Z plane of the sample thereby providing a cross-sectional view of the sample. Thin sections were then cut with a microtome for mounting on glass microscope slides.
• Embedding medium LADD ultra low viscosity epoxy (use recommended formulation for a medium hardness block)
• Microscope slides 2" (50.8mm) x 3" (76.2mm) glass
• Exposure conditions transmitted illumination, dark field
• DOES SPACING VS DEPTH POSN OF NW MATERIAL
• COND 35 MM LENS; 65 CM POLE POSN; 4 FLOODS; ASTGE SPACER
• Image Frame is Rectangle ( X: 228, 84, W: 448,
• Live Frame is Rectangle ( X:X Y:Y W:W H:H
• Image Frame is Rectangle ( X: 204, Y: 118, W: 489, H:
• H : I.FRAME.H Detect 2D ( Lighter than 24, Delin PAUSE )
• Image Frame (Pause) is Rectangle ( X: 243, Y: 133, W: 415, H: 313, ) Place this frame accurately to bisect valley floors on either side of "corrugation.”
• Live Frame is Rectangle ( X:X , Y:Y , W:W , H:H
• Example 1 a film/nonwoven laminate was made in accordance with the above-described process shown in Figure 4.
• the base film was a 1 mil (0.00254 centimeter) thick low density polyethylene film containing 4 percent by weight titanium dioxide (Ti0 2 ) uniformly dispersed throughout the film.
• the film polymer was NA-206 low density polyethylene (LDPE) from Quantum, Inc. of Wallingford, Connecticut.
• LDPE low density polyethylene
• the Ti0 2 was in concentrate form and was obtained from the Ampacet Company of Mount Vernon, New York and designated 110313.
• the film once formed was mechanically apertured with approximately - 25 percent open area. The individual apertures were approximately 550 microns in diameter (equivalent circular diameter) . After aperturing the film thickness was approximately 0.015 inches (0.0381 cm).
• the compressible fibrous nonwoven web portion of the laminate was a bicomponent spunbond web having a basis weight of 34 grams per square meter (gsm) .
• the fibers were of a side-by-side construction with a fiber denier of 5 and a fiber diameter of 28.2 microns.
• the fibers included 50 percent by weight Exxon 3445 polypropylene from the Exxon Chemical Company of Darien, Connecticut and 50 percent by weight Dow grade 6811A polyethylene from the Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Michigan.
• the web was through air bonded at a temperature of 267'F (128*C) with a dwell time of less than one second.
• the web was treated, on a dry weight basis, with 0.4 percent Y12488 polyalkylene oxide-modified polydimethylsiloxane non-ionic surfactant wetting package based upon the total weight of the web.
• the surfactant was manufactured by OSi Specialties, Inc. of Danbury, Connecticut.
• the web had a thickness of 0.1524 cm.
• Such bicomponent webs can be made in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Patent No. 5,336,552 to Strack et al. which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• the film was fed into the bonding apparatus such that it was adjacent the geared tooth bonding roll and was traveling at approximately the same speed as the geared tooth bonding roll which had a rotational surface speed of 5 meters per minute (m/min) .
• the geared tooth bonding roll was not heated but was at ambient temperature which was approximately 20*C.
• the geared tooth bonding roll had a diameter of 6.173 inches (15.7 cm) as measured from tooth apex to tooth apex.
• the teeth had flat tops and vertical sides.
• the tooth width was 0.025 inches (0.635 mm). Vertical depth of the teeth was 0.254 centimeters and the tooth-to-tooth spacing was 0.18 inches (4.57 mm) (center line to center line).
• the ultrasonic horn assembly used in the bonding apparatus was manufactured by the Branson Ultrasonics Corporation of Danbury, Connecticut.
• the horn itself was a nine inch (23 cm) horn with a gold booster having a 1 to 1.5 gain ratio.
• the booster was connected to a model 900 actuator which was in turn connected to a model 900B 300 watt/20,000 Hz power supply.
• the horn was adjusted to 50 percent output.
• the nonwoven web was positioned adjacent the ultrasonic horn and was fed into the bonding apparatus at a speed which was approximately two thirds that of the bonding roll. As a result, the nonwoven web was stretched approximately 50 percent before it was bonded to the film layer. After the bonding step the laminate was withdrawn and allowed to relax thereby causing the laminate to corrugate.
• the laminate has reduced skin contact area on the film side due to the corrugation of the two materials.
• the overall height or thickness of the corrugations at their highest point averaged approximately l.l millimeters. Spacing between adjacent apices was approximately 4.5 millimeters and the spacing between adjacent bond lines was approximately 4.5 millimeters.
• This corrugated effect is perceived as being advantageous as it should allow for more air circulation and less contact with the skin which is important especially when the material is wet as with, for example, urine or menses.
• the spacing between the fibers is much more open with more interfiber spacing in the area adjacent the apices of the corrugations.
• the fiber spacing in the areas of the fibrous nonwoven web to either side of the bond lines is much closer thus creating a higher density fiber structure as compared to the above- described areas intermediate the bond lines. Consequently ,the nonwoven side can be seen as having two density zones, a low density zone at the apex of the corrugations approximately intermediate two adjacent bond lines and a higher density zone on either side of the bond lines.
• a density differential is formed between the top of the corrugations and the bottoms which also creates a pore size gradient which fosters fluid flow away from the tops of the corrugations which are most likely to be in closest proximity to the wearer's skin and toward the bond lines which are typically closer the additional absorbent material such as the absorbent core of a personal care absorbent article.
• Density measurements were taken of the laminate in accordance with the test procedures outlined above. Midway between the bond lines at the approximate apices of the corrugations the density of the nonwoven web portion of the laminate (it being assumed that there was little or no change in the density of the film layer) was 0.023 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc) while in the areas just adjacent the bond lines the density of the nonwoven was approximately 0.173 to 0 .2 36 g/cc based upon a ten sample average of the material of Example 1 . S ee Table l. As is also shown in Table 1, there is a gra d ual increase in density values from the apex in either direction to the areas adjacent the bond lines.
• the film nonwoven laminate of this example was tested for fluid handling performance using the intake time and rewet tests described above. Swatches of the laminate were cut and placed on top of a two layer absorbent core with the nonwoven side adjacent the absorbent to simulate the cover material of a personal care absorbent article, in this case a feminine pad or sanitary napkin. On the back side of the pad there was placed a layer of thermoplastic film.
• the top body side layer of the core was a 425 gsm fluff with a density of approximately 0.07 g/cc and the baffle side layer was a 470 gsm fluff with a density of approximately 0.094 g/cc.
• the baffle side layer was embossed with an acorn pattern.
• the fluid handling performance of the laminate material was compared to the identical components in a layered or ⁇ onlaminated state.
• the nonwoven and apertured film were separately cut and layered on top of the two layer absorbent core with the nonwoven material placed adjacent the absorbent core.
• the corrugated laminate material according to the present invention had an improved intake time and significantly reduced rewet compared to the identical layered structure.
• the fluid was absorbed into the feminine pad faster with less fluid rewet to the surface.
• This decreased rewet is believed to be due in part to the increased separation between the user and fluid absorbed in the absorbent core caused by the corrugations as can be seen from the significantly increased thickness of the corrugated laminate.
• the decreased rewet is also believed to be due to the density gradient that is created within each corrugation that transports and retains the fluid away from the user, thus allowing less fluid to rewet the surface.
• Example 2 a nonwoven/nonwoven laminate was made in the same manner and under the same conditions as the material in Example 1. The only difference was that the film layer was replaced with a 14 gram per square meter spunbond polypropylene web containing 4 percent by weight Ti0 2 , based upon the total weight of the fiber/web.
• the polypropylene resin was designated E5D47 and was obtained from the Shell Chemical Company.
• the Ti0 2 was obtained from the same supplier as in Example 1 and bore the designation 41438.
• the fibers from which the web were formed had a denier of 5 and a diameter of 28.2 microns. The web was thermally point bonded with an approximate bond area of 15 percent.
• the bond pattern consisted of a staggered row of diamond shaped bond points having equal length sides with a bond area of approximately 0.009 square inches (0.058 cm 2 ).
• the web was treated on a dry weight basis, based upon the total weight of the web, with 0.5 percent Triton X-102 nonionic surfactant from the Union Carbide Company of Sisterville, Virginia.
• the other nonwoven web was the same bicomponent spunbond web used in Example 1.
• the two webs were fed into the appar-atus in the same manner in Example 1 with the 14 gsm polypropylene spunbond web adjacent the geared tooth bonding roll and the ultrasonic horn set at 60 percent power.
• the resultant laminate in shown in cross-section in the photograph of Figure 8 of the drawings.
• the overall height of the corrugations at their highest point averaged approximately 2 millimeters. Spacing between adjacent apices was approximately 4 millimeters and the spacing between adjacent bond lines was approximately 4 millimeters. Once again, this corrugated effect is perceived as being advantageous as it should allow for more air circulation and less contact with the skin. As with the laminate in Example 1 the spacing between the fibers was much more open with more interfiber spacing in the areas adjacent the apices of the corrugations. Conversely, the fiber spacing in the areas of the fibrous nonwoven web to either side of the bond lines was much closer thus creating a higher density fiber structure as compared to the above-described areas intermediate the bond lines.
• the laminate can be seen as having two density zones, a low density zone at the apex of the corrugations approximately intermediate two . adjacent bond sites and a higher density zone on either side of the bond lines.
• a density differential is formed between the top of the corrugations and the bottoms which also creates a pore size gradient which fosters fluid flow away from the tops of the corrugations which are most likely to be in closest proximity to the wearer's skin and toward the bond lines which are typically closer the additional absorbent material such as the absorbent core of a personal care absorbent article.
• Density measurements were taken of the laminates in accordance with the test procedures outlined above and are reported in Table 1. Midway between the bond lines at the approximate apices of the corrugations the density of the laminate was 0.017 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc) while in the -areas just adjacent the bond lines the density of the laminate was approximately 0.15 to 0.20 g/cc based upon a ten sample average of the material of Example 2.
• Pore size measurement were also taken of the laminate in accordance with the test procedures outlined above. Midway between the bond lines at the approximate apices of the corrugations the pore size of the laminate was approximately 0.98 mm in size while in the areas just adjacent the bond lines the pore size was approximately 0.26 to 0.31 mm based upon a ten sample average of the material in Example 2. See Table 2 above.
• the nonwoven/nonwoven laminate of this example was tested for fluid handling performance using the intake time and rewet tests described above.
• the laminate materials were prepared and tested similarly to the procedure described in Example 1.
• the bicomponent spunbond web was placed adjacent the absorbent core.
• the fluid handling performance of the laminate material was compared relatively to the identical material components in a layered or nonlaminated state.
• each nonwoven material was separately cut and layered on top of the two layer absorbent core with the bicomponent spunbond material placed adjacent the absorbent core.
• Table 4 The results of the testing are given in the Table 4 below:
• the corrugated laminate material had a improved intake time and significantly reduced rewet value, again demonstrating the positive effect of the corrugations on fast fluid intake and reduced rewet.
• the significant rewet reduction was achieved without a corresponding significant increase in thickness. This is believed to demonstrate the importance of the density gradient imparted in the bicomponent nonwoven web that transports fluid away from the user and towards the absorbent core which enhances the separation between the body side surface and absorbent and minimizes fluid rewet.
• the corrugated laminates have improved fluid intake and rewet performance compared to identical noncorrugated materials. This is believed to correlate with the desirable in-use benefits of faster menses absorption and a drier feeling surface.
• the corrugations are important to these in-use benefits as they increase the separation between the user and the fluid in the absorbent core and minimize the amount of material in contact with the user.
• the density differential and resulting pore size differential between the top and bottom of the corrugations provide the user with a sanitary napkin that readily absorbs menses and maintains a clean and dry feeling body side surface.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=23977804

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (44)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 1996
  • 1996-06-21 EP EP96923360A patent/EP0846056A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-06-21 WO PCT/US1996/010667 patent/WO1997002133A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-06-21 CN CN96196389A patent/CN1200074A/zh active Pending
  • 1996-06-21 AU AU63890/96A patent/AU6389096A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-06-21 CA CA002222444A patent/CA2222444A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-06-21 KR KR1019970709846A patent/KR19990028528A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-06-21 BR BR9609747-7A patent/BR9609747A/pt unknown
  • 1996-06-28 ZA ZA9605526A patent/ZA965526B/xx unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events