EP0967949A2 - Articles absorbants a lisieres renfermant des compositions de soin de la peau - Google Patents

Articles absorbants a lisieres renfermant des compositions de soin de la peau

Info

Publication number
EP0967949A2
EP0967949A2 EP97950824A EP97950824A EP0967949A2 EP 0967949 A2 EP0967949 A2 EP 0967949A2 EP 97950824 A EP97950824 A EP 97950824A EP 97950824 A EP97950824 A EP 97950824A EP 0967949 A2 EP0967949 A2 EP 0967949A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
skin care
care composition
skin
cuff
diaper
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP97950824A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Donald Carroll Roe
Thomas Edward Schulte
Laura Graves Spalding Vanrijswijck
Gretchen Louise Elder
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/766,386 external-priority patent/US6156024A/en
Priority claimed from US08/962,310 external-priority patent/US6166285A/en
Priority claimed from US08/962,312 external-priority patent/US6120488A/en
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Publication of EP0967949A2 publication Critical patent/EP0967949A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • 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
    • A61F13/45—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 shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A61F13/494—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers characterised by edge leakage prevention means
    • 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
    • A61F13/45—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 shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A61F13/494—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers characterised by edge leakage prevention means
    • A61F13/49406—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers characterised by edge leakage prevention means the edge leakage prevention means being at the crotch region
    • 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
    • A61F13/45—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 shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A61F13/494—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers characterised by edge leakage prevention means
    • A61F13/49466—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers characterised by edge leakage prevention means the edge leakage prevention means being at the waist region
    • 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
    • A61F13/84—Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads
    • A61F13/8405—Additives, e.g. for odour, disinfectant or pH control
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K8/00—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations
    • A61K8/02—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K8/0208—Tissues; Wipes; Patches
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
    • A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
    • A61L15/22—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons containing macromolecular materials
    • A61L15/34—Oils, fats, waxes or natural resins
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
    • A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
    • A61L15/40—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons containing ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof, e.g. plant or animal extracts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61Q—SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS
    • A61Q19/00—Preparations for care of the skin
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K2800/00—Properties of cosmetic compositions or active ingredients thereof or formulation aids used therein and process related aspects
    • A61K2800/74—Biological properties of particular ingredients
    • A61K2800/75—Anti-irritant

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinence devices, sanitary napkins, feminine garments, and the like, having cuffs, including elastic leg cuffs. More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent articles having a skin care composition disposed on the cuffs or the cuffs and the topsheet that is transferable to the wearer's skin by normal contact and/or wearer motion and/or body heat.
  • the skin care compositions disclosed in the present invention are selected to maintain and/or improve the skin health of the wearer upon transfer during use, for example, to provide a skin protective barrier or a therapeutic benefit; to minimize the abrasion between the cuffs and skin in the area where the cuffs contact the wearer's skin, resulting in less red marking or skin irritation; to improve BM clean up on the skin, or to improve the barrier properties of the cuffs.
  • absorbent articles such as disposable diapers and incontinent briefs or undergarments
  • Such articles are thus intended to prevent body exudates from soiling, wetting, or otherwise contaminating clothing or other articles, such as bedding, that come in contact with the wearer.
  • the most common mode of failure for such products occurs when body exudates leak out of the gaps between the article and the wearer's legs or waist to adjacent clothing because they are not immediately absorbed within the article and the absorbent article is not able to sustain a good fit on the wearer such that gaps are created allowing the exudates to leak out of the article.
  • urine tends to be deposited onto the topsheet in gushes such that the urine migrates to the gaps between the article and the wearer where it can come in contact with clothing or other articles and be absorbed by these articles.
  • loose fecal material that is not easily absorbed by the absorbent article tends to "float" on the body-contacting surface and work its way past the gaps between the article and the legs or waist of the wearer.
  • Contemporary disposable diapers have a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core, and one or more cuffs, typically elastic cuffs, positioned to contact the legs and/or waist of the wearer.
  • These elastic cuffs prove effective generally to prevent wicking and overflow from the fluid laden diaper to clothing contacting the edges of the diaper in that the elastic cuffs present a barrier between the edge of the diaper and the contacting clothing, and generally in addition, provide a gasketing action about the legs or waist of the wearer to maintain a seal about the leg or waist and minimize gapping.
  • the forces generated by the elastic members are concentrated along a narrow area resulting in high localized pressures, such elastic cuffs have an increased tendency to indent and mark the skin of the wearer.
  • Mineral oil also known as liquid petrolatum
  • Mineral oil is a mixture of various liquid hydrocarbons obtained by distilling the high-boiling (i.e., 300°- 390°C) fractions in petroleum.
  • Mineral oil is liquid at ambient temperatures, e.g. 20°-25 °C.
  • mineral oil is relatively fluid and mobile when applied to diapers. Because mineral oil is fluid and mobile at ambient temperatures, it tends not to remain localized on the surface of the diaper, but instead migrates into the interior of the diaper. Accordingly, relatively high levels of mineral oil need to be applied to the diaper to provide the desired therapeutic or protective coating benefits. This leads not only to increased costs for these treated diaper products, but other detrimental effects as well, including decreased absorbency of the underlying absorbent core.
  • the tendency of mineral oil to migrate once applied has other detrimental effects.
  • the applied mineral oil can transfer to, into and through the packaging or wrapper material for the treated diaper product. This can create the need for barrier-type packaging or wrapper films to avoid smearing or other leakage of mineral oil from the diaper product.
  • U.S. Patent 3,489,148 to Duncan, et al. teaches a baby diaper comprising a hydrophobic and oleophobic topsheet wherein a portion of the topsheet is coated with a discontinuous film of oleaginous material.
  • a major disadvantage of the diapers disclosed in the Duncan et al. reference is that the hydrophobic and oleophobic topsheets are slow in promoting transfer of urine to the underlying absorbent cores.
  • the prior art has failed to recognize the skin care detriments caused by the use of cuffs, nor of a way to treat the cuffs so that skin care compositions disposed thereon remain on the cuff and transfer to the wearer's skin in an effective amount to provide a skin care benefit.
  • the prior art has also failed to recognize that treatment of an article's topsheet alone does not necessarily transfer the composition to all critical regions of the wearer's skin.
  • an absorbent article having cuffs wherein a skin care composition is disposed on the cuffs to provide improved skin care benefits, particularly in skin regions in contact with the wearer during use.
  • the skin care composition' must be transferable to the wearer's skin to provide these skin benefits, as well as not inhibiting the functionality of the cuff in the product.
  • diaper products or other absorbent articles having one or more cuffs with a skin care composition disposed thereon that: (1) have desirable therapeutic or protective coating benefits; and/or (2) do not require relatively high levels of skin care compositions that are liquid at room temperature (e.g., mineral oil); and/or (3) do not adversely affect the absorbency of the diaper product; and/or (4) do not necessarily require special wrapping or barrier materials for packaging.
  • the present invention relates to an absorbent article, such as a disposable diaper, having one or more cuffs with a skin care composition disposed on (applied or migratable to) the body surface of the cuffs.
  • a skin care composition disposed on (applied or migratable to) the body surface of the cuffs.
  • the skin care compositions useful herein are readily transferable to the wearer's skin by way of normal contact, wearer motion, and/or body heat.
  • the skin care composition Upon transfer to the skin, the skin care composition provides desirable therapeutic and/or protective coating benefits resulting in less red marking, erythema, diaper rash, skin irritation, and/or reducing the adherence of BM to the skin of the wearer, thereby improving the ease of BM clean up.
  • the skin care compositions described herein can also increase the containment/barrier properties of the cuffs, thereby improving their leakage protection.
  • Such a hydrophobic skin care composition particularly allows for flexibility in cuff designs using nonwoven materials by providing an alternate method to achieve the desired containment/barrier properties. This can lead to reduced material costs.
  • leg cuffs including barrier cuffs, gasketing cuffs, combinations and variations thereof; transverse barriers and pockets/spacers; side panels; as well as waist cuffs including waist flaps, waistbands, waistcaps, and unitary waistcap/waistbands; and combinations of all or some of these cuffs.
  • the skin care compositions described herein provide a protective and or a therapeutic benefit upon transfer to the wearer's skin, including reducing erythema and/or diaper rash.
  • the skin care composition may also act to minimize the abrasion between the cuffs and skin in the area where the cuffs contact the wearer's skin, resulting in less redmarking and/or skin irritation.
  • the protective coating on the wearer's skin may reduce the adherence of BM to the skin, thereby improving the ease of BM cleanup.
  • skin care compositions useful in the present invention preferably have a melting profile such that they are relatively immobile and localized on the cuffs at room temperature, are transferable to the wearer at body temperature, and yet are not completely liquid under extreme storage conditions. In such embodiments, less skin care composition is needed to impart the desired skin care benefits. In addition, special barrier or wrapping materials may not be necessary in packaging the treated products of the present invention.
  • an absorbent article of the present invention will comprise a skin care composition disposed on (applied or migratable to) the cuffs and the topsheet.
  • Applicants have discovered that such preferred articles increase transfer of the composition to the wearer's skin, resulting in increased therapeutic and/or protective benefits discussed herein.
  • increased transfer will be realized as increased skin coverage (i.e., area of skin) and/or the amount of composition transferred to a given area of skin.
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of a disposable diaper embodiment of the present invention having portions cut away to reveal underlying structure.
  • Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along section line 2 - 2 of Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along section line 3 - 3 of Figure 1.
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of an absorbent article in the form of a disposable diaper according to the present invention.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic representation illustrating a preferred process for applying the composition of the present invention to diaper barrier cuffs.
  • Figure 6 is a schematic representation illustrating an alternative process for applying the composition of the present invention to diaper barrier cuffs.
  • Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a further alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 9 is a plan view of a still further alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an even still further alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 11 is a fragmentary coronal view showing a sanitary napkin of the present invention and a panty in place on a user.
  • the term “comprising” means that the various components, ingredients, or steps, can be conjointly employed in practicing the present invention. Accordingly, the term “comprising” encompasses the more restrictive terms “consisting essentially of and “consisting of.”
  • skin care composition refers to any composition which comprises one or more agents which, when transferred from an article to a wearer's skin, provide a therapeutic and/or protective skin benefit. Representative materials are discussed in detail below.
  • absorbent article refers to devices which absorb and contain body exudates, and more specifically, refers to devices which are placed against the skin of a wearer to absorb and contain the various exudates discharged from the body.
  • dispenser is used herein to describe absorbent articles which are not intended to be laundered or otherwise restored or reused as an absorbent article after a single use. Examples of disposable absorbent articles include feminine hygiene products such as sanitary panties, sanitary napkins, and pantiliners; diapers; incontinence products such as briefs or undergarments; diaper holders; diaper inserts; pull-on diapers and training pants; and the. like.
  • Disposable absorbent articles typically comprise a chassis comprising an outer covering layer comprising a liquid pervious topsheet and a liquid impervious backsheet joined to the topsheet, and an absorbent core encased within the outer covering layer, preferably being positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet.
  • Disposable absorbent articles and components thereof, including the topsheet, backsheet, absorbent core, and any individual layers of these components, have two major surfaces (a first surface and a second surface) generally designated a body surface and a garment surface.
  • body surface (also referred to as the body-contacting surface or skin- contacting surface) means that surface of the article or component which is intended to be worn toward or adjacent to the body of the wearer, while the “garment surface” is on the opposite side that faces away from the wearer and is oriented toward the wearer's garments when the disposable absorbent article is worn.
  • the absorbent core is capable of absorbing or retaining liquids (e.g., menses, urine, and/or other body exudates).
  • the absorbent core is preferably compressible, conformable, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin.
  • the absorbent core may be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes (e.g., rectangular, oval, hourglass, "T" shaped, dog bone, symmetric, asymmetric, etc.).
  • the absorbent core may include any of a wide variety of liquid-absorbent materials commonly used in absorbent articles, such as comminuted wood pulp, which is generally referred to as airfelt.
  • the configuration and construction of the absorbent core may also be varied (e.g., the absorbent core may have varying caliper zones and/or have a profile so as to be thicker in the center; hydrophilic gradients; gradients of the absorbent composite, e.g., superabsorbent gradients; lower average density and lower average basis weight zones, e.g., acquisition zones; or may comprise one or more layers or structures).
  • the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core should, however, be compatible with the design loading and the intended use of the absorbent article.
  • the size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent core may be varied to accommodate different uses such as diapers, incontinence pads, training pants, pantiliners, regular sanitary napkins, and overnight sanitary napkins, and to accommodate wearers ranging from infants to adults.
  • the absorbent core can include other absorbent components that are often used in absorbent articles, for example, a dusting layer, a wicking or acquisition layer (surge management layer), or a secondary topsheet for increasing the wearer's comfort.
  • a dusting layer for example, a dusting layer, a wicking or acquisition layer (surge management layer), or a secondary topsheet for increasing the wearer's comfort.
  • the topsheet is preferably compliant, soft feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. Further, the topsheet is liquid pervious, at least in certain regions, and permits liquids (e.g., menses and/or urine) to readily penetrate through its thickness.
  • a suitable topsheet may be manufactured from a wide range of materials such as woven and nonwoven materials (e.g., a nonwoven web of fibers), including apertured nonwovens; polymeric materials such as apertured formed thermoplastic films, apertured plastic films, and hydroformed thermoplastic films; porous foams; reticulated foams; reticulated thermoplastic films; and thermoplastic scrims.
  • Suitable woven and nonwoven materials can be comprised of natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (e.g., polymeric fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene fibers), bicomponent fibers, or from a combination of natural and synthetic fibers.
  • the topsheet comprises a nonwoven web
  • the web may be manufactured by a wide number of known techniques. For example, the web may be spunbonded, carded, wet-laid, melt- blown, hydroentangled, hydroformed, hydroapertured, combinations of the above, or the like.
  • the backsheet is preferably impervious to liquids (e.g., menses and/or urine), at least in the crotch region of the absorbent article, and is preferably manufactured from a thin plastic film, although other flexible liquid impervious materials may also be used.
  • liquids e.g., menses and/or urine
  • the term "flexible” refers to materials which are compliant and will readily conform to the general shape and contours of the human body.
  • the backsheet prevents the exudates absorbed and contained in the absorbent core from wetting articles which contact the absorbent article such as bedsheets, pants, pajamas and undergarments.
  • the backsheet may thus comprise a woven or nonwoven material, polymeric films such as thermoplastic films of polyethylene or polypropylene, or composite materials such as a coated nonwoven or a film-coated nonwoven material.
  • a suitable backsheet is a polyethylene film having a thickness of from about 0.012 mm (0.5 mil) to about 0.051 mm (2.0 mils).
  • Exemplary polyethylene films are manufactured by Clopay Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio, under the designation PI 8- 1401 and by Tredegar Film Products of Terre Haute, Indiana, under the designation XP-39385.
  • the backsheet is preferably embossed and/or matte finished to provide a more clothlike appearance.
  • the backsheet may permit vapors to escape from the absorbent core (i.e., the backsheet is breathable) while still preventing exudates from passing through the backsheet.
  • the backsheet is breathable
  • the size of the backsheet is dictated by the size of the absorbent core and the exact absorbent article design selected.
  • the backsheet and the topsheet are positioned adjacent the garment surface and the body surface, respectively, of the absorbent core.
  • the absorbent core is preferably joined with the topsheet, the backsheet, or both in any manner as is known by attachment members such as those well known in the art. However, embodiments of the present invention are envisioned wherein portions of the entire absorbent core are unattached to either the topsheet, the backsheet, or both.
  • the backsheet and/or the topsheet may be secured to the absorbent core or to each other, for example, by a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive, or an array of separate lines, spirals, or spots of adhesive.
  • Adhesives which have been found to be satisfactory are manufactured by H. B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minnesota under the designation HL-1258 or H-2031.
  • the attachment members will preferably comprise an open pattern network of filaments of adhesive as is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,573,986, issued to Minetola, et al. on March 4, 1986, and which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • An exemplary attachment means of an open pattern network of filaments comprises several lines of adhesive filaments swirled into a spiral pattern such as illustrated by the apparatus and method shown in U.S. Patent 3,911,173 issued to Sprague, Jr. on October 7, 1975; U.S. Patent 4,785,996 issued to Zwieker, et al. on November 22, 1978; and U.S. Patent 4,842,666 issued to Werenicz on June 27, 1989.
  • the attachment means may comprise heat bonds, pressure bonds, ultrasonic bonds, dynamic mechanical bonds, or any other suitable attachment means or combinations of these attachment means as are known in the art.
  • a preferred disposable absorbent article in which the "treated cuffs" ("treated cuffs” being used herein to designate cuffs having one or more skin care compositions disposed thereon) of the present invention may be used is a diaper.
  • the term “diaper” refers to an absorbent article generally worn by infants and incontinent persons that is worn about the lower torso of the wearer. In other words, the term “diaper” includes infant diapers, training pants, adult incontinence devices, and the like.
  • the present invention is also applicable to other types of disposable products such as sanitary napkins and pantiliners that contain cuffs.
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a diaper 20 of the present invention in its flat-out, uncontracted state (i.e., with all elastic induced contraction pulled out) with portions of the structure being cut away to more clearly show the construction of the diaper 20 and with the portion of the diaper 20 which contacts the wearer (the body surface) facing the viewer.
  • the diaper 20 is shown in Figure 1 to have a front waist region 22, a back waist region 24, a crotch region 26, and a periphery which is defined by the outer edges of the diaper in which the longitudinal edges are designated 30 and the end edges are designated 32.
  • the diaper 20 additionally has a lateral centerline which is designated 34 and a longitudinal centerline which is designated 36.
  • the diaper 20 comprises a chassis comprising (i) an outer covering layer comprising a liquid pervious topsheet 38 and a liquid impervious backsheet 42, and (ii) an absorbent core 44 having side edges 46; a fastening system preferably comprising a pair of tape-tab fasteners 54 and a landing member 55; gasketing cuffs 56 each comprising a side flap 58 and flap elastic members 60; barrier cuffs 62 comprising a barrier cuff member 63 having a proximal edge 64, a distal edge 66, and ends 74; and spacing means such as a spacing elastic member 76 for spacing the distal edge 66 away from the topsheet.
  • the diaper 20 additionally comprises closure members 78 for securing closed the ends 74 of each barrier cuff 62. While the components of the diaper may be assembled in a variety of well known configurations, a preferred diaper configuration is described generally in U.S. Patent 4,695,278 issued to Lawson on September 22, 1987, and which patent is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 in which the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42 are coextensive and have length and width dimensions generally larger than those of the absorbent core 44.
  • the topsheet 38 is joined with and superposed on the backsheet 42 to thereby form the periphery of the diaper 20.
  • the diaper 20 has front and back waist regions 22 and 24 extending, respectively, from the end edges 32 of the periphery toward the lateral centerline 34 of the diaper 20.
  • the waist regions comprise those portions of the diaper 20 which, when worn, encircle the waist of the wearer.
  • the crotch region 26 is that portion of the diaper 20 between the waist regions and comprises that portion of the diaper 20 which, when worn, is positioned between the legs of the wearer and covers the lower torso of the wearer.
  • a skin care composition 72 is disposed on each barrier cuff 62.
  • the skin care composition 72 is preferably disposed on the body surface of the barrier cuff so that the skin care composition may readily transfer to the wearer's skin during use.
  • the skin care composition 72 is disposed adjacent the distal edge 66, preferably at least in the crotch region 26. More preferably, the skin care composition 72 is disposed on the distal edge 66.
  • the barrier cuff 62 most preferably comprises one or more stripes of skin care composition 72 disposed thereon. In the embodiment shown, the skin care composition 72 is disposed on only a segment of the barrier cuff 62.
  • the skin care composition 72 is not disposed adjacent the end of the spacing elastic member 76 in the front waist region (although it may alternatively also not be disposed adjacent the end in the back waist region).
  • the skin care composition may alternatively be applied to the garment surface of the barrier cuff and allowed to "transfer through” to the body surface so as to enhance the hydrophobicity of the barrier cuffs as well as to be disposed on the body surface so as to provide the skin care benefits. Further, the skin care composition may be applied to other portions of the barrier cuff, the entire barrier cuff, the spacing elastic members, or any other component of the barrier cuff. The skin care composition may also be disposed in any pattern, including discontinuous or continuous patterns, or in any amount as discussed hereinafter.
  • the diaper 20 is shown in Figure 2 to have a garment surface 86 and a body surface 84 opposed to the garment surface 86.
  • the body surface 84 of the diaper 20 comprises that portion of the diaper 20 which is positioned adjacent to the wearer's body during use (i.e., the body surface 84 generally is formed by at least a portion of the topsheet 38 and other components including those that may be joined to the topsheet 38).
  • the garment surface 86 comprises that portion of the diaper 20 which is positioned away from the wearer's body during use (i.e., the garment surface 86 generally is formed by at least a portion of the backsheet 42 and other components including those that may be joined to the backsheet 42).
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2—2 of Figure 1 and depicts the diaper construction in the back waist region 24 of the diaper 20.
  • the absorbent core comprises an absorbent layer 48 that is shown as being completely enveloped by tissue layers 50 and 52.
  • the absorbent core 44 is disposed between the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42; both the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42 extend beyond the side edge 46 of the absorbent core 44 to define the side flap 58.
  • the juxtaposed areas of the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42 are secured together preferably by a flap attachment member 88 such as an adhesive.
  • the flap elastic members do not extend into the back waist region 24 so that the gasketing cuff is not formed in this region.
  • the barrier cuff 62 is shown as comprising a separate element, a barrier cuff member 63, secured to the topsheet 38; the proximal edge 64 being formed by securing the barrier cuff member 63 to the topsheet 38 by proximal securement member 92.
  • the garment surface 68 of the barrier cuff 62 (also referred to as the barrier cuffs inboard surface) is secured to the body surface 40 by the closure member 78. Therefore, the distal edge 66 is closed, (i.e., it is not spaced away from the body surface 40).
  • the spacing elastic member is not disposed in this region because the distal edge 66 is not designed to be spaced away from the body surface 40 in the waist regions. Therefore, the barrier cuff 62 is not open nor ready to constrain the flow of body exudates in this region.
  • the skin care composition also is preferably not disposed on the barrier cuff in the back waist region in this particular embodiment.
  • FIG 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3—3 of Figure 1 and depicts the diaper construction in the crotch region 26 as it is shaped before being applied to the wearer (i.e., the diaper 20 is subjected to elastic contraction).
  • the absorbent core 44 comprises the absorbent layer 48 that is shown as being completely enveloped by the tissue layers 50 and 52.
  • the absorbent core 44 is disposed between the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42; both the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42 extend beyond the side edge 46 of the absorbent core 44 to define the side flap 58.
  • the juxtaposed areas of the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42 are secured together preferably by a flap attachment member 88 such as an adhesive.
  • the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42 also enclose the flap elastic members 60 adjacent the longitudinal edge 30.
  • the flap elastic members 60 are secured in the topsheet-backsheet formed side flap 58 preferably by elastic attachment members 90.
  • the elastically contractible gasketing cuff 56 is thereby formed by the side flap 58 and the flap elastic members 60.
  • the gasketing cuff has a body surface 57 oriented toward the skin of the wearer when the diaper is worn, and a garment surface 59 opposed to the body surface 57.
  • the barrier cuff 62 is shown as being formed by securing a separate element, barrier cuff member 63, to the topsheet 38 preferably between the flap elastic members 60 and the side edge 46 of the absorbent core 44.
  • the proximal edge 64 of the barrier cuff 62 is formed by securing the barrier cuff member 63 to the topsheet 38 by the proximal securement member 92.
  • the spacing elastic member 76 is enclosed in a tunnel that is formed when an end of the barrier cuff member 63 is folded back upon itself; the spacing elastic member 76 being secured in the tunnel by elastic attachment members 94.
  • the distal edge 66 of the barrier cuff is spaced away from the body surface 40 by the elastic gathering action of the spacing elastic member 76.
  • the barrier cuff 62 is shown as being ready to restrain, contain and hold body exudates until the diaper 20 is removed from the wearer.
  • the skin care composition 72 is shown in Figure 3 as being disposed on the body surface 70 of the barrier cuff 62 (the barrier cuff element 63) so that the skin care composition 72 may be transferred to the skin of the wearer during use.
  • Diapers of the present invention can have a number of well known configurations, with the absorbent cores thereof being adapted to the present invention. Exemplary configurations are described generally in U.S. Patent 3,860,003 issued to Buell on January 14, 1975; U.S. Patent 5,151,092 issued to Buell et al. on September 29, 1992; U.S. Patent 5,580,411 issued to Nease, et al. on December 3, 1996; U.S. Patent 5,569,232 issued to Roe, et al. on October 29, 1996; and U.S. Patent 5,569,234 issued to Buell, et al. on October 29, 1996. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the chassis of the diaper is shown in the drawings as comprising the main body portion (containment assembly) of the diaper.
  • the chassis comprises at least an absorbent core and preferably an outer covering layer comprising the topsheet and the backsheet.
  • the chassis generally comprises the holder and the liner (i.e., the chassis comprises one or more layers of material to define the holder while the liner comprises an absorbent composite such as a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core.)
  • the chassis comprises the main structure of the diaper with other features added to form the composite diaper structure; thus, the chassis for the diaper comprises the topsheet, the backsheet, and the absorbent core.
  • a topsheet 38 which is particularly suitable for use in the diaper 20, is carded and thermally bonded by means well known to those skilled in the fabrics art.
  • a satisfactory topsheet for the present invention comprises staple length polypropylene fibers having a denier of about 2.2
  • staple length fibers refers to those fibers having a length of at least about 15.9 mm (0.625 inches).
  • the topsheet has a basis weight from about 14 to about 25 grams per square meter.
  • a suitable topsheet is manufactured by Veratec, Inc., a Division of International Paper Company, of Walpole, Mass. under the designation P-8.
  • An alternative preferred topsheet is a spunbonded nonwoven web of 22 grams per square meter basis weight as is available from Fiberweb North America, Inc. of Simpsonville, S.C., under the designation 9694.
  • the topsheet 38 of diaper 20 is preferably made of a hydrophilic material to promote rapid transfer of liquids (e.g., urine) through the topsheet.
  • the topsheet is made of a hydrophobic material, preferably at least the body surface of the topsheet, or a portion thereof, is treated to be hydrophilic so that liquids will transfer through the topsheet more rapidly. This diminishes the likelihood that body exudates will flow off the topsheet rather than being drawn through the topsheet and being absorbed by the absorbent core.
  • the topsheet can be rendered hydrophilic by treating it with a surfactant. Suitable methods for treating the topsheet with a surfactant include spraying the topsheet material with the surfactant and immersing the material into the surfactant.
  • the topsheet of the absorbent article will also have a skin care composition disposed thereon.
  • Representative treated topsheets are described in U.S. Patent 5,643,588, "Diaper Having a Lotioned Topsheet", issued to Roe, Bakes & Warner on July 1, 1997; and U.S. Patent 5,635,191, "Diaper Having a Lotioned Topsheet Containing a Polysiloxane Emollient", issued to Roe & Mackey on June 3, 1997; each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • Methods for delivering a skin care composition via the repeated use of absorbent articles having such treated topsheets are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
  • 08/926,532 P&G Case 6823
  • U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/926,533 P&G Case 6822
  • a Method For Improving Skin Condition Van Rijswijck, et al. filed on September 10, 1997
  • U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/908,852 P&G Case 5494CR
  • a skin care composition disposed on both the cuffs and the topsheet will facilitate transfer of the skin care composition to a greater amount of skin, in terms of surface area, relative to treatment of the cuffs only. Furthermore, application to both components may allow delivery of greater amounts of skin care composition to a given region of the wearer and/or delivery of different formulation skin care compositions for different skin benefits.
  • the backsheet 42 has a modified hourglass shape extending beyond the absorbent core around the entire diaper periphery.
  • the backsheet is preferably a soft, cloth-like web laminate comprising a selectively apertured polymeric formed film and a nonwoven web.
  • Such a breathable backsheet is more fully described in U.S. Patent 5,571,096 issued to Dobrin, et al. on November 5, 1996, which patent is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the absorbent core 44 may take on any size or shape that is compatible with the diaper 20.
  • One preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 has an asymmetric, modified T- shaped absorbent core 44 having ears in the first waist region but a generally rectangular shape in the second waist region.
  • Exemplary absorbent structures for use as the absorbent core of the present invention that have achieved wide acceptance and commercial success are described in U.S. Patent 4,610,678 entitled “High-Density Absorbent Structures" issued to Weisman et al. on September 9, 1986; U.S. Patent 4,673,402 entitled “Absorbent Articles With Dual-Layered Cores" issued to Weisman et al. on June 16, 1987; U.S.
  • Patent 4,888,231 entitled “Absorbent Core Having A Dusting Layer” issued to Angstadt on December 19, 1989; EP Patent Application 640 330, The Procter & Gamble Company, published March 1, 1995; and U.S. Patent 4,834,735, entitled “High Density Absorbent Members Having Lower Density and Lower Basis Weight Acquisition Zones", issued to Alemany et al. on May 30, 1989.
  • the absorbent core may further comprise a dual core system containing an acquisition distribution core of chemically stiffened fibers positioned over an absorbent storage core as detailed in U.S. Patent 5,234,423, entitled “Absorbent Article With Elastic Waist Feature and Enhanced Absorbency” issued to Alemany et al., on August 10, 1993; and in U.S. Patent 5,147,345, entitled “High Efficiency Absorbent Articles For Incontinence Management” issued to Young, LaVon and Taylor on September 15, 1992. All of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.
  • the diaper 20 comprises cuffs each comprising a leg cuff comprising a barrier cuff 62 and/or a gasketing cuff 56 for providing improved containment of liquids and other body exudates.
  • the cuffs provide for improved containment of liquids and other body exudates and can be constructed in a number of different configurations.
  • the diaper 20 may also comprise cuffs comprising an elastic waist feature (not shown) and/or elastic side panels (not shown) to provide a more contouring fit and more effective application of the diaper 20. Such cuffs may also be treated with a skin care composition.
  • Each leg cuff may comprise several different embodiments for reducing the leakage of body exudates in the leg regions.
  • leg cuff can be and is sometimes also referred to as leg bands, side flaps, barrier cuffs, elastic leg cuffs, gasketing cuffs, or elastic cuffs.
  • leg bands side flaps, barrier cuffs, elastic leg cuffs, gasketing cuffs, or elastic cuffs.
  • each leg cuff may be configured so as to be similar to any of the leg bands, side flaps, barrier cuffs, or elastic cuffs described above, it is preferred that each leg cuff comprise barrier cuffs 62 and gasketing cuffs 56 as described in detail below.
  • Each barrier cuff 62 is a flexible member having a proximal edge 64, a distal edge 66, a garment surface 68 (also referred to as the inboard surface) and a body surface 70 (also referred to as the outboard surface).
  • the garment surface 68 is oriented toward the interior of the diaper, and the body surface 70 is oriented toward the skin of the wearer when the diaper is being worn.
  • the barrier cuff 62 may be manufactured from a wide variety of materials such as polypropylene, polyester, rayon, nylon, foams, nonwovens, plastic films, formed films, and elastic films or foams. A number of manufacturing techniques may be used to manufacture the barrier cuff.
  • the barrier cuff 62 may be woven, non-woven, spunbonded, spunbonded-meltblown-spunbonded, carded, coated, laminated or the like.
  • a preferred barrier cuff 62 comprises a polypropylene material containing no finish or surfactant to render it liquid impermeable.
  • An exemplary polypropylene fiber nonwoven material is manufactured by Crown Zellerbach Company as Celestra.
  • -A particularly preferred nonwoven material is a carded nonwoven web as is available from PGI of Landisville, New Jersey under the designation 67700.
  • the material may be a nonwoven web supplied by Corovin GmbH of Peine, Germany under the designation MD300A.
  • the barrier cuff may be made from hydrophilic material and have a hydrophobic skin care composition disposed thereon to enhance its barrier properties.
  • the barrier cuff 62, and more particularly the proximal edge 64 is disposed inboard of the longitudinal edge 30, adjacent to and preferably inboard of the gasketing cuff 56.
  • the term "inboard” is defined as the direction toward the centerline (34 or 36, respectively) of the diaper that is parallel to the respective edge of the diaper along which the particular gasketing cuff is disposed.
  • the barrier cuff 62 is disposed adjacent the gasketing cuff 56 to provide a more effective dual restraint against the flow of body exudates.
  • the barrier cuff 62 is preferably disposed inboard of the gasketing cuff 56 so that exudates, especially loose fecal material which is not easily absorbed and tends to float along the body surface 40, will contact the barrier cuff 62 before it can contact the gasketing cuff 56.
  • the barrier cuff 62 is more preferably disposed between the flap elastic member 60 of the gasketing cuff 56 and the longitudinal centerline 36 of the diaper 20. Most preferably, the barrier cuff 62 is disposed between the flap elastic member 60 and the side edge 46 of the absorbent core 44 in the crotch region 26 of the diaper 20.
  • the proximal edge 64 and the distal edge 66 are in spaced relation to each other and define the width of the barrier cuff 62.
  • the proximal and distal edges 64 and 66, respectively, may be in a parallel, non parallel, rectilinear or curvilinear relationship.
  • the barrier cuff 62 may have a variety of different cross sectional areas including circular, square, rectangular or any other shape such as shown in Figure 3.
  • the proximal edge 64 is spaced from the distal edge 66 in a parallel and rectilinear relationship to provide a barrier cuff 62 having uniform widths.
  • a preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 shown in Figures 2 and 3 is provided with the barrier cuff 62 joined to the topsheet 38.
  • the term "joined” includes any means for affixing the barrier cuff 62 to the diaper 20, and includes embodiments wherein the barrier cuff 62 is a separate element having the proximal edge 64 directly or indirectly attached to the topsheet 38 (i.e., integral) or embodiments wherein the barrier cuff 62 is made from the same element or material as the topsheet 38 so that the proximal edge 64 is a continuous and undivided element of the topsheet (i.e., unitary).
  • the barrier cuff 62 may alternatively be joined to the side flap 58, the backsheet 42, the absorbent core 44, the topsheet 38 or any combination of these or other elements of the diaper 20.
  • the barrier cuffs 62 are integral with the topsheet 38.
  • the integral barrier cuff 62 is preferably formed by a strip of material, barrier cuff member 63, which is secured to the topsheet by proximal securement member 92, the distal edge 66 being formed by folding an end of the barrier cuff member 63 back upon itself.
  • the distal edge 66 is preferably disposed inboard of the proximal edge 64 to present a more effective barrier against the flow of exudates.
  • the distal edges 66 are maintained inboard of the proximal edges 64 by the closure members 78 so as to obviate their inversion. While the distal edges 66 may alternatively be disposed in other positions in relation to the proximal edges 64, such positions are not preferred.
  • the distal edge 66 is preferably not secured to any other element in at least the crotch region 26 of the diaper 20 so that it may be spaced away from the body surface 40 of the topsheet 38.
  • the distal edge 66 is preferably spaced away from the body surface 40 to enhance the containment of the article.
  • spacing includes embodiments wherein the distal edges 66 may assume one or more positions relative to the body surface 40 of the topsheet 38 including at some times assuming a position adjacent the body surface 40 of the topsheet 38.
  • the distance between the distal edge 66 to the body surface 40 of the topsheet 38 is measured along a line drawn from the distal edge 66 to the closest part of the topsheet 38 when the distal edge 66 is positioned so as to be spaced away from the topsheet as far as possible, (i.e., in the elastically contracted position).
  • the leg cuffs of the present invention preferably further comprise gasketing cuffs 56.
  • the gasketing cuffs 56 are disposed adjacent the periphery of the diaper 20, preferably along each longitudinal edge 30 so that the gasketing cuffs 56 tend to draw and hold the diaper 20 against the legs of the wearer. While the gasketing cuffs 56 may comprise any of several means as are well known in the diaper art, a particularly preferred gasketing cuff construction comprises a flexible side flap 58 and flap elastic members 60, as is described in detail in U.S. Patent No. 3,860,003, issued to Buell on January 14, 1975 and incorporated herein by reference.
  • the side flap 58 should be highly flexible and thus contractible so that the flap elastic members 60 may gather the side flap 58 to provide a gasketing cuff 56 about the legs or waist of the wearer.
  • the side flaps 58 are preferably that portion of the diaper 20 between the periphery and the edges of the absorbent core 44.
  • the side flaps 58 are formed from the extension of the backsheet 42 and the topsheet 38 from and along the side edges 46 of the absorbent core 44 of the diaper 20 in at least the crotch region 26.
  • the side flap may be a separate member joined to the chassis (topsheet, backsheet, and/or absorbent core) or one of the components of the side flap may be a separate member.
  • the flap elastic members 60 are preferably operatively joined (secured) to the side flaps 58 in an elastically contractible condition so that in a normally unrestrained configuration, the flap elastic members 60 effectively contract or gather the side flaps 58.
  • the flap elastic members 60 can be secured to the side flaps 58 in an elastically contractible condition in at least two ways.
  • the flap elastic members 60 may be stretched and secured to the side flaps 58 while the side flaps 58 are in an uncontracted condition.
  • the side flaps 58 may be contracted, for example by pleating, and the flap elastic members 60 secured to the contracted side flaps 58 while the flap elastic members 60 are in their unrelaxed or unstretched condition.
  • the gasketing cuffs may alternatively comprise a number of different elastically extensible structures such as elastic nonwoven webs or foams; stretch laminates such as is described in U.S. Patent 5,151,092 issued to Buell, et al. on September 29, 1992, incorporated herein by reference; and structural elastic-like film (SELF) webs such as are described in U.S. Patent 5,518,801 issued to Chappell, et al. on May 21, 1996, and incorporated herein by reference.
  • elastically extensible structures such as elastic nonwoven webs or foams
  • stretch laminates such as is described in U.S. Patent 5,151,092 issued to Buell, et al. on September 29, 1992, incorporated herein by reference
  • structural elastic-like film (SELF) webs such as are described in U.S. Patent 5,518,801 issued to Chappell, et al. on May 21, 1996, and incorporated herein by reference.
  • the flap elastic members 60 extend essentially the entire length of the side flaps 58 in the crotch region 26 of the diaper 20.
  • the elastic members 60 may extend the entire length of diaper 20, or any other length suitable to provide a gasketing cuff.
  • the length of the flap elastic members 60 is dictated by the diaper's design.
  • the flap elastic members 60 are associated with the side flaps 58 by securing them to the side flaps 58 with elastic attachment members 90.
  • the elastic attachment members 90 should be flexible and of sufficient adhesiveness to hold the flap elastic member in its stretched condition.
  • the elastic attachment members 90 herein are preferably glue beads or spirals made of hot melt adhesives such as marketed by ATO Findley Incorporated, Wauwatosa, Wis. as Findley 2511 or Findley H9254. It is recognized that traditional adhesives may not be compatible with all skin care compositions. Specifically, some skin care compositions may degrade the integrity of the adhesive bonds resulting in elastic creep and/or poor bond sufficiency.
  • One flap elastic member 60 which has been found to be suitable is an elastic strand made from natural rubber as available from Easthampton Rubber Thread Company of Stewart, Va., under the trademark L-1900 Rubber Compound.
  • Other suitable flap elastic members 60 can be made from natural rubber, such as elastic tape sold under the trademark Fulflex 921 1 by Fulflex Company of Scotland, N.C.
  • An exemplary elastic member is a Lycra strand such as is available from DuPont Co. of Waynesboro, Virginia under the designation Lycra-XA T-151.
  • the flap elastic member 60 may also comprise any heat shrinkable elastic material as is well known in the art.
  • Other suitable flap elastic members 60 may comprise a wide variety of materials as are well known in the art including elastomeric films, Lycra films or strands, polyurethane films, elastomeric foams, and formed elastic scrim.
  • the flap elastic members 60 may take a multitude of configurations.
  • the width of the flap elastic members 60 may be varied from about 0.25 mm (0.01 inches) to about 25 mm (1.0 inch) or more; the flap elastic members 60 may comprise a single strand of elastic material or may comprise several parallel or non- parallel strands of elastic material; or the flap elastic members 60 may be rectilinear or curvilinear.
  • the flap elastic members 60 may be affixed to the diaper 20 in any of several ways which are well known in the art.
  • the flap elastic members 60 may be ultrasonically bonded, heat/pressure sealed into the diaper 20 using a variety of bonding patterns, or the flap elastic members 60 may simply be glued to the diaper 20.
  • the cuff may also comprise an elastic waist feature, such as an elasticized waistband (not shown), that may be constructed in a number of different configurations including those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,515,595 issued to Kievit et al. on May 7, 1985; U.S. Patent No. 5,026,364 issued to Robertson on Jun. 25, 1991; and the above referenced U.S. Patent No. 5,151,092 issued to Buell et al. on Sept. 29, 1992, each of these references being incorporated herein by reference, wherein a skin care composition is disposed thereon.
  • an elastic waist feature such as an elasticized waistband (not shown)
  • the cuff may further comprise elastic side panels that may be constructed in a number of configurations wherein a skin care composition is disposed thereon.
  • Examples of diapers with elastic side panels are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,857,067, issued to Wood, et al. on Aug. 15, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 4,381,781, issued to Sciaraffa, et al. on May 3, 1983; U.S. Patent No. 4,938,753, issued to Van Gompel, et al. on Jul. 3, 1990; U.S. Patent No. 5,151,092, issued to Buell et al. on Sept. 29, 1992; U.S. Patent 5,580,41 1 issued to Nease, et al. on December 3, 1996; U.S. Patent 5,669,897 issued to LaVon, et al. on September 23, 1997; and U.S. Patent 5,569,232 issued to Roe, et al. on October 29, 1996; each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • Embodiments of cuffs of the present invention may also include pockets for receiving and containing waste, spacers which provide voids for waste, barriers for limiting the movement of waste in the article, compartments or voids which accept and contain waste materials deposited in the diaper, and the like, or any combinations thereof wherein a skin care composition is disposed thereon.
  • pockets and spacers for use in absorbent products are described in U.S. Patent 5,514,121 issued to Roe et al. on May 7, 1996, entitled “Diaper Having Expulsive Spacer”; U.S. Patent 5,171,236 issued to Dreier et al. on December 15, 1992, entitled “Disposable Absorbent Article Having Core Spacers”; U.S.
  • Patent 5,397,318 issued to Dreier on March 14, 1995, entitled “Absorbent Article Having A Pocket Cuff;
  • U.S. Patent 5,540,671 issued to Dreier on July 30, 1996 entitled “Absorbent Article Having A Pocket Cuff With An Apex”;
  • PCT Application WO 93/25172 published December 3, 1993, entitled “Spacers For Use In Hygienic Absorbent Articles And Disposable Absorbent Articles Having Such Spacer”; and
  • Patent 4,968,312 entitled “Disposable Fecal Compartmenting Diaper”, issued to Khan on November 6, 1990; U.S. Patent 4,990,147, entitled “Absorbent Article With Elastic Liner For Waste Material Isolation”, issued to Freeland on February 5, 1991; U.S. Patent 5,062,840, entitled “Disposable Diapers”, issued to Holt et al. on November 5, 1991; and U.S. Patent 5,269,755 entitled “Trisection Topsheets For Disposable Absorbent Articles And Disposable Absorbent Articles Having Such Trisection Topsheets", issued to Freeland et al. on December 14, 1993. Examples of suitable transverse barriers are described in U.S. Pat. No.
  • Exemplary fastening systems 54 are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,846,815, issued to Scripps on July 11, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 4,894,060, issued to Nestegard on Jan. 16, 1990; U.S. Patent No. 4,946,527, issued to Battrell on Aug. 7, 1990; U.S. Patent No. 3,848,594, issued to Buell on Nov. 19, 1974; U.S. Patent 4,963,140 issued to Robertson et al. on October 16, 1990; U.S. Patent No. Bl 4,662,875, issued to Hirotsu et al. on May 5, 1987; and U.S. Patent No. 5,151,092, issued to Buell et al. on Sept.
  • a skin care composition may be disposed on one or more components of the fastening system to further enhance skin health.
  • a skin care composition as described herein may be disposed on the tape tabs to ease the effects of the tape tab chafing the skin.
  • FIG 4 is a perspective view of the diaper 20 in its elastically contracted position prior to being placed on the wearer.
  • the topsheet 38 is shown as a portion of the body surface of the diaper 20, the backsheet 42 being disposed away from the body of the wearer.
  • the gasketing cuffs 56 are shown to be gathered or contracted by the flap elastic members (not shown in Figure 4).
  • the diaper 20 is shown as having two barrier cuffs 62 extending adjacent to and inboard of the gasketing cuffs 56.
  • the distal edges 66 are shown to be gathered and contracted by the spacing elastic members (not shown) in the crotch region.
  • a skin care composition 72 is disposed on the body surface of (applied to the body surface or applied to be migratable to the body surface of) each barrier cuff 62 so as to transfer to the skin of the wearer so as to provide the skin benefits discussed herein.
  • the diaper 20 is applied to a wearer by positioning the back waist region 24 under the wearer's back, and drawing the remainder of the diaper 20 between the wearer's leg so that the front waist region 22 is positioned across the front of the person.
  • the ends of the tape-tab fasteners 54 are then secured preferably to the landing member 55 to close the diaper 20.
  • the barrier cuffs 62 should be disposed in the crotch region of the wearer and should provide the dispositions and functions described hereinbefore.
  • the distal edges 66 of the barrier cuffs 62 extend through the groin areas and diverge upwardly along both of the buttocks of the wearer. Neither of the barrier cuffs 62 encircle the thighs of the wearer.
  • gasketing cuffs 56 will encircle the thighs and create a gasketing action against the thighs.
  • the barrier cuffs 62 contact the skin of the wearer and transfer the skin care composition 72 thereto to provide some or all of the benefits described herein.
  • the treated cuffs of the present invention are also useful in training pants or pull- on diapers.
  • the term "training pants”, as used herein, refers to disposable garments having fixed sides thereby defining a fixed waist opening and leg openings. Training pants are placed in position on the wearer by inserting the wearer's legs into the leg openings and sliding the training pant into position about the wearer's lower torso. Suitable training pants are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,246,433, issued to Hasse, et al. on September 21, 1993; U.S. Patent 4,940,464 issued to Van Gompel, et al. on July 10, 1990; and U.S. Patent 5,092,861 issued to Nomura, et al.
  • the treated cuffs of the present invention are also applicable to absorbent articles that are a combination or "hybrid" of training pants and diapers (pull-on diapers) as are described in U.S. Patent 5,569,234, "Disposable Pull-On Pant” issued to Buell and Carlin on October 29, 1996 incorporated herein by reference.
  • incontinence articles refers to pads, undergarments (pads held in place by a suspension system of some type, such as a belt, or the like), inserts for absorbent articles, capacity boosters for absorbent articles, briefs, bed pads, and the like regardless of whether they are worn by adults or other incontinent persons.
  • Suitable incontinence articles are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,253,461 issued to Strickland, et al. on March 3, 1981; U.S. Patent Nos. 4,597,760 and 4,597,761 issued to Buell; the above-mentioned U.S. Patent No.
  • FIG 7 is a simplified fragmentary sectional view of an alternative preferred diaper construction of the present invention.
  • the diaper 720 comprises a chassis and treated cuffs joined to the chassis.
  • the chassis comprises (i) an outer covering layer comprising a portion of the topsheet 38 and a portion of the backsheet 42, and (ii) the absorbent core 44.
  • the cuffs each comprise a barrier cuff 762 and a gasketing cuff 756.
  • the barrier cuff 762 comprises a separate barrier cuff member 763 having a flap portion 702 and a channel portion 704.
  • the flap portion 702 is formed by affixing portions of the barrier cuff member 763 to the backsheet 42 adjacent the longitudinal edge 30 of the diaper by flap attachment members 88, such as an adhesive; a leakage-resistant seal being formed by the flap attachment members 88, the flap portion 68, and the backsheet 42 to provide protection against leakage of liquids wicking along the topsheet 38.
  • the flap portion 702 and the backsheet 42 define the side flap 758 of the gasketing cuff 756 and enclose the flap elastic members 760.
  • the flap elastic members 760 are secured in the flap portion- backsheet-formed side flap 758 by elastic attachment members 90.
  • the gasketing cuff 756 is thereby formed by the side flap 758 and the flap elastic members 760.
  • the channel portion 704 of the barrier cuff 762 is contiguous with the flap portion 702 and has a proximal edge 64 and a distal edge 66.
  • the proximal edge 64 is preferably formed inboard of the gasketing cuff 756, more preferably between the side edge 46 of the absorbent core and the flap elastic member 760, by adjoining a segment of the barrier cuff member 763 to the backsheet 42 by the proximal securement member 92 such as a mechanical/pressure bond so as to form a leakage-resistant seal along the proximal edge 64 to present a barrier to liquid wicking through the topsheet 38 so as to prevent the liquids from wicking underneath the barrier cuffs to the edges of the diaper 20.
  • the distal edge 66 is preferably disposed inboard of the proximal edge 64 and is not secured to any underlying elements of the diaper 20. As shown in Figure 7, the distal edge 66 is preferably formed by folding the end of the barrier cuff member 763 back upon itself and securing it to another segment of the barrier cuff member by the distal attachment member 96 to form a tunnel. A spacing means such as a spacing elastic member 76 is enclosed in the tunnel; the spacing elastic member 76 being secured in the barrier cuff 762 by the elastic attachment members 94. (As an alternative embodiment, only the ends of the spacing elastic member are secured to the barrier cuff element to create a "drawstring elastic" such that the middle segment of the elastic "floats" in the tunnel.
  • the topsheet 38 is positioned adjacent the body surface of the absorbent core 44 and extends beyond the side edge 46 of the absorbent core 44 but terminates inwardly of the proximal edge 64. (Alternatively, the topsheet may extend outwardly beyond the proximal edge but terminate inwardly of outermost flap attachment member 88 to obtain the benefits of the structure.)
  • U.S. Patent 4,795,454 "Absorbent Article Having Leakage-Resistant Dual Cuff, issued to Dragoo on January 3, 1989, which patent is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the flap portion 702 is contiguous with the channel portion 704 and extends outwardly from the proximal edge 64 of the channel portion 704 toward the longitudinal edge 30, preferably to the longitudinal edge 30, such that the side flap 758 is formed from the extension of the backsheet 42 and the flap portion 702. While the flap portion 702 is preferably a continuous segment of the barrier cuff member 763, the flap portion 702 may be formed from a different piece of material secured to the channel portion 704 of the barrier cuff 762. Thus, the flap portion 702 may have different physical properties, dimensions, and characteristics than the channel portion 704. For example, the flap portion 702 need not be hydrophobic nor extend outwardly to the longitudinal edge 30.
  • each of the barrier cuffs 762 need not have a flap portion such that a flap portion may be omitted entirely.
  • the flap portion is, however, preferably hydrophobic, compliant, soft feeling and non-irritating to the wearer's skin since it contacts the legs of the wearer when in use.
  • an effective amount of a skin care composition is disposed on the cuff to provide skin care benefits for the wearer.
  • the skin care composition may be disposed on both surfaces of the cuff, one surface of the cuff, or portions of either or both surfaces.
  • the skin care composition may be disposed on the flap portion 702, the channel portion 704, or both. If a skin care composition is disposed on both the flap portion and the channel portion, the formulation of the skin care composition disposed on each need not be the same.
  • each skin care composition may have different formulations and properties to provide different benefits.
  • a first skin care composition that, for example, reduces diaper rash may be disposed on the channel portion while a second skin care composition that, for example, reduces skin irritation and/or soothes the skin may be disposed on the flap portion.
  • a first skin care composition 72 is disposed on the channel portion, preferably on the body surface thereof;
  • a second skin care composition 72' is disposed on the flap portion, preferably on the body surface thereof;
  • a third skin care composition 72" is disposed on the topsheet, preferably on the body surface thereof.
  • the formulation of each skin care composition need not be the same; however, in this particular embodiment, the formulation of each skin care composition is the same.
  • Each skin care composition is disposed in an effective amount so as to transfer the skin care composition to the skin of the wearer.
  • a skin care composition is preferably disposed on discrete portions of the flap portion and the channel portion. More preferably, the skin care composition is applied in one or more stripes, most preferably the stripe or stripes being aligned with those areas that overlie the flap elastic members or the spacing elastic members.
  • the first skin care composition 72 is preferably applied to the channel portion 704 in a wide stripe (about 1.4 inch) extending from the distal edge 66 toward the proximal edge 64. The length of this stripe extends along a portion of the length of the spacing elastic member 76 (about 1 1.75 inch long) such that the portion of the barrier cuff element 763 adjacent the end of the spacing elastic member in the front waist region does not have the skin care composition 72 disposed thereon. (See, for example, Figure 1.) A plurality of stripes of the second skin care composition 72' are disposed on the flap portion 702.
  • the skin care composition may be applied to the body surface 57 or the garment surface 59 of the barrier cuff member 763. If applied to the garment surface, the skin care composition preferably acts as a hydrophobic coating to assist in blocking the flow of urine and BM through the barrier cuffs. Also, the skin care composition is applied such that it will migrate or transfer through to the body surface of the barrier cuff member so as to be transferable onto the skin of the wearer and provide the skin care benefits discussed herein.
  • a skin care composition may also be disposed on the topsheet so as to provide a different benefit or the same benefit as that applied to the barrier cuff.
  • An example of a skin care composition for a topsheet is described in U.S. 5,643,588 issued to Roe, et al. on July 1, 1997, which patent is incorporated herein by reference.
  • FIG 8 is another alternative embodiment of a treated cuff, particularly a breathable treated elastic leg cuff, of the present invention.
  • the diaper 820 comprises a chassis comprising an outer covering layer comprising a topsheet 38 and a backsheet 42, and an absorbent core 44 encased in the outer covering layer, preferably between the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42.
  • the leg cuff 856 comprises a side flap 858 and elastic members 860.
  • the leg cuff 856 is formed as a separate unit that is joined to the chassis.
  • the side flap 858 comprises two cuff elements, a first cuff element 802 joined to the topsheet 38 and extending laterally outwardly therefrom and a second cuff element 804 joined to the backsheet 42 and extending laterally outwardly therefrom.
  • the first cuff element 802 and the second cuff element 804 enclose the elastic members 860 which are operatively joined to either or both cuff elements to form a gasketing cuff.
  • each cuff element is formed of a material which allows the passage of vapor (breathes) while tending to retard the passage of liquid (air pervious but liquid impervious).
  • the cuff elements each comprise a nonwoven web; however, other breathable materials, including apertured formed films may be used.
  • U.S. Patent 4,636,207 issued to Buell on January 13, 1987, which patent is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the skin care composition may be disposed on either the first cuff element, the second cuff element, or both.
  • the skin care composition 872 is disposed on the first cuff element 802, preferably on the body surface 802, such that the skin care composition 872 may be readily transferred to the wearer's skin when the leg cuff 856 is in contact with the wearer.
  • the skin care composition is preferably applied in one or more stripes with the stripe or stripes more preferably aligned with those areas that overlie the elastic members.
  • the skin care composition may be applied to the garment surface 808 of the first cuff element 802 or to the second cuff element 804 and allowed to migrate or transfer through the materials to the body surface 806 of the first cuff element 802 to provide the benefits of the skin care composition as well as to provide a leg cuff that has reduced leakage.
  • the skin care composition may be applied to the elastic members and allowed to transfer through to the body surface of the first cuff element.
  • the second cuff element may be replaced by extending the backsheet all the way to the edge of the diaper).
  • the breathability (vapor permeability) of the cuff enhances the function of many of the skin care compositions used in the present invention by allowing vapor exchange within the diaper to reduce the relative humidity of the interior of the diaper. Excessive relative humidity in the absorbent article between the wearer's skin and the article can interfere with the normal transport of water vapor into and out of the skin. By providing a means for transport of such excess moisture (breathable cuffs), the driving force toward overhydration is reduced. This allows moisture adjacent the skin to be removed from the diaper, thereby further enhancing the skin health of the wearer over and above the reduction provided by the skin care composition of the present invention alone.
  • Figure 9 is a plan view of a further alternative embodiment of the present invention having separate side panel laminates, front side panels 902 and back side panels 904, joined to the chassis (containment assembly).
  • the extensible back side panels 904 have multi-directional stretch provided by a first side panel 906 and a second side panel 908 to provide separate extensibility along the waist and leg portions of the diaper 920.
  • the side panels and the diaper are described more fully in U.S. Patent 5,580,411, "Zero Scrap Method for Manufacturing Side Panels for Absorbent Articles" issued to Nease, et al. on December 3, 1996 and U.S. Application Serial No. 08/115,048 28
  • the diaper 920 can have various treated cuffs and combinations thereof.
  • the leg cuffs of the diaper 920 comprise the gasketing cuff 956 of the chassis (containment assembly) and the leg edges 910 of the second side panels 908 and of the front side panels 902.
  • the waist cuffs comprise the elastic waistband 912 of the chassis (containment assembly) and the waist edge 914 of the first side panels 906 and the front side panels 902.
  • a skin care composition may be applied to the side panels or any portion thereof, to the gasketing cuff, to the elastic waistband, or any combination of the above.
  • a skin care composition may be applied to the elastic waistband and to a portion of the waist edge of each first side panel and front side panel.
  • a skin care composition may be disposed on each leg cuff including a segment of the gasketing cuff, the leg edge of the second side panel and the leg edge of the front side panel.
  • the skin care composition may thus provide a therapeutic or protective coating to the legs of the wearer.
  • different formulation skin care compositions may be disposed on any combination or all of these cuffs.
  • a further skin care composition may also be disposed on the topsheet 38 as described herein.
  • a first skin care composition 972 is disposed on the first side panel 906 in multiple stripes as spirals
  • a second skin care composition 972' is disposed on the second side panel 908 in multiple stripes as spirals
  • a third skin care composition 972" is disposed on the front side panels 902 in multiple stripes as spirals.
  • Each of the skin care compositions may be of the same formulation or different formulations. If the skin care compositions have different formulations, each particular skin care composition can be formulated to provide unique skin care benefits to different areas of the wearer.
  • FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternative preferred diaper construction of a treated cuff disposed in the waist regions of a diaper.
  • the drawing depicts a unitary waistcap/waistband.
  • An exemplary embodiment of such a unitary waistcap/waistband is disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,026,364 issued to Robertson on June 25, 1991, which patent is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the present invention is not limited to unitary waistcap/waistbands but also encompasses waistbands such as shown in U.S. Patent 4,515,595 issued to Kievit & Osterhage on May 7, 1985; as well as waistcaps such as disclosed in U.S.
  • the unitary waistcap/waistband 1002 is formed by a single piece of elastomeric material operatively joined with the diaper 1020.
  • the outward portion 1004 is operatively joined with the waist flap 1058 in an elastically contractible condition adjacent the end edge 32 of the diaper 1020 by a waistband securement member (not shown) such as ultrasonic bonds so as to form an elastic waistband 1056.
  • the inward portion 1006 is contiguous with the outward portion 1004 and has a proximal edge 1064 and a distal edge 1066.
  • the proximal edge 1064 of the inward portion 1006 is formed inboard of the end edge 32 of the diaper 1020, preferably between the waist edge 47 of the absorbent core 44 and the outward portion 1004, by joining a segment of the inward portion 1006 to the waist flap 1058 (the topsheet 38) by a proximal attachment member (not shown) such as an adhesive so as to form a seal along the proximal edge 1064.
  • the distal edge 1066 is disposed inboard of the proximal edge 1064 and in the view shown, is not secured to any underlying elements of the diaper 1020, particularly the topsheet 38, so that portions of the inward portion 1006 may be spaced away from the body surface 40 of the topsheet 38 to form a waistcap 1062 (barrier cuff).
  • a single piece of material serves as both the elastic waistband 1056 and as the waistcap 1062 (barrier cuff). This single piece of material is referred to herein as a unitary waistcap/waistband 1002.
  • the waistband enhances the fit of the diaper about the wearer and retards leakage from the waist area while the waistcap restrains, contains and holds body exudates within the diaper.
  • separate elements may form both the waistcap and the waistband.
  • a skin care composition may be disposed on the inward portion, the outward portion, or both.
  • a skin care composition may be applied onto the waistcap or the waistband.
  • the skin care composition is preferably applied to the body surface of the unitary waistcap/waistband so as to contact and transfer to the skin of the wearer during use.
  • a skin care composition 1072 is preferably disposed in one or more stripes on the body surface 1070 of the unitary waistcap/waistband 1002, more preferably adjacent the distal edge 1066 of the waistcap 1062 and in the waistband 1056.
  • the skin care composition may alternatively be applied to the garment surface and allowed to migrate or transfer through to the body surface thereby providing a hydrophobic coating which helps retard the passage of liquid while allowing the skin care composition to be readily transferred to the skin of the wearer.
  • a different formulation skin care composition may be applied to the inward portion versus the outward portion.
  • Another disposable absorbent article of the present invention are feminine hygiene articles, such as sanitary napkins.
  • Suitable feminine hygiene articles are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,556,146, issued to Swanson et al. on December 3, 1985; U.S. Patent No. Bl 4,589,876, issued to Van Tilburg on April 27, 1993; U.S. Patent No. 4,687,478, issued to Van Tilburg on August 18, 1997; U.S. Patent No. 4,950,264, issued to Osborn, III on August 21, 1990; U.S. Patent No. 5,009,653, issued to Osborn, III on April 23, 1991 ; U.S. Patent 5,267,992, issued to Van Tilburg on December 7, 1993; U.S. Patent No.
  • Figure 11 shows a fragmentary coronal view showing a sectioned sanitary napkin 1120 having a treated cuff of the present invention positioned in a panty 1102 in place on a wearer during use.
  • a sanitary napkin having a barrier cuff is found in U.S. Patent 5,649,917 issued to Roberts & Mancel on July 22, 1997; which patent is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the sanitary napkin 1120 comprises a central absorbent pad comprising a topsheet 38, a backsheet 42, and an absorbent core 44 positioned between the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42; a flap 1 104 (commercially referred to as "wings” or “tabs") extending from each longitudinal edge 1130 of the central absorbent pad, each flap 1104 having at least one flexible axis, preferably a first axis of flexibility 1106 and a second axis of flexibility 1108 such that, in use, the elastic in the panty 1 102 pushes the flaps 1104 adjacent the second axes of flexibility 1 108 snugly against the body resulting in a double- wall barrier to contain menses; and a treated cuff comprising a barrier cuff 1162 (barrier means) having a proximal edge 1164 and a distal edge 1166, the proximal edge 1164 being joined to the napkin (preferably in this embodiment the flap 1104) to contain body exudates.
  • a skin care composition 1172 is disposed on each barrier cuff 1162 to provide skin care benefits as described herein. While the skin care composition may be applied to the entire cuff, one of the surfaces of the cuff, or any portions thereof, in the embodiment shown, the skin care composition is applied in one or more stripes to a portion of the body surface of the barrier cuff 1162 preferably adjacent the distal edge 1166. In addition, in the embodiment shown, a second skin care composition 1172' is also disposed on each flap 1104. A third skin care composition 1172" is disposed on the topsheet 38.
  • the second skin care composition 1172' disposed on the flaps 1104 is preferably disposed on the portions of the flaps that come in contact with the wearer during use, typically the portions of the flaps adjacent the second axis of flexibility 1108.
  • the second skin care composition 1172' may be disposed between the first axis of flexibility 1 106 and the second axis of flexibility 1 108 and/or between the second axis of flexibility 1 108 and the distal edge 1 1 10 of the flap, or both.
  • the formulation of the skin care compositions applied to the barrier cuff, the topsheet, and the flaps can be different to provide different skin care benefits to different portions of the skin of the wearer. In the embodiment shown, the skin care compositions which are disposed on the topsheet, the flaps, and the barrier cuffs have the same formulation.
  • the specific skin care composition(s) delivered (referred to herein as “skin care composition” and “composition”) in accordance with the present invention is an important factor in delivering desirable skin effects, it is preferred that the skin care composition should provide a protective, nonocclusive function (e.g., a relatively liquid impervious but vapor pervious barrier) to avoid skin hyperhydration and skin exposure to materials contained in body exudates; an abrasion minimizing function to reduce skin irritation in the areas where the cuffs contact the wearer's skin; or contain agents that deliver, either directly or indirectly, skin care benefits.
  • indirect benefits include improved removal of skin irritants such as feces or urine.
  • the composition may be in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, emulsions, lotions, creams, ointments, salves, powders, suspensions, encapsulations, gels, and the like.
  • the term "effective amount of a skin care composition” refers to an amount of a particular composition which, when applied or migrated to ("disposed on") the body surface of a cuff, will be effective in reducing the abrasion between the cuff and skin in the areas where the cuffs contact the wearer's skin, providing a protective barrier and/or delivering a skin care benefit when delivered via cuffs, and/or reducing the adherence of BM to the skin.
  • the description pertaining to disposition of skin care composition on the cuffs will be applicable to compositions disposed on the topsheet, in such preferred embodiments.
  • the effective amount of composition disposed on the cuff will depend, to a large extent, on the particular skin care composition used. Nonetheless, the quantity of the skin care composition disposed on at least a ' portion of the body surface of the cuff will preferably range from about 0.05 mg/in ⁇ (0.0078 mg/cm ⁇ ) to about 80 mg/in ⁇ (12 mg/cm ⁇ ), more preferably from about 1 mg/in ⁇ (0.16 mg/cm?) to about 40 mg/in ⁇ (6 mg/cm ⁇ ), still more preferably from about 4 mg/in ⁇ (0.6 mg/crn ⁇ ) to about 26 mg/in ⁇ (4 mg cm ⁇ ).
  • compositions will dictate the level that must be disposed thereon to achieve the desired skin benefits, and that such levels are ascertainable by routine experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the level of skin care composition disposed on the cuffs is an important aspect of the present invention, more important is the amount of composition transferred to the wearer's skin during use of one or more of the treated cuffs. Though the requisite level delivered to the skin to provide the desired skin benefits will depend to some degree on the nature of the composition employed, Applicants have found that relatively low levels may be delivered while still providing the desired skin effects. This is particularly true for preferred compositions, such as those described in the examples.
  • Another benefit of the present invention is the controlled application of the skin care composition to deliver the low but effective levels of composition required. This is in contrast to typically sporadic manual application of skin care agents, where the caregiver/user often applies significantly greater levels of material than are needed. Excessive materials added manually may adversely impact the fluid handling properties of the absorbent article, as a result of transfer from the skin to the article. Indeed, for certain materials, such as petrolatum, the levels applied manually may actually result in an occlusive effect, thereby compromising the skin.
  • a benefit of the present invention is providing a barrier to surface moisture while avoiding occlusion of the skin (i.e., maintaining skin breathability). Thus, the present invention allows transfer of optimal levels of the composition to the skin to maintain and/or improve skin health.
  • the level of skin care composition that is transferred to the wearer during use of one treated absorbent article worn for a period of about 3 hours (a typical daytime wear time) particularly for preferred skin care compositions such as that described in Example 1, preferred is where at least about 0.01 mg/in ⁇ (0.0016 mg/cm ⁇ ), more preferably at least about 0.05 mg/in ⁇ (0.0078 mg/cm.2), still more preferably at least about 0.1 mg/in ⁇ (0.016 mg/cm ⁇ ), of the composition is transferred to the skin over a three hour wear period.
  • the amount of composition delivered by one treated article will be from about 0.01 mg/in ⁇ (0.0016 mg/c ⁇ _2)to about 8 mg/in ⁇ (1.24 mg/cm ⁇ ), more preferably from about 0.05 mg in ⁇ (0.0078 mg/cm ⁇ ) to about 6 mg/in ⁇ (0.93 mg/cm2), still more preferably from about 0.1 mg/in ⁇ (0.016mg/cm2)to about 5 mg/in ⁇ (0.78 mg/cm ⁇ ), over a three hour wear period.
  • alantoin aluminum hydroxide gel, calamine, cocoa butter, dimethicone, cod liver oil (in combination), glycerine, kaolin, petrolatum, lanolin, mineral oil, shark liver oil, white petrolatum, talc, topical starch, zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, and the like.
  • Other potentially useful materials are Category III actives as defined by the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration's Tentative Final Monograph on Skin Protectant Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use (21 C.F.R.
  • ⁇ 347 which presently include: live yeast cell derivatives, aldioxa, aluminum acetate, microporous cellulose, cholecalciferol, colloidal oatmeal, cysteine hydrochloride, dexpanthanol, Peruvean balsam oil, protein hydrolysates, racemic methionine, sodium bicarbonate, Vitamin A, and the like. It will be recognized that one or more of these optional materials may be used in combination with other ingredients, such as those described herein.
  • the skin care compositions useful in the present invention preferably, though not necessarily, have a melting profile such that they are relatively immobile and localized on the wearer-contacting surface (body surface) of the cuff at room temperature, at least a portion of the composition will be transferable to the wearer at body temperature, and yet are not completely liquid under extreme storage conditions.
  • the compositions are easily transferable to the skin by way of normal contact, wearer motion, and/or body heat. Because the composition preferably is substantially immobilized on the cuffs wearer-contacting surface, relatively low levels of skin care composition are needed to impart the desired skin care benefits.
  • special barrier or wrapping materials may be unnecessary in packaging the articles useful in the present invention.
  • the skin care compositions useful herein are solid, or more often semi-solid, at 20°C, i.e. at ambient temperatures.
  • semi-solid is meant that the composition has a rheology typical of pseudoplastic or plastic liquids.
  • the compositions can have the appearance of a semi-solid but can be made to flow as the shear rate is increased. This is due to the fact that, while the composition contains primarily solid components, it also includes some minor liquid components.
  • the compositions of the present invention have a zero shear viscosity between about 1.0 X 10 ⁇ centipoise and about 1.0 X 10 centipoise. More preferably, the zero shear viscosity is between about 5.0 X 10" centipoise and about 5.0 X 10' centipoise.
  • zero shear viscosity refers to a viscosity measured at very low shear rates (e.g., 1.0 sec ⁇ l) using plate and cone viscometer (a suitable instrument is available from TA Instruments of New Castle, DE as model number CSL 100).
  • compositions are at least semi-solid at room temperature to minimize composition migration.
  • the compositions preferably have a final melting point (100% liquid) above potential "stressful" storage conditions that can be greater than 45°C (e.g., warehouse in Arizona, car trunk in Florida, etc.).
  • preferred compositions will have the following melt profile:
  • compositions By being solid or semisolid at ambient temperatures, preferred compositions do not have a tendency to flow and migrate to a significant degree to undesired locations of the absorbent article. This means less skin care composition is required for imparting desirable therapeutic, protective and/or conditioning benefits.
  • the viscosity of the formulated compositions should be as high as possible to prevent flow from the cuff to undesired locations within the diaper.
  • higher viscosities may inhibit transfer of composition to the wearer's skin or may be difficult to apply without processing problems. Therefore, a balance should be achieved so the viscosities are high enough to keep the compositions localized on the body surface of the cuff, but not so high as to impede transfer to the wearer's skin.
  • Suitable viscosities for the compositions will typically range from about 1 to about 5000 centipoise, preferably from about 5 to about 300 centipoise, more preferably from about 5 to about 100 centipoise, measured at 60°C using a rotational viscometer (a suitable viscometer is available from Lab Line Instruments, Inc. of Melrose Park, IL as Model 4537). The viscometer is operated at 60 rpm using a number 2 spindle.
  • a useful active ingredient in these compositions is one or more skin protectants or emollients.
  • emollient is a material that protects against wetness or irritation. softens, soothes, supples, coats, lubricates, moisturizes, protects and/or cleanses the skin. (It will be recognized that several of the monographed actives listed above are “emollients", as that term is used herein.) In a preferred embodiment, these emollients will have either a plastic or liquid consistency at ambient temperatures, i.e., 20°C.
  • emollients useful in the present invention include, but are not limited to, emollients that are petroleum-based; sucrose ester fatty acids; polyethylene glycol and derivatives thereof; humectants; fatty acid ester type; alkyl ethoxylate type; fatty acid ester ethoxylates; fatty alcohol type; polysiloxane type; propylene glycol and derivatives thereof; glycerine and derivatives thereof, including glyceride, acetoglycerides, and ethoxylated glycerides of C12-C28 f att y acids; triethylene glycol and derivatives thereof; spermaceti or other waxes; fatty acids; fatty alcohol ethers, particularly those having from 12 to 28 carbon atoms in their fatty chain, such as stearic acid; propoxylated fatty alcohols; other fatty esters of polyhydroxy alcohols; lanolin and its derivatives; kaolin and its derivatives; any of the
  • Suitable petroleum-based emollients include those hydrocarbons, or mixtures of hydrocarbons, having chain lengths of from 16 to 32 carbon atoms.
  • Petroleum based hydrocarbons having these chain lengths include mineral oil (also known as “liquid petrolatum”) and petrolatum (also known as “mineral wax,” “petroleum jelly” and “mineral jelly”).
  • Mineral oil usually refers to less viscous mixtures of hydrocarbons having from 16 to 20 carbon atoms.
  • Petrolatum usually refers to more viscous mixtures of hydrocarbons having from 16 to 32 carbon atoms.
  • Petrolatum and mineral oil are particularly preferred emollients for compositions of the present invention.
  • Suitable fatty acid ester type emollients include those derived from C12-C28 f att y acids, preferably C16-C22 saturated fatty acids, and short chain (Cj-Cg, preferably C ⁇ - C3) monohydric alcohols.
  • Representative examples of such esters include methyl palmitate, methyl stearate, isopropyl laurate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, ethylhexyl palmitate and mixtures thereof.
  • Suitable fatty acid ester emollients can also be derived from esters of longer chain fatty alcohols (Ci2-C28 > preferably C12-C16) and shorter chain fatty acids e.g., lactic acid, such as lauryl lactate and cetyl lactate.
  • Suitable alkyl ethoxylate type emollients include C12-C22 fat y alcohol ethoxylates having an average degree of ethoxylation of from about 2 to about 30.
  • the fatty alcohol ethoxylate emollient is selected from the group consisting of lauryl, cetyl, and stearyl ethoxylates, and mixtures thereof, having an average degree of ethoxylation ranging from about 2 to about 23.
  • alkyl ethoxylates include laureth-3 (a lauryl ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 3), laureth-23 (a lauryl ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 23), ceteth-10 (a cetyl alcohol ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 10) and steareth-10 (a stearyl alcohol ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 10).
  • laureth-3 a lauryl ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 3
  • laureth-23 a lauryl ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 23
  • ceteth-10 a cetyl alcohol ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 10
  • steareth-10 a stearyl alcohol ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 10
  • these alkyl ethoxylate emollients are typically used in combination with the petroleum-based emollients, such as petrolatum, at a weight ratio of alkyl ethoxylate emollient to petroleum-based emollient of from about 1 :1 to about 1 :5, preferably from about 1 :2 to about 1 :4.
  • Suitable fatty alcohol type emollients include C12-C22 fatty alcohols, preferably l6" l8 f att y alcohols. Representative examples include cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. When employed, these fatty alcohol emollients are typically used in combination with the petroleum-based emollients, such as petrolatum, at a weight ratio of fatty alcohol emollient to petroleum-based emollient of from about 1 : 1 to about 1 :5, preferably from about 1 : 1 to about 1 :2.
  • emollients for use herein include polysiloxane compounds.
  • suitable polysiloxane materials for use in the present invention include those having monomeric siloxane units of the following structure:
  • R* and R ⁇ for each independent siloxane monomeric unit can each independently be hydrogen or any alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkaryl, arakyl, cycloalkyl, halogenated hydrocarbon, or other radical. Any of such radicals can be substituted or unsubstituted. R* and R ⁇ radicals of any particular monomeric unit may differ from the corresponding functionalities of the next adjoining monomeric unit. Additionally, the polysiloxane can be either a straight chain, a branched chain or have a cyclic structure.
  • the radicals RI and R ⁇ can additionally independently be other silaceous functionalities such as, but not limited to siloxanes, polysiloxanes, silanes, and polysilanes.
  • the radicals R ⁇ and R ⁇ may contain any of a variety of organic functionalities including, for example, alcohol, carboxylic acid, phenyl, and amine functionalities.
  • Exemplary alkyl radicals are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, octadecyl, and the like.
  • Exemplary alkenyl radicals are vinyl, allyl, and the like.
  • Exemplary aryl radicals are phenyl, diphenyl, naphthyl, and the like.
  • Exemplary alkaryl radicals are toyl, xylyl, ethylphenyl, and the like.
  • Exemplary aralkyl radicals are benzyl, alpha-phenylethyl, beta-phenylethyl, alpha-phenylbutyl, and the like.
  • Exemplary cycloalkyl radicals are cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and the like.
  • Exemplary halogenated hydrocarbon radicals are chloromethyl, bromoethyl, tetrafluorethyl, fluorethyl, trifluorethyl, trifluorotloyl, hexafluoroxylyl, and the like.
  • Viscosity of polysiloxanes useful may vary as widely as the viscosity of polysiloxanes in general vary, so long as the polysiloxane is flowable or can be made to be flowable for application to the absorbent article. This includes, but is not limited to, viscosity as low as 5 centistokes (at 37°C as measured by a glass viscometer) to about 20,000,000 centistokes.
  • the polysiloxanes have a viscosity at 37°C ranging from about 5 to about 5,000 centistokes, more preferably from about 5 to about 2.000 centistokes, most preferably from about 100 to about 1000 centistokes.
  • High viscosity polysiloxanes which themselves are resistant to flowing can be effectively deposited upon the absorbent articles by such methods as, for example, emulsifying the polysiloxane in surfactant or providing the polysiloxane in solution with the aid of a solvent, such as hexane, listed for exemplary purposes only.
  • a solvent such as hexane
  • Preferred polysiloxanes compounds for use in the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,059,282 (Ampulski et al), issued October 22, 1991, which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Particularly preferred polysiloxane compounds for use as emollients in the compositions of the present invention include phenyl-functional polymethylsiloxane compounds (e.g., Dow Corning 556 Cosmetic-Grade Fluid: polyphenylmethylsiloxane) and cetyl or stearyl functionalized dimethicones such as Dow 2502 and Dow 2503 polysiloxane liquids, respectively.
  • substitution may be made with amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl, ether, polyether, aldehyde, ketone, amide, ester, and thiol groups.
  • the family of groups comprising phenyl, amino, alkyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups are more preferred than the others; and phenyl-functional groups are most preferred.
  • Suitable humectants include glycerine, propylene glycol, sorbitol, trihydroxy stearin, and the like.
  • the amount of emollient that can be included in the composition will depend on a variety of factors, including the particular emollient involved, the skin benefits desired, the other components in the composition and like factors.
  • the composition will comprise from 0 to about 100%, by total weight, of the emollient.
  • the composition will comprise from about 10 to about 95%, more preferably from about 20 to about 80%, and most preferably from about 40 to about 75%, by weight, of the emollient.
  • Another optional, but especially key component of certain skin care compositions useful in the present invention is an agent capable of immobilizing the composition (including the preferred emollient and/or other skin condition/protective agents) in the desired location in or on the treated cuff.
  • certain of the preferred emollients in the composition have a plastic or liquid consistency at 20°C, they tend to flow or migrate, even when subjected to modest shear. When applied to a body surface or other location of a cuff, especially in a melted or molten state, the emollient will not remain primarily in or on the treated region. Instead, the emollient will tend to migrate and flow to undesired regions of the absorbent article.
  • the emollient migrates into the interior of the article, it can cause undesired effects on the absorbency of the absorbent core due to the hydrophobic characteristics of many of the emollients and other skin conditioning agents used in the compositions useful in the present invention. It also means that much more emollient has to be applied to the cuff to get the desired benefits. Increasing the level of emollient not only increases the cost, but also exacerbates the undesirable effect on the absorbency of the core and undesired transfer of composition during processing/converting of the treated cuffs.
  • the immobilizing agent counteracts this tendency of the emollient to migrate or flow by keeping the emollient primarily localized on the surface or in the region of the cuff to which the composition is applied. This is believed to be due, in part, to the fact that the immobilizing agent raises the melting point and/or viscosity of the composition above that of the emollient. Since the immobilizing agent is preferably miscible with the emollient (or solubilized in the emollient with the aid of an appropriate emulsifier or dispersed therein), it entraps the emollient on the surface of the wearer contacting surface of the cuff or in the region to which it is applied.
  • immobilizing agent on the wearer contacting surface or the region of the cuff to which it is applied. This can be accomplished by using immobilizing agents which quickly set up (i.e., solidify) upon application to the cuff.
  • immobilizing agents which quickly set up (i.e., solidify) upon application to the cuff.
  • outside cooling of the treated cuff via blowers, fans, cold rolls, etc. can speed up crystallization of the immobilizing agent.
  • the immobilizing agent will preferably have a melting profile that will provide a composition that is solid or semisolid at ambient temperature.
  • preferred immobilizing agents will have a melting point of at least about 35°C. This is so the immobilizing agent itself will not have a tendency to migrate or flow.
  • Preferred immobilizing agents will have melting points of at least about 40°C.
  • the immobilizing agent will have a melting point in the range of from about 50° to about 150°C.
  • immobilizing agents useful herein can be selected from any of a number of agents, so long as the preferred properties of the skin care composition provide the skin benefits described herein.
  • Preferred immobilizing agents will comprise a member selected from the group consisting of C14-C22 fatty alcohols, C12-C22 fatty acids, and C12- 22 fa y alcohol ethoxylates having an average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to about 30, and mixtures thereof.
  • Preferred immobilizing agents include C_6"C_8 f att y alcohols, most preferably crystalline high melting materials selected from the group consisting of cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof.
  • compositions of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are particularly preferred.
  • Other preferred immobilizing agents include Ci 6-C ⁇ g fatty acids, most preferably selected from the group consisting of palmitic acid, stearic acid, and mixtures thereof. Mixtures of palmitic acid and stearic acid are particularly preferred.
  • Still other preferred immobilizing agents include Cjg-Ci g fatty alcohol ethoxylates having an average degree of ethoxylation ranging from about 5 to about 20.
  • the fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty alcohols are linear.
  • these preferred immobilizing agents such as the C ⁇ - Ci g fatty alcohols increase the rate of crystallization of the composition causing the composition to crystallize rapidly onto the surface of the substrate.
  • esters and amides are preferred esters and amides.
  • Preferred esters and amides will have three or more free hydroxy groups on the polyhydroxy moiety and are typically nonionic in character. Because of the possible skin sensitivity of those using cuffs to which the composition is applied, these esters and amides should also be relatively mild and non-irritating to the skin.
  • Suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid esters for use in the present invention will have the formula:
  • R is a C5-C31 hydrocarbyl group, preferably straight chain C7-C19 alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight chain C9-C17 alkyl or alkenyl, most preferably straight chain Ci j-Ci 7 alkyl or alkenyl, or mixture thereof;
  • Y is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a hydrocarbyl chain with at least 2 free hydroxyls directly connected to the chain; and n is at least 1.
  • Suitable Y groups can be derived from polyols such as glycerol, pentaerythritol; sugars such as raffinose, maltodextrose, galactose, sucrose, glucose, xylose, fructose, maltose, lactose, mannose and erythrose; sugar alcohols such as erythritol, xylitol, malitol, mannitol and sorbitol; and anhydrides of sugar alcohols such as sorbitan.
  • polyols such as glycerol, pentaerythritol
  • sugars such as raffinose, maltodextrose, galactose, sucrose, glucose, xylose, fructose, maltose, lactose, mannose and erythrose
  • sugar alcohols such as erythritol, xylitol, malitol, mannitol and
  • One class of suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid esters for use in the present invention comprises certain sorbitan esters, preferably the sorbitan esters of C16-C22 saturated fatty acids. Because of the manner in which they are typically manufactured, these sorbitan esters usually comprise mixtures of mono-, di-, tri-, etc. esters.
  • sorbitan esters include sorbitan palmitates (e.g., SPAN 40), sorbitan stearates (e.g., SPAN 60), and sorbitan behenates, that comprise one or more of the mono-, di- and tri-ester versions of these sorbitan esters, e.g., sorbitan mono-, di- and tri- palmitate, sorbitan mono-, di- and tri-stearate, sorbitan mono-, di and tri-behenate, as well as mixed tallow fatty acid sorbitan mono-, di- and tri-esters.
  • sorbitan palmitates e.g., SPAN 40
  • sorbitan stearates e.g., SPAN 60
  • sorbitan behenates that comprise one or more of the mono-, di- and tri-ester versions of these sorbitan esters, e.g., sorbitan mono-, di- and tri- palmitate, sorbit
  • sorbitan esters can also be used, such as sorbitan palmitates with sorbitan stearates.
  • Particularly preferred sorbitan esters are the sorbitan stearates, typically as a mixture of mono-, di- and tri-esters (plus some tetraester) such as SPAN 60, and sorbitan stearates sold under the trade name GLYCOMUL-S by Lonza, Inc.
  • these sorbitan esters typically contain mixtures of mono-, di- and tri-esters, plus some tetraester, the mono- and di-esters are usually the predominant species in these mixtures.
  • glyceryl monoester mixtures will typically contain some di- and triester. However, such mixtures should contain predominantly the glyceryl monoester species to be useful in the present invention.
  • Suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid esters for use in the present invention comprise certain sucrose fatty acid esters, preferably the C12-C22 saturated fatty acid esters of sucrose.
  • Sucrose monoesters and diesters are particularly preferred and include sucrose mono- and di-stearate and sucrose mono- and di- laurate.
  • Suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid amides for use in the present invention will have the formula: O R 1
  • R is H, C1-C4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, methoxyethyl, methoxypropyl or a mixture thereof, preferably C1-C4 alkyl, methoxyethyl or methoxypropyl, more preferably C ⁇ or C2 alkyl or methoxypropyl , most preferably C ⁇ alkyl (i.e., methyl) or methoxypropyl; and R ⁇ is a C5-C31 hydrocarbyl group, preferably straight chain C7-C19 alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight chain C9-C17 alkyl or alkenyl, most preferably straight chain C ⁇ ⁇ -C ⁇ -j alkyl or alkenyl, or mixture thereof; and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain. See U.S.
  • the Z moiety preferably will be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; most preferably glycityl.
  • Suitable reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose.
  • High dextrose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and high maltose corn syrup can be utilized, as well as the individual sugars listed above. These corn syrups can yield mixtures of sugar components for the Z moiety.
  • the Z moiety preferably will be selected from the group consisting of -CH2- (CHOH) n -CH 2 OH, -CH(CH2 ⁇ H)-[(CHOH) n _!]-CH2 ⁇ H, -CH 2 OH-CH 2 -
  • (CHOH) 2 (CHOR 3 )(CHOH)-CH 2 OH where n is an integer from 3 to 5, and R 3 is H or a cyclic or aliphatic monosaccharide. Most preferred are the glycityls where n is 4, particularly -CH2-(CHOH)4-CH2OH.
  • R ⁇ can be, for example, N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl, N- isopropyl, N-butyl, N-2-hydroxyethyl, N-methoxypropyl or N-2-hydroxypropyl.
  • R ⁇ can be selected to provide, for example, cocamides, stearamides, oleamides, lauramides, myristamides, capricamides, palmitamides, tallowamides, etc.
  • the Z moiety can be 1- deoxyglucityl, 2-deoxyfructityl, 1 -deoxymaltityl, 1 -deoxylactityl, 1 -deoxygalactityl, 1- deoxymannityl, 1-deoxymaltotriotityl, etc.
  • polyhydroxy fatty acid amides have the general formula:
  • R 1 is methyl or methoxypropyl
  • R 2 is a C ⁇ ⁇ -Cj 7 straight-chain alkyl or alkenyl group.
  • R 1 is methyl or methoxypropyl
  • R 2 is a C ⁇ ⁇ -Cj 7 straight-chain alkyl or alkenyl group.
  • These include N-lauryl-N-methyl glucamide, N-lauryl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, N-cocoyl-N-methyl glucamide, N-cocoyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, N- palmityl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, N-tallowyl-N-methyl glucamide, or N-tallowyl- N-methoxypropyl glucamide.
  • the immobilizing agents may require an emulsifier for solubilization in the emollient.
  • an emulsifier for solubilization in the emollient.
  • certain of the glucamides such as the N-alkyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamides having HLB values of at least about 7.
  • Suitable emulsifiers will typically include those having HLB values below about 7.
  • the sorbitan esters previously described, such as the sorbitan stearates, having HLB values of about 4.9 or less have been found useful in solubilizing these glucamide immobilizing agents in petrolatum.
  • Suitable emulsifiers include steareth-2 (polyethylene glycol ethers of stearyl alcohol that conform to the formula CH3(CH2)i7(OCH2CH2) n OH, where n has an average value of 2), sorbitan tristearate, isosorbide laurate, and glyceryl monostearate.
  • the emulsifier can be included in an amount sufficient to solubilize the immobilizing agent in the emollient such that a substantially homogeneous mixture is obtained.
  • ingredients that can be used as immobilizing agents include waxes such as carnauba, ozokerite, beeswax, candelilla, paraffin, ceresin, esparto, ouricuri, rezowax, isoparaffin, and other known mined and mineral waxes.
  • waxes such as carnauba, ozokerite, beeswax, candelilla, paraffin, ceresin, esparto, ouricuri, rezowax, isoparaffin, and other known mined and mineral waxes.
  • the high melt point of these materials can help immobilize the composition on the desired surface or location on the cuff.
  • microcrystalline waxes are effective immobilizing agents. Microcrystalline waxes can aid in "locking" up low molecular weight hydrocarbons within the skin care composition.
  • the wax is a paraffin wax.
  • An example of a particularly preferred alternate immobilizing agent is a paraffin wax such as Parrafin S.P
  • the amount of the optional immobilizing agent that can be included in the composition will depend on a variety of factors, including the actives (e.g., emollients) involved, the particular immobilizing agent involved, if any, the other components in the composition, whether an emulsifier is required to solubilize the immobilizing agent in the other components, and like factors.
  • the composition will typically comprise from about 5 to about 90% of the immobilizing agent.
  • the composition will comprise from about 5 to about 50%, most preferably from about 10 to about 40%, of the immobilizing agent.
  • Compositions can comprise other components typically present in emulsions, creams, ointment, lotions, powders, suspensions, etc. of this type. These components include water, viscosity modifiers, perfumes, disinfectant antibacterial actives, antiviral agents, vitamins, pharmaceutical actives, film formers, aloe vera, deodorants, opacifiers, astringents, solvents, preservatives, and the like.
  • stabilizers can be added to enhance the shelf life of the composition such as cellulose derivatives, proteins and lecithin. All of these materials are well known in the art as additives for such formulations and can be employed in appropriate amounts in the compositions for use herein.
  • a preservative will be needed.
  • Suitable preservatives include propyl paraben, methyl paraben, benzyl alcohol, benzylkonnium, tribasic calcium phosphate, BHT, or acids such as citric, tartaric, maleic, lactic, malic, benzoic, salicylic, and the like.
  • Suitable viscosity increasing agents include some of the agents described as effective immobilizing agents.
  • Suitable viscosity increasing agents include alkyl galactomannan, silica, talc, magnesium silicate, sorbitol, colloidal silicone dioxide, magnesium aluminum silicate, zinc stearate, wool wax alcohol, sorbiton, sesquioleate, cetyl hydroxy ethyl cellulose and other modified celluloses.
  • Suitable solvents include propylene glycol, glycerine, cyclomethicone, polyethylene glycols, hexalene glycol, diol and multi-hydroxy based solvents.
  • Suitable vitamins include A, D-3, E, B-5 and E acetate.
  • the skin care composition is preferably applied to the body surface (i.e., wearer-contacting surface) of the cuff.
  • the skin care composition may alternatively be applied to the garment surface of the cuff such that an effective amount of the skin care composition is disposed on the body surface. In fact, in some circumstances, this may be a preferred approach to achieve the benefits of a fully treated cuff (i.e., both sides are treated) though application is to one surface only.
  • any of a variety of application methods that distribute lubricious materials having a molten or liquid consistency can be used to apply the skin care composition to the cuffs.
  • Suitable application methods include coating (e.g., gravure or slot coating), spraying, printing (e.g., flexographic printing), extruding, or combinations of these or other application techniques (e.g. spraying the skin care composition on a rotating surface, such as a calendar roll, that then transfers via contact coating the skin care composition to the body surface of the diaper cuffs).
  • the skin care composition can also be applied to both sides of the cuffs.
  • the manner of applying the skin care composition to the cuffs should be such that the cuffs do not become over saturated with the skin care composition. If the cuffs are treated with excessive amounts of the skin care composition, there is a greater potential for the skin care composition to migrate to undesired locations of the article, for example, into the interior of the article where it can have a detrimental effect on the absorbency of the underlying absorbent core. Also, saturation of the cuffs is not required to obtain the therapeutic and/or protective skin care composition benefits.
  • the minimum level of skin care composition to be applied to the cuff is the smallest amount effective in reducing erythema, diaper rash, red marking, skin irritation or other adverse skin conditions. (The compositions can also be effective in reducing the adherence of BM to the skin of the wearer.) Of course, the effective amount of a skin care composition will depend, to a large extent, on the particular skin care composition used. Because the emollient is substantially immobilized on the body surface of the cuff, less skin care composition is needed to impart the desired skin care benefits. Such relatively low levels of skin care composition are adequate to impart the desired therapeutic and/or protective skin care composition benefits to the cuff.
  • the skin care composition may be applied evenly and uniformly onto either or both surfaces of the cuff or portions thereof.
  • the skin care composition may also be applied in a pattern (i.e., stripes, boxes, dots, spirals, etc.).
  • the skin care composition is registered with the region of the cuff that will, in use, be most in contact with the wearer.
  • the skin care composition is applied in a stripe to a discrete portion of the cuff , e.g., a 1.4 inch wide (diaper lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the cuff is covered) and 11.75 inch long (diaper longitudinal direction) patch generally disposed in the crotch portion of the body surface of the cuff.
  • a discrete portion of the cuff e.g., a 1.4 inch wide (diaper lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the cuff is covered) and 11.75 inch long (diaper longitudinal direction) patch generally disposed in the crotch portion of the body surface of the cuff.
  • the skin care composition can also be applied nonuniformly to either or both surfaces of the cuff.
  • nonuniform it is meant that the amount, pattern of distribution, etc., of the skin care composition can vary over the cuff surface. For example, some portions of the treated surface of the cuff can have greater or lesser amounts of skin care composition, including portions of the surface that do not have any skin care composition on it.
  • the skin care composition can be applied to the cuff or a web that forms a portion of the cuff at any point during assembly. For example, the skin care composition can be applied to the cuff of the finished product before it has been packaged.
  • the skin care composition can also be applied to the cuff or the web before it is combined with the other raw materials to form a finished product, either at the converting site prior to combination with other article components or as a pretreated stock material.
  • the skin care composition is typically applied from a melt thereof to the cuff. Since the skin care composition melts at significantly above ambient temperatures, it is usually applied as a heated coating to the cuff. Typically, the skin care composition is heated to a temperature in the range from about 35° to about 100°C, preferably from 40° to about 90°C, prior to being applied to the cuff. Once the melted skin care composition has been applied to the cuff, it is allowed to cool and solidify to form a solidified coating or film disposed on the surface of the cuff. Preferably, the application process is designed to aid in the cooling/set up of the composition.
  • Figure 5 illustrates a preferred method involving continuous or intermittent contact slot coating of the skin care composition on to a diaper barrier cuff during the converting operation.
  • conveyor belt 1 advances in the direction shown by the arrows on turning rolls 3 and 4 and becomes returning conveyor belt 2.
  • Conveyor belt 1 carries nonlotioned diaper 5 to contact slot coating station 6 where the barrier cuff member 7 is coated with a hot, molten (e.g., 65°C) skin care composition.
  • the diaper 5 becomes diaper 8 having treated barrier cuffs.
  • the amount of skin care composition transferred to barrier cuff member 7 is controlled by: (1) the rate at which the molten skin care composition is applied from contact slot coating station 6; and/or (2) the speed at which conveyor belt 1 travels under slot coating station 6; and/or (3) positioning of the contact slot coating station. (If desired, the coating station may be positioned so as to coat the barrier cuff member 7 as well as portions of the topsheet 38 such that both the cuff and the topsheet have a skin care composition disposed thereon.)
  • Figure 6 illustrates an alternate preferred method involving contact slot coating of the skin care composition on the diaper barrier cuffs before the cuffs are assembled with the other raw materials into a finished product.
  • a nonwoven barrier cuff web 1 is unwound from parent barrier cuff roll 2 (rotating in the direction indicated by arrow 2a) and advanced to the contact slot coating station 6 where one side of the web is coated with a hot, molten (e.g., 65°C) skin care composition.
  • nonwoven barrier cuff web 1 becomes a treated barrier cuff web indicated by 3.
  • Treated barrier cuff web 3 is then advanced around turning roll 4 and turning roll 8, and then wound up on parent roll 10 (rotating in the direction indicated by arrow 10a).
  • the treated web is then applied to the chassis of the diaper to form the barrier cuff member of the barrier cuff during the converting operation.
  • a first skin care composition may be disposed on the topsheet while a second skin care composition may be disposed on one or more of the cuffs. It has been found that the addition of a skin care composition to both the topsheet and the cuffs performs more effectively than either alone.
  • the combination of a treated topsheet and treated cuffs provides a greater skin area to which the skin care composition may be transferred. With a larger area of the skin having the skin care composition transferred thereto, the better the likelihood that all parts of the wearer's skin will be maintained in a healthier state.
  • the first skin care composition and the second skin care composition can be the same formulation.
  • the diaper can be designed to deliver specific skin care benefits to specific portions of the skin of the wearer.
  • a first skin care composition specifically formulated to, for example, provide diaper rash prevention and/or treatment can be disposed on the topsheet.
  • the second skin care composition can be specifically formulated to, for example, provide reduced friction/red marking benefits.
  • a specific portion of the diaper may have a specifically formulated skin care composition to target a specific area of the skin of the wearer for a skin care treatment or maintenance. This allows great flexibility in the design of the diapers and the ability of the manufacturer to provide specially designed products for.a number of different consumer needs.
  • the cuffs are typically designed to contain and restrain urine and runny BM within the diaper. It may be desired that the cuffs be hydrophobic, more particularly liquid impermeable, to prevent liquids from getting through the materials. If the skin care composition is also hydrophobic it can assist the cuff in resisting the passage of liquid through the cuff.
  • the topsheet needs to be highly liquid pervious to allow urine or menses to rapidly penetrate through the topsheet to the absorbent core. Placement of a hydrophobic skin care composition on the topsheet may degrade the performance of the topsheet.
  • a hydrophilic skin care composition it may be desirable that at least a portion of the skin care composition disposed on the topsheet be made of a hydrophilic material to promote rapid transfer of liquids (e.g., urine) through the topsheet. Similarly, it may be desirable that the skin care composition be sufficiently wettable to ensure that liquids will transfer through the topsheet rapidly.
  • a hydrophobic skin care composition may be utilized, so long as they are applied such that the fluid handling properties of the topsheet are adequately maintained.
  • nonuniform application of the composition to the topsheet is one means to accomplish this goal.
  • An example of nonuniform application is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/908,852, (P&G Case 5494CR) "Diaper Having A Lotioned Topsheet", Roe, et al. filed on August 8, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • hydrophilic surfactant may, or may not, be required to improve wettability.
  • some immobilizing agents such as N-cocoyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide have HLB values of at least about 7 and are sufficiently wettable without the addition of hydrophilic surfactant.
  • Other immobilizing agents such as the C16 - C18 fatty alcohols having HLB values below about 7 may require addition of hydrophilic surfactant to improve wettability when the composition is applied to the topsheet.
  • hydrophobic emollient such as petrolatum may require the addition of a hydrophilic surfactant if hydrophilic composition is desired.
  • hydrophilic surfactant e.g., petrolatum
  • the concern around wettability is not a factor when the wearer-contacting surface under consideration is desired to be hydrophobic or when fluid handling properties of the material is adequately maintained via other means (e.g., nonuniform application).
  • Suitable hydrophilic surfactants will preferably be miscible with the other components of the skin care composition so as to form blended mixtures. Because of possible skin sensitivity of those using disposable absorbent products to which the composition is applied, these surfactants should also be relatively mild and non-irritating to the skin. Typically, these hydrophilic surfactants are nonionic to be not only non- irritating to the skin, but also to avoid other undesirable effects on any other structures within the treated diaper. For example, reductions in tissue laminate tensile strength, adhesive bond sufficiencies, and the like. Suitable nonionic surfactants may be substantially nonmigratory after the composition is applied to the topsheet and will typically have HLB values in the range of from about 4 to about 20, preferably from about 7 to about 20.
  • these nonionic surfactants will typically have melt temperatures greater than the temperatures commonly encountered during storage, shipping, merchandising, and use of disposable absorbent products, e.g., at least about 30°C.
  • these nonionic surfactants will preferably have melting points similar to those of the immobilizing agents previously described.
  • Suitable nonionic surfactants for use in compositions that will be applied to the topsheet include alkylglycosides; alkylglycoside ethers as described in U.S. Patent 4,01 1,389 (Langdon, et al), issued March 8, 1977, which is incorporated by reference; alkylpolyethoxylated esters such as Pegosperse 1000MS (available from Lonza, Inc., Fair Lawn, New Jersey), ethoxylated sorbitan mono-, di- and/or tri-esters of C12-C18 fatty acids having an average degree of ethoxylation of from about 2 to about 20, preferably from about 2 to about 10, such as TWEEN 60 (sorbitan esters of stearic acid having an average degree of ethoxylation of about 20) and TWEEN 61 (sorbitan esters of stearic acid having an average degree of ethoxylation of about 4), and the condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 54 moles
  • the alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol is typically in a straight chain (linear) configuration and contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms.
  • Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from about 11 to about 22 carbon atoms with from about 2 to about 30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
  • Examples of such ethoxylated alcohols include the condensation products of myristyl alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, the condensation products of coconut alcohol (a mixture of fatty alcohols having alkyl chains varying in length from 10 to 14 carbon atoms) with about 6 moles of ethylene oxide.
  • ethoxylated alcohols are commercially available, including TERGITOL 15-S-9 (the condensation product of C1 1-C15 linear alcohols with 9 moles of ethylene oxide), marketed by Union Carbide Corporation; KYRO EOB (condensation product of C13- C 15 linear alcohols with 9 moles of ethylene oxide), marketed by The Procter & Gamble Co., the NEODOL brand name surfactants marketed by Shell Chemical Co., in particular NEODOL 25-12 (condensation product of C12-C15 linear alcohols with 12 moles of ethylene oxide) and NEODOL 23-6.5T (condensation product of C12-C13 linear alcohols with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide that has been distilled (topped) to remove certain impurities), and especially the PLURAFAC brand name surfactants marketed by BASF Corp., in particular PLURAFAC A-38 (a condensation product of a C18 straight chain alcohol with 27 moles of ethylene oxide).
  • ethoxylated alcohols in particular ethoxylated alcohols such as NEODOL 25-12, can also function as alkyl ethoxylate emollients.
  • ethoxylated alcohol surfactants include ICI's class of Brij surfactants and mixtures thereof, with Brij 72 (i.e., Steareth-2) and Brij 76 (i.e., Steareth-10) being especially preferred.
  • Brij 72 i.e., Steareth-2
  • Brij 76 i.e., Steareth-10
  • mixtures of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol ethoxylated to an average degree of ethoxylation of from about 10 to about 20 may also be used as the hydrophilic surfactant.
  • Aerosol OT a dioctyl ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid marketed by American Cyanamid Company.
  • Still another type of suitable surfactant for use in the composition includes silicone copolymers such as General Electric SF 1188 (a copolymer of a polydimethylsiloxane and a polyoxyalkylene ether) and General Electric SF 1228 (a silicone polyether copolymer).
  • These silicone surfactants can be used in combination with the other types of hydrophilic surfactants discussed above, such as the ethoxylated alcohols.
  • These silicone surfactants have been found to be effective at concentrations as low as 0.1%, more preferably from about 0.25 to about 1.0%, by weight of the composition.
  • the amount of hydrophilic surfactant required to increase the wettability of the composition to a desired level will depend in- part upon the HLB value and level of immobilizing agent, if any, used, the HLB value of the surfactant used and like factors.
  • the composition can comprise from about 0.1 to about 50% of the hydrophilic surfactant when needed to increase the wettability properties of the composition.
  • the composition comprises from about 1 to about 25%o, most preferably from about 10 to about 20%, of the hydrophilic surfactant when needed to increase wettability.
  • a method for maintaining or improving healthy skin under absorbent articles comprises the steps of:
  • step (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) with one or more additional articles with sufficient frequency to maintain or improve the health of the skin covered by the absorbent article relative to the skin covered by an equivalent absorbent article that does not comprise the first skin care composition and the second skin care composition, and without the need for manual application of skin protective agents (e.g., by the caregiver or wearer).
  • a key to this method is the use of an absorbent article having two or more skin care compositions and frequent cycles of cumulative delivery of a first skin care composition and a second skin care composition to the wearer's skin to maintain or improve skin health.
  • Applicants have further discovered that delivery of relatively low levels of the compositions with each article wear are sufficient to obtain the skin benefits resulting from this novel method of cumulative delivery.
  • the article used in the present methods provides an available source from which the skin care compositions transfer onto the skin continuously over time. As the compositions are transferred, they accumulate on the skin surface to initiate and maintain protective activity. As a used article is discarded and replaced by a new one, this cycle is repeated for further composition accumulation above and beyond what a single or original article would have delivered on its own.
  • Certain of the ingredients for use in preferred skin care compositions are known to penetrate the stratum corneum (e.g., petrolatum, which is preferred for use herein).
  • stratum corneum e.g., petrolatum, which is preferred for use herein.
  • cutaneous manifestations of these skin conditions include redness (also referred to as erythema) and/or rash.
  • Applicants describe herein a method for maintaining or improving skin health in regions covered by an absorbent article, wherein the desired endpoint of the method is the reduction or avoidance of erythema and/or rash when compared to skin covered by an equivalent absorbent article that does not comprise the skin care compositions.
  • composition A A skin care composition is made by mixing the following melted (i.e., liquid) components together: Petrolatum (available from Witco Corp., Greenwich, CT as Perfecta®) Stearyl Alcohol (available from The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH as CO 1897) and aloe extract (available from Madis Botanicals, Inc., South Hackensack, NJ as Veragel Lipoid in Kaydol). The weight percentages of these components are shown in Table I below:
  • Skin care composition A is placed into a heated tank operating at a temperature of 170°F.
  • the composition is subsequently applied with a contact applicator (i.e., a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at a temperature of 170°F) directly onto the body surface of the barrier cuffs of a diaper in a 1.4 inch wide (diaper lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered) and 11.75 inch long (diaper longitudinal direction) area, the patch centered in the chassis in the longitudinal direction such that one or both ends of each spacing elastic member is covered by the skin care composition.
  • Add-on level 0.0116 g in 2 (18.0 g/m 2 ).
  • the spacing elastic members is operatively joined to the barrier cuff member by a specially formulated adhesive to avoid creep such as Findley H9254 as discussed previously herein.
  • the skin care composition A (prepared in accordance with the procedure in Example 1) is subsequently applied onto the body surface of the barrier cuffs of a diaper in a 1.4 inch wide (diaper lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered) stripe on of each barrier cuff and extending the entire length of the barrier cuff.
  • Add-on level 0.01 16 g/in 2 (18 g/m 2 ).
  • the skin care composition A (prepared in accordance with the procedure in Example 1 ) is subsequently applied onto the body surface of the barrier cuffs of a diaper in a 1.4 inch wide (diaper lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered) stripe on each barrier cuff and 8 inch long (diaper longitudinal direction) area, the patch centered in the contracted area of the barrier cuff such that each of the ends of the spacing elastic members is not covered by the skin care composition.
  • Add-on level - 0.0077 g/in 2 (12.0 g/m 2 ).
  • a water free skin care composition (Skin care composition B) is made by mixing the following melted (i.e., liquid) components together: Mineral Oil (Carnation White Mineral Oil, USP made by Witco Corp.); and Cetearyl Alcohol (a mixed linear C ⁇ -C ⁇ g primary alcohol made by The Procter & Gamble Company under the name TA-1618). The weight percentages of these components are shown in Table II below:
  • Skin care composition B is placed into a heated tank operating at a temperature of 170°F.
  • the composition is subsequently applied with a contact applicator (i.e., a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at a temperature of 170°F) onto the barrier cuffs of a diaper in a 1.4 inch wide (diaper lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered) and 11.75 inch long (diaper longitudinal direction) area, the patch centered in the contracted area of the barrier cuff such that one or both ends of each spacing elastic member is covered by the skin care composition.
  • Add-on level 0.01 16 g/in 2 (18.0 g/m 2 ).
  • a water free skin care composition (Skin care composition C) is made by mixing the following melted (i.e., liquid) components together: Mineral Oil (Carnation White Mineral Oil, USP made by Witco Corp.); Cetearyl Alcohol (a mixed linear l6" l8 primary alcohol made by The Procter & Gamble Company under the name TA-1618); and Cetereath 10 (a C j g-Cj g linear alcohol ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 10, made by ICI America).
  • the weight percentages of these components are shown in Table III below:
  • Skin care composition C is placed into a heated tank operating at a temperature of 170°F.
  • the composition is subsequently applied with a contact applicator (i.e., a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at a temperature of 170°F) onto the barrier cuffs of a diaper in a 1.4 inch wide (diaper lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered) and 1 1.75 inch long (diaper longitudinal direction) area, the patch centered in the contracted area of the barrier cuff such that one or both ends of each spacing elastic member is covered by the skin care composition.
  • Add-on level 0.01 16 g/in 2 (18.0 g/m 2 ).
  • a water free skin care composition (Skin care composition D) is made by mixing the following melted (i.e., liquid) components together: Petrolatum (available from Witco Corp. as Perfecta®); Cetearyl Alcohol (a mixed linear Cjg-Ci primary alcohol made by The Procter & Gamble Company under the name TA- 1618); Ceteareth 10 a Ci g-Ci g linear alcohol ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 10, made by ICI America; and Veragel 1 :1 Lipoid with Kaydol (aloe extract in mineral oil made by Dr. Madis Laboratories, Inc.). The weight percentages of these components are shown in Table IV below:
  • Skin .care composition D is placed into a heated tank operating at a temperature of 170°F.
  • the composition is subsequently applied with a contact applicator (i.e., a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at a temperature of 170°F) onto the barrier cuffs of a diaper in a 1.4 inch wide (diaper lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered) and 11.75 inch long (diaper longitudinal direction) area, the patch centered in the contracted area of the barrier cuff such that one or both ends of each spacing elastic member is covered by the skin care composition.
  • Add-on level 0.0116 g/in 2 (18.0 g/m 2 ).
  • Composition A (made according Example 1) is placed into a heated tank operating at a temperature of 170°F.
  • the composition is subsequently applied with a contact applicator (using, for example, a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head having 5 slots and operating at a temperature of 170°F) onto the topsheet of an article in a striped pattern where the stripes run in the article's longitudinal direction.
  • a contact applicator using, for example, a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head having 5 slots and operating at a temperature of 170°F
  • the distance between the stripes is 0.31 in.
  • Skin care composition A is also subsequently applied onto the body surface of the barrier cuffs of an article in a 1.4 inch wide (lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered) stripe on each barrier cuff and extending the entire length of the barrier cuff.
  • Add-on level 0.0116 g/in 2 (18 g/m 2 ).
  • Application is accomplished in the same manner as described in Example 1.
  • Composition D (made according Example 6) is placed into a heated tank operating at a temperature of 170°F.
  • the composition is subsequently applied with a contact applicator (using, for example, a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head having a single slot and operating at a temperature of 170°F) onto the topsheet of an article in generally uniform coating.
  • a contact applicator using, for example, a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head having a single slot and operating at a temperature of 170°F
  • the stripe is applied so as to be centered on the article's longitudinal centerline.
  • Skin care composition A is subsequently applied onto the body surface of the barrier cuffs of the article in a 1.4 inch wide (lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered) stripe on each barrier cuff and extending the entire length of the barrier cuff.
  • Add-on level 0.0116 g/in 2 (18 g/m 2 ).
  • Application is accomplished in the same manner as described in Example 1.

Abstract

Cet article absorbant, une couche par exemple, est pourvu de lisières renfermant des compositions de soin de la peau. Cette composition placée dans les lisières peut migrer vers la peau du porteur de la couche par contact normal et/ou du fait des mouvements du porteur et/ou par le fait de la chaleur corporelle. Les compositions de soin de la peau de l'invention sont choisies pour garantir l'hygiène dermatologique du porteur par leur migration lors de l'utilisation de la couche et/ou l'améliorer et ce, en constituant une barrière protégeant la peau ou en procurant un bénéfice d'ordre thérapeutique. Ces compositions ont également pour but de réduire à son minimum l'abrasion causée à la peau lorsque les lisières entrent en contact avec celle-ci, ce qui a pour corollaire de réduire l'irritation cutanée. Elles améliorent, de surcroît, le nettoyage des selles sur la peau ou renforcent les propriétés barrières des lisières.
EP97950824A 1996-12-03 1997-12-03 Articles absorbants a lisieres renfermant des compositions de soin de la peau Withdrawn EP0967949A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US766386 1985-08-16
US08/766,386 US6156024A (en) 1996-12-03 1996-12-03 Absorbent articles having lotioned leg cuffs
1997-01-14
US962312 1997-10-31
US08/962,310 US6166285A (en) 1994-11-28 1997-10-31 Absorbent articles having cuffs with skin care composition disposed thereon
US08/962,312 US6120488A (en) 1994-11-28 1997-10-31 Absorbent articles having cuffs and topsheet with skin care composition(s) disposed thereon
US962310 1997-10-31
PCT/US1997/022190 WO1998024390A2 (fr) 1996-12-03 1997-12-03 Articles absorbants a lisieres renfermant des compositions de soin de la peau

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0967949A2 true EP0967949A2 (fr) 2000-01-05

Family

ID=27419627

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97950824A Withdrawn EP0967949A2 (fr) 1996-12-03 1997-12-03 Articles absorbants a lisieres renfermant des compositions de soin de la peau

Country Status (13)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0967949A2 (fr)
JP (1) JP3768245B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR20000069286A (fr)
CN (1) CN1121241C (fr)
BR (1) BR9713681A (fr)
CO (1) CO4910110A1 (fr)
CZ (1) CZ297044B6 (fr)
HU (1) HU225516B1 (fr)
IL (1) IL130231A0 (fr)
MX (1) MXPA99005171A (fr)
MY (1) MY120713A (fr)
NO (1) NO992679L (fr)
TR (1) TR199901797T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4002194B2 (ja) * 2002-06-14 2007-10-31 花王株式会社 吸収性物品
US9035123B2 (en) * 2002-10-01 2015-05-19 The Procter & Gamble Company Absorbent article having a lotioned topsheet
US8092814B2 (en) * 2006-10-30 2012-01-10 Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. Cover material for an absorbent article including a skin care composition and an absorbent article having a cover material including a skin care composition
JP5140374B2 (ja) * 2007-10-09 2013-02-06 ユニ・チャーム株式会社 吸収性着用物品およびその製造方法
WO2011074389A1 (fr) * 2009-12-14 2011-06-23 花王株式会社 Procédé de fabrication d'article absorbant
JP5766937B2 (ja) * 2010-11-22 2015-08-19 花王株式会社 使い捨ておむつ
JP6377523B2 (ja) * 2014-12-26 2018-08-22 ユニ・チャーム株式会社 吸収性物品
JP6495765B2 (ja) * 2015-06-30 2019-04-03 ユニ・チャーム株式会社 使い捨ておむつ
JP7233811B2 (ja) * 2018-10-31 2023-03-07 花王株式会社 吸収性物品
JP6911090B2 (ja) 2019-11-20 2021-07-28 大王製紙株式会社 使い捨て着用物品
KR20220159355A (ko) 2020-03-25 2022-12-02 다이오 페이퍼 코퍼레이션 일회용 착용 물품
KR20220159354A (ko) 2020-03-25 2022-12-02 다이오 페이퍼 코퍼레이션 일회용 착용 물품
JP2021186662A (ja) 2020-05-29 2021-12-13 大王製紙株式会社 使い捨て着用物品
JP7449807B2 (ja) 2020-07-28 2024-03-14 大王製紙株式会社 吸収性物品

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4695278A (en) * 1985-10-11 1987-09-22 The Procter & Gamble Company Absorbent article having dual cuffs
US5643588A (en) * 1994-11-28 1997-07-01 The Procter & Gamble Company Diaper having a lotioned topsheet
US5569234A (en) * 1995-04-03 1996-10-29 The Procter & Gamble Company Disposable pull-on pant

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9824390A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1121241C (zh) 2003-09-17
HUP0003235A3 (en) 2004-08-30
MY120713A (en) 2005-11-30
CN1251534A (zh) 2000-04-26
TR199901797T2 (xx) 1999-10-21
JP2002509457A (ja) 2002-03-26
KR20000069286A (ko) 2000-11-25
CO4910110A1 (es) 2000-04-24
CZ297044B6 (cs) 2006-08-16
MXPA99005171A (es) 2002-07-02
JP3768245B2 (ja) 2006-04-19
CZ199499A3 (cs) 1999-11-17
HU225516B1 (en) 2007-01-29
IL130231A0 (en) 2000-06-01
NO992679D0 (no) 1999-06-02
NO992679L (no) 1999-08-03
HUP0003235A2 (hu) 2001-01-29
BR9713681A (pt) 2000-03-28

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