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
  • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
  • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
  • A61F13/51104—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin the top sheet having a three-dimensional cross-section, e.g. corrugations, embossments, recesses or projections
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
  • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
  • A61F13/45—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
  • A61F13/495—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers with faecal cavity
• • 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
  • A61F13/49007—Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers
• • 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
  • A61F13/49473—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers characterised by edge leakage prevention means the edge leakage prevention means having a continuous closed form, e.g. circle, ellipse, rectangle
• • 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
  • A61F13/495—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers with faecal cavity
  • A61F2013/4951—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers with faecal cavity with internal barriers
• • 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
  • A61F13/495—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers with faecal cavity
  • A61F2013/4953—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers with faecal cavity with rear faecal part separate from front urinary part
• • 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
  • A61F13/495—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers with faecal cavity
  • A61F2013/4956—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers with faecal cavity with vertical spacer or separator keeping other components out of contact

Definitions

• the present invention relates to articles, such as disposable absorbent articles or disposable underwear such as for receiving bodily exudates such as faeces and urine. Background
• Articles that are designed to separate bodily exudates from the skin of a wearer are well known in the art.
• EP359410A1 Freeland; P&G discloses a disposable absorbent article with an elastic topsheet having an aperture or passageway.
• US3848599 A shows diaper with two parts of an absorbent core, which are positioned longitudinally partially overlapping. In the overlapping region, the topsheet follows the shingled formation, thusly forming a cross-directional fold, which is affixed at the lateral margins of the article. Thus, upon donning of the article or during use longitudinal forces reduce the overlap in the middle portion of the article and a trough- like cavity is formed into which faeces can be deposited.
• JP08-196565 (Onishi; Uni Charm) an absorbent article is described having an absorbing core with an upper layer core and a lower layer core.
• the upper layer core is divided in longitudinal direction and the two front and rear parts are separated by a distance.
• the topsheet is folded around the ends of the upper core and between the upper and lower core layer, thereby forming pockets into which faeces can be deposited.
• EP908162A2 shows a disposable diaper, wherein a supplemental member having two side walls is bonded to the top sheet and a top wall, thereby forming excreta guide openings or passageways.
• US20080110553A1 (Otsubo; Uni Charm) discloses a pants-type diaper, wherein a separator sheet overlying the topsheet is connected thereto in the crotch region. Forwardly and rearwardly the separator sheet is unconnected to the topsheet in the median region.
• the forward and rearward longitudinal end margins of the separator sheet are connected to each other, thusly forming in an in-use configuration cone -like spaces for receiving faeces and urine, respectively.
• WO2011064272 A2 (Schmitz) describes an article such as an article to be worn on the lower torso of a wearer, such as pants or diapers.
• the article has a flexible faeces separation member, such as a faeces trap sheet, which is attached in a particular way such that an effective separation of faeces and skin respective genitals can be achieved.
• the present invention is an article to be worn on the lower torso of a wearer with an article width (y-) direction corresponding to the left-right orientation of the wearer during use, an article length (x-) direction corresponding to a line running from the front waist through the crotch to the rear waist of the wearer during use, and an article thickness (z-) direction perpendicular to the x- and y- direction.
• the article comprises a front waist region, a longitudinally opposite rear waist region, and a crotch region.
• the crotch region is positioned longitudinally between the front and the rear waist regions and comprises longitudinally offset regions of an anal region corresponding to the position of the anus of a wearer during use, a genital region corresponding to the position of the labia or scrotum and penis, respectively, during use; and a perineal region there between.
• the article further comprises a topsheet and a backsheet material.
• the topsheet material comprises a first surface adapted to generally face towards the wearer during use and of which at least a portion is adapted to be in contact with the skin of the wearer during use and an opposite surface, facing generally away from the wearer during use.
• the backsheet material is positioned away from a wearer during use and having a first surface oriented towards the opposite surface of the topsheet, defining an overall article length.
• a further material may be positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, preferably an absorbent element.
• At least portions of the topsheet are connected to the backsheet or the further material in the front and rear waist regions, and along the longitudinally extending side margins of the backsheet. Portions of the topsheet are essentially unconnected to the backsheet or the further layer at least in the perineal region.
• the article comprises at least in the crotch region longitudinally overfolded side margins such that portions of the first surface of said topsheet are contacting each other.
• the topsheet further comprises a y-directional foldline that may be positioned in the perineal region and the article further comprises topsheet foreshortening means adapted to foreshorten the surface length of the topsheet relative to the overall article length by connecting a first and a second connecting region of the topsheet to each other, thereby forming in the topsheet a generally z-directionally extending crotch flap region positioned longitudinally between the connecting regions.
• a longitudinally (x-directionally) extending line running from the front end of the article along the topsheet to the connected connecting regions and directly to the rear end of the article is at least 10 mm shorter than a line running from the front end of the article along the backsheet through the crotch region of the article towards the rear end of the article.
• the crotch flap may comprise a third crotch flap connecting region, adapted to connect the second surface of the crotch flap to an underlying layer, preferably to an underlying core or to a backsheet. Any or all of the first, second or third connecting can be done by adhesive or thermal bonding.
• the article may further comprise a cross-directionally extending separation line in the crotch flap positioned between the y-directional fold line and the first or the second topsheet connecting region, wherein the third connecting of the crotch flap to the backsheet or to the absorbent core is positioned between the separation line and the fold line.
• the article may even further comprise at least one passageway which is positioned in the anal region of the article, and which is adapted to allow faeces to pass through, and / or at least one passageway which is positioned in the genital region and which is adapted to allow urine or menses or urine or menses releasing body parts to pass through.
• the crotch flap is adapted to separate faeces from urine or menses or from urine or menses releasing body parts.
• the passageways may be a slit or an opening in the topsheet.
• the article may comprise further a connecting point cover flap, preferably a partially cut out portion of the topsheet, positioned in the in-use configuration between the first and second connecting region and the wearer.
• Fig. 1 A schematically depicts a lower torso of a wearer.
• Fig. IB to D show schematically an execution of an article according to the present invention.
• Fig. IE depicts schematically a further execution for forming a crotch flap according to the present invention.
• FIG. 2A to C depict schematically a topsheet as being useful in the present invention with specific executions of a passageway.
• FIG. 3A depicts schematically a topsheet as being useful in the present invention with passageway formed by slits, with an opened configuration of such passageways in Fig. 3B.
• Fig. 4 shows schematically a further execution of an article according to the present invention wherein the longitudinal side margins can be overfolded.
• FIG. 5 A to F show a particular execution according to the present invention with a connecting point cover flap.
• FIG. 6 A and B depict schematically a further execution of the present invention..
• the present invention relates to articles, typically worn by humans on the lower torso, such as pants style articles or diapers.
• the articles according to the present invention are adapted to provide improved fit and skin health by an improved functionality with regard to the handling of bodily discharges such as faeces and / or urine or menses as may be discharged thereto.
• the articles according to the present invention comprise absorbent elements so as to immobilize liquid bodily discharges, however articles may also have no or only very limited liquid absorption capability, such as when being adapted to receive solid excrements only.
• Articles according to the present invention are often discarded, or disposed of, or recycled after they are loaded with the bodily discharged, such that such articles are typically referred to as "disposable”.
• the present invention relates to articles which may be closed pants or pants-style articles or to articles, which are open products and which may be brought into a closed pants- style form upon donning such as conventional taped diapers. Included in the term “articles” are pre-forms of such articles, which may require addition of certain elements or performance of certain process steps to be functional as an article.
• An article according to the present invention may have an "in-use configuration” or a "pre -use configuration", which may differ in the geometric or spatial arrangement of certain elements thereof.
• the articles according to the present invention comprise a centre piece comprising a front and a rear region, typically corresponding to the front and back waist regions of a wearer, and a crotch region there between, thereby defining the longitudinal orientation or x- direction of the article.
• the article exhibits a width or y- dimension, which during use corresponds to the left-right direction of the wearer and a thickness or z-direction perpendicular to the x- and y- direction.
• the longitudinal axis of the article corresponds during use to a line running from the front waist region through the crotch region to the rear waist region of the wearer.
• the crotch region of the article corresponds to the crotch region of the wearer, which within the present context is considered to comprise the perineal region and includes rearwardly the anus and forwardly genitals.
• the crotch region comprises in a longitudinal arrangement the genital region, the perineal region and the anal region.
• the crotch region comprises laterally, i.e. y-directionally outwardly positioned regions and a median crotch region there between, including the longitudinally extending centreline.
• the "crotch point” refers to a point along the longitudinally extending axis of the article corresponding to a point in the perineal region of a wearer between the anus and the scrotum, or the labia respectively.
• the crotch point of an article can be determined by placing an article on a wearer of the physical size for which the article is designed and who is in a fully upright standing position with his or her feet a shoulder width apart and then placing an extensible filament around the upper thighs in a figure eight configuration. The point in the article corresponding to the point of intersection of the filament is considered to be the crotch point of the article.
• the length of the perineal region has a person to person variability, and is also somewhat dependent on the gender. Typically a range of 2.5 cm and 7 cm covers most of the adults, with a medium length of between 4 cm and 5 cm, both ranges being applicable to female and male persons. For Babies, the perineal length is typically shorter, though not below about 1 cm. Thus, typically, the crotch point on a wearer is positioned between about 0.5 cm and about 4 cm forwardly of the forward end of the anus.
• the article further may comprise side panels in side panel regions, which extend laterally outwardly of the centre piece along the width y-direction of the article at least in the front and / or rear waist region.
• this refers to an article in its in-use configuration.
• the side panels - if present - may be folded or stacked so as to overly the centre region, but are nonetheless considered as "extending laterally outwardly”.
• the article according to the present invention is essentially symmetrical to its longitudinally extending centreline.
• An article according to the present invention may further comprise various other functional or aesthetic elements, such as side panel extensions, barrier leg cuffs, leg hoops, leg elastics, waist elastics, landing zones and related fasteners, lotions, printing, and other elements as used in products currently available for purchase, all well known as such in the art.
• various other functional or aesthetic elements such as side panel extensions, barrier leg cuffs, leg hoops, leg elastics, waist elastics, landing zones and related fasteners, lotions, printing, and other elements as used in products currently available for purchase, all well known as such in the art.
• An article according to the present invention comprises at least two material layers as topsheet and backsheet. Beyond the general requirements that apply to articles to be worn on the lower torso of a wearer, such as not compromising on comfort or health aspects, there are no particular constraints resulting from the application of the present invention to such articles. Routine adaptation to the specific application will determine strength, softness, air- and liquid permeability, etc., of the materials. In particular when the articles are intended for large scale production, the materials are preferably web materials.
• web relates to any material which is essentially endless or continuous in one direction (generally denoted as “x-direction” or “machine direction”). Webs are often, but not necessarily, stored, supplied or used in roll form and thusly also sometimes denoted “roll goods”. Whilst these are then not “endless” in the strict sense of the word, their extension in this x-direction is significantly larger than in any other direction. By combining consecutive rolls or other batches, (“splicing”) such webs can be considered “endless” for all practical purposes.
• Webs may be transported in a "batch” form, such as when a roll thereof is shipped, or they may follow a "web path", such as when the webs are unwound from a roll, as described hereinafter.
• Typical examples for webs are - without implying any limitation - plastic films or foils, textiles, non-wovens, nets, scrims.
• At least a portion of a first web material is intended to be generally in contact with the skin of the wearer with a first surface and is typically referred to as "topsheet". Its second opposite surface of the first web material faces away from the wearer.
• the term "generally” refers to the fact, that - at least in an in-use configuration - at least one portion of the topsheet is folded away from the surface, such that it does not touch the skin of the wearer, as will be described herein below. There may also be other portions, such as side margins, of the topsheet, which may be folded, e.g. overfolded, and thus these portions of the first surface may not face towards the wearer.
• a topsheet is the portion of the article, which faces towards the wearer at least in waist regions.
• the topsheet is preferably compliant, soft feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin and may be manufactured from a wide range of materials, such as porous foams; reticulated foams; apertured plastic films; or woven or non woven webs of natural fibres (e.g., wood or cotton fibres), synthetic fibres (e.g., polyester or polypropylene fibres), or a combination of natural and synthetic fibres. If the topsheet includes fibres, the fibres may be spunbond, carded, wet-laid, meltblown, hydroentangled, or otherwise processed as is known in the art.
• the topsheet may be a composite material, such as when comprising an open net or scrim structure in combination with a spunbonded web. Such a composite may also have discontinuities, such as when a spunbonded web comprises a cut out and is overlying a continuous net.
• the topsheet may be made of a hydrophobic material and may - optionally only in certain regions - be treated to be hydrophilic so that liquids will transfer through the topsheet more rapidly.
• the topsheet can be rendered hydrophilic by treating it with a surfactant or by incorporating a surfactant into the topsheet, both methods being well known in the art.
• the article further comprises a second web material positioned such that its first surface is oriented towards the second, opposite surface of the first web material. During use, the second, opposite surface of the second web material faces away from the wearer. Often, such a second web material is referred to as "backsheet".
• the backsheet forms generally the outer surface of the article during use. In case of absorbent articles it prevents the exudates absorbed and contained therein from soiling articles which may contact the article.
• the backsheet is often impervious to liquids (e.g., urine) and often comprises a thin plastic film such as a thermoplastic film having a thickness of about 0.01 mm to about 0.1 mm.
• suitable backsheet materials may include breathable materials which permit vapours to escape from the article while still preventing exudates from passing through the backsheet.
• Exemplary breathable materials may include materials such as woven webs, nonwoven webs, composite materials such as film-coated nonwoven webs, microporous films, all of which are well known in the art.
• the webs may also be overfolded together, such as when their longitudinal side margins are folded over along a longitudinally extending fold line such that portions of the first surface of the first web are contacting each other.
• an article according to the present invention may comprise further elements, features, and materials, such as may typically be used in articles such as disposable absorbent articles.
• the article may be used to capture excrements without having any absorptive capacity. Then the article may be just equipped with side closures to fit the articles or they may be held on the wearer by underwear or apparel,
• the article comprises liquid absorbent elements, often also referred to as absorbent cores, as may be selected over a very wide range of executions as being well known in the art.
• An absorbent element may be a composite material, such as by comprising various materials, such as particulate material, such as superabsorbent particles, fibrous materials, such as cellulose fluff, or other materials, layers or webs, such as adhesives, tissues, nonwovens, etc, all of which are well known in the art.
• the absorbent element exhibits a sufficient z-directional integrity and strength so as to allow connecting of a topsheet thereto, in particular when the absorbent elements are connected to the backsheet.
• This integrity may be enhanced inherently or by added integrity enhancement means, such as adhesive or binder fibres, or heat or pressure bonding.
• An absorbent element may be formed in-line or may be produced off-line and be brought to the manufacturing facilities, where it may be combined with further materials.
• the absorbent core may be a so called air-laid absorbent material, often also referred to as roll-stock core.
• An article according to the present invention can be used without particular closure systems or fastening tapes and may be immobilized on the body by normal underwear or specially designed pants like net pants, also well known in the art.
• the article may be held to the body by conventional closure elements such as well known closure tapes of the adhesive and/or mechanical engagement type.
• the article may also form a pants-style article with side closures which may be permanently connected or which may be releasably pre-fastenend during manufacturing but which may be non-destructively adjusted by the user.
• the longitudinally extending side margins of the article are overfolded at least in the crotch region such that portions of the first surface of the topsheet are contacting each other.
• This overfolding is described in detail in WO2011/064772, to which express reference is made in the context of the overfolding.
• the article topsheet, backsheet and an absorbent element there between may form the centre piece of an article, which may be combined with leg hoops and/or side panels and closure systems, such described in WO06/102974A1 or WO08/037281.
• elastic elements may be included such as for product reconnaissance reasons or for providing other functionality in other parts of the article, such as when being used as a waist feature.
• the topsheet comprises at least one passageway, and that it is urged away from the backsheet towards the user at least in the region of this passageway.
• a passageway is known in the art, such as by being described in WO2011/064272, to which express reference is made with regard to the description of such passageways.
• a passageway is a discontinuity in the topsheet allowing bodily exudates, especially faeces, urine or menses, or such body exudates emanating body parts, to pass through the topsheet.
• a passageway may be a hole or an aperture, such by a portion being cut out, or a slit extending x-or y- directionally, whereby the side margins are adapted to dislocate z- directionally upon a load penetrating through and/or x- or y- directionally upon action of a slit opening force.
• a generally longitudinally extending slit may have one or more generally cross-directionally extending slits at its longitudinal ends, and the longitudinal side margins may be overfolded.
• the topsheet may be a composite material, such as an open net or a scrim allowing for example faeces to penetrate through, and a spunbonded web facing towards the wearer. A passageway may then be formed by an opening in the spunbondend web whilst the net or scrim material remains unchanged.
• the term "generally extending in longitudinal direction” refers to a situation, where the projection of the line onto the longitudinal centreline is longer than the projection onto the cross-directionally extending straight line, and vice versa.
• a first execution of a passageway is adapted to allow faeces to penetrate through.
• a faeces passageway should be positioned in registry with the anus of the wearer during use and also its size should be adapted accordingly.
• a faeces passageway should be positioned along the longitudinal centreline of the article rearwardly of the perineal region of a wearer.
• the faeces passageway should have a longitudinal extension of at least the length of the anus, and this should be preferably at least 2 cm in case of being intended for babies, and 4 cm in case of adults.
• the faeces passage should exhibit a cross-directional opening during use, i.e. in its in-use configuration, of at least 2 cm.
• a second execution of a passageway is adapted to allow urine or menses to pass through.
• a passageway should be positioned forwardly of the perineal region and should be positioned in the in-use configuration and have dimensions of at least 3 cm in length and 1 cm in width.
• a variant of this execution may allow urine or menses emanating organs or genitals, such as penis and scrotum or labia, to pass through.
• An article according to the present invention may comprise either one of the described executions for a passageway or both.
• topsheet is urged away during use from the underlying layer.
• the present invention does not rely on elastification but rather exploits geometrical effects by foreshortening the topsheet relative to the backsheet. Apart from allowing simple and cost effective designs, this approach ensures that the topsheet lies smoothly against the skin of the wearer, which has to be seen in contrast to the shirring of materials as often results from the use of elastics.
• This foreshortening is achieved by folding away a portion of the topsheet along at least one y-directionally extending fold line.
• the folded-away material of the topsheet is positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet (i.e. away from the wearer) as a flap and may - especially in case of having a faeces and a urine passageway - very advantageously limit the longitudinal distribution of faeces and or urine or menses, thusly preventing undesired contacting of these.
• topsheet regions forwardly and / or rearwardly of the crotch point being connected to each other, as will be described herein below in more detail.
• topsheet and the underlying layer are connected to each other in the front and rear regions of the article and in the laterally outward regions of the crotch region, but not in the median crotch region.
• the flap i.e. the folded away part of the topsheet, is connected to the underlying layer, such as by adhesive means, heat bonding or other connecting means, thereby forming a crotch flap.
• the crotch flap may be a fold in the topsheet, and thus be essentially a double layer material, or it may comprise a y- directional separation line or slit positioned asymmetrically such that a longer single layer crotch flap is formed.
• the foreshortening may be achieved by forming the y-directional fold during the manufacturing of the article during the conventional y-directional "final folding".
• the foreshortening is then achieved by connecting portions of the first (upper, wearer oriented surface during use) of the topsheet to each other at the appropriate connecting points.
• Connecting refers to any means that reliably holds the connection points together, such that they do not separate in use, such as by applying a suitable adhesive or another suitable connecting means.
• the foreshortening is already affected and a distinct three-dimensional structure is formed, i.e. the unfolded article cannot be laid flat on a flat surface with all parts of it being flat.
• Such an in-use configuration may be particularly beneficial in case of applying the article to a baby, which can readily be lifted by the caretaker and placed upon the article.
• FIG. 1 A depicts schematically a cross-sectional side view of the lower torso 15 and a leg 20 of a wearer 10 with a front waist region 30 and a rear waist region 40.
• a crotch region 50 comprises an anal region 60 (anus not shown), a perineal region 70 with a crotch point 75 and a genital region 80 (genitals not shown).
• Fig. IB and C show schematically an article 1010 before the foreshortening is achieved in a top view and a side view respectively, with Cartesian coordinates with a length or x- direction 1102, a width or y-direction 1107 and a thickness or z-direction 1105, a well as with a longitudinal centreline 1103.
• the article has a topsheet 1200 and a backsheet 1300, the latter at a backsheet length 1310.
• An absorbent element 1400 is shown with dotted lines, indicating that it is optional.
• the article has a front waist region 1112 and a rear waist region 1118, where the topsheet and the backsheet are connected, here shown as intermittent connecting regions 1512 and 1518, respectively.
• the article further comprises a crotch region 1115, comprising a genital region 1114, a perineal region 1116 with crotch point 1119 and an anal region 1117.
• the dotted line 1120 indicates the position of the y-directional fold line as formed when the foreshortening is achieved.
• the figures indicate a first execution for the foreshortening, where a first, here shown forwardly, connecting point 1122 and a second, here shown rearwardly, connecting point 1128 are connected to each other, such as by the final folding of the article.
• the article further comprises a passageway here shown as faeces passageway 1130 in the anal region.
• a further passageway may be present in the genital region, here indicated as an option with dotted lines 1135.
• Fig. ID the article is shown after the foreshortening is achieved, thereby creating a crotch flap 1250 with the y-directional fold line 1120.
• the article still has an overall article length corresponding to the backsheet length 1310. But as the topsheet is foreshortened to the foreshortened topsheet length 1210, the front and rear waist regions are urged upwardly and the article takes a three-dimensional U-shape.
• Fig. 1 D further indicates a variant with an absorbent element 1400. Also, a crotch flap is formed by connecting the topsheet in a third connecting region 1255 to this absorbent element, or - if no absorbent element were present - to the backsheet.
• Fig. 1 E an execution is shown, where the topsheet is cross-directionally separated in the folded-away region, such as by a slit, at least in the median portion of the crotch region.
• the area close to the first margin 1260 of the slit in the flap is connected by the third connecting 1255 to the core element, or to the backsheet.
• the second margin of the slit 1265 is spaced away from the first margin.
• a further way to achieve the foreshortening is depicted, namely by positioning both connecting regions 1128 and 1128 rearwardly of the rear opening thereby creating the y-directional fold line 1120.
• the folded portion of the topsheet may optionally not be connected to the underlying layers.
• a topsheet 1200 is schematically shown with various shapes and positions of the passageways prior to the creation of the y-directional fold.
• the connecting may be an adhesive applied to only one connecting region 1518, which upon cross-directional folding of the article forms the flap 1250.
• FIG.3 indicates further options of forming passageways.
• a longitudinal slit 2010 is combined with two cross-directional slits 2012 and 2018 respectively.
• rectangular passageway 1130 is formed.
• two cuts 2020 are applied in an x-shape.
• a rectangular passageway 1135 is formed.
• the foreshortening by a cross-directional foldline may be combined with overfolding of the longitudinal side margins.
• the topsheet 1200 comprises longitudinal slits for forming the passageways 1130 and 1135, a first, rearward connecting point 1128, here indicated as glued dots and a second, forward connecting region, here indicated as dotted region 1122 onto which the rearward connecting dots are positioned after overfolding.
• the article can be overfolded along the longitudinal fold lines 2270 such that first side margin connecting regions, here shown as glue dots 2275, are connecting to second side margin connecting regions 2277.
• FIG. 5 depicts a further execution of the present invention, wherein the first and second connecting points are covered by a connecting point flap.
• the article as shown corresponds to an article as shown in fig. IB or Fig. 2, Fig. 5 A, 5B, and 5C show and article 1010 in a pre-use, i.e. unforeshortened configuration with respective enlarged views and side vies 5D and 5E, respectively.
• the topsheet 1200 comprises two passageways 1130 and 1135, respectively, essentially aligned with the longitudinal centreline 1103.
• a cross-directional foldline 1120 is indicated in the perineal region 1116 in the crotch region 1115.
• a first connecting region 1128 is shown rearwardly of the foldline, i.e.
• the present execution further comprises a connecting point cover flap 4000, such as may be formed by cut-lines 4100 in the topsheet 1200 (see Fig. 5A). As indicated by arrow 4300 in Fig. 5B and the side view 5D, this connection point cover flap is shown in an upwardly folded configuration, indicated as 4000' , around a connecting point cover flap folding line 4200. In Fig. 5C and 5E, the flap is further folded along arrow 4300' completely overfolded as flap 4200".
• the second connecting region 1122 is indicated as dashed points mirroring the first connecting region 1128 upon folding along the y- directional foldline 1120, thusly connecting the first connecting region rearwardly of the fold line to the second connecting region on the connecting point cover flap.
• the connecting point cover flap 4000"' is pulled back along the fold line 4200, now overlying the connecting points 1128 and 1122.
• This execution may be particularly advantageous, if the connecting point might have a risk of skin irritation, if in direct contact with the skin.
• cover flap may be equivalently executed, such as by adding a separate material patch and the like.

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• 2013
  • 2013-10-15 GB GB1318198.7A patent/GB2519291A/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2014
  • 2014-10-15 WO PCT/EP2014/072080 patent/WO2015055696A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2014-10-15 EP EP14790035.1A patent/EP3057552A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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