FR2502490A1 - HYGIENIC TOWEL RESISTANT TO DEFORMATIONS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A HYGIENIC TOWEL INCLUDING A FLUID IMPERMEABLE SCREEN 14 AND AN ABSORBENT LAYER 10. THE PROBLEM SOLVED CONSISTS OF PREVENTING DEFORMATION OF THE TOWEL AFTER ABSORPTION OF FLUIDS. THE TOWEL IS CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE ABSORBENT LAYER 10 CONTAINS FUSIBLE FIBERS AND HAS FOLDED LONGITUDINAL SIDES, THIS TOWEL RETAINING AT LEAST 96.5 OF ITS FLAT SURFACE AREA AFTER ABSORBING A GRAM OF FLUID AND AFTER BEING DURING ONE HOUR. THE INVENTION IS APPLICABLE IN PARTICULAR TO TOWELS CONTAINING A SUPERABSORBENT MATERIAL.

Description

Hygienic towel resistant to deformations ".

  The present invention relates to the sector of sanitary napkins and relates in particular to a

  sanitary napkin containing fusible fibers.

  One of the conventional ways of forming a sanitary napkin is to assemble the napkin by placing the bottom side upward. A fluid-permeable cover material is covered by an absorbent layer

  such as wood chip plush, so that the edges of ex-

  tremity coincide. We can then add, if desired, a

  superabsorbent powder or a sheet of superabsorbent material

  you. If a sheet containing a superabundant material is used

  sorbent, it is not necessary that the ends of this

  sheet coincide with those of other components. The envelop-

  fluid permeability and the absorbent layer are then

  folded to obtain essentially a double thickness. A fluid impermeable screen is then added to hold the fold in place as well as to provide the barrier against the required fluids in the finished towel. The napkin obtained with this construction has folded longitudinal edges

who are soft and comfortable.

  It is also known to introduce fusible fibers in an absorbent layer. The U.S. Patent No. 4,059,114 describes such a combination. As described

  in this document, fusible fibers are added to increase

  the absorption capacity by assisting the flow of fluid

  inside the absorbent layer.

  A thick sanitary napkin

  which is supposed to absorb as much as

  traditionally thick, has been recently sold by Johnson & Johnson of Milltown, New Jersey, under the name

Commercial "Sure & Natural".

  The absorbent component of this service

  It contains a superabsorbent material mixed with the conventional absorbent layer. The remaining absorbent material is of the type

- 2502490.

  Conventional cellulosic. Even with the introduction of superabsorbent material, this towel did not fulfill the performance

  claimed. One of the reasons for these achievements has been

  disappointing maneuvers were the constraints of defor-

  imposed on the napkin and that its construction

could not bear.

  During use, the sanitary napkin

  is subjected to forces directed inward along the longitudinal axis and exerted by the person's legs.

  wearer. These forces also provoke an action of

  sanding along the longitudinal axis. It has been found that when conventional absorbent materials contain a sufficient amount of liquid, such as that of the rules, and

  that a deformation force is applied, the absorbing

  the classic does not return to its previous form. This is true even if the absorbent material is surrounded by a non-absorbent envelope. The absorption of the rules tends to provoke a

  local tightening and warping according to the plan of the

  you. This causes not only discomfort due to warping

  towel, but also acts adversely on its properties.

  absorption tees. Significant warping and local tightness

  damp absorbent material can cause

  ducts directing the fluid to a lateral flow

  ral or acting differently on the general distribution

  fluid in the absorbent material.

  The invention aims to avoid the disadvantages mentioned above. It relates for this purpose, a towel of the above type, characterized in that the absorbent layer comprises fusible fibers and has folded longitudinal sides, this towel retaining at least 96.5% of the extent of its flat surface after have absorbed one gram of fluid and have been worn for one hour. The absorbent material therefore contains fusible fibers which, in combination

  with the folded longitudinal edges, form an absorbent matrix

  elastic bunt which retains its shape after a significant absorption of fluid. Accordingly, a napkin made according to the invention is superior in terms of comfort and absorption, to a napkin having the same absorption bulk and similar superabsorbent capacity. The invention will be better understood in

  the description below and the attached drawing represent-

  as an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this drawing, the single figure is a sectional view of the conforming towel

  to the invention according to a preferred embodiment.

As can be seen in the

  that an absorbent layer 10 containing fusible fibers is surrounded by a fluid-permeable envelope 16 and this

  layer is folded down on itself to form -

  closely spaced edges 11 shown in broken lines

  pus. An intermediate layer of superabsorbent material 13 is

  arranged substantially in the center of the absorbent matrix in

  placed on the upper surface 12 of the downwardly folded portion of the absorbent material 10. A fluid-impermeable screen 14 is adhesively secured to the lower surface of the

  folded portion of the absorbent material. The trans ends

  The versales of the absorbent layer 10 are not sealed at their edges but, instead, sealed by fusion. This fusion appears generally in the absorbent material in the form of thin, unidirectional semicircular strips offset inwardly from the ends of the napkin. By leaving the end portions of the napkin free of bonds, free and flexible ends are obtained, which is more comfortable than exactly linked ends.

their edges.

  The preferred embodiment of the sanitary napkin shown in FIG. 1 has an outer shell that is integral with the absorbent material

  preferential and fused with the abbreviated matter

  sorbent after it has been deposited on the envelope -4- used as a support. This is so because the preferred material under consideration is the material described in U.S. No. 4,100,324. This nonwoven material has a

  finished similar to that of a fabric and consists of a

  trice made of thermoplastic polymer fibers formed in a stream of air. The average diameter of these fibers is less than about 10 microns. A large number of wood pulp fibers

  are scattered throughout the matrix and are used for many

  the mutual spacing between the microfibres.

  The material is formed by initially using a primary air stream containing the microfibers

  melted and blown together with a secondary air stream

  holding the wood pulp fibers, bringing together the two

  air in turbulence conditions and directing

  then the overall air flow along a surface of

  mation. The appearance of this absorbent material, similar to that

  of a fabric, is very attractive to the observer.

A subsidiary benefit

  with the design of the napkin according to the invention

  the possibility of melt bonding not only the ends of the napkin, but also of fusing the absorbent material containing the fusible fibers with the

  screen layer impervious to fluids.

  As mentioned earlier, the service

  The sanitary nipple according to the invention is characterized both by the presence of the longitudinal fold edges and by

  the inclusion of fusible fibers in the absorbent matrix.

  Surprisingly, this combination

  its particular form is the basis of resistance to defor-

  mation. A towel made in accordance with the teaching of the present invention retains at least 96.5% of the extent of its area after absorbing one gram of the menses fluid and after being worn for a period of time at least equal to

  one o'clock. The measured surface area is that which is sensi-

  flat. The areas of the area that have been narrowed or warped out of a surface that is either flat or curved are subtracted from the extent of the surface, depending on the total size of the area.

  towel and the shape of the user.

  Surprisingly, towels with folded edges without fusible fibers undergo

  permanent deformations. This is also true for

  viettes with fusible fibers and which do not include

  longitudinal fold edges. These towels are

  naked generally as napkins

  cut because of the existence of end edges in coln-

  on the perimeter, do not exhibit the resistance to

  permanent formations and the tightening that is observed

  when fusible fibers are used with a towel

  folded. Warping is also particularly

  when none of the above features exist and the thickness of the article is reduced to such a value

  than that of the article of the type "Sure & Natural".

  It should be noted that this resistance

  deformation is particularly high in the case of reduced size napkins. Napkins having a thickness of absorbent material of between 5 mm and 13 mm are particularly resistant to deformation and, in fact,

  the measures mentioned above were carried out on such

towels.

  However, for resistance to

  deformations mentioned for the invention may be effective

  affected, it is necessary that the absorbent material has

  a mass per unit area of at least 20g / m2. We build

  Tate increases deformation resistance at higher densities and densities of between 150 and 200 g / m 2 are commonly preferred. Higher densities can provide

  additional rigidity without the resistance to deformation

  tions be significantly increased. When towels having this reduced thickness comprise a superabsorbent material, the absorption potential of this type of article is effectively

  obtained because the expected absorption capacity for the service

  it can be used fully.

  It should be noted that while the superabsorbent material is presently preferred, there are other materials having increased absorption capacity or other desirable properties which can be added as reported element. It is also possible to make a towel without the presence of such a material. As a result

  the ability of the napkin according to the invention to preserve

  With its shape, the absorption capacity is used with greater efficiency, which minimizes the need for

  additional absorption material.

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Claims (1)

- sanitary napkin comprising a screen (14) impervious to fluids and an absorbent layer (10), characterized in that the absorbent layer (10) has S fusible fibers and has folded longitudinal sides, this towel retaining ad less 96 , 5% of the extent of the flat surface, after absorbing one gram of fluid and after being worn for one hour. Hygienic napkin according to claim 1, characterized in that the absorbent material (10) is a mixture formed in a stream of air, wood pulp fibers and microfibres. Hygienic napkin according to claim 1, characterized in that a screen (14) is fusion welded to the absorbent layer (10). Hygienic napkin according to claim 1, characterized in that an additional absorbent material (13) is disposed under the side of the ab- sorbent layer (10) facing the body. 50) - Sanitary napkin according to   any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that   that the thickness of the absorbent material (10) is between and 13 millimeters.