FR2599945A2 - Disposable absorbent nappies with fixed zone of reinforced absorption which is differentiated according to the sex of the wearer - Google Patents

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fixed zone of reinforced absorption is obtained by the addition to the pad of a charge of powder which is absorbent several times its weight in liquid, located according to the sex of the wearer: in the crotch position for nappies to be used by girls and in the ventral position for boys. This addition may be made on the pad itself, by adding charge at the appropriate site. It may also be made within the band of absorbent material prior to cutting-out of the pad from the latter, either by a succession of transverse depositions or by a continuous longitudinal deposition, the choice of the mode of cutting-out making it possible to obtain pads whose charge is in either a ventral or a crotch position. The nappies produced according to the invention bear a distinctive mark which is different according to the wearer for whom they are intended.

Description

 The present invention. relates to patent application No. 85 I5 # 7 & filed on October 25, 1985, concerning disposable absorbent diapers for infants and incontinent adults, and intended to improve their absorbency.

 These layers generally consist of an absorbent mattress made from one or more materials of constant thickness, doubled with a veil on its internal face, and a sheet of waterproof material on its external face. ; additional provisions such as the discovery at the thighs, the presence of elastic gathers, adhesive strips, aim to improve the tightness of these layers.

 However, when the emission of urine is particularly important, the layers inevitably give rise to leaks; and it is not uncommon that these leaks occur in the very moments following the change of the infant, that is to say on a new diaper; it is not uncommon either that the extent of these leaks leads to having to change not only the laye'te of the infant, but also part or all of his bedding.

 The invention which is the subject of patent application no. 85 15878 sought to eliminate these drawbacks. To do this, it made a distinction between the overall absorbency of a layer, and its local absorbency: if it is clear that its overall absorbency (as it can be appreciated, for example, by the total immersion method is proportional to the amount of absorbent material it contains, it is no less certain that its ability to contain leaks also depends, all things being equal, on its local absorbency: if during urination the baby emits a quantity of urine greater than this local absorbency, we generally observe saturation of the mattress - and therefore leaks - at the place of urine emission, the other parts of the diaper remaining, either dry or, in any case, below the saturation threshold; observing on the other hand that the urine is emitted in the crotch position in girls, and in boys (whose penis is maintained by the layer in application against the lower abdomen) in posi tion ventral, the invention described a new and economical embodiment of the layers intended to improve their capacity to contain leaks, and characterized by the provision on the absorbent mattress of a fixed area of reinforced absorption whose function is to increase the local absorbing power, and located in a differentiated way according to the sex of the wearer: in crotch position for girls, and ventral position for boys.

 The present invention is a certificate of addition relating to claim I of patent application 85 I5878.

 In this claim, the method described for producing the fixed reinforced absorption zone consists in placing an excess thickness of the absorbent material constituting the latter on the mattress, this excess thickness being in the crotch position for the layers for use. for girls, and in a prone position for diapers for boys.

 The object of this certificate of addition is to propose an improvement in the realization of the fixed zone of reinforced absorption, requiring a lesser volume of raw materials and characterized by the combination of a mattress, cut from a strip or web of absorbent material of uniform thickness, and a load of product absorbing several times its weight in liquid (or gelling agent) localized according to the sex of the wearer, that is to say in the crotch position for the elbows for girls 'use, and in a prone position for diapers for boys' use.

 According to a first embodiment of the production, the introduction of the filler is carried out during the layer manufacturing process, either by dusting the product constituting the mattress with a product. pourer (cyclic flow hopper, rotary distributor or any other means that one wishes), either by pressure, spraying, coating, flocking, impregnation or any other process that one deems appropriate, the device for setting up the load being implemented in such a way that the load comes on the mattress in crotch position for the diapers for girls use and one ventral position for the diapers for boys use. The load can be deposited on the external face, or on the internal face of the mattress; in the latter case, it may be considered appropriate to cover it with a sheet of permeable material, forming a screen with the skin of the infant.

 We may optionally prefer a second embodiment according to which the deposition of the load takes place prior to the manufacturing process of the layer, by appropriate conditioning of the strip or sheet from which the absorbent mattresses will later be cut, this strip being made up of two sheets of material, identical or not, taking charge sandwiched between their facing faces.

according to a first variant, the load offset, operated by one
any of the above devices is discontinuous, each
load occupying a substantially rectangular surface on the strip
one of whose axes is perpendicular to the long axis of the strip, and
the step between two successive charges corresponding to the influence of
cutting; a judicious setting of the cutting then allowing,
from the same strip, to obtain a mattress whose load is either
in the crotch position, or in the ventral position, the mattresses
of one or the other sort having their major axis parallel to that of
the strip in which they are cut.

according to a second variant, the deposition of the charge, which can be
re by gravity, pressurization, spraying, coating, floeka-
age, impregnation or any other process that we deem appropriate, is
continuous and parallel to the long axis of the strip, the cutting of the mattress
being done so that its major axis is this time perpen
dicular to that of the band; mattresses for use in garages are
cut in a strip where the load is placed along one of the
longitudinal edges thereof, the girls' mattresses being
cut in a strip where the load is arranged along the long axis
tudinal of symmetry thereof.

The appended drawings will help to understand the different methods and variant embodiments of the invention:
Figures I and 2 illustrate in profile the first modality: the load (i) is arranged on the mattress (2) by means of a device () which is here a hopper with cyclic flow; in Figure I, the device (3) in the crotch position relative to the mattress (2) # provides the load for diapers for girls'use; in Figure 2, the device (3) in the ventral position provides the load for diapers for boys.

 Figures 3, 4, 5 relate to the first variant of the second modality. FIG. 3 illustrates the arrangement in profile: the two sheets constituting the strip (ic) in which the mattresses will be cut come from reels (4) and (6), the charges (I) being deposited on the lower sheet ( 5) by a device (3) represented here by a hopper with byclic flow and then being covered by the upper sheet (7) possibly passing under a tension roller (8); the arrow (o) indicates the direction of travel of the strip (IO) relative to the charging device (3). Figures 4 and 5 show in plan how, by judicious setting of the cutting area (II), one obtains respectively from the same strip (IO), where the loads (I) are represented in dotted lines, ie mattresses (2) having a load (I) in the crotch position and therefore for use by girls, or mattresses having a load in the ventral position and therefore for use by boys.

 Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 relate to the second variant of the second modality. Figure 6 illustrates in perspective the implementation of a strip for boys' mattresses: a device (3), represented here by a hopper, continuously delivers the continuous load (I) on the longitudinal edge of the sheet lower (5); this is then covered by the upper sheet (7) coming from the reel (5) and possibly passing under a tension roller (), the arrow (9 # indicating the direction of the unwinding of the strip (IO) relative to the charging device (3).

 Figure 7 shows according to a similar device the implementation of a strip for girls' mattresses, the continuous load (I25 then being deposited astride the longitudinal axis (I3) of symmetry of the strip.

 Figure 8 shows schematically the sequence of mattresses (2) cut from a strip conditioned for boys 'use, Figure 9 that of the mattresses (2) cut from a strip conditioned for girls' use, the continuous loading zones (I2) and the charges (I) of the mattresses (2) being as previously shown in dotted lines.

 The choice of the type and arrangement of the loading mechanism, the nature and quantity of it, the shape and the surface of its location on the mattress, the nature and thickness of the material or materials absorbents constituting this mattress are in the field of experience and know-how of those skilled in the art, and it is clear that it will not go beyond the scope of the invention using such a process or any other of application of the load on the mattress, and / or by combining such a weight, dimensional, or physicochemical characteristic of the materials generally entering into the composition of the mattress with such other characteristic, as long as the implementation of these methods and materials results in the production of diapers differentiated according to the sex of the wearer, the principle of the invention being to increase the local absorbency of the diaper by placing the load of the absorbent product (or gelling agent) in the crotch position for the diapers for fi use lles, and in a ventral position for diapers for boys.

 Likewise, it will not depart from the scope of the invention if, by a combination of the charging methods described above, or any other device, the entire surface of the mattress (or of one of the two sheets constituting this) a uniform deposit of absorbent product, except at the place of urine emission where this deposit will be more massive, the fixed zone of reinforced absorption then being constituted by the presence in greater density of the absorbent product, in crotch position for diapers for girls, and ventral position for diapers for boys.

Furthermore, these layers, although of design and construction differentiated according to the sex of the wearer, present between them, a priori, only minimal or even zero differences in appearance. The resulting difficulty in distinguishing them can constitute a nuisance both at the place of their production and at the place of their use: nurseries, hospitals, homes for close births; it is therefore both natural and necessary to seek to facilitate their identification and the invention described below two methods to achieve this end:
According to the first method, the marking is carried out on the internal face of the layer, either by the use of a veil bearing a conventional color, or by the affixing on it of a color mark, or by the deposit thereon of elements, preferably colored, such as threads, ribbons, strips; mark and elements can then be arranged so as to indicate the location of the reinforced absorption zone.

 We may prefer the second method where the marking is carried out on the external face of the layer, without contact of the latter with the skin of the wearer.

According to a first modality, this marking is done by the use, to produce the external impermeable sheet of the layer, of a material colored in the mass. According to a second method, this marking can be done by printing p on this sheet of drawings or patterns, for example using the technique of printing plastic bags. Another modality, particularly economical, consists of having the marking carried on the adhesive fasteners used to maintain the layer. Such a list is not exhaustive, and we can use any other form of marking, adopt any drawing, pattern, or ideogram without departing from the scope of the invention, as long as the purpose of this marking is '' make a visible differentiation between layers intended for users of different sexes. This marking may possibly, but secondary to its main purpose, indicate in addition the size of the infant according to which the diaper has been sized, by any combination that one deems appropriate colors, signs, symbols or ideograms.

Claims (9)

 I) Method for producing a disposable absorbent diaper for infants or incontinent adults, with a fixed reinforced absorption zone of differentiated location according to the sex of the wearer, according to claim I of patent application No. 85 15878 filed on October 25 Ive5, characterized in that the fixed reinforced absorption zone is obtained by adding to a mattress, cut from a strip of absorbent material of generally uniform thickness, with a localized load of gelling agent or powder capable of absorb in liquid several times its own weight, this load being in the crotch position for the ela -borés mattresses for the diapers for girls use, and in the ventral position for the mattresses developed for the diapers for boys use.  2) Method according to claim I, characterized in that aue the addition of the load (I) is carried out on the mattress (2) during the manufacturing process / assembly of the layer, by means of a device (35 adjustable allowing the deposition of the load (I) on the mattress (2) either in the crotch position, or in the ventral position.  3) Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the load is covered with a permeable veil or a sheet of absorbent material  4) Method according to claim It characterized in that the deposition of the load (i) is carried out on the strip (îo) in which will be cut the mattress (2), prior to the manufacturing / assembly process of the layer.  5) Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the strip (IO) is formed from two sheets (5) and (7) of absorbent material, the sheet (5) being loaded at regular intervals by a device (# # then covered by the sheet (7); the strip (îo) thus arranged is then cut into a mattress by successive cuts, the grip of the seam (II) being adjusted with respect to the load (I) in such a way that the maststas (2) once cut has a load (I) either in the ventral position or in the crotch position.  6) Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the strip (io) is formed from two sheets (5) and (7) of absorbent material, the sheet (5) being loaded regularly and uninterrupted by a device (3) adjustable allowing continuous deposition (I2) either marginal or median, then covered by the sheet (7); the strip (IO) thus arranged then being cut into a mattress (2) by successive cuts, these mattresses having, depending on whether they come from a strip with marginal or median deposition (I2), a load (I) in the ventral position, or in crotch position,  7) Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the load located in either crotch or ventral position is surs in addition to a load arranged uniformly over the entire surface of the mattress, the fixed area of enhanced absorption then being obtained by strengthening the load at this location.  8) Layer with fixed area of reinforced absorption made according to the process described in any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the presence of a visible marking, differentiated according to the sex of the wearer  9) Layer according to claim 8, characterized in that the marking is carried out on the internal face of the layer, either by the use of a conventional sinking veil, or by the affixing of a mark or elements of conventional color, this mark or these elements being able moreover to indicate the localization of the zone of reinforced absorption.  IO) Layer according to claim 8, characterized in that the marking is carried out on the external face of the layer, either by the use of an impermeable sheet of conventional color, or by affixing thereon, or on adhesive fasteners, coulelzrs, conventional signs or ideograms.