GB2407984A

GB2407984A - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: GB2407984A
Application number: GB0326413A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Solgun Drevik
Original assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
Current assignee: Essity Hygiene and Health AB
Priority date: 2003-11-12
Filing date: 2003-11-12
Publication date: 2005-05-18
Also published as: GB0326413D0

Abstract

The invention refers to an absorbent article (1) such as a sanitary napkin, panty liner or the like, comprising a topsheet (2) and a backsheet (3). The article also comprises attachment means applied (6, 8) on that side of the backsheet (3) that is intended to face an undergarment when in use. The invention is characterised in that the attachment means (6, 8) comprises a first attachment means (6) in the form of a friction means placed on one of the end portions (7) of the article (1), and that the attachment means (6, 8) comprises a second attachment means (8) in the form of an adhesive placed on the other end portion (9) of the article (1) at a distance from the first attachment means.

Description

TITLE

ABSORBENT ARTICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention refers to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, panty liner or the like, comprising a topsheet and a backsheet. The article also comprises attachment means applied on that side of the backsheet that is intended to face an undergarment when in use. The absorbent article extends in a longitudinal direction between two short sides and in the lateral direction between two long sides. The absorbent article is in the longitudinal direction divided into two end portions and a central portion extending between them.

BACKGROUND ART

In the field of absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, or the like, it is known the problem of securing the article to the undergarment. It is known to apply adhesive on the outside of the backsheet of the absorbent article, i.e. on that side of the article that faces the undergarment when in use. The adhesive is arranged to stick to the undergarment such that the absorbent article will stay in place in the undergarment. One problem with such an arrangement is when the absorbent article is wet, for example after a urinal or menstrual discharge. The liquid makes the absorbent body in the article soft and loosens up the structure of the absorbent body such that the bonding strength between the fibers in the absorbent body is diminished.

This may cause a problem if the adhesive has a higher bonding strength to the undergarment than the bonding strength between the fibers of the absorbent body. The problem occurs when the user shall remove the absorbent article from the undergarment since the absorbent body may disintegrate leaving the backsheet of the article and parts of the absorbent article stuck in the undergarment. The problem is often referred to as the problem of delamination.

One way to deal with the delimitation problem is taught by EP 1147756, where an absorbent article with friction glue is applied on the backsheet. The friction glue does not stick to the undergarment but hinders movement in the lateral direction in the undergarment when the article is in use. A problem with this arrangement is that the absorbent article is hindered from movement only during use, which means that the user have to hold the absorbent article in place in the undergarment when putting the undergarment on, i.e. when positioning and applying the absorbent article.

The problem with delamination is enhanced when using absorbent article intended to be sued in a so-called thong or G-string undergarment. Such an absorbent article is in the shape of a triangle with a tail extending from one of the corners of the triangle. The enhanced problem lies in that the tail is very narrow which does not give the absorbent body much matter to build up strength from. Furthermore, if the adhesive is not strong enough the tail will not stay in place. In US 5713886 the problem has been solved by utilising both an adhesive on the backsheet and flaps attached to the sides of both the tail and to the triangle. The flaps are intended to be folded over the sides of the article for attachment on the outside of the undergarment.

One problem with US 5713886 is that the arrangement with flaps is expensive to produce and the complicated arrangement slows down the production rate. Furthermore, the folded over flaps are visible on the outside of the undergarment which may be regarded as indiscreet for some users.

The flaps also make the absorbent article thick, rigid and uncomfortable. Yet further problems are that the flaps gives a product that is hard to remove from the under garment.

There is thus a need for an improved absorbent article where the problem of delamination is solved as well as the problem of positioning the article in the undergarment. The need is especially directed towards absorbent articles adapted to be used with a thong undergarment

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The invention aims at solving the above stated problems referring to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, panty liner or the like, and in particular an absorbent article intended for use in a thong undergarment.

The absorbent article comprises a topsheet and a backsheet. The absorbent article also comprises attachment means applied on that side of the backsheet that is intended to face an undergarment when in use. The absorbent article extends in a longitudinal direction between two short sides and in the lateral direction between two long sides. In the longitudinal direction the absorbent article is divided into two end portions and a central portion extending between them. The invention is characterized in that the attachment means comprises a first attachment means in the form of a friction means placed on one of the end portion and that the attachment means comprises a second attachment means in the form of an adhesive placed on the other end portion at a distance from the first attachment means.

The first attachment means is due to friction adapted to resist lateral movement in the undergarment when the absorbent article is in use, i.e. when the absorbent article is pressed against the undergarment. The first attachment means is adapted such that the absorbent article does not stick to the undergarment.

The second attachment means is adapted to stick to the undergarment and may be made from silicone or another suitable material that sticks to a cloth material. For example, glue, adhesive or mechanical fastening means such as hook and loop materials or snap fasteners.

The two different types of attachment means give the advantage that the absorbent article may be positioned and fastened in the undergarment via the adhesive and that the friction glue then is used to secure the absorbent article to the undergarment when the absorbent article is in use, i.e. when the undergarment is put on. The use of both adhesive and friction glue diminishes the need for adhesive, which eliminates the delamination problem discussed above. However, the use of a small amount of adhesive gives the advantage of the user being able to position the absorbent article in the undergarment without the need to actively keep it in place in the undergarment until the absorbent article is in use.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the first attachment means is placed in the front end portion and the second attachment means is placed in the rear end portion. The front end portion is the end portion intended to be placed in the direction towards the lower abdomen of the user. The rear end portion is the end portion intended to be placed in the direction towards the lower back of the user.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the rear end portion of the absorbent article is adapted for use in a thong undergarment. The rear end portion is then narrower than the front end portion.

The backsheet is liquid impermeable and flexible and may be made from a plastic film or nonwoven or a laminate of the both. The plastic film may be made from polyethylene, polypropene or polyester. The backsheet may be breathable, i.e. permeable to water vapour. A breathable material may be made from a treated nonwoven, or a plastic film with micro pores (see for example EP 283 200), or a so-called spunbound-meltblown-spunbound material.

The absorbent article may also comprise an absorbent body placed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent body may be made from one or more layers of a fibrous liquid absorbent material, for example, cellulose, cotton fibres, peat, synthetic fibres or the like. The absorbent material shall have the capacity to absorb liquid many times its own weight. The absorbent body may also contain super absorbent, which is a polymer material in the form of particles that absorbs liquid while transforming into a gel.

The topsheet may be any conventional material that is water permeable and pleasant for the user. Examples of such materials are nonwoven and perforated plastic films or a combination of the both. The surface layer may also comprise an absorbent material according to the materials described above in connection with the description of the absorbent body. This is especially advantageous when the absorbent article only comprises a topsheet and a backsheet, since the topsheet then may be used as an absorbent layer as well as a surface layer.

The absorbent article may also be equipped with so called wings, i.e. attachment means placed on the long sides of the article and intended to be folded around the crotch part of the undergarment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A DRAWING

The invention will below be explained in connection to a drawing where: Fig. 1 schematically shows an absorbent article according to the invention.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 schematically shows an absorbent article 1 such as a sanitary napkin, panty liner or the like, comprising a topsheet 2, a backsheet 3 and an absorbent body 4 there between. In Fig. 1 the absorbent article has a Y- shaped form such that it may be used with a thong undergarment. The absorbent article 1 extends in a longitudinal direction between two short sides 13, 14 and in the lateral direction between two long sides 15, 16. In the longitudinal direction the absorbent 1 article is divided into two end portions 7, 9 and a central portion 11 therebetween.

In Fig. 1 the topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3 is joined in a peripherally extending joint 5. The joint 5 may be formed by welding or gluing or another suitable means for joining two or more materials. Furthermore, the backsheet 3 may be folded over the edges of the absorbent body 4 and attached to the topsheet 2 on that side of the absorbent article 1 intended to face the wearer during use.

On the backsheet 3 there is placed a first attachment means 6 in the form of a friction means placed on the front end portion 7 of the article and second attachment means 8 in the form of an adhesive placed on the rear end portion 9. The rear end portion 9 is narrower than the front end portion 7 and is in the form of a longitudinally extending tail or rectangle. The front end portion 7 forms part of a triangular shaped part 10 of the absorbent article.

Furthermore, the central portion 11 extends between the front end portion 7 and the rear end portion 9. The rectangular rear end portion 9 transitions into the central portion 11 where the rear end portion 9 transitions into the triangular part 10 of the article. In Fig. 1 the rear end portion 9 transitions into the triangular part 10 at one of the corners 12 of the triangle. The central portion 11 transitions into the front end portion 7 in the triangular shaped part 10 at a distance from the rear end portion 9.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but may be varied within the scope of the claims. For example, the absorbent article may be shaped in the form of a rectangle or in the form of an hourglass. Furthermore, the absorbent article may be equipped with an elevated part, a so-called hump, in the central portion. The hump is known in prior art and is used as to give better fit to the wearer's genitals.

Claims

1. Absorbent article (1) such as a sanitary napkin, panty liner or the like, comprising a topsheet (2) and a backsheet (3), the article also comprises attachment means (6, 8) applied on that side of the backsheet (3) that is intended to face an undergarment when in use, where the absorbent article extends in a longitudinal direction between two short sides (13, 14) and in the lateral direction between two long sides (15, 16), where the absorbent article in the longitudinal direction is divided into two end portions (7, 9) and a central portion (11) extending therebetween, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the attachment means (6, 8) comprises a first attachment means (6) in the form of a friction means placed on one of the end portions (7), that the attachment means comprises a second attachment means (8) in the form of an adhesive placed on the other end portion (9) at a distance from the first attachment means (6).

2. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the first attachment means (6) is placed in the front end portion (7) and the second attachment means (8) is placed in the rear end portion (9).

3. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the rear end portion (9) of the absorbent article (1) is adapted for use in a thong undergarment.

4. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the rear end portion (9) is narrower than the front end portion (7).

5. Absorbent article (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the first attachment means (6) due to friction is adapted to resist lateral movement of the absorbent article (1) in the undergarment when the absorbent article (1) is in use, i.e when the absorbent article (1) is pressed against the undergarment.

6. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the first attachment means (6) is adapted such that the absorbent article (1) do not stick to the undergarment.

7. Absorbent article (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the second attachment (8) means is adapted to stick to the undergarment.

8. An absorbent article according to claim 1 substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1.