KR102462153B1 - Absorbent Article With Waist Seal Member - Google Patents

Abstract

The absorbent article (10, 110, 210) has a waist containment member (54) having a first longitudinal side edge (72), a second longitudinal side edge (74), a proximal portion (76) and a distal portion (78). may include. Fold 79a may separate proximal portion 76 from distal portion 78 . The proximal portion 76 may be coupled to the chassis 11 , the distal portion 78 being free to move relative to the chassis 11 when the absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 are in a relaxed configuration, such that the opening 89 ) can be configured to provide Fold 79a may be disposed closer to lateral axis 31 than free edge 88 of distal portion 78 . The absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 may include a pair of containment flaps 50 , 52 . The containment flaps 50 and 52 may each include a base portion 64 and a protruding portion 66 .

Description

Absorbent Article With Waist Seal Member

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to articles having one or more waist containment members.

The primary function of personal care absorbent articles is to absorb and retain body exudates such as urine, secretions, blood, menses, etc., including the desired additional properties of making the absorbent article less likely to leak exudate and making the wearer of the absorbent article feel dry. By preventing the leakage of exudate from the absorbent article, the absorbent article is intended to prevent body exudate from soiling or contaminating the wearer's or caregiver's clothing or other articles that may come into contact with the wearer, such as bedding.

One common failure mode is for exudate to leak in the back waist region or the front waist region of an absorbent article. As one example, excreta not absorbed or leaked by the absorbent article may travel past the gap between the absorbent article and the wearer's skin in the back waist region and soil or contaminate the wearer's skin and clothing close to the wearer's back. This may be more common in the occurrence of semi-solid feces, such as low-viscosity feces, which may be common in young children. These exudates can migrate in the bodyside liner of the absorbent article under the influence of gravity, motion, force and pressure by the wearer of the absorbent article. In such a situation, not only does it become necessary to change the wearer's absorbent article, but it is also often necessary to change the wearer's clothing and/or bedding, resulting in additional work, expense and stress for the caregiver.

Attempts have been made in the past to provide leak-tight systems, particularly in the bodyside liner or near the rear waist region, in order to address the aforementioned problem. One example provides a waist elastic member and does not attach the portion of the waist tight member closest to the lateral axis of the absorbent article to the bodyside liner, such that the non-adhesive portion of the waist elastic member can provide a leak tight pocket for exudates. there will be An example of such a construction is the HUGGIES® Little Snugglers diaper. Although absorbent articles having such leak-tight members are intended to prevent leakage of exudate and function properly, obstructions may still occur.

Accordingly, there is a desire to improve containment systems and containment members of absorbent articles to prevent leakage of exudate, particularly in the waist regions of absorbent articles. There is also a desire to improve containment systems to have increased void volume to retain body exudate until the absorbent article can be changed.

In a first embodiment, an absorbent article may include a front waist region having a front waist edge, a back waist region having a rear waist edge, a crotch region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the absorbent article comprising an absorbent body A chassis may include: the chassis including a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface; and a waist containment member disposed on the body-facing surface of the chassis. The waist containment member is a proximal portion comprising a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, a proximal end, wherein at least a portion of the proximal portion is coupled to a body-facing surface of the chassis; a distal portion comprising a distal portion, wherein at least a portion of the distal portion of the waist containment member is free to move relative to the chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration; and the distal portion from the proximal portion. a separating fold, the fold positioned closer to the lateral axis than the distal end of the distal portion of the waist containment member.

In a second embodiment, the fold of the first embodiment may be located closer to the lateral axis than the region of the proximal portion closest to the rear waist edge.

In a third embodiment, the waist seal member of any one of the first or second embodiments may further include one or more elastomeric members surrounded between the two material layers.

In a fourth embodiment, the waist leak prevention member of any one of the first to third embodiments may include a web of a single material.

In a fifth embodiment, the first end of the web of single material of the fourth embodiment may overlap the second end of the web of single material to enclose the elastomeric members between the two layers of material.

In a sixth embodiment, the first proximal portion region of the proximal portion of any one of the first to fifth embodiments may be bonded to the chassis, and the second proximal portion region of the proximal portion may have no attachment to the chassis. .

In a seventh embodiment, the first distal portion region of the distal portion of any one of the first to sixth embodiments is free to move relative to the chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration, the second distal portion of the distal portion The region may be bonded to the proximal portion.

In an eighth embodiment, the second proximal partial region of the sixth embodiment may be laterally disposed between the two first proximal partial regions.

In a ninth embodiment, the waist containment member is an intermediate portion comprising a proximal end proximate to the proximal portion and a distal end proximate to the distal portion, disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein the fold includes the intermediate portion and the distal portion. The intermediate portion may further include a first fold that directly separates the distal portion, and a second fold that directly separates the proximal portion from the intermediate portion.

In a tenth embodiment, the middle portion of the ninth embodiment may be free of elastomeric strands.

In the eleventh embodiment, the second fold of the ninth embodiment may be located closer to the rear waist edge than the first fold.

In a twelfth embodiment, the middle portion of the ninth embodiment may include a single material layer, and at least a portion of each of the proximal portion and the distal portion includes at least two material layers.

In a thirteenth embodiment, the absorbent article may include a front waist region comprising a front waist edge, a back waist region comprising a back waist edge, a crotch region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis. wherein said absorbent article is a chassis comprising an absorbent body, said chassis comprising a body facing side and a garment facing side, said absorbent article comprising a pair of containment flaps comprising a first containment flap and a second containment flap, said first The containment flap may further include a pair of containment flaps, wherein the containment flap is on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the second containment flap is at a second side of the longitudinal axis. The first and second containment flaps each include a base portion comprising a proximal end and a distal end, and a protruding portion configured to extend away from the body-facing surface of the chassis at least in the crotch region when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration. can do. The absorbent article may further comprise a waist containment member disposed on the body-facing surface of the chassis, the waist containment member comprising a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, a proximal end comprising a proximal end. in part, a first proximal partial region of the proximal portion is coupled to a body-facing surface of the chassis and a second proximal partial region of the proximal portion is not coupled to a body-facing surface of the chassis, such that the proximal portion and the chassis a distal portion comprising the proximal portion and a distal end defining a first opening between the body-facing surface, wherein a first distal portion region of the distal portion is coupled to the proximal portion and a second distal portion of the distal portion The region may further include the distal portion not coupled to the proximal portion, thereby defining a second opening between the distal portion and the proximal portion.

In a fourteenth embodiment, the first opening of the thirteenth embodiment may face the lateral axis.

In a fifteenth embodiment, the second opening of either the thirteenth or fourteenth embodiment may face the rear waist edge.

In a sixteenth embodiment, the first opening of any one of the thirteenth to fifteenth embodiments may have a first lateral extent, and the second opening may have a second lateral extent, and the first and second openings may have a second lateral extent. The 2 ranges are the same.

In a seventeenth embodiment, the first opening of any one of the thirteenth to sixteenth embodiments may have a first lateral extent, and the second opening may have a second lateral extent, and the first and second openings may have a second lateral extent. 2 different ranges.

In the eighteenth embodiment, the first range of the seventeenth embodiment may be greater than the second range.

In a nineteenth embodiment, the absorbent article may include a front waist region comprising a front waist edge, a back waist region comprising a back waist edge, a crotch region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis. wherein said absorbent article is a chassis comprising an absorbent body, said chassis comprising a body facing side and a garment facing side, said absorbent article comprising a pair of containment flaps comprising a first containment flap and a second containment flap, said first The containment flap may further include a pair of containment flaps, wherein the containment flap is on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the second containment flap is at a second side of the longitudinal axis. The first and second containment flaps each include a base portion comprising a proximal end and a distal end, and a protruding portion configured to extend away from the body-facing surface of the chassis at least in the crotch region when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration. can do. The absorbent article may further comprise a waist containment member disposed on the body-facing surface of the chassis, the waist containment member comprising a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, a proximal end comprising a proximal end. In part, the first proximal portion regions of the proximal portion are coupled to a body-facing surface of the chassis and the second proximal portion region of the proximal portion is free to move relative to the chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration, wherein wherein the second proximal partial region is a distal portion comprising the proximal portion, and a distal end, disposed laterally between the first proximal partial regions, the first distal partial regions of the distal portion being disposed in the proximal portion coupled and a second distal portion region of the distal portion is free to move relative to the chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration, wherein the second distal portion region is laterally disposed between the first distal portion regions It may further include the distal portion being

In a twentieth embodiment, the proximal portion of the nineteenth embodiment may further include a third proximal partial region, wherein the third proximal partial region may be coupled to a body-facing surface of the chassis, between the first proximal partial regions. can be placed.

In a twenty-first embodiment, the third proximal partial region of the twentieth embodiment may be located closer to the rear waist edge than the second proximal partial region.

In a twenty-second embodiment, the second proximal partial region of any one of the nineteenth to twenty-first embodiments may have a longitudinal extent of from about 25 mm to about 65 mm.

The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. With a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, advantages and achievements will become apparent and understood by reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The disclosure, which is sufficiently feasible for those skilled in the art, is set forth in more detail in the remainder of the specification to which the accompanying drawings are referenced.
1 is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an absorbent article, such as a diaper, in an engaged state;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 in an unfolded, laid flat, and unfastened state;
3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 of a first embodiment of a waist containment member according to the present disclosure shown in a relaxed configuration;
3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 of a second embodiment of a waist containment member according to the present disclosure shown in a relaxed configuration;
4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 of a first embodiment of a waist containment member according to the present disclosure shown in a relaxed configuration;
4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 of a second embodiment of a waist containment member according to the present disclosure shown in a relaxed configuration;
5 is a top, side, perspective, exploded view of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 ;
6A is a top, side, perspective, exploded view of the waist seal member of FIG. 3A showing various bonding areas;
6B is a top, side, perspective, exploded view of the waist leak tight member of FIG. 3B showing various bonding areas;
Fig. 7 is a front perspective cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2, wherein the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration;
8 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of an absorbent article, such as a diaper, in an unfolded, laid flat, and unfastened state;
9 is a top, side, perspective, exploded view of the absorbent article of FIG. 8;
Fig. 10 is a front perspective cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 8, wherein the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration;
11 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an absorbent article, such as a panty; and
12 is a top plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 11 in an unfolded and laid flat condition;
While this disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific details thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that aspects of the present disclosure are not intended to be limited to the specific exemplary embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Further, repeated use of reference characters in the specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or similar features or elements of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure relates generally to absorbent articles having a waist containment member. Each example is for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to be limiting. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment or figure may still be used with respect to another embodiment or figure to create a further embodiment. This disclosure is intended to cover such modifications and variations.

When introducing elements of the present disclosure or preferred embodiment(s) of the present disclosure, the phrases “a”, “an”, “the”, “said” mean that one or more of those elements are present. will be. The terms "comprising," "comprising," "having," are inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than those listed. Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the above-described exemplary embodiments should not be used as limiting the scope of the present invention.

Justice:

The term "absorbent article" as used herein refers to an article that can be placed against or in proximity to (ie, adjacent to) the body of a wearer to absorb and contain various liquid, solid, and semi-solid exudates that are expelled from the body. means Such absorbent articles, as described herein, are discarded after a limited period of use, rather than being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse. The present disclosure provides diapers, menstrual pads or panties, incontinence products, medical garments, surgical pads including but not limited to diaper panties, training panties, children's panties, swimming panties, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. and feminine hygiene products including but not limited to bandages, and other personal care or health garments, and the like.

The term "acquisition layer" is used herein to slow and diffuse the exudation or surge of the body's liquid exudate and subsequently release the body's liquid exudate into other layers or layers of the absorbent article. It refers to a floor that can be accommodated and temporarily held.

The term “bonded” or “coupled” refers herein to bonding, adhering, connecting, attaching, etc., two elements. Two elements will be joined or considered joined together when they are joined, glued, connected, attached, etc. to each other either directly or indirectly, such as when each is directly joined to intermediate elements. Bonding or bonding of one element to another may occur through continuous or intermittent bonding.

"Carded web" as used herein refers to a web comprising natural or synthetic major length fibers, typically less than about 100 mm in fiber length. The pile of short fibers may be subjected to an opening process to separate the fibers, which are then separated and cobbed to align in the machine direction and then the fibers are laminated onto a moving wire for further processing by carding. ) to go through the process. Such webs are generally subjected to some type of bonding process, such as thermal bonding using heat and/or pressure. Alternatively or alternatively, the fibers may be subjected to an adhesion process for bonding the fibers together using a powder adhesive or the like. The carded web may be subjected to fluid entanglement, such as hydroentangling, to further entangle the fibers and thereby improve the integrity of the carded web. Carded webs, once bonded, typically have a machine direction strength greater than the cross machine direction strength, because of fiber alignment in the machine direction.

The term "film" as used herein refers to a thermoplastic film made using extrusion and/or forming processes, such as cast film or blown film extrusion processes. The term includes perforated films, slit films, and other porous films, comprising barrier films, filled films, breathable films, non-fluid transfer films, including oriented films, as well as liquid transfer films, It is not limited to these examples.

The term “gsm” refers herein to grams per square meter.

The term "hydrophilic" herein refers to a fiber or surface of a fiber that is wetted by an aqueous liquid in contact with the fiber. Accordingly, the degree of wetting of a material can be described in terms of the contact angle and surface tension of the liquid and material involved. Suitable equipment and techniques for measuring the wettability of particular fiber materials or mixtures of fiber materials may be provided by the Cahn SFA-222 Surface Force Analyzer System or a substantially equivalent system. As measured with this system, fibers with a contact angle less than 90 are designated as "wettable" or hydrophilic, and fibers with a contact angle greater than 90 are designated as "non-wetting" or hydrophobic.

The term "liquid impermeable" as used herein refers to a layer in which liquid exudates of the body, such as urine, do not, under normal use conditions, pass through the layer or laminate in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the layer or laminate at the point of liquid contact. or a multilayer laminate.

The term “liquid permeable” herein refers to any material that is not liquid impermeable.

The term "meltblown" is used herein as a molten thread or filament through a plurality of fine, generally circular die capillaries to reduce the diameter of a molten thermoplastic, which may be a microfiber diameter. refers to fibers formed by extruding filaments of molten thermoplastic with a stream of converging high-velocity heating gas (eg, air) to thin them to form a fiber. The meltblown fibers are then carried by the high velocity gas stream and stacked on a collecting surface to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers. Such a process is disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 3,849,241 to Butin et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Meltblown fibers are microfibers, which may be continuous or discontinuous, generally less than about 0.6 denier, and may be sticky and self-bonding when laminated onto a collecting surface.

The term "nonwoven" refers herein to a material and a web of materials formed without the aid of a fabric weaving or knitting process. The material and web of materials may have a structure of individual fibers, filaments, or threads (collectively referred to as “fibers”) that can be interlaced, but not in an identifiable manner, as in knitted fabrics. Nonwoven materials or webs can be formed from many processes, including, but not limited to, meltblown processes, spunbonding processes, carded web processes, and the like.

The term “flexible” herein refers to a material that is compliant and readily conforms to the approximate shape and contour of the wearer's body.

The term "spunbond" as used herein refers to small diameter fibers formed by extruding as filaments a molten thermoplastic from a plurality of microcapillaries of a spinnerette having a circular or other configuration, followed by extrusion. The diameters of the filaments made are rapidly reduced by conventional processes such as eductive drawing, examples of which include U.S. Patent No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., and U.S. Patent No. Matsuki et al. No. 3,802,817, US Pat. Nos. 3,338,992 and 3,341,394 to Kinney, US Pat. No. 3,502,763 to Hartman, US Pat. No. 3,502,538 to Peterson, US Pat. No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al., each of which is disclosed in US Pat. It is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and often have an average denier greater than about 0.3, and in one embodiment, from about 0.6, 5, 10 to about 15, 20, 40 denier. Spunbond fibers are generally not sticky when deposited on a collecting surface.

The term "superabsorbent" as used herein refers to the ability to absorb, under most suitable conditions, at least about 15 times its weight, and in one embodiment, at least about 30 times its weight, in an aqueous solution containing 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride. refers to water-swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic substances. Superabsorbent materials can be natural, synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. In addition, the superabsorbent material may be an inorganic material such as silica gel or an organic compound such as a cross-linked polymer.

The term "thermoplastic" herein refers to a material that can be formed upon exposure to heat and that softens substantially upon cooling to a non-softening state.

The term "user" or "caretaker" as used herein refers to, but is not limited to, an absorbent article, such as, but not limited to, a diaper, diaper panty, training pan, children's panty, incontinence article, or other absorbent article around the wearer of one of these absorbent articles. It means a person who wears something that does not. The user and the wearer are one and may be the same person.

Absorbent articles:

1-10 , a non-limiting example of an absorbent article 10 , 110 , such as a diaper, is shown. Other embodiments of absorbent articles may include training pants, children's briefs, adult incontinence clothing, and feminine hygiene products. Although the embodiments and examples described herein are applicable to absorbent articles manufactured in the product longitudinal direction, generally referred to hereinafter as machine direction manufacturing of the product, those of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the information in this disclosure. It should be noted that, without departing from the spirit and scope, it is applicable to absorbent articles made in the latitude direction of the article, hereinafter referred to as cross-direction manufacture of the article. For example, the absorbent article 210 of FIGS. 11 and 12 provides an exemplary embodiment of an absorbent article 210 that may be manufactured in a cross-direction manufacturing process.

The absorbent article 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the absorbent article 110 in FIG. 8 and the absorbent article 210 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 may each include a chassis 11 . The absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 is disposed between a front waist region 12 , a back waist region 14 , and between the front waist region 12 and the back waist region 14 and includes front and back waist regions ( crotch regions 16 interconnecting 12 , 14 , respectively. The front waist region 12 may be referred to as an anterior end region, the rear waist region 14 may be referred to as a posterior end region, and the crotch region 16 may be referred to as an intermediate region. 11 and 12 , a three-piece construction of an absorbent article 210 is shown wherein the absorbent article 210 includes a front waist panel 13 defining a front waist region 12 , a rear waist can have a chassis 11 comprising a back waist panel 15 defining an area 14 , and an absorbent panel 17 defining a crotch area 16 of an absorbent article 210 . Absorbent panel 17 may extend between front waist panel 13 and rear waist panel 15 . In some embodiments, the absorbent panel 17 may overlap the front waist panel 13 and the back waist panel 15 . Absorbent panel 17 may be bonded to front waist panel 13 and rear waist panel 15 to define a three-piece construction. However, it is contemplated that the absorbent article may be made in a cross-direction rather than a garment in a three-piece construction.

The absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 will have a pair of longitudinal side edges 18 , 20 and a pair of opposing waist edges designated respectively as a front waist edge 22 and a rear waist edge 24 . can The front waist region 12 may abut the front waist edge 22 , and the back waist region 14 may abut the back waist edge 24 . The longitudinal side edges 18 , 20 may extend from the front waist edge 22 to the rear waist edge 24 . The longitudinal side edges 18 , 20 may extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction 30 for the entire length of the edges, such as the absorbent articles 10 , 110 shown in FIGS. 2 and 8 . have. In other embodiments, the longitudinal side edges 18 , 20 may be curved between the front waist edge 22 and the rear waist edge 24 . In the absorbent article 210 of FIGS. 11 and 12 , the longitudinal side edges 18 , 20 may include portions of the front waist panel 13 , the absorbent panel 17 , and the back waist panel 15 . .

The front waist region 12 may include a portion of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 that, when worn, is positioned at least partially in front of the wearer, while the back waist region 14 , when worn, is the back of the wearer. a portion of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 located at least partially in the The crotch region 16 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 may include a portion of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 that, when worn, is positioned between the legs of the wearer and partially covers the lower body of the wearer. can do. The waist edges 22 and 24 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 circumscribe the waist of the wearer and together define a central waist opening 23 (labeled in FIGS. 1 and 11 ) to the waist of the wearer. is composed Portions of the longitudinal side edges 18 , 20 within the crotch region 16 may generally define leg openings for the wearer's leg when the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 is worn.

The absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 may include an outer cover 26 and a bodyside liner 28 . The outer cover 26 and the bodyside liner 28 may form part of the chassis 11 . In one embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 may be bonded to the outer cover 26 in an overlapping relationship by any suitable means, such as adhesives, ultrasonic bonding, thermal bonding, pressure bonding, or other conventional techniques. However, it is not limited to examples of such means. By way of example, FIGS. 3A-4B show the bodyside liner 28 bonded to the outer cover 26 with an adhesive 27 . The outer cover 26 may define a length in the longitudinal direction 30 and a width in the lateral direction 32 , which in the illustrated embodiment match the length and width of the absorbent articles 10 , 110 . can do. 2 , 8 and 12 , the absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 have a longitudinal axis 29 extending in the longitudinal direction 30 and a lateral axis extending in the lateral direction 32 . (31) can have.

The chassis 11 may include an absorbent body 34 . The absorbent body 34 may be disposed between the outer cover 26 and the bodyside liner 28 . The absorbent body 34 has longitudinal edges 36 and 38, which, in one embodiment, may form portions of the longitudinal side edges 18 and 20 of the absorbent article 10, 110, 210, respectively. can The absorbent body 34 has a first distal edge opposite the second distal edge 42, which in one embodiment may form portions of the waist edges 22, 24 of the absorbent article 10, 110, respectively. 40), respectively. In some embodiments, the first distal edge 40 may be in the anterior waist region 12 . In some embodiments, the second distal edge 42 may be in the back waist region 14 . In one embodiment, the absorbent body 34 may have a length and width equal to or less than the length and width of the absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 . Bodyside liner 28 , outer cover 26 and absorbent body 34 may form part of absorbent assembly 44 . In the absorbent article 210 of FIGS. 11 and 12 , the absorbent panel 17 may form an absorbent assembly 44 . Absorbent assembly 44 also provides fluid transfer layer 46 (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7) and fluid transfer layer 46 between bodyside liner 28 and fluid transfer layer 46, as is known in the art. layer (not shown). The absorbent assembly 44 may also include a spacer layer 48 (as shown in FIGS. 5 , 7 , 9 and 10 ) disposed between the absorbent body 34 and the outer cover 26 .

Absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 may be configured to contain and/or absorb liquid, solid, and semi-solid body exudates that are expelled from the wearer. In some embodiments, containment flaps 50 , 52 may be configured to provide a barrier to the lateral flow of body exudate. To further enhance the containment and/or absorption of body exudates, the absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 may suitably include a waist containment member 54 . In some embodiments, the waist containment member 54 may be disposed in the back waist region 14 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 . In at least some embodiments, the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 of the present disclosure may additionally or alternatively include a waist containment member 54 disposed in the front waist region 12 . Accordingly, in some embodiments, the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 may have a waist in the back waist region 14 , the front waist region 12 , or both the back waist region 14 and the front waist region 12 . It may include a leak prevention member 54 . For the sake of brevity, the waist seal 54 will only be shown in the back waist region 14 of the article.

A waist containment member 54 may be disposed on the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 to help contain and/or absorb body exudates. In some embodiments, a waist seal 54 may be disposed on the body-facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 , such as in the absorbent articles 10 , 110 shown in FIGS. 1-10 . can In some embodiments, the waist containment member 54 may be disposed on the body-facing surface 56 of the bodyside liner 28 . In some embodiments, such as in the absorbent article 210 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , a waist seal 54 may be disposed on the body-facing surface 58 of the back waist panel 15 . .

The absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 may further include leg elastic members 60 , 62 , as known to those skilled in the art. The leg elastic members 60 , 62 may be attached to the outer cover 26 and/or bodyside liner 28 along opposing longitudinal side edges 18 , 20 , the absorbent article 10 , 110 and 210 may be located in the crotch region 16 . The leg elastic members 60 , 62 may be parallel to the longitudinal axis 29 , as shown in FIGS. 2 , 8 and 12 , or may be curved as is known in the art. The leg elastic members 60 , 62 may provide elastic leg cuffs.

In some embodiments, the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 may further include longitudinally extending fold lines 25a , 25b as shown in FIGS. 2 , 8 and 12 . The first longitudinally extending fold line 25a may be on one side of the longitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 , and the second longitudinally extending fold line 25b may be on one side of the longitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 . ) can be on the opposite side of In some embodiments, the longitudinally extending fold lines 25a , 25b may be generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 . In some embodiments, the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 may further include a laterally extending fold line 27 . Laterally extending fold line 27 may be positioned parallel to lateral axis 31 of absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 in some embodiments.

Additional details about each of these elements of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 described herein may be found below and with reference to FIGS. 1-12 .

Outer cover:

The outer cover 26 and/or portions thereof may be breathable and/or liquid impermeable. The outer cover 26 and/or portions thereof may be elastic, stretchable or non-stretchable. The outer cover 26 may be a single layer, multiple layers, laminate, spunbond fabric, meltblown fabric, elastic netting, microporous web, bonded-carded web, or an elastomeric or polymeric web. It may consist of a foam provided by the material. In one embodiment, for example, the outer cover 26 may be made of a microporous polymer film such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

In one embodiment, the outer cover 26 may be a single layer of a liquid impermeable material, such as a polymer film. In one embodiment, the outer cover 26 may be suitably stretchable in at least the lateral direction 32 of the absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 , and more suitably, elastic. In one embodiment, the outer cover 26 may be stretchable in both the lateral direction 32 and the longitudinal direction 30 and, more suitably, may be elastic. In one embodiment, the outer cover 26 may be a multilayer laminate in which at least one of the multilayers is liquid impermeable. In some embodiments, the outer cover 26 may be a two-layer structure, including an outer layer (not shown) and an inner layer (not shown) that can be bonded together by, for example, a laminate adhesive. Suitable laminate adhesives may be applied continuously or intermittently as beads, sprays, parallel swirls, etc., but the inner layer is suitable for other bonding methods including, but not limited to, ultrasonic bonding, thermal bonding, pressure bonding, and the like. It should be understood that it may be bonded to the outer layer by

The outer layer of the outer cover 26 may be of any suitable material and may generally be one that provides a garment-like texture or appearance to the wearer. An example of such a material could be a 100% polypropylene bonded-carded web having a diamond bond pattern commercially available from Sandler A.G., Germany, such as 30 gsm Sawabond 4185® or equivalent. An example of another material suitable for use as the outer layer of the outer cover 26 may be a 20 gsm spunbond polypropylene nonwoven web. The outer layer may also be constructed of the same materials as the bodyside liner 28 may be constructed as described herein.

The liquid impermeable inner layer of the outer cover 26 (or liquid impermeable outer cover 26 if the outer cover 26 is of a single layer construction) may be vapor permeable (i.e., "breathable") or vapor impermeable. have. The liquid impermeable inner layer (or liquid impermeable outer cover 26 if the outer cover 26 is of a single layer construction) may be made of a thin plastic film. The liquid impermeable inner layer (or liquid impermeable outer cover 26 if the outer cover 26 is of a single-layer construction) provides the wearer and caregiver as well as absorbent articles 10, 110, 210 and bed linen and clothing, etc. leakage of liquid body exudates from the wettable article of

In some embodiments where the outer cover 26 is a single layer construction, it may be embossed and/or may be matte finish to provide a more garment-like texture or appearance. The outer cover 26 allows gas to escape from the absorbent article 10 while preventing liquid from passing through the absorbent article. A suitable liquid impermeable vapor permeable material may be comprised of a coated or otherwise treated microporous polymeric film or nonwoven material to impart the desired level of liquid impermeability.

Absorber:

The absorbent body 34 is generally compressible, conformable, flexible, and can be suitably configured to absorb and retain body fluid secretions without irritating the wearer's skin. The absorbent body 34 can be made of a variety of materials and in a variety of sizes and shapes (eg, rectangular, trapezoidal, T-shaped, I-shaped, hourglass-shaped, etc.). The size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent body 34 should be compatible with the size of the intended wearer (infant to adult) and the liquid loading imparted by the intended use of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 . The absorbent body 34 may have a length and width that may be less than or equal to the length and width of the absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 .

In one embodiment, the absorbent body 34 is made of hydrophilic fibers, cellulosic fibers (eg, wood pulp fibers), natural fibers, synthetic fibers, woven or non-woven sheets, scrim knitted or other stabilizing structures, superabsorbent materials, binder materials. , surfactants, selected hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials, pigments, lotions, odor control agents, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the absorbent body 34 may be a matrix of cellulose fluff and superabsorbent material. In one embodiment, the absorbent body 34 may be comprised of a single layer of materials, and in an alternative example may be comprised of two or more layers of materials.

Various types of wettable hydrophilic fibers may be used in the absorbent body 34 . Examples of suitable fibers include natural fibers, cellulose fibers, synthetic fibers composed of cellulose or cellulose derivatives, such as rayon fibers; inorganic fibers consisting essentially of a wettable material, such as glass fibers; synthetic fibers consisting essentially of wettable thermoplastic polymers, such as certain polyester or polyamide fibers, or synthetic fibers consisting of non-wetting thermoplastic polymers, such as polyolefin fibers hydrophilized by suitable means. Fibers can be made into non-wetting hydrophobic fibers, for example, by treatment with a surfactant, treatment with silica, treatment with a material that has a suitable hydrophilic moiety and which is not readily removed from the fiber, or during or after the formation of the fiber. It can be made hydrophilic by wrapping it with a hydrophilic polymer. Suitable superabsorbent materials may be selected from natural, synthetic and modified natural polymers and materials. The superabsorbent material may be an inorganic material, such as silica gel, or an organic compound, such as a crosslinked polymer. In one embodiment, the absorbent body 34 may be free of superabsorbent material.

If a spacer layer 48 is present, an absorber 34 may be disposed over the spacer layer 48 and overlying the outer cover 26 . The spacer layer 48 may be bonded to the outer cover 26 by, for example, an adhesive. In some embodiments, the spacer layer 48 may not be present and the absorbent body 34 may directly contact and bond directly to the outer cover 26 . However, it should be understood that the absorbent body 34 may or may not contact the outer cover 26 and may be within the scope of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the outer cover 26 may consist of a single layer, and the absorbent body 34 may contact the single layer of the outer cover 26 . In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 , at least a portion of a layer, such as, but not limited to, the fluid transport layer 46 and/or the spacer layer 48 , comprises the absorber 34 and It may be located between the outer cover 26 . The absorber 34 may be bonded to the fluid transport layer 46 and/or the spacer layer 48 .

Bodyside liner:

The bodyside liner 28 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 may overwrite the absorbent body 34 and the outer cover 26 and isolate the wearer's skin from liquid soil held by the absorbent body 34 . have. In various embodiments, the fluid transfer layer 46 may be positioned between the bodyside liner 28 and the absorbent body 34 . In various embodiments, an acquisition layer (not shown) may be positioned between the bodyside liner 28 and the absorbent body 34 or, if present, the fluid transfer layer 46 . In various embodiments, the bodyside liner 28 may be bonded via adhesive and/or by point fusion bonding, to the acquisition layer, or to the fluid transfer layer 46 if the acquisition layer is not present. Point fusion bonding may be selected from ultrasonic, thermal, pressure bonding, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, bodyside liner 28 includes absorbent body 34 and/or fluid transfer layer 46, if present, and/or acquisition layer, if present, and/or spacer layer 48, if present. . The absorbent body 34 may be substantially enclosed between the bodyside liners 28 . 8-10 , the bodyside liner 28 may be narrower than the outer cover 26 . However, in other embodiments, the bodyside liner 28 and the outer cover 26 may have the same dimensions in width and length, for example, as shown in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 . may be In other embodiments, the bodyside liner 28 may have a greater width than the outer cover 26 . It is also contemplated that the bodyside liner 28 may not extend beyond the absorbent body 34 and/or may not be secured to the outer cover 26 . In some embodiments, for example in the absorbent article 110 shown in FIGS. 8-10 , the bodyside liner 28 is positioned at both longitudinal edges 36 , 38 and/or a distal edge of the absorbent body 34 . may surround at least a portion of the absorbent body 34 , including surrounding one or more of the arms 40 , 42 . It is also contemplated that the bodyside liner 28 may be comprised of one or more pieces of material. The bodyside liner 28 may be of different shapes including rectangular, hourglass, or any other shape. The bodyside liner 28 may be suitably flexible, soft feeling, non-irritating to the wearer's skin, and may be the same or less hydrophilic than the absorbent body 34 so that body exudates easily penetrate into the absorbent body 34 . and provide a relatively dry surface to the wearer.

The bodyside liner 28 may include synthetic fibers (eg, polyester or polypropylene fibers), natural fibers (eg, wood or cotton fibers), combinations of natural and synthetic fibers, porous foam, reticulated foam. , can be made from a wide selection of materials such as open plastic films and the like. Examples of suitable materials include rayon, wood, cotton, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or other heat bondable fibers, polyolefins such as but not limited to copolymers of polypropylene and polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, and poly aliphatic esters such as lactic acid, microperforated film webs, netting materials, and the like, and also combinations thereof.

A variety of woven and nonwoven fabrics may be used for the bodyside liner 28 . The bodyside liner 28 may include a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, a polymer film, a film-fabric laminate, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. Examples of nonwoven fabrics may include spunbond fabrics, meltblown fabrics, coform fabrics, carded webs, bonded carded webs, bicomponent spunbond fabrics, spunlace, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. The bodyside liner 28 need not be of a single layer construction, and thus may include more than one layer of fabric, film and/or web, as well as combinations thereof. For example, the bodyside liner 28 may include a support layer that may be hydroentangled and a protruding layer. Kirby, Scott S.C. hollow protrusions such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 9,474,660 to et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

For example, the bodyside liner 28 may be constructed from a meltblown or spunbond web of polyolefin fibers. Alternatively, the bodyside liner 28 may be a bonded carded web composed of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The bodyside liner 28 may be comprised of a substantially hydrophobic material, which may optionally be treated with a surfactant or otherwise treated to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity. The surfactant may be applied by any conventional means such as spraying, printing, brush coating, and the like. The surfactant may be applied to the entire bodyside liner 28 , or it may be selectively applied to specific portions of the bodyside liner 28 .

In one embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 may be constructed from a nonwoven bicomponent web. The nonwoven bicomponent web may be a spunbonded bicomponent web, or a bonded carded bicomponent web. Examples of short bicomponent fibers include polyethylene/polypropylene bicomponent fibers. In this particular bicomponent fiber, polypropylene forms the core and polyethylene forms the fiber's sheath. Fibers with other orientations, such as multi-robe, side-by-side, end-to-end, may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. can In one embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 may be a spunbond substrate having a basis weight of from about 10 or 12 to about 15 or 20 gsm. In one embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 may be a 12 gsm spunbond-meltblown-spunbond substrate having a 10% meltblown content applied between two spunbond layers.

While the outer cover 26 and bodyside liner 28 may include an elastomeric material, it is contemplated that the outer cover 26 and bodyside liner 28 may be constructed from materials that are generally non-elastomeric. . In one embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 may be elastic, and more suitably elastic. In one embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 may suitably be stretchable, more suitably elastic, in at least the lateral or circumferential direction of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 . In other aspects, the bodyside liner 28 may be stretchable in both the lateral and longitudinal directions 32 and 30, respectively, and more preferably elastic.

Leakage flaps:

In one embodiment, the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 may include a pair of containment flaps 50 , 52 . The containment flaps 50 , 52 may be formed separately from the absorbent chassis 11 and attached to the chassis 11 , or may be integrally formed with the chassis 11 . In some embodiments, the containment flaps 50 , 52 may be secured to the chassis 11 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 in a generally parallel spaced apart relationship laterally inward of the leg openings. , providing a barrier to the flow of body exudates. One containment flap 50 may be on the first side of the longitudinal axis 29 and the other containment flap 52 may be on the second side of the longitudinal axis 29 . In one embodiment, the containment flaps 50 , 52 extend from the front waist region 12 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 through the crotch region 16 to the back waist region 14 of the absorbent article 10 . In general, it may extend in the longitudinal direction 30 . In some embodiments, the containment flaps 50 , 52 may extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 , however in other embodiments. In this case, the containment flaps 50, 52 may be curved as is known in the art. In other embodiments, such as absorbent article 210 of FIGS. 11 and 12 , containment flaps 50 , 52 may be disposed on absorbent panel 17 in crotch region 16 .

In embodiments in which the containment flaps 50 , 52 are coupled to the chassis 11 , the containment flaps 50 , 52 are attached to the body with a barrier adhesive 49 , as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 . It may be bonded to the side liner 28 , or the containment flaps 50 , 52 , as shown in FIG. 9 , to the outer cover 26 with barrier adhesive 49 , or as shown in FIG. 10 . As such, it may be bonded to the spacer layer 48 . Of course, the containment flaps 50 , 52 may be bonded to other components of the chassis 11 and may be bonded by any suitable means other than the barrier adhesive 49 . The containment flaps 50 , 52 may be constructed from a fibrous material that may be similar to the material forming the bodyside liner 28 . Other conventional materials such as polymeric films may also be used.

The containment flaps 50 , 52 may each include a base portion 64 and a protruding portion 66 . Base portion 64 may be bonded to chassis 11 , for example to bodyside liner 28 or outer cover 26 as described above. The base portion 64 may include a proximal end 64a and a distal end 64b. The protruding portion 66 may be separated from the base portion 64 at the proximal end 64a of the base portion 64 . As used in this context, the proximal end (64a) of the base portion (64) defines a transition between the projecting portion (66) and the base portion (64) so that the projecting portion (66) is a proximal end (64) of the base portion (64). 64a) separated from the base portion 64 . The proximal end 64a of the base portion 64 may be located proximate the barrier adhesive 49 . In some embodiments, the distal end 64b of the base portion 64 may extend laterally to the respective longitudinal side edges 18 , 20 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 . In other embodiments, the distal end 64b of the base portion 64 may terminate laterally inward of the respective longitudinal side edges 18 , 20 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 . . 7 and 10 , when the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 is in a relaxed configuration, the containment flaps 50 , 52 also each other at least in the crotch region 16 of the chassis 11 . It may include a protruding portion 66 configured to extend away from the body-facing surface 19 . The containment flaps 50 , 52 may include a tack-down region 71 in either or both of the front waist region 12 and the rear waist region 14 where a protruding portion 66 . is coupled to the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 .

It is contemplated that the containment flaps 50 , 52 may have a variety of structures and shapes, and may be constructed by a variety of methods. For example, the containment flaps 50 , 52 of FIGS. 1-5 show the vertical containment flap 50 , 52 and the anchoring region 71 in both the front and rear waist regions 12 , 14 . and wherein the protruding portion 66 of each containment flap 50 , 52 is secured to the bodyside liner 28 toward or away from the longitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent article 10 . However, the containment flaps 50 , 52 may include a fixing area 71 as shown in FIG. 7 , wherein the protruding portion 66 of each of the containment flaps 50 , 52 is, Robert L. 5,895,382 to Popp et al., and is coupled to itself and the bodyside liner 28 in a "C-shaped" configuration that is self-folding and is known in the art. As yet another alternative, it is contemplated that the containment flaps 50 and 52 may be constructed in a “T-shaped” configuration, as described in US Pat. No. 9,259,362 to Robert L. Popp et al. This structure may also include a fixation region 71 in either or both of the front and rear waist regions 12 , 14 , respectively. Of course, other structures of the containment flaps 50 , 52 may be used in the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 and still fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

The containment flaps 50 , 52 may include one or more flap elastic members 68 , such as the two flap elastic strands shown in FIGS. 2 , 7 , 8 and 10 . Suitable elastic materials for the flap elastic members 68 may include a sheet, strand, or ribbon of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic elastomeric materials. Of course, two resilient members 68 are shown on each containment flap 50 , 52 , but the containment flaps 50 , 52 are constructed with one or three or more resilient members 68 . considered to be possible. Alternatively or additionally, the containment flaps 50 , 52 may be made of a material which exhibits its own elastic properties.

2 , 7 , 8 and 10 , the flap elastic members 68 are generally parallel to each other and spaced apart at the protruding portion 66 of the containment flaps 50 , 52 . It may have two strands of elastomeric material extending longitudinally. The elastic members 68 are in an elastically contractible condition such that contraction of the strands gathers and shortens the protruding portions 66 of the containment flaps 50 , 52 in the longitudinal direction 30 . may be within fields 50 , 52 . As a result, the elastic members 68 bias the protruding portions 66 of the containment flaps 50 , 52 , such that when the absorbent article 10 is brought into a relaxed configuration, particularly the absorbent article 10 , 110 , In the crotch region 16 of 210 , the containment flaps 50 , 52 may extend away from the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 in a generally upright orientation.

At least a portion of the elastic members 68 may be joined to the containment flaps 50 , 52 while the elastic members 68 are stretched during manufacture of the containment flaps 50 , 52 . The elongation of the elastic members 68 may be, for example, about 110% to about 350%. In one embodiment, the elastic members 68 may be coated with an adhesive while being stretched to a specified length prior to attaching the elastic members 68 to the containment flaps 50 , 52 . In the unfolded state, the length of the adhesively bonded elastic members 68, as labeled in FIGS. 2 and 8 , gather upon relaxation of the absorbent article 10 , 110 at the containment flaps 50 , 52 . An active flap elastic region 70 may be provided. The active flap elastic region 70 of the containment flaps 50 , 52 may have a longitudinal length that is less than the length of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 . In this exemplary method of bonding elastic members 68 to leak-tight flaps 50 , 52 , a portion of elastic members 68 that are not coated with an adhesive comprises elastic members 68 and an absorbent article ( 10) will be cut in manufacture to form the individual absorbent articles 10, 110 and then retracted. As noted above, the relaxation of the elastic members 68 in the active flap elastic region 70 when the absorbent article 10, 110, 210 is in a relaxed state, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10 , Each containment flap 50 , 52 may be brought together and the protruding portion 66 of each containment flap 50 , 52 may be disposed on the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 (eg, an absorbent assembly It may extend away from the body-facing surface 45 of 44 or the body-facing surface 56 of the bodyside liner 28 .

Of course, the elastic members 68 may be joined to the containment flaps 50, 52 in a variety of other ways as known by those skilled in the art to provide an active flap elastic region 70, which within the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, the active flap elastic regions 70 may be shorter or longer than those shown herein, including those extending to the front waist edge 22 and the rear waist edge 24 , and still be seen. may be within the scope of the disclosure.

Leg elastics:

The leg elastic members 60 , 62 are joined generally laterally inward of the longitudinal side edges 18 , 20 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 , for example by bonding with a laminate adhesive. , may be fixed to the outer cover 26 . The leg elastic members 60 , 62 may form elasticized leg cuffs that further assist in containing body exudates. In one embodiment, the leg elastic members 60 , 62 are between inner and outer layers (not shown) of the outer cover 26 or between other layers of the absorbent article 10 , for example as shown in FIG. 7 . between the base portion 64 of each containment flap 50, 52 and the bodyside liner 28 as shown, the base portion 64 of each containment flap 50, 52 as shown in FIG. It may be disposed between the outer cover 26 , or between the bodyside liner 28 and the outer cover 26 . The leg elastic members 60 , 62 may be one or more elastic components proximal to the respective longitudinal side edges 18 , 20 . For example, as shown herein, leg elastic members 60 , 62 each include two elastic strands. A wide variety of elastic materials may be used for the leg elastic members 60 , 62 . Suitable elastic materials may include sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic elastomeric materials. The elastic materials may be stretched and secured to a substrate, secured to a corrugated substrate, or secured to a substrate and then elasticized or contracted, for example by application of heat, to impart an elastic retractive force to the substrate. Additionally, it is contemplated that in some embodiments the leg elastic members 60 , 62 may be formed with the containment flaps 50 , 52 and then attached to the chassis 11 . Of course, the leg elastic members 60 , 62 may be omitted from the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Waist leak prevention member:

In one embodiment, the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 may have one or more waist containment members 54 . The waist elastic member(s) 54 may be disposed in the back waist region 14 as shown in FIGS. 1-10 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, the waist containment member 54 may help contain and/or absorb body exudates, particularly low-viscosity exudates, as would be desirable in the posterior waist region 14 . can In some embodiments, the absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 may have a waist containment member 54 disposed in the front waist region 12 . The waist containment member 54 in the anterior waist region 12 may help contain and/or absorb body exudates, such as urine, in the anterior waist region 12 . Although not as common as in the rear waist region 14 , in some cases, excretion may also spread to the anterior waist region 12 , so that a waist containment member 54 disposed in the anterior waist region 12 may be removed from the body. It may also help contain and/or absorb exudates. In other embodiments, the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 may have a waist containment member 54 on both the back waist region 14 and the front waist region 12 .

A waist seal 54 may be disposed on the body-facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 . In some embodiments, for example, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-10 , the waist containment member 54 may be disposed on the body-facing surface 56 of the bodyside liner 28 . However, in some embodiments, such as the absorbent article 210 in FIGS. 11 and 12 , the waist containment member 54 may be disposed on the body-facing surface 58 of the back waist panel 15 .

The waist containment member 54 may include a first longitudinal side edge 72 and a second longitudinal side edge 74 . The first longitudinal side edge 72 may be opposite the second longitudinal side edge 74 . The distance between the first longitudinal side edge 72 and the second longitudinal side edge 74 will define a width 51 of the waist containment member 54 in the lateral direction 32 , as shown in FIG. 2 . can Although not shown, in some embodiments, first longitudinal side edge 72 may be substantially aligned with first longitudinal side edge 18 of absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 . Similarly, in some embodiments, the second longitudinal side edge 74 may be substantially aligned with the second longitudinal side edge 20 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 . 2 , 7 , 8 and 10 , the waist containment member 54 has a first longitudinal side edge 72 at the proximal end of the base portion 64 of the containment flap 50 . It may be configured to be disposed outwardly in the lateral direction of 64a. Similarly, the waist containment member 54 is configured such that the second longitudinal side edge 74 can be disposed laterally outward of the proximal end 64a of the base portion 64 of the containment flap 52 . can be configured. 2 , 8 and 12 , the waist leak prevention member 54 has a width 51 of the waist leak prevention member 54 greater than the lateral distance between the longitudinally extending fold lines 25a and 25b. It can be configured to be large. The first longitudinal side edge 72 may be disposed laterally outward from the first longitudinally extending fold line 25a. The second longitudinal side edge 74 may be disposed laterally outward from the second longitudinally extending fold line 25b.

Waist containment member 54 generally comprises material 103 having distal ends 105a , 107a , or 105b , 107b , and one or more elastic members 86 . Material 103 may be through the use of a single material web folded to surround one or more resilient members 86 or through two separate webs of material having one or more resilient members 86 sandwiched between the two material webs. , a laminate structure surrounding the one or more elastic members 86 may be formed. For the sake of brevity, embodiments of the present disclosure are depicted as a single material web 103 folded around one or more elastic members 86 , however, it should be understood that the disclosure is not intended to be limited to this particular folded configuration.

In different embodiments, the waist containment member 54 may have ends 105a, 107a such that the ends do not overlap each other. Rather, the ends 105a , 107a may be disposed to surround the elastic members 86 but include two layers of material throughout the first portions of the laminate structure and include one or more second portions of the laminate structure. They may not overlap to form a laminate structure comprising a single material layer throughout. In such embodiments, the one or more second portions may allow greater breathability through the waist seal 54 . However, in other embodiments, the waist containment member 54 may have ends 105b, 107b overlapping to form a laminate structure comprising two layers of material throughout the entire laminate structure.

The waist containment member 54 may include a plurality of elastic members 86 , as generally shown in FIGS. 3A-4B , 6A and 6B . In such illustrated embodiments, the waist leak prevention member 54 may include ten elastic members 86 . Of course, it is contemplated that the waist containment member 54 may include other amounts of elastic members 86 . In some embodiments, the elastic members 86 may be evenly spaced in the longitudinal direction 30 at the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54 . Additionally, the distal portion 78 may include a greater number of elastic members 86 than the proximal portion 76 . For example, the proximal portion 76 may contain one to four elastic members 86 , while the distal portion 78 may contain two to fourteen elastic members 86 . In still further embodiments, the proximal portion 76 may not contain any elastic members 86 , while the distal portion 76 contains one or more elastic members 86 . The elastic members 86 may generally span substantially from the first longitudinal side edge 72 to the second longitudinal side edge 74 of the waist containment member 54 . Although not shown in FIGS. 3A-4B , the waist containment member 54 is attached to at least some portions of the waist containment member 54 to hold the elastic members 86 in place, for example. For example, the fixing region 84 may contain an adhesive between the material layers 103 .

A wide variety of elastic materials may be used for the elastic member(s) 86 in the waist seal 54 . Suitable elastic materials may include sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, elastic foam, or thermoplastic elastomeric materials (eg, films). The elastic materials may be secured to a substrate that stretches and forms the waist seal 54, may be secured to a corrugated substrate, or may be secured to the substrate and then elasticized or contracted, for example by application of heat, An elastic contracting force is applied to the substrate forming the waist leakage preventing member 54 .

Waist containment member 54 may also include a proximal portion 76 and a distal portion 78 . The first proximal portion region 77 of the proximal portion 76 is the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 (eg, the body-facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 or the bodyside liner 28 ). a second proximal end capable of being coupled to the body-facing surface 56 of The partial region 81 , or free edge 101 , is free to move relative to the chassis 11 and absorbent assembly 44 . Additionally, the distal portion 78 , or free edge 88 , of the waist containment member 54 , having a distal end, is also shown in FIGS. 7 and 10 , the absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 . When in this relaxed configuration it is free to move relative to the chassis 11 and absorbent assembly 44 . Referring to FIG. 3A , which shows a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment in which the waist leak prevention member 54 is in a relaxed configuration, as seen along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 , the longitudinal axis 29 and the lateral axis A distal portion 78 can be seen extending away from the chassis 11 and absorbent assembly 44 in a vertical direction 33 , perpendicular to the plane defined by 31 .

Fold 79a may separate proximal portion 76 from distal portion 78 of waist containment member 54 . As can be seen, the fold 79a is disposed closer to the lateral axis 31 than the free edge 88 of the distal portion 78 when the articles 10 , 110 , 210 are in a relaxed configuration. . As used in this context, fold 79a defines a transition between proximal portion 76 and distal portion 78 such that fold 79a separates proximal portion 76 from distal portion 78 .

The proximal portion 76 may be coupled to the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 with an adhesive 80 , and in some embodiments, the proximal portion 76 may be coupled to the body-facing surface 19 of the absorbent assembly 44 ( 45) can be combined. 5 , in some embodiments, the proximal portion 76 includes coupled to both the bodyside liner 28 and the containment flap 66 , the body facing surface of the chassis 11 ( 19) can be combined. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9 , the proximal portion 76 may be coupled to the bodyside liner 28 under the containment flap 66 . In some embodiments, for example in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2-10 , the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 may be coupled to the body-facing surface 56 of the bodyside liner 28 . can However, in some embodiments, such as the absorbent article 210 of FIG. 12 , the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 may be coupled to the body-facing surface 58 of the back waist panel 15 . have.

Adhesive 80 may have an adhesive length 83 , and proximal portion 76 may have a proximal portion length 87 in longitudinal direction 30 . In some embodiments, proximal portion 76 may be coupled to body-facing surface 45 of absorbent assembly 44 , wherein adhesive length 83 is equal to proximal portion length 87 . However, in more preferred embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A , the adhesive length 83 may be less than the proximal portion length 87 , wherein the first proximal portion is bonded to the chassis 11 . a region 77 and a second proximal partial region 81 that is not bonded to the chassis. In more preferred embodiments, the first proximal partial region 77 is located closer to the rear waist edge 24 than the second proximal partial region 81 .

In these embodiments where the adhesive length 83 is less than the proximal portion length 87 , the second proximal portion region 81 may be combined with the second proximal portion region 81 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 and the chassis ( 11) to form a first opening 89 therebetween. As can be seen, the first opening 89 faces the lateral axis 31 of the absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 and faces away from the back waist edge 24 . The opening 89 may have a longitudinal extent between the free edge 101 and the adhesive 80 , which is from about 25 mm to about 65 mm.

Of course, the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 may be absorbed by the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 by other than the adhesive 80 , such as by pressure bonding, thermal bonding, and combinations thereof. It is contemplated that the assembly 44 may be coupled to the body-facing surface 45 . In preferred embodiments, the proximal portion 76 is coupled to the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 in the lateral direction 32 in a continuous manner as opposed to an intermittent manner, such that a barrier to body exudates is provided by the proximal portion. It is formed between (76) and the body-facing surface (19) of the chassis (11). For the sake of brevity, this disclosure uses a description of an adhesive for attaching one component to a second component, but it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the means of attachment to only the adhesive.

Also, in some of these embodiments, where the adhesive length 83 is less than the proximal portion length 87 , the adhesive length 83 may extend to the proximal portion only along a portion of the lateral direction 32 of the waist containment member 54 . It may be less than the length 87 . For example, the medial, laterally extending region of the proximal portion 76 may have a proximal portion length 87 greater than the adhesive length 83 , while also having the adhesive length 83 equal to the proximal portion length 87 . ), having a lateral region disposed on either side of the intermediate region, thereby forming a pocket, or an opening with three closed sides. For example, the waist containment member 54 may have anchoring regions 84 disposed proximate the first and second longitudinal side edges 72 , 74 . In some embodiments, the securing regions 84 may be the most laterally outward regions of the waist containment member 54 , although this is not required in all embodiments. This feature is more readily visible with respect to FIG. 6A , which shows a perspective, exploded view of the adhesive areas different from the waist containment member 54 . As can be seen, the adhesive length 83a, which defines the adhesive length in the described intermediate region, is less than the proximal portion length 87 . The length 83b, which defines the adhesive length in the described lateral regions, is substantially the same as the proximal portion length 87, but as will be described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 4A, this is a necessary requirement. You have to understand that it is not.

FIG. 4A shows another cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the waist containment member 54 in a relaxed configuration as viewed along line 4-4 in FIG. 2 . As can be seen, lines 4 - 4 develop through the fastening area 84 of the waist containment member 54 . Additionally, it can be seen that in the fixed region 84 , the adhesive length 83 is different from the adhesive length 83 in the unfixed region 84 (as shown in FIG. 3A ). For example, in fixation region 84 , adhesive length 83 may be substantially equal to proximal portion length 87 . In this manner, applying the adhesive 80 between the chassis 11 and the waist containment member 54 of the absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 3 to contain body excretion, as is more apparent in FIG. 6A . It can be seen that it forms an opening 89 having a closed side. Of course, in this lateral region, the adhesive length 83 may not need to be exactly the same as the adhesive length 83 . In other contemplated embodiments, the adhesive length 83 in a lateral region, such as the anchoring regions 84 , may be greater than the adhesive length 83 in the intermediate region, but still less than the proximal portion length 87 . have.

Figure 4a also shows the adhesive 93 that can be seen in Figure 6a. As can be seen, the adhesive 93 adheres the distal portion 78 to the proximal portion 76 in the fixation region 84 . In at least some embodiments, the adhesive 93 is applied to the distal portion 78 on the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 , or on both the proximal portion 76 and the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 . ) can be attached. In some embodiments, the adhesive 93 may have an adhesive length 95 that is substantially equal to the adhesive length 83 in the anchoring region 84 . However, this is not necessarily necessary in all embodiments. In other embodiments, the adhesive length 95 may be from about 10% to about 90% of the adhesive length 83 in the anchoring region 84 . If the adhesive length 95 is less than the adhesive length 83 in the anchoring region 84 , the adhesive 93 may be disposed relative to the distal portion 78 and the proximal portion 76 so as to be at the free end 88 . Bonds a first region of proximal distal portion 78 to proximal portion 76 , thereby leaving a second region of distal portion 78 proximal to fold 79a unbonded to proximal portion 76 . . However, in other less preferred embodiments, the adhesive 93 is applied to the fold 79a while leaving the first region of the distal portion 78 proximal to the free end 88 unbonded to the proximal portion 76 . It may be arranged to bond a second region of the proximal distal portion 78 to the proximal portion 76 . Embodiments comprising adhesive 93 define an opening 112 , as seen in FIGS. 3A and 6A , having three closed sides. As can be seen, the opening 112 faces towards the rear waist edge 24 .

In other embodiments, the adhesive length 83 is greater than the adhesive length 83 in the mid region of the waist containment member 54 (eg, within the fixation region 84 ). The lateral region of 54 does not necessarily align with the region where adhesive 93 is positioned to bond distal portion 78 to proximal portion 76 , as shown in FIGS. 4A and 6A . For example, the adhesive 93 bonding the distal portion 78 to the proximal portion 76 may include, at least in part, the adhesive length 83 having an adhesive length 83 in the mid region of the waist containment member 54 . It may be located laterally inward or laterally outward of the larger, lateral region of the waist containment member 54 . Additionally or alternatively, the adhesive 93 may have a smaller or larger adhesive length 83 than the lateral extent of the adhesive 80 in the region where the adhesive length 83 is greater than the adhesive length 83 in the middle region of the waist containment member 54 . It can have a large lateral extent. As will be appreciated, in such embodiments, the region where the adhesive 93 is located to bond the distal portion 78 to the proximal portion 76 is such that the adhesive length 83 is the adhesive length 83 in the intermediate region. . It may be greater or less than the lateral extent of (112). Of course, the region where the adhesive 93 is positioned to bond the distal portion 78 to the proximal portion 76 and the waist seal 54 where the adhesive length 83 is greater than the adhesive length 83 in the intermediate region. The lateral extensions of the openings 89 , 112 may be identical, provided that there is alignment between the lateral regions of .

3B and 4B show a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a waist containment member 54 of the present disclosure viewed along lines 3-3 and 4-4, and FIG. 6B shows a waist containment member 54 and another A perspective, exploded view of the adhesive regions is shown. In general, the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of Figs. 3B, 4B and 6B is similar to the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of Figs. 3A, 4A and 6B, the main difference being that Fig. It is that the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3B , 4B and 6B further includes an intermediate portion 102 disposed between the proximal portion 76 and the distal portion 78 in the vertical direction 33 . .

As shown in FIG. 3B , the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3B , 4B, and 6B generally includes an area in which the material 103 overlaps itself and surrounds the elastic members 86 . , including regions where material 103 does not overlap itself, wherein waist containment member 54 is only a single layer thick, for example throughout middle portion 102 . The intermediate portion 102 , which is only a single layer thick, may allow for improved airflow between the inside and outside of the articles 10 , 110 , 210 when the articles 10 , 110 , 210 are in a worn configuration over the wearer.

Another major difference between the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of Figs. 3B, 4B and 6B and the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of Figs. 3A, 4A and 6B is that of Figs. The point is that the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 4B and 6B includes additional folds and openings. For example, fold 79a of waist containment member 54 of FIG. 3B separates proximal portion 76 from middle portion 102 . As can be seen in the embodiment of FIG. 3B , the fold 79a has a lower back waist edge 24 than the free edge 101 of the proximal portion 76 when the articles 10 , 110 , 210 are in a relaxed configuration. ) is placed closer to The waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3B , 4B and 6B further includes a fold 79c separating the middle portion 102 from the distal portion 78 . As can be seen, fold 79c is disposed closer to lateral axis 31 than free edge 88 of distal portion 78 when article 10 , 110 , 210 is in a relaxed configuration.

The added folds 79c further assist in forming additional openings 106 , 108 in the waist containment member 54 . As in the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3A , 4A and 6A , the adhesive 80 is still disposed between the proximal portion 76 and the chassis 11 to close the first opening 89 . to form The second opening 106 is disposed between the intermediate portion 102 and the proximal portion 76 , the second opening 106 facing the lateral axis 31 . A third opening 108 is disposed between the middle portion 102 and the distal portion 78 , the third opening 108 facing the back waist edge 24 .

Another difference between the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3B , 4B and 6B and the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3A , 4A and 6B is, for example, FIG. 4B . Addition of adhesives 97 , 99 as shown in FIGS. 4B and 6B in a lateral region, such as an anchoring region 84 of In the anchoring region 84 of the embodiment of the waist containment member 54 of FIGS. 3A , 4A, and 6A , the adhesive 93 bonds the distal portion 78 to the proximal portion 76 , while FIG. In the embodiment of the waist seal 54 of FIGS. 3B , 4B , and 6B , the adhesive 97 bonds the middle portion 102 to the proximal portion 76 , and the adhesive 99 bonds the middle portion 102 . ) to the distal portion 78 . These adhesives 97 , 99 may define lateral side edges of the openings 106 , 108 such that the openings 106 , 108 have three closed sides. In at least some alternative embodiments, the adhesive 97 may attach the intermediate portion 102 to the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 , and/or the adhesive 99 may attach the distal portion 78 to the It can be attached to the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 . In still other embodiments, the adhesive 97 may adhere the intermediate portion 102 to the proximal portion 76 of the chassis 11 and the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 , and/or the adhesive 99 may attach the distal portion 78 to the middle portion 102 and the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 .

Additionally, as with adhesive 93 , adhesives 97 , 99 may have varying longitudinal regions in different embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, adhesives 97 , 99 may have an adhesive longitudinal length that is substantially equal to adhesive length 83 (in the region where adhesives 97 , 99 are located). In other embodiments, the longitudinal length of the adhesive 97 , 99 may be from about 10% to about 90% of the adhesive length 83 in the region where the adhesive 97 , 99 is located. Also, each adhesive 97 , 99 may have a different longitudinal length. If the longitudinal length 97 of the adhesive 97 , 99 is less than the adhesive length 83 in the region where the adhesive 97 , 99 is located, the adhesive 97 , 99 preferably has a lateral axis 31 . between the middle portion 102 and the proximal portion 76 in the region closest to , and between the middle portion 102 and the distal portion 78 in the region closest to the rear waist edge 24 , respectively. It is located between the middle portion 102 and the proximal portion 76 closest to the posterior waist edge 24 and between the middle portion 102 and the distal portion 78 in the area closest to the lateral axis 31 . Regions can be left unjoined. However, in other less preferred embodiments, the position of the adhesives 97 , 99 between the intermediate portion 102 and the proximal portion 76 and the distal portion 78 may be reversed.

Although generally shown to be the same longitudinal length in FIGS. 3A-4B , in other embodiments the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 is the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54 . may include a longitudinal length measured in the longitudinal direction 30 that is shorter than the longitudinal length of . In still other embodiments, the longitudinal length of the proximal portion 76 may even be greater than the longitudinal length of the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54 . For purposes of this application, the longitudinal length of the proximal portion 76 and the longitudinal length of the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54 are such that the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 will be in an unfolded and laid flat configuration. is measured when

3A and 4A , the waist containment member 54 faces the lateral axis 31 and provides a barrier to help contain and/or absorb body exudates. It may have one or more opening(s) 89 and/or 106 acting as a pocket. Aperture(s) 89 and/or 106 may be particularly advantageous for containing and/or absorbing low viscosity feces that may be common to young children. The first longitudinal side edge 72 may be disposed laterally outward of the proximal end 64a of the base portion 64 of the containment flap 50 , and thus the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 may extend laterally outward of the proximal end 64a of the containment flap 50 . Similarly, the second longitudinal side edge 74 may be disposed laterally outward of the proximal end 64a of the base portion 64 of the containment flap 52 and may include the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 may extend laterally outward of the proximal end 64a of the containment flap 52 . This configuration provides the waist containment member 54 with wide opening(s) 89 and/or 106 to contain and/or absorb body exudates. As discussed, the distal portion of the waist containment member 54 to assist in preventing lateral flow of body exudates contained by the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 of the waist containment member 54 . 78 is on the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 proximate the proximal portion 76 and/or the first and second longitudinal side edges 72 , 74 of the waist containment member 54 , respectively. can be joined.

In some embodiments, the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 in the lateral direction 32 compared to the width 53 of the chassis 11 (as labeled in FIG. 2 ) is about 0.85 to about 1.00. can have rain. In some embodiments, the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 in the lateral direction 32 compared to the width 53 of the chassis 11 may have a ratio of about 0.87 to about 1.00. And in other embodiments, the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 in the lateral direction 32 compared to the width 53 of the chassis 11 may have a ratio of about 0.90 to about 1.00. For the purposes of this application, the width 53 of the chassis 11 for use in this ratio is the width 53 of the chassis 11 in the waist region where the waist seal 54 is disposed and two width measurements are made in the direction parallel to the lateral direction 32. 11) is the width. Thus, for the embodiments illustrated herein, the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 may be compared to the width 53 of the chassis 11 in the rear waist region 14 . Additionally, the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 and the width 53 of the chassis 11 in the lateral direction 32 as discussed for the ratios herein are: the absorbent articles 10 , 110 , 210 ) will be measured when it is in an unfolded, flattened structure.

2 , 8 , and 12 , in some embodiments a waist containment member 54 may be disposed on the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 such that the second end of the absorbent body 34 is A gap 85 is provided between the edge 42 and the free edge 101 of the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 . By providing a gap 85 , the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 may have a larger void volume for body exudates. Additionally, it is believed that the gap 85 may help body exudates enter the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 of the waist containment member 54 .

The waist containment member 54 may be arranged to be coupled to the chassis 11 by placing it either above the containment flaps 50 , 52 or below the containment flaps 50 , 52 . More specifically, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 7, the waist leak prevention member 54 may be disposed on the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11, so that the waist leak prevention member ( A proximal portion 76 of 54 is disposed over the base portion 64 of each of the first and second containment flaps 50 , 52 . Alternatively, as illustrated in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-10 , the waist containment member 54 may be disposed on the body-facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 , such that the waist containment member 54 . ) is disposed below the base portion 64 of each of the first and second containment flaps 50 , 52 . Both structures may provide an advantage to the ability of the waist containment member 54 to contain and/or absorb body exudates.

The embodiment ( FIGS. 1 , 2 , 5 and 7 ) in which the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 is disposed over the base portion 64 of the containment flaps 50 , 52 ( FIGS. 1 , 2 , 5 and 7 ) is an absorbent A proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 extends away from the body-facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 when the article 10 is applied to the wearer, whereby an opening 89 for receiving body exudates. may provide the advantage that the containment flaps 50 , 52 may help to create a larger volume in the In some embodiments, an active flap elastic region ( The opening(s) 89 and/or 106 may additionally or alternatively be opened by configuring the containment flaps 50 , 52 to have 70 . Additionally or alternatively, the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 of the waist containment member 54 may extend from the rear waist edge 24 to the waist containment member 54 , as shown in FIG. 2 . ) can be opened by configuring the containment flaps 50 , 52 to have a fixed area 71 that does not extend to the free edge 101 of the proximal portion 76 of the . However, the fastening region 71 of this structure is not required, and in some embodiments, the securing region 71 is the free edge of the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 from the rear waist edge 24 . It can be extended past (101).

The embodiment ( FIGS. 8-10 ) in which the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 is disposed below the base portion 64 of the containment flaps 50 , 52 ( FIGS. ) may provide the advantage that the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 formed by the . 8 to 10 , both the base portion 64 and the protruding portion 66 of each containment flap 50 , 52 engage the body-facing surface 55 of the waist containment member 54 . can be As a result, body exudates can more freely spread through the entire width of the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 defined by the waist containment member 54 . Additionally, bonding of the base portion 64 of the containment flaps 50 , 52 to the outer cover 26 (or bodyside liner 28 in some embodiments) beyond the location of the barrier adhesive 49 . may form a longitudinal barrier to the flow of body exudate out of the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 for laterally spreading exudate. In some embodiments, the securing area 71 of the protruding portion 66 of each of the containment flaps 50 , 52 is a distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54 , as shown in FIG. 8 . and may overlap in the longitudinal direction. In some embodiments, the fixed area 71 of the protruding portion 66 of each of the containment flaps 50 , 52 extends to the free edge 101 of the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 . may further assist in containing exudate in the opening(s) 89 and/or 106 defined by the waist containment member 54 .

The material 103 of the waist leak prevention member 54 may be made of various materials. In a preferred embodiment, material 103 may be comprised of a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (“SMS”) material. However, material 103 may be comprised of other materials including, but not limited to, spunbond-film-spunbond (“SFS”), bonded carded web (“BCW”), or any non-woven material. considered to be possible. In some embodiments, material 103 may be comprised of more than one of these exemplary materials, or a stack of other materials. In some embodiments, material 103 may be made of a liquid impermeable material. In some embodiments, material 103 may consist of a material coated with a hydrophobic coating. However, in a preferred embodiment, the basis weight of the material 103 may vary, the basis weight being between about 8 gsm and about 120 gsm, without the elastic members 86 in the waist containment member 54 . can More preferably, the basis weight of the material 103 may be from about 10 gsm to about 40 gsm, even more preferably from about 15 gsm to about 25 gsm.

Fastening system:

In one embodiment, the absorbent articles 10 , 110 may include a fastening system. The fastening system may include one or more rear fasteners 91 and one or more front fasteners 92 . The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 , 2 and 7 show embodiments with one front fastener 92 . Portions of the fastening system may be included in the front waist region 12 , the back waist region 14 , or both waist regions.

The fastening system may be configured to secure the absorbent article 10 , 110 around the waist of the wearer in a fastened state as shown in FIG. 1 and to assist in holding the absorbent article 10 , 110 in place in use. have. In one embodiment, the rear fasteners 91 may include one or more materials bonded together to form a composite ear as is known in the art. For example, a composite fastener may be comprised of an elongate component 94 , a nonwoven carrier or hook base 96 , and a fastening component 98 , as labeled in FIGS. 2 and 8 . As shown in FIG. 7 , in some embodiments, the waist containment member 54 may extend into the rear fastener 91 . In some embodiments, the waist containment member 54 may be coupled, directly or indirectly, to the telescoping component 94 of the rear fastener 91 . In some embodiments, the waist containment member 54 may extend to the longitudinal side edges 18 , 20 of the absorbent article 10 , 110 , 210 .

All documents cited in the Detailed Description are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; The citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this specification contradicts any meaning or definition of a term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to a term in this specification shall apply.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of this invention.

Claims (22)

An absorbent article comprising a front waist region having a front waist edge, a back waist region having a rear waist edge, a crotch region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the absorbent article comprising:
a chassis comprising an absorbent body, the chassis comprising a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface; and
A waist leakage prevention member disposed on the body-facing surface of the chassis, wherein the waist leakage prevention member comprises:
a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge;
a proximal portion comprising a proximal end, wherein at least a portion of the proximal portion is coupled to a body-facing surface of the chassis;
a distal portion comprising a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the distal portion of the waist containment member is free to move relative to the chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration; and
a fold separating the distal portion from the proximal portion, wherein the fold is located closer to the lateral axis than the distal end of the distal portion of the waist containment member;
The waist seal member is coupled to the body-facing surface of the chassis by a bonding area, the bonding area being longitudinally extending lateral areas and an intermediate area extending between the longitudinally extending lateral areas. wherein the longitudinal length of the longitudinal region extending in the longitudinal direction is greater than the longitudinal extent of the intermediate region such that an opening facing the lateral axis of the article is provided at a proximal portion of the waist containment member and a body-facing portion of the chassis to be formed between the faces,
absorbent article. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the fold is located closer to the lateral axis than the region of the proximal portion closest to the back waist edge. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the waist containment member further comprises at least one elastomeric member enclosed between two layers of material. 4. The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein the waist containment member comprises a web of a single material. 5. The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the first end of the web of unitary material overlaps the second end of the web of unitary material to surround the elastomeric members between the two layers of material. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first proximal portion region of the proximal portion is bonded to the chassis and the second proximal portion region of the proximal portion has no attachment to the chassis. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first distal partial region of the distal portion is free to move relative to the chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration, and wherein the second distal partial region of the distal portion is bonded to the proximal portion. absorbent article. The absorbent article of claim 6 , wherein the second proximal partial region is laterally disposed between two first proximal partial regions. According to claim 1, wherein the waist leakage preventing member
a middle portion comprising a proximal end proximate to the proximal portion and a distal end proximate to the distal portion, wherein the intermediate portion is disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein the fold comprises the intermediate portion and the distal portion a first fold that directly separates, the middle portion; and
and a second fold directly separating the proximal portion from the intermediate portion. 10. The absorbent article of claim 9, wherein the intermediate portion is free of elastomeric strands. The absorbent article of claim 9 , wherein the second fold is located closer to the back waist edge than the first fold. 10. The absorbent article of claim 9, wherein the intermediate portion comprises a single material layer and at least a portion of each of the proximal portion and the distal portion comprises at least two layers of material. An absorbent article comprising a front waist region having a front waist edge, a back waist region having a rear waist edge, a crotch region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the absorbent article comprising:
a chassis comprising an absorbent body, said chassis comprising a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface;
a pair of containment flaps comprising a first containment flap and a second containment flap, wherein the first containment flap is on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the second containment flap is on a second side of the longitudinal axis On the second side, the first and second leak prevention flaps are each
a base portion comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and
the pair of containment flaps comprising a protruding portion configured to extend away from the body-facing surface of the chassis at least in the crotch region when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration; and
A waist leakage prevention member disposed on the body-facing surface of the chassis, the waist leakage prevention member comprising:
a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge;
a proximal portion comprising a proximal end, wherein a first proximal portion region of the proximal portion is coupled to a body-facing surface of the chassis and a second proximal portion region of the proximal portion is not coupled to a body-facing surface of the chassis; the proximal portion defining a first opening between the proximal portion and the body-facing surface of the chassis, the first opening facing a lateral axis of the article; and
a distal portion comprising a distal end, wherein a first distal portion region of the distal portion is coupled to the proximal portion and a second distal portion region of the distal portion is not coupled to the proximal portion, such that the distal portion and the proximal portion an absorbent article comprising the waist containment member comprising the distal portion defining a second opening therebetween. 14. The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the first opening faces the lateral axis. The absorbent article of claim 13 , wherein the second opening faces the back waist edge. 14. The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the first opening has a first lateral extent, the second opening has a second lateral extent, and the first extent and the second extent are the same. 14. The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the first opening has a first lateral extent and the second opening has a second lateral extent, wherein the first extent and the second extent are different. 18. The absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the first range is greater than the second range. An absorbent article comprising a front waist region having a front waist edge, a back waist region having a rear waist edge, a crotch region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the absorbent article comprising:
a chassis comprising an absorbent body, said chassis comprising a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface;
a pair of containment flaps comprising a first containment flap and a second containment flap, wherein the first containment flap is on a first side of the longitudinal axis and the second containment flap is on a second side of the longitudinal axis On the second side, the first and second leak prevention flaps are each
a base portion comprising a proximal end and a distal end; and
the pair of containment flaps comprising a protruding portion configured to extend away from the body-facing surface of the chassis at least in the crotch region when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration; and
A waist leakage prevention member disposed on the body-facing surface of the chassis, the waist leakage prevention member comprising:
a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge;
a proximal portion comprising a proximal end, wherein first proximal portion regions of the proximal portion are coupled to a body-facing surface of the chassis and wherein a second proximal portion region of the proximal portion is disposed on the chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration a proximal portion freely moving with respect to a , wherein the second proximal subregion is laterally disposed between the first proximal subregions; and
a distal portion comprising a distal end, wherein first distal portion regions of the distal portion are coupled to the proximal portion and wherein a second distal portion region of the distal portion is free with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration. an absorbent article comprising the waist containment member in movement, wherein the second distal partial region is laterally disposed between the first distal partial regions. 20. The absorbent of claim 19, wherein the proximal portion further comprises a third proximal partial region, wherein the third proximal partial region is coupled to the body-facing surface of the chassis and disposed between the first proximal partial regions. Supplies. 21. The absorbent article of claim 20, wherein the third proximal partial region is located closer to the back waist edge than the second proximal partial region. The absorbent article of claim 19 , wherein the second proximal partial region has a longitudinal range of 25 mm to 65 mm.

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