KR20030083746A - A panty liner - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pantyliner comprising an active additive, such as Lactobacillus, wherein the article is a liquid-permeable top sheet placed adjacent to the wearer in use, a liquid-impermeable back sheet placed away from the wearer in use, if possible An intermediate absorbent layer and possibly fixing means. Pantiliners have been prepared in such a way that the active additive, preferably Lactobacillus, provides a sufficiently effective and dry environment to ensure that the additives maintain a healthy living ratio until the product is used.

Description

Panty Liner {A PANTY LINER}

Recently, various types of active additives have begun to be used in absorbent products, such as diapers, panty liners and the like. Examples of such additives are for example deodorants such as the zeolites and silicas disclosed in WO 97/46188, WO 97/46190, WO 97/46192, WO 97/46193, WO 97/46195 and WO 97/46196. These additives are essentially intended to act on the product itself. Another example is the addition of softening additives, such as lotions, to the diaper which are intended to be transferred from the product to the wearer's skin.

Active additives are, in some respects, aimed at providing new or enhanced properties to absorbent products. Lactic acid forming bacteria (lactobacillus) (mentioned in SE 9703669-3, SE 9502588-8, WO 92/13577, SE 9801951-6, SE 9804390-4, WO 00/01206 and WO 00/01207) Is applied to a portion of an absorbent article placed adjacent to the wearer during use and is intended to be transferred to the wearer's genitals as a supplement to the wearer's own lactobacillus. This is especially valuable in situations where your Lactobacillus flora is weakened. For example, women of childbearing age naturally have Lactobacillus in their genitals as a defense against undesirable microorganisms.

Because lactic acid forming bacteria (Lactobacillus) are living organisms and must actually be alive to perform their desired function, it is important that the environment in which these bacteria are present does not negatively affect their survival. This has been found to be a problem with the development of products comprising Lactobacillus as the active ingredient. Survival of Lactobacillus has been found to be primarily negatively affected in high humidity environments at room temperature. To ensure Lactobacillus has a healthy storage environment, packaging devices have been developed that are sufficiently impermeable to prevent the introduction of moisture during storage (WO 00/01207). The product also undergoes an immediate drying step prior to packaging the product in order to ensure that the moisture content of the product is sufficiently low when the package is enclosed. However, this additional process step is complicated and expensive. As a result, there is a need for another manufacturing process or another lactobacillus-containing product that can provide Lactobacillus with a good and dry environment that is effective to allow bacteria to survive well during storage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide absorbent articles, mainly pantyliners, in which the active additives can maintain their activity prior to the use of the product, without the need for further treatment, such as drying the product to a greater or lesser extent. It is.

The present invention contains a liquid-permeable top sheet containing an active additive such as Lactobacillus and placed adjacent to the wearer in use, a liquid-impermeable back sheet placed away from the wearer in use, an intermediate absorbent layer if possible and possibly also A pantyliner comprising fastening means.

This object comprises a liquid-permeable top sheet which contains an active additive such as Lactobacillus and which is placed adjacent to the wearer in use, a liquid-impermeable back sheet which is placed away from the wearer in use, optionally also an intermediate absorbent layer and optionally fastening means. Satisfied by the containing pantyliner, the pantyliner is mainly made of one or more low hygroscopic materials selected from the group of materials of nonwovens, wadding, tow, and other synthetic fiber materials, 22.5 ° C., humidity 46% After 24 hours, the water content of the pantiliner is less than 2.5%, preferably less than 2.0%, and more preferably less than 1.0%.

Under normal conditions such pantyliners have not been found to absorb moisture enough to have a negative effect on the healthy survival of Lactobacillus during storage. The pantiliner may also include a superabsorbent for absorbing the fluids that are to be absorbed, such as physiological fluids, which is normally equivalent to 2-4 g of fluid. Thus, the superabsorbent material applied to the center of the product will absorb the fluid to be absorbed in order to fulfill its function for the product in use. The remaining synthetic hemp or cotton material does not have a significant degree of hygroscopic capacity, but has a high dry content at room temperature and gives Lactobacillus a dry environment during storage.

Other kinds of paper based materials are commonly used in typical products of this kind. For example, pulp fibers, among others, are often frequently used in the center of articles because such fibers, in addition to being hydrophilic, efficiently absorb water and liquid and are inexpensive. As in the case of the present invention, by avoiding the use of paper fibers, it is possible to achieve lower moisture content in the product and consequently achieve higher Lactobacillus viability. The use of a superabsorbent having a capacity to absorb an expected volume of liquid discharged during use, for example, typically about 0-4 ml volume, results in a sufficiently efficient absorption capacity in the product. In this case, the absorbed liquid is concentrated at the center and the remainder of the pantiliner is made of a material that is difficult to absorb moisture.

The superabsorbent material used may be in the form of small SAP particles, large SAP particles, or SAF (super absorbent fibers). This would be sufficient for the absorbency of the article to body fluids without having an absorbent capacity to absorb unnecessarily large amounts of moisture in the atmosphere.

According to one embodiment, the product does not contain a superabsorbent, which is functional when no fluid is expected to be absorbed during use. This is particularly suitable when it is required to transfer the Lactobacillus to the wearer only during use.

By providing the product a breathable back sheet that is convenient for the product, less sweat is produced when the product is worn, and also the product does not unnecessarily absorb large amounts of moisture.

Detailed description of the invention

By low hygroscopic material is meant a material capable of absorbing a sufficient amount of atmospheric moisture under normal storage conditions, such as hemp, cotton and other synthetic fiber materials, to remain substantially dry.

Hemp means here a synthetic material composed of elongated polypropylene fibers which are joined by transverse bonding to support the material together.

Cotton is, for example, a synthetic high loft material that is bound by lean air, resin bonded, thermally bonded or consumed or combed. Cotton is commercially available, for example, from Libertex.

The pantyliner of the invention consists of a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet and optionally an intermediate absorbent body. The active additive, preferably Lactobacillus, is applied in close proximity to the top sheet. In order for the Lactobacillus to survive and maintain their activity until the product is used, it is important that according to the inventive concept, the material from which the pantyliner draws as little moisture as possible. The test indicated that the water content of 2.5% by weight was below the upper limit for Lactobacillus to survive. As a result, the inventive pantiliner is made of a material which absorbs less than the upper limit under test conditions (see example 1), such as, for example, cotton and hemp.

Superabsorbents (SAPs) are preferably used to meet their absorption requirements that may arise during use. When a superabsorbent is used, it may also be beneficial to apply a dispersion layer under the top sheet to allow the liquid carried from the wearer to reach the superabsorbent material.

In one embodiment, the low hygroscopic material is hemp.

In another embodiment, the low hygroscopic material is cotton.

In another embodiment, the top sheet and the cotton are connected to each other by a dot bond or a linear bond forming a pattern. This can be done by joining or applying a high pressure to a point, along a short line (dash), or in some other pattern, where the width of the point or line in the pattern is about 1-7 mm. This results in a combination of larger capillaries and smaller capillaries that promote liquid absorption and liquid transport to the bottom layer.

In further embodiments, the low hygroscopic material is a tearable, non-woven fabric, such as carded, spunbond, or white or brown nonwoven fabric, available from Freudenburg having a weight per unit area of 80-140 g / m ² . "Evolon" with fibers or microfibers.

The superabsorbent material used in the pantiliner of the invention may be in the form of SAP particles, for example Hysorb C 7100 from BASF, acid SAP, or SAF fibers. The superabsorbent material is applied in an amount capable of absorbing 0-6 g of liquid, preferably 2-4 g of liquid. This requires the addition of 0.1-0.5 g of superabsorbent.

In one embodiment, the pantyliner does not contain a superabsorbent.

When conditioning the panty liner of the invention after a period of 24 hours at a temperature of 22.5 ° C. and a humidity of 46%, the panty liner will have a moisture content of less than 2.5%, preferably less than 2.0% and most preferably less than 1.0%. will be.

By active additive is meant a substance, reagent or composition which is applied to an absorbent article during its manufacture and which is intended to change or enhance the function of the article in some way or another. Examples of active additives include deodorants such as zeolites and silica, emollients such as lotions, Lactobacillus to inhibit the cultivation of other microorganisms, and acids such as lactic and citric acid, lowering acid SAPs and pH and thereby inhibiting the growth of bacteria. A partially neutralized SAP aimed at doing so. The active additive may for example be a microorganism. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the active additive is an acid-producing microorganism. According to a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the active additive is Lactobacillus, more preferably the Lactobacillus of strain Lactobacillus plantarum LB 931 (Accession No. (DSM): 11918).

When the active moisture-sensitive additive is Lactobacillus, the additive may be applied in the form of a cold-dried powder containing Lactobacillus or in the form of a suspension containing Lactobacillus. In this regard, it is appropriate to maintain as low a water content as possible or a concentration of lactobacillus as high as possible in the suspension so as to prevent the addition of unnecessary water which must then be completely dried. Lactobacillus will preferably be applied in an appropriate amount of 10 ⁴ -10 ¹¹ , preferably 10 ⁶ -10 ¹⁰ CFU / product (CFU: colony forming units).

The liquid-permeable top sheet is made of a soft skin-friendly material. The top sheet may consist of other types of nonwoven fibrous material or most advantageously a layer of hemp or cotton. Other materials that can be used are perforated plastic films, plastic nets, sewn, crocheted or woven fabrics, and combinations and laminates of these types of materials. The plastic may be a thermoplastic resin, for example polyethylene (PE). The nonwoven material may consist of synthetic fibers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyurethane (PU), polyester, nylon or recycled cellulose, or a mixture of other fibers. All materials used for the liquid-permeable top sheet in the manufacture of absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, panty liners or incontinence guards, can be used for the liquid-permeable top sheet in the articles of the invention, and the foregoing materials are exemplary methods. It is obvious that only those given, and those with efficient acquisition characteristics have been provided.

The liquid-impermeable back sheet may alternatively consist of a stack of liquid-impermeable materials such as nonwovens, cotton or hemp, and liquid-impermeable materials, but may be a flexible material, preferably polyethylene (PE), polypropylene ( PP) or a thin film of polyester. Any material used for the liquid-impermeable back sheet for the absorbent article may be used. The back sheet may advantageously be air-permeable.

When using a superabsorbent, it is usually necessary to include a dispersion layer in the absorbent article to direct the liquid to be absorbed into the superabsorbent polymer from the upper surface of the article. These polymers are usually made of paper fibers (cellulose fluff) that are hydrophilic and have a capillary tube. According to the present invention, the dispersion layer is suitably composed of synthetic fiber cotton which is not hydrophilic and does not absorb liquid to the same extent as the resulting cellulose fluff. Such a dispersion layer also includes capillaries for dispersing the absorbed liquid. The cotton contains relatively large capillaries or holes, and when these capillaries or holes are bonded to the surface material, for example, smaller capillaries / holes with a larger liquid holding capacity are created. The presence of the dispersion layer reduces the risk of the drained fluid flowing over the edge of the pantyliner and thereby discoloring the wearer's panties or other garments. It may be appropriate to include a liquid acquisition layer (dispersion layer) even when the top sheet itself has good liquid acquisition properties.

With regard to the packaging of the pantyliner of the invention, reference is made to the packaging and the packaging method disclosed in WO 00/01207.

The pantyliner has a length of 60-260mm. The absorbent body has a maximum width of 30-80 mm, preferably about 70 mm, and a minimum width of 5-20 mm, preferably about 10 mm at the rear end.

Pantiliners are typically produced by lengthy production, for example, in one- or four-way continuous production lines.

Many devices, such as tabs, flaps, sticky streaks or friction surfaces, can be used to secure the pantyliner to the wearer's panties. The pantyliner preferably includes a flap or wings that can be folded around the edge of the wearer's panties, thereby folding the liner in place. The flap, or wing, may also be provided with a sticky string that is covered with a strip of paper they are wrapped in, and such stripping paper protects the sticky string against contaminants, such as dirt, dirt, etc., and also allows the string to dry before use. It consists of a silicone-coated paper that functions as a barrier. Alternatively, it is conceivable to replace the sticky string with a friction coating or the like in the absorber zone. Furthermore, although only one flap may be provided with sticky strings, although the flaps need to be dimensioned such that they are folded inside the wearer's panties or folded around the edges of the panty and overlap each other. Fixing devices other than adhesives, for example, touch-and-cloth fastener-type hook devices that can be coated with a knit material to make panties, may be used to secure the pantyliner to the wearer's panties.

While the invention mainly relates to pantyliners, it will be appreciated that the concept of the invention also includes other absorbent articles in which the active additive is used.

It is obvious that the examples do not limit the scope of the invention, but the invention will now be described by way of examples.

Example 1

The test material samples were conditioned after 24 hours at 22.5 ° C. temperature and 46% humidity to test the water absorption of the multiple material combinations (Table 1). Two independent tests were performed with each material sample. The commercially available product "Grace" (also called Libresse Air) was used as a reference. The product includes a polypropylene nonwoven surface material, 140 g of heat-bonded LDA (low density air-laid), and a breathable back sheet of polyethylene with micropores. The tests showed that all of the selected materials exhibited values below 2.5% moisture content (by weight) except for the selected reference material.

Sample sample content

Moisture content

0.65% hemp material with 1NW ** + 1 g of large SAP particles; 0.76%

1.10% hemp material with 2NW ** + 1 g small SAP particles; 1.00%

2.42% hemp material with 3NW ** + SAF; 2.18%

4NW ** + hemp 0.70%; 1.43%

5NW * + 2.39% surface material with cotton; 1.04%

6 brown Evolon (thick nonwoven) 2.34%; 2.42%

7 for reference * -Libresse Air 3.78%; 3.72%

* NW is the carded material Terpol (26 g / m ² ) obtained from Tenotex.

** NW is the spunbonded 20 g / m ² obtained from BBA NW.

Table 1. Water Absorption Test. Conditioning of samples after 24 hours at 22.5 ° C. and 46% humidity. All pantyliners in the table have a PE back sheet. Percentage values are in weight percent.

Claims (12)

A pantyliner comprising an active additive such as Lactobacillus and comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet placed adjacent to the wearer in use, a liquid-impermeable back sheet placed away from the wearer in use, optionally an intermediate absorbent layer and optionally fastening means To The pantiliner is mainly made of one or more low-absorbent materials selected from cotton, hemp, nonwoven or other synthetic fibrous materials, and the moisture content of the pantiliner after 24 hours at 22.5 ° C. and 46% humidity is less than 2.5%, preferably 2.0%. Less than, more preferably less than 1.0% pantiliner. The pantiliner of claim 1, wherein the low hygroscopic material is three. The panty liner according to claim 1, wherein the low hygroscopic material is cotton. The pantyliner according to claim 1, wherein the low hygroscopic material is a dense nonwoven fabric or is made of breakable fibers or microfibers. The panty liner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panty liner also comprises a dispersion layer. The panty liner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top sheet is patterned with cotton. The pantyliner of claim 1, wherein the pantyliner further comprises a superabsorbent material having a total absorption capacity of 0-6 ml liquid, preferably 2-4 ml liquid, per pantyliner. 7. The pantiliner of claim 6 wherein the superabsorbent material is in the form of SAP particles or granules. 10. The panty liner of claim 6, wherein the superabsorbent material is in the form of superabsorbent fibers (SAF). Pantiliner according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active additive is Lactobacillus, preferably Lactobacillus of strain Lactobacillus plantarum LB 931 (DSM: 11918). The panty liner of any one of the preceding claims wherein the backing layer is made of a breathable material. In the preparation of the pantiliner according to claims 1 to 11, a moisture content of less than 2.5% by weight, preferably less than 2.0%, more preferably less than 1.0% after 24 hours at 22.5 ° C and 46% humidity And the use of one or more low absorbent materials, such as cotton.