MX2007014001A

MX2007014001A - Elastic laminate.

Info

Publication number: MX2007014001A
Application number: MX2007014001A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Edward P Erdman
Original assignee: Tyco Healthcare Retail Serv Ag
Priority date: 2005-04-07
Filing date: 2006-04-06
Publication date: 2008-02-05
Also published as: US20060228969A1; CA2608667A1; WO2006110442A1

Abstract

An elasticized panel for a training pant or other absorbent article is disclosed. The panel is of a laminated structure and includes first and second non-woven layers. An elastomeric film is positioned between the first and second non-woven layers. A plurality of elastic strands is positioned between the first and the second non-woven layer. The panel provides improved fit, comfort, and leak resistance for the absorbent article.

Description

ELASTIC LAMINATE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present description refers, generally, to absorbent articles, and more particularly, to an absorbent article having an elastic laminate structure that is soft, inexpensive and easily manufactured that improves the placement, aesthetics and resistance against leaks or leaks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Absorbent articles such as, for example, disposable diapers, incontinence pads for adults, sanitary napkins, panty liners, incontinence garments, and the like, are generally used in cooperation with garments and are located against body surface in infants or adult incontinence individuals. The absorbent article is used to collect and absorb the discharge of body fluid, such as, for example, blood, menstruation, urine, aqueous body fluids, mucus, cell debris and other forms of body discharge. For example, the absorbent article could be placed between the legs of an individual adjacent to the crotch area. The absorbent article is placed with a garment and is stretched so that it contacts REF. : 187801 the body surface of the crotch area to collect the corporal discharge. As is known, absorbent articles typically include a thick fluid permeable coated paper that contacts the body surface, a fluid impermeable sheet or backing and an absorbent core supported therebetween. The reinforcing sheet serves as a protection against moisture to prevent the escape of fluid into the garment. The absorbent core typically includes a liquid retention material that faces the body surface. The absorbent core may include, for example, loose formed cellulosic fibers, such as, for example, wood pulp, rayon, or cotton that acquire and store the body discharge. The absorbent core could also include a wrapping or quilting fabric, and / or a super absorbent polymer. Typically, some absorbent article designs incorporate elastic elements in the waist, stomach and leg areas to improve placement, aesthetics and resistance against leaks or leaks. The elastic elements of the waist and stomach increase the flexibility of the absorbent article, allowing the same article to be accommodated in a larger range of body sizes. In addition, they make the article conform to the user's form. Elastic leg-jointing elements and vertical leg joints have also been employed to help reduce the escape of the article when the absorbent souls can not absorb the exudates from the body in a sufficiently fast manner. Commonly, these elastic elements include elastic cords that provide the absorbent article with retractive forces and a desired range of extension. However, the joining of the elastic cords with the absorbent article can create undesirable corrugations on the surface of the absorbent article. These disadvantageous corrugations could have a large amplitude and low frequency, so that protuberances are formed which give the absorbent article a perception of "irregularities or protuberances". In an attempt to overcome these disadvantages, elastic films have been employed. However, elastic films could suffer from several drawbacks such as a high cost, lower retracting forces and a lower range of extension. Therefore, it would be desirable to overcome the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art by providing an absorbent article, including an elastic laminate having an elastic film and elastic cords. This elastic laminate is configured to provide higher retracting forces and a wider range of extension.

Desirably, the elastic laminate is bonded to the absorbent articulation so as to provide a substantially soft and comfortable surface laminate. It is contemplated that the elastic laminate is inexpensive and facilitates simple and efficient manufacture of the absorbent article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an absorbent article is described, which includes an elastic laminate having an elastic film and elastic cords. The elastic laminate is configured to provide larger retracting forces and a wider range of extension, and is bonded with an absorbent article in order to provide a substantially soft and comfortable surface laminate. The elastic laminate is of low cost and facilitates a simple and efficient manufacture of the absorbent article. The objectives and advantages of the present description are set forth in part herein and in part will be obvious from the same, or could be learned through the practice of the present description that is realized and achieved through the instrumentalities and combinations indicated. in the appended claims for the devices and methods of the present description consisting of their constituent parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations, steps and improvements in the present which are shown and described.

In a particular embodiment, an elastic panel laminate includes a first nonwoven layer and a second nonwoven layer. An elastomeric film is located between the first and second non-woven layers. The panel further includes a plurality of elastic cords located between the first and second non-woven layers. The elastic film layer could include a plurality of separate film strips.

The elastic cords can be directly placed on the film strips, or in the spaces adjacent to the strips. In an alternative embodiment, the elastic panel laminate could include a plurality of layers of elastic film. A first layer of elastic film is located adjacent to the first non-woven layer and a second layer of elastic film is located adjacent to the second non-woven layer. The layer of elastic cords is located between the first and second layers of elastic film. In another alternative embodiment, the elastic panel laminate could include a plurality of layers of elastic cord. A first layer of elastic cords is adjacent to the first non-woven layer. A second layer of elastic cords is located adjacent to the second non-woven layer. The elastic film layer is located between the first and second layers of elastic cords.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The objectives and characteristics of the present description are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. The present description, as to its organization and mode of operation, together with the additional objects and advantages could be understood with reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an absorbent article in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of an elastic panel of the absorbent article shown in Figure 1; Figure 2A is an exploded perspective view of an alternate modality of the elastic panel shown in Figure 2; Figure 2B is an exploded perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the elastic panel shown in Figure 2; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the elastic panel shown in Figure 2; Figure 3A is a plan view of a portion of an alternate embodiment of the elastic panel shown in Figure 3; and Figure 3B is a sectional view of an elastic film or elastic cord of the elastic panel shown in Figure 3 taken along the plane 3B in Figure 3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The example embodiments of the absorbent article and the described methods of use are discussed in terms of fluid absorbent articles, and more particularly, in terms of an absorbent article that includes an elastic laminate structure that is soft. , low cost and easily manufactured to improve placement, aesthetics and resistance against leaks or leaks. It is contemplated that the currently described absorbent article will be employed for example, with training pants, adult incontinence products, disposable diapers and other incontinence articles. In the discussion that follows, the term "body-facing surface" refers to a portion of a structure that is oriented toward the body surface or the body, and the term "surface that is oriented toward the garment" refers to a portion of the structure that is oriented toward the garment and is normally opposite the surface that faces the body and could be referred to as such. As used herein, the term "body surface" refers to a portion of the body of the individual in which the absorbent article is located for collection and absorption of the individual's fluid discharge. As used herein, the term "absorbent article", "absorbent article of clothing" or "article of clothing" refers to garments that absorb and contain body waste and more specifically, refers to garments that are placed against or in proximity to the body of the user to absorb and contain the various discharges and bodily wastes. A non-exhaustive list of examples of absorbent articles includes training pants, diapers, diaper covers, disposable diapers, feminine hygiene products and adult incontinence products. The term "absorbent articles" includes all variations of absorbent garments, including disposable absorbent garments that are intended to be discarded or partially discarded after a single use and disposable unitary absorbent garments having essentially a unique structure. As used herein, the term "training pants" refers to an absorbent article that is generally worn by children around the lower torso. The absorbent article could be disposable or partially discarded after a single use. The absorbent article can be of a unitary structure or could include inserts that can be replaced or interchangeable parts. Absorbent articles and diapers could have a number of different constructions. In each of these constructions it is generally the case that an absorbent core is located between a top sheet that faces the body and that is permeable to liquid, and a reinforcing sheet that faces outwards that is impervious to the liquid. In some cases, one or both of the upper sheet and the reinforcing sheet could be configured to form an article of type or shape of pants, such as a training pants. In other cases, the topsheet, the backsheet and the absorbent web could be formed as a discrete assembly that is placed on a main chassis layer and the chassis layer is configured to form a panty shaped absorbent article. The absorbent article could be provided to the consumer in a fully assembled pant configuration or it could be partially cuffed and could require the consumer to perform the final steps necessary to form the final pant type configuration. Normally, training pants are fully formed and applied by pulling the absorbent article through the child's legs. For a diaper application, an open and wrapped item is provided around the child's waist, by manually fixing one or more fasteners or holding tabs. The following discussion includes the description of the absorbent article according to the present invention. In the following, reference will be made in detail to the example modalities of the description, which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. Next, with reference to the figures, wherein the same components are designated by means of the same reference numbers through the different views. With reference to Figure 1, a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an absorbent article according to the present invention is shown. The absorbent article 50 as illustrated in Figure 1 is of a type of training pants or briefs and comprises a main body 30 having a waist hole 32 and a pair of 1 leg holes 34. The main body 30 it includes a waist joint 36 located along the periphery of the waist hole 32, and a leg joint 38 located along the periphery of each of the leg holes 34. The leg joint 38 is formed by the force of contraction of the elastic regions 40 incorporated therein. Other elastic regions 42 are provided to improve the placement of the main body 30 in the waist portion of the wearer. The main body 30 comprises a reinforcing sheet or sheet 44 formed of a liquid impermeable material, an upper sheet 46 formed of a liquid permeable material, preferably a hydrophilic material, and an absorbent web 48 interposed therebetween. In accordance with the present disclosure, each of the elastic regions 40, 42, side side portions 52, waist portions 54 and body sections 56 includes an elastic laminate panel 10 as described below. Each portion could include one of a plurality of elastic laminate panels 10 according to the requirements of a particular application. With reference to Figures 2, 2A, 2B and 3, an elastic laminate according to the present disclosure is shown. In an illustrative embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the elastic panel 10 includes a first surface or outer layer 12 of non-woven material, a layer of elongated elastic film 16, a layer of elastic cords 18 and a second outer layer 14. of non-woven material. ' Layers 12, 14, 16, 18 are joined together to form a substantially unitary structure or panel 10. It is contemplated that layer 12 could alternatively be formed of a film, aperture film, fabric or woven material.

The panel 10 is formed by positioning a layer of stretched elastic cords 18 between the elongated elastic film 16 and any of the non-woven layers 12, 14 and the joining of the joined layers 12, 14, 16, 18. Then, it is the tension in the elastic cords 18 and the elastic film 16 is released, whereby the outer layers 12, 14 are allowed to contract and stretch towards the corrugations (folds) I of a desired thickness (amplitude) and frequency. When the corrugations are stretched, the panel 10 has elastic spring properties. The elastic panel 10 could be formed in the elastic regions 40, 42 or in any portion of the training pants 50 using any suitable method, such as adhesive bonding or ultrasonic bonding, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. . The elastic cords 18 may be of a suitable elastic material, such as, for example, natural rubber, butyl rubber or other synthetic rubber, urethane, elastomeric materials such as spandex, which is marketed according to different names, including LYCRA® ( DuPont), GLOSPANÍ ™ (Globe) and SYSTEM 7000 ™ (Fulflex). The elastic film layer 16 may be, for example, an elastic or stretch film based on urethane, such as EXTRAFLEX® available from Tredegar Film Products of Richmorid, Va. The elastic film layer 16 can also be formed from other types of elastic films, elastic multi-directional aggregates such as elastic woven belt, mesh, elastic binder or foam. The present invention is not limited to any particular elastic material or to any shape, size or number of particular elastics. The non-woven layers 12, 14 could be of a conventional gluing-melt-blown-spunbonded (SMS) spunbonded material sold in accordance with the commercial designation of non-woven polypropylene by Avgol of Holon, Israel. The SMS material could be of any suitable weight, for example, 13.5 grams per square meter (gsm), and any convenient thickness, for example, 0.6 mil. Other suitable non-woven fabrics of similar weights or thicknesses could be carded, spunbonded or sewn spin materials manufactured for example, by Polymer Group, Inc. (PGI) of Mooresville. North Carolina, BBA, Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc. of Simpsonville, South Carolina and Freudenberg Nonwovens of Durham, North Carolina. The layers 12, 14, 16, 18 can be joined using coupling methods known in the art, such as, for example, pressure joints, thermal bonds, ultrasonic bonds, adhesives, other joining means or combinations of different joining methods. In the illustrative embodiment of the elastic panel 10, as shown in Figure 2, the elastic film layer 16 is bonded to the first non-woven layer 12. The elastic cords 18 are bonded with the elastic film layer 16 and the second layer non-woven 14. Alternately, in configurations of the panel 10 that are described below with reference to Figures 2A, 2B, 3 and 3A, the elastic film layer 16 could be joined with any of the non-woven layers 12, 14 The elastic cords 18 could be joined with either the elastic film layer 16, the non-woven layers 12, 14 or both. The film layer 16 can be bonded to any of the non-woven layers 12, 14 using adhesive. The adhesive can be applied, for example, as a solid coating on either the film or the non-woven material. Alternately, the adhesive can be applied in any type of channel or uniform pattern. Suitable adhesives include HL-1258 from HB Fuller Company of Saint Paul Minn, Findley 2031 and H2587-01 from Ato Findley Inc., of Wauwatosa, Wis., DISPOMELT® 34-5665 from National Starch Co., of Bridgewater, NJ DISPOMELT ® 34-578A from National Starch Co., Bridgewater, NJ and HL 1486UZP, which is available from H. B. Fuller Company of Saint Paul Minn. Alternatively, the film layer 16 can be bonded to the non-woven layers 12, 14 using the ultrasonic bonding applied either in a channel pattern or in a uniform pattern. The cords 18 can be joined, either with the film layer 16, with the non-woven layers 12, 14 or both using an adhesive, ultrasonic, thermal or pressure bond, or the like. This connection of the cords 18 can be carried out either in a continuous or intermittent mode. In this connection, it is observed that the increase of the connection of the stretched elastic cords 18 with the non-woven layer or the film can cause the cords 18 to become less elastic. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides for the application of less gluing / adhesive in the cords 18 in order to increase the elasticity of the formed panel 10. In addition, the cords 18 could be partially or totally placed within channels (not shown) that do not have gluing to form, for example, grooves, shadows or corrugations that improve the functionality of the panel 10. It is considered that the elastic panel 10 could include additional layers of cords 18, elastic films 16, layers ... or woven 12, 14 u other materials located in various configurations suitable for a variety of different applications. For example, while the elastic panel 10 of Figure 2 includes a single layer of cords 18, it is contemplated that the panel 10 may include a plurality of layers of cords 18. In an illustrative embodiment shown in Figure 2A, the elastic panel 10 includes the first non-woven layer 12. The panel 10 further includes a second non-woven layer 14. The elastic film layer 16 is located intermediate the first and second non-woven layers 12, 14. A first layer of elastic cords 18A is located between the first non-woven layer 12 and the elastic film 16. The panel 10 further includes at least a second layer of cords 18B located between the second non-woven layer 14 and the film 16. It is considered that each of the strand layers 18A, 18B is joined (explained in further detail below) with either of an adjacent nonwoven layer or the film or both. The elastic panel 10 may include a plurality of layers of elastic film 16. In an illustrative embodiment shown in Figure 2B, the panel 10 includes a first non-woven layer 12. The second non-woven layer 14 is provided. The panel 10 further includes a layer of elastic cords 18 intermediate the first and second non-woven layers! 12, 14. A first elastic film, such as for example; A first film layer 16A is located between the layer of elastic cords 18 and the first nonwoven layer 12.

The panel 10 further includes a second elastic film, such as for example a second layer of film 18B located between the cord layer 18 and the second non-woven layer 14. | In an alternate embodiment of the elastic panel 10, the elastic film layer may comprise a plurality of strips. In one example, as shown in Figure 3, the film layer 16 includes a first film strip 28 and a second film strip 29 spaced from the first strip 28. This configuration minimizes costs because a smaller amount is used. amount of film. In addition, one or more elastic cords can be placed with the layer of film strips to form a panel 10 having the desired performance criteria. For example, the cords may be directly located on the film strips, or in the adjacent spaces of the strips. In an illustrative embodiment, as shown in Figure 3A, the elastic layer 16 includes a first set of elastic strands 22 located on the first strip of film 28. The layer 16 further includes a second set of strands 24 located in the space between the first and second film strips 28, 29. A third set of cords 26 is located in the space to the left of the first strip 28. It is considered that the cords and the film can be placed in other different configurations to form a panel 10 that has the desired characteristics of operation. The elastic cords and the elastic films described above can be differentiated by using a relationship between identification dimensions corresponding to a particular film or web against a particular cord, fiber, filament, rope or yarn. In an alternate mode, the relationship between dimensions is determined based on the ratio of the largest dimension to the shortest dimension. For example, as shown in Figure 3B, the dimension parameters of the cord and film components can be defined using the cross-sectional dimensions of the particular component as represented by the geometry shown, which is taken throughout from plane 3B in Figure 3A. The largest thickness x represents the width of a bead or film and is the numerator of the relationship between dimensions. The smallest thickness represents the height of a cord or film and is the denominator of the relationship between dimensions. It is contemplated that a relationship between dimensions of < (less than) 3: 1 defines a bead, and a ratio between dimensions of = (larger or equal to) 3: 1 defines a movie. Other relationships between dimensions for strings and film are also considered. As indicated in the following table, the elastic cords have the relationships between dimensions of < 3.

As described above, an economical layer of elastic film 16 is combined with a number of elastic cords 18 to form an elastic panel 10 having soft outer surfaces 12, 14 (that is, corrugations of low amplitude and high frequency), and also have the desired retractive forces and an extension interval. The bonding of the film with the non-woven layer across the broad surfaces of the elastic film 16 provides the resulting softness of the elastic panel 10. The elastic cords 18 complement the retracting forces of the elastic film 16, and provide the larger retracting forces and the widest range of extension of the elastic panel 10. The elastic panel 10 is inexpensive and easy to manufacture. In an alternate embodiment, several components of the elastic panel 10 could be lengthened relative to other components based on the panel 10 assembly. The elongation percentage of a particular component is defined as the degree of difference of the elongated length of an elastomeric component in against a non-elongated relaxed length of the same component. This can be expressed by the equation:% Lengthening = (lengthened length - relaxed length) / (relaxed length) x 100. In this way, a component such as elastic cords 18 could have a percentage of elongation that is not equal to the percentage of elongation of the elastic film 16. For example, the elastic cords 18 can have a percentage of elongation that is larger than the elongation percentage of the elastic film 16 when the components of the panel 10 are laminated together. It is contemplated that the elastic cords 18 could have a percentage of elongation that is less than the elongation percentage of the elastic film 16, or alternatively, the elongation percentages for the components of the elastic panel 10 could be equivalent. In an alternate embodiment, the elastic film layer (s) 16 and the elastic cords 18 include alternative visual indicia indicating alternate positions of attachment of the closure mechanisms to adjust the placement of the article to a desired degree. It is contemplated that the visual cue could include alternative coloration, designs, and so on. For example, the elastic film layer 16 could be blue and the elastic cords 18 could be pink. It is considered that the layer 16 and the cords 18 could have several visually contrasting color combinations. It is further considered that the layer 16 and the cords 18 could be colored through a range of maticeei. It is intended that the claims cover all prior classes of absorbent articles, without limitation, whether disposable, unitary or otherwise. These classifications are used interchangeably throughout the specification, although they are not intended to limit the claimed invention. The invention will be understood to include, without limitation, all classes of absorbent articles, including those described above. The invention of the present description could be included in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the present embodiments will be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and therefore, all changes that fall within the meaning and the equivalence range of the claims is intended to be included therein. It is noted that in relation to this date the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. An elastic panel, characterized in that it comprises: a first non-woven layer; a second nonwoven layer; an elastomeric film layer located between the first and second non-woven layers; and a plurality of elastic cords located between the first and second non-woven layers.
2. The elastic panel according to claim 1, further characterized in that it includes a plurality of elastomeric films.
3. The elastic panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the first non-woven layer defines a first outer surface of the panel, and the second non-woven layer is parallel to the first non-woven layer and defines a second outer surface of the panel.
4. The elastic panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the cords are between the elastomeric film layer and one of the first and second non-woven layers.
5. The elastic panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the strands exert a refractive force larger than the elastomeric film layer.
6. The elastic panel according to claim 1, characterized in that a percentage of elongation of the elastomeric film layer and a percentage of elongation of the cords are not equal during the lamination.
The elastic panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic cords have a percentage of elongation that is greater than the percentage of elongation of the elastomeric film layer during lamination.
The elastic panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastomeric film layer includes a plurality of elastic strips separated from film.
9. The elastic panel according to claim 8, characterized in that the separate film strips are parallel.
10. The elastic panel according to claim 8, characterized in that the layer of elastomeric film also includes elastic cords located in spaces adjacent to the film strips.
The elastic panel according to claim 8, characterized in that the layer of elastomeric film includes at least one elastic cord directly located at least on one of the film strips.
12. An elastic panel, characterized in that it comprises: a first non-woven outer layer; a second nonwoven outer layer; a first layer of elastic film adjacent to the first non-woven outer layer; a second layer of elastic film adjacent to the second non-woven outer layer; and a layer of elastic cords located between the first and second layers of elastic film.
13. The elastic panel according to claim 12, characterized in that the connection between the layers of the panel is achieved through one or more of the pressure joints, thermal joints, ultrasonic joints or adhesives.
The elastic panel according to claim 13, characterized in that the adhesive is applied to one of a solid coating or in a pattern.
15. The elastic panel according to claim 14, characterized in that the pattern is a channel pattern.
16. The elastic panel according to claim 14, characterized in that the pattern has a uniform character.
17. The elastic panel according to claim 12, characterized in that the cords are joined to the film in a continuous mode.
18. The elastic panel according to claim 12, characterized in that the cords are joined with the film in an intermittent mode.
19. An elastic panel, characterized in that it comprises: a first non-woven outer layer; a second nonwoven outer layer; a first layer of elastic cords adjacent to the first non-woven outer layer; a second layer of elastic cords adjacent to the second non-woven outer layer; and a layer of elastic film located between the first and second layers of elastic cords.
20. The elastic panel according to claim 19, characterized in that at least some cords are placed inside channels without glueing formed, either in the non-woven layers or in the film layer.
21. An elastic panel, characterized in that it comprises: a first layer; a second layer; an elastomeric film layer located between the first one. and second layers; and a plurality of elastic cords located between the first and second layers.
22. The elastic panel according to claim 10, characterized in that a ratio between dimensions that is less than 3: 1 defines a bead, and the ratio between dimensions that is larger or equal to 3: 1 defines a film.