MXPA00001555A - Absorbent article having an opening for feces in the topsheet - Google Patents

Abstract

An absorbent article includes a close fitting bodyside liner having an opening therein. The opening defines a front end edge, a rear end edge, and a pair of laterally opposed side edges. The article also includes a pair of elastic members which extend longitudinally beyond at least one of the end edges of the opening in a laterally divergent direction. The elastic members may also extend at least partially along the side edges of the opening. The elastic members are configured to maintain the edges of the opening in contact with the wearer's buttocks and align the opening with the wearer's anal opening in use. The article may further include a liquid management material located on the bodyside liner in the front waist section to absorb or contain liquid exudates.

Description

ABSORBENT ARTICLE THAT HAS AN OPENING FOR FECAL FECES IN THE TOP SHEET Background of the Invention Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an absorbent article for absorbing body fluids and exudates, such as urine and faecal matter. More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent garments, such as disposable diapers and adult incontinence garments, which are configured to collect and contain fecal material and prevent runoff.

Description of Related Art Conventional absorbent articles, such as disposable diapers, employ absorbent materials located between a liquid-permeable body-side liner and an outer liquid-impervious cover to absorb exudates from the body. Such conventional absorbent articles have also typically included elasticated waistbands and leg cuffs to help reduce the drainage of body exudates.

However, many of those conventional absorbent articles have not been completely satisfactory. In particular, many such conventional absorbent articles have not completely contained or isolated the body exudates within the article during use thereby undesirably resulting in body exudates contacting the wearer's skin. Such contact has been known to result in irritation of the user's skin. For example, a common problem associated with infant care has been the diaper rash which is partially caused by the contact of exudates from the body, including both fecal matter and urine, with the infant's skin. As a result of this, there is a need to better isolate exudates from the body of the user's skin to reduce the level of skin irritation.

In addition, the lack of ability of many conventional absorbent articles to contain body exudates within the article has undesirably resulted in the runoff which has fouled the wearer's clothes. The problem of runoff has been particularly evident in the leg and waist regions of such absorbent articles when faecal or watered matter has been expelled by the user during use. Typically-, watery or running fecal matter has been forced laterally and longitudinally outward from the crotch of the article towards the waist and leg regions of an article due to the forces exerted by the user. Such problems are amplified when the user is particularly active and continues to exert pressure on the crotch area of the article. The problem of runoff has also occurred because such fecal matter, which has an affinity with the skin, comes into contact with the skin and travels along the user's skin through the leg openings and openings. waist. Thus, in many conventional absorbent articles, body exudates have not been sufficiently contained and controlled within the absorbent article.

Some conventional absorbent articles have included elasticized components and barrier or containment fins in the leg and waist regions of the article to reduce such run-off. However, such elasticized components and containment flaps have not always isolated exudates from the body of the wearer's skin nor have they eliminated runoff from the leg and waist regions of such articles. For example, exudates such as drained fecal material have remained and been transferred along the user's skin until they escape through the small openings between the containment fins and the user's body. Such openings between the user's body and the containment fins have been caused by an inadequate notch of the article around the waist and user movements during use.

Other conventional absorbent articles have included the side-to-body liners with the holes there which have been configured to allow the user's fecal exudates to pass through the liner. However, such side-to-body linings with the holes there have not been completely satisfactory. For example, frequently the hole in the side liner to the body of such conventional articles does not maintain a correct alignment with the user's anal opening to receive the fecal exudates. Such a problem has been particularly severe when the user is active. As a result of this, the fecal exudates do not pass through the hole and may instead remain undesirably in contact with the user's skin on the surface facing the body of the liner from side to body. In an effort to solve this problem, several conventional absorbent articles have included larger holes in their liners to ensure that the hole is in position to receive the exudates. However, by increasing the size of the hole, the amount of fecal exudates that remain in contact with the user's skin also increases undesirably.

As a result of this, even when such leg elastics, the containment flaps and the side liners at body have improved the performance of such articles, there is still a need to further reduce the number of runoffs from the body exudates from the leg and waist regions of such absorbent articles. There is still a need to better isolate faecal exudates between the body side liner and the absorbent body of the articles to reduce contact between the user's skin and faecal exudates during use for improved skin welfare.

Synthesis of the Invention In response to the difficulties and problems discussed above, a new disposable absorbent article has been discovered which includes improved closeness to the body side liner to isolate and contain body exudates.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article which includes a body-side liner having an opening therein. The opening defines a front end edge, a rear end edge, and a pair of laterally opposite side edges. The article also includes a pair of elastic members which extend at least partially along the lateral edges of the opening and which extend longitudinally beyond at least one of the end edges of the opening in a laterally divergent direction.

The elastic members are configured to keep the edges of the opening in contact with the user's buttocks in use. In a particular embodiment, the side edges of the opening in the side-to-body liner diverge laterally outwardly in the rear waist section of the absorbent article.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article having a front waist section, a rear waist section, and an intermediate section which interconnects the front and back waist sections. Each of the waist sections defines a pair of laterally opposed ear portions. The article includes the outer cover, a body side liner which is in contact in a superimposed relationship with the outer cover and an absorbent body located between the outer cover and the side-to-body liner. The body side liner defines an opening there to receive fecal exudates. The opening defines a front end edge, a rear end edge and a pair of laterally opposite side edges. The article also includes a pair of elastic members which extend longitudinally beyond the front end edge of the opening in a laterally divergent direction in the opposite ear portions of the front waist section to keep the edges of the opening in contact with the user's buttocks during use.

In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a disposable absorbent article having a front waist section, a rear waist section, and an intermediate section which interconnects the front and back waist sections. The article includes an outer cover, a body side liner, which is in contact in a superimposed relation to the outer cover and an absorbent body located between the outer cover and the side-to-body liner. The body side liner defines an opening there for receiving the fecal exudates and the opening defines a front end edge, a trailing end edge and a pair of laterally opposite side edges. The article also includes a pair of elastic members which extend at least partially along the side edges of the opening to keep the edges of the opening in contact with the wearer's buttocks in use. The article further includes a liquid handling layer located on the side-to-body liner in the front waist section of the absorbent article which is configured to efficiently contain liquid exudates.

The various aspects of the present invention can advantageously provide an absorbent article which effectively isolates, absorbs and contains exudates from the body. In particular, the absorbent article of the present invention includes a liner close to the body which reduces the amount of contact between the exudates of the body and the skin of the user and reduces the amount of runoff of such exudates from the leg and waist regions of the article. As a result of this, the absorbent articles of the various aspects of the present invention have reduced levels of skin irritation and runoff when compared to conventional absorbent articles which result in a preference of the improved consumer.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more fully understood and the additional advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 representatively shows a top plane view, partially in section of an absorbent article according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 representatively shows a sectional view of the absorbent article of Fig. 1 taken along line 2-2; Y Figure 3 representatively shows a top plane view partly in section of an absorbent article according to another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention The following detailed description will be made in the context of a disposable diaper article which is adapted for use by infants around the lower torso. It is readily apparent, however, that the absorbent article of the present invention would also be suitable for use as other types of absorbent articles, such as pads for women's care, incontinence garments, training briefs, and the like. In addition, the invention will be described in the context of its various configurations. It should be appreciated that the alternative arrangements of the invention may comprise any combination of such configurations.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, an integral absorbent article such as a disposable diaper 20, generally defines a front waist section 22, a rear waist section 24, an intermediate section 26 which interconnects the front and back waist sections , a pair of laterally opposite side edges 28, and a pair of longitudinally opposite end edges 30. The front and rear waist sections include the general parts of the article which are constructed to extend essentially over the sides. abdominal regions of the user's front and back, respectively, during use. The middle section of the article includes the general part of the article which is constructed to extend through the region between the user's leg between the legs. The opposite side edges 28 define the leg openings for the diaper and are generally curvilinear or contoured to more closely fit the user's legs. The opposite end edges 30 define a waist opening for the diaper 20 and are typically straight but may also be curvilinear. The diaper 20 further defines a longitudinal center line 40, a lateral center line 42, a lateral direction 44 and a longitudinal direction 46.

Figure 1 is a representative plane view of the diaper 20 of the present invention in a non-contracted and planar state. Parts of the structure are partially cut to show more clearly the inner construction of the diaper , and the surface of the diaper which makes contact with the user facing the observer. The diaper 20 includes an outer cover essentially impermeable to liquid 32, a porous liquid-permeable body side liner 34 placed in a face-to-face relationship with the outer cover 32, and an absorbent body 36, such as an absorbent pad, the which is located between the outer cover and the lining from side to body. The marginal portions of the diaper 20, such as the marginal sections of the outer cover 32, can extending beyond the end edges of the absorbent body 36. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the outer cover 32 extends outwardly beyond the terminal marginal edges of the absorbent body 36 to form the side margins and the end margins of the absorbent body. diaper 20. The body side liner 34 is generally coextensive with the outer cover 32 but may optionally cover an area which is larger or smaller than the area of the outer cover 32 as desired.

The diaper 20 can be of various suitable shapes. For example, the diaper can have a global rectangular shape, a T shape or an hourglass shape approximately. In the embodiment shown, the diaper 20 has an I-shape or global hourglass. In such a configuration, the diaper also defines a pair of laterally opposed ear portions 38 in both the front and rear waist regions 22 and 24 of the diaper. The ear portions 38 are those portions of the diaper 20 which extend laterally beyond the narrowest portion of the diaper 20 which is generally along the lateral centerline 42 in the intermediate section 26 of the diaper 20.

The diaper 20, as representatively illustrated in Figure 1, may further include a pair of fasteners 50 which are employed to secure the diaper 20 around the waist of a user. Suitable fasteners include hook-and-loop type fasteners, adhesive tape fasteners, buttons, bolts, automatic fasteners, mushroom and curl fasteners and the like. A cooperating side panel member 52 may be associated with each fastener and may be constructed so as not to be elasticated or may be elastically stretchable at least along the lateral direction 44 of the diaper 20. The diaper 20 may also include a fascia panel. fastener 54 to which the fasteners 50 are releasably engaged to secure the diaper 20 around the wearer's waist. For example, in one embodiment, the fasteners 50 may include the hook-type fasteners and the fastening panel 54 may include a complementary curl-type fastener which is intended to engage the hook-type fasteners releasably. Suitable materials for fasteners 50 and fastening panel 54 are well known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the fasteners 50 can be configured to releasably engage the outer cover 32.

To improve the notch and help reduce the runoff of body exudates from diaper 20, the side margins and diaper end margins can be elasticated with suitable elastic members, such as elastic leg members 56 and elastic members. 58. For example, elastic leg members 56 they may include single or multiple threads or elastomeric or elastomeric compounds which are constructed to operably fold or shrink the lateral margins of the diaper 20 to provide the elasticized leg bands which can closely taper around the wearer's legs to reduce runoff and provide improved appearance and comfort. Similarly, the elastic waist members 58 may be employed to elasticize the end margins of the diaper 20 to provide the elasticated waistbands. The waist elastics are configured to operably fold and shrink the waistband sections to provide a comfortable and elastic closed notch around the wearer's waist.

The elastic members 56 and 58 are secured to the diaper 20 in an elastically contractible condition so that in a configuration under normal tension, the elastic members effectively contract against the diaper 20. For example, the elastic members 56 and 58 may be elongated and securing the diaper 20 while the diaper is in an uncontracted condition. In Figure 1, the elastic members 56 and 58 are illustrated in their non-contracted and stretched condition for the purpose of clarity. Alternatively, the diaper 20 may include a pair of separate elasticated and folded leg gussets (not shown) which are fastened to the diaper along the side margins in at least the section intermediate 26 of the diaper 20 to provide the elasticated leg cuffs. Such leg gussets may be configured to extend further and bridge through the respective concave portion of the lateral margins of the diaper 20.

As representatively illustrated in Figure 3, the diaper 20 could further include a liquid handling layer 90 placed on the body side liner 34 in the front waist section 22 of the diaper 20. The liquid handling layer 90 is configured to contain the liquid exudates or retain and distribute the liquid exudates to the absorbent body 36. The liquid handling layer 90 can prevent the liquid exudates from stagnating and collecting on part of the liner from side to body 34 placed against of the user's skin, thus reducing the level of skin hydration. The liquid handling layer 90 may have any desired shape and shape and may cover the side liner to the full body 34 in the front waist section 22 of the diaper 20 or only a portion thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid handling layer 90 defines an oval shape and defines an area of from about 10 to about 150 square centimeters.

Various woven and non-woven fabrics can be used to construct the liquid handling layer 90. For example, the liquid handling layer 90 can comprise a composite layer of a melt blown or bonded fabric. spinning of polyolefin fibers. The liquid handling layer 90 may otherwise comprise a carded and bonded fabric or an air-laid fabric of natural or synthetic fibers. The liquid handling layer 90 may be composed of an essentially hydrophobic material which may or may not be treated to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity. Alternatively, other suitable materials such as those described below as being suitable for the absorbent body 36 of the diaper 20 of the present invention may be used to provide the liquid handling layer 90.

The diaper 20 may further include a pair of longitudinally extending compression resistant containment barriers (not shown) located along the side edges 28 of the diaper 20 in at least the middle section of the diaper 20. Such barriers of restraints are configured to reduce the lateral flow of fecal exudates outward from the leg regions of the diaper 20 and provide a hollow space between the wearer's buttocks and the absorbent portion of the diaper 20 during use. The hollow space is configured to contain the exudates of the body and, in particular, the fecal exudates until they can be absorbed or desorbed by the absorbent body 36 of the diaper 20. The diaper 20 can also include at least one containment dam ( not illustrated) which is configured to inhibit the longitudinal flow of fecal exudates to the regions of the diaper 20 such as the back waist section 24 to more effectively contain such material within the diaper 20. Suitable constructions of such containment barriers and containment dams are set forth in commonly assigned United States of America patent application. series number 08 / 763,960 entitled "ABSORBENT ARTICLES THAT HAVE TRIDIMENSIONAL LONGITUDINAL CONTAINMENT DAMS", filed on December 5, 1996 in the name of BO Sauer and the patent application of the United States of America series number 08 / 706,581 entitled "ABSORBENT ARTICLES" WHO HAVE A CONTAINMENT DAM, "presented on September 5, 1996 in the name of BO Sauer.

Examples of diaper configurations suitable for use in connection with the present application and other diaper components suitable for use on diapers are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,798.63 issued January 17, 1989 a Meyer and others; ,176,668 granted on January 5, 1993, granted to Bernardin; 5,176,672 granted on January 5, 1993 to Bruemmer and others; ,192,606 granted on March 9, 1993 to Proxmire et al .; Y ,509,915 issued on April 23, 1996 to Hanson et al., Whose descriptions are incorporated herein by reference to the extent to which they are consistent therewith. The various aspects and configurations of the invention can provide distinctive combinations of softness, body conformity, marked in reduced red of the user's skin, reduced skin hydration and improved containment of body exudates.

The various components of the diaper 20 are integrally assembled together using various types of suitable fastening means, such as adhesive, sonic joints, thermal bonds or combinations thereof. In the embodiment shown, for example, the side-to-body liner 34 and the outer cover 32 are assembled to each other and to the absorbent body 36 with adhesive such as a hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive. The adhesive can be applied as a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive, an adhesive spray pattern or an array of separate lines, swirls or spots of adhesive. Similarly, other diaper components, such as fasteners 50 and elastic members 56 and 58 can be assembled into the diaper article 20 by employing the above identified fastening mechanisms.

The outer cover 32 of the diaper 20, as illustrated representatively in Figure 1, may suitably be composed of a material which is either liquid permeable or liquid impervious. It is generally preferred that the outer cover 32 be formed of a material which is essentially impermeable to liquids. For example, a Typical outer cover can be manufactured from a thin plastic film or other material impervious to flexible liquid. For example, the outer cover 32 may be formed of a polyethylene film having a thickness of about 0.012 millimeters to about 0.051 millimeters. If it is desired to present the outer cover with a more cloth-like feel, the outer cover 32 may comprise a polyolefin film having a non-woven fabric laminated to the outer surface thereof such as a fabric bonded with a woven yarn. polyolefin fibers. For example, a stretched-thinned polypropylene film having a thickness of about 0.015 millimeters may have thermically laminated to a fabric bonded with spinning of polypropylene fibers, whose fibers have a thickness of about 1.5 to 2.5 denier per filament. , whose non-woven fabric has a basis weight of about 17 grams per square meter. Methods for forming such cloth-type outer covers are known to those with skill in the art.

In addition, the outer cover 32 can be formed of a woven or non-woven fibrous fabric layer which has been constructed or treated in whole or in part to impart a desired level of liquid impermeability to selected regions that are adjacent to or close to the absorbent body 36. Even more, the outer cover 32 can optionally be composed of a microporous material "with ability to breathe "which allows the vapors of the absorbent body 36 to escape while still preventing liquid exudates from passing through the outer cover 32. The outer cover 32 may also be etched or otherwise provided with a matte finish to provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

The body side liner 34 as representatively illustrated in Figure 1 suitably presents a face surface to the body which is docile, soft in feel, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. The body side liner 34 in the different aspects of the present invention is configured to remain in close contact with the wearer's buttocks in use. In addition, the body side liner 34 may be less hydrophilic than the absorbent body 36, to present a relatively dry surface to the wearer, and may be sufficiently porous to be permeable to the liquid, allowing the liquid to easily penetrate through its thickness . A suitable side-to-body liner 34 can be manufactured from a wide selection of fabric materials, such as porous foams, cross-linked foams, perforated plastic films, natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (e.g. example, polyester or polypropylene fibers) or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. The side-to-body liner 34 is suitably employed to help insulate the user's skin from the liquids maintained in the absorbent body 36 Various woven and non-woven fabrics can be used for the side-to-body lining 34. For example, the side-to-body liner can be composed of a weave blown or bonded with polyolefin fiber spinning. The body side liner can also be a bonded and carded fabric composed of natural and / or synthetic fibers. The body side liner may be composed of an essentially hydrophobic material, and the hydrophobic material may, optionally, be treated with a surfactant or otherwise processed to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the body-side liner 34 comprises a spin-linked and non-woven polypropylene fabric composed of fibers of about 2.8-3.2 denier formed into a fabric having a basis weight of about 20. grams per square meter and a density of around 0.13 grams per cubic centimeter. The fabric can be treated on the surface with about 0.28 percent by weight of a surfactant commercially available from Rohm and Haas Co. under the trade designation Triton X-102. The surfactant can be applied by any conventional means such as spraying, printing, brush coating or the like. The surfactant can be applied to the side liner to the complete body 34 or can be applied selectively to particular sections of the side-to-body liner 34, such as the section medium along the longitudinal center line of the diaper to provide greater wettability of such sections.

The absorbent body 36 of the diaper 20 as depicted representatively in Figure 1 may suitably comprise a matrix of hydrophilic fibers, such as a cellulose fluff fabric, mixed with particles of a high-absorbency material commonly known as superabsorbent material. In a particular embodiment, the absorbent body 36 comprises a cellulose fluff matrix, such as wood pulp fluff, and superabsorbent hydrogel-forming particles. The wood pulp fluff can be exchanged with synthetic, polymeric, meltblown fibers or with a combination of melt blown fibers and natural fibers. The superabsorbent particles can be mixed homogeneously with the hydrophilic fibers or they can not be mixed uniformly. The fluff and the superabsorbent particles can also be selectively placed in desired areas of the absorbent body 36 to better contain and absorb exudates from the body. The concentration of the superabsorbent particles may also vary through the thickness of the absorbent body 36. Alternatively, the absorbent body 36 may comprise a laminate of fibrous fabrics and superabsorbent material or other suitable means for maintaining the superabsorbent material in a localized area.

The absorbent body 36 can have any of a number of shapes. For example, the absorbent core may be rectangular, I-shaped or T-shaped. It is generally preferred that the absorbent body 36 be narrower in the crotch area than in the front or back of the diaper 20. The size and The absorbent capacity of the absorbent body 36 must be compatible with the size of the intended user and the liquid load imparted by the intended use of absorbent article.

The high-absorbency material can be selected from natural, synthetic and modified natural materials and polymers. The high-absorbency materials may be inorganic materials such as silica gels or organic compounds such as crosslinked polymers. The term "crosslinked" refers to any means to effectively render the materials normally water-soluble making them essentially insoluble but swellable in water. Such means may include, for example, physical entanglement, crystalline domains, covalent bonds, ionic compounds and associations, hydrophilic associations such as hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic associations or Van der Waals forces.

Examples of high-absorbency, polymeric and synthetic materials include metal salts alkali and ammonium of poly (acrylic acid) and poly (methacrylic acid), poly (acrylamides), poly (vinyl ethers), copolymers of maleic anhydride with vinyl ethers and high olefins, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone), poly (vinyl morpholinone) ), poly (vinyl alcohol) and mixtures and copolymers thereof. Additional polymers suitable for use in the absorbent core include the natural and modified natural polymers, such as hydrolyzed acrylonitrile grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and natural gums , such as alginates, xanthan gum, locust bean gum and the like. Mixtures of natural and fully or partially synthetic absorbent polymers can also be used in the present invention. Such high absorbency materials are well known to those skilled in the art and are widely commercially available. Examples of the superabsorbent polymers suitable for use in the present invention are the SANWET IM 3900 polymer available from Hoechst Celanese located in Portsmouth, Virginia, and DOW DRYTECH 2035LD polymer available from the Dow Chemical Company, located in Midland, Michigan.

The high absorbency material can be in any of a wide variety of geometric shapes. As a general rule, it is preferred that the high-absorbency material be in the form of discrete particles. However the High absorbency material may also be in the form of fibers, flakes, rods, spheres, needles or the like. As a general rule, the high-absorbency material is present in the absorbent body in an amount of from about 5 to about 90 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the absorbent body 36.

Optionally, an essentially hydrophilic tissue wrapping sheet (not shown) can be employed to help maintain the integrity of the fibrous structure placed by air of the absorbent body 36. The tissue wrapping sheet is typically placed around the absorbent body over the at least two of the main face surfaces thereof and composed of an absorbent cellulosic material, such as creped wadding or a tissue of high wet strength. In one aspect of the invention, the tissue wrapping sheet can be configured to provide a transmission layer which helps to rapidly distribute the liquid over the mass of absorbent fibers comprising the absorbent body. In another aspect of the invention, the wrapping sheet material on one side of the absorbent fiber mass can be attached to the wrapping sheet material located on the opposite side of the fibrous mass.

The body side liner 34 of the diaper 20 of the present invention, as representatively illustrated in Figure 1, also includes an opening 60 there, which is configured to receive fecal exudates and isolate at least a portion of such exudates from the wearer's skin. The opening 60 is located such that the fecal exudates pass through the opening 60 in the side liner to the body 34 and into the hollow space between the side-to-body liner 34 and the absorbent body 36 of the diaper 20 during use. At least a part of the fecal exudates which are contained in the hollow space can then be absorbed or desorbed by the absorbent body 36.

Desirably, the opening 60 in the side-to-body liner 34 is located so that it is in alignment with the user's anal opening in use. For example, the opening 60 in the side-to-body liner 34 is located in the target area of the diaper 20. As used herein, the term "target zone" refers to that part of the diaper 20 which is configured to receive directly the insult of fecal exudates from the user and is generally located in the crotch region of the diaper 20. In particular, the target area can range from about 5 to about 10 centimeters in length with about one third of its length extending longitudinally from the lateral center line 42 of the diaper to the front waist section 22 of the diaper 20 and extending longitudinally toward the rear waist section 24 of the diaper 20.

The opening 60 in the side-to-body liner 34 generally defines a front end edge, a rear end edge and a pair of laterally opposite side edges 62. The front and rear end edges of the opening 60 are generally the edges of longitudinally opposite ends of the opening 60 located on one side or on the front and rear waist sections 22 and 24 of the diaper 20, respectively. The opening 60 in the side facing to the body 34 further defines a section 64 in the longitudinal direction 46 and a width 66 in the lateral direction 44. As used herein, the section 64 and the width 66 of the opening 60 refer to the length and width of the opening 60 along the longitudinal centerline 40 and the lateral centerline 42 of the diaper 20, respectively.

The length 64 and the width 66 of the opening 64 should be sufficient to allow the fecal exudates to pass through and into the hollow space created between the side-to-body liner 34 and the absorbent body 36. However, the the opening 60 should not be so large that the side-to-body liner 34 surrounding the opening 60 can effectively isolate or prevent at least a portion of the fecal exudates passing through the opening 60 into the hollow space remain in contact with the user's skin during use. Therefore, the dimensions of the opening 60 must be controlled to provide improved containment of the exudates of the body and an improved skin welfare of the user.

For example, in a diaper article intended to be worn by a medium-sized infant, the aperture may define a length 64 along the longitudinal centerline 40 of the diaper 20 of no more than about 12.7 centimeters and desirably of no more than about 10 centimeters and a width 66 as measured along the lateral centerline 42 of the diaper 20 of no more than about 7.5 centimeters and desirably from about 3.8 to about 6.3 centimeters. Desirably, the opening 60 defines a length 64 along the longitudinal center line 40 which is no more than about 50 percent and more desirably no more than about 35 percent of the length of the diaper 20 as shown in FIG. measured along the longitudinal center line 40 of the diaper 20 and a width 66 which is not more than about 50 percent and no more desirably more than about 35 percent of the width of the diaper 20 as measured along the lateral centerline 42 of the diaper 20 for improved containment and insulation of the fecal exudates within the hollow space between the side-to-body liner 34 and the absorbent body 36. The opening 60 may further define an open area of no more than about 150 square centimeters from about 20 to about 100 centimeters squares for improved performance. As illustrated representatively in Figure 1, the opening 60 in the side-to-body liner 34 is desirably located such that about one third or less of its length 64 extends longitudinally from the lateral centerline 42 of the diaper 20 toward the waist section front 22 of diaper 20 and the remainder extends longitudinally toward back waist section 24 of diaper 20. Desirably, at least about 60 percent and more desirably from about 70 to about 80 percent of length 64 of the opening 60 is located rearwardly of the center line 42 of the diaper 20 for improved operation. For example, on a diaper article intended for use by a medium-sized infant, the opening may define a backward length 70 of the lateral centerline 42 of the diaper 20 from from about 4.0 to about 16.0 centimeters and desirably from from about 5.0 to about 10.0 centimeters and a length of 72 on the front waist side of the lateral front line 42 of the diaper 20 from from about 0.25 to about 5.0 centimeters and desirably from about 1.0 to about 3.0 centimeters. Such a configuration provides an improved alignment between the opening 60 and the side-to-body liner 34 and the user's anal opening. As used herein, the term "backward" refers to the direction extending from the lateral center line 42 toward the rear waist section 24 of the diaper 20.

The opening 60 can have any shape which is capable of receiving the fecal exudates. Suitable shapes include circular, oval, elliptical, square, rectangular, triangular and the like. In a particular embodiment, representatively illustrated in Figure 1, the opening 60 defines a triangular shape with the laterally opposite side edges 62 of the opening 60 diverging from one another laterally outwardly in the rear waist section 24 of the diaper 20. Such a configuration has been found to notch better on the wearer's buttocks, which can provide improved reception and containment of faecal exudates. This is particularly true since the anal opening of the wearer is generally located rearward of the lateral center line of the item being used. Therefore, it is desirable that the opening 60 in the side-to-body liner 34 has been sized and shaped to secure it in a position to receive fecal exudates from the user's anal opening.

In this aspect, the side edges 62 of the opening 60 desirably diverge laterally outwardly as they extend from the lateral centerline 42 of the diaper 20 to the rear waist section 24 of the diaper 20 as depicted representatively in Figure 1. In such a configuration , the side edges 62 of the opening 60 define a divergence angle 68 with respect to the longitudinal centerline 40 of the diaper 20. In a particular embodiment, the side edges 62 define a divergence angel 68 of from about 5 to about 45 degrees and desirably from about 10 to about 30 degrees for improved containment reception of fecal exudates. . The size of the portion of the opening 60 in the side-to-body liner 34 that extends toward the front waist section 22 of the center line 22 of the diaper 20 does not need to be so large. Typically the part of the opening 60 extending from the lateral center line 42 toward the front waist section 22 is available to receive any fecal exudates which can pass from the anal opening along the gluteal groove between the user's buttocks . Thus, as illustrated in Figure 1, the side edges 62 of the opening 60 can further converge laterally inwardly as they extend from the lateral centerline 42 of the diaper 20 to the front waist section 22 of the diaper 20 for improved insulation of the fecal exudates in the hollow space between the side facing to the body 34 and the absorbent body 36 of the diaper 20.

The diaper 20 of the various aspects of the present invention further includes an elastic member 74 attached to the side-to-body liner 34. The elastic member 74 is configured to ensure that the opening 60 in the side-to-body liner 34 remains aligned to receive Fecal exudates from the user's anal opening. Particularly during active periods. The elastic member 74 further maintains the opening 60 in contact with the wearer's body to reduce the amount of exudate on the surface facing the body from the side-to-body liner 34 thereby reducing the level of skin irritation. The elastic members 74 also fold and shrink the liner from side to body 34 which desirably provides the hollow space between the side-to-body liner 34 and 31 absorbent body 36 of the diaper 20 for the containment of faecal exudates. As discussed above, once the fecal exudates pass through the opening 60 in the liner side to body in the hollow space, they can then be absorbed or desorbed by the absorbent body 36.

The elastic member 74 may comprise any suitable elastic material such as, for example, one or more threads of individual elastic material. For example, a suitable elastic yarn may be composed of a LYCRA DE 470 decitex elastomer, which is available from E.I. DuPont de Nemours. The elastic member 74 is desirably connected to the side facing to the body 34 in an elastically contractible condition such as the contraction of the elastic member 74 contracts and folds the side facing to the body 34 for improved notch and operation. In Figure 1, the elastic members 74 are illustrated in their stretched and non-contracted condition for the purpose of clarity.

In a particular embodiment as shown representatively in Figure 1, the diaper 20 includes a pair of laterally opposed elastic members 74 which extend longitudinally beyond at least one of the end edges of the opening in a laterally divergent direction. . In such a configuration, the elastic members 74 are configured to better maintain the opening 60 in the side-to-body liner 34 in a proper alignment with the user's anal opening to receive the fecal exudates. Such diverging elastics are further configured to notch in the folds or seams that extend between the legs, buttocks and the upper torso of the wearer's body to provide an improved notch of the side-to-body liner 34 in such seams. Therefore, since the diverging elastic members 74 can maintain an improved alignment of the opening 60 with respect to the user's body, the size of the opening 60 in the side-to-body liner 34 can be reduced compared to conventional absorbent articles that It has linings with holes in there. As discussed above, the smaller size of the opening 60 in the side-to-body liner 34 of the present invention can desirably reduce the amount of contact between the fecal exudates which pass through the opening 60 and the user's skin. thus resulting in improved skin welfare.

As it was representatively illustrated, the members elastics 74 extend longitudinally beyond the edge d of the opening 60 in a laterally divergent direction which defines an angle of divergence 80 co with respect to the lateral center line 42 of the diaper 20. Desirably, the elastic members 74 extend towards the diaper corners 20 defined by the intersection of the side edges 28 and the end edges 30 of the diaper 20. The ratio of the improved notch and alignment discussed above, the divergence angle 80 of the elastic members as they extend beyond the edge of the diaphragm. end of opening 60 is from about 20 to about 70 ° and desirably from about 30 to about 45 °.

Desirably, the elastic members 74 extend longitudinally and laterally outward to the laterally opposite ear portions 38 of the diaper 20 in one of the waist sections of the diaper 20 to maintain the opening. 60 in contact and proper alignment with the user's body.

In such a configuration, the ends of the elastic members 74 may be adjacent or in alignment with the fasteners 50 or the fastening panel 54 so that the fastening of the diaper around the waist of the wearer's diaper exerts forces on the elastic members 74 to maintain the opening 60 in a proper alignment to receive the fecal exudates. Such forces exerted on the elastic members 74 by the fastening of the diaper 20 around the wearer also helps maintain the liner side to body 34 in contact with the user's skin. In particular, such a configuration of the elastic members 74 maintains the body side liner 34 in contact with the upper thigh and the stomach of the wearer for improved performance. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the elastic members 74 extend longitudinally beyond the front end edge of the opening 60 to the adjacent ear portions 38 or near the fastening panel 54 of the front waist section 22 of the diaper 20. .

As illustrated in Figure 1, the portion of the elastic members 74 which extends longitudinally beyond the opening 60 also extends laterally outwardly from the longitudinal centerline 40 of the diaper 20 or a distance 76. Desirably, the members elastics 74 extend laterally outwardly by a distance 76 of at least about 2.0 centimeters to ensure proper lineing of the opening 60 with respect to the wearer. The elastic members 74 further extend longitudinally beyond the end edge of the opening 60 by a distance 78. For an improved notch and alignment of the user's body opening, the elastic members 74 desirably extend longitudinally beyond the edge of the body. end of the opening by a distance 78 of at least about 5 percent of the total length of the diaper 20. For example, in a diaper 20 intended for use by a medium-sized infant, the elastic members 74 desirably extends longitudinally beyond the end edge through the aperture by a distance 78 of at least about 5.0 centimeters.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the elastic members 68 on the body side facing 34 may further extend along at least a portion of a length of both laterally opposite side edges 62 of the aperture 60 in the body. liner side to body 34. In such a configuration, the elastic members 64 can provide a closed conformation notch between the side-to-body liner 34 and the user's buttocks, which results in an improved alignment of the opening 60 over the user's year to better receive fecal exudates. The elastic members 74 are also configured to provide a seal with the user's buttocks to help reduce drainage along the side edges 62 of the opening 60 in the side liner to the body 34 of the diaper 20 by preventing flow lateral of fecal exudates. Desirably, the elastic members 74 are configured to maintain the side edges 62 of the opening 60 in contact with the user's buttocks during use to provide improved resistance to the exclusive lateral flow of fecal exudates which may occur due to compressive forces exercised by the user while seated.

In a particular embodiment as illustrated in Figure 1, it is desirable that the elastic members 74 not extend along or to one side of the front end edge of the opening 60 in the front waist section 22 of the diaper 20 to reduce the Irritation of the genitals of the users provide an improved fit and comfort.

As a result, different aspects of the invention may advantageously provide an absorbent article which effectively isolates and absorbs and contains exudates from the body. An absorbent article includes a body-like liner which is configured to reduce the amount of contact between such body exudates and the skin of the wearer by reducing the amount of runoff of such body exudates from the leg and waist regions of the article. In particular, the absorbent article includes a side-to-body liner having an opening there which is of sufficient size to allow fecal exudates to pass through but is not too large to allow excessive contact between fecal exudates and the fecal exudate. user's skin In addition, the absorbent article includes at least one elastic member attached to the liner from side to body to maintain proper alignment of the opening with the wearer's anus and maintain contact between the liner and the wearer's body. As a result of this, the absorbent articles of the various aspects of the present invention have reduced levels of skin irritation and runoff when compared to conventional articles which results in improved consumer acceptance.

Having thus described the invention in considerable detail, it will be appreciated by one person an ordinary skill in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention as defined by the attached clauses.

Claims (34)

1. A disposable absorbent article which includes a body-side liner having an opening therein which defines a front end edge, a rear end edge and a pair of laterally opposite side edges e wherein said article comprises a pair of members elastics which extend at least partially along the lateral edges of said opening and which extends longitudinally past at least one of said end edges of said opening in a laterally divergent direction to maintain said edges of said edges. said opening and contact with the buttocks of a user in use.

2. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said opening in the body-side liner defines a length of no more than about 50 percent of a length of said absorbent article.

3. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said opening in said side-to-body liner defines a length of no more than about 30 percent of a length of said absorbent article.

4. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that at least about 60 percent of a length of said opening is located rearwardly of a lateral centerline of said absorbent article.

5. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said aperture in said body-side liner defines a width along a lateral center line of said absorbent article of not more than about 50 percent of a width of said absorbent article along said lateral center line.

6. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said opening defines an area of no more than 150 square centimeters.

7. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said lateral edges of said opening in said side-to-body liner diverge laterally outward in a rear waist section of said absorbent article.

8. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that said lateral edges of said opening in said lining from side to body they define an angle of divergence with respect to a longitudinal center line of said absorbent article from about d 5 to about 45 degrees.

9. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said lateral edges of said opening in said side liner to the body converge laterally inwardly in a front belt section of said absorbent article.

10. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said elastic members extend longitudinally beyond said front end edge of said opening in a laterally divergent direction.

11. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said elastic members extend longitudinally beyond the end edge of said opening by a distance in a longitudinal direction of at least 5 percent of a length of said length. absorbent article.

12. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said elastic members which extend longitudinally beyond said end edge of said opening further extends outwardly in a lateral direction measured from a longitudinal central line of said absorbent article by a distance of at least about 2.0 centimeters.

13. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said elastic members extend longitudinally beyond said end edge of said opening at an angle of divergence c with respect to a lateral center line of said absorbent article from about from 20 to around 70 degrees.

14. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said elastic members extend longitudinally beyond said end edge of said opening to the divergence angle co with respect to a lateral centerline of said absorbent article from about 30 to around 45 degrees.

15. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said elastic members extend longitudinally beyond said end edge of said opening in said laterally divergent direction in a pair of laterally opposite ear portions of said absorbent article for maintaining said opening in alignment with the user's anal opening in use.

16. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that each of said elastic members includes a plurality of elastic threads.

17. An absorbent article having a front waist section, a back waist section, and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and back waist sections wherein each of said waist sections defines a pair of laterally opposed ear portions, said article comprises: a) an outer cover; b) a body side liner which is connected in a superimposed relation to said outer cover and which defines an opening therein for receiving fecal exudates wherein said opening defines a front end edge, a trailing end edge and a pair of laterally opposite side edges; c) an absorbent body which is located between said liner side to body and said outer cover; Y d) a pair of elastic members which extend longitudinally beyond said front end edge of said opening in a laterally direction divergent to said opposite ear portions of said front waist section of said absorbent article to maintain said edges of said opening in contact with the wearer's buttocks in use.

18. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that said opening of said side-to-body liner defines a length of not more than 50 percent of a length of said absorbent article.

19. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that said opening in said body-side liner defines a length of not more than 30 percent of a length of said absorbent article.

20. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that at least about 60 percent of a length of said opening is located rearwardly of a lateral center line of said absorbent article.

21. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that said lateral edges of said opening in said side-to-body liner diverge laterally outwardly in said rear waist section of said absorbent article.

22. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that said edge in said opening in said side-to-body liner define a divergence angle with respect to a longitudinal center line of said absorbent article from about d 5 to about of 45 degrees.

23. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that said elastic members further extend at least partially along said lateral edges of said opening.

24. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that said elastic members extend longitudinally beyond said front end of said opening by a distance in a longitudinal direction of at least about 5 percent of a length of said absorbent article.

25. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that said elastic members extend longitudinally beyond said front end edge of said opening at an angle of divergence with respect to the lateral center line of said absorbent article from around 20 to around 70 degrees.

26. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that said elastic members extend longitudinally beyond the end edge of said opening at an angle of divergence c with respect to a lateral center line of said absorbent article from about 30 to around 45 degrees.

27. A disposable absorbent article having a front waist section, a back waist section and an intermediate section which interconnects said front and back waist sections, said article comprises: a) an outer cover; b) a body side liner which is connected in superposed relation to said outer cover and which defines an opening therein for receiving the fecal exudates e wherein said opening defines a front end edge, a rear end edge, and a pair of laterally opposite side edges; c) an absorbent body which is located between said liner side to body and said outer cover; d) a pair of elastic members which extend at least partially along said lateral edges of said opening to maintain said edges of said opening in contact with the user's buttocks in use; Y e) a liquid handling layer located on said liner from side to body in said front waist section of said absorbent article, which is configured to contain and distribute the liquid exudates.

28. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 27, characterized in that said opening in said body-side liner defines a length of not more than 50 percent of a length of said absorbent article.

29. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 27, characterized in that at least about 60 percent of a length of said opening is located rearwardly of a lateral centerline of said absorbent article.

30. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 27, characterized in that said side edges of said opening in said side-to-body liner diverge laterally outwardly in said rear waist section of said absorbent article.

31. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 30, characterized in that said edges Lateral of said opening in said liner side to body defines an angle of divergence with respect to a longitudinal center line of said absorbent article from about 5 to about 45 degrees.

32. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 27, characterized in that said elastic members further extend longitudinally beyond said front end edge of said opening in a laterally divergent direction.

33. An absorbent article as claimed in clause 27, characterized in that said liquid handling layer comprises a nonwoven material.

34. A disposable absorbent garment having a liner with an opening through which the exudate of the solid body can pass, elastic parts that are arranged on or on the liner so that in use they help maintain the lateral edges of the opening in contact with the buttocks of a user.