MXPA00004729A - Disposable absorbent article with a skin care composition on an apertured top sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper (20). The disposable absorbent article has a liquid pervious structured carrier (24), a liquid impervious backsheet (26) at least partially peripherally joined to the structured carrier (24);and an absorbent core (28) intermediate the structured carrier (24) and the backsheet (26). The liquid pervious structured carrier (24) has an inner surface oriented toward the interior of the disposable absorbent article and an outer surface oriented toward the skin of the wearer when the disposable absorbent article is worn. The structured carrier (24) has an effective open area of at least about 12 percent and a plurality of apertures with an effective size greater than 0.1 square millimeters. The outer surface of the structured carrier (24) has an effective amount of a skin care composition which is semi-solid or solid at 20°C and which is partially transferable to the wearer's skin.

Description

ABSORBENT ARTICLE DISPOSABLE WITH A COMPOSITION FOR THE CARE OF THE SKIN ON A TOP SHEET WITH OPENINGS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers and incontinence products for adults, and more particularly to disposable absorbent articles having the ability to efficiently handle both urine and low viscosity faecal matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many types of disposable absorbent products, such as diapers, are available which have a high capacity to absorb urine. Disposable products of this type generally comprise some kind of fluid-permeable top cover material, an absorbent core, and a fluid-impermeable backsheet material. Although these types of absorbent structures can be highly efficient for fluid absorption, they can not absorb bowel movements (ie, referred to herein as "BM"). Typically BMs are trapped between the outer surface of the fluid-permeable top cover and the user's skin, much of which adheres to the wearer's skin. In order to prevent BM from adhering to the user's skin, the diapering person frequently applies repellent or protective products such as petrolatum or mineral oil to the gluteal or rectal region before placing the absorbent article on the wearer. This procedure usually involves the person pouring the oil or lotion, for example, into one of their hands, rubbing both hands together to distribute the substance therein and then moistening it on the infant's skin. To eliminate the need for this uneconomic, messy and easily forgotten procedure, there have been numerous previous attempts to prepare absorbent articles containing a protective or therapeutic skin care substance on the top cover. A substance that has been applied as a lotion to absorbent products to impart a protective sedative coating is mineral oil. Mineral oil (also known as liquid petrolatum) is a mixture of several liquid hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of the high-boiling fractions of petroleum (ie, 300 ° -390 ° C) mineral oil is liquid at room temperature, for example 20 ° -25 ° C. As a result, the mineral oil is relatively fluid and mobile even when applied to the top covers of the article. Because the mineral oil is fluid and mobile at room temperature, it tends not to remain localized on the surface of the top cover, but rather migrates through the top cover into the interior of the diaper instead. Consequently, relatively high levels of mineral oil need to be applied to the top coat to provide the benefits of the therapeutic or protective coating lotion. This leads not only to increased costs of those lotion products, but other harmful effects as well. One of those damaging effects is a decrease in fluid handling properties since high levels of mineral oil tend to block the openings in the top cover. Also, as the mineral oil migrates into the article, it tends to act as a hydrophobic additive, thereby decreasing the absorbency of the underlying absorbent core if any are used. This decrease in absorption becomes more pronounced as the level of mineral oil applied increases.

Even without increasing its level, the possession of the mineral oil to be migrated once applied has other harmful effects. For example, the applied mineral oil can be transferred in and through the packaging or wrapping material to the lotion product. This could create the need for barrier type packaging or wrapping films to avoid staining or other spillage of the mineral oil from the product. To separate the problems associated with mineral oils, lotions have been applied to absorbent products. Lotion absorbent products: (1) have therapeutic or protective benefits, (2) do not require relatively high levels of coatings that are liquid at room temperature (eg mineral oil); and (3) do not require special wrapping or barrier materials for packaging. While other lotion-absorbing products solve the problems associated with mineral oils, care should be taken in the application of the lotion of the absorbent products to avoid occlusion of the top cover. Such occlusion of the permeable top cover prevents urine from penetrating through the top cover inevitably leading to leakage. In order to overcome this problem, the lotion has been applied to top covers in such a way that it does not cover the entire surface of the top cover thus leaving portions of the top cover free of lotion. An example of such a coating technique is the application of lotion on strips separated from one another. While the lotion strips allow the urine to penetrate the top cover add complexity to the application process there is the potential for uneven transfer of the lotion to the skin and the potential for contamination of the untreated areas of the cover upper thereby reducing the transfer of urine to the underlying absorbent element. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable absorbent article having a structured carrier that has superior urine handling and BM handling properties. As used herein, the term "structured carrier" refers to a morphological arrangement of two or three dimensions designed to transport and then transfer a composition while maintaining the trajectories so that urine can pass through them. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a structured carrier for a disposable absorbent article having an effective open area and a plurality of openings having an effective size sufficient to allow urine and penetration of low viscosity fecal matter to through them, so that a skin care composition can be applied with relative ease while the concern of the occlusion of the structured carrier has been removed. As used herein, the term "skin care composition" refers to any composition comprising one or more agents that, when transferred from an article to the user's skin, provide therapeutic skin benefits and / or protectors. The representative materials are described in detail below. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article having a skin care composition on the outer surface of the structured carrier that is transferable to the wearer's skin and is effective to produce the desired benefits and / or reduce adhesion of BM to the skin, thus improving the ease of BM clearance while not inhibiting the ability of structured carriers to handle urine. These and other objects are obtained using the present invention as will become readily apparent from reading the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is a disposable absorbent article such as a diaper. The disposable absorbent article comprises a structured carrier, a back cover impervious to the liquid at least partially peripherally attached to the structured carrier, and an absorbent core intermediate the structured carrier and the back cover. The structured carrier has an internal surface facing the interior of the disposable absorbent article and an external surface facing the user's skin when the disposable absorbent article is used. The structured carrier has an effective open area of at least about 12 percent and a plurality of aperture with an effective size greater than 0.1 square millimeters. The external surface of the structured carrier comprises an effective amount of a skin care composition that is semi-solid or solid at 20 ° and that is partially transferable to the wearer's skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS While the specification concludes with the claims that differently claim and claim the present invention, it is considered that it will be better understood by the following drawings taken in conjunction with the accompanying specification wherein similar components receive reference numbers. similar and: Figure 1 is a top plan view, shown partially in section, of a disposable absorbent article according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As used herein, the term "absorbent article" refers to devices that absorb and contain body exudates and, more specifically, refers to devices that are placed against or in the vicinity of the user's body to absorb and contain the different exudates discharged from the body. The term "disposable" is used herein to describe absorbent articles that are not intended to be washed or otherwise restored or reused as an absorbent article (i.e. they are intended to be discarded after a single use and are preferably recycled, formed in compost or otherwise disposed of in an environmentally compatible manner). A "unitary absorbent article" refers to absorbent articles that are formed of separate parts joined together to form a coordinated entity so that they do not require separate handling portions such as a support and a separate liner. A preferred embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention is the unitary disposable absorbent article, diaper 20, shown in Figure 1. As used herein, the term "diaper" refers to an absorbent article generally used by infants. and incontinent people in adulthood and is used around the user's lower torso. The present invention is also applicable to other absorbent articles such as incontinence briefs, incontinence undergarments, absorbent inserts, diaper liners and liners, feminine hygiene garments and the like. Figure 1 is a plan view of the diaper 20 of the present invention in its non-contracted, flattened state (ie, with elastic induced contraction removed) with portions of the structure that are cut away to more clearly show the construction of the diaper 20 and with the portion of the diaper 20 that confronts or makes contact with the user, the inner surface, oriented towards the user. As shown in Figure 1, the diaper 20 preferably comprises a liquid-permeable top cover 24; a liquid impermeable back cover 26 joined with the top cover 24; and an intermediate absorbent core 28 in the upper cover 24 and the rear cover 26; and a fecal material handling member 30 positioned between the top cover 24 and the absorbent core 28. The diaper 20 may further comprise elasticized side panels (not shown); folds for elasticized legs (not shown); an elastic waist feature (not shown); and a fastening system with tape tabs generally of multiple design as 36. The diaper 20 is shown in Figure 1 to have a first waist region 27 juxtaposed with the front of the wearer while the diaper 20 is used, a second one. waist region 29 opposite the first waist region 27 and juxtaposed with the back of the wearer while the diaper 20 is in use, a crotch region 31 positioned between the first waist region 27 and the second waist region 29 and a periphery that is defined by the outer edges of the diaper 20 in which the longitudinal edges are designated 33 and the end edges are designated 35. The inner surface of the diaper 20 comprises that portion of the diaper 20 that is adjacent to the body of the diaper 20. user during use (i.e., the inner surface is generally formed by at least a portion of the top cover 24 and other components attached s to the upper deck 24). The outer surface comprises that portion of the diaper 20 that is positioned away from the wearer's body (i.e., the outer surface is generally formed by at least a portion of the back cover 26 and other components attached to the back cover 26) during the use. Figure 1 shows a modality of the diaper 20 in which the upper cover 24 and the rear cover 26 have length and width dimensions generally greater than those of the absorbent core 28. The upper cover 24 and the rear cover 26 extend beyond , the edges of the absorbent core 28 to thereby form the periphery of the diaper 20. While the upper part 24, the rear cover 26 and the core 28 can be assembled in a variety of well-known configurations, preferred diaper configurations are generally described in US Patent 3,860,003 entitled "Contractable Side Portions for Disposable Diaper" which was issued to Kenneth B. Buell on January 14, 1975; and U.S. Patent 5,151,092, "Absorbent Article With Dynamic Elastic Waist Feature Having A Predisposed Resilient Flexural Hinge", issued to Kenneth B. Buell et al. on September 29, 1992; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The absorbent core 28 may be any absorbent means that is generally compressible, conformable, non-irritating to the wearer's skin and capable of absorbing and retaining liquids such as urine and other incorporated exudates. As shown in Figure 1, the absorbent core 28 has a garment surface, a body surface, side edges and waist edges. The absorbent core 28 can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes (eg rectangular, hourglass, T-shaped, asymmetric, etc.) and from a wide variety of commonly used liquid absorbent materials in disposable diapers and other absorbent articles such as crushed wood pulp which is generally referred to as air felt. Examples of other suitable absorbent materials include curled cellulose wadding; meltblown polymers including coform; modified or interlaced cellulose fibers chemically stiffened; tissue paper including tissue paper wrappers and tissue paper laminates; absorbent foams; absorbent sponges; superabsorbent polymers; absorbent gelling materials; or any equivalent material or combinations of materials. The configuration and construction of the absorbent core 28 may also be varied (eg, the absorbent core 28 may have zones of varying gauge, a hydrophilic gradient, a superabsorbent gradient, or a lower average density and acquisition zones in lower average basis weight.; or may comprise one or more layers or structures). The total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core 28 must however be compatible with the design load and intended use of the diaper 20. In addition, the size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent core 28 can be varied to accommodate users ranging from infants to adults. . Exemplary absorbent structures for use as the absorbent core 28 as described in U.S. Patent 4,610,678 entitled "High-Density Absorbent Structures" issued to Weisman et al. on September 9, 1986; U.S. Patent 4,673,402 entitled "Absorbent Articles With Dual-Layered Cores" issued to Weisman et al. on June 16, 1987; U.S. Patent 4,888,231 entitled "Absorbent Core Having a Dusting Layer" issued to Angstadt on December 19, 1989; and U.S. Patent 4,834,735, entitled "High Density Absorbing Members Having Lower Density and Lower Basis Weight Acquisition Zones" issued to Alemany et al. on May 30, 1989. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. The back cover 26 is positioned adjacent the garment surface of the absorbent core 28 and is preferably attached thereto by attachment means (not shown) such as those well known in the art. As used herein, the term "attached" encompasses configurations by which one element is secured directly to the other element by directly fixing the element to the other element and configurations by which the other element is indirectly secured to the other element. fixing the element to a member or intermediate means which in turn are fixed to the other elements. For example, the back cover 26 can be secured to the absorbent core 28 by a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a layer with geometric figures of adhesive, or an arrangement of separate lines, spirals or spots of adhesive. The adhesives that have been found to be satisfactory are manufactured by H. B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minnesota and marketed as HL-1258. The attachment means will preferably comprise an open-pattern network of filaments of adhesive as described in US Patent 4,573,986 entitled "Disposable Waste-Containment Garment," which was issued to Minetola et al. on March 4, 1986, most preferably several filament lines of adhesive coiled in a spiral pattern as illustrated in the apparatus and methods shown in US Pat. No. 3,911,173 issued to Sprague, Jr. on October 7. of 1975; U.S. Patent 4,785,996 issued to Ziecker, et al. on November 22, 1978; and U.S. Patent 4,842,666 issued to Werenicz on June 27, 1989. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the joining means may comprise thermal joints, pressure joints, ultrasonic joints, mechanical, dynamic joints, or any other suitable joining means and combinations of such joining means as is known in the art. The back cover 26 is impervious to liquids (eg, urine) and is preferably manufactured from a thin plastic film, although other flexible liquid impervious materials may also be used. As used herein, the term "flexible" refers to materials that are conformable and readily conform to the contour and general shape of the human body. The back cover 26 prevents the exudates absorbed and contained in the absorbent core 28 from dripping the articles that are in contact with the diaper 20 such as sheets and underwear. The back cover 26 can therefore comprise a woven or non-woven material, polymeric films such as polyethylene or polypropylene thermoplastic films., or composite materials such as film coated nonwovens. Preferably, the back cover 26 is a thermoplastic film having a thickness of about 0.012 mm (0.5 mil) to about 0.051 mm (2.0 mils). Particularly preferred materials for the backsheet 26 include RR8220 opaque films and RR5475 cast films as manufactured by Tredegar Industries, Inc. of Terre Haute, Indiana. The back cover 26 is preferably engraved and / or finished to provide a more garment-like appearance. In addition, the back cover 26 can allow the vapors to escape from the absorbent core 28 (ie, be breathable) while preventing the exudates from passing through the back cover 26. The structured carrier 24 has a first surface or inner surface facing the inside of the disposable diaper, specifically oriented toward the absorbent core 28 and a second opposite or external surface facing the wearer's skin when the diaper is worn. The structured carrier 24 is juxtaposed with, but not necessarily adjacent to, the body surface of the absorbent core 28 and is preferably attached to the backsheet 26 or absorbent core 28 through means such as those well known in the art. Suitable joining means were described above with respect to the attachment of the back cover 26 to the absorbent core 28. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the structured carrier 24 and the back cover 26 are directly bonded together at the periphery of the diaper. The structured carrier 24 is moldable, soft to the touch, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. Also, the. Structured carrier 24 is permeable to liquid, allowing liquids (eg urine) to easily penetrate through its thickness. A suitable structured carrier 24 can be manufactured from a wide variety of materials such as porous foams; cross-linked foams; plastic films with openings; or woven or non-woven Mayans of natural fibers (for example wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (for example polyester or polypropylene fibers), or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. Preferably, the structured carrier 24 is made of a hydrophobic material to isolate the wearer's skin from the liquids contained in the absorbent core 28. Alternatively, the structured carrier 24 can be treated with surfactant to make it hydrophilic. The structured carrier 24 preferably has a plurality of openings with an effective opening size of at least 0.2 square millimeters, more preferably, the plurality of openings has an effective opening size of at least 0.5 square millimeters, most preferably even more the plurality of apertures has an effective aperture size of at least 1.0 square millimeters and more preferably, the plurality of apertures has an effective aperture size of at least 2.0 square millimeters. Effective openings are those that have a gray level of 18 or less on a standard gray level scale of 0-255, under the image acquisition parameters described below. The structured carrier 24 has an effective open area of at least 15 percent more preferably, the structured carrier has an effective open area of at least 20 percent even more preferably, the structured carrier has an effective open area of at least 25 percent, and more preferably the structured carrier has an effective open area of at least 30 percent. The effective aperture size and the effective open area are determined by the following procedure using the image analysis described below. The process has three main stages: image acquisition, that is, obtaining representative images of the areas on the surface of the upper cover 24; image measurement, ie the measurement of the percentage open area of an image and of the individual openings and their perimeters; and data analysis, ie export the percentage open area, the individual opening area and the perimeter measurements to a spreadsheet where the frequency distributions, the sum of the area distributions and the hydraulic radio calculations are developed.

An image analysis system that has a structure bracket board, microscope, camera and image analysis software are used. A bracket board model DT2855 available from Data Translation of Marlboro, Mass. It is provided. A VH5900 monitor microscope, a video camera having a VH50 lens with a contact type lighting head available from Keyence Company of Farir Lawn, N.J. It is also provided and used to acquire an image to save a computer file. The Keyence microscope acquires the image and the structure bracket board converts the analog signal of this image into a digital format readable by the computer. The image is saved as a computer file and is measured using the appropriate software such as the Optimus Image Analysis software, version 3.1, available from BioScan Company of Edmaons, Wash. In order to use the Optimus Image Analysis software, the computer must have Windows software, version 3.0 or later, available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. And it must have a CPU at least equivalent to the Intel 80386. Any PC desktop computer can be used, with a PC type 286 DX33 found to be particularly suitable. The images that are saved and called from the file were displayed from a Sony Trinitron model PVM-1343MO monitor with a final display amplification of approximately 50X. The step of acquiring annotated image requires 10 different regions from the representative structured carrier 24 demonstrates a particular type of diaper 20 or a sample material to be tested. Each region is rectangular, measuring approximately 5.8 by .4.2 millimeters. The sample is placed on a black mat board to increase the contrast between the openings and the portion of the samples that define the openings. The mean gray level and the standard deviation of the black mat board were 16 and 4 respectively.

The images are acquired with the lights in the room off using the Keyence monitor microscope mounted on a support directly above the sample. The Keyence light source that illuminates the sample is adjusted and monitored with the Optimas software to measure an average gray level and the standard deviation of a density of 0.3 over a Gray Kodak Scale available from the Eastman Kodak Company of Rochester, New York. The control of the Keyence light source is adjusted so that the middle gray level of the illuminated wedge is 111 + 1 and the standard deviation is 10 + 1. All images were acquired during a single period and the Keyence light source is monitored by measuring the average gray level and the standard deviation of the wedge through the complete image acquisition process. In measuring an individual aperture, only the effective aperture size is of interest. The measurement of the effective aperture size quantifies the aperture size intended to contribute to the porosity of the top cover 24 and accounts for the contributions of the fibers and fiber groups passing through an area intended to be in an aperture. An effective aperture is a hole through the top cover 24 that has a gray level less than or equal to 18 using the image acquisition parameters as described herein. Thus, an intended opening can be divided into plural effective openings by transverse fibers. The image analysis software is calibrated in millimeters by means of a regulatory image acquired from the sample images. An average 3 by 3 pixel filter found in the Best 3.1 Image menu is applied to each saved image to reduce noise. The openings are detected on the gray level scale from 0 to 18. An aperture that is not completely contained within the observation area of 5.8 by 4.2 is not considered in the individual area and the perimeter measurements. Thus, area and perimeter averages and distributions are not affected by openings that are not completely contained within the observation field. However, individual openings that may not be fully seen in the image are included in the percent open area calculation. This difference occurs because the percentage open area is simply the image of pixel relationships from 0 to 18 to the total number of pixels in the image. Areas that have a gray level 19 or higher were not counted in the open area calculation. The percentage open area for the average of 10 images per upper cover 24 is measured using the Optima Image Analysis software. The percentage open area is defined as the ratio of the number of pixels that have a gray level from 0 to 18 to the total number of pixels for the image. The percentage open area is measured for each image representing a particular region from a sample of the top cover. The percentage open area from each of the 10 individual images is then averaged to produce a percentage open area for the entire sample. The data analysis is conducted using an Excel spreadsheet, also available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington. The Excel spreadsheet organized the percentage open area, the aperture area, and the aperture perimeter measurements obtained from the Optimas software. The sample averages are standard deviations, the size and frequency distributions of the individual opening areas, and the hydraulic radius calculations (area divided by perimeters) for individual openings that are obtained using the spreadsheet. The distributions of the individual opening area are also calculated using the Excel spreadsheet. The openings are classified in deposits of certain size ranges. The number of aperture ranges that fall within certain ranges of interest size are determined as well as the sum of the areas within each range. The ranges are fixed in increments of 0.05 square millimeters. Those areas are expressed as the percentage of the total open area of the sample. The frequency and sum of the area distributions is obtained by combining the individual aperture measurements from the 10 images for each sample. There are a number of manufacturing techniques that can be used to manufacture the structured carrier 24. For example, the structured carrier 24 may be a non-woven may of spin-spun fibers, carded, wet-laid, melt-blown, hydroentangled, combinations, or laminates composed of the above or similar. Structured carriers 24 include a carded / carded, hydroentangling compound on a wire forming screen and bound through air in thermal form by means well known to those skilled in the nonwovens and hydroentangling of fibrous meshes. Alternatively, films formed with openings, woven nets and woven openings networks may be suitable. While the specific compositions provided (referred to herein as "skin care composition" and "composition") according to the method of the present are not critical factors to achieve the improved skin condition of the area under the article Absorbent, it is evident that the composition should provide a non-occlusive and protective function (eg, a relatively liquid impermeable but vapor permeable barrier) to avoid overhydration of the skin and exposure of the skin to materials contained in body exudates or It must contain agents that provide either direct or indirect skin care benefits. For example, indirect benefits include the improved removal of skin irritants such as feces or urine. The composition can be in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, emulsions, lotions, creams, ointments, ointments, powders, suspensions, encapsulates, gels, and the like.

As used herein, the term "effective amount of a skin care composition" refers to an amount of a particular composition which, when applied to or migrates to one or more of the surfaces contacting the skin. The user of an absorbent article will be effective in providing a protective barrier and / or providing a skin care benefit when supplied by means of absorbent articles with the passage of time. Of course, the effective amount of composition applied to the article will depend, to a greater degree, on the particular composition used. However, the amount of the composition on at least a portion of the surface contacting the user of the absorbent article will preferably vary from about 0.5 mg / in2 (0.0078 mg / cm2) to about 80 mg / in2 (12.4 mg / cm2), more preferably from about 1 mg / in2 (0.16 mg / cm2) to about 40 mg / in2 (6.20 mg / cm2), still more preferably from about 4 mg / in2 (0.62 mg / cm2). cm2) to about 26 mg / in2 (4.03 mg / cm2). These variations are by way of illustration only and the skilled artisan will recognize that the nature of the composition will determine the level that should be applied to achieve the desired skin benefits, and that such levels are determinable by routine experimentation in light of the present description. While the level of the skin care composition applied to the absorbent article is an important aspect of the current methods, the amount of composition transferred to the user's skin during the use of one or more of the treated articles is more important. . Although the level of requirement provided to the skin to provide the desired skin benefits will depend to some degree on the nature of the composition employed, applicants have found that relatively low levels can be provided while still providing the desired effects for the skin. the skin. This is particularly true for preferred compositions.

Another benefit of the present method is the controlled application of the skin care composition to provide the lower but effective levels of the required composition. This is in contrast to the typical sporadic manual application of skin care agents, where the person applying it or the user frequently uses significantly higher levels of material than those that are necessary. The excessive aggregates manually can adversely impact the fluid handling properties of the absorbent article, as a result of the transfer of the skin to the article. In fact, for certain materials such as petrolatum, manually applied levels can actually result in an occlusive effect, compromising the skin in this way. A benefit of the present methods is to provide a barrier to surface moisture while preventing skin occlusion (i.e., maintaining skin respirability). Therefore, the current methods, which allow a controlled supply of composition throughout the period of use, allow the transfer of optimal levels of the composition to the skin to improve the condition of the same. With respect to the level of skin care composition that is transferred to the user's skin during the use of a treated absorbent article used over a period of about 3 hours / in typical daily use time) preferred is where at least about 0.01 mg / in2 (0.0016 mg / cm2), more preferably from about 0.5 mg / in2 (0.0078 mg / cm2), still more preferably from about 0.1 mg / in2 (0.016 mg / cm2), of the composition is transfers to the skin during a period of use of three hours. Typically, the amount of the composition delivered by a treated article will be from about 0.01 mg / in2 (0.0016 mg / cm2) to about 5 mg / in2 (0.78 mg / cm2), more preferably from about 0.05 mg / in2 (0.0078 mg / cm2) to about 3 mg / in2 (0.47 mg / cm2), still more preferably from about 0.1 mg / in2 (0.016 mg / cm2) to about of 2 mg / in2 (0.31 mg / cm2), during a period of use of three hours. For continuous use of treated articles (in other words, changes occur according to normal usage patterns, which typically include changes every 3 or 4 hours during the day and a fresh item before nighttime rest (such as for a period of 24 hours, it is preferred that at least about 0.03 mg / in2 (0.0047 mg / cm2), more preferably from about 0.1 mg / in2 (0.016 mg / cm2), still more preferably from about 0.03 mg / in2 ( 0.0047mg / cm2) of the composition is transferred to the user during the 24 hour period.Typically, the amount of the composition delivered after a 24 hour period where the treated articles are applied at each change, will be approximately 0.03 mg / in2 (0.0047 mg / cm2) to around 18 mg / in2 (2.79 mg / cm2), more common from around 0.1 mg / in2 (0.016 mg / cm2) to around 10 mg / in2 (1.55 mg / cm2) , even more common from around 0.3 mg / in2 (0 .047 mg / cm2) to around 6 mg / in2 (0.93 mg / cm2). It will be recognized that of the numerous materials useful in the skin care compositions provided for the skin according to current methods, those which have been considered safe and effective as skin care agents are logical materials for the same. Such materials include Category I assets as defined by U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Tentative Final Monograph on Skin Protectant Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use, which currently includes: allantoin, aluminum hydroxide gel, calamine, cocoa butter, dimethicone, liver oil cod (in combination), glycerin, kaolin, petrolatum, lanolin, mineral oil, shark liver oil, white petrolatum, talc, topical starch, zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, and the like. Other potentially useful materials are Category III assets as defined by U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration's Final Attempt Monograph on Skin Protectant Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use, from the final tentative monograph on skin protective drug products for use by humans, which currently include: yeast cell derivatives living, aldioxa, aluminum acetate, microporous cellulose, colecalciferon, colloidal melasa, cysteine hydrochloride, dexpantanol, balsam oil from Peru, protein hydrolyzates, racemethionine, sodium bicarbonate, Vitamin A and the like. Many of FDA's unique skin care ingredients are currently used in commercially available skin care products such as Ointment A and D® ointment, Vaseline® Petrolatum Jelly, Desitin® Diaper Irritation Ointment and Care Ointment. Gold Bond® diary, Aquaphor® medicated baby powder, Baby Magic® protective ointment, Baby Lotion, Johnson's Ultra Sensitive® Baby Cream, Johnson's baby lotion, lip balm, etc. these commercial products can be applied to absorbent articles to create treated articles for use in the current methods, either with or without modification of the product to facilitate delivery by means of this novel method. As will be described in the following, skin care compositions useful in the methods of the present invention preferably, but not necessarily, have a melting profile such that they are relatively immobile and are located on the contact surface with the skin. user of the article at room temperature, are easily transferable to the user at body temperature, and are not completely liquid under extreme storage conditions. Preferably, the compositions are easily transferable to the skin through normal contact, movement of the user and / or body heat. Because the composition is preferably substantially immobilized on the contact surface with the user of the article, relatively low levels of composition are necessary to impart the desired skin care benefits. In addition, the special barrier to wrapping materials may be unnecessary in the packaging of the treated articles useful in the methods of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the skin care compositions useful herein are solid or more semisolid at 20 ° C, that is, at ambient temperatures. By "semi-solid" is meant that the composition has a typical rheology of pseudoplastic or plastic liquids. When shear is applied, the compositions may have the appearance of a semi-solid but can be made to flow as speed and shear stress increase. This is due to the fact that, while the composition contains mainly solid components, it also includes some minor liquid components. Preferably, the compositions of the present invention have a zero shear viscosity between about 1.0 X 106 centipoise and about 1.0 X 108. More preferably, the shear viscosity zero is between about 5.0 X 10d centipoise and about 5.0 X 107 centipoise. As used herein the term "zero shear viscosity" refers to a viscosity measured at very low shear rates (eg 1.0 sec "1) using the plate and cone viscometer (a suitable instrument is available from TA). New Castle Instruments, DE as model number CSL 100.) Someone skilled in the art will recognize that other means than the high melting point components (as described below) can be used to provide comparable viscosities measured for each of compositions comprising such media that can be measured by extrapolating a viscosity versus shear rate chart for such compositions to a shear rate of zero at a temperature of about 20 ° C.

The compositions referred to are at least semi-solid at room temperature to minimize the migration of the composition. In addition, the compositions preferably have a final melting point (100% liquid) over the storage conditions of potential "stress" which may be greater than 45 ° C (eg, the warehouse in Arizona, the transport truck in Florida, etc. .). Representative compositions having such melting characteristics are described in detail in U.S. Patent No. 5,643,588 (Roe et al.), U.S. Patent No. 5,607,760 (Roe et al.), U.S. Patent No. 5,609,587 and U.S. Patent No. 5,635,191 , the description of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Specifically, the preferred compositions will have the following melting profile.

. Being solid or semi-solid at room temperature, the semi-solid compositions have no tendency to flow and migrate to a significant side towards undesirable locations of the article to which they are applied. This means that less skin care composition is required to impart the desirable therapeutic, protective or conditioning benefits.

To improve the immobility of the preferred compositions, the viscosity of the formulated compositions should be as high as possible to avoid flow into the article to an undesirable location. Unfortunately, in some cases the higher viscosities can inhibit the transfer of the composition to the wearer's skin. Therefore, an equilibrium must be achieved so that the viscosities are high enough to keep the compositions located on the surface of the article, although not so high to prevent transfer to the user's skin. The viscosities suitable for the compositions will typically vary from about 5 to about 500 centipoise, preferably from about 5 to about 300 centipoise, more preferably from about 5 to about 100 centipoise, measured at 60 ° C a rotating viscometer (a viscometer) suitable is available from Lab Line Instruments, Inc. of Melrose Park IL as Model 4537). The viscometer is operated at 60 revolutions per minute using a number 2 shank. For compositions designated to provide a softness benefit to the skin, a useful active ingredient in those compositions is one or more of the skin protectants or emollients. As used herein, the term "emollients" is a material that protects against moisture or irritation, softens, soothes, coats, lubricates, moisturizes, protects and / or cleanses the skin (it will be recognized that several of the active monographs listed above are emollients as that term is used herein). In a preferred embodiment, these emollients will have a plastic or liquid consistency at room temperature, ie 20 ° C. This particular emollient consistency allows the composition to impart a feeling similar to mild lubricating lotion. Representative emollients useful in the present invention include, but are not limited to, emollients that are petroleum based; polyol polyesters; fatty acids of sucrose ester; polyethylene glycol and derivatives thereof; humectants; fatty acid ester type; alkyl ethoxylate type; fatty acid ester ethoxylates; of the type of fatty alcohol; of the polysiloxane type; propylene glycol and derivatives thereof; glycerin and derivatives thereof, including glyceride, acetoglycerides and ethoxylated glycerides of C12-C28 fatty acids; triethylene glycol and derivatives thereof; whale white or other waxes; fatty acids; fatty alcohol ethers, particularly those having from 12 to 28 carbon atoms in their fatty chain, such as stearic acid; poxylated fatty alcohols; Other fatty esters of polyhydroxy alcohol; lanolin and its derivatives; kaolin and its derivatives; any of the skin care agents monographs listed above; or mixtures of these emollients. The . Suitable oil based emollients include those hydrocarbons or mixtures of hydrocarbons having chain lengths from 16 to 32 carbon atoms. Oil-based hydrocarbons that have these chain lengths include mineral oil (also known as "liquid petrolatum") and petrolatum (also known as "mineral wax", "petroleum jelly" and "mineral oil"). Mineral oil usually refers to viscous mixtures of hydrocarbons having from 16 to 20 carbon atoms. Petrolatum usually refers to more viscous mixtures of hydrocarbons having from 16 to 32 carbon atoms. Petrolatum and mineral oil are particularly preferred emollients for compositions of the present invention. Suitable fatty acid ester emollients include those derived from C12-C28 fatty acids preferably C4-C2 saturated fatty acids, and short chain (Ci-C8 preferably C? -CS) monohydric alcohols. Representative examples of such esters include methyl palmitate, methyl stearate, isopropyl laurate, isopropolyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, ethyl exo palmitate and mixtures thereof. Suitable fatty acid emollients can also be derived from esters of longer chain fatty acid alcohols (C12-C28, preferably C12-C6) and shorter chain fatty acids, for example lactic acid, such as lauryl lactate , and cetyl lactate. Suitable alkyl ethoxylate type emollients include C12-C22 fatty alcohol ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of from about 2 to about 30. Preferably, the fatty alcohol ethoxylate emollient is selected from the group consisting of lauryl , cetyl and stearyl ethoxylates and mixtures thereof, which have an average degree of ethoxylation ranging from about 2 to about 23. Representative examples of such alkyl ethoxylates include laureth-3 (a lauryl ethoxylate having an average ethoxylation of 3%). ), laurenth-23 (a lauryl ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 23), ceteth-10 (a cetyl alcohol ethoxylate containing an average degree of ethoxylation of 10) and steareth-10 (a stearyl alcohol ethoxylate which it has an average degree of ethoxylation of 10). When employed, those alkyl ethoxylate emollients are typically used in combination with petroleum based emollients, such as petrolatum, in a weight ratio of the alkyl ethoxylate emollient to the petroleum based emollient from about 1: 1 to about 1. :5; preferably from about 1: 2 to about 1: 4. Suitable fatty alcohol emollients include C12-C22 fatty alcohols, preferably C16-C18 fatty alcohols. Representative examples include cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol and mixtures thereof. When employed, those fatty alcohol emollients are typically used in combination with petroleum based emollients, such as petrolatum, in a weight ratio of fatty alcohol emollient to oil based emollient from about 1: 1 to about 1. :5; preferably from about 1: 1 to about 1: 2. Other suitable types of emollients for use herein include polysiloxane compounds. In general, the polysiloxane materials suitable for Use in the present invention includes those having monomeric siloxane unit of the following structure: -Yes-O- Á1 wherein R1 and R2, for each monomeric independent siloxane unit can independently be hydrogen or any of alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, hydrogenated hydrocarbon or other radical. Any such radical can be substituted or unsubstituted. The radicals R1 and R2 of any particular monomer unit may differ from corresponding functionalities of the next adjacent monomer unit. Additionally, the polysiloxane can be a straight chain, branched chain or cyclic structure. The radicals R1 and R2 may additionally independently be other siliceous functionalities such as, but not limited to, siloxanes, polysiloxanes, silanes and polysilanes. The radicals R1 and R2 may contain any of a variety of organic functionalities including, for example, alcohol, carboxylic acid, phenyl, and amine functionalities. Illustrative alkyl radicals are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, octadecyl, and the like. Illustrative alkenyl radicals are vinyl, allyl, and the like. Illustrative aryl radicals are phenyl, diphenyl, naphthyl and the like. Illustrative alkaryl radicals are toyl, xylyl, ethylphenyl and the like. Aralkyl radicals are benzyl, alpha-phenylethyl-beta-phenylethyl, alpha-phenylbutyl and the like. Cycloalkyl radicals are cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and the like. Exemplary hydrogenated hydrocarbon radicals are chloromethyl, bromoethyl, tetrafluoroethyl, fluoroethyl, trifluoroethyl, trifluorotloyl, hexafluoroxylyl and the like. The viscosity of the useful polysiloxanes can vary as widely as the viscosity of the polysiloxanes varies in a general manner, while the polysiloxane can flow or be flowed for application to the article. This includes, but is not limited to, viscosity as low as 5 centistokes (at 37 ° C as measured by a glass viscometer) to approximately 20,000,000 centistokes. Preferably the polysiloxanes have a viscosity at 37 ° C ranging from about 5 to about 5,000 centistokes, more preferably from about 5 to about 2,000 centistokes, and more preferably from about 100 to about 1000 centistokes. The high viscosity polysiloxanes that are resistant to flow can be effectively deposited on the article through methods such as, for example, emulsifying the polysiloxane in surfactant or providing the polysiloxane in solution with the aid of a solvent, such as hexane. , listed only for illustrative purposes. Particular methods for applying polysiloxane emollients to absorbent articles are described in greater detail hereinafter. Preferred polysiloxane compounds for use in the present invention are described in U.S. Patent 5,095,282 (Ampulski et al) published October 22, 1991, which is incorporated herein by reference. Particularly preferred polysiloxane compounds for use as emollients in the compositions of the present invention include functional phenyl polymethyl siloxane compounds (e.g., Cosmetic Grade Fluid 556 from Dow Corning: polyphenylmethylsiloxane) and dimethicones functionalized with cetyl or stearyl such as the Dow 2502 and Dow 2503 polysiloxane liquids respectively. In addition to such substitution with phenyl or alkyl groups, the effective substitution can be made with amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl, ether, polyether, aldehyde, ketone, amide, ether and timo groups. Of these effective substituent groups, the family of groups comprising phenyl, amino, alkyl, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups are more preferred than the others; even more preferred are phenyl functional groups. Suitable humectants include glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, trihydroxy stearin and the like. When present, the amount of emollient that can be included in the composition will depend on a variety of factors, including the particular emollient involved, the desired lotion-like benefits, the other components in the composition, and the like. The composition will comprise from 0 to about 100% by total weight, of the emollient. Preferably, the composition will comprise from about 10 to about 95%, more preferably from about 20 to about 80%, and more preferably from about 40 to about 75% by weight, of the emollient. Another optional preferred component of the skin / skin protective / therapeutic compositions useful in the methods of the present invention is the agent capable of immobilizing the composition, (including the preferred emollient and / or the other conditioning / therapeutic agents. / skin protectors) at the desired location in or on the treated article. Because some of these emollients in the composition have a plastic or liquid consistency at 20 ° C, they tend to flow or migrate, even when subjected to moderate shear stress. When applied to a surface contacting the user or other location of an absorbent article, especially in a molten or boiling state, the emollient does not remain primarily in or on the treated region. Instead, the emollient will tend to migrate and flow into undesired regions of the article. Specifically, if the emollient migrates within the interior of the article, it can cause undesirable effects on the absorbency of the core of the article due to the hydrophobic characteristics of many of the emollients and other skin conditioning agents used in the compositions useful in the methods of the invention. invention. It also means that too much emollient has to be applied to the article to obtain the desired skin uniformity benefits. Increasing the level of emollient not only increases the cost, but also exacerbates the undesirable effect on the absorbency of the core of the article and the undesirable transfer of the composition during the processing / conversion of the treated articles. The immobilizing agent counteracts this tendency of the emollient to migrate or flow by keeping the emollient mainly located on the surface or in the region of the article to which the composition is applied. This is considered to be partly due to the fact that the immobilization agent raises the melting point and / or the viscosity of the composition above that of the emollient. Since the immobilizing agent is preferably miscible with the emollient (or solubilized in the emollient with the aid of the appropriate emulsifier or dispersed therein), it traps the emollient on the contact surface with the user of the article or in the region where applies It is also advantageous to "block" the immobilization agent on the contact surface with the user or the region of the article to which it is applied. This can be achieved by using immobilization agents that quickly fix (ie, solidify) the application on the article. In addition, the external cooling of the article treated by means of blowers, fans, cold rollers, etc. it can accelerate the crystallization of the immobilization agent. In addition to being miscible with (or solubilized in) the emollient, the immobilizing agent will preferably have a melting profile that will provide a composition that is solid or semi-solid at room temperature. In this regard, the preferred immobilizing agents will have a melting point of at least about 35 ° C. This is so that the immobilization agent does not have a tendency to migrate or flow. Preferred immobilizing agents will have melting points of at least about 40 ° C. Typically the immobilization agent will have a melting point on the scale from about 50 to about 150 ° C. When they used, the immobilization agents used herein may be selected from any of a number of agents, while the preferred properties of the skin care composition provide the skin benefits described herein. Preferred immobilizing agents will comprise a member selected from the group consisting of C14-C22 fatty alcohols, C12-C22 fatty acids, and C12-C22 fatty alcohol ethoxylates having an average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to about 30 and mixtures thereof. Preferred immobilizing agents include C15-C18 fatty alcohols, more preferably preferably high melting point crystalline materials selected from the group consisting of cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. (The linear structure of these materials can expedite solidification on the treated absorbent article). Mixtures of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are particularly preferred. Other preferred immobilizing agents include C15-C18 fatty acids, most preferably selected from the group consisting of palmitic acid, stearic acid, and mixtures thereof. Blends of palmitic acid and stearic acid are particularly preferred. Other preferred immobilizing agents include C15-C18 fatty alcohol ethoxylates having an average range of ethoxylation ranging from about 5 to about 20. Preferably, the fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty alcohols are linear. Importantly, those preferred immobilization agents such as C15-C18 fatty alcohols increase the rate of crystallization of the composition causing the composition to crystallize rapidly on the surface and the substrate. Other types of ingredients that can be used as immobilization agents either alone or in combination with the above-mentioned immobilization agents include waxes such as carnauba, ozokerite, beeswax, candelilla, paraffin, ceresin, esparto, ouricuri, wax "prayer" , isoparaffin, and other extracted waxes and minerals. The high melting point of these materials can help immobilize the composition on the desired surface or location on the article. Additionally, microcrystalline waxes are effective immobilizing agents. As microcrystalline waxes can help to "block" the low molecular weight hydrocarbons within the skin care composition. Preferably the wax is a paraffin wax. An example of the particularly preferred alternating immobilization agent is a paraffin wax such as Parrafin S.P. 434 from Strahl and Pitsch Inc. P.O. Box 1098 West Babylon, NY 11704. The polyhydroxy fatty acid esters suitable for use in the present invention will have the formula: wherein R is a C5-C31 hydrocarbyl group, preferably straight chain C7-C9 alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight chain C9-C17 alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably alkyl or alkenyl C? C17 of straight chain, or mixture thereof; Y is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a hydrocarbyl chain with at least 2 free hydroxyl connected to the chain; and n is at least 1. Suitable groups Y can be derived from polyols such as glycerol, pentaerythritol; sugars such as raffinose, maltodextrose, galactose, sucrose, glucose, xylose, fructose, maltose, lactose, mannose and erythrose; sugar alcohols such as erythritol, xylitol, malitol, mannitol and sorbitol; and anhydrides of sugar alcohols such as sorbitan. A class of polyhydroxy fatty acid esters suitable for use in the present invention comprise certain sorbitan esters, preferably the sorbitan esters of C 16 -C 22 saturated fatty acids. Due to the manner in which they are typically manufactured, those sorbitan esters usually comprise mixtures of mono-, di-, tri-, etc. esteres. Representative examples of suitable sorbitan esters include sorbitan palmitates (eg, SPAN 40), sorbitan stearates (eg, SPAN 60) and sorbitan behenates, which comprise one or more of the mono-, di-, and tri-ester of these sorbitan esters, for example, sorbitan mono-, di- and tri-palmitate, sorbitan mono-, di- and tri-stearate, sorbitan mono-, di- and tri-behebato, as well as the sorbitan of bait fatty acid mixed mono-, di- and tri-esters. Mixtures of different sorbitan esters can also be used, such as sorbitan palmitates with sorbitan stearates. Particularly preferred sorbitan esters are sorbitan stearates, typically as a mixture of mono-, di- and tri-esters (plus some tetra ester) such as SPAN 60, and sorbitan stearates sold under the trade name GRYCOMUL- S by Lonza, Inc. Although those sorbitan esters typically contain mixtures of mono-, di- and tri-esters, in addition to some tetraester, monkeys and diesters are usually the predominant species in those mixtures. Another class of polyhydroxy fatty acid esters suitable for use in the present invention comprise glyceryl monoesters, preferably glyceryl monoesters of C 16 -C 22 saturated fatty acids such as glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl monopalmitate and glyceryl monobehenate. Again, like the sorbitan esters, the glyceryl monoester mixtures will typically contain some di- and tri-ester. However, such mixtures should predominantly contain the glyceryl monoester species to be useful in the present invention. Another class of polyhydroxy fatty acid esters suitable for use in the present invention comprise certain sucrose fatty acid esters, preferably the C 16 -C 22 saturated fatty acid esters of sucrose. Sucrose monoesters and diesters are particularly preferred and include sucrose mono- and di-stearate and sucrose mono- and dilaurate. The polyhydroxy fatty acid amides suitable for use in the present invention will have the formula: O 1 wherein R1 is H, C1-C4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, methoxyethyl, methoxypropyl, or a mixture thereof, preferably CTC4 alkyl, methoxyethyl or metroxypropyl, more preferably C2 or C2 alkyl or methoxypropyl, more preferably C ^ alkyl (ie methyl) or methoxypropyl; and R2 is a C5-C31 hydrocarbyl group, preferably straight chain or alkenyl C7-C19 alkyl, more preferably straight chain C9-C17 alkyl or alkeniion, more preferably straight chain Cn-C17 alkyl or alkenyl, or mixtures thereof; and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain. See U.S. Patent 5,174,927 (Honsa), published December 29, 1992 (incorporated herein by reference) which discloses those polyhydroxy fatty acid amides as well as their preparation.

The Z portion will preferably be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; more preferably glycityl. Suitable reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose. High-dextrose corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and high-maltose corn syrup can be used, as well as the individual sugars noted above. These corn syrups can produce mixtures of sugar components for the Z portion. The Z portion will preferably be selected from the group consisting of -CH2- (CHOH) n -CH2OH, -CH (CH2? HH (CHOH) n. ?] - CH2? H, -CH2OH-CH2- (CH0H) 2 (CHOR3) (CHOH) -CH2OH, where n is an integer from 3 to 5, and R3 is H or a cyclic or aliphatic monosaccharide. Preferred are where n is 4, particularly -CH2- (CHOH) 4-CH2OH In the above formula R1 can be example, N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl, N-isopropyl, N-butyl, N-2 -hydroxyethyl, N-methoxypropyl or N-2-hydroxypropyl R2 may be selected to provide, for example, cocamides, stearamides, oleamides, lauramides, myristamides, capricamides, palmitamides, seboamides, etc. The Z portion may be 1-deoxyglucityl, -deoxifructitil, 1-deoxymaltityl, 1-deoxylactityl, 1-deoxygalactityl, 1-deoxyxanityl, 1-deoxymaltotriotityl, etc. The most preferred polyhydroxy fatty acid amides have the general formula: wherein R 1 is methyl or methoxypropyl; R2 is a straight chain alkyl or alkenylene group C? C17. These include N-lauryl-N-methyl glucamide, N-lauryl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, N-cocoyl-N-methyl glucamide, N-cocoyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, N-palmityl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, N-seboil -N-methyl glucamide, or N-tallowyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide. As previously noted, some of the immobilization agents may require an emulsifier for solubilization in the emollient. This is particularly the case for certain glucamides such as N-alkyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide having HLB values of at least about 7. Suitable emulsifiers will typically include those having HLB values below about 7. In this regard, the Sorbitan esters, previously described, such as sorbitan stearates having HLB values of about 4.9 or less have been found to be useful in the solubilization of those glucamide immobilization agents in petrolatum. Other suitable emulsifiers include stearth-2 (polyethylene glycol stearyl alcohol ethers which are molded to the formula CH3 (CH2) 17 (OCH2-CH2) nOH where n has an average value of 12), sorbitan tristearate, isosorbide laurate and glyceryl monostearate. The emulsifier may be included in an amount sufficient to immobilize the immobilizing agent in the emollient so that a substantially homogeneous mixture is obtained. For example, a mixture of approximately 1: 1 N-cocoyl-N-methyl glucamide and petrolatum would not normally melt into a single phase mixture, it will melt in a single phase mixture at the addition of 20% of a mixture of 1: 1 of Stearth-2 and sorbitan tristearate as the emulsifier. Other types of ingredients that can be used as immobilization agents, either alone or in combination with the above-mentioned immobilization agents, include waxes such as carbauba, beeswax, candelilla, paraffin, ceresin, esparto, ouricuri, wax prayer and other known waxes. Preferably the wax is a paraffin wax. An example of a preferred paraffin wax is Parrafin S.P. 434 from Strahl and Pitsch Inc. P.O. Box 1098 West Babylon, NY 11704.

The amount of the optimal immobilizing agent that can be included in the composition will depend on a variety of factors, including the active (eg emollients) involved, the particular immobilizing agent involved, the other components in the composition, either an emulsifier that is it requires to solubilize the immobilization agent in the other components and similar factors. When it is present, the composition will typically comprise from about 5 to about 90% of the immobilizing agent. Preferably, the composition will comprise from about 5 to about 50%, more preferably from about 10 to about 40%, of the immobilizing agent. Of course, it is highly desirable that at least a portion of the top cover of the article be made of a hydrophilic material to promote the rapid transfer of liquids (eg, urine) through the top cover. Similarly, it may be desirable for the composition to be sufficiently wettable to ensure that liquids will be transferred through the top cover quickly. Alternatively, hydrophobic skin care compositions may be used, so long as they are applied so that the fluid handling properties of the top cover are adequately maintained. (For example, as described below, the non-uniform application of the composition to the top cover is a means that achieves this goal). This decreases the likelihood that body exudates will flow out of the topcoat treated with the composition rather than being pulled through the top cover and absorbed by the absorbent core. When a hydrophilic composition is desired, depending on the particular components used in the composition, a hydrophilic surfactant (or a mixture of hydrophilic surfactants) may or may not be required to improve the wettability. For example, some immobilization agents, such as N-cocoyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide have an HLB value and at least about 7 are sufficiently wettable without the addition of the hydrophilic surfactant. Other immobilization agents such as Ci6-C18 fatty alcohols having HBL values below about 7 may require the addition of hydrophilic surfactant to improve wettability when the composition is applied to topcoats of the article. Similarly, a hydrophobic emollient such as petrolatum may require the addition of a hydrophilic surfactant people if the hydrophilic composition is desired. Of course, the interest about the wetting capacity is not a factor when the surface contacting the user under consideration is different from the top cover of the article or when the fluid handling properties of the top cover are maintained in a manner adequate through other means (for example, non-uniform application). Suitable hydrophilic surfactants will preferably be miscible with the other components of the skin care composition to form combined blends. Due to the possible sensitivity of the skin of those who use the disposable absorbent products to which the composition is applied, these surfactants must be relatively moderate and non-irritating to the skin. Typically, these hydrophilic surfactants are nonionic to be non-irritating to the skin but also to avoid other undesirable effects or any other structures within the treated article. For example, reductions in the tensile strength of the tissue paper laminate, adhesive bond strengths and the like. Suitable nonionic surfactants can be substantially non-migrating after the composition is applied to the article and will typically have HLB values in the range of about 4 to about 20, preferably from about 7 to about 20. Being non-migratory, these are Nonionic surfactants will typically have melting temperatures greater than the temperatures commonly encountered during storage, shipping, marketing and use of disposable absorbent products, for example at least about 30 ° C. In this regard, these nonionic surfactants will preferably have melting points similar to those of the previously described immobilization agents. Nonionic surfactants suitable for use in compositions that will be applied to the articles at least in the region of discharge of liquid to the diaper include alkyl glycosides; alkyl glycoside ethers as described in U.S. Patent 4,011,389 (Langdon, et al), published March 8, 1977, which is incorporated by reference; alkyl polyethoxylated esters such as Pegospere 1000MS (available from Lonza, Inc., Fair Lawn, New Jersey), mono-, di- and / or ethoxylated sorbitan tri-esters of C 12 -C 18 fatty acids having an average degree of ethoxylation of about 2 to about 20, preferably from about 2 to about 10, such as TWEEN 60 (sorbitan esters of stearic acid having an average degree of ethoxylation of about 20) and TWEEN 61 (sorbitan esters of stearic acid having a degree average ethoxylation of about 4), and the condensation products of aliphatic alcohols from about 1 to about 54 moles of ethylene oxide. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol is typically a straight (linear) configuration and contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from about 11 to about 22 carbon atoms with about 2 to about 30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Examples of such ethoxylated alcohols include the condensation products of myristyl alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, the condensation products of coconut alcohol (a mixture of fatty alcohols having alkyl chains varying in lengths from 10 to 14 carbon atoms) with about 6 moles of ethylene oxide. A number of suitable ethoxylated alcohols are commercially available, including TERGITOL 15-S-9 (the condensation product of Cn-C15 linear alcohols with 9 moles of ethylene oxide), sold by Union Carbide Corporation; KYRO EOB (condensation product of linear alcohols C13-C15 with 9 moles of ethylene oxide), sold by The Procter & Gamble Co., the commercially available surfactants Neodol sold by Shell Chemical, in particular NEODOL 25-12 (condensation product of linear alcohols C12-C 5 with 12 moles of ethylene oxide) and NEODOL 23-6.5T (condensation product) of linear alcohols with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide that have been distilled (covered at the end) to remove certain impurities), and especially the PLURAFAC brand-name surfactants sold by BASF Corp., in particular PLURAFAC A-38 (a product of condensation of a straight chain alcohol of C18 with 27 moles of diethylene oxide). (Certain hydrophilic surfactants, in particular ethoxylated alcohols such as NEODOL 25-12, may also function as alkyl ethoxylate emollients). Other examples of preferred ethoxylated alcohol surfactant alcohol include the ICT class of Brij surfactants and mixtures thereof, with Brij 72 (ie, Steareth-2) and Brij 76 (LE., Steareth-10) which are especially preferred. Also, mixtures of ethyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol ethoxylated to an average degree of ethoxylation of about 10 to about 20 can be used as the hydrophilic surfactant. Another type of surfactant suitable for use in the composition includes Aerosol OT. A dioctyl ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid sold by American Cyanamid Company.

Even another type of surfactant suitable for use in the composition includes silicone copolymers such as General Electric SF 1 188 (a copolymer of a polydimethylsiloxane and a polyoxyalkylene ether) and General Electric SF 1228 (a copolymer of silicone and pioliether). These silicone surfactants can be used in combination with the other types of hydrophilic surfactants described above, such as the ethoxylated alcohols. These silicone surfactants have been found to be effective in concentrations as low as 0.1%, more preferably from about 0.25 to about 1.0% by weight of the composition. The amount of hydrophilic surfactants required to increase the wettability of the composition to a desired level will depend in part on the HLB value and the immobilizing agent, if any, used, the HBL value of the surfactant and the like. The composition may comprise from about 0.1 to about 50% of the hydrophilic surfactant when needed to increase the wettability properties of the composition. Preferably, the composition comprises from about 1 to about 25%, more preferably from about 10 to about 20% of the hydrophilic surfactant when needed to increase the wettability. The compositions may comprise other components typically present in emulsions, cream, ointment, lotions, powders, suspensions, etc. of this type. These components include water, viscosity modifiers, perfumes, antibacterial disinfectant actives, antiviral agents, vitamins, pharmaceutical actives for forming, film formers, deodorants, or pacifiers, astringents, solvents, preservatives and the like. In addition, the stabilizers can be added to improve the storage life of the composition such as cellulose derivatives, proteins and lecithins. All such materials are well known in the art as additives to such formulations and may be employed in amounts appropriate for the compositions for use herein. If water-based skin care compositions are used, a preservative will be needed. Suitable preservatives include propylparaben, methylparaben, benzyl alcohol, benzilconium, tribasic calcium phosphate, BHT, or acids such as citric, tartaric, maleic, lactic. , malic, benzoic, salicylic and the like. Suitable viscosity-increasing agents include some of the agents described as effective immobilizing agents. Other suitable viscosity-increasing agents include alkyl galactomannan, silica, talc, magnesium silicate, sorbitol, colloidal silicon dioxide, aluminum magnesium silicate, zinc stearate, wool wax alcohol, sorbitol, sesquioleate, cetyl hydroxyethyl cellulose and others. modified celluloses. Suitable solvents include propylene glycol, glycerin, cyclomethicone, polyethylene glycols, exalenglycol, diol and multihydroxy base solvents. Suitable vitamins include acetate A, D3, E, B5 and E .. In the preparation of the products according to the present invention, the lotion composition is applied to the external surface (i.e. the body facing surface) structured carrier . Any of a variety of application methods that distribute lubricating materials that have a molten or liquid consistency can be used. Suitable methods include spraying, printing (for example floxographic printing), coating (for example coating by engraving), extruding or combinations of those application techniques, for example spraying the composition on a rotating surface, such as a calender knee. , which then transfers the composition to the external surface of the structured carrier. Because the structured carrier has an effective opening area and a plurality of openings having an effective surface size, urine and fecal material of low viscosity can penetrate the structure carrier with respect to the amount of the composition of the structure. skin that is being applied to the structured carrier.

Accordingly, even if the structured carrier is completely saturated with the skin care composition of urine and low viscosity faecal material creates sufficient separation between the regions of the composition of the applied skin, allowing the fluids to penetrate the carrier not blocked. The problem of occlusion has been solved by the proportion of a structured carrier having an effective opening area and a plurality of openings having an effective enough surface area. An effective amount of the composition needs to be applied to the second region 32 of the top cover 24 to reduce the adhesion of BM to the skin and / or provide a benefit to the wearer's skin. The composition is preferably applied to the second region 32 of the top cover at an amount ranging from about 0.1 mg / in2 to about 35 mg / in2. Such levels of composition are considered to be adequate to impart the desired therapeutic protective benefits and / or protective benefits to the areas of the structured carrier. Since the problem of occlusion has been solved, the composition can be applied to the external surface of the structured carrier in any desired shape. For example, the composition can be applied non-uniformly to the outer surface of the structured carrier. By "uniformity" it means that the amount, location, pattern or distribution, etc., of the compositions may vary on the surface of the structured carrier. For example, some portions of the treated surface may have a greater or lesser amount of compositions, including portions of the surfaces that do not have any composition therein. The composition can be applied to the second region of the top cover at any point during assembly. For example, the composition can be applied to the top cover of the finished disposable absorbent product before it has been packaged. The composition can also be applied to the top cover before it is combined with other raw materials to form a finished disposable absorbent product. The composition is typically applied from a fusion thereof to the top cover of the article. Since the composition melts at significantly higher temperatures than the environment, it is usually applied as a heated coating to the top cover. Typically, the composition is heated to a temperature on the scale from about 35 to about 100 ° C, preferably from 40 ° to about 90 ° C, before being applied to the top cover of the article. Once the molten composition has been applied to the top cover of the article, it is allowed to cool and solidify to form the solidified coating or film on the surface of the top cover. Preferably, the application process is designed to assist in the cooling / fixing of the composition. The diaper 20 preferably comprises an elastic waist feature (not shown) that provides improved fit and containment. The elastic waist feature is that portion or area of the diaper 20 which is adapted to elastically expand and contract to dynamically adjust the wearer's waist. The elastic waist feature at least extends longitudinally outward from at least one of the waist edges of the absorbent core 28 and generally forms at least a portion of the end edge of the diaper 20. Disposable diapers are generally constructed to have two elastic waist features, one positioned in the first region 31 and one positioned in the second region 32, although the diapers can be constructed with a single elastic waist feature. Furthermore, insofar as the elastic waist feature or any of its constituent elements may comprise a separate element fixed to the diaper 20, the elastic waist feature is preferably constructed as an expansion of other diaper elements 20 such as the back cover 26 or the top cover 24, preferably both the back cover 26 and the top cover 24. The elasticized waist band 34 can be constructed in a number of different configurations including those described in U.S. Patent 4,515,595 issued to Kievit et al, May 7, 1985 and prior references of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 07 / 715,152; each of these references which are incorporated herein by reference. The diaper 20 also comprises a fastening system 36 which forms a lateral closure that holds the first region 31 and the second region 32 in an overlapping configuration so that the lateral tensions are maintained around the circumference of the diaper 20 to maintain the diaper 20 about the user. Illustrative fastening systems are described in the North American Patent 4,846,815 entitled "Disposable Diaper Having An Improver Fastening Device" issued for Scripps on July 1, 1989, Patent 4,894,060 entitled "Disposable Diaper With Improved Hook Fastener Portion" issued for Nestegard on 16 January 1990, the United States Patent of Common Session 4,946,527 entitled "Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Fastener And Method of Making Same" issued for Battrell on August 7, 1990; North American Patent of Common Session 3,848,594 entitled "Tape Fastening System for Disposable Diaper" issued to Buell on November 19, 1974; the American Patent of Common Session B1 4,662,875 entitled "Absorvent Article" issued to Hirotsu et al. On May 5, 1987; and referred to herein and the US Patent Application referred to hereinbefore 07 / 715,152; each of which is incorporated by reference. The diaper 20 is preferably applied to a wearer by placing one of the regions, preferably the second region 32, under the back of the wearer and removing the remainder of the diaper 20 between the user's legs so that the other region preferably region 31, be placed across the front of the user. The tape tabs 36 of the fastening system are then released from the release portion. The diapering person then wraps the elasticized side panel around the wearer while holding the tongue portion. The fastening system is secured to the outer surface of the diaper 20 to effect two lateral closures. While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other changes or modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all those changes and modifications that are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (19)

1. A disposable absorbent article comprising: a structured liquid-permeable carrier having an internal surface facing the interior of the disposable absorbent article and an external surface facing the user's skin when the disposable absorbent article is used, the structured carrier having a effective open area of at least about 12 percent and a plurality of openings such as an effective size greater than 0.1 square millimeter, the external surface of the structured carrier comprising an effective amount of a skin care composition that is semi-solid or solid at 20 ° C and which is partially transferable to the user's skin; a back cover impervious to the liquid at least partially and peripherally attached to the structured carrier; and an intermediate absorbent core to the structured carrier and the back cover.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the structured carrier has an effective open area of at least 15 percent.

3. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the structured carrier has an effective open area of at least 20 percent.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the structured carrier has an effective open area of at least about 30 percent.

5. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the structured carrier has a plurality of openings with a size larger than 0.2 square millimeters.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the structured carrier has a plurality of openings with a size larger than 0.5 square millimeters.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the structured carrier has a plurality of openings of at least 1.0 square millimeters.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the structured carrier has a plurality of openings with a size greater than 2.0 square millimeters.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the skin care composition comprises an oil-based emollient selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, petrolatum and mixtures thereof.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the skin care composition comprises an immobilizing agent, the immobilizing agent having a melting point of at least about 40 ° O

11. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 10, characterized in that the immobilization agent is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy fatty esters, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, C14-C22 fatty alcohols, C12-C22 fatty acids, ethoxolates of fatty alcohol of C12-C22, and mixtures thereof.

12. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 11, characterized in that the immobilizing agent comprises a C16-C18 fatty alcohol, selected from the group consisting of cetyl alcohol stearyl alcohol and mixtures thereof.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 9, characterized in that the immobilizing agent comprises a polyhydroxy fatty acid ester agent, having the formula: wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group of C5-C3 ?; Y is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a hydrocarbyl chain with at least 2 free hydroxyls directly connected to the chain; and n is at least 1.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 9, characterized in that the immobilizing agent comprises a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide having the formula: wherein R 1 is a hydrogen, 0,4,4, hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, methoxyethyl, methoxypropyl hydrocarbyl, or a mixture thereof, R 2 is a C 5 -C 31 hydrocarbyl group, and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyl directly connected to the chain.

15. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 9, characterized in that the immobilization agent comprises a paraffin sidewalk.

16. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the skin care composition comprises a polysiloxane emollient having a plastic or fluid consistency at 20 ° O

17. The disposable absorbent article according to the claim 1, characterized in that the structured carrier has an effective open area of at least about 20 percent of a plurality of openings with a size greater than 0.2 square millimeters.

18. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the structured carrier has an effective open area of at least 30 percent and a plurality of openings with a size greater than 2.0 square millimeters.

19. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the skin care composition comprises a polyol polyester emollient.