MXPA96005597A - An absorbent article of disposal liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a disposable liquid absorbent article such as a diaper (10), a sanitary napkin or the like, having an essentially longitudinal configuration and comprising an absorption body (12) and a covering (11) enclosing the absorption body with an internal canvas (17) permeable to the liquid and an external canvas (18) elastic contraction members (23) in contact with at least one of the canvases to provide the article with its configuration in the position of use. The cover web where the elastic members are applied, is connected to the interior and exterior of the absorption body respectively, and the elastic members (23) extend with at least one portion (24, 25) curved essentially in a manner continuous through at least one area of the body of absorption. The struggle of the elastic members to contract and the contact of the elastic members with one of the canvases exerts a tension force on the canvas and in a direction towards the center of curvature of the elastic members, whereby this force is transferred and absorbed by the absorption body. The elastic members are applied with a pretension in such a way that the tensile forces caused by the pre-tension and the radius of curvature deform the article for the formation, with respect to the plane of the article, of a transverse deposit wall throughout of the curved elastic portions

Description

"AN ABSORBENT ARTICLE OF LIQUID, DISPOSABLE" TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION: The present invention relates to a liquid absorbent article, disposable, in accordance with the preamble of appended claim 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE: Liquid absorbent articles, for example, diapers provided with elastic bands in order to provide the article with its configuration in a position of use, are known in the prior art. In most articles of this kind, the main purpose of the elastic bands is to provide, in the crotch of the wearer, a raised edge, which is sealed against the legs of the wearer. The solutions known up to now, however, offer a limited capacity related to the ability to collect locally and contain large volumes for example of fecal material and urine. For example, in US Pat. No. 3,860,003, a diaper is known wherein the elastic straps of the leg provide a circumferential cuff around the legs. In the extended outward position of the article, the elastic straps are completely rectilinear and extend essentially along the side of the absorption body in order to cause the edge of the diaper to seal against the legs in a position of use. US Pat. No. 4,050,462 relates to a diaper with elastic tapes that extend rectilineally in the flat condition of the diaper, and which is used to contract the crotch section of the diaper and, by bending, increase the surface and volume per unit longitudinal for the absorption body, in order to achieve an improved absorption effect. Patent Number WO 88/00010 shows a diaper having substantially rectilinear elastics forming a "V" shaped configuration. The elastic tapes extend over the diaper absorption body and delimit an area that is altered in its configuration by the effect of contraction of the elastic tapes. By extending the elastic tapes, with the rectilinear sections, a fold of the article is essentially achieved as a whole as a result of the tendency of the elastic tapes to reduce the entire length of the article.

U.S. Patent No. 4,801,345 shows a method for making diapers. The method includes the application of the elastic bands along the crotch section of the diapers. The elastic bands extend concavely outwards along the longitudinal edges of the diaper and completely towards the side of the absorption body. The purpose of the elastics is to achieve mainly a sealing contact between the diaper rim and the legs of the wearer. An additional effect will be a certain construction and bending of the body of absorption above the crotch section. The Patent Number EP 0 219 326 shows a diaper with elastic tapes that extend completely rectilinearly in the flat state of the diaper and completely towards the side of the absorption body. The elastic tapes are partially placed on an outer edge of the diaper on each side of the crotch section and partially on an edge band on each side of the absorption body. In addition to maintaining a vertical sealing edge by means of the edge band, the elastic tapes ensure a certain fold and contraction of the absorption body. Great Britain Patent Number 2 234 157 relates to a diaper with elastic bands extending around the waistline of the pants, and along the edge of the crotch section against the legs of the wearer and also through the crotch section. Elastic bands to seal around the legs reduce the risk of escape or leakage, while elastics through the crotch section are placed only to allow a rational application of a continuous elastic cord. The composition and the method are adapted especially for diapers in the form of pants.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article of the liquid for disposable use, which in a position of the user is provided with a highly efficient collector shape. Since diapers with leg elastics in accordance with US Patent Number 3 860 003 became common use during the 1970s, a large number of patent applications related to elastic diaper tape have been filed worldwide.

The elastic bands have been applied along and / or through the diaper in order to create a three-dimensional configuration or barriers against leakage or leakage. The elastic tapes have also been applied in a curved configuration along the edge edges of the cover canvas to the outside of the side edges of the absorption body, whose curved configuration was selected for better adaptation to the body configuration of the person user. By the present invention, an entirely new elastic effect has been created yielding immense product advantages. The object and the new effect are achieved by providing an article in accordance with the present invention, the characterizing portions of which are evident from appended claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: The invention will now be described in greater detail by means of two embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a plan elevation of an article according to the invention according to a first embodiment in the configuration of a diaper. , Figure 2 is a perspective view of the diaper according to Figure 1, configured essentially in a position of use. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the article according to the invention, in a second embodiment, configured in a position of use. Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-section through the diaper in a flat extended condition, along the line V-V in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a corresponding longitudinal cross-section through the diaper, configured in one position of use, by the line V-V in Figure 2, while Figure 6 is a cross-section through the diaper configured in a position of use along the line VI-VI in Figure 2 and Figures 7-9 diagrammatically show the additional modalities of the diaper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES: As an embodiment, an article for collecting liquid and fecal material, particularly representative for the invention, has been selected, namely, a diaper for the so-called incontinence, that is, not for infants but for adult persons as a result of an illness or of age, they suffer from serious incontinence problems. As is evident from the first embodiment, which is best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the diaper consists of a cover 11, which encloses a core in the form of an absorption body 12. In a flat, outwardly extending condition, shown in Figure 4, the core exhibits a relatively flat main configuration with two main surfaces oriented away from each other, namely an internal 13 intended to be oriented towards the user and a outer 14, designed to face outwards. The absorption body 12 further exhibits a circumferential rounded edge portion 15 which provides the absorption body 12 with an anatomically adapted outer contour for the wearer's body. Even though the absorption body 12 is mainly of equal total thickness, in practice, it is advantageously provided with a central portion 16 having a somewhat greater thickness (not shown). The cover 11 in the embodiment shown is formed by two canvases 17, 18 with differently different characteristics, whose canvases 17, 18 are applied to the interior 13 and the exterior 14 respectively of the absorption body 12, and seal the absorption body by both canvases that are joined together outside the edge portion 15 of the absorption body, and form a portion 19 of border similar to a circumferential flange for the diaper as a whole. Both of the canvases 17, 18 are placed one in contact with the other in the edge portion 19 and are mutually bonded with adhesives. The special components used to form the diaper shown can be any of the components commonly used for this purpose. The canvas 17, which is applied to the interior 13 may be of any soft, flexible, liquid-permeable material such as a fiber cloth (non-woven) or a soft perforated plastic film of polyethylene or a similar material. The canvas 18 on the outside 14 is made of a liquid impervious material such as a thin plastic film (for example, micrometers) of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or a similar material. The absorption body may consist of cellulosic fibers, a fabric placed by compressed air, different types of superabsorbent material, etc. As best shown in Figure 1, the diaper in the embodiment shown has the primary configuration of an asymmetric hourglass or peanut shell exhibiting a waist or crotch area 20, which in one direction expands toward a posterior portion 21 and a front portion 22, the portions of which are intended to be brought into contact with the corresponding portions of the user in a position of use. The absorption body 12 tapers to a greater extent than the outer contour of the diaper 10 which yields a greater latitude of the diaper edge portion 19 level with the crotch area 20. In order to configure the diaper 10 in its correct configuration in the position of use, the diaper is provided with elastic shrink tapes 23, placed in a configuration and in a singular position with respect to the invention. A correct configuration is a configuration that allows the diaper in the position of use to contain a large amount of liquid exudate from the solid body, by absorption and by containment according to the configuration of the products, which may be urine, blood or other body fluids or fecal matter. For this purpose, the elastic bands 23 are provided at least partially with curved portions 24, 25 in an arch configuration extending above the absorption body 12. In the embodiment shown, two elastic portions 24, 25 continuously curved in arc configuration are provided, which through the elastic ribbons of the edge (see below) are essentially joined by their ends at two intersections 26, 27 near the portions 28, 29 longitudinal edge of the diaper. The elastic bands 23 are attached to at least one of the canvases 17, 18 in the cover 11 and are joined to the canvas 17 permeable to the liquid in the first embodiment. In the embodiment shown, the elastic bands are applied inside the canvas 17, that is, between the absorption body and the canvas, but of course they can be applied to the outside of the canvas as an alternative. The elastic bands consist of longitudinal elastic members having for example a core in the form of a cord or band of a highly elastic material, for example rubber, and a covering of wrapped yarn which can be bonded with adhesives and allow the anchoring of the elastic core in the canvas 17 of the diaper, at the same time that the elastic core allows elastic displacements. The elastic bands try to contract and the elastic bands or cords for this purpose are pre-stressed, that is, they stretch to a certain degree before being anchored on the diaper canvas 17. The anchoring is achieved with an adhesive 30 applied in certain areas of the length of the elastic tapes along its entire length. In the embodiment shown, each of the curved portions 24, 25 in arch configuration are placed with double elastic tapes, i.e. two elastic members 30, 31, 32, 33 extending one along the other, of which one of the elastic members 33 in one of the curved portions 25 becomes the edge elastic bands 34, 35, that is to say, they extend along a section of the two longitudinal edges 28, 29 diaper up to the junction 26, 27 with the elastic members 30, 31 in the opposite curved portion 34. In the embodiment shown, the elastic ribbons 34, 35 extend essentially linearly but may also have a weak curvature of arc configuration, i.e., a large radius of curvature. In Figure 1, the diaper is essentially shown at an elevation, that is, extended outwardly but in this condition is when the effect of contraction of the elastic bands is visible. Figure 2 shows a diaper configured in a condition of use. This configuration is formed as soon as the diaper is started, the effect of which is described in more detail below. As long as the diaper is in a flat relationship, essentially no configuration is made in addition to that of the absorption body which is somewhat compressed. The desired configuration can be forcedly initiated when the diaper is folded while pressing down on the area 38 within the elastic bands by hand, before the diaper is brought to its position of use. By the tendency of the elastic bands curved to contract and by their anchoring in the canvas 17 of the cover, together with the bond between the canvas and the absorption core, the elastic tapes together with the deformation characteristics of the cover and the body 12 of absorption have formed walls 39 'essentially perpendicular relative to the flat interior of the article. The cover portions on the outside of the side edges of the absorption body in the crotch area of the article form the walls 39"', which together with the walls 39' enclose a space similar to a tank. shows a view corresponding to Figure 2 of a second modality of the diaper wherein the elastic tapes, to which reference is made here as 23 ', have the same configuration as in the first embodiment but are linked to the other canvas 18 of the In this case, elastic bands or cords can advantageously be applied through an adhesive inside the canvas 18. This in turn must be linked to the absorber body by means of an adhesive. A corresponding reservoir is achieved essentially also in this modality.It is extra important here that the forces applied to the diaper by the curved portions of the elastic bands are aided or external forces before these elastic portions cause a required deformation of the diaper in order to form the vertical reservoir walls. In both embodiments, the wider section of the edge portion 19 located just in front of the crotch area 20 is lifted by the tendency of the elastic tapes to contract, i.e., to reduce their length. The raised longitudinal edges 36, 37 try to contact the body of the user in a position of use, in practice inside the thigh, in order to form in this way, a highly liquid-permeable seal against the patient. body. Especially in the first embodiment according to Figure 2, the essentially vertical marked deposit walls are formed inside the curved elastic portions. In addition, a certain bending arises as a result of the contraction of the elastic tapes of the canvas in a lateral direction as well. The reservoir stops curved as mentioned above can be essentially perpendicular with respect to the line along the substantially flat lower part of the reservoir. Deposit walls curved through the pre-stress selection of the elastic belts and the deformation tendency of the absorption body, form an acute or blunt angle towards the line along the bottom of the tank. When the angle is sharp, the space is similar to a bag obtained closer to the elastic bands. The circumferential elastic bands 23 therefore form an upper edge of the reservoir 39 serving as a containment area for the body products, which is particularly valuable in the most serious cases of incontinence where the volumes can become relatively large. The stool may be contained in this space without risk of it passing beyond the diaper containment area. The absorption body 12, particularly the part within the elastic bands 23, serves for the purpose of absorbing the liquid, while the walls of the reservoir serve also for the purpose of preventing leakage or leakage of the liquid to the outside of the diaper, before that the absorption body 12 has had time to completely absorb the entire volume of the liquid. The raised edge portions 19 also contain liquid, which has not been immediately absorbed by the absorption body 12 due to the diaper's precision, for example, when the wearer is in a laterally resting position. As soon as the user alters the position of the body, the liquid can thus be absorbed by the absorption body. The longitudinal section in Figures 4 and 5 and the cross section in Figure 6 illustrate the configuration effect of the elastic tapes, which will be described in greater detail. The configuration effect of the elastic bands is achieved when the elastic bands contract and therefore try to reduce their lengths. By anchoring the elastic tapes on the cover, the cover is placed lengthwise in a contraction movement of the elastic tapes. The cover canvases in turn are linked to the absorption body through their surfaces, whereby the tension forces in the plane of the canvases of the cover are transferred to the absorption body. Since the elastic tapes above the main part of its extension of the extension body have been applied in a curved configuration, the contraction effect results in the elastic tapes at each point above the curved portion applying a component 40 , 41 of force, see Figures 1 and 4, directed toward the current center of curvature of each point in the curved portion. If the curved portions have variable radii of curvature, there are different centers of curvature for each and every point. The diaper absorption body 12, however, has a certain resistance against compression which is illustrated in Figure 4, with the reaction force components 42, 43 which in this way counteract the contraction forces 40, 41 of the elastic bands. In a preferred embodiment, the resistance against compression is greater than the resistance to deformation through the plane 44 of symmetry of the absorption body of slab configuration, ie, in a direction through the direction of the forces 42, 43 on the plane of the paper. The absorption body 12 preferably consists of a so-called cellulose foam and bends relatively easily with the cover 11, but still exhibits a certain compressive strength. The result of the characteristics is that the impetus of the torque is caused by the forces 41, 43 and 40, 42 of reaction to the action that creates respectively a deformation of the articles in the areas with the elastic ribbons in the shape of an arc, whose deformation is symbolized by circular arc lines 41, 49, 50-51 that diagrammatically represent the local direction of the bending. By placing the elastic tapes outside the plane of symmetry 44, a bending momentum of the absorption body 12 already arises in the planar condition. Article, however, it has a degree of rigidity that does not deform into a flat condition whereby this deformation starts first when the article is handled. Figure 5 illustrates the reservoir formed by the elastic bands, which is delimited by the walls 39 'of the reservoir essentially perpendicular along the elastic arch-forming belts and the walls 39"of the reservoir formed by portions of the cover that they extend to the outside of the absorption body. These portions are lifted by the action of the elastic ribbons 34, 35 of the edge in combination with the elastic ribbons of arch configuration. The cross section according to Figure 6 shows that the deposit is relatively deep and therefore may contain large amounts of exudations. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6, the elastic tapes as a whole form a closed loop in each finished diaper. Figure 7 diagrammatically shows a modality of the diaper wherein the elastic bands extend through the crotch area 20 with a portion 60 of curved elastic bands, forming the transverse delimiting wall 61. In this case, a division is provided between the back portion 21 and the front portion 22 of the diaper for fecal material and urine and an increased volume for the containment space for the fecal material. Figure 8 shows still another embodiment in which the rear portion 21 and the front portion 22 each have a space 66, 67 similar to a reservoir formed by two portions 62, 63, 64, 65, of curved elastic bands, with the edges 68-71 of the transverse reservoir within each curved portion. Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment, in which the main configuration of the diaper in the flat condition can be essentially rectangular. An hourglass configuration with a tapered crotch portion 20 is obtained by the action of contraction of the elastic bands. Even here, the transverse reservoir edges 72, 73 are formed, providing an effective barrier against leakage or edge leakage. The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings, but may be varied within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the closed elastic loop loop can be replaced by portions of separate curved elastic bands. These for example can be placed with a different placement, for example, through the crotch portion 20 in order to separate fecal material and urine from one another. Other items for which serious incontinence pads may be applicable are such as infant diapers, sanitary napkins or the like. The term "a substantially continuously curved portion" primarily represents a curved portion of arc configuration or curve configuration but may also include a combination of several rectilinear portions preferably at least three rectilinear portions as a replacement for a semicircular arc or similar.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS;

1. A disposable liquid absorbing article, such as a diaper (10), a sanitary napkin or a similar article, having an essentially longitudinal configuration and comprising an absorption body (12) with an interior (13) oriented inwardly and towards the body of the user, and an outward facing exterior (14) and a cover (11) enclosing the absorption body with an internal canvas (17) impervious to the liquid, against the interior of the absorption body and a canvas (18) external against the exterior of the absorption body and contracting the elastic members (23) in contact with at least one of the canvases to place the article in its configuration in the position of use, characterized in that at least the canvas of cover wherein the elastic members are applied is connected to the interior and exterior of the absorption body respectively, and the elastic members (23) extend with at least one curved portion almost continuously (24, 25) through at least one area of the body of absorption (11) and that the elastic members, when trying to contract and through their contact with one of the canvases (17, 18), exerts a force of tension in the canvas in a direction toward the center of curvature of the elastic members, whereby this force is transferred and absorbed or absorbed by the absorption body, that the absorption body is made of a material that can be easily flexed but at the same time at least to a high degree it is resistant to compression by the tensile forces against the center of curvature of the curved elastic members, that the elastic members are applied with a pre-stressed so that the tension forces caused by the pre-stressed and the radius of curvature the article is formed for the formation of a transverse reservoir wall relative to the plane of the article, along the portions and curved plastic, when the flexion in the article is initiated by the user.

The article according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic members (23) extend along the curved portion (24, 25) from one to the other of the longitudinal edge portions (28, 29).

3. The article according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic members (23) form a closed circumference that encloses a space similar to a reservoir formed by the elastic bands.

4. The article according to claim 3, characterized in that the closed circumference is formed by two curved portions (24, 25) that fuse in the elastic edge tapes (34, 35) that extend along the edge portions. longitudinals (28, 29) of the article in the crotch area (20).

The article according to claim 4, characterized in that the absorption body (12) tapers in the crotch area (20) and that the cover (11) in the crotch area and the longitudinal edge portions (28). , 29) form a raised portion (19) that rises to a position of use and is included in the tank.

6. The article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absorption body is made of a so-called spongy cellulose mass optionally with embedded particles or fibers of a material called superabsorbent.

The article according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the absorption material is made of synthetic fibers and a superabsorbent material.

8. The article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absorption material is made of a foam.

9. The article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the article has a front portion, a posterior portion and a crotch area., that the portions of the curved elastic bands are applied for the formation of a first enclosed area displaced towards the frontal portion and intended for the containment of the urine and for the formation of a second closed area displaced towards the posterior portion and intended for the containment of fecal matter (Figure 9).

10. The article according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the article has a transverse elastic or curved member for the formation of, with respect to the plane of the article, a raised barrier wall (Figure 8). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A disposable liquid absorption article such as a diaper (10), a sanitary napkin or the like, having an essentially longitudinal configuration and comprising an absorption body (12) and a cover (11) enclosing the absorption body with an internal canvas (17) permeable to the liquid, and an external canvas (18) and elastic contraction members (23) in contact with at least one of the canvases to provide the article with its configuration in the position of use. The cover web where the elastic members are applied, is connected to the interior and exterior of the absorption body respectively, and the elastic members (23) extend with at least one portion (24, 25) curved essentially in a manner continues through at least one area of the body of absorption. The effort of the elastic members to contract and the contact of the elastic members with one of the canvases exerts a tension force on the canvas and in a direction towards the center of curvature of the elastic members; whereby this force is transferred and absorbed or absorbed by the absorption body. The elastic members are applied with a pre-stress in such a way that the tension forces caused by the pre-stress and the radius of curvature deform the article for the formation of, in relation to the plane of the article, a wall of curvature. transverse deposit along the curved elastic portions.