MXPA97004696A - An absorbent article, which has a front part that collects the urine and a back that collects the - Google Patents

Abstract

An absorbent article, such as a diaper, an incontinence protector or the like, in which the top sheet (1) of the article includes a transverse barrier (11), which divides the article into a back and a front part (4). , 5) and that it is intended to prevent the stool, discharged at the back of the upper sheet, from moving to its front part. Arranged within the absorbent body (3), essentially opposite to the upper leaf barrier (11) is a barrier (21) to the liquid, which prevents, completely or partially, the transport of the liquid within the absorbent body from the front of the article to its back, at least in the layer (18) of the absorbent body, which is placed next to the user, during its u

Description

AN ABSORBENT ARTICLE. THAT HAS A FRONT PART THAT COLLECT URINE AND A BACK WHAT TO COLLECT TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an absorbent article, such as a diaper, a sport-type pants diaper, an incontinence protector or similar articles, which includes an upper sheet, permeable to liquid, a bottom sheet, impermeable to the liquid, and an absorbent body, disposed therebetween, wherein the top sheet includes a transverse barrier, which divides the article into a front part and a back part, with the intent to prevent the stool, discharged at the back of the article, move to your front. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to provide the upper sheets of diapers with transverse barriers in order to prevent the stool from expanding to the front of the diaper. EP-A-0,355,740 teaches such transverse barriers, which are created by plastic foam fastening cords on the topsheet or by the creation of transverse folds or folds with the aid of elastic devices, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the diaper in your crotch region, and gather on the top sheet in this region. WO 94/14395 also teaches a corresponding type of transverse barrier in the outer sheet material. The transverse barriers are intended to prevent the stool, discharged in the back of the diaper, from extending forward in the diaper and soiling the skin and genitals of the wearer. The barriers also prevent urine and feces from mixing with each other on the surface of the diaper, since it is a known fact that the skin is much more sensitive to a mixture of urine and feces than to each of the two components of yes. Stools contain certain enzymes that are believed to be an important factor in skin irritation. Urine is also responsible for producing ammonia in the presence of feces, thus increasing the pH, which in turn, increases the enzymatic activity of the enzymes. However, these transverse barriers are unable to prevent urine from spreading to the backs of the diaper, via the underlying absorbent body, and mixing with the feces, which results in degradation products, mentioned above, that They are responsible for causing skin irritation problems.

THE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION AND ITS MOST SIGNIFICANT CHARACTERISTICS The object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article, such as a diaper or an incontinence protector, with which urine and faeces are kept more efficiently separated, both in the upper sheet as in the underlying absorbent body. This object has been achieved by supplying in the absorbent body, in a position essentially opposite to the barrier of the upper sheet, a liquid barrier which prevents the transport of the liquid inside the absorbent body, from the front of the article to its rear part, or completely or partially and at least in those upper parts of the absorbent body that are placed close to the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to its exemplary embodiments and also with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a view of a diaper, from above, as seen from the side that is placed close to the user. Figure 2 is a corresponding view, from above, of another modality of a diaper. Figure 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the diaper shown in Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are schematic views in longitudinal section of an absorbent body, according to the two modalities. DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES The diaper, illustrated in Figure 1 includes a cover sheet 1, permeable to liquid, made, for example, of a non-woven or perforated plastic film, a cover sheet 2, impermeable to liquid, made, for example, of a plastic film or a hydrophobic non-woven fabric, and an absorbent body 3, which is enclosed between the two cover sheets 1 and 2. The diaper is intended to be worn around the lower part of the user's trunk, like a pair of absorbent pants. The diaper has a back 4 which, during use, is placed backward of the user, whose front part, during use, extends forward of the user and a narrower crotch portion 6, which is located between the back 4 and front 5 and trying to be placed in the crotch of the user, between the thighs of the user. In order to make it possible to fasten the diaper in the desired trouser shape, the fastened straps 7 are provided in proximity to the rear waist edge 8 of the diaper. During use, the fastening tapes or projections are secured to the outer surfaces of the front portion 5 of the diaper, close to the front waist edge 9, so as to retain the diaper around the wearer's waist. Naturally, other fastening devices, such as Velero® fasteners, hooks and eyelets, etc., are conceivable. The diaper illustrated in Figure 1 also includes elastic devices 10 pretensioned, which may comprise any suitable material, such as an elastic foam, elastic bands, elastic bands or covered yarns. For purposes of simplicity, the elastic devices have been shown in a stretched state in Figure 1. However, immediately the stretch in the elastic devices relaxes, the devices contract and thus form elastic edges around the leg opening of the elastic devices. diaper. It will be understood that the illustrated diaper is merely an exemplary embodiment. For example, the configuration of the diaper and its construction, in general, can be varied. For example, in the case of diapers which are intended to be supported within special narrow-fitting pants, the fastening devices, ie the fastening tapes 7, may be omitted and possibly also the elastic devices 10. These fastening devices are also omitted in the named pants diapers or training pants. A transverse barrier 11 is provided in the crotch region of the diaper and extends generally transverse to the longitudinal direction of the diaper. The barrier has an extension (height) upwards to the user and attempts to prevent the stool from extending from the back part 4 of the diaper to the front part 5 thereof, and to prevent urine from spreading along the top sheet 1 from the front to the back. The barrier 11 of the upper sheet can extend transversely through the diaper in a straight or curved line and can be constructed in a known manner and, for example, consists of a folded formation on the upper sheet or on separate strips of material mounted on the upper sheet. the top sheet, such as plastic foam strips or strips of a non-woven fabric, which may optionally be provided with an elastic device along the outer free edge, so as to impart a lifting effect to the strip. The embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 corresponds to the object of the Swedish patent application 9400916-4 and has a double cover sheet, the and Ib, on that side of the absorbent body 3, which is placed close to the user when used that is, an inner cover sheet which is placed next to the absorbent body 3 and an external upper sheet Ib, which is placed next to the user when it is used. The upper sheet Ib may be comprised of a skin-friendly material, permeable or impervious to liquid. This diaper is also provided with elastic 10 for the legs.

The top sheet includes two openings, 12 and 13, which are elongated in the longitudinal direction of the diaper. That region 14 of the upper sheet Ib which is placed between the openings 12 and 13, is located between the point of discharge of the feces and the soaking point, ie those regions of the diaper where the stool and urine are delivered when The diaper is placed correctly. Two elastic threads, 15, 16, are held in a stretched state to the upper sheet 16 and extend from the front of the diaper to the back of the diaper, along the lateral edges of the openings 12 and 13 in the diaper. described in more detail in the Swedish patent application 9400916-4. A tubular body 17 is mounted, in a flattened state, in the region of upper sheet 14, between the upper sheet Ib and the sheet of the inner cover, and extends transversely between the points of attachment of the upper sheet Ib to the sheet background 2 and the inner cover sheet. The upper and bottom sides of the tubular body 17 are respectively fastened to the upper sheet Ib and the inner sheet of the cover sheet with the help of a rubber strip, by ultrasonic welding or similar means, for example. The tubular body 17 may be comprised of a material permeable or impervious to liquid, and is preferably made of the same material as the bottom sheet, the inner cover sheet or the top sheet. Instead of using a tubular body 17, the barrier between the openings 12, 13 may alternatively comprise a single wall of flexible material, which is mounted in a folded state between the inner cover sheet and the upper sheet and is fastened to the sheets in a manner corresponds to the fastening of the tubular body 17. The barrier can alternatively be formed by folds or folds, produced in the inner cover sheet or in the upper sheet, as also described in the Swedish patent application 9400916- Four. Generally opposite to the barrier 11 and 17, respectively, a liquid barrier is provided in the absorbent body 3, which prevents the liquid from extending from the upper sheet of the absorbent body, from its front to the rear, or completely or in a substantial way The embodiments illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 include an absorbent body 3, which comprises three different sheets or layers, a top acquisition layer 18, an intermediate storage layer 19 and a base layer 20 of liquid dispersion. The acquisition layer 18 is conveniently comprised of an absorbent material, which has a relatively large pore size, high wet resilience and low liquid dispersion capacity, such as mechanical pulp of cellulose, fluffed pulp in thermochemical form or cellulose chemo-thermomechanical (CTMP), cellulose fibers made chemically rigid, synthetic fibers, absorbent foam material, etc. Most of the absorbent material in the storage layer 19 is comprised of foamed pulp or some other fiber material of relatively small pore volume and high dispersibility of the liquid. The chemically produced foamed pulps, which are comprised of thin, essentially pure cellulose fibers, generally have a high dispersion capacity of the liquid. The foamed pulp, for example the CTMP pulp, compressed to a density greater than about 0.12 g / cm 3, also has a relatively good liquid dispersion capacity. Another material that exhibits good liquid dispersion properties is sheet pulp, dry-formed, compressed, of, for example CTMP, or chemical pulp. Such material is described in the patent O 89/00605. Absorbent foam materials can also be used. The fiber material in the dispersion layer will preferably comprise mostly of dry-formed sheet pulp of chemical foamed pulp, according to the above, or some other fiber material having good dispersion properties.

The acquisition layer and the storage layer may include a certain amount of a super-absorbent material, while the dispersion layer is preferably free of the superabsorbent material or contains only very small amounts thereof. In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the front portion 18a of the acquisition layer 18 is thinner than its back portion 18b. In the embodiment of Figure 4, this increase in thickness takes place in a single stage, while in the embodiment of Figure 5, the thickness of the acquisition layer increases successively from a region that is located immediately behind the anticipated soaking point. of the diaper. The thinner front portion 18a has a greater density than the thicker rear portion 18b. The greater density of the thicker front part 18a is automatically obtained when the absorbent body is compressed, due to the inverse thickness ratio of the underlying storage layer 19, provided that this layer has a higher compressive strength than the acquisition layer 18. The compressive strength of a corrugated pulp body depends on the type of pulp chosen and the amount of superabsorbent material therein, among other things. As a result of the higher density of the front part 18a, this front part will have a smaller pore size than the back part 18b. Since the capillary force increases with the decrease in pore size, the liquid discharged to the front of the receiver layer 18a will not extend to the back portion 18b to a great extent, but will be transported immediately within the underlying storage layer 19. The back part 18b of the acquisition layer will remain mostly dry. As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, a mechanical liquid barrier 21 can be provided as a complement to the difference in pore size, for example in the form of a plastic strip or a strip of some other impervious material liquid or hydrophobic, provided in the acquisition layer 18, between the front and rear, 18a and 18b. Such mechanical liquid barrier 21 will prevent the escape of liquid to the back part 18b of the receiving layer, when the front part 18a is temporarily saturated. The liquid barrier 21 can be separated from or integral with the barrier 11 or 17 in the upper sheet. When a mechanical barrier 21 to the liquid is used in the acquisition layer 18, there is no need for differences in the pore sizes between the front and back portions 18a and 18b, in order to prevent liquid transport between these parts. However, an advantage is gained when the back portion 18b includes a material having a relatively large pore size, in order to prevent rewetting of the underlying storage layer 19. Likewise, an advantage is gained when the posterior 18b is able to absorb loose stool effectively. As mentioned before, the difference in pore size between the front and back, 18a and 18b, of the acquisition layer, can be obtained by differences in density between the parts, although a difference in pore size It can also be obtained with one and the same density using different types of fiber material in different parts. The controversial foams of various pore sizes can also be used in addition to the fiber-based absorbent materials. A liquid barrier can also be provided in the acquisition layer 18, compressing a tiara in the material. The liquid barrier preferably does not extend through the entire thickness of the absorbent body, but will be restricted to its upper sheet or layer. This makes it possible for the liquid to spread in the bottom layer of the absorbent body, ie in the storage layer and dispersion layer. It is important that the upper surface of the absorbent body next to the user remains dry. Providing on the upper sheet a barrier that prevents the stool from extending from the back of the diaper to its front, and providing in the upper layer of the absorbent body a barrier to the liquid, which prevents this liquid from spreading in the layer from its front to the back, as proposed according to the invention, the urine and faeces are separated very effectively in the diaper, thus preventing the formation of certain degradation products that irritate the skin, which are formed, in another way, when urine and feces are mixed. Another advantage that can be obtained by keeping the upper layer of the dry absorbent body in the rear part of the diaper is that this will enable different types of top sheets to be used in the front and back of the diaper, respectively. For example, a conventional cover material can be selected for the front part, this material isolates the skin from the liquid in the absorbent body, while selecting a hydrophilic absorbent cover material for the back, this material being suitable for absorbing the stool loose, for example of a woven or non-woven fabric, comprising rayon, cotton or other natural hydrophilic fibers. The invention, of course, is not restricted to its illustrated embodiments, since a number of variants are possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS 1. An absorbent article, such as a diaper, a pant diaper, an incontinence protector or the like, which includes a top sheet, permeable to liquid, a bottom sheet, impervious to liquid, and an absorbent body enclosed between they, in which the upper sheet includes a transverse barrier, which divides the article into a front part and a back part, and which attempts to prevent the stool delivered to the back of the article from moving to the front of the article, characterized in that the absorbent body includes a liquid barrier, which is located essentially opposite to the first barrier mentioned in the upper sheet and which prevents, or completely or partially, the transport of the liquid, inside the absorbent body, from the front part of the body. article to its back, at least in the upper parts of the absorbent body that is placed next to the user. An absorbent article, according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid barrier is produced by virtue of a difference in the average pore size in the absorbent material, so that at least in the upper part of the absorbent body, next to the user, the liquid is prevented, by capillary action, from spreading, totally or partially, from the front part of the layer to its back, provided that at least that front part is not saturated with the liquid. 3. An absorbent article, according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the liquid barrier includes a strip of material impermeable to liquid, which is separate or integral with the barrier of the upper sheet. 4. An absorbent article, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid barrier includes a strip of hydrophobic material, which is separate or integral with the barrier of the upper sheet. An absorbent article, according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid barrier includes compression strips within the absorbent material. An absorbent article, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absorbent body includes an acquisition layer, which is placed next to the user, and one or more underlying storage and dispersion layers, wherein the liquid barrier extends substantially only through the acquisition layer. 7. An absorbent article, according to claim 6, characterized in that the front part of the acquisition layer has a higher density than the back of the layer. 8. An absorbent article, according to claim 7, characterized in that the density of the rear part of the acquisition layer decreases successively in the backward direction. An absorbent article, according to claim 6, characterized in that the front and back portions of the acquisition layer include different types of absorbent structures having different pore sizes. An absorbent article, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper sheet, permeable to the liquid, which is placed next to the user during use, is comprised of different kinds of material mutually in the front part and the rear part of the article, respectively, in which the rear part of the upper sheet is comprised of a hydrophilic material, suitable for absorbing loose feces, for example of a woven or non-woven fabric, comprised of rayon, cotton and some other fiber hydrophilic, while the front part of the upper sheet is constructed to isolate the user's skin from the liquid absorbed in the absorbent body.