MXPA97009206A - Disposable absorbent article that has an adhesive clip holder form - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is related to machine-made disposable absorbent articles having a panty fastener adhesive (5) on its garment facing surface. The panty fastener adhesive (5) has a shape that is at least partially non-linear. This new form can be provided through a novel process of printing or printing of adhesive for disposable absorbent articles.

Description

DISPOSABLE ABSORBENT ARTICLE THAT HAS AN ADHESIVE TRAILED CLIP HOLDER Field of the Invention The present invention relates to machine-made disposable absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, catamenial incontinence inserts and diaper inserts. In particular, the present invention relates to disposable absorbent articles having a panty fastener adhesive on the garment facing surface. The panty fastener adhesive has at least a partially non-linear shape. This new form can be provided by a sticky printing or printing process disclosed in the parallel patent applications entitled "Stamping or Adhesive Printing for Disposable Absorbent Articles" or "Continuous Adherent Printing or Printing on Discontinuous Series of Disposable Absorbent Articles".

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, incontinence inserts, catamenial products and diaper inserts are commonly provided with an adhesive on their surface that faces the garment to leave them during the period of use to the garment of the wearer. In particular, sanitary napkins and panty liners are commonly provided with a pressure sensitive, thermoplastic adhesive, which affixes to the wearer's undergarment and thereby improves the fit and comfort of the product for the wearer.

These products are typically made using high-speed machinery. The machinery includes equipment that adds the adhesive in a very fast and efficient way, ensuring the consistency of the absorbent products over large quantities thereof. A common way of providing an adhesive is by spraying or coating the adhesive slot on a wire of continuously transported material. The surface of this material, subsequently coated with adhesive, provides the surface facing the garment for disposable absorbent articles. Necessarily, this adhesive application creates adherent areas with linear side edges that are parallel to the axis in the direction of the product machine. In order to save adhesive material and provide adhesive free areas to facilitate the handling of a coating, it is known to turn the adhesive supply equipment on and off subsequently. However, this is still limited to providing gripper grip areas of the linear side edges parallel to the axis in the machine direction. The applicant has now found a way to provide adherent panty grip areas for machine-made disposable absorbent articles whose areas are not limited in form by past equipment and process considerations. The problem of the formed panty fastener adhesive areas has been previously considered in the art, but always accepted linear side edges due to process constraints. The freedom in the form of the panty grip adhesive areas was only achieved for products in which the periphery of the product and the periphery of the panty fastener adhesive was identical. These products were made by coating the adhesive a little wider than the end edge of the periphery of the final product relative to the axis in the machine direction and cutting the product together with the panty fastener adhesive in the desired shape. Naturally, considerations for the shape of the product in these designs were dominant rather than considerations for the adhesive areas holding the pants. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide disposable absorbent articles having a panty fastener adhesive on its garment facing surface, which panty fastener adhesive can be provided in any desired shape. In particular, panty fastener adhesives comprising linear peripheral edges that are within the peripheral edge of the disposable absorbent article are achieved for the first time by the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides machine-made disposable absorbent articles that have been made in a machine direction and therefore have an axis in the machine direction. The articles comprise a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, on which an adhesive area for securing the article to an undergarment such as an undergarment is provided. The surface facing the garment has a continuous peripheral edge which typically also defines the periphery of the absorbent article. The adherent area also has a continuous peripheral edge. The peripheral edge of the adherent area comprises internal parts that do not coincide with the peripheral edge with the surface facing the garment. These internal parts of the adherent area comprise at least a non-linear portion. Preferably the internal parts are not parallel anywhere to the axis in the machine direction. "Parallel anywhere" naturally includes internal parts that have changing points that are only tangentially parallel to the machine's direction. Preferably, the peripheral edge of the adhesive area does not coincide anywhere with the peripheral edge of the underlying facing garment surface. In a beneficial manner, the adherent area can also form an area that encloses at least a smaller area, which is at least partially free of adhesives. The absorbent article may also comprise a multitude of separate adherent areas, in particular when making the article-facing surface and the total article to be breathable. For these adhesive areas, the outer periphery or the inner periphery may comprise the non-linear portions. Especially desirable forms of the adhesive area are indicated in the accompanying drawings and include such shapes as irregular spots, polygon points, square dots, rectangular dots, circular dots, oval dots, circular rings, oval rings or any combination thereof. The adhesive area on the disposable absorbent article is typically covered by a removable protective cover element such as a release paper with silicone before the article is used. All other common characteristics in the context of the present invention are also desirable for disposable absorbent articles. The panty fastener adhesive formed in accordance with the present invention is particularly desirable in combination with sanitary napkins or panty liners having wings or side wrapping elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows the surface facing the garment of a formed sanitary napkin having an adherent area holding the panty with a reduced adherent area all around it. Figure 2 shows an alternate embodiment of a panty fastener adherent area configuration that includes a multitude of circular points. Figure 3 shows a garment-facing surface of a sanitary napkin having areas with an adherent fastener wing of the panty that extends towards the wings, while having a reduced central adherent area. Figure 4 shows a surface facing the garment of a sanitary napkin according to the prior art having only linear side edges parallel to the axis in the machine direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to absorbent articles which in use are attached to a garment by an adhesive area on the garment facing surface of the absorbent article. Based on the technique of printing or adherent printing disclosed in the co-pending applications entitled "printing or adhesive printing for disposable absorbent articles", or "continuous adhesive printing or printing on discontinuous series of disposable absorbent articles", it has become possible to create panty adhesive forms comprising a nonlinear part in mass production. In particular, this takes into account for the first time the provision of machine-made absorbent articles with any of the desired shapes of the panty fastener adhesive on its garment-facing surface. As used herein, "mass production" or "machine-made" refers to a high-speed manufacturing process when producing absorbent articles. Typically, the machines transport a yarn or filament of continuous materials (representing the absorbent articles before separating them from the continuous filament or filament), at a speed of at least 0.5 m / s, preferably by 1.5 m / s.

For articles of 300 mm in length (including canvas) this results in at least 100, preferably at least 3090 items per minute. The absorbent article has a body-facing surface, typically provided by a substrate permeable to the fiber liquid or a structure in the form of a film; a surface facing the garment, preferably provided by a liquid-impermeable but breathable substrate, and an absorbent structure positioned between the surface facing the body and the surface facing the garment. In the Figures in absorbent article has a longitudinal axis (10) and a lateral axis (11) and can comprise any of the components or features usual in the art. In particular, the side wrapping elements, side flap components or wings, as well as any kind of extension capacity or elasticizing characteristic can be comprised in the absorbent articles of the present invention. The disposable article for absorbing liquids is described below with reference to a sanitary napkin or a panty liner. However, products such as adult or baby diaper inserts comprising fastener adhesives can similarly benefit from the process of the present invention. A sanitary napkin or preferred pantyliner made in accordance with the present invention has a pair of side wrapping elements (or "undergarment covering components") designated (2) in Figure 3. These provide protection from the panties of the underpants. user to reduce lateral spotting (ie, spotting of the crotch edges of the pantyhose) and are typically smaller than conventional fins or wings. The function of the lateral wrapping elements, if they are integral or attached to the article after being formed separately, is further improved by making them extendible in one or both directions parallel to the longitudinal axis (10) and / or the lateral axis (11). ). The extension capacity can be provided through all or only a part of the side wrapping elements and can be achieved by folding or rolling by ring those parts that are to be made extensible. A typical sanitary napkin or liner comprises a main body portion comprising a liquid permeable upper sheet, a liquid impermeable back sheet attached to the upper sheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the upper sheet and the back sheet. An adhesive area is provided on the backsheet that provides the fastener adhesive of the panty.

Top sheet The top sheet is docile, soft feeling and non-irritating to the wearer's skin, the upper sheet may also have elastic characteristics that allow it to be stretched in one or two directions, in portions of the upper sheet or throughout of its extension. In addition, the top sheet is permeable to liquids allowing fluids (eg, menstruation and / or urine) to easily penetrate through their thickness. A suitable top sheet can be manufactured from a wide range of materials such as woven and nonwoven materials, polymeric materials such as thermoplastic films formed with openings, apertured plastic films, and hydroformed thermoplastic films; and thermoplastic canvases. Suitable woven and nonwoven materials may be comprised of or composed of natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (e.g., polymer fibers such as polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene fibers) or a combination thereof. natural and synthetic fibers or fibers of two or multiple components. The preferred top sheets for use in the present invention are selected from high volume nonwoven top sheets and top sheets of apertured films. Especially preferred are films formed with openings for the upper sheets, because they are permeable to body exudates and not yet absorbent and have a reduced tendency to allow fluids to pass back through and rewet the user's skin. In this way, the surface of the formed film that is in contact with the body remains dry, thereby reducing the staining of the body and creating a more comfortable feeling for the wearer. Suitable formed films are described in U.S. Patent 3,929,135; U.S. Patent 4,324,246, U.S. Patent4,342,314; U.S. Patent 4,463,045 and U.S. Patent 5,006,394. Particularly disclosed are the upper sheets of film formed with micro-apertures in U.S. Patent 4,609,518 and U.S. Patent 4,629,643. A preferred top sheet for the present invention comprises the formed film described in one or more of the above patents and which is marketed in sanitary napkins by The Procter & Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, as "DRI-WEAVE". The upper sheets that do not have a homogeneous distribution of liquid passages but only a part of the upper sheet comprising passages of liquid are also contemplated by the present invention. Typically these upper sheets would have the liquid orientated passages such that they will result in a centrally permeable upper sheet and peripherally impermeable for liquids. The body surface of the formed top sheet can be hydrophilic to help transfer liquids through the top sheet faster than if the body surface were not hydrophilic. In a preferred embodiment, surfactant is incorporated into the polymeric materials of the formed film topsheet as described in PCT publication WO 93/09741. Alternatively, the body surface of the topsheet can be made hydrophilic by treating it with a surfactant such as described in U.S. Patent 4,950,254. Another alternative are so-called hybrid top sheets, which incorporate fibrous and film-like structures, particularly useful embodiments of top and hybrid sheets are described in PCT publications WO 93/09744; WO 93/11725 or WO 93/11726. The topsheet typically extends through the entire absorbent structure and away from the coextensive area with the absorbent structure. The top sheet can extend and form part or all of the preferred side flaps, side wraps or wings. It is contemplated when referring to the top sheet a multilayer structure or a layer structure. The aforementioned hybrid top sheet is such a multi-layer design but other multi-layer top sheets such as the primary and secondary top sheet designs are also considered.

Absorbent Structure The absorbent structure may include the following components: (a) optionally a primary fluid distribution layer preferably together with an optional secondary fluid distribution layer; (b) a fluid storage layer; (c) optionally a fibrous layer ("dedusting") covering the storage layer; (d) other optional components. a Primary / secondary Fluid Distribution Layer An optional component of the absorbent structure according to the present invention is the primary fluid distribution layer of a secondary fluid distribution layer. The primary distribution layer is typically below the top sheet and is in fluid communication with it. The top sheet transfers the acquired fluid to this primary distribution layer for final distribution to the storage layer. This transfer of fluid through the primary distribution layer occurs not only within the thickness, but also along the length and width directions of the absorbent product, the also optional, but preferred secondary distribution layer is typically below the primary distribution layer and is in fluid communication with it. The purpose of this secondary distribution layer is to facilitate the fluid acquired from the primary distribution layer and to transfer it rapidly to the underlying storage layer. This helps the fluid capacity of the underlying storage layer to be fully utilized. The distribution layers can be composed of any typical material for these distribution layers. In particular, the fibrous layers maintain capillarity between the fibers even when wet, being useful as distribution layers. b Fluid Storage Layer Placed in fluid communication with, and typically underlying the primary or secondary distribution layers, is a fluid storage layer. The fluid storage layer may comprise any conventional absorbent material or combinations thereof. It is preferred that it comprises gelling absorbent materials usually referred to as "hydrogel materials", "super absorbent materials", "hydrocolloid materials" in combination with suitable carriers. The gelling absorbent materials are capable of absorbing large quantities of aqueous body fluids, and are also capable of retaining such absorbed fluids under moderate pressures. The gelling absorbent materials can be dispersed homogeneously or non-homogeneously in a suitable carrier. Also, only suitable carriers can be used, provided they are absorbent. The gelling absorbent materials to be used herein will very often comprise a substantially water-insoluble, slightly crosslinked, partially neutralized polymeric gelling material. This material forms a hydrogel upon contact with water. Such polymeric materials can be prepared from acid-free, unsaturated, polymerizable monomers which are well known in the art.

Suitable carriers include materials that are conventionally used in absorbent structures such as natural, modified or synthetic fibers, particularly modified or unmodified cellulose fibers in the form of foamed fibers and / or papers. The suitable carriers can be used in conjunction with the gelling absorbent material, however, they can also be used alone or in combinations. In the context of sanitary napkins / linings the most preferred are papers or paper laminates. One embodiment of the absorbent structure made according to the present invention comprises a laminate of double-layer paper formed by folding the paper on itself. These layers can be joined together. The gelling absorbent material or other optional material may be comprised between the layers. Modified cellulose fibers such as hardened cellulose fibers can also be used. Synthetic fibers can also be used and include those made of cellulose acetate, polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene chloride, acrylics (such as Orion), polyvinyl acetate, insoluble polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene propylene, polyamides (such as nylon), polyesters, fibers of two components, fibers of three components, mixtures thereof and the like. Preferably, the surfaces are hydrophilic or are treated to be hydrophilic. The storage layer may also include filling materials, such as Perlite, diatomaceous earth, vermiculite, etc., to improve liquid retention. If the gelling absorbent material is dispersed in an inhomogeneous manner in the carrier, the storage layer can nevertheless be locally homogeneous, ie have a distribution gradient in one or several variations within the dimensions of the storage layer. The inhomogeneous distribution can also refer to laminates of carriers that enclose gelling absorbent materials partially or totally. c Optional Fibrous Layer ("Dust Remover") An optional component for inclusion within the absorbent structure according to the present invention is a fibrous layer adjacent to, and typically underlying the storage layer. This underlying fibrous layer is typically referred to as a "dedusting" layer as it provides a substrate on which the absorbent gelling material is deposited in the storage layer during the manufacture of the absorbent structure. Indeed, in those examples where the gelling absorbent material is in the form of macro structures such as fibers, sheets or strips, this fibrous "dedusting" layer does not need to be included. However, this "dedusting" layer provides some additional fluid handling capabilities such as impregnation or rapid wicking of the fluid along the length of the pad. d Other Optional Components of the Absorbent Structure The absorbent structure according to the present invention can include other optional components normally present in absorbent fabrics. For example, a reinforcement web may be placed within the respective layers, or between the respective layers of the absorbent structure, such reinforcement webs must be of such configuration so as not to form interfacial barriers to fluid transfer. Given the structural integrity that usually occurs as a result of thermal bonding, reinforcing canvases are not usually required for thermally bonded absorbent structures. Another component that can be included within the absorbent structure according to the invention, and preferably is provided near or as part of the primary or secondary fluid distribution layer are the odor control agents. Activated carbon coated with other odor control agents, in particular zeolite or suitable clay materials, is optionally incorporated into the absorbent structure. These components can be incorporated in any desired form but are often included as discrete particles.

Backsheet The backsheet (3) primarily prevents the exudates absorbed and contained within the absorbent structure from wetting articles that come into contact with the absorbent product such as underpants, pajamas and undergarments. The backsheet (3) is preferably impervious to liquids (eg, menstruation and / or urine) and is preferably manufactured from a thin plastic film, although other flexible liquid-impermeable materials may also be used. As used herein, the term "flexible" refers to materials that are docile and will readily conform to the shape and general contour of the human body. The back sheet can also have elastic characteristics that allow it to stretch in one or more directions. The backsheet typically extends throughout the entire absorbent structure and can extend into and form part of all or the preferred side flaps, side wrapping elements or wings as shown in Figure 3. The backsheet can comprise a woven or non-woven material, polymeric films such as polyethylene or polypropylene thermoplastic films or mixed materials such as a film-coated nonwoven material. Preferably, the backsheet is a polyethylene sheet having a thickness of about 0.012 mm to about 0.051 mm. Exemplary polyethylene films are manufactured by Clopay Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio, under the designation P18-0401 and by the Ethyl Corporation Visqueen Division, of Terre Haute, Indiana, under the designation XP-39385. The backsheet is preferably embossed and / or finished without gloss to provide a more fabric-like appearance. In addition, the backsheet can allow the vapors to escape from the absorbent structure, i.e., be breathable, while still preventing the exudates from passing through the backsheet. Also the breathable backsheets comprising several layers, for example, nonwoven structures + film, can be used and preferably bonded together.

Adhesives Pantaleta Suitador The back sheet typically forms the surface facing the garment of the absorbent article on which the panty fastener is placed. The panty fastener adhesives may comprise any adhesive or glue used in the art for such purposes, with pressure sensitive adhesives being preferred. It is important that the adhesive is suitable for printing or embossing on the garment facing surface of the absorbent article if the adhesive is to be applied by disclosing adhesive embossing in the co-pending application entitled "Printing or printing of adhesive for absorbent articles. disposable "or" Continuous adhesive printing on discontinuous series of disposable absorbent articles ". The appropriate adhesives are Savare LA203 and LA303 from the company Savare I.C. of Milan from Italy, Coramelt 867 by Koemmerling in Pirmasens of Germany and Fuller H-2238ZP manufactured by H.B. Fuller Co. of Lueneburg of Germany. Also, 4,917,697 suitable adhesive fasteners are disclosed in the United States Patent. It is a key feature of the present invention that the shape of the adhesive fastening area of the pantyhose, designated (5) in the Figures, comprises a non-linear portion that does not coincide with the periphery of the garment-facing surface of the absorbent article. . As can be seen from Figure 1, the fastening adhesive is not coextensive with the sanitary napkin-facing surface. In particular the design of Figure 1 leaves an adhesive free edge all around between the periphery (51) of the adhesive area holding the panty (5) and the periphery 31 of the garment facing surface (3). With the development of the printing or printing of the adhesive, it has become possible to provide forms of adhesive fastener of the panty to the machine-made articles. Previously it was usual to provide a patch of adhesive on the garment-facing surface of an absorbent article by continuously spraying or coating the adhesive over a continuously running filament of the sanitary napkins not yet separated from one another. This necessarily produced linear lateral edges of the panty fastener adhesive as shown in Figure 4 of the prior art. The periphery of the panty fastener adhesive (provided it does not extend towards the periphery of the garment facing surface) comprises only linear portions, either parallel to the axis in the machine direction of the sanitary napkin or perpendicular to this axis. The present development for the first time, provides non-linear portions of the adhesive fastening area of the panty for sanitary napkins and other machine-made absorbent articles. This allows a total freedom to design the shape of the fastener of the panty. Once the freedom to decide the shape of the panty fastener adhesive is achieved, it is possible to optimize the adhesive fastening shape of the panty for the particular purposes desired and the functionality of the absorbent article. For example, sanitary napkins typically used in tight-fitting undergarments can be optimized by requiring only one edge around the periphery of the garment-facing surface with the panty fastening adhesive. On the other hand, sanitary napkins designed for loosely fitting undergarments may be provided with a dot pattern of adhesives whereby the amount of adhesive is reduced and elasticized garment-facing surfaces are allowed due to non-adhered portions between points. It is also possible that shapes can be provided by indicating the front or the back of the article or by providing indications of use struction. If the backsheet provides the sanitary napkin with breathing capability, it is important that the panty fastener does not close or obstruct the side facing the garment of the back sheet completely. For this purpose, it is possible to use an adhesive with a pattern that only seals a fraction of the surface that it gives towards the garment by means of the adhesive. On the other hand, the minimal adhesive protection of the surface facing the garment provides the benefit of proper attachment of the garment of an absorbent article that can be easily defined by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the panty fastener adhesive is preferably applied (5) in intermittent patterns such as, for example, intermittent dots as shown in Figure 2, intermittent strips and other shapes designed in the form of circles.

This allows the sanitary napkin to remain breathable and ensure an optimal hobby of the sanitary napkin of the undergarment. If the adhesive surrounds an adhesive-free area than an existing internal periphery (52) which may comprise the non-linear portion of the panty fastener adhesive. If the protective side flaps are present they can then have optional fasteners on them for additional safety. The optional side flap fasteners can form an integral area with the fastener adhesive of the main screen, as shown in Figure 3, or form separate patterns. According to the present invention the adhesive can be identical or different depending on the desired adhesive connection. The fasteners help the protective side flaps to remain in position after they have wrapped around the edges of the crotch surface of the undergarment. Before using the absorbent article, the panty adhesive of the panty is typically protected against contamination and against sticking to any surface where it is not desired by means of a protective cover means such as a release paper coated with silicone, a plastic film or any other easily removable cover. The protective cover means may be provided as a single piece or in a multitude of pieces, for example, to cover the individual adhesive areas. This can also develop other functions such as providing individualized packaging for the article or providing a function for disposal.

Claims (1)

1. - A machine-made disposable absorbent article comprising a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface, said article comprising an axis in the machine direction, the article comprising an adhesive area on said surface facing toward the body. garment, said facing surface facing the garment comprising a continuous peripheral edge and said adhesive area comprising a continuous peripheral edge, said peripheral edge of said adhesive area comprising internal parts that are not coincident with the peripheral edge of the surface facing the garment , and the article being characterized in that at least one of said parts comprises at least a non-linear portion. 2 - A disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that said internal parts are not parallel in any part to said axis in the machine direction of said article. 3. A disposable absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said article comprises a removable protective cover means covering said adhesive area. 4. An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said article is a sanitary napkin or a panty liner. 5. A disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, characterized in that said article has wings and said adhesive area either extends to said wings or said wings are provided with a separate adhesive area. 6. A disposable absorbent article according to claim 5, characterized in that said adhesive area extending towards said wings comprises said non-linear portions. 7. A disposable absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said peripheral edge of said adhesive area does not coincide anywhere with said peripheral edge of said garment facing surface. 8. A disposable absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said adhesive area surrounds at least one area that is at least partially free of adhesive. 9. A disposable absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said article comprises a multitude of separate adhesive areas, said breathable disposable absorbent article being preferably. 10. A disposable absorbent article according to claim 9, characterized in that said adhesive areas are selected from the forms of irregular spots, polygonal dots, square dots, rectangular dots, circular dots, oval dots, circular rings, oval rings or any combination of them.