NL8600024A - ABSORBENT OBJECT SUCH AS A DIAPER, INCONTINENCE PROTECTOR OR A SANITARY CLOTH. - Google Patents

Description

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Absorbent item / such as diaper / incontinence protector or sanitary cloth.

The present invention relates to an absorbent article, such as a diaper, a protector against incontinence or a sanitary cloth, provided with an absorbent body with a cover.

Examples of known body-adapted diapers are so-called wing-folded diapers, which are folded to form a narrow center portion for application to the user's crotch, while having wider end portions surrounding the lower body. Folded diapers, however, have certain drawbacks, such as the difficulty in achieving a satisfactory snug fit around the legs, and the tendency to form folds in the wrong places caused by the user's body movements, so that liquids are accidentally pleats formed laterally out of the diaper can flow.

A conventional type of diapers are those diapers, which are designed as an hourglass. The problem with these diapers is the lack of absorbent material in the crotch portion of the diaper, which will therefore disintegrate when used in the narrow center portion.

The absorbent material in the diaper is not used properly, resulting in the collection of liquid in the narrow center section, causing lateral leakage upon saturation of the crotch section, rather than spreading the liquid along the length of the diaper .

Attempts have been made to prevent leakage of liquid through the attachment of elastic means for a tight fit around the user's legs. A diaper provided with elastic ribbons is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,003. The absorption body has the shape of an hourglass and the distinctive feature of the diaper according to the aforementioned

US patent is the attachment of flexible side flaps in the crotch area, with elastic ribbons on those flaps being -1 ·> * ~ λ - ** -,: -, '; ! α ^ t? · J__ _..__ - 2 - mounted at a distance of at least 19 mm from the side edges of the absorber body. According to this patent, this distance is crucial. By maintaining this minimum distance, it is believed that the "semi-rigid" absorption core can be displaced laterally in the crotch region during normal movements of the legs 5, without the elastic means in the side flap edges through the absorption body from their seal around the legs pulled from the user. Although leakage has been reduced compared to previously known hourglass-shaped diapers, there is still a significant risk of urine collecting under the flexible flaps, giving rise to skin irritation in the sensitive crotch area, especially where the elastic means are scraping make contact with bare skin.

The term "semi-rigid" in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,003 is incorrect. An absorbent body of the proposed type should instead be regarded as a body having practically no, or possibly only insignificant, inherent stiffness. However, the thickness of the absorption core makes it stiffer than the flexible flaps, which are formed from a thin plastic layer and an equally thin non-woven layer. However, the absorption body's own stiffness is still negligible, allowing the absorption body to adapt to the shape of the user's body and to be unintentionally folded in response to the movements of the user's legs.

Accordingly, unwanted folds can occur in the crotch region of the absorbent body and urine can flow out laterally along these folds. In such cases, the elastic means around the legs will not give any form of warranty against leakage. An essential problem with the diapers of US Pat. No. 3,860,003 is also the tendency of the narrow crotch portion of the absorbent body to easily disintegrate there and to be completely broken.

In US Patent 4,326,528, another alternative has been proposed to attempt to adapt the diaper to the body of the user while attempting to avoid leakage.

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The crotch portion of the diaper of U.S. Patent 4,326,528 contains a significantly greater amount of absorbent material than that of the diaper of U.S. Patent 3,860,003.

The diaper according to US Pat. No. 4,326,528 is characterized by a flat or curved bottom, ie the bottom part when using the diaper, and by two flat sides connected to the bottom by folding areas, such as for example pressed fold lines. These flat sides contain absorbent material and, unlike the diapers of US Pat. No. 3,860,003, the sides also have a certain inherent stiffness.

By constructing the flat side with substantially the same insignificant bending resistance as that of the bottom, a bag is obtained in which uarine can be collected. Although a relatively dense diaper is obtained in this manner, the drawback is the formation of an awkward "bag" which hangs down from the user's crotch. Furthermore, the absorbent material described does not have true rigidity, but can be accidentally pleated when the user sits down, with the risk of urine leaking out through accidental and uncontrollable folds in the crotch area when the user is seated.

According to the present invention, a diaper is obtained which is superior in function to known diapers of, for example, the above-described types.

The disposable diaper according to the invention is distinguished in that the absorption body is provided with a first layer, which must be applied in contact with the user and which is soft, without or with only a small degree of bending resistance and with a size of more than 13 cnf / g, and of a second layer, which is narrower than the first layer and which has a width adapted to the crotch 30 of the user, while being strongly compressed to a size of less than 9 cm3 / g, preferably between 4 and 8 cm3 / g, whereby a high degree of bending resistance is obtained, which in normal use gives a stable shape to this second layer, which layer has an excellent ability to disperse liquid.

The strongly compressed second layer will give the crotch portion of the diaper such stability that no unwanted folds will occur. The narrow, highly compressed second layer has a width adapted for insertion into the user's crotch and this rigid layer will therefore keep the absorption body in soft, close contact with the user's crotch.

The edge parts of the rigid second layer act as a folding ruler for the soft first layer of the absorption body. When the diaper is pulled tight around the user's lower body, the edge portions of the first layer, which have normal flexibility for conventional cellulose absorbent bodies, such as those according to, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,860,003 and 4,326,528, will extend. along and on the outside of the second layer, in the crotch portion are forced to fold at the edges of the second layer. In so-called fully disposable diapers, where the wrapper is used to tighten the diaper around the body, the flexible first layer will be attracted to the wrapper when the diaper is applied so that that layer is folded at the above rigid edges .

The edge portions of the first layer that extend outside the rigid second layer will therefore be pressed in sealing contact around the legs of the user.

An additional significant advantage of the narrow, highly compressed absorption layer is the fact that absorbed liquid is sucked from the eight absorption layer into this layer, so that the edge parts of the soft absorption layer, which extend laterally outside the highly compressed layer, will remain dry. . The risk of leakage at the side edges is therefore reduced compared to that of known diapers.

In a preferred embodiment, elastic means in the longitudinal or transverse direction of the diaper are mounted at least in the middle portion, which means are used for folding the edge portions of the flexible first layer around fold lines formed by the edges of the second layer, the absorption core and thereby the entire diaper in the crotch portion forms a substantially U-shaped channel, viewed in cross section. In the «" * «'* s:" / V · -> -v Y -

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- 5 - crotch portion, the elastic means act only within the edges of the first absorption layer and therefore will not give rise to chafing.

A significant advantage of the diaper according to the invention is that the second layer is so compressed, to a size below 9 cm / g, that urine not only quickly from the first layer contacts the user in the second layer, but is also spread vertically from the wetting point over the second layer, which is not possible with the known diapers. When the user stands up or sits down, much of the absorbent material is in a diaper vertically above the wetting point. In known diapers, the absorbent material is not compressed enough to cause the capillary channels to draw liquid in the vertical direction, but the liquid has remained around the bonding point and accordingly the absorbent material has not been sufficiently utilized.

The invention will be described in more detail below. illustrating embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a diaper according to the invention viewed in the direction of the side facing the diaper user; FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the opposite side of the diaper; and Fig. 3 shows a cross-section along the line III-III in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 shows the diaper according to Figs. 1-3 in its state of use; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a diaper according to a second embodiment, viewed towards the side of the diaper facing the user; Fig. 6 is a top view of a third embodiment; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the construction of a diaper according to a further embodiment; 'N \ /? Fig. 8 shows a diaper taken from the preform of Fig.

7 is folded; Fig. 9 is a top view of a diaper according to yet another embodiment;

Fig. 10 shows a longitudinal section along the line X-X

of the diaper according to Fig. 9; and FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the diaper absorption body of FIGS. 9-10.

The diaper according to Figures 1-3 consists of an absorption body and of a surrounding envelope. The absorbent body is made of two layers of down pulp, the first layer 1 of which has a size greater than 13 cm3 / g, which is the normal standard for absorbent bodies in diapers, while the second layer 2. is strongly compressed to a size of less than 9 cm3 / g, preferably between 4 and 8 cm3 / g.

The envelope consists of a liquid-impermeable outer layer 3 at the back of the diaper and a liquid-permeable outer layer 4 at the front of the diaper, which two outer layers are joined together around the absorbent body.

As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the highly compressed layer 2 is relatively narrow compared to the soft layer 1, which must lie against the user's body. The width of the rigid layer 2 is adapted to the groin of the user, because the layer concerned has such a great bending resistance at the aforementioned size that the shape of that layer will remain substantially stable under normal use stresses; that is, when the diaper is applied, there will be no unwanted torsion of the absorber body, which could lead to leakage. The edges of the rigid layer 2 serve as a folding ruler for the soft layer, and when the diaper is applied, the parts 5, 6 protruding beyond the edges of the rigid layer will be folded in a controlled manner, while according to Fig. 4 in the crotch portion a U-shaped channel is formed from the diaper.

Thanks to the extraordinarily strong compression of the second layer 2 -i * · - 7 - layer 2, an extraordinary ability to transfer and retain liquid is obtained, compared to known absorption bodies.

The strong compression allows liquid to move vertically from the bottom point of the diaper, which is impossible with conventional absorbent bodies. Although it is known to provide diapers with compressed liquid transport channels, these flow channels are not sufficiently compressed and, above all, their capability has not contributed to any significant vertical liquid transport.

The ability to transport and retain liquid of the highly compressed rigid layer 2 in the diaper according to the invention is such that the soft layer 1 facing the user of the diaper remains dry. In previously known diapers, the liquid has accumulated in the bottom portion of the diaper, so that when using the diaper, the entire portion of the absorber body, which is the lowest, is quickly wetted, while the absorbent material in the main body of the diaper has not contributed at all to the absorption of liquid. The diaper of Figures 1-4 must be held in place using elastic baby pants.

Fig. 5 shows a so-called complete disposable diaper. The envelope enclosing the absorption body consists of a liquid-impermeable layer 3 and a liquid-permeable layer 4, which two layers project laterally outside the absorption body 25, while they are joined together.

The two outer layers 3, 4 extend from the crotch portion 7 and backward with a gradually increasing distance outwardly from the side edges of the absorber body, thereby essentially forming triangular side flaps 8, 9, on which ribbon strips 10, 11 are confirmed. When the diaper is applied, the sheath acts as a kind of pants, and the ribbon strips 10, 11, which are attached to the rear side flaps 8, 9, are attached to the outside of the front end of the diaper.

The soft layer of the absorbent body is indicated by the reference numeral 1 and the highly compressed layer is indicated by .Λ Λ '·; I

2. This compressed layer, which is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5, has substantially the same shape as the strongly compressed layer of the diaper of FIGS. 1-4.

The diaper of Figure 5 is provided with elastic means 12 extending in a V-shaped pattern across the diaper, the top of that pattern being located at the center of the front end of the diaper. The elastic means cut the edges of the soft layer 1 behind the crotch portion, the soft layer thus preventing the elastic means from scraping the user's crotch. Using these pre-stretched elastic means, the soft layer 1 and the sheath are folded along the edges of the rigid layer 2 into the crotch portion of the diaper to form a substantially U-shaped channel. The elastic means further serve as a seal on the outside of the user's thighs.

Fig. 6 shows a rectangular diaper which, in addition to a conventional down pulp soft absorption layer 1, is provided with a highly compressed layer 2 of the same construction as that of FIGS. 1-5. The absorbent bodies are enclosed in a sheath 20 of a non-woven fabric. Rectangular diapers are normally used in combination with plastic support means, which are tied around the user's body. In known rectangular diapers, there is a risk that the absorbent body in the crotch portion is undesirably crumpled, which could lead to leakage. The highly compressed layer 2 stabilizes the crotch portion of the diaper, thereby avoiding the unintended formation of folds or creases.

Fig. 7 shows the preform for a modified rectangular diaper. The diaper preform, which consists of fluff pulp, has three different zones 13, 14 and 15. The diaper preform is manufactured by feeding fluff pulp along a number of compression wheels spaced transversely of the web (not shown ). The centrally located zone 14 has a compression, which is normally standard for diaper absorbers; they are soft and fluffy with a size greater than 13 cm 3 / g.

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The edge zone 13, which must be folded over on the central zone, is compressed along separate dividing lines 16 in the longitudinal direction, except for the areas 17 and 18, which are in the form of circle segments, where the fluff pulp is only loosely compressed, 5 as well as in the central zone 14.

The edge zone 15, which must be folded over the inwardly folded edge zone 13 to create the diaper absorption body, is strongly compressed at a size of less than 9 cm / g, except in the areas 19 and 20, which have the shape of circle segments, where the fluff pulp is loosely compressed.

The final folded absorbent body is enclosed in a casing of nonwoven material (fibrous cloth) to produce a diaper.

This diaper is shown in Fig. 8. The advantage of such a construction is that the layer 15 can be compressed both in the crotch portion and at the end parts, thereby providing suitable stability, good liquid distribution and a small volume to the diaper.

The diaper has soft, loosely compressed leg cavities 21, 20 22, which allows the diaper to be held securely, as no longitudinal displacement can occur due to the highly compressed layer 15.

The circular lateral boundaries of the highly compressed layer 15 form a folding ruler for the other layers of the diaper in this area.

Figures 9-11 show a diaper, which, like the diaper according to Figures 1-4, is intended to be worn together with elastic baby pants. As with the embodiment according to Figures 1-4, this diaper consists of an upper, loose compressed absorption layer 1, from a bottom, highly compressed absorption layer 2, and from a sheath surrounding the absorption body and having a liquid impermeable portion 3 on the underlayer of the diaper and a liquid permeable portion 4 on the top layer of the diaper.

The strongly compressed layer 2 has a size, which in iJ> - 10 - all parts of the layer is less than 9 cm 3 / g, which size decreases in response to the increasing amount of compression towards the end parts 23, 24 , of the respective layer.

By further compressing the end portions of the already quite strongly compressed layer, an enhanced liquid distribution effect is achieved, which leads to a greater dryness in the crotch portion of the diaper due to the action of the capillary forces, which provide the transfer of liquid from coarser capillary to finer capillaries, i.e. from a light 10 to a strong compression.

The two layers incorporated in the absorption body can be bonded together, for example by treating the facing side surfaces with water or a hot melt spray before bonding Z.e together. The layers can also be joined together by compression stapling, ie by subjecting the two layers to a strong compression at a number of spaced points, thereby effectively preventing the layers from sliding relative to each other.

The top soft layer 1 can be a porous layer, which serves only the liquid distribution, and has no absorbing capacity. Thus, the primary function of this layer is to act as a spacer, thereby preventing the wet absorbent layer 2 from making direct contact with the skin of the wearer. Because air can circulate through the layer 1, better ventilation of the sensitive skin in the crotch is simultaneously achieved.

A suitable non-absorbent material useful for this purpose consists of synthetic fiber wadding, preferably with long fibers, thus obtaining a mechanically reflective layer with good insulating properties against renewed wetting. the user with moisture from the bottom layer.

With the T-shaped diapers, which are shown in Figures 1-4 and 9-11 35, and which are intended for use in combination with a f \ r- \ -¾ cs w v u ..; - 11 - baby pants, the front part that faces the user's lower abdomen when used can be made thicker than the rest of the diaper, thus preventing the diaper from slipping backwards in the baby pants when the user moves.

If one or both end parts of the highly compressed layer 2 are subjected to an additional compression, then it is not necessary that the increase in density from the center to the end or ends is continuous, but may instead be designed as an even, stronger compression of one or both end parts.

The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, wherein several modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the diaper can be provided with transverse elastic means in the crotch portion, thus forcing the soft absorption layer to fold at the edges of the stiffer layer.

The invention has been described in connection with disposable diapers, however, the problems are identical with protectors against incontinence and sanitary towels. Such products can advantageously be provided with a rigid layer which prevents such products from twisting undesirably, while at the same time minimizing the risk of lateral leakage.

The invention relates to absorbent articles. Such as diapers or sanitary towels, which contain an absorbent body surrounded by an envelope.

The characteristic feature of the invention is that the absorption body is made of at least two layers, the first layer (1) of which is soft and is placed closest to the user, while a second highly compressed layer (2) is narrower than the first layer and having a width adapted to the crotch of the user, the second layer being highly resistant to bending and having a stable shape under the influence of normal stresses in use.

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Claims (6)

An absorbent article, such as a diaper, a protector against incontinence or a sanitary cloth, comprising an absorption body made of cellulose pulp and a body-enclosing envelope, characterized in that the absorption body is provided with a first layer (1) closest to the user when in use, which is soft without or with only a slight degree of flexural resistance and of a size of more than 13 cm3 / g, and of a second layer (2) narrower is then the first layer and has a width adapted to the crotch of the user, 10 while being strongly compressed to a size of less than 9 cm3 / g, preferably between 4 and 8 cm3 / g, thereby a high degree of bending resistance is obtained, which in normal use gives a stable shape to the second layer, which layer has a very large liquid distribution capacity. Absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that additional layers narrower than the second layer (2) are provided on the outside of the latter layer, so that the absorption body is given a cross-section tapering outwards in the direction from the user, which 20 possible additional layers have a size equal to or less than that of the underlying second layer. Absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that elastic means (12) are arranged in the longitudinal or transverse direction thereof at least on the middle part of the article, which means serve for folding the edge parts ( 5, 6) of the flexible first layer around fold lines formed by the edges of the rigid layer (2), the absorption core and thereby the entire crotch portion of the diaper forming a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional channel. Absorbent article according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic means extend transversely of the object from one side edge to the other and are arranged either as a plurality of substantially parallel means, or consist of at least two elastic means intersect. Absorbent article according to claim 3, made in the form of a diaper, characterized in that the first layer has a shape adapted to the body shape. of the user, and has at least one portion formed from the end portions 5 of the absorbent body and wider than the middle portions of the absorbent body, the crotch portion, that the elastic means (12) are arranged along the length of the diaper as they extend in a substantially V-shaped pattern with the top of that pattern placed at the front end of the diaper 10 and intersecting the elastic means exactly at the front of the side edges of the rigid second layer in the crotch portion (7) of the diaper for the purpose of vigorously folding the side edges (5, 6) of the soft layer (1) behind the intersections along fold lines formed by the edges of the second layer (2). Absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second layer (2), which is incorporated in the absorption body, has a size in its middle section which is less than 9 cm3 / g, while at least one end section (23, 24) of the second layer is compressed even more strongly. Absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the second layer, starting from the crotch portion, has a density that continuously increases towards one or both end portions. Absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second layers are joined together, for example by means of a hot melt. ν '* * f \. -; - - "M. - l 'Λ Q