NO855332L - Absorbent product, such as diaper, incontinence protection or menstrual bandage. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an absorbent product, such as a nappy, incontinence protection or menstrual pad, consisting of an absorbent body and a casing surrounding this.

A known body-adapted diaper type is so-called wing-folded diapers, which are folded so that they have a narrow middle part intended to be placed in the user's crotch, and wider end parts, intended to enclose the body. The disadvantage of folded diapers is that it is difficult to get a satisfactory seal around the legs and that the fold in the user's crotch can be misplaced during body movements, so that liquid can draw sideways out of the diaper along unwanted folds.

A common type of diaper is hourglass-shaped diapers. The problem with these is that there is too little absorption material in the crotch part of the nappy, and that this therefore dissolves during use in the narrow middle part. The absorption material in the nappy is not utilized in an appropriate way, but the liquid collects in the narrow middle part and does not spread in the lengthwise direction of the nappy without side leakage occurring when the crotch area is saturated.

Attempts have been made: to avoid fluid leakage by placing elastic organs for sealing around the user's legs.

A diaper with elastic bands is described in US Patent No. 3,860,003. The absorbent body has an hourglass shape and a characteristic of the diaper according to the aforementioned patent is that the diaper in the crotch area has flexible side flaps on which elastic bands are placed at a distance from the side edges of the absorbent body that is at least 19 mm. This distance is stated in the patent to be critical. By reducing the distance, the "semi-rigid" absorption core is said to be able to be moved laterally in the crotch area during normal leg movements without the elastic in the edges of the side flaps being pulled by the absorption body from its seal around the user's leg. In and of itself, the leakage is reduced in comparison with previously known hourglass-shaped diapers, but: a significant problem is that urine can collect under the flexible flaps and cause irritation on the sensitive skin in the crotch area, especially where the elastic also rubs directly against the skin .

The designation "semi-rigid" in US Patent No. 3,860,003 is incorrect. An absorption body of the kind that applies here can almost be regarded as a body with virtually no or possibly very little intrinsic stiffness. Due to its thickness, the absorption core is certainly stiffer than the flexible tabs, which are made up of a thin plastic layer and a thin non-woven layer. However, the absorption body has so little inherent stiffness that it is shaped to the user's body and folded in any way depending on the user's leg movements. Unwanted folds can also occur in the absorption body in the crotch area, along which folds urine can pull out laterally. In such cases, the elastic around the legs provides no guarantee whatsoever against leakage. A significant problem with the diaper according to US patent no. 3,860,003 is also that the narrow, crotch part of the absorbent body easily falls apart, and ..that the absorbent body here can come off completely..

In US patent no. 4,326,528, a different route has been chosen for

to try to adapt the nappy to the user's body and try to avoid leakage. In the crotch part of the diaper according to US patent no. 4,326,528, there is significantly more absorption material than in the diaper according to US patent no. 3,860,003. The diaper according to US patent no. 4,326,528 is characterized by a flat or arched bottom, i.e. the lowest part when the diaper is used, and by two flat sides that connect to the bottom via folding areas, e.g. in the form of embossed

folding lines. Said flat sides include the absorption material and, unlike the diaper according to US patent no. 3,860,003, the sides also have a certain inherent stiffness. By designing the flat sides with essentially the same weak bending stiffness as the bottom, you will create a pocket inside which urine can collect. In and of itself, you get a relatively tight nappy, but a disadvantage is that you get an uncomfortable "bag" that hangs down under the user's crotch. Furthermore, the absorbent material described has no real stiffness, but this can, when the user sits down, actually be folded in any way and urine can leak out via unwanted and uncontrollable folds in the crotch part of the nappy when the user is sitting.

With the present invention, a nappy has been obtained which, in terms of function, is superior to the previously known nappies, e.g. of the kind described above.

The disposable nappy according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the absorbent body includes a first layer, which is intended to be placed closest to the user and which is soft and has little or no bending stiffness with a bulk of more than 13 cm 3/g, and that a second layer , which is narrower than the first layer, and has an appropriate width for the user's step and which is strongly compressed with a bulk less than 9 cm 3 /g, preferably between 4 and 8 cm 3 /g, whereby a high bending stiffness is achieved which under normal use stresses, a shape-stable second layer is obtained, whereby a layer with a very good liquid spreading capacity is achieved.

The heavily compressed second layer gives the nappy such stability in the crotch area that no unwanted folds occur. smooth, tight fit against the user's crotch.

The rigid second layer's edge sides serve as a folding norm for the soft first layer of the absorbent body. When the diaper is put on around the user's waist, the edge portions extending outside the second layer are forced by the first layer, which has a for conventional absorbent bodies of cellulose, such as e.g. diapers according to US patents no. 3,860,003 and 4,326,528 normal flexibility, and are folded at the edges of the second layer in the crotch area. In the case of so-called complete disposable nappies where the covering is used to tighten the nappy around the user's body, when the nappy is put on, the covering will pull on the flexible first layer, so that it folds at the aforementioned fixed edges. Those outside the flexurally rigid second one gradually made the edge parts off. the first layer will therefore be forced into a tight fit around the user's legs.

A further significant advantage of the narrow, hard-compressed absorption layer is that absorbed liquid is sucked into this layer from the soft absorption layer, whereby the edge parts of the soft absorption layer extending laterally outside the hard-compressed layer are kept dry. The risk of edge leakage is thereby reduced compared to previously known diapers.

According to an appropriate embodiment, elastic members are arranged in the lengthwise or transverse direction of the nappy, at least in the middle part, which members are calculated to fold the edge portions of the flexible first layer around fold lines formed by the edges of the rigid layer, whereby the absorption core and thus the entire nappy in the crotch area forms an essentially U-shaped channel in cross-section. In the crotch area, the elastic organs are only active within the edges of the first absorption layer and therefore do not cause any chafing.

A significant advantage of the nappy according to the invention is that the second layer is so strongly compressed, to a bulk below 9 cm 3/g, that urine is not only quickly sucked into this layer from the first layer facing the user, but that liquid is also dispersed vertically from the wetting point along the second layer, which is not possible with previously known diapers. When the user is standing or sitting, a large part of the absorbent material in a nappy is located in a vertical direction opposite the wetting point. In known nappies, the absorbent material has not been so strongly compressed that the capillary channels have been able to absorb liquid in a vertical direction, but this has remained around the wetting point and the absorbent material has not been utilized to a satisfactory extent.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples of execution which are shown in the drawings, there

fig. 1 shows a plan view of a diaper according to the invention viewed in the direction of the side facing the user when the diaper is used,

fig. 2 shows a plan view of the diaper's opposite side, and fig. 3 shows a section along the line III-III in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows the diaper according to fig. 1-3 in usage condition,

fig. 5 shows a plan view of a diaper according to a second embodiment, viewed in the direction of the side intended for contact with the user,

fig. 6 shows a plan view of a third embodiment,

fig. 7 shows in plan ■. the structure of a diaper according to a further embodiment, and

fig. 8 shows one of the subjects according to fig. 7 folded diaper.

Fig. 9 shows a plan view of a diaper according to a further embodiment,

fig. 10 shows a longitudinal section along the line X-X in the diaper according to fig. 10, and

fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the absorbent body in the diaper according to fig. 9-10.

The diaper according to fig. 1-3 consists of an absorption body and a casing that surrounds this. The absorbent body is made up of two layers of fluff mass, of which the first layer 1 has a normal bulk for absorbent bodies in diapers of more than 13 cm 3/g, and the second layer 2 is strongly compressed with a bulk of less than 9 cm 3/g , suitably between 4 and 8 cm 3/g.

The cover consists of a liquid-tight outer layer 3 on the back of the diaper and of a liquid-permeable outer layer 4 on the front of the diaper, which two outer layers are interconnected around the absorbent body.

As can be seen from fig. 2 and 3, the hard-compressed layer 2 is relatively narrow compared to the soft layer 1, which is intended to be placed closest to the user's body. The 2 width of the hard layer is adapted to the user's crotch area. Namely, at the given bulk size, the layer has such a high bending stiffness that the layer is substantially dimensionally stable under normal conditions of use, i.e. when the nappy is put on, there is no unwanted twisting of the absorbent body, which could cause leakage. The edges of the rigid layer 2 serve as a folding norm for the soft layer, and when the diaper is assembled, the parts 5 and 6 extending beyond the edges of the rigid layer come to fold in a controlled manner, and as can be seen from fig. 4, a U-shaped channel is formed in the crotch area of the nappy.

Through the extremely powerful compression of it

second layer 2, compared to previously known absorption bodies, a superior transport and liquid-holding capacity is achieved. Due to the hard compression, liquid will be transported vertically from the nappy's lowest point, which is not possible with previously known absorbent bodies. In and of itself, it is previously known to have compressed liquid diffusion lines in nappies, but these flow channels have not been sufficiently compressed and, above all, have not had such a capacity that any significant diffusion has occurred in the vertical direction.

The hard-compressed rigid layer 2 in the diaper according to the invention has such a liquid-transporting and liquid-retaining ability that the soft layer 1 facing the user is dry during use of the diaper. In previously known diapers, the liquid has collected at the bottom of the diaper and quickly wetted the entire part of the absorption body located at the bottom when the diaper is in use, while the wet absorbent material in the main part of the diaper has not in any way contributed to the liquid absorption. The diaper according to fig. 1-4 are intended to be held in place by means of an elastic diaper pant.

In fig. 5 shows a so-called complete disposable diaper. The casing which encloses the absorbent body consists of a liquid-tight 3 and a liquid-permeable layer 4, which two layers extend in the lateral direction outside the absorbent body and are there interconnected.

The two outer layers 3,4 extend starting from the crotch part 7 and in a backward direction with a continuously increasing distance from the side edges of the absorbent body, whereby essentially triangular side flaps 8,9 are formed. Tape tabs 10,11 are placed on these. When putting on the nappy, the cover serves as a kind of trousers, as the tape tabs 10,11 on the rear side tabs 8,9 are attached to the outside of the nappy at its front end.

The absorbent body's soft layer is denoted by 1, and the hard compressed layer by 2. This compressed layer, as in fig. 5 is marked with dotted lines, has essentially the same design as the hard-compressed layer in the diaper according to fig. 1-4.

The diaper according to fig. 5 is provided with elastic 12, which extends in a V-shaped pattern over the diaper with the tip of the pattern located at the center of the front end of the diaper. The elastic crosses the edges of the soft layer 1 behind the crotch part, whereby the soft layer prevents the elastic from chafing the user's step. Using the pre-tensioned elastic, the soft layer 1 and the sleeve are folded along the edges of the rigid layer 2 in the crotch area of the nappy to form an essentially U-shaped channel. The elastic also serves as a seal around the outside of the user's thighs.

In fig. 6 shows a rectangular diaper. Besides, this has

a conventional, soft absorption layer 1 of fluff mass a hard-compressed layer 2 of the same design as the corresponding layer in fig. 1-5. The absorption body is enclosed in a sleeve of fibrous material. Rectangular diapers are usually used in combination with plastic clips that are tied around the user. With previously known rectangular diapers, there is a risk that the absorption body in the crotch area is crushed together in an unfavorable way,

so that leakage can occur. The hard-compressed layer 2 stabilizes the nappy in the crotch area and eliminates unwanted folding.

Fig. 7 shows the blank of a modified rectangle diaper.

The diaper blank consisting of fluff mass has three different zones 13, 14 and 15. The diaper blank is produced by feeding a fluff mass past several compaction wheels offset in the transverse direction of the web (not shown). The centrally located zone 14 has a normal compression for diaper absorbent bodies and is thus soft and fluffy with a bulk of more than 13 cm 3 /g.

The edge zone 13, which is intended to be folded in over the middle zone, is compressed along longitudinally separated spreading lines 16 except at the circular segment-shaped crotch portions 17 and 18, where the fluff mass is only loosely compressed as in the middle zone 14.

The edge zone 15, which is intended to be folded over the folded-in edge zone 13 to form the absorbent body of a diaper, is hard compressed to a bulk of less than 9 cm/g outside the circular segment-shaped areas 19 and 20, where the fluff mass is loosely compressed.

The folded absorbent body is enclosed in a

casing of non-woven material (fibrous fabric) for forming a diaper.

This is shown in fig. 8. The advantage of this design

is that the layer 15 can be compressed both in the crotch part and in the end parts, which gives the nappy stability, good liquid dispersion and small volume.

The nappy has soft, loosely compressed leg recesses 21,22, which means that it is securely held in place as no longitudinal displacement can occur due to the hard-compressed layer 15.

The circular side limitations of the hard-compressed layer 15 form the folding norm for the diaper's other layers in this area.

In fig. 9-11 shows a diaper designed for, like the diaper according to fig. 1-4, to be worn together with an elastic diaper pant. As in fig. 1-4, this nappy also consists of an upper, loosely compressed absorption layer 1, a lower hard-compressed absorption layer 2 and a sleeve that surrounds the absorption body with a liquid-tight part 3 on

the underside of the diaper and a liquid-permeable part 4 on the upper side of the diaper.

The hard-compacted layer 2 has a bulk which in all parts of the layer is below 9 cm 3 /g and which decreases with increasing degree of compression towards the end parts of the layer 23,24.

By further compressing the end portions thereof

already strongly compressed layer, an enhanced fluid-dispersing effect is achieved with increased dryness in the nappy's crotch area as a result. The capillary forces act in such a way that liquid is transported from coarser to finer capillaries, i.e. from a lower to a higher degree of compression.

The two layers included in the absorption body can be mutually connected, in that their opposite surfaces are treated with water or hot-melt adhesive spray before they are joined together. The layers can be joined by compression riveting, i.e. the two layers are compressed strongly in a number of separate points, thereby effectively preventing the layers from sliding against each other.

The upper, soft layer 1 can be a porous, purely liquid-transporting layer, without any absorption capacity. Thereby, the layer primarily functions as a spacer layer that keeps the wet absorbent layer 2 from the user's skin. At the same time, better ventilation of the sensitive skin in the crotch area is achieved, as air can circulate through layer 1.

A suitable non-absorbent material for one

such use is synthetic fiber wadding, preferably with long fibres, whereby a mechanically resilient layer is achieved with good liquid insulation against re-wetting of the user with moisture from the lower layer.

In the case of the diapers as shown in fig. 1-4 and 9-11, which have a T-shape and are intended to be used together with diaper pants, the front, when the diaper is used against the user's stomach, the part adjacent can be thicker than the rest of the diaper. This prevents the nappy from sliding backwards in the nappy pants when the user moves.

If the hard-compacted layer 2 is further compressed in one or both end parts, the increase in density from the center towards the end or ends need not be continuous, but can be constituted by a uniformly higher compression of one or both end parts.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but several modifications are possible within the scope of the subsequent patent claims. For example, the nappy can be provided with transverse elastic in the crotch area, whereby the soft absorption layer is forcibly folded at the edges of the hard layer.

The invention is described in connection with disposable diapers, but the problems are similar for incontinence protection and menstrual pads. Also with such products, it is appropriate to have a form

stable layer, which prevents the product from twisting in an unwanted way, while at the same time reducing the risk of side leakage.

Claims (8)

1. Absorbent product, such as a nappy, incontinence protection, protection or menstrual pad, consisting of an absorption body of cellulose mass and ethyl ester surrounding this, characterized in that the absorption body includes a first layer (1), which is intended to be placed closest to the user and which is soft and has no or little bending stiffness with a bulk of more than 13 cm 3 /g, and a second layer (2) which is narrower than the first layer and has an appropriate width for the user's crotch area and which is heavily compressed with a bulk of less than 9 cm 3/g, suitably between 4 and 8 cm 3/g, whereby a high bending stiffness is achieved which, under normal use stresses, provides a substantially dimensionally stable second layer and whereby a layer with very good liquid spreading capacity is achieved. 2. Absorbent product according to claim 1, characterized in that a further layer, narrower than said second layer (2) is placed outside this, so that the absorbent body has a cross-section which tapers in the direction outwards from the user, which possibly further layers have a dent which is equal to or less than the bulk of the underlying second layer. 3. Absorbent product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that elastic members (12) are placed in the longitudinal or transverse direction of the product, at least in the middle part, which members are intended to fold the edge parts (5,6) of the flexible first layer around fold lines formed by the edges of the rigid layer (2), whereby the absorption core and thus the entire diaper in the crotch area form a substantially U-shaped channel in cross-section. 4. Absorbent product according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic members extend across the product from one side edge to the other and are arranged either in the form of several substantially parallel members or are made up of at least two intersecting, elastic members. 5. Absorbent product according to claim 3 and in the form of a diaper, characterized in that the first layer has a contour adapted to the user's body shape and has at least one of the absorption body's end parts designed wider than the absorption body's middle part, crotch part, that the elastic organs (12) is arranged in the lengthwise direction of the nappy and extends in an essentially V-shaped pattern with the tip of the pattern located at the front end of the nappy, and that the elastic members cut directly opposite the side edges of the rigid second layer in the crotch part of the nappy (7) and are intended for behind the said intersection points forcibly folding up the soft layer (1)'s side parts (5,6) along fold lines formed by the edges of the rigid layer (2). 6. Absorbent product according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second layer (2) included in the absorbent body has a bulk in its central part that is less than 9 cm 3 /g, while at least one end part (23 ,24) of the second layer has an even higher degree of compression. 7. Absorbent product according to claim 1, characterized in that the second layer from the crotch part has a continuously increasing density towards one or both end parts. 8. Absorbent product according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second layers are joined together, e.g. with hot melt adhesive.