RU2427359C1 - Absorbing product having means of indicating size correspondence - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to absorbing product in form of diaper or protective device, used in case of incontinence, which contains first and second main panels (11) and (12). On first main panel (11) located is target zone (18) intended for reception of fastening elements (17), located near opposite longitudinal lateral edges (12a; 22a) of second main panel (12). Target zone (18) is located in central- in transverse direction- part of first main panel (11), and, at least, one means (19) of indication of size correspondence located between target zone and longitudinal lateral edge (11a) of first main panel (11), means of indication of size correspondence being made with possibility of indicating the fact that product is small for user. Target zone contains pattern and/or colour noticeably differing from pattern and/or colour of means (19) of indication of size correspondence.

EFFECT: invention makes it possible for caring person to find out if product has the right size or user needs product of bigger size, means of size indication informing which size must be used instead of the given one.

10 cl, 5 dwg

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to an absorbent article in the form of a diaper or an incontinence protector of the type that comprises the first and second main panels and the crotch portion between them, wherein said first main panel contains a target area for receiving fastening elements located on opposite longitudinal side edges of the second main panel. When the fastening elements are attached to the target area, the product will take a shape similar to shorts. In addition, the product contains at least one means of indicating the conformity of size located on the first main panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Absorbent articles of the aforementioned type comprise fastening elements, usually in the form of adhesive tape or material with hooks, attached to opposite longitudinal sides of one of the main panels, usually to the rear main panel, and intended to be fastened to the target area on the opposite main panel. This target area may comprise a strip of material adapted to receive the fastening element, or when the material of the outer side of the main panel is adapted to receive the fastening elements, it may simply be part of the main panel, usually the front main panel, while this part is intended for receiving fastening elements for proper fit (fitting) of the product. The target area can be indicated by color, signs, graphic symbols, text, or combinations thereof so that the caregiver can easily fasten the fastening elements in the correct position to ensure a proper fit (fit) of the product, since it is necessary to provide good protection against leakage quite tight fit to the carrier. If the size of the product is too small for the media, this can also lead to leakage problems and poor fit of the product.

US 2007/0049896 discloses an absorbent article having a size conformity indication means for indicating a situation where the article is too large for the carrier. Two “target” strips for fastening elements are provided on the front main panel, and a visual size indicator is located between the two “target” strips, so that when the fastening elements overlap the size indicator, this indicates that the product is too great.

US Pat. No. 5,133,707 discloses a diaper having an adhesive fastening tape system including a transparent fastening tape and a target area on a front main panel having indicators in the form of signs, numbers, letters or the like.

US Pat. No. 5,897,546 discloses a diaper having a fastening system comprising tape fastening elements and a target area in the form of a transparent receiving sheet connected at intervals to the outer sheet of the front main panel by means of an adhesive serving as a position indicator for the tape fastening elements.

US Pat. No. 6,448,202 discloses an apparatus and method for identifying the size of an absorbent article that is appropriate for a potential carrier based on at least two characteristics, such as weight and height.

WO 03/034966 discloses an absorbent article having fastening elements in the form of material with hooks that mesh with the outer surface of the nonwoven material on the front main panel, with graphic symbols showing the attachment area printed in the target area for the fastening elements and coated with the outer nonwoven material and are visible through said outer nonwoven fabric.

Thus, there is a prior art that contains the idea of using signs in order to “direct” the caregiver to secure the diaper to the user. However, none of the means of this prior art provides clear information about whether the product is the right size, or too small for the carrier and needs to be replaced with a larger size to ensure a satisfactory fit and functioning. In the case of babies who are growing up, it is often difficult for the caregiver to determine if the product is really too small for the carrier and it is time to replace it with a larger one.

Objective and most important features of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article, especially a diaper for babies or an incontinence guard, of the aforementioned type, which solves the problem of indicating to the caregiver whether the article is of the proper size or the carrier needs a larger article. In accordance with the invention, this was achieved due to the fact that the target area for fastening elements is located in the Central part of the first main panel in the transverse direction, and means for indicating the size correspondence is located between the specified target area and the longitudinal side edge of the first main panel and is configured to indicate that the product is too small for media.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the product is a product of a selected size, forming part of a set of products of at least two different sizes, each size having a selected display means in the form of a color, sign, graphic symbol, text, or combinations thereof, this specified means of indicating compliance with the size contains at least one area having a color, sign, graphic symbol, text or combinations thereof, which is a means of indicating a size larger than the size the product itself. This means that the caregiver, in addition to being informed that the product is too small, will also be informed of the size to be replaced.

In accordance with a further aspect, the target area and means for indicating size conformity are arranged such that when the product is secured to the wearer by means of said fastening elements in use, the corresponding longitudinal side edge of the second main panel to which the fastening element is attached will be located in the side the direction inside with respect to the means of indicating the conformity of size, to basically hide the means of indicating the conformity of size when the size is adequate for the carrier, but in the case when the product size is too small for the carrier, a means of indicating the conformity of the size will be visible between the target area and the specified longitudinal side edge of the second main panel.

In one embodiment, means for indicating conformity of size are located on both sides of said central - in the transverse direction - part forming the target area.

In a further embodiment, the means for indicating conformity of size comprises a transition zone near said target zone, wherein said transition zone forms a gradual indication that the article is too small for the carrier by means of color intensity, size, density of the pattern or expression of characters, graphic characters, text or combinations thereof.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the target area and means for indicating size conformity comprise a pattern printed on the surface of the article facing the garment.

In one embodiment, a strip of receiving material configured to receive said fastening elements is disposed on said first main panel, said strip extending laterally above said target zone and above at least a portion of the size matching indication means, said strip of receiving material is transparent so that said printed pattern is visible through it.

In an alternative embodiment, the target area is provided on a strip of receiving material configured to receive said fastening elements. The means for indicating conformity of size may comprise a pattern printed on said strip of receiving material.

In an additional embodiment, the surface of the garment facing the garment serves as a receiving material configured to receive said fastening elements, and wherein the size matching indication means comprises a pattern printed on the garment surface of the garment.

In yet a further embodiment, the target area comprises a pattern and / or color that differs markedly from the pattern and / or color of the size matching indication means.

In accordance with a further aspect, the absorbent article is a diaper for infants.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be further described in more detail with reference to some embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a diaper in accordance with one embodiment of the invention when viewed from its side facing the garment.

Fig. 2a illustrates the configuration of a diaper when used, with fastening elements attached to the target area.

Fig.2b illustrates the configuration of the diaper when using it, while the fastening elements are attached outside the target area, as a result of which the means for indicating the size matching is open.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of a diaper according to a second embodiment when viewed from the side facing the garment.

4 shows a first main panel of a further embodiment of the invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an absorbent article in the form of a diaper for babies or an incontinence guard 10 comprising a first main panel 11, which, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, is a part of the article which, when used, is designed to extend over the abdomen and the anterior thigh area of the wearer. The product also includes a second main panel 12, which in the shown embodiment is a part of a diaper-panties, which when used is designed to extend over the back and back of the thighs of the wearer. It should be understood that in an alternative embodiment, the first main panel 11 may be a rear main panel and the second main panel 12 may be a front main panel. The product also has a longitudinal direction y and a transverse direction x. The first and second main panels have longitudinal and transverse side edges, designated 11a, 11b and 12a, 12b, respectively.

The crotch portion 13 of the garment 10 is that part of the garment which, when used, is intended to extend through the crotch zone of the wearer, between the legs. The absorbent core 14 is located in the crotch portion 13 and extends into the front and rear main panels 11 and 12. The absorbent core 14 is located between the inner cover sheet 15 and the outer cover sheet 16.

The term “inner cover sheet” refers to a sheet of liquid impervious material that forms the inner cover element of an absorbent garment and which, when used, will be placed in direct contact with the skin of the wearer. The inner cover sheet may comprise a nonwoven material, for example a nonwoven fabric of a spunbond production method, a nonwoven fabric obtained by melt aerodynamics, a nonwoven fabric obtained by carding, hydro-entangling, wet laying, etc. Suitable non-woven materials may consist of natural fibers, such as wood pulp or cotton fibers, artificial fibers such as polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, viscose, hydrated cellulose, etc., or a mixture of natural and artificial fibers. In addition, the material of the inner covering sheet may consist of fiber tows that can be bonded to each other to form some kind of connection configuration, such as, for example, disclosed in EP-A-1 035 818. Further examples of the materials of the inner covering sheet are porous plastics, plastic films with holes, etc. Materials suitable as internal coating sheet materials should be soft and non-irritating to the skin, and the fluid released by the body should easily pass through them. In addition, the inner covering sheet may be different in different parts of the absorbent garment.

The term “outer covering sheet” refers to a material forming the outer covering element of an absorbent garment. The outer covering sheet may be the same or different in different parts of the absorbent garment. At least in the area of the absorbent core, the outer covering sheet comprises a liquid impervious material, such as a thin plastic film, for example a polyethylene or polypropylene film, a non-woven material coated with a liquid-impermeable material, a hydrophobic non-woven material that prevents the penetration of liquids, or a laminate of plastic film and non-woven material. The material of the outer cover sheet may be breathable to allow steam to escape from the absorbent core while preventing liquids from passing through it. Examples of breathable materials of the outer covering sheets are porous polymer films, non-woven laminates from layers obtained by spunbond production method and aerodynamic method from the melt, and laminates from porous polymer films and non-woven materials. Preferably, if the outer covering sheet contains non-woven material, at least on its surface facing the item of underwear,

An “absorbent core” is an absorbent structure located between two cover sheets of an absorbent garment in at least its crotch area. The absorbent core may be any conventional type of absorbent core. Examples of frequently occurring absorbent materials are fluff pulverized pulp, layers of tissue paper, highly absorbent polymers (so-called superabsorbents), absorbent foam materials, absorbent nonwoven materials, or the like. It is well known to "combine" fluff pulverized pulp with polymers with ultra-high absorption capacity in the absorbent core. Super absorbent polymers are water-swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic materials capable of absorbing an aqueous solution containing 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride in an amount of at least about 20 times their own weight . Organic materials suitable for use as ultra-high absorbency materials may include natural materials such as polysaccharides, polypeptides and the like, as well as synthetic materials such as synthetic hydrogel-forming polymers. Such hydrogel forming polymers include, for example, alkali metal and polyacrylic acid salts, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, polyvinylpyridines and the like. Other suitable polymers include hydrolyzed starch grafted with acrylonitrile, starch grafted with acrylic acid and copolymers of isobutylene and maleic anhydride and mixtures thereof. The hydrogel-forming polymers preferably have a small degree of crosslinking in order to make the material substantially insoluble in water. In addition, preferred materials with ultra-high absorption capacity are provided with surface crosslinking such that the outer surface or shell of the particle, fiber of the flocculent element, sphere, etc. with ultra-high absorption capacity has a higher crosslink density (crosslink density) than the inside of the superabsorbent. Materials with ultra-high absorption capacity can be in any form that is suitable for use in absorbent composite materials, including particles, fibers, flakes, spheres and the like.

High fluid retention is ensured through the use of large quantities of material with ultra-high absorption capacity. For an absorbent core containing a base of hydrophilic fibers, such as cellulose fibers, and an ultrahigh absorbent material, the proportion of ultrahigh absorbent material is preferably from 10 to 90 wt.%, More preferably from 30 to 70 wt.%.

Absorbing garments traditionally have absorbent cores containing layers with different properties in terms of their ability to absorb (absorb) liquids, their ability to distribute liquids, and their retention capacity. Thin absorbent bodies, which are widely used, for example, in diapers for babies and in incontinence protectors, often contain a compressed, mixed or layered structure of fluff pulverized pulp and super absorbent polymers. The size and absorbency of the absorbent core can vary so that they are suitable for different applications, such as for babies or for adults with incontinence.

The absorbent core may further include a receiving distribution layer arranged over the main absorbent body, which is adapted to quickly receive and temporarily hold the recovered fluid before it is absorbed by the primary absorbent core. Such receiving distribution layers are well known in the art and may consist of porous fiber wool or foam materials.

The product may further comprise elastic elements, such as elastic elements for the legs, elastic elements for the waist, protruding barriers that prevent leaks along the absorbent core, etc., which are themselves known in the art, but not shown in the drawings.

The fastening elements 17 are attached to each of the longitudinal side edges 12a of the second main panel 12 and are designed to fasten them to the outside of the first main panel 11. The fastening elements 17 may comprise adhesive tape or a mechanical fastening element, in particular a fastening element with hooks of fastening means such as fasteners Velcro. The term “fastener with hooks and loops” (such as “Velcro” fasteners) refers to complementary fastening means that have a part with “hooks” and a part with “loops” and which are re-fastened. The term “hook” as used herein refers to any element capable of engaging with another element, the so-called “loop” part. The term “hook” is not limited to “hooks” in the usual sense, but rather encompasses mating elements of any kind, regardless of whether they are unidirectional or bidirectional. The term “loop” is likewise not limited to “loops” in the usual sense, but also encompasses any structural element capable of engaging with a fastening element with “hooks”. Examples of materials with “loops” are fibrous structures like non-woven materials. Fasteners with hooks and loops (Velcro fasteners) are supplied, for example, by Velcro, USA.

Further examples of mechanical fastening elements are buttons and holes, or button loops, button fasteners and the like. Combinations of adhesive and mechanical fasteners may also be provided.

The fastening elements are designed to attach them to the target area 18 on the first main panel 11, when the product is worn on the carrier. The target area 18 is defined as the area of the first main panel 11, which is designed to receive fastening elements when the product has a size appropriate for the media. The target zone 18 is located at a selected distance from the transverse edge 11b of the first main panel 11 in its central zone in the transverse direction, which means the zone centered relative to the transverse central axis of the product. Target zone 18 is preferably, but not necessarily, indicated by color, sign, graphic symbol, text, or combinations thereof. The size of the target zone 18 may vary, but preferably it has a length in the transverse direction x, which is at least 20% and more preferably at least 25% of the width of the first main panel 11 in the transverse direction. In addition, it is preferable that the target zone 18 has a length in the transverse direction x, which is not more than 70%, more preferably not more than 60% of the width of the first main panel 11 in the transverse direction.

The target zone 18 contains a receiving material for the fastening elements 17. A plastic film or non-woven material will serve as a receiving material for the adhesive tape, while for the fastening element with hooks, the receiving material is a loop material, as mentioned above.

The product further comprises size matching indication means 19 located on the first main panel 11 at each of the two sides of the target zone 18, that is, between the target zone 18 and the corresponding longitudinal side edge 11a of the first main panel 11. Size matching indication means 19 are for indicating cases where the product is too small for media that will require replacement with a larger product to ensure proper fit and protection against leaks. Means 19 for indicating conformity of size are indicated by color, character, graphic symbol, text, or combinations thereof. In the case where the target zone 18 is also shown by means of color, sign, graphic symbol, text, etc., the designation “indication means” of the size matching indication means 19 should be different and should be distinguishable from the indication means of the target zone 18. Thus in this way, the target zone 18 and the size matching means 19 can be displayed by means of zones with different colors, different characters, different graphic characters, different text, or combinations thereof. The size matching indication means 19, that is, the area on which the size matching indicating means are located, can extend all the way from the target zone 18 to the corresponding lateral edge 11a of the first main panel or can end at a selected distance inside with respect to the indicated lateral edge 11a. Preferably, each size matching indication means 19, that is, the area on which the size matching indications are located, has a transverse length x of at least 10% and more preferably at least 15% of the width of the first main panel 11 in the transverse direction. In addition, it is preferable that each means 19 indicating conformity of size has a length in the transverse direction x, which is not more than 30%, more preferably not more than 25% of the width of the first main panel 11 in the transverse direction.

The means for indicating conformity of size is intended to function as follows. When the product is fixed relative to the carrier, as illustrated in FIG. 2a, and the carrier has a size that allows fastening elements 17 to be attached to the target area 18 on the first main panel 11, size matching means 19 will be hidden behind the longitudinal side edges 12a of the second main panel 12 Thus, Fig. 2a illustrates the configuration of an article when it has a size that is suitable for a carrier. However, in the case where the product has a size that is too small for the carrier, the fastening elements 17 cannot be attached to the target zone 18, but they will have to be attached laterally outside the target zone 18, thereby “opening” the size matching indication means 19 which will become visible between the target zone 18 and the corresponding longitudinal side edge 12a of the second main panel 12. A similar product configuration is shown in Fig.2b.

Target area 18 and size matching indication means 19 may comprise a pattern printed on the outer cover sheet 16 of the article. In this case, the receiving material on which the fastening elements 17 are fixed may either be the outer covering sheet itself, or, alternatively, a separate strip 21 of the receiving material attached to the outer covering sheet 16, see FIG. 4. This strip 21 must be transparent enough so that the pattern of the target zone 18 and means 19 indicating the conformity of size can be seen through it. The strip 21 may be the same size as the total size of the target zone 18 and the size matching means 19, or smaller or larger than the total size of the target zone 18 and the size matching means 19.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the size matching indication means 19 comprises a transition zone 19a close to the target zone 18, wherein the transition zone 19a forms a gradual indication that the product is too small for the carrier. This can be done through the intensity of the color, size or density of the pattern of characters, graphic characters, text, or combinations thereof. 3, the transition zone 19a is formed due to the increasing color intensity of the size matching indication means 19. 4, the transition zone 19a is formed due to the increasing size of the rabbit-shaped characters. An additional means of indication in the form of expressions of the faces of rabbits from happy to sad is also illustrated in figure 4, while the sad expression illustrates that the diaper is too small.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the fastening elements 17 are attached to the second main panel 12 by means of an elastic tongue 22, which has a length in the longitudinal direction y, which is significantly greater than the corresponding size of the fastening element 17. In this case, the longitudinal side edge of the second main panel 12 is defined as the longitudinal lateral edge 22a of the elastic tongue 22, because when the product is fixed relative to the carrier, the position of the longitudinal lateral edge 22a of the elastic tongue 22 will be decisive for whether the size matching means 19 will be open or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the product is a product of a selected size, forming part of a set of products of at least two different sizes, such as small, medium, large, with each size having a selected indicator in the form of a color, sign, graphic symbol , text, or combinations thereof. The size matching indication means 19 comprises at least one area having a color, sign, graphic symbol, text, or combinations thereof, which is a means of indicating a size larger than the size of the product itself, that is, the next size in the set. If, for example, the product is a product of a "small" size indicated in yellow, the means for indicating conformity of size 19 may have at least one zone indicating a "medium" size, for example, indicated in blue. This means that the caregiver, in addition to being informed that the product is too small, will also be informed of the size to be replaced.

In figure 4, the target zone 18 has a sign in the form of a bird printed on it, while the bird can be a means of indicating the size of the product. On the other hand, the size matching means 19 has rabbits printed on it, with the rabbit indicating the next size in the set.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described above in detail, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible. It is intended that any such modifications be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims below.

Claims (10)

1. An absorbent article comprising a first main panel (11), a second main panel (12) and a crotch portion (13) extending between the first and second main panels, wherein said article has a longitudinal (y) and transverse (x) direction, and said first and second main panels have longitudinal and transverse lateral edges (11a; 12a) and (11b; 12b), wherein said first main panel contains a target zone (18) for receiving fastening elements (17) located at opposite longitudinal lateral edges (12a; 22a) of the second panel (12), in this case, when the specified fastening elements are attached to the specified target zone (18), the product will take a shape similar to shorts, and at least one means (19) for indicating size matching is located on the first main panel (11), characterized in that the target area (18) contains a pattern and / or color that is noticeably different from the pattern and / or color of the means (19) for indicating the conformity of size, and is located in the central - in the transverse direction - part the first main panel (11), and the indicator means (19) The size matching station is located between the indicated target zone and the longitudinal side edge (11a) of the first main panel (11) and is configured to indicate that the product is small for the carrier. 2. An absorbent product according to claim 1, characterized in that the target area (18) and the means (19) for indicating the conformity of size are located so that when using the product is fixed relative to the carrier by means of said fastening elements (17), corresponding the longitudinal lateral edge (12a; 22a) of the second main panel (12), to which the fastening element (17) is attached, will be located laterally inside with respect to the size matching indication means (19) in order to basically hide the matching indication means I size, when the size of the product is suitable for the media, but in the case when the size of the product is small for the media, means (19) indicating the conformity of the size will be visible between the target area (18) and the longitudinal side edge (12a; 22a) of the second main panel (12). 3. An absorbent product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means (19) for indicating the conformity of size are located on both sides of the indicated central - in the transverse direction - part forming the target zone (18). 4. An absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means (19) for indicating the conformity of size comprises a transition zone (19a) near the target zone (18), wherein said transition zone forms a gradual indication that the product is small for the carrier , through the intensity of the color, size, density of the pattern or expression of characters, graphic characters, text, or combinations thereof. 5. An absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means (19) for indicating the conformity of size comprises a pattern printed on the surface of the article facing the garment. 6. An absorbent product according to claim 5, characterized in that the strip (22) of the receiving material, configured to receive these fastening elements (17), is located on the first main panel (11), while this strip extends laterally above the target zone (18) and above at least part of the means (19) for indicating size conformity, said strip of receiving material being transparent, so that said printed pattern is visible through it. 7. An absorbent product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the target zone (18) is located on a strip of receiving material made with the possibility of receiving said fastening elements (17). 8. An absorbent article according to claim 7, characterized in that the means (19) for indicating conformity of size comprises a pattern printed on said strip of receiving material. 9. An absorbent article according to claim 5, characterized in that the surface of the article facing the garment serves as a receiving material configured to receive fastening elements (17). 10. The absorbent product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said product is a diaper for infants.

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