WO2002062278A1

WO2002062278A1 - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: WO2002062278A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/002006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lai-Ying Audrey Mok
Original assignee: Elsy, David
Priority date: 2001-02-07
Filing date: 2001-05-08
Publication date: 2002-08-15
Also published as: GB0103039D0

Abstract

Absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, diapers, panty-liners and incontinence pads are disclosed, which are characterised by comprising an absorbent flap. The absorbent flap is axially aligned along at least a portion of the length of the absorbent article. The flap is attached at one end to form a hinge which allows the unattached section of the absorbent flap to move relative to the attached section of the flap. In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent flap is shaped so as to substantially follow the contours of the underside of the buttocks of a user.

Description

Absorbent Article

The present invention relates to an absorbent article and is particularly concerned with an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, diaper, panty liner or an incontinence pad having improved leakage properties.

There are many known types of absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, or panty liners publicly available. The articles generally consist of substantially flat layers of absorbent material on the user facing side and a waterproof backing sheet on the opposite side.

The purpose of such articles is to absorb body fluids as they are discharged. Whilst all of the articles have absorbent properties, some are unable to absorb either fast enough or a great enough amount so as to prevent leakage. The leakage can occur at any of the peripheries of the article and may be exaggerated due to the posture or actions of the wearer. Such actions may also cause leakage due to movement of the article relative to the wearer.

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an absorbent article with reduced leakage properties.

According to the present invention there is provided an absorbent article comprising a plurality of layers characterised in that it comprises an absorbent flap.

The absorbent flap is preferably axially aligned along at least a portion of the length of the absorbent article.

Preferably, the absorbent flap extends from an upper surface of the absorbent article. Still more preferably, the absorbent flap is attached substantially to the central longitudinal axis of an upper surface of the absorbent article. Yet more preferably, the absorbent flap may be attached to the centre (longitudinal and latitudinal) of the absorbent article.

Up to 50% of the length absorbent flap may be attached to the absorbent article. Preferably, between 25% and 33% of the length of the absorbent flap is attached to the absorbent article. The absorbent flap may be attached to the absorbent article using any known suitable means, for example, stitching.

Preferably, an unattached section of the absorbent flap is capable of moving relative to the attached section of the flap, thereby creating a type of 'hinge' between the two aforementioned sections.

The absorbent flap may be sized such that it is less than 75% the length of the absorbent article. Preferably, it is less than 50% and still more preferably is 33% the length of the absorbent article.

Preferably, the absorbent flap is shaped to fit the underside of the buttocks of a wearer. Still more preferably, the flap is shaped so as to substantially follow the contours of the underside of the buttocks. The shaping of the absorbent flap may take the form of press marking the article to enable it to bend into the required shape. Alternatively, the absorbent flap may be shaped by means of creases and folds.

The absorbent flap may be any shape which compliments the shape of a wearer's buttocks, for example, it may be substantially cusp shaped or substantially pyramidal in shape. The absorbent flap may have a central axial ridge along at least a portion of the said absorbent flap.

The absorbent flap is constructed from at least one absorbent layer of material. Preferably, the absorbent flap is constructed from a plurality of thin absorbent layers.

The absorbent article may comprise a liquid-impermeable back-sheet, a liquid permeable top-sheet continuous with the back-sheet and at least one absorbent layer retained therebetween.

A further embodiment of the absorbent article provides a separate additional layer consisting of an extra absorbent material: This layer may be included between the top-sheet and the absorbent layer. The additional layer may be of any required length.

Preferably, the additional layer is positioned in the region of the fluid discharge, where the volume of fluid is at its greatest. The absorbent layers may comprise thermoplastic fibres, for example polypropylene, so as to aid shape retention when fluid is absorbed.

The absorbent material used in the invention may be formed from any suitable material including paper or cellulose, for example, cotton. Such materials may be treated with surfactants to improve the wettability of the material. Super absorbent polymers may also be used.

The back-sheet may be formed from a known plastics material and the top-sheet from a permeable material known in the art.

The absorbent article may also be shaped so as to fit the crotch region of the wearer. The shaping of the article may take the form of press marking the article to enable it to bend into the required shape.

The back-sheet may also comprise an adhesive agent to allow fixing of the absorbent article to an undergarment of the wearer. Where the back-sheet comprises an adhesive layer, before use, the adhesive layer is preferably covered by a releasable sheet.

The absorbent article of the present invention may also comprise other well-known features such as wings, to assist retaining the article to an undergarment, and grooves, to direct fluid flow.

In use, the absorbent flap fits to the shape of the underside of the buttocks of the wearer. Due to the hinge formed between the attached and unattached sections of the flap, the unattached section of the flap is raised up to the buttocks whilst the absorbent article remains where it was positioned by the wearer. As a result, the absorbent flap 'catches' initial leakages, which are absorbed into the flap and then into the absorbent article thereby reducing leakage beyond the absorbent article.

An absorbent article in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an absorbent article in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic rear view of the absorbent article of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a backing sheet and absorbent layer;

Figure 4 is the plan view of Figure 3 with an additional extra absorbent layer and press-marking;

Figure 5 is the plan view of an absorbent article in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 is a cross-section view through the absorbent article of Figure 5 along the line A-A;

Figure 7 is a cross-section view through a raised section of the article of Figure 5 along the line B-B; and

Looking at Figures 1 and 2 an absorbent article 10, in the form of a sanitary napkin, comprises an upper-surface 12 and a lower surface 14, the upper-surface 12 and lower surface 14 being substantially coextensive with each other.

The absorbent article 10 further comprises an absorbent flap 16, located on the upper surface 12 of the absorbent article 10.

The absorbent flap 16 is cusp shaped and designed to fit the underside of the buttocks of a wearer.

The construction of an absorbent article 10, in accordance with the present invention, will now be described.

Looking at Figure 3, the lower surface 14 of the absorbent article 10, which is the base-sheet, is constructed from a waterproof material. The base-sheet is elongate and has a front end 20 and a rear end 22.

An absorbent layer 24 is positioned upon the base-sheet 14. In the present example, the absorbent layer 24 is formed from cotton.

Figure 4 shows an additional layer 28 consisting of an extra absorbent material 30 and is. positioned on the absorbent layer 24. In the present example, the additional layer 28 is sized such that it is approximately two-thirds the length of the absorbent layer 24. The additional layer 28 is positioned in the region of fluid discharge, and especially where the volume of fluid discharge is at its greatest.

Looking at Figure 5, a top-sheet 12 (top-surface), substantially continuous with the back-sheet 14, is positioned on the top of the absorbent article 10. The top-sheet 12 and base-sheet 14 are joined about their peripheries (not shown) by means an adhesive. It will be noted that any other known suitable method may be used.

Figure 5 also shows how the absorbent article 10 is shaped by press-marking 36. The press-marking 36 aids the article 10 to fit the crotch region of a wearer by allowing it two bend to the required shape.

In the present example, the top-sheet 12 has 'channels' 38 formed therein. The channels 38 are located towards the edge of the article 10. Such channels expose the underlying absorbent layer 24 to the surface of the article 10 thereby allowing rapid absorption of any liquid which comes into contact with it. The channels 38 are particularly advantageous as they help to prevent fluid discharge from leaking off the edges of the article 10.

The absorbent article 10, as shown in Figure 5, also comprises an absorbent flap 16. The absorbent flap 16 is elongate in shape and is approximately 50% the length of the absorbent article 10. The absorbent flap 16 is retained in a central position on the upper-surface 12 of the absorbent article 10. In the present example, the flap 16 is retained in place by means of stitching 40.

The stitching of the flap 16 results in the flap 16 being divided into two sections, an attached section 42 and an unattached section 44. Between the sections 42 and 44, a hinge 46 forms such that the unattached section 44 can move relative to the attached section 42.

The absorbent flap 16 comprises upper and lower layers 48 and 50 respectively (see Figure 1). In the present example, the upper layer 48 is produced from thin cotton netting and the lower layer 50 from cotton in the form of an absorptive layer. The two layers 48 and 50 are substantially coextensive with each other and are held together by means of adhesive around their peripheries (not shown).

The absorbent flap further comprises press-markings 52. The press-markings 52 are located on the unattached section 44 of the absorbent flap 16 and allow the flap, in use, to fit to the shape of the underside of the buttocks of a wearer. Figures 6 and 7 show the construction of the absorbent article 10 and absorbent flap 16 as described above.

In the present example, the back-sheet 14 comprises an adhesive agent, in the form of an adhesive layer (not shown), to allow fixing of the absorbent article 10 to an undergarment of the wearer. Before use, the adhesive layer is preferably covered by a releasable sheet (not shown).

In use, the absorbent flap 16 fits to the shape of the underside of the buttocks of the wearer. Due to the hinge 46 formed between the attached 42 and unattached 44 sections of the flap 16, the unattached section 44 of the flap 16 is raised up to the buttocks whilst the absorbent article 10 remains where it was positioned by the wearer. As a result, the absorbent flap 16 'catches' initial leakages, which are absorbed into the flap 16 and then into the absorbent article 10 thereby reducing leakage beyond the absorbent article.

It will be noted that as the absorbent article 10 of the present invention is fixed in place by means of an adhesive layer the use of other features, such as wings, is not required. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, the absorbent article may also comprise other well-known features such as wings, to assist retaining the article to an undergarment, and grooves, to direct fluid flow.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising a plurality of layers characterised in that it comprises an absorbent flap.

2. An absorbent article according to claim 1, in which the absorbent flap is axially aligned along at least a portion of the length of the absorbent article.

3. An absorbent article according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the absorbent flap extends from an upper surface of the absorbent article.

4. An absorbent article according to claim 3, in which the absorbent flap is attached substantially to the central longitudinal axis of the upper surface of the absorbent article.

5. An absorbent article according to claim 3 or claim 4, in which the absorbent flap is attached to the centre (longitudinal and latitudinal) of the absorbent article.

6. An absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, in which up to 50% of the length of the absorbent flap is attached to the absorbent article.

7. An absorbent article according to claim 6, in which between 25% and 33% of the length of the absorbent flap is attached to the absorbent article.

8. An absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the absorbent flap is attached to the absorbent article using stitching.

9. An absorbent article according to any one of claims 4 to 8, in which an unattached section of the absorbent flap is capable of moving relative to the attached section of the flap, thereby creating a type of 'hinge' between the two aforementioned sections.

10. An absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the absorbent flap is less than 75% of the length of the absorbent article.

11. An absorbent article according to claim 10, in which the absorbent flap is less than 50% of the length of the absorbent article.

12. An absorbent article according to claim 11, in which the absorbent flap is less than 33% of the length of the absorbent article.

13. An absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the absorbent flap is shaped so as to substantially follow the contours of the underside of the buttocks.

14. An absorbent article according to claim 13, in which the absorbent flap is shaped by means of press marking the article to enable it to bend into the required shape.

15. An absorbent article according to claim 13, in which the absorbent flap is shaped by means of creases and/or folds.

16. An absorbent article according to any one of claims 13 to 15, in which the shape of the absorbent flap compliments the shape of a wearer's buttocks.-

17. An absorbent article according to claim 16, in which the absorbent flap is substantially cusp shaped.

18. An absorbent article according to claim 16, in which the absorbent flap is substantially pyramidal in shape.

19. An absorbent article according to any one of claims 13 to 18, in which the absorbent flap has a central axial ridge along at least a portion of said flap.

20. An absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the absorbent flap is constructed from at least one absorbent layer of material.

21. An absorbent article according to claim 20, in which the absorbent flap is constructed from a plurality of thin absorbent layers.

22. Aϊi absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the article comprises a liquid-impermeable back-sheet, a liquid permeable top-sheet continuous with the back-sheet and an absorbent layer retained therebetween.

23. An absorbent article according to claim 22, in which the article further comprises at least one additional layer consisting of an extra absorbent material.

24. An absorbent article according to claim 23, in which the additional layer is a separate article to be applied to the surface of the absorbent article.

25. An absorbent article according to claim 23, in which the additional layer is included between the top-sheet and the absorbent layer.

26. An absorbent article according to any one of claims 23 to 25, in which the additional layer is positioned in the region of fluid discharge, where the volume of fluid is at its greatest.

27. An absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the absorbent layers contain thermoplastic fibres.

28. An absorbent article according to claim 27, in which the thermoplastic is polypropylene.

29. An absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the absorbent layers are produced from paper, polymers and/or cellulose.

30. An absorbent article according to claim 29, in which the absorbent layers are treated with surfactant.

31. An absorbent article according to any one of claims 23 to 30, in which the addition absorbent layer may be entirely or partially continuous with the shaped section.

32. An absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the article is shaped to fit the crotch region of the wearer.

33. An absorbent article according to claim 32, in which the article is shaped by press marking.

34. An absorbent article substantially as described herein and with reference to Figures l to 7.