WO2008015305A1

WO2008015305A1 - Absorbent article with internal protection for incontinent adults or children

Info

Publication number: WO2008015305A1
Application number: PCT/ES2007/000469
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jose-Candido Arochena Amestoy
Original assignee: Laboratorios Indas, S.A.
Priority date: 2006-07-31
Filing date: 2007-07-31
Publication date: 2008-02-07
Also published as: ES2289953A1

Abstract

It incorporates an internal barrier (6) of water-repellent material that partially or completely covers the perimeter edge of the absorbent core (1), has one of its sides outside the absorbent core (1) and in contact with the interior face of the outer layer (3), then being extended with ascending inclination, passing beyond the perimeter edge of the absorbent core (1) as far as its other side, which is in correspondence with the interior of the absorbent core (1) between the inner layer (2, 2') and said absorbent core (1). It prevents the spread of liquid via the sides of the article and/or prevents the transfer of liquid absorbed by the core (1) towards the front or rear (7) zones of the article.

Description

ABSORBENT ARTICLE WITH INTERNAL PROTECTION FOR INCONTINENCE OF ADULTS OR CHILDREN

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the field of absorbent articles or diapers used to retain and absorb urine losses.

The object of the invention relates to the development of an internal barrier, which can be complementary to the retention and absorption means of the article, which prevents the transfer of the liquid to normally unprotected areas of the body, as well as reinforces the ability to retention of other areas avoiding the migration of the liquid, especially when the article has been wet for a long time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to use diapers intended for a single use that are mainly composed of an absorbent core on which an inner layer of hydrophilic nonwoven fabric is in contact with the skin, and an insulating outer layer of polyethylene, which in turn It may or may not be covered by other nonwoven fabric.

Another additional element that the absorbent articles usually incorporate consists of lateral antiscape barriers of hydrophobic non-woven fabric that prevent the lateral exit of the liquid, especially in the area of the crotch. These lateral barriers are normally on one side in contact with the inner layer and on the other side they extend superiorly ending adhering at its two ends to the waterproof back layer.

Normally, the posterior area and the anterior area of the diaper are not protected by the side barriers since the liquid is generally absorbed in the middle zone by the inner layer of hydrophilic material and the absorbent core. However, it has been shown that if the diaper remains wet for a long time and for certain user positions, the liquid can be transferred from that middle area and through the absorbent core to the anterior and posterior areas.

This circumstance causes in the user a sensation of humidity in correspondence with these areas of the diaper, humidity that can even overcome the ends of the diaper by wetting the user's clothes.

It has also been found that, in the event that the diaper remains wet for a long time, the side barriers of hydrophobic material, which in normal conditions prevent the outflow of the liquid, can be exceeded by the liquid, more specifically the liquid can reach crossing below the contact zone between the lateral barrier of hydrophobic nonwoven fabric and the inner layer of hydrophilic nonwoven fabric.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The absorbent article for adult and child incontinence that constitutes the object of the present invention incorporates additional protection to those conventionally included in the diapers, described in the previous section, which resolves the problem previously described satisfactorily.

More specifically, this absorbent article proposes Ia incorporation of at least one internal barrier of hydrophobic material strategically arranged to prevent the migration and / or leakage of liquid avoiding its contact with the skin.

According to a conventional structuring, the article is formed by an absorbent core on which an inner layer of non-woven fabric is in contact with the skin, and an insulating outer layer, usually of polyethylene, which in turn can be coated or not for other nonwoven fabric.

From this basic structuring, the present invention contemplates the incorporation of the aforementioned internal barrier, which extends in width, preferably constant, on both sides of the perimeter edge of the core following the trajectory thereof completely or partially in one or more sections, constituting in envelope configuration of said perimeter edge.

This internal barrier has one of its lateral sides external to the core and in contact with the inner face of the outer layer, then it is extended with an upward inclination, it exceeds the perimeter edge of the core and extends to its other lateral side which is in correspondence with the interior of the core between the inner layer and said core.

The internal barrier can be extended with different configurations in one or more sections and in different areas of the perimeter edge, for example in a possible solution the internal barrier shows a U-shaped configuration and extends over the perimeter edge in the front or rear area of the article , this solution is preferably applied to male absorbent articles, due to the proximity of this area to the male genitals. Another possible solution contemplates the incorporation of the internal barrier configured by two opposite lateral sections located on the sides of the perimeter edge of the core, extending from it along the entire length of the article towards the front and rear sectors. Another complementary solution to this one would maintain the lateral sections and additionally it would have some posterior and anterior transverse sections that extend between the lateral sections.

Another solution of male and female application contemplates that the U-shaped configuration, described above of the internal barrier, extends over the perimeter edge of the absorbent core in the front or rear area and in the middle area.

In another embodiment, the internal barrier could consist of a single section that extends over the entire perimeter edge of the absorbent core article.

The incorporation of this internal barrier is of preferential application for a type of absorbent article that has lateral anti-escape barriers of hydrophobic nonwoven fabric, in which this internal barrier constitutes an additional reinforcement to said lateral barriers.

Another type of absorbent article incorporating this internal barrier consists of an article constituted by a core, an external layer and an internal zonal layer in which a hydrophilic central zone is distinguished in correspondence with the absorbent core and hydrophobic end zones in correspondence with The location of internal barriers. In addition, it has been provided that under the inner barrier and above the core there is a lateral elastic thread that confers concavity on the core so that the internal barrier acts as the only anti-escape barrier. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for the purposes of illustration and not limitation, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- It shows a plan view of the absorbent article in which an internal U-shaped barrier is arranged in its front or rear area.

Figure 2.- Shows a detailed plan view of the absorbent article with an internal U-shaped barrier that extends through its front or rear and middle area.

Figure 3.- It shows a detailed plan view of the absorbent article in which an internal barrier is seen that covers the entire perimeter edge of the absorbent core.

Figure A - Shows a detailed plan view of the absorbent article in which there is an internal barrier consisting of two lateral sections that extend along the entire length of the article.

Figure 5.- It shows a detailed plan view of the absorbent article in which an internal barrier consisting of two lateral sections extending along the entire length of the article and two front and rear transverse sections is observed.

Figure 6.- Shows a sectioned elevation view of the article absorbent for an embodiment in which the article has internal barriers and side antiscape barriers.

Figure 7.- Shows a sectioned elevation view of the absorbent article for the embodiment in which the article consists of an internal zonal layer and incorporates internal barriers as lateral protection.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures, a series of preferred embodiments of the absorbent article object of this invention is described below.

In Figures 6 and 7 it can be seen that the absorbent article conventionally incorporates an absorbent core (1) on which an inner layer (2, 2 ') of nonwoven fabric and an insulating outer layer (3) are located.

For this basic configuration it is proposed the incorporation of an internal barrier (6) of hydrophobic material that extends in width to both sides of the perimeter edge of the absorbent core (1) following the path of the same completely or partially in one or more sections, which it has one of its lateral sides external to the absorbent core (1) and in contact with the inner face of the outer layer (3), then extending with an upward inclination exceeding the perimeter edge of the absorbent core (1) to its other side which it is in correspondence with the interior of the absorbent core (1) between the inner layer (2, 2 ¹ ) and said absorbent core (1).

In a possible embodiment represented in Figure 6, the article is additionally provided with lateral antiscape barriers (4) of hydrophobic nonwoven fabric that extend superiorly from the layer internal (2) ending at an edge (5) and the inner layer (2) is made of hydrophilic nonwoven material.

In a second embodiment of the absorbent article, the inner layer (2 ') consists of a zonal nonwoven fabric that incorporates a hydrophilic central zone in correspondence with the core (1) and hydrophobic end zones that extend over the internal barriers (6) , counting under the internal barriers (6) and above the core (1) with an elastic thread (9).

For any of the two described embodiments, the internal barrier (6) may consist of a single section that adopts a U-shaped configuration in the front or rear area (7) of the article, as shown in Figure 1, or it consists in a section that adopts a U-shaped configuration that extends over the front or rear zone (7) and middle zone (8) as it appears in Figure 2, or it is a single section that covers the entire perimeter edge of the absorbent core (1) as shown in Figure 3.

In another possible solution, the internal barrier (6) consists of two lateral sections that extend along the entire length of the article extending over the sides of the perimeter edge of the core (1) and from here to the front and rear area (7) of the article , as can be seen in Figure 4. Another solution contemplates the additional incorporation to these lateral sections of front and rear transverse sections that extend between said lateral sections, as shown in Figure 5.

Claims

1.- Absorbent article with internal protection for adult or child incontinence that includes front and rear areas (7) and a middle area (8) in which an absorbent core (1) extends over which an inner layer is located (2) of hydrophilic nonwoven fabric, an insulating outer layer (3) and lateral antiscape barriers (4) of hydrophobic nonwoven fabric that extend superiorly from the inner layer (2) ending at an edge (5), characterized in that additionally it comprises an internal barrier (6) of hydrophobic material that extends in width to both sides of the perimeter edge of the absorbent core (1) following the path thereof completely or partially in one or more sections, which has one of its external lateral sides to the absorbent core (1) and in contact with the inner face of the outer layer (3), then extending with an upward inclination exceeding the perimeter edge of the absorbent core (1) until to its other lateral side that is in correspondence with the interior of the absorbent core (1) between the inner layer (2) and said absorbent core (1).

2.- Absorbent article with internal protection for adult or child incontinence that includes a front and rear zones (7) and a middle zone (8) in which an absorbent core (1) extends over which an inner layer is located (2 ') of zonal non-woven fabric that alternates hydrophilic material in its middle area and hydrophobic material at its ends, and an insulating outer layer (3), characterized in that it additionally comprises an internal barrier (6) of hydrophobic material that extends in width on both sides of the perimeter edge of the absorbent core (1) following the path thereof completely or partially in one or more sections, which has one of its lateral sides external to the absorbent core (1) and in contact with the inner face of the outer layer (3), then extending with upward inclination exceeding the perimeter edge of the core absorbent (1) to its other side that is in correspondence with the interior of the absorbent core (1) between the inner layer (2 ') and said absorbent core (1).

3. Absorbent article with internal protection for adult or child incontinence according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal barrier (6) consists of a single U-shaped configuration section located in the front or rear area (7).

4. Absorbent article with internal protection for adult or child incontinence according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal barrier (6) consists of a single U-shaped configuration section that extends over the front or rear area (7) and middle zone (8).

5. Absorbent article with internal protection for adult or child incontinence according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the internal barrier (6) consists of a single section that covers the entire perimeter edge of the absorbent core (1).

6. Absorbent article with internal protection for adult or child incontinence according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal barrier (6) consists of two lateral sections that extend along the entire length of the article extending over the sides of the perimeter edge of the core (1) and from here to the front and back (7) of the article.

7. Absorbent article with internal protection for adult or child incontinence according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal barrier (6) consists of two lateral sections that extend along the entire length of the article extending over the sides of the perimeter edge of the core (1) and from here to the front and back areas (7) of the article, and in two transverse sections, front and back, which extend between said lateral sections.