WO2020102058A1 - Article absorbant mis en forme comportant des sections découpées chevauchantes - Google Patents

Article absorbant mis en forme comportant des sections découpées chevauchantes Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020102058A1
WO2020102058A1 PCT/US2019/060689 US2019060689W WO2020102058A1 WO 2020102058 A1 WO2020102058 A1 WO 2020102058A1 US 2019060689 W US2019060689 W US 2019060689W WO 2020102058 A1 WO2020102058 A1 WO 2020102058A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cut sections
absorbent
pad
backsheet
topsheet
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2019/060689
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2020102058A8 (fr
Inventor
Charles F. SCHROER
Original Assignee
Attends Heal Thcare Products, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Attends Heal Thcare Products, Inc. filed Critical Attends Heal Thcare Products, Inc.
Publication of WO2020102058A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020102058A1/fr
Publication of WO2020102058A8 publication Critical patent/WO2020102058A8/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/47—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins
    • A61F13/471—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins specially adapted for male use
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/15577—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing
    • A61F13/15707—Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/47—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins
    • A61F13/4704—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to absorbent articles and, more particularly, to shaped absorbent articles defining a zone configured to accommodate the male anatomy and methods of making the same.
  • Absorbent products can include, for example, incontinence guards, baby diapers, training pants, and adult incontinence briefs and underwear, all of which may be made in disposable forms. “Disposable” refers to articles that are designed to be discarded after a limited use rather than being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse. Disposable absorbent products have met with widespread acceptance in the marketplace for a variety of applications, including infant and adult incontinence care, in view of the manner in which such products can provide effective and convenient liquid absorption and retention while maintaining the comfort of the wearer. Such disposable absorbent articles often include a topsheet that is configured to be closest to the wearer during use, a liquid-impermeable backsheet or outer cover, and an absorbent core between the topsheet and the backsheet.
  • Some absorbent articles are designed for use by men.
  • some male incontinence guards include a pad shaped with elastics or comprise multiple separate, contoured pieces joined together at a large seam running down the center of the article.
  • these articles may inconvenience and still cause discomfort for male wearers.
  • Some absorbent articles, for example, are not shaped to fully accommodate the male anatomy and cannot be easily moved aside when the wearer uses the restroom. Articles having large seams, when worn, may be readily detectable by the wearer and/or by others, rendering the article less discreet. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for absorbent articles shaped to comfortably accommodate the male anatomy while maintaining convenience for the wearer and minimizing detectability.
  • the present absorbent articles, and methods of making the same address the need for convenient, negligibly detectable absorbent articles that can comfortably accommodate the male anatomy by having a cup shaped body formed from a pad having one or more slits cut therein.
  • the slit(s) can define two or more cut sections such that bonding each of the cut sections to one or more adjacent one(s) of the other cut section(s) pulls the pad into the cup shape.
  • the body accordingly can define a zone configured to receive the male genitalia of a wearer, can comfortably fit in a wearer’s undergarments or pants, can be readily moved aside when the wearer uses the restroom, and can permit the undergarment with the pad to be pulled down for easy replacement thereof.
  • the seams between bonded cut sections can be smooth to minimize detectability.
  • Some of the present methods of manufacturing an absorbent article comprise cutting one or more slits, optionally two or more slits, and further optionally four or more slits, in a pad such that the pad has two or more cut sections, optionally four or more cut sections, coupled to a joining section.
  • the cutting in some methods, is performed such that each of the cut sections has a peripheral edge defining a portion of the perimeter of the pad.
  • each of the slit(s) is cut partially (e.g., radially) inward from the peripheral edge to the joining section such that the slit, on each side of the slit, defines a slit edge of one of the cut sections that extends from the peripheral edge to the joining section.
  • the pad in some methods, comprises a backsheet, a topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet.
  • the backsheet in some methods, comprises an outer nonwoven and an inner liquid impermeable film (e.g., a poly film) disposed between the outer nonwoven and the absorbent core.
  • the absorbent core in some methods, comprises a laminate having one or more absorbent laminae and, optionally, two or more substrate laminae.
  • Each of the absorbent lamina(e), in some of such methods, comprises superab sorbent polymer (SAP).
  • a first one of the absorbent lamina(e) is disposed between first and second ones of the substrate laminae.
  • the pad comprises a stiffening member between the topsheet and the backsheet, such as between the liquid impermeable film and the absorbent core; the stiffening member, in some methods, is absorbent and, in other methods, is non-absorbent.
  • the stiffening member comprises a paper having a basis weight that is between 50 and 500 gsm, optionally between 250 and 300 gsm, and/or a nonwoven, such as a carded nonwoven, having a basis weight that is between 45 and 135 gsm.
  • the pad extends longitudinally between first and second ends and has an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein, optionally, the upper portion is disposed closer to the first end than is the lower portion.
  • the pad in some of such methods, has a lateral width in the upper portion that is at least 10% larger than a lateral width of the pad in the lower portion.
  • the joining section is disposed within the upper portion.
  • Some methods comprise a step of bonding each of the cut sections to one or more, optionally two or more, adjacent one(s) of the other cut section(s) to form a body.
  • the bonding is performed such that, for each of the cut sections, each of the slit edge(s) is at least partially disposed on a respective one of the adjacent cut section(s).
  • the bonding in some methods, is performed such that the backsheet defines a convex outer surface and, optionally, the topsheet defines a concave inner surface, optionally to form a cupped zone configured to receive the male genitalia of a wearer.
  • the bonding is performed ultrasonically and/or by applying adhesive.
  • bonding can be performed using any suitable means used in the packaging industry to mechanically fit and interlock two edges together.
  • Some of the present absorbent articles comprise a body having a backsheet, a topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet.
  • the body has two or more cut sections, optionally four or more cut sections, coupled to a joining section.
  • Each of the cut sections in some articles, has a peripheral edge.
  • each of the cut sections has one or more slit edges, optionally two or more slit edges.
  • at least a portion of the peripheral edge defines a portion of the perimeter of the body and/or each of the slit edge(s) extends from the peripheral edge to the joining section.
  • Each of the cut sections in some articles, is bonded to one or more, optionally two or more, adjacent one(s) of the other cut section(s).
  • the cut sections are bonded such that, for each of the cut sections, each of the slit edge(s) is at least partially disposed on an adjacent one of the other cut section(s), optionally similar to the overlapping shingles on a roof.
  • the backsheet defines a convex outer surface and/or the topsheet defines a concave inner surface, optionally such that the body defines a cupped zone configured to receive the male genitalia of a wearer.
  • the backsheet comprises a nonwoven and/or the body has a liquid impermeable film disposed between the backsheet and the absorbent core.
  • the absorbent core comprises a laminate having one or more absorbent laminae and, optionally, two or more substrate laminae.
  • Each of the absorbent lamina(e), in some articles, comprises superabsorbent polymer (SAP).
  • SAP superabsorbent polymer
  • a first one of the absorbent lamina(e) is disposed between first and second ones of the substrate laminae and, optionally, the first substrate lamina comprises a nonwoven and/or the second substrate lamina comprises tissue.
  • the laminate in some of such articles, is oriented such that the first substrate lamina is disposed closer to the topsheet than is the second substrate lamina.
  • the body includes a stiffening member disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, such as between the liquid impermeable film and the absorbent core; the stiffening member, in some articles, is absorbent and, in other articles, is non absorbent.
  • the stiffening member comprises a paper having a basis weight that is between 50 and 500 gsm, optionally between 250 and 300 gsm, and/or a nonwoven, such as a carded nonwoven, having a basis weight that is between 45 and 135 gsm.
  • the perimeter of the body has opposing first and second ends and opposing side edges, each extending between the first and second ends.
  • the joining section is disposed closer to the first end than to the second end.
  • the body in some articles, is sealed along the perimeter.
  • Some articles comprise a securing means, such as pressure sensitive adhesive or a mechanical hook fastener, coupled to the backsheet, optionally for attachment of the pad to the wearer’ s undergarment.
  • the term“coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically; two items that are“coupled” may be unitary with each other.
  • the terms“a” and“an” are defined as one or more unless this disclosure explicitly requires otherwise.
  • the term“substantially” is defined as largely but not necessarily wholly what is specified - and includes what is specified; e.g., substantially 90 degrees includes 90 degrees and substantially parallel includes parallel - as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. In any disclosed embodiment, the term“substantially” may be substituted with“within [a percentage] of’ what is specified, where the percentage includes 0.1, 1, 5, and 10 percent.
  • nonwoven refers to sheet or web structures bonded together by entangling fiber or filaments, and by perforating films, mechanically, thermally, or chemically. They are flat, porous sheets that are made directly from separate fibers or from molten plastic or plastic film. They are not made by weaving or knitting and do not require converting the fibers to yarn.
  • film refers to a membrane-like layer of material formed of one or more polymers, which does not have a form consisting predominately of a web-like structure of fibers and/or other fibers.
  • liquid impermeable when used in describing a material, means that a liquid, such as urine, will not pass through the material, under ordinary use conditions, in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the material at the point of liquid contact.
  • breathable when used in describing a material, means that the material has a water vapor transmission rate (“WVTR”) of at least about 300 grams/m 2 /24 hours. “Breathable” materials can be substantially liquid impermeable.
  • SAP “superabsorbent” or“superabsorbent material” or“SAP” refers to a water- swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic material capable, under the most favorable conditions, of absorbing at least about 15 times its weight in an aqueous solution containing 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride and, more desirably, at least about 30 times its weight in an aqueous solution containing 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride and, even more desirably, at least about 50 times its weight in an aqueous solution containing 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride.
  • the SAP materials used in the present methods and articles can be natural, synthetic and modified natural polymers and materials.
  • the SAP materials can be or include organic compounds such as cross linked polymers.
  • Cross-linked is a commonly understood term and refers to any approach for effectively rendering normally water-soluble materials substantially water insoluble, but swellable.
  • Such polymers can include, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, alkali metal salts of polyacrylic acids, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl ethers, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl morpholinone, polymers and copolymers of vinyl sulfonic acid, polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl pyridine and the like.
  • Other suitable polymers can include hydrolyzed acrylonitrile grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch, and isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymers, and mixtures thereof.
  • Organic high-absorbency materials can include natural materials, such as agar, pectin, guar gum and peat moss.
  • the SAP materials may also include inorganic materials, such as absorbent clays and silica gels.
  • the SAP particles may be spherical, spherical-like or irregularly shaped particles, such as sausage shaped particles, or ellipsoid shaped particles of the kind typically obtained from inverse phase suspension polymerizations.
  • the SAP particles can also be optionally agglomerated at least to some extent to form larger irregular particles.
  • the SAP particles can also have a surface modification, such as a partial or full surface coating, for example to increase the hydrophilicity of the SAP particles.
  • Exemplary superabsorbent polymer material suitable for use in the present methods and articles can comprise any superabsorbent polymer particles known from superabsorbent literature, for example such as described in Modem Superab sorbent Polymer Technology, F. L. Buchholz, A. T. Graham, Wiley 1998.
  • Suitable examples of SAP include T9030, T9600, T9900, and Saviva polymers from BASF Corporation in Charlotte, North Carolina; and W211, W112A, W125, S 125D, QX-W1482, QX-W1486, QX-W1504, and QX-W1505 from Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd, N.A.I.I.
  • any embodiment of any of the apparatuses, systems, and methods can consist of or consist essentially of - rather than comprise/include/have - any of the described steps, elements, and/or features.
  • the term“consisting of’ or“consisting essentially of’ can be substituted for any of the open-ended linking verbs recited above, in order to change the scope of a given claim from what it would otherwise be using the open- ended linking verb.
  • a device or system that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but it can also be configured in other ways than those specifically described.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates some of the presents methods of manufacturing an absorbent article at least by cutting one or more slits in a pad such that the pad has two or more cut sections coupled to a joining section and bonding each of the cut sections to one or more adjacent one(s) of the other cut section(s) to form a body having a cupped zone.
  • FIG. 2A is a bottom schematic view of a pad used to form a body of one of the present absorbent articles in some of the present methods, the pad having four slits cut therein to define four cut sections coupled to a joining section.
  • FIG. 2B is a partial sectional view of the pad of FIG. 2A taken along line 2B-2B to illustrate the layered structure of the pad at the pad’s perimeter.
  • FIG. 2B is exaggerated to better understand the overall structure of the present pads and bodies resulting therefrom (e.g., the relative position of layers therein) and, as such, are for illustrative purpose only and are not necessarily to scale.
  • FIG. 3A is a bottom perspective view of one of the present absorbent articles formed from the pad of FIG. 2A, where each of the cut sections is bonded to two adjacent ones of the other cut sections to form a body defining a cupped zone configured to receive the male anatomy.
  • FIG. 3A illustrates slit edges and portion(s) of the peripheral edges hidden from view with dashed lines, and is not necessarily to scale.
  • FIG. 3B is a top perspective view of the absorbent article of FIG. 3A.
  • FIG. 3B illustrates slit edges and portion(s) of the peripheral edges hidden from view with dashed lines, and is not necessarily to scale.
  • FIG. 3C is a side perspective view of the absorbent article of FIG. 3A, and is not necessarily to scale.
  • FIG. 3D is a perspective view of the absorbent article of FIG. 3A, and is not necessarily to scale.
  • FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of one of the present absorbent articles that is substantially similar to the article of FIG. 3A, except that the article of FIG. 4 comprises only two cut sections, each having two slit edges, and comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive rather than a mechanical hook fastener as a securing means.
  • FIG. 4 is not necessarily to scale.
  • FIG. 1 depicts some of the present methods of manufacturing some of the present absorbent articles.
  • some of the present methods comprise a step 10 of producing a pad (e.g., 22).
  • Pad 22 can have a topsheet 26, a backsheet 30, and an absorbent core 34 disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet.
  • Backsheet 30 can comprise an outer nonwoven 44 and a liquid impermeable film 46 disposed between the nonwoven and absorbent core 34.
  • Film 46 optionally, can be breathable.
  • Topsheet 26 can be a nonwoven, and absorbent core 34 can comprise any material or combination of materials suitable for absorbing liquids, such as, for example, fluff, superabsorbent polymer (SAP), tissue, and/or a laminate.
  • SAP superabsorbent polymer
  • pad 22 can comprise a stiffening member 48 between topsheet 26 and backsheet 30 (e.g., liquid impermeable film 46); preferably, the stiffening member is disposed between the backsheet and absorbent core 34, although in other embodiments the stiffening member can be disposed between the absorbent core and topsheet 26 (e.g., when the stiffening member is absorbent).
  • a stiffening member 48 between topsheet 26 and backsheet 30 e.g., liquid impermeable film 46
  • the stiffening member is disposed between the backsheet and absorbent core 34, although in other embodiments the stiffening member can be disposed between the absorbent core and topsheet 26 (e.g., when the stiffening member is absorbent).
  • absorbent core 34 is a laminate having one or more substrate laminae (e.g., 38a and 38b) and one or more absorbent laminae (e.g., 42).
  • Each of the substrate lamina(e) can be constructed from nonwoven material and/or tissue. Suitable nonwoven materials can include, for example, spunbond, spunlace, or carded webs of one or more polymers, including polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, polyester, and blends of these materials.
  • Each of the absorbent lamina(e) can comprise SAP particles and, optionally, the SAP particles can be disposed within a matrix of adhesive material (e.g., a thermoplastic hot- melt adhesive composition or a pres sure- sensitive thermoplastic adhesive composition).
  • each of the absorbent lamina(e) can comprise at least 90% (e.g., greater than 96% or 97%), by weight, SAP and less than or equal to 10% (e.g., less than 3% or 4%), by weight, adhesive.
  • the substrate lamina(e) can facilitate liquid acquisition and distribution throughout laminate 34.
  • SAP in the absorbent lamina(e) swells when it absorbs liquid, which can impede liquid distribution throughout laminate 34 (referred to as“gel blocking”).
  • Tissue and/or nonwoven substrate lamina(e) can mitigate gel blocking by promoting the acquisition and distribution of liquid throughout the absorbent lamina(e).
  • Tissue lamina(e) can, for example, provide a capillary network through which liquid is spread and distributed to the absorbent lamina(e), and nonwoven lamina(e) can, for example, absorb and distribute rapid insults of liquid to reduce leakage.
  • laminate 34 has a single absorbent lamina 42 disposed between first and second substrate laminae 38a and 38b.
  • First substrate lamina 38a can comprise a nonwoven and second substrate lamina 38b can comprise tissue, where the first substrate lamina is disposed closer to topsheet 26 than is the second substrate lamina.
  • nonwoven first substrate lamina 38a can be disposed closer to the wearer than the other laminae to absorb rapid insults of liquid.
  • laminate 34 can have any suitable number of substrate and absorbent laminae arranged in any suitable order, such as, for example, greater than or equal to or between any two of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more substrate laminae and greater than or equal to or between any two of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more absorbent laminae.
  • any two adjacent laminae in laminate 34 can be the same type of laminae (e.g., both can be substrate laminae or absorbent laminae) or laminae of different types (e.g., one can be one of the substrate lamina(e) and one can be one of the absorbent lamina(e)).
  • laminate 34 can comprise three substrate laminae and two absorbent laminae arranged such that each of the absorbent laminae is disposed between two of the substrate laminae. Providing additional laminae can increase the absorption capacity of laminate 34.
  • Stiffening member 48 can be configured to mitigate deformation of the below- described absorbent articles (e.g., 84a, 84b) formed from pad 22.
  • stiffening member 48 can comprise a paper (e.g., blotter paper) having a basis weight that is greater than or equal to any one of, or between any two of, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, or 500 grams per square meter (gsm) (e.g., between 250 and 300 gsm).
  • An example of such a stiffening member 48 is NEENAH® Blotter Paper having a 287 gsm basis weight, available from Neenah Paper, Inc. in Neenah, WI.
  • Stiffening member 48 can also comprise a nonwoven (e.g., a carded nonwoven) and/or a polymer film.
  • stiffening member 48 can comprise a carded nonwoven that may comprise polyester fibers (e.g., such that substantially all of the stiffening member’s fibers are polyester fibers) and, optionally, rayon fibers (e.g., in which the polyester fibers and rayon fibers are bonded with an adhesive, such as an ethylene- vinyl acetate hot melt adhesive).
  • the nonwoven can have a basis weight that is greater than or equal to any one of, or between any two of, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, or 135 gsm (e.g., between 45 and 135 gsm).
  • An example of a suitable carded nonwoven for stiffening member 48 is MAGIC DRAGON® from Sellars Nonwovens, Inc. in Milwaukee, WI.
  • Pad 22 can have a sealed perimeter 50.
  • Perimeter 50 can be sealed by, for example, applying heat and/or pressure, or ultrasonic bonding means, thereto.
  • perimeter 50 is sealed by joining topsheet 26 to backsheet 30 (e.g., to nonwoven 44) such that the topsheet and the backsheet (e.g., the nonwoven) contain absorbent core 34 and film 46.
  • perimeter 50 can be sealed by joining the edges of one or more of topsheet 26, absorbent core 34, film 46, and nonwoven 44.
  • Pad 22 can be shaped and sized appropriately such that an absorbent articled formed from the pad can comfortably accommodate the male anatomy. As shown, pad 22 is oblong; however, in other embodiments, the pad can be triangular, rectangular, square, or otherwise polygonal (whether having sharp and/or rounded corners), circular, elliptical, or otherwise rounded, or can have an irregular shape. Pad 22 extends longitudinally between first and second ends 54a and 54b and can have upper and lower portions 58a and 58b, where the upper portion is disposed closer to the first end than is the lower portion. For example, upper and lower portions 58a and 58b can respectively define the upper and lower longitudinal halves of pad 22.
  • Upper portion 58a can be wider than lower portion 58b such that a lateral width 62a within the upper portion is at least, or between any two of, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% larger than a lateral width 62b within the lower portion.
  • Shaping pad 22 in this manner can facilitate formation of an absorbent article that can fit within a wearer’s undergarments or pants, fit to the wearer’s body, and accommodate the male anatomy.
  • the overall size of the pad can be scaled up or down, to fit the prevailing population of users.
  • Some of the present methods comprise a step 14 of cutting one or more slits (e.g., 66a-66d) in pad 22 (e.g., partially, radially inward).
  • the cutting can be performed such that pad 22 has two or more cut sections (e.g., 70a-70d) coupled to a joining section (e.g., 74) (e.g., such that the cut sections are not separated from the pad).
  • Each of the cut sections can have a peripheral edge (e.g., 78a-78d) that defines a portion of perimeter 50 and one or more slit edges (e.g., 82a-82h), where each of the slit edge(s) is defined by a respective one of the slits and extends from the peripheral edge to the joining section.
  • the cut sections can surround the joining section such that the joining section is disposed within the pad’s interior.
  • the cuts can be angled anywhere between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, relative to a longitudinal centerline of the pad, to facilitate achieving the desired cup shape.
  • slits 66a-66d are cut in pad 22 to define four cut sections 70a-70d, each having two slit edges (e.g., 82a-82b, 82c-82d, 82e-82f, and 82g-82h, respectively).
  • Each of slits 66a-66d can be cut in a direction that is both laterally and longitudinally inward from perimeter 50 (e.g., as shown), optionally such that joining section 74 is disposed closer to first end 54a than to second end 54b (e.g., within upper portion 58a).
  • a pad cut in this manner can form an absorbent article that defines a larger volume towards the upper portion thereof during the below-described bonding process to better accommodate the male anatomy.
  • cutting can be performed such that pad 22 has any suitable number of slits and cut sections, such as, for example, greater than or equal to or between any two of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more slits (e.g., at least two or four slits) and greater than or equal to or between any two of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more cut sections (e.g., at least four cut sections).
  • the number of slits and arrangement thereof can be selected to attain the desired article shape.
  • some of the present methods comprise a step 18 of bonding each of the cut sections (e.g., ultrasonic ally and/or by applying adhesive) to one or more adjacent one(s) of the other cut section(s) to form a body (e.g., 86) of one of the present absorbent articles (e.g., 84a, 84b).
  • Body 86 which is formed from pad 22, can have substantially the same elements thereof (e.g., cut sections, joining section, slit edges, upper and lower portions, first and second ends, topsheet, backsheet, absorbent core, film, stiffening member, and/or the like).
  • Bonding can be performed such that the cut sections overlap, e.g., such that for each of the cut sections, each of the slit edge(s) is at least partially disposed on a respective one of the adjacent cut section(s).
  • the pad as a result, can be pulled into a cup shape such that the resulting body defines a zone (e.g., 94) configured to receive a wearer’s male genitalia when worn.
  • each of cut sections 70a-70d of body 86 overlaps and is bonded to two adjacent ones of the other cut sections (e.g., each of cut sections 70b and 70c is bonded to both cut sections 70a and 70d).
  • Topsheet 26 which is configured to face a wearer during use— can define a concave inner surface of body 86 and backsheet 30— which is configured to face away from a wearer during use— can define a convex outer surface of the body.
  • laminate 34 within body 86 can be oriented such that nonwoven first substrate lamina 38a is configured to be disposed closer to a wearer than are the other laminae.
  • the shape of body 86 can depend, at least in part, on the shape of pad 22 from which the body is formed and the number and arrangement of slits (e.g., 66a- 66d).
  • first and second ends 54a and 54b and opposing side edges 98a and 98b extending therebetween can define perimeter 90 of body 86.
  • Perimeter 90 can be substantially similar to perimeter 50, the primary exception being that, as a result of the bonding process, perimeter 90 is shaped differently than perimeter 50.
  • at least a portion each of peripheral edges 78a-78d may not necessarily define a portion of perimeter 90 (e.g., where cut sections 70a-70d overlap, shown in dashed lines).
  • each of peripheral edges 78a-78d may define a portion of perimeter 90.
  • Joining section 74 can remain closer to first end 54a than to second end 54b (e.g., within upper longitudinal portion 58a) during the bonding step such that a majority of the volume of zone 94 is defined closer to the first end than to the second end to accommodate the male anatomy and improve fit.
  • Stiffening member 48 when included in pad 22 and thus in body 86, may mitigate deformation of the body that might otherwise occur in the presence of heat and humidity when the article is worn. This may allow the article to be worn for a relatively long period of time with little, if any, deformation such that the article may continue to provide incontinence protection for the wearer while comfortably accommodating the male anatomy.
  • Article 84a can have a securing means 98 coupled to the outer surface thereof defined by backsheet 30 (e.g., within joining section 74).
  • Securing means 98 can be coupled to backsheet 30 during or after, for example, the forming of pad 22 or the bonding.
  • Securing means 98 can comprise any suitable adhesive, mechanical fastener (e.g., a mechanical hook fastener), or any other attachment means known in the art and can be configured to secure body 86 to a wearer’s undergarments or pants to hold article 84a in place during use.
  • securing means 98 can comprise at least one of a pressure sensitive adhesive and a mechanical hook fastener.
  • a mechanical hook fastener is a mechanical fastener that include hooks, such as in a hook fastener portion, that are configured to engage loops in a loop fastener portion or in fibers of a sheet of fabric; for example, a nonwoven or woven fabric with fibers that define open or loop-like regions into which the hooks can extend and engage. Examples of such hook and loop fasteners may be referred to as VELCRO®.
  • FIG. 4 shown is a second embodiment 84b of the present articles which is substantially similar to article 84a, the primary exception being that article 84b comprises only two cut sections 78a, 78b, each having two slit edges (e.g., 82a, 82b and 82c, 82d, respectively), and securing means 98 comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive, rather than a hook fastener.
  • the present absorbent articles due at least in part to the structure resulting from the above-described manufacturing method, can provide improved comfort over prior art articles.
  • the seams between overlapping cut sections can, for example, be smoother than seams in conventional incontinence guards, thereby minimizing detectability.
  • Body 86 at least in part because it is pulled into a cup shape, can readily receive a wearer’ s male genitalia without needing to conform about the genitalia, thereby minimizing the pressure exerted thereon during use. And body 86 can be shaped to fit comfortably in a wearer’ s undergarments and can be readily moved aside when the wearer is using the restroom.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
  • Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des procédés de fabrication d'un article absorbant, et des articles absorbants obtenus de ceux-ci, qui peuvent consister à découper une ou plusieurs fentes dans un tampon de telle sorte que le tampon comporte deux sections découpées ou plus reliées à une section de jonction. Chacune des sections découpées peut avoir un bord périphérique délimitant une partie du périmètre du tampon et un ou plusieurs bords fendus, chacun étant défini par une fente respective parmi les fentes et s'étendant depuis le bord périphérique vers la section de jonction. Les présents procédés peuvent consister à relier chacune des sections découpées à une ou plusieurs sections découpées adjacentes parmi l'autre ou les autres sections découpées pour former un corps définissant une zone en forme de cuvette conçue pour recevoir les organes génitaux masculins de l'utilisateur.
PCT/US2019/060689 2018-11-13 2019-11-11 Article absorbant mis en forme comportant des sections découpées chevauchantes WO2020102058A1 (fr)

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US201862760247P 2018-11-13 2018-11-13
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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996005786A1 (fr) * 1994-08-19 1996-02-29 Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. Article destine a l'incontinence masculine
JP2010207504A (ja) * 2009-03-12 2010-09-24 Oji Nepia Co Ltd 男性用尿パッド
US20110077606A1 (en) * 2009-09-30 2011-03-31 Wilcox Heather J Male urinary incontinence device
WO2017058069A1 (fr) * 2015-09-29 2017-04-06 Sca Hygiene Products Ab Article absorbant de type culotte jetable particulièrement adapté pour un utilisateur masculin

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996005786A1 (fr) * 1994-08-19 1996-02-29 Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. Article destine a l'incontinence masculine
JP2010207504A (ja) * 2009-03-12 2010-09-24 Oji Nepia Co Ltd 男性用尿パッド
US20110077606A1 (en) * 2009-09-30 2011-03-31 Wilcox Heather J Male urinary incontinence device
WO2017058069A1 (fr) * 2015-09-29 2017-04-06 Sca Hygiene Products Ab Article absorbant de type culotte jetable particulièrement adapté pour un utilisateur masculin

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
F. L. BUCHHOLZA. T. GRAHAM: "Modern Superabsorbent Polymer Technology", 1998, WILEY

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