Interlabial absorbent article with improved flushability characteristics
View Patent ↗An interlabial absorbent article configured for disposition primarily within the vestibule of a female wearer includes a generally liquid permeable cover sheet, a generally liquid impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent material disposed between the cover sheet and the back sheet. The back sheet has a water vapor transmission rate that is at least about 20% of a water vapor transmission rate of the cover sheet. The cover sheet and said back sheet may have a contact angle mismatch of less than about 25%. The absorbent material may have a density greater than water. Upon being flushed, the article has an initial neutral buoyancy and subsequently sinks within about 7 days from being flushed.
1. An interlabial absorbent article configured for disposition primarily within the vestibule of a female wearer, comprising:
a generally liquid permeable, non-apertured cover sheet comprising a first material;
a generally liquid impermeable back sheet comprising a second material, said second material different from said first material;
an absorbent material disposed between said cover sheet and said back sheet;
wherein said back sheet has a water vapor transmission rate that is at least about 20% of a water vapor transmission rate of said cover sheet, up to a water vapor transmission rate of about 50,000 g/m 2 -24 hrs;
wherein said cover sheet and said back sheet have a contact angle mismatch of less than about 25%; and
wherein upon being flushed, said article has an initial neutral buoyancy and subsequently sinks within about 7 days from being flushed.
2. The interlabial absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said cover sheet has a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 30,000 g/m 2 -24 hrs to about 50,000 g/m 2 -24 hrs.
3. The interlabial absorbent article as in claim 2 , wherein said cover sheet comprises a spunlace laminate material of rayon and film.
4. The interlabial absorbent article as in claim 2 , wherein cover sheet comprises a bonded carded web material having water vapor transmission rate of about 52,000 g/m 2 -24 hrs.
5. The interlabial absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said back sheet comprises a HBSTL material having a water vapor transmission rate of about 10,000 g/m 2 -24 hrs.
6. The interlabial absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said cover sheet has a water vapor transmission rate of about 40,000 g/m 2 -24 hrs and said back sheet has a water vapor transmission rate of about 10,000 g/m 2 -24 hrs.
7. The interlabial absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said cover sheet has a water vapor transmission rate of about 50,000 g/m 2 -24 hrs and said back sheet has a water vapor transmission rate of about 10,000 g/m 2 -24 hrs.
8. The interlabial absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said absorbent material has a dry density of about 1.0 g/cc.
9. The interlabial absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said absorbent material has wet density of about 1.0 g/cc.
10. The interlabial absorbent material as in claim 1 , wherein said cover sheet is adhered to said back sheet with an adhesive around a circumference of said article, and wherein said article does not separate into individual components for at least about 7 days after being flushed.
11. The interlabial absorbent article as in claim 1 , wherein said absorbent material comprises a cotton/rayon blend.
12. An interlabial absorbent article configured for disposition primarily within the vestibule of a female wearer, comprising:
a generally liquid permeable, non-apertured cover sheet having a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 30,000 g/m 2 -24 hrs, to about 50,000 g/m 2 -24 said cover sheet comprising a first material;
a generally liquid impermeable back sheet comprising a second material, said second material different from said first material;
an absorbent material disposed between said cover sheet and said back sheet;
wherein said water vapor transmission rate of said back sheet is at least about 20% to about the same water vapor transmission rate of said cover sheet; and
wherein upon being flushed, said article has an initial neutral buoyancy and subsequently sinks within about 7 days from being flushed.
13. The interlabial absorbent article as in claim 12 , wherein said cover sheet and said back sheet have a contact angle mismatch of less than about 25%.
14. An interlabial absorbent article configured for disposition primarily within the vestibule of a female wearer, comprising:
a generally liquid permeable, non-apertured cover sheet comprising a first material;
a generally liquid impermeable back sheet comprising a second material, said second material different from said first material;
an absorbent material disposed between said cover sheet and said back sheet;
wherein said back sheet has a water vapor transmission rate that is at least about 20% to about the same water vapor transmission rate of said cover sheet; and
wherein said absorbent material has a dry density of at least about 1.0 g/cc.
15. The interlabial absorbent article as in claim 14 , wherein said cover sheet and said back sheet have a contact angle mismatch of less than about 25%.
16. The interlabial absorbent article as in claim 14 , wherein said article has an initial neutral buoyancy such that said article sinks within about 7 days from being flushed.