IP Library Granted Patent US 9,220,645
Granted Patent B2
US 9,220,645 · App. 11/805,641 · Granted Dec 29, 2015

Absorbent article with embossing

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,220,645
App. No.
11/805,641
Granted
Dec 29, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention describes a novel absorbent core for the absorbent article in which the top surface of the core is embossed in a pattern that is made from curves rather than straight lines or polygons. In a preferred embodiment, the top surface is embossed with a pattern made by circles with spacing between consecutive circles. The novel article is not only less rigid and smoother on the body surface, but also exhibits better absorptive capacity. Various other embodiments are described and are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (42)

1. An absorbent article having a third insult strikethrough time of less than 80 seconds and a third insult rewet value of less than 2.5 grams, said absorbent article comprising:

a top sheet;

a fluid transfer layer, said fluid transfer layer being disposed beneath said top sheet;

a back sheet; and

an absorbent core disposed between said fluid transfer layer and said back sheet, the absorbent core comprising a top surface facing the fluid transfer layer, the top surface defining the perimeter of the absorbent core, said absorbent core comprising an airlaid material, wherein said absorbent core is embossed with a closed curvilinear pattern that repeats over the entire top surface area of the absorbent core and is at least one of a hollow circle, an oval or a clover shape, and the closed curvilinear pattern is randomly embossed on the top surface area of the absorbent core.

2. The absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said absorbent core further comprises a super absorbent polymeric material.

3. The absorbent article as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said absorbent core comprises from 45% to 95% by weight of super absorbent polymeric material.

4. The absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fluid transfer layer is a three dimensional aperture film.

5. The absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said third insult strikethrough time is less than 75 seconds.

6. The absorbent article as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said third insult strikethrough time is less than 65 seconds.

7. The absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said third insult rewet value is less than 1.10 grams.

8. The absorbent article as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said third insult rewet value is less than 1.0 grams.

9. The absorbent article as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said embossing is performed by heated rollers and ultrasonic bonding.

10. A method for preparing an absorbent article having a third insult strikethrough time of less than 80 seconds and a third insult rewet value of less than 2.5 grams, said method comprising the step of:

preparing a top sheet;

preparing a fluid transfer layer;

disposing said fluid transfer layer beneath said top sheet;

preparing a back sheet;

preparing an absorbent core comprising an airlaid material, the absorbent core comprising a top surface facing the fluid transfer layer, the top surface defining the perimeter of the absorbent core;

embossing said absorbent core with a closed curvilinear pattern that repeats over the entire top surface of the absorbent core and that is at least one of a hollow circle, an oval or a clover shape, the closed curvilinear pattern being randomly embossed on the top surface area of the absorbent core; and

disposing said absorbent core between said fluid transfer layer and said back sheet.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said absorbent core further comprises super absorbent polymeric material.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said absorbent core comprises 5 from 45% to 95% by weight of super absorbent polymeric material.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said fluid transfer layer is a three dimensional aperture film.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said third insult strikethrough time is less than 75 seconds.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said third insult strikethrough time is less than 65 seconds.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said third insult rewet value is less than 1.10 grams.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said third insult rewet value is less than 1.0 grams.

18. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said embossing is performed by means including heated rollers and ultrasonic bonding.

19. An absorbent article having a third insult strikethrough time of less than 80 seconds and a third insult rewet value of less than 2.5 grams, said absorbent article comprising:

a top sheet;

a fluid transfer layer, said fluid transfer layer being disposed beneath said top sheet;

a back sheet; and

an absorbent core disposed between said fluid transfer layer and said back sheet, the absorbent core comprising a top surface facing the fluid transfer layer, the top surface defining the perimeter of the absorbent core, said absorbent core comprising an airlaid material, wherein said absorbent core is embossed with a pattern that repeats over the entire top surface of the absorbent core and the pattern is club shape.

20. A method for preparing an absorbent article having a third insult strikethrough time of less than 80 seconds and a third insult rewet value of less than 2.5 grams, said method comprising the step of:

preparing a top sheet;

preparing a fluid transfer layer;

disposing said fluid transfer layer beneath said top sheet;

preparing a back sheet;

preparing an absorbent core comprising an airlaid material, the absorbent core comprising a top surface facing the fluid transfer layer, the top surface defining the perimeter of the absorbent core;

embossing said absorbent core with a pattern that repeats over the entire top surface of the absorbent core, the pattern being a club shape; and

disposing said absorbent core between said fluid transfer layer and said back sheet.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 29, 2011
From: FIRST QUALITY BABY PRODUCTS, LLC; FIRST QUALITY ENTERPRISES, INC.; FIRST QUALITY NONWOVENS, INC.; FIRST QUALITY PRODUCTS, INC.; FIRST QUALITY RETAIL SERVICES, LLC; FIRST QUALITY TISSUE, LLC; NUTEK DISPOSABLES, INC.; PARAGON TRADE BRANDS, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE, N.A.
Reel/Frame 026994/0359 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 16, 2009
From: TYCO HEALTHCARE RETAIL GROUP, INC.
To: FIRST QUALITY RETAIL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 022398/0460 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 8, 2008
From: FIRST QUALITY RETAIL SERVICES, LLC
To: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 021205/0535 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2008
From: TYCO HEALTHCARE RETAIL SERVICES AG
To: TYCO HEALTHCARE RETAIL GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 021029/0606 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2007
From: BABUSIK, KIMBERLY H.; NAUGHTON, MICHAEL J.
To: TYCO HEALTHCARE RETAIL SERVICES AG
Reel/Frame 019401/0387 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2007
From: NISZCZAK, AUDRA
To: TYCO HEALTHCARE RETAIL SERVICES AG
Reel/Frame 019401/0390 →