IP Library Granted Patent US 12,642,713
Granted Patent B2
US 12,642,713 · App. 18/225,874 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Absorbent articles having an apertured topsheet comprising cellulose-based fibers

Inventors: Li Tang (Bejing, CN); Xiaoxin Liu (Beijing, CN); Kun Sun (Beijing, CN); Gueltekin Erdem (Beijing, CN); Fancheng Wang (Beijing, CN); Gerard Alain Viens (Cincinnati, OH)
Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
A61F13/5116A61F13/5121A61F2013/530233
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,642,713
App. No.
18/225,874
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates absorbent article having a wearer facing surface and a garment facing surface, the absorbent article comprising: a topsheet, a backsheet, and a layer of absorbent material disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the topsheet comprises a first layer comprising cellulose-based fibers, the first layer comprising a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a plurality of apertures having side walls, wherein the first surface of the first layer forms at least part of the wearer facing surface; wherein the first surface of the first layer comprises at least one non-aperture area having a first non-aperture area contact angle as measured by Contact Angle Test; and wherein each of majority of the apertures has a side wall having an aperture contact angle as measured by Contact Angle Test, the aperture contact angle being higher than the first non-aperture area contact angle.

Claims (32)

1 . An absorbent article having a wearer facing surface and a garment facing surface, the absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and a layer of absorbent material disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet,

wherein the topsheet comprises a first layer comprising cellulose-based fibers, the first layer comprising a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a plurality of apertures, wherein the first surface of the first layer forms at least part of the wearer facing surface;

wherein the first surface of the first layer comprises a hydrophilic non-aperture area having a first non-aperture area contact angle as measured by Contact Angle Test; and

wherein at least some of the plurality of the apertures have a side wall having an aperture contact angle as measured by Contact Angle Test, the aperture contact angle being higher than the first non-aperture area contact angle; and

wherein the first non-aperture area contact angle and the aperture contact angle have a difference of at least about 30°.

2 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the aperture contact angle is equal to or higher than about 40° as measured by Contact Angle Test.

3 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first layer further comprises thermoplastic fibers.

4 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the non-aperture area does not comprise a treatment.

5 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the non-aperture area is treated with a hydrophilic treatment.

6 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the side wall of each aperture is coated with a treatment with a HLB value not higher than about 13.

7 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the apertures are formed by pin aperturing process.

8 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly, away from the absorbent core.

9 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the topsheet further comprises a second layer with a first surface, an opposing second surface, a plurality of apertures in such a way that the first surface of the second layer is in a face to face relationship with the second surface of the first layer.

10 . The absorbent article of claim 9 , wherein the second layer comprises thermoplastic fibers.

11 . The absorbent article of claim 9 , wherein the second surface of the second layer comprises at least one non-aperture area having a second non-aperture area contact angle, the second non-aperture area contact angle being not greater than the first non-aperture area contact angle.

12 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is a spunlace nonwoven layer.

13 . The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the apertures in the first layer have at least 3% of open area.

14 . An absorbent article having a wearer facing surface and a garment facing surface, the absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and a layer of absorbent material disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet,

wherein the topsheet comprises a first layer comprising cellulose-based fibers, the first layer comprising a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a plurality of apertures, wherein the first surface of the first layer forms at least part of the wearer facing surface;

wherein the first surface of the first layer comprises a hydrophilic non-aperture area having a first non-aperture area contact angle as measured by Contact Angle Test; and

wherein a majority of the apertures have a side wall having an aperture contact angle as measured by Contact Angle Test, the aperture contact angle being higher than the first non-aperture area contact angle; and

wherein the first non-aperture area contact angle and the aperture contact angle have a difference of at least about 30°.

15 . The absorbent article of claim 14 , wherein at least 90% of the apertures have a side wall having an aperture contact angle as measured by Contact Angle Test.

16 . An absorbent article having a wearer facing surface and a garment facing surface, the absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and a layer of absorbent material disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet,

wherein the topsheet comprises a first layer comprising cellulose-based fibers, the first layer comprising a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a plurality of apertures, wherein the first surface of the first layer forms at least part of the wearer facing surface;

wherein the first surface of the first layer comprises a hydrophilic non-aperture area having a first non-aperture area contact angle as measured by Contact Angle Test; and

wherein the first layer within the plurality of apertures is partially interpenetrated into a second layer within the plurality of apertures, and wherein the first layer within the apertures comprises a higher contact angle than the second layer within the apertures;

wherein a majority of the apertures has a side wall having an aperture contact angle as measured by Contact Angle Test, the aperture contact angle being higher than the first non-aperture area contact angle; and

wherein the first non-aperture area contact angle and the aperture contact angle have a difference of at least about 30°.

17 . The absorbent article of claim 16 , wherein the second layer within the plurality of apertures is not completely covered by the first layer within the plurality of apertures.

18 . The absorbent article of claim 17 , wherein the second layer within the plurality of apertures is exposed in an area proximate to a bottom edge of the apertures.

19 . The absorbent article of claim 16 , wherein the apertures comprise an open area of from about 2.5% to about 10%.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2023
From: TANG, LI; LIU, XIAOXIN; SUN, KUN; ERDEM, GUELTEKIN; WANG, FANCHENG; VIENS, GERARD ALAIN
To: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 064374/0729 →
Priority Claims (1)
WO PCT/CN2022/108937 · Jul 29, 2022 · international
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240033138A1 · Feb 1, 2024
References Cited (36)
US 7569039B2 · Matsuda · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7744579B2 · Langdon et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 8475424B2 · Fujimoto et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 10568782B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10624797B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10624798B2 · Morimoto · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10624799B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10632024B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10632025B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10744044B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10786399B2 · Bäck · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10973704B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11298273B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11607350B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11622894B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11642252B2 · Morimoto · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11642254B2 · Morimoto et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20050107763A1 · Matsuda · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20140121625A1 · Kirby · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20180161474A1 · Klofta · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180333310A1 · Agami · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190070048A1 · Neeb et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190105209A1 · Erdem · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190117472A1 · Erdem · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190117473A1 · Rosati et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200261282A1 · Li et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20230225912A1 · Morimoto et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230225914A1 · Morimoto et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20240024169A1 · Wang · 2024 [cited by applicant]
JP 4290594B2 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 5933193B2 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO 2006017718A1 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017173643A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
PCT Search Report and Opinion for PCT/CN2022/108937 dated Jan. 24, 2023; 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
All Office Actions; U.S. Appl. No. 18/354,697, filed Jul. 19, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Unpublished U.S. Appl. No. 18/354,697, filed Jul. 19, 2023, to Fancheng Wang et al. [cited by applicant]