Paragon Trade Brands, Inc.

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.

Andrew T Baker

Elizabeth Deibler Gadsby

Russell F Ross

Luke Hagan

Harry J Chmielewski

John D Litvay

Troy Delzer

Ebba A Hansen

Doug Frederisy

The present invention relates generally to an absorbent core for an absorbent article, and more particularly to an absorbent core having zoned absorbency due to specific placement of adhesives or specific lack of adhesive. Such absorbent cores provide the flexibility of creating precise zoning of particular properties throughout the core, and they provide improved comfort and fit.

Absorbent articles containing absorbent cores having zoned absorbency and methods of making same

An apparatus and method for depositing particulate matter onto a supply of absorbent core fibrous substrate material are disclosed. The apparatus has a feed tray that has an inlet for receiving a supply of particulate matter. At least part of a lower pan of the feed tray is a slideable shuttle pan that has an outlet edge located near a supply of absorbent core fibrous substrate material that is moving in a machine direction. The supply of particulate matter passes over the outlet edge to exit the feed tray. A mechanism operates the shuttle pan through a range of motion having a forward stroke and a backward stroke. During the forward stroke, the outlet edge follows the supply of absorbent core fibrous substrate material.

System and method for dry forming zoned absorbent cores

The Invention relates to absorbent articles, such as diapers, incontinence products, training pants, sanitary napkins, and the like, providing superior strikethrough and rewet characteristics, and methods of preparing the absorbent articles. The absorbent articles comprise at least a topsheet, backsheet, absorbent core, and fluid handling layer, and the article has a third insult Strikethrough of less than about 45 seconds, and a third insult Rewet of less than about 35 grams.

Fluid handling layers made from foam and absorbent articles containing same

An apparatus and a method for preparing an absorbent article is disclosed. The apparatus has at least two forming surfaces which differ in terms of air permeability to allow the selective placement of fibrous material. The forming surface comprises a perforated forming screen. The forming screen has multiple zones with different amounts of open area through which air may pass. Particles carried in the air which flows through the open area are deposited on different zones of the forming screen resulting in different basis weights corresponding to the different air permeabilities. The apparatus and method thus provide an article having optimal zoned absorbency in a cost-effective manner.

Absorbent article, method and apparatus for preparing same

An absorbent article and a method for preparing an absorbent article is disclosed. The absorbent article has a core comprised of pulp, a polymer or a combination thereof. The absorbent article conforms to a certain Distribution Index (DI) or a certain Distribution Index (DI) profile that confers one or more superior properties to the core and in turn to the absorbent article, such as superior absorbency efficiency and superior cost efficiency. The method for preparing the absorbent article uses DI values (e.g., DI , DI , DI and DI ) or a DI profile as design parameters for providing absorbent articles having one or more superior characteristics.

Absorbent article having an ideal core distribution and method of preparing same

An absorbent composition providing unexpectedly high fluid capacity with minimal gel-blocking, articles comprising the absorbent composition and methods of preparing the absorbent composition are disclosed. The absorbent composition optionally comprises a surface crosslinked polymer disbursed within a fibrous matrix of wettable fibers. The surface crosslinked polymer has an FVAUL value of at least about 60 cc after 10 minutes.

Superabsorbent polymers providing long-term generation of free volume in partially hydrated absorbent cores

A system and method for adjusting the targeting of superabsorbent material in absorbent cores based on the timing of a cutting device are disclosed herein. After targeting superabsorbent material into a segment of absorbent core material, a first sensor is used to determine a change in concentration of superabsorbent material over the length of the segment, or alternatively, a rate-of-change in the concentration is determined. The change in concentration, or rate-of-change, can be interpreted as the timing of the superabsorbent material targeting. A second sensor is used to determine the timing of a cutting device used to separate the segment from the remaining absorbent core material. The timing of the targeting of the superabsorbent material can then be synchronized with the timing of the cutting device for targeting of superabsorbent material in subsequent segments of the absorbent core material.

Superabsorbent polymer targeting registration of dry formed composite cores

The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for forming an absorbent garment and an absorbent composite core. The absorbent composite core preferably is comprised of at least four layers, whereby two of the layers are outer layers, (an upper layer and a lower layer), one of the inner layers is a central fibrous layer containing a mixture of tow fibers and SAP, and the other inner layer is at least one layer selected from an acquisition layer, a distribution layer, an additional fibrous layer optionally containing SAP, a wicking layer, a storage layer, a dryness layer, a softness layer, or combinations and fragments thereof.

Dry formed composite with cut and place layers

A disposable absorbent garment has barrier elements on its inner liner to form barriers to flow of urine across the liner surface. In one embodiment, the barrier elements are loops formed by rows of slits through the liner material, such that the slits form rows of strips. Central portions of the strips are forced out of the plane of the liner to form wide based loops or humps on the inner surface of the garment when the garment is in place about the body of a wearer. These elevated loops form rows of raised obstructions that act as urine flow interference barriers. In other embodiments, the loops are preformed on the surface of the liner layer, or are formed from interdigitating strips. The loops are preferably provided in a target area of the garment where urine impinges the liner surface. Garments intended to be worn by males may have the loops distributed primarily throughout a front crotch region, to interfere with the substantially tangential movement of urine across the liner layer. The garment diminishes leakage of urine out of the waistband of the garment, and inhibits migration of liquid waste within the diaper. Apertures formed under the loops provide an opening through which liquid waste enters the interior of the garment.

Absorbent garment with top sheet impediment to liquid flow

The present invention provides an absorbent core structure comprising storage cells and acquisition cells that is useful, for example, for disposable absorbent garments. Within the storage cells of the absorbent core structure is disposed a quantity of superabsorbent material. The acquisition cells are devoid of superabsorbent material or other materials that would impede the movement of liquid therethrough and are preferably open. The acquisition cells can thus function as channels that allow liquids to be freely distributed within the absorbent core structure by mass flow and/or capillary action, thus helping to prevent gel blocking.

Overlapped-style absorbent core structure comprising multiple storage

The present invention provides an absorbent core structure comprising storage cells and acquisition cells in a honeycomb-like configuration. Absorbent core structures according to the invention are useful, for example, for absorbent cores for disposable absorbent garments. Within the storage cells of the absorbent core structure is deposited a quantity of a superabsorbent material. The acquisition cells are devoid of superabsorbent material or other materials that would impede liquid movement therethrough and are preferably open. The acquisition cells can thus function as channels that allow liquids to be freely distributed within the absorbent core structure by mass flow and/or capillary action, thus helping to prevent gel blocking.

Growing community of inventors

Lawrenceville, GA, United States of America

Andrew T Baker