Mcneil-Ppc, Inc.

Chicopee

Johnson & Johnson Gmbh

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.

Hien V Nguyen

Leonard Geller Rosenfeld

Nicolas Martens

Glenn Garbolino

Cecilia Vargas

Shmuel Dabi

Franklin Boardman

Sheryl J Anapol

An absorbent article including a cover layer, a barrier layer and an absorbent system arranged between the cover layer and the barrier layer, the absorbent article being drapeable and possessing the absorbency attributes required of a sanitary napkin.

Drapeable absorbent article

Provided are fibrous, non-woven structures having a drapeability of greater than about 4 gsm/g and a density less than about 0.08 g/cc, personal care articles comprising such structures, methods of making such structures including methods comprising: stabilizing a thin layer of non-woven fibers into a stabilized web; moving the stabilized web in a machine direction; and contacting the stabilized web with a stream of liquid that is directed at least partially along or against said machine direction.

Low-density, non-woven structures and methods of making the same

Provided are fibrous, non-woven structures having a drapeability of greater than about 4 gsm/g and a density less than about 0.08 g/cc, personal care articles comprising such structures, and methods of making such structures including methods comprising: stabilizing a thin layer of non-woven fibers into a stabilized web; supporting the stabilized web on an elastomeric support member; moving the support member and stabilized web thereon in a machine direction; and contacting the supported stabilized web with a stream of liquid.

A tampon formed of a substantially cylindrical mass of compressed fibers substantially enclosed in a fluid-permeable cover has improved ability to prevent early leakage. This tampon has a stability of at least about 15 N, and is capable of radially expanding upon exposure to a humid environment. The radius increases by at least about 10% after 15 minutes to 90% relative humidity at 40&deg; C.

Tampon having improved early expansion characteristics

An absorbent body formed of an absorbent web having a blend of multi-limbed regenerated cellulosic fibers and non-limbed cellulosic fibers has surprisingly improved specific absorption capacity. This absorbent body may be in the form of sanitary napkins, tampons, diapers, and adult incontinence devices.

Absorbent body

A cellulosic fiber of improved wettability comprising cellulosic fibers with small discrete crystal domain of ionic salt attached to the surface of the fiber. The method of making the cellulosic fiber of improved wettability is also claimed.

Cellulosic fiber of improved wettability

Superabsorbents made by the process of electron beam initiated polymerization of partially neutralized acrylic acid having improved absorbencies when a trivalent cationic salt, for example, Aluminum Acetate or a tetravalent cationic salt, for example, Platinum Tetrachloride, are added to the partially neutralized acrylic acid solution before polymerization is initiated.

Acrylate superabsorbent polymerization process

A laminated structure in which a superabsorbent material is provided as a layer of discrete discontinuous chunks or elements attached to a continuous porous support layer. The superabsorbent element is provided by saturating a porous substrate with an acrylic acid monomer solution, polymerizing and crosslinking the monomer in the web, and then dicing the monomer/web substrate to produce discrete superabsorbent elements. The superabsorbent elements having various shaped are then affixed to the flexible porous support layer by friction so as to provide the flexible superabsorbent laminated structure.

Superabsorbent laminate structure

A fibrous structure comprising a batt of a loose assemblage of fibers, having an initial density, that is embossed to produce a batt having a discrete pattern of hydrogen-bonded, compressed or densified portions and regions between the compressed portions. The regions have an average density greater than the average initial density of the batt and less than the density of the batt and less than the density of the compressed portions so as to form discrete density gradients across the surface of the batt. The batt has an initial average density of from about 0.03g/cm.sup.3 to about 0.15 g/cm.sup.3. The compressed portions have an average density in the range of from about 0.40 g/cm.sup.3 to about 1.00 g/cm.sup.3 and have a size in the range of from about 0.0002 cm.sup.2 to about 0.12 cm.sup.2. The regions defined between the compressed portions occupy from about 97 percent to about 99.5 percent of the area of the surface of the batt. The compressed portions may be formed by embossing rolls or by application of ultrasonic energy.

Growing community of inventors

East Windsor, NJ, United States of America

Hien V Nguyen