The Procter Gamble Company

Other

The Proctor 'gamble Company

James W Cree

Bruce William Lavash

Eric Patton Weinberger

Robb Eric Olsen

Luis E Ravaglia

Thomas Ward Osborn, Iii

John Joseph Curro

Kenneth B Buell

Sue Ann Mills

Deborah Catherine Schmitz

Elizabeth Bilyeu Twohy

Melisse Noel Elder

John Lee Hammons

Letha Margie Hines

David Christopher Oetjen

Douglas Herrin Benson

Dennis A Thomas

Ronald Ray McFall

Charles W Chappell

Bruce Brown

Patricia Lee Lampson

John T Cooper

Gregory Wade Taylor

Shirley Lee Chow

Megan R Moore

Robert E Marshall, Iii

Maria Teresa Octavio

Luis Eduardo Ravaglia

Julian A Plumley

Jennifer David

Jennifer L David

An absorbent article, such as a diaper, sanitary napkin, adult incontinent device, and the like having fused layers is provided. The absorbent articles preferably comprises a liquid pervious thermoplastic apertured film topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core, and a fibrous acquisition web of spunlaced nonwoven fibers. The absorbent core is positioned between the topsheet and backsheet which are joined at least about a portion of the periphery of the absorbent article and the topsheet is fused to the acquisition web at discrete points of attachment. The acquisition web is positioned between the topsheet and the absorbent core.

Absorbent article having fused layers

An apertured polymeric film web having a first surface, a second surface generally parallel to and spaced apart from said first surface, and a plurality of fluid passageways extending between the first surface and the second surface to place the first surface and the second surface in fluid communication with one another. The web is formed of a polymeric film comprising at least one bulk modified layer, the bulk modified layer comprising a substantially homogeneous, stabilized dispersion comprising a comparatively low surface energy material in a polymeric material. The comparatively low surface energy material, referred to herein as a hydrophobic additive, imparts hydrophobicity to the web's first surface, thereby promoting enhanced effectiveness in transporting fluid away from the first surface of the web, particularly when used in combination with a hydrophilic adhesive applied to the web's second surface in a topsheet system of the present invention.

Topsheet systems for absorbent articles exhibiting improved hydrophilicity gradients

An absorbent article, such as a diaper, sanitary napkin, adult incontinent device, and the like having fused layers is provided. The absorbent articles preferably comprises a liquid pervious thermoplastic apertured film topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core, and a fibrous acquisition web. The absorbent core is positioned between the topsheet and backsheet which are joined at least about a portion of the periphery of the absorbent article and the topsheet is fused to the acquisition web is a folded sheet which has a double z-folded cross-sectional configuration, which at discrete points of attachment. The acquisition web is positioned between the topsheet and the absorbent core.

The present invention provides a fluid previous fibrous, preferably nonwoven, web having a first surface and a second surface. The web comprises a hydrophilic nonwoven web comprising a plurality of individual, preferably whitened, brightened, and/or opacified, fibers associated with one another. The web includes a plurality of surface energy gradients defined by the boundaries of discontinuous, spaced regions of the web which are located on the first surface which exhibit a different surface energy than an adjacent portion of the web. The regions comprise depositions of a preferably whitened, brightened, and/or opacified low surface energy material randomly distributed over the first surface. In a preferred embodiment, the nonwoven web is formed of shaped fibers of substantially non-circular cross-section, preferably a trilobial or delta cross-section, which include whitening, brightening, and opacifying agents within the fiber material. Preferably, the low surface energy material includes whitening and opacifying agents within the material itself, with a preferred material comprising a UV curable silicone resin including a titanium dioxide particle suspension. The nonwoven fibrous webs of the present invention may be utilized advantageously as a topsheet and/or secondary topsheet in an absorbent article such as a diaper, sanitary napkin, or the like.

Topsheet for absorbent articles exhibiting improved masking properties

The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and incontinence pads. More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, that have undergarment covering components (or 'side wrapping elements') that automatically wrap the sides of a wearer's panties and provide an alternative to conventional side flaps. The side wrapping elements have at least one zone of extensibility and at a region therein that is stiffer than the zone of extensibility.

Absorbent articles having undergarment covering components with zones of

An absorbent article comprises a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet attached to the topsheet, an absorbent core of a combination of airlaid material, wetlaid material and superabsorbant, the core being positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet to absorb fluid, and wherein the core includes an elongated, cylindrical, raised portion for improved contact with a user, and a scrim material surrounding at least a portion of the raised portion of the core.

Disposable absorbent article with fit and fluid handling capabilities

The present invention pertains, in a preferred embodiment, to a method for forming a nonwoven web exhibiting a plurality of surface energy gradients. The method includes the steps of: providing a nonwoven web of fibers exhibiting a surface energy, the nonwoven web having a first surface, a second surface, a caliper, and a plurality of fluid passageways placing the first and second surfaces in fluid communication with one another; applying a surface treatment to the first surface of the nonwoven web, the surface treatment having a surface energy less than the surface energy of the fibers of the nonwoven web creating a plurality of surface energy gradients defined by discontinuous, spaced regions which are adapted to exert a force on a fluid contacting the first surface, such that the fluid will be directed toward the fluid passageways for transportation away from the first surface and in the direction of the second surface; and increasing the caliper of the nonwoven web by feeding the nonwoven web between a first pressure applicator and a second pressure applicator each having three-dimensional surfaces which at least to a degree are complementary to one another. The nonwoven web is particularly well suited for use as a topsheet on a disposable absorbent article.

Method for forming a nonwoven web exhibiting surface energy gradients

An absorbent article, such as a generally thin, flexible sanitary napkin with a topsheet, backsheet and absorbent core is provided. The absorbent article has a means for directional fluid distribution such as a fluid directing strip positioned between the topsheet and absorbent core, and an absorbent strip positioned between the topsheet and fluid directing strip. The relationships between the sizes of the fluid directing strip and the absorbent strip are such that the width of the fluid directing strip is greater than that of the absorbent strip and the length of the absorbent strip in greater than that of the fluid directing strip, so that bodily exudates may be directed toward the ends of the absorbent core even when the sanitary napkin assumes a body-conforming shape or is otherwise distorted during use.

Absorbent article with means for directional fluid distribution

The present invention pertains, in a preferred embodiment, to a method for selectively aperturing a nonwoven web exhibiting a plurality of surface energy gradients. The method includes the steps of: providing a nonwoven web of fibers exhibiting a surface energy, the nonwoven web having a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of fluid passageways placing the first and second surfaces in fluid communication with one another; applying a surface treatment to the first surface of the nonwoven web, the surface treatment having a surface energy less than the surface energy of the fibers of the nonwoven web creating a plurality of surface energy gradients defined by discontinuous, spaced regions which are adapted to exert a force on a fluid contacting the first surface, such that the fluid will be directed toward the fluid passageways for transportation away from the first surface and in the direction of the second surface; weakening the nonwoven web at a plurality of locations creating a plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations; and applying a tensioning force to the nonwoven web to cause the nonwoven web to rupture at the plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations creating a plurality of apertures in the nonwoven web coincident with the plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations. The web is particularly well suited for use as a topsheet on a disposable absorbent article.

Method for selectively aperturing a nonwoven web exhibiting surface

An absorbent article, such as a diaper, sanitary napkin, adult incontinent device, and the like having meltblown components is provided. The absorbent articles preferably comprises a liquid pervious thermoplastic apertured film topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core, and a fibrous acquisition web of spunlaced nonwoven fibers. The absorbent core is positioned between the topsheet and backsheet which are joined at least about a portion of the periphery of the absorbent article and the topsheet is fused to the acquisition web at discrete points of attachment. The acquisition web is positioned between the topsheet and the absorbent core.

Absorbent article having meltblown components

A sanitary napkin is disclosed having an absorbent core comprising a central core segment and two side core segments. The sanitary napkin also includes a lifting member for displacing the central core segment relative to the side core segments.

Sanitary napkin having an independently displaceable central core segment

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

James W Cree