The Procter Gamble Company

John B Burchnall

William Robert Ouellette

Frederick M Langdon

Yann-Per Lee

Godfrey Reiter

A Renee Haney

Fred M Langdon

Gregory B Hyde

Larry Neil Mackey

Arthur Wong

Nicholas James Nissing

James J Franxman

Disclosed are disposable cleansing articles ( ) which comprise a multi-phase, multi-component emulsion ( ) and an activation web ( ) that facilitates activation of the emulsion during use. In a preferred embodiment, the multi-phase emulsion is a high internal phase inverse emulsion having a continuous external lipid phase and a discontinuous internal polar phase. During use, the activation web facilitates breakage of the emulsion's external phase, thereby releasing the internal phase for its desired use. Because the internal liquid phase may account for up to about 97% of the emulsion, significant levels of fluid (e.g., water or a polar liquid) may be delivered from a &ldquo;dry&rdquo; wipe.

Wet-like articles comprising a multi-phase, multi-component emulsion and an activation web

The present invention pertains, in a preferred embodiment, to a fluid-pervious web comprising a first or wearer-contacting surface and a second or garment-facing surface. The web is particularly well suited for use as a topsheet on a disposable absorbent article. The first and second surfaces are separated from one another by an intermediate portion. The first surface of the web provides a structure which exhibits a surface energy less than the surface energy of the intermediate portion. In a preferred embodiment, the web exhibits a plurality of regions of comparatively low surface energy which define surface energy gradients where they interface with higher surface energy web surfaces. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a fluid-pervious web having a plurality of small-scale surface energy gradients which are oriented and located so as to effectively transport fluid away from the first or wearer-contacting surface. The web essentially retains its visual, tactile, and physical properties of the substrate material while achieving the desired surface energy properties. Fluid transport webs according to the present invention preferably include discontinuous, spaced regions defining small scale surface energy gradients on the first surface to aid in small scale fluid movement toward apertures or capillary entrances for transport away from the first surface. Such webs also preferably include small scale surface energy gradients normal to the first surface within a capillary structure to aid in moving fluid away from the first surface and into the capillaries for capillary fluid transport. Web materials suitable for use in the present invention include apertured formed films, apertured and non-apertured nonwoven materials, composite structures, and the like.

Fluid transport webs exhibiting surface energy gradients

An absorbent core for use in an absorbent article for absorbing discharged bodily fluid comprises a first absorbent material dispersed throughout the core, and a second absorbent material provided in a discrete strip, and substantially surrounded by the first absorbent material. An apparatus and method for producing such cores comprises a mold support advanceable in a predetermined direction and having at least one mold therein, and a tubular conduit for the second material alignably positioned such that a portion of the conduit will pass through at least a portion of the mold as the mold support is advanced. The mold support may comprise a forming drum or a forming belt. The tubular conduit has a distal end through which the second absorbent material may be expelled. Particles of the first absorbent material are preferably deposited by air-entrainment into the molds, and these particles surround the tubular conduit in order to form a cavity into which the second absorbent material is deposited from the distal end of the conduit.

Absorbent products, and apparatus and method for producing the same

Method of manufacturing fluid transport webs exhibiting surface energy

An absorbent core for use in an absorbent article for absorbing discharged bodily fluid includes a first absorbent material dispersed throughout the core, and a second absorbent material provided in a discrete strip, and substantially surrounded by the first absorbent material. An apparatus and method for producing such cores includes a mold support advanceable in a predetermined direction and having at least one mold therein, and a tubular conduit for the second material alignably positioned such that a portion of the conduit will pass through at least a portion of the mold as the mold support is advanced. The mold support may include a forming drum or a forming belt. The tubular conduit has a distal end through which the second absorbent material may be expelled. Particles of the first absorbent material are preferably deposited by air-entrainment into the molds, and these particles surround the tubular conduit in order to form a cavity into which the second absorbent material is deposited from the distal end of the conduit.

Apparatus for producing absorbent products

An absorbent article useful for absorbing bodily fluids discharged by the wearer of the article is provided. The absorbent article comprises a fluid pervious topsheet, a fluid impervious backsheet affixed to the topsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a resilient tubular member disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet for transporting the fluids to a predetermined region of the core. The tubular member has a plurality of fluid inlets and a plurality of fluid outlets, the inlets and outlets providing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the tubular member. Discharged fluids may be transported from regions adjacent the inlets into the interior of the tubular member, and thereafter through the outlets to the predetermined regions of the core adjacent the outlets, thereby rapidly transporting the fluids to the predetermined region of the core. The inlets are normally open and the outlets are normally closed, however compression of the tubular member causes the inlets to close and the outlets to open, thereby permitting the desired fluid movement. Decompression and compression of the tubular member may be accomplished by the normal bodily movements of the wearer.

Absorbent article having a fluid pumping element

The present invention relates to a method for making laminate materials, and more particularly the present invention relates to a method for making laminate materials having a capillary zone or passageway to acquire, move and/or store fluid within the laminate material. Such laminate materials are particularly suitable for use as a topsheet, an acquisition layer and/or an absorbent core in absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, catamenials, sanitary napkins, bandages, incontinent briefs and the like.

Method for making a capillary laminate material

The present invention pertains to a laminate material. The laminate material includes a first sheet and a second sheet spaced apart from one another by spacers to define a capillary zone for the capillary movement of fluid between the first and second sheets. The spacers connect the first sheet and the second sheet together to form the laminate material.

Capillary laminate material

The present invention provides a resilient, fluid-pervious, laminate, plastic web suitable for use as a topsheet on absorbent articles, especially catamenial articles. The web includes a first layer of polymeric material, a second layer of polymeric material and an intermediate layer of fibrous material. The fibrous material of the intermediate layer extends below the second surface of the web, preferably into the absorbent core. In-use, fluid deposited on the topsheet drains or empties more readily as the fibrous material of the intermediate layer breaks up the fluid meniscuses which form along the second surface of the web, thereby providing improved dryness and cleanliness for the user.

Fluid-pervious plastic web having improved fluid drainage

Disclosed are abrasive wiping articles, e.g., nonwoven, preferably paper towels, which comprise an absorbant nonwoven substrate having printed thereon a cured scrubbing bead mixture which comprises a) certain carboxylated, ionically-charged polymeric abrasive particles, b) a carboxyl group-containing polymeric adhesive material, and c) an amino-epichlorohydrin, e.g., Kymene.RTM., cross-linking agent. The polymeric abrasive particles range in size from about 20 to 400 microns and have a Knoop hardness of from about 4 to 25. The polymeric adhesive material, upon curing, has a Knoop hardness of from about 0.5 to 17. Preferred wiping articles of the foregoing type have a pattern of the scrubbing bead mixture printed onto from about 20% to 70% of the surface area of a paper substrate with the abrasive particles affixed to the substrate in such a manner that their exposed portion extends for a distance of from about 40 to 300 microns above the surface of the paper substrate. Wiping articles of this type are especially useful for removing soil and stain from hard surfaces with the polymeric scrubbing particles thereon being especially resistant to removal during use. Also disclosed is a process for preparing abrasive wiping articles as hereinbefore described. Such a process involves printing a pattern of the scrubbing bead mixture onto the paper substrate, drying the printed substrate and then curing the solid components of the scrubbing bead mixture to affix the abrasive scrubbing particles to the substrate. Curing of the particular scrubbing bead mixture employed can take place at room temperature.

Growing community of inventors

West Chester, OH, United States of America

John B Burchnall