Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Scott S C Kirby

Niall Finn

Andy R Butler

Andrew Thomas Hammond

Robert Lee Popp

Eric Donald Johnson

Daniel Robert Schlinz

David Glen Biggs

Kendell Jean Williams

Candace Dyan Krautkramer

Leila Joy Roberson

Michael John Faulks

David Fleger Bishop

Kendell Jean Wendrick

Heather Ann Diffey

An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article. In one example, the article can include an outer cover, a body facing material, and an absorbent body. The body facing material can include a plurality of projections with a land area disposed between the plurality of projections, wherein the land area has an open area greater than about 10% open area in a chosen area.

Absorbent article with a fluid entangled body facing material including a plurality of projections

An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article.

Absorbent article with a fluid-entangled body facing material including a plurality of hollow projections

Absorbent article

An absorbent article having improved handling of body exudates can include a fluid-entangled body facing material including a support layer and a projection layer. The fluid-entangled body facing material can include a plurality of hollow projections formed from a first plurality of fibers in the projection layer. The hollow projections can extend from the outer surface of the projection layer in a direction away from the support layer. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of body exudates in contact with a wearer's skin and can minimize the incidence of leakage of body exudates from the absorbent article.

The present invention is directed to a fluid-entangled laminate web and the process and apparatus for its formation as well as end uses for the fluid-entangled laminate web. The laminate web includes a support layer and a nonwoven projection web having a plurality of projections which are preferably hollow. As a result of the fluid-entangling process, entangling fluid is directed through the support layer and into the projection web which is situated on a forming surface. The force of the entangling fluid causes the two layers to be joined to one another and the fluid causes a portion of the fibers in the projection web to be forced into openings present in the forming surface thereby forming the hollow projections. The resultant laminate has a number of uses including, but not limited to, both wet and dry wiping materials, as well as incorporation into various portions of personal care absorbent articles and use in packaging especially food packaging where fluid control is an issue.

Fluid-entangled laminate webs having hollow projections and a process and apparatus for making the same

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Wahroonga, Australia

Scott S C Kirby