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EP-4454625-B1 - DISPOSABLE INCONTINENCE ARTICLE IN PANT FORM

EP4454625B1EP 4454625 B1EP4454625 B1EP 4454625B1EP-4454625-B1

Inventors

  • Eilers, Jörg

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20201228

Claims (19)

  1. Disposable incontinence article (2) in the form of underpants, having a longitudinal central axis (44) and a transverse central axis (30), for absorbing bodily excretions, preferably for use by men, comprising a front abdominal portion (4) and a rear back portion (6) spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction (9), which portions are connected to each other by the manufacturer at side seam regions (14) on both sides to form a continuous abdominal and back band in a transverse or hip circumference direction (16) with a hip opening (18) closed in the hip circumference direction (16), and comprising a crotch portion (8) having an absorption body (7), which portion extends in a longitudinal direction (9) between the abdominal portion (4) and the back portion (16) and is permanently attached to the abdominal portion (4) and the back portion (6) in a particular overlap region (36, 38), the crotch portion (8), the abdominal portion (4) and the back portion (6) together delimiting leg openings (19) of the incontinence article (2) and the crotch portion (8) having cuff elements (68) on both sides that form a lateral leakage barrier and run along a longitudinal extension of the absorption body (7) on both sides, which elements are fixed at least along a cuff base line (52) on a body-facing side of the incontinence article (2) and have an unfixed, free longitudinal edge (74) that is at least partially elasticized in the longitudinal direction (9), with which edge the cuff elements (68) can be lifted up from the body-facing side of the incontinence article (2) and thus form the particular lateral leakage barrier and the absorption body (7) being arranged such that a transverse central line (43) of the absorption body (7) is arranged between the transverse central axis (30) of the incontinence article (2) and a hip opening edge (18') of the abdominal portion (4) that delimits the hip opening (18), characterized in that the cuff elements (68) are guided with varying distance of the cuff base lines (52) from each other, and the absorption body (7) extending in the direction of the back portion (6) over the transverse central axis (30) of the incontinence article in the direction of a hip opening edge (18") of the back portion (6), a ratio of a maximum distance of the cuff base lines (52) within a front product half in front of the transverse central axis of the incontinence article to a distance of the cuff base lines (52) measured on the transverse central axis (30) of the incontinence article being at least 1.3.
  2. Incontinence article according to claim 1, characterized in that the particular cuff base line (52) has a front cuff base line end portion (54) and/or a rear cuff base line end portion (56) running inward in the transverse direction (16), in particular in an arc shape, in the direction of a longitudinal central axis (44) of the incontinence article (2) and thus in the direction of the free longitudinal edge (74) of the particular cuff element (68), this front and/or rear cuff base line end portion (54,56) delimiting the liftable region (80) of the cuff element (68) in the longitudinal direction (9).
  3. Incontinence article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a ratio of an average front cuff base line distance D(v) in a front cuff base line distance segment to an average rear cuff base line distance D(h) in a rear cuff base line distance segment is at least 1.2, in particular at least 1.3, in particular at least 1.4, and more particularly at most 2.3, more particularly at most 2.2, more particularly at most 2.1, more particularly at most 2.0, more particularly at most 1.9, more particularly at most 1.8, more particularly at most 1.7.
  4. Incontinence article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ratio of a maximum distance of the cuff base lines (52) within a front product half in front of the transverse central axis of the incontinence article to a distance of the cuff base lines (52) measured on the transverse central axis (30) of the incontinence article is at least 1.4, and in particular at most 2.0, more particularly at most 1.8.
  5. Incontinence article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a ratio of a longitudinal extension C4 of the unfixed, free longitudinal edge (74) behind the transverse central axis (30) of the incontinence article (2), in the direction of the back portion (6), to a longitudinal extension C2 of the unfixed, free longitudinal edge (74) in front of the transverse central axis (30) of the incontinence article (2), in the direction of the abdominal portion (4), is at most 0.30, in particular at most 0.25, in particular at most 0.20 and preferably at least 0.05, preferably at least 0.07, more preferably at least 0.10.
  6. Incontinence article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the particular unfixed, free longitudinal edge (74) of the two cuff elements (68) has a total longitudinal extension C3, and can be divided into a front longitudinal edge cuff segment and a rear longitudinal edge cuff segment by halving the total longitudinal extension C3, a ratio of an average front cuff height F(v) calculated within the front longitudinal edge cuff segment to an average rear cuff height F(h) calculated within the rear longitudinal edge cuff segment being at least 1.2, in particular at least 1.3, in particular at least 1.4 and in particular at most 2.0, more particularly at most 1.9, more particularly at most 1.8.
  7. Incontinence article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absorption body is delimited on both sides along a longitudinal extension by longitudinal edges, the longitudinal edges of the absorption body (7) running at varying distance from each other, and the distance of the longitudinal edges from each other in the longitudinal direction having a maximum in a front region of the absorption body.
  8. Incontinence article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absorption body has a total length S3, and, with the total length S3 halved into a front absorption body segment and a rear absorption body segment, a ratio of an average front absorption body width G(v) calculated within the front absorption body segment to an average rear absorption body width G(h) calculated within the rear absorption body segment is at least 1.2, in particular at least 1.3, in particular at least 1.4 and in particular at most 2.0, more particularly at most 1.9, more particularly at most 1.8.
  9. Incontinence article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a ratio of a length S2 of the absorption body (7) behind the transverse central axis (30) of the incontinence article (2), in the direction of the back portion (6), to a length S1 of the absorption body (7) in front of the transverse central axis (30) of the incontinence article (2), in the direction of the abdominal portion (4), is at most 0.30, in particular at most 0.25, in particular at most 0.20, and more preferably at least 0.05, preferably at least 0.10.
  10. Incontinence article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a ratio of a length S1 of the absorption body (7) in front of the transverse central axis (30), in the direction of the abdominal portion (4), to a length L1 of the incontinence article (2) starting from the transverse central axis (30) to a hip opening edge (18') of the abdominal portion (4) that delimits the hip opening (18) is at least 0.6, in particular at least 0.7, more preferably at most 0.9, more preferably at most 0.8.
  11. Incontinence article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a ratio of a maximum height of the cuff elements (68), starting from the cuff base line (52) to the free longitudinal edge (74), to a width of the absorption body (7) measured on the transverse central axis (30) of the incontinence article is at least 0.35, in particular at least 0.40, in particular at least 0.45 and in particular at least 0.50, more particularly at most 0.75, in particular at most 0.70, more particularly at most 0.65.
  12. Incontinence article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cuff base lines (52) at least partially follow a contour (45) of the absorption body (7), and/or the cuff base lines (52) and the longitudinal edges of the absorption body (7) run parallel, more particularly in that the cuff base lines (52) run at least partially within the contour (45) of the absorption body (7).
  13. Incontinence article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absorption body (7) on a front product half of the incontinence article has an area proportion of at least 15%, in particular 18-35%, more particularly 20-35% and/or in that the absorption body (7) on a rear product half of the incontinence article has an area proportion of at most 10%, in particular at most 8%, in particular at most 6%, more particularly at most 4%, and more particularly at least 0.5%, more particularly at least 1%, more particularly at least 1.5%.
  14. Incontinence article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absorption body (7) behind the transverse central axis (30) of the incontinence article in the direction of the back portion in a rear product half has a surface, a quotient of a maximum width of the absorption body in the rear product half to a maximum length of the absorption body in the rear product half (corresponding to S2) being at least 1.0, more preferably at least 1.5, more preferably at least 1.7, more preferably at least 2.0, and more preferably at most 7.0, more preferably at most 6.0, more preferably at most 5.0.
  15. Arrangement of incontinence articles for men in the form of underpants, the arrangement comprising: A first incontinence article (2) having a longitudinal central axis (44) and a first transverse central axis (30), for absorbing bodily excretions, the first incontinence article comprising a front abdominal portion (4) and a rear back portion (6) spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, which portions are connected to each other by the manufacturer at side seam regions (14) on both sides to form a continuous abdominal and back band in the transverse or hip circumference direction (16) with a hip opening (18) closed in the hip circumference direction, and a crotch portion (8) having a first absorption body (7), which portion extends in a longitudinal direction (9) between the abdominal portion (4) and the back portion (6) and is permanently attached to the abdominal portion and the back portion in a particular overlap region, and the first absorption body (7) being arranged such that a first transverse central line (43) of the first absorption body is arranged between the transverse central axis (30) of the first incontinence article and a hip opening edge (18') of the abdominal portion (4) that delimits the hip opening, the crotch portion (8), the abdominal portion (4) and the back portion (6) together delimiting leg openings (19) of the incontinence article and with cuff elements (68) that form a lateral leakage barrier and run on both sides along the longitudinal extension of the absorption body, which elements are fixed at least along a cuff base line (52) on a body-facing side of the incontinence article and have a first unfixed, free longitudinal edge (74) that is at least partially elasticized in the longitudinal direction, with which edge they can be lifted up from the body-facing side of the incontinence article and thus form the particular lateral leakage barrier, the cuff elements being guided with varying distance of the cuff base lines (52) from each other, and a second incontinence article (200) having a longitudinal central axis and a second transverse central axis (243), for absorbing bodily excretions, the second incontinence article comprising a front abdominal portion (4) and a rear back portion (6) spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction, which portions are connected to each other by the manufacturer at side seam regions (14) on both sides to form a continuous abdominal and back band in the transverse or hip circumference direction (16) with a hip opening (18) closed in the hip circumference direction, and a crotch portion (8) having a second absorption body (207), which portion extends in a longitudinal direction (9) between the abdominal portion (4) and the back portion (6) and is permanently attached to the abdominal portion and the back portion in a particular overlap region, the crotch portion (8), the abdominal portion (4) and the back portion (6) together delimiting leg openings (19) of the incontinence article and with cuff elements that form a lateral leakage barrier and run on both sides along the longitudinal extension of the absorption body, which elements are fixed at least along a cuff base line (252) on a body-facing side of the second incontinence article and have a second unfixed, free longitudinal edge that is at least partially elasticized in the longitudinal direction, with which edge they can be lifted up from the body-facing side of the incontinence article and thus form the particular lateral leakage barrier, a surface of the first absorption body (7) behind the first transverse central axis (30) of the first incontinence article (2) in the direction of the back portion of the first incontinence article (2) being smaller than a surface of the second absorption body (207) behind the second transverse central axis (230) of the second incontinence article in the direction of the back portion of the second incontinence article, characterized in that the first incontinence article (2) is an incontinence article according to any of claims 1 to 14
  16. Arrangement according to claim 15, characterized in that the surface of the first absorption body (7) behind the first transverse central axis (30) in the first incontinence article (2) is smaller by a factor of 2 - 9, preferably 3 - 9, more preferably 4 - 9, more preferably 4 - 8 than the surface of the second absorption body (207) behind the second transverse central axis (230) of the second incontinence article (200).
  17. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims 15 - 16, characterized in that a ratio of a maximum height of the cuff elements (68), starting from the cuff base line (52) to the free longitudinal edge (74), to a width of the first absorption body (7) measured on the first transverse central axis (30) in the first incontinence article is greater by a factor of 1.05 - 1.50, in particular 1.10 - 1.45, more particularly 1.15 - 1.40 than a ratio of a maximum height of the cuff elements (68), starting from the cuff base line (252) to the free longitudinal edge (74), to a width of the second absorption body (207) measured on the second transverse central axis (230) in the second incontinence article (200).
  18. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims 15 - 17, characterized in that a ratio of a longitudinal extension C4 of the unfixed, free longitudinal edge (74) behind the transverse central axis to a longitudinal extension C2 of the free longitudinal edge in front of the transverse central axis, i.e. C4/C2, of the first incontinence article (2) is smaller by a factor of at least 3, more preferably at least 3.5, more preferably at least 4, more preferably at most 6, preferably at most 5.5 than a ratio C4 to C2 of the second incontinence article (200).
  19. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims 15 - 18, characterized in that a ratio S2/S1 of an extension S2 of the first absorption body (7) behind the first transverse central axis (30) to an extension S1 of the first absorption body in front of the first transverse central axis (30) of the first incontinence article (2), with respect to the ratio S2/S1 of an extension S2 of the second absorption body (207) behind the second transverse central axis (230) to an extension S1 of the second absorption body in front of the second transverse central axis of the second incontinence article (200), is smaller, in particular by a factor of at least 2, preferably at least 3, more preferably at most 6, more preferably at most 5.

Description

The invention relates to a disposable incontinence product in the form of briefs, i.e., a pull-up product, for the absorption of bodily excretions, preferably for use by men. The incontinence product has a longitudinal central axis and a transverse central axis, and, spaced apart longitudinally, a front abdominal section and a posterior back section, which are connected to each other at both side seams by the manufacturer to form a continuous abdominal and back band in the transverse or hip circumference direction with a hip opening closed in the hip circumference direction, and are connected with a a crotch section comprising an absorbent body, extending longitudinally between the abdominal and back sections and permanently attached to the abdominal and back sections in a respective overlap area, wherein the crotch section, the abdominal section, and the back section together define leg openings of the incontinence article, and wherein the crotch section has cuff elements on both sides forming a lateral leakage barrier and extending along a longitudinal extension of the absorbent body, which are fixed at least along a cuff base line on a body-facing side of the incontinence article and have an unattached free longitudinal edge that is elasticized at least partially in the longitudinal direction, with which the cuff elements can rise from the body-facing side of the incontinence article and thus form the respective lateral leakage barrier, and wherein the absorbent body is arranged such that a transverse center line of the absorbent body lies between the transverse center axis of the incontinence article and a hip opening edge defining the hip opening of the It is located in the abdominal region. A variety of gender-specific incontinence products are known from the prior art. For example, the WO 2005/044169 A1 A disposable absorbent incontinence product for men, featuring a forward-shifted absorbent core to provide an adaptation to the male anatomy and the location of fluid accumulation. Furthermore, for example, the WO 2004/004617A1 A men's product is known in which the absorbent core has a shape that tapers towards the crotch and, when in use, extends to just below the penis. Such a product is intended for use in cases of mild incontinence or dribbling incontinence. A fluid barrier is attached to the narrow end of the absorbent core to prevent leakage. The incontinence product in the form of briefs according to the invention is to be further developed as a gender-specific product for the male wearer. The incontinence product is intended to be even better adapted to the male anatomy than existing products, particularly for dribbling incontinence and/or light incontinence and/or moderate incontinence and/or especially for mobile users. The intended use of the incontinence product is not primarily limited to bedridden, immobile users or cases of severe incontinence. The invention solves this problem by means of an incontinence product having the features of claim 1 and further develops it by the following subclaims. The invention is also solved by an arrangement according to claim 15 and further developed by the following dependent claims. The incontinence product in panty form in the present invention is synonymous with a "pull-up product" or "pants product" or diaper pants. However, the incontinence product in panty form can be separated, particularly along a predetermined tear line, especially in a side seam area, for example, to remove a used incontinence product. The invention relates in principle to a disposable incontinence article in the form of panties with the features of the preamble, in which the cuff elements are guided with varying distances between the cuff base lines, and in which the absorbent body extends in the direction of the back section over the transverse central axis of the incontinence article in the direction of the hip opening edge of the back section. The incontinence product according to the invention has a shorter absorbent core compared to a large number of other incontinence products. This core is positioned essentially in the front half of the product, thus enabling an anatomically correct positioning of the absorbent core for a male user. Particularly in the intended applications of mild and/or moderate incontinence, such an absorbent core is sufficient, as significant fluid accumulation in the central groin area is not expected in the male anatomy. The positioning of the absorbent core makes it advantageous to provide this incontinence product as a daytime item, as it eliminates the risk of fluid transfer far into the back of the product, which can occur with nighttime use or for bedridden users. This positioning of the absorbent core results in a more underwear-like appearance, particularly in the back area, and thus allows for more discreet wear, especially for mobile users. Furthermore, compared to conventional incontinence pads, it offers simpler and more reliable us