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EP-4577168-B1 - DURABLE ABSORBENT PANT ADAPTED FOR USE WITH A REMOVABLE ABSORBENT INSERT

EP4577168B1EP 4577168 B1EP4577168 B1EP 4577168B1EP-4577168-B1

Inventors

  • STANLEY, SCOTT, KENDYL

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230817

Claims (15)

  1. A durable absorbent pant adapted to accommodate one or more removable absorbent inserts, comprising: a front waist portion with a front waist edge and left and right front leg opening edges; a rear waist portion with a rear waist edge and left and right rear leg opening edges; a crotch portion comprising a gusset, the crotch portion having a forward portion meeting the front waist portion and a rearward portion meeting the rear waist portion; and left and right hip side portions joining the front waist portion to the rear waist portion and thereby forming a waist opening with a waist opening edge comprising the front waist edge and the rear waist edge, and left and right leg openings; wherein each of the front waist portion, rear waist portion and gusset comprises a knitted or woven material; wherein the gusset comprises a durable absorbent panel comprising a wearer-facing, liquid permeable top layer, a durable absorbent layer subjacent to the wearer-facing liquid permeable top layer, a liquid impermeable barrier layer subjacent to the durable absorbent layer, the wearer-facing liquid permeable top layer and the durable absorbent layer forming an enveloping structure having a closed end and an open end adapted to receive the one or more removable absorbent inserts in a position subjacent to the wearer-facing, liquid permeable top layer of the durable absorbent panel.
  2. An absorbent system comprising the durable absorbent pant according to claim 1 and one or more absorbent inserts disposed within the enveloping structure, wherein each absorbent insert comprises an insert liquid impermeable backsheet and an insert absorbent core disposed above the insert liquid impermeable backsheet.
  3. The absorbent system according to claim 2, wherein the insert absorbent core is positioned subjacent to the wearer-facing, liquid permeable top layer of the durable absorbent panel.
  4. The absorbent system according to claim 2, wherein each of the one or more removable absorbent inserts further comprises an insert liquid permeable topsheet disposed above the insert absorbent core.
  5. The absorbent system according to claim 4, wherein the insert liquid permeable topsheet is positioned subjacent to the wearer-facing, liquid permeable top layer of the durable absorbent panel.
  6. The absorbent system according to any one of claims 2-5, wherein an outward-facing surface of the liquid impermeable backsheet of each of the one or more removable absorbent inserts is substantially free of adhesive.
  7. The absorbent system according to any one of claims 2-6, wherein each of the one or more removable absorbent inserts comprises a pull tab.
  8. The absorbent system according to claim 7, wherein the pull tab is hydrophobic.
  9. The absorbent system according to any one of claims 2-8, wherein the one or more removable absorbent inserts comprises a first removable absorbent insert, a second removable absorbent insert, and, optionally, a third removable absorbent insert.
  10. The absorbent system according to claim 9, wherein the first removable absorbent insert is positioned subjacent to the wearer-facing, liquid permeable top layer of the durable absorbent panel, the second removable absorbent insert is positioned subjacent to the first removable absorbent insert, and the optional third removable absorbent insert is positioned subjacent to the second removable absorbent insert.
  11. The durable absorbent pant according to claim 1, wherein the open end of the enveloping structure comprises a slit in the wearer-facing, liquid permeable top layer of the durable absorbent panel.
  12. The durable absorbent pant according to claim 11, wherein the slit is reinforced.
  13. The durable absorbent pant according to claim 1, claim 11, or claim 12, wherein the durable absorbent panel comprises a liquid impermeable perimeter seal, wherein the open end of the enveloping structure is inboard of the liquid impermeable perimeter seal of the durable absorbent panel.
  14. The absorbent system according to claim 2, wherein each of the one or more removable absorbent inserts has a bending stiffness in the machine direction (MD)/longitudinal of about 10 N/m 2 to about 100 N/m 2 , preferably about 10 N/m 2 to about 80 N/m 2 , more preferably about 20 N/m 2 to about 50 N/m 2 .
  15. The absorbent system according to any one of claims 2-10, wherein each of the one or more removable absorbent inserts has a bending stiffness in the cross direction (CD)/lateral of about 10 N/m 2 to about 100 N/m 2 , preferably about 10 N/m 2 to about 80 N/m 2 , more preferably about 20 N/m 2 to about 50 N/m 2 .

Description

Field of the Invention This disclosure relates to durable absorbent pants adapted for use with removable absorbent inserts and designed to contain and absorb menstrual fluids. Background A variety of absorbent products, including disposable absorbent products as well as durable, reusable absorbent products, are commercially available for absorbing and retaining urine, menstrual fluids, and other vaginal discharges. In particular, the popularity of durable, reusable absorbent products, is growing. Many consumers may prefer the fit and feel of durable, reusable absorbent products, which tend to feel more like underwear. Systems comprising a washable and reusable product, such as a durable menstrual short or pant, in combination with a disposable absorbent pad are also known. In particular, a system comprising a washable and reusable pant that includes a fabric channel or casing, which has two open ends, for holding a disposable pad is known. Prior art is known from US2021/100698 and US2021/290447. However, the existing products and systems have a number of disadvantages. For example, with regard to the system comprising a reusable pant that includes a fabric channel for holding a disposable pad, the two open ends of the channel may allow the disposable pad to shift during use. Also, the presence of two open ends may cause confusion for a user as to the proper insertion orientation of the pad. Some existing products and systems provide insufficient capacity and/or fluid handling performance for all day wear or for users that have heavy insults of urine or menstrual fluid and/or may leak, due to poor fit or improper placement, resulting in soiling of a wearer's clothing or bedding. Therefore, there is a need for an absorbent product or system that provides improved capacity and/or fluid handling to enable all-day wear, without leakage, while delivering dryness and freshness renewal throughout the all-day wear. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a durable absorbent pant adapted to accommodate one or more removable absorbent inserts, comprising: a front waist portion with a front waist edge and left and right front leg opening edges; a rear waist portion with a rear waist edge and left and right rear leg opening edges; a crotch portion comprising a gusset, the crotch portion having a forward portion meeting the front waist portion and a rearward portion meeting the rear waist portion; and left and right hip side portions joining the front waist portion to the rear waist portion and thereby forming a waist opening with a waist opening edge comprising the front waist edge and the rear waist edge, and left and right leg openings; where each of the front waist portion, rear waist portion and gusset comprises a knitted or woven material; where the gusset comprises a durable absorbent panel comprising a wearer-facing, liquid permeable top layer, a durable absorbent layer subjacent to the wearer-facing liquid permeable top layer, a liquid impermeable barrier layer subjacent to the durable absorbent layer, the wearer-facing liquid permeable top layer and the durable absorbent layer forming an enveloping structure having a closed end and an open end adapted to receive the one or more removable absorbent inserts in a position subjacent to the wearer-facing, liquid permeable top layer of the durable absorbent panel. The present disclosure also relates to an array of packages comprising two or more different sizes of durable absorbent pants adapted to accommodate one or more removable absorbent inserts, the array comprising: a. a first package and a second package, where the first package comprises a first durable absorbent pant being a first size and the second package comprises a second durable absorbent pant being a second size, where the second size is different than the first size, where each of the first and second durable absorbent pants comprises: i. a front waist portion with a front waist edge and left and right front leg opening edges; ii. a rear waist portion with a rear waist edge and left and right rear leg opening edges; iii. a crotch portion comprising a gusset, the crotch portion having a forward portion meeting the front waist portion and a rearward portion meeting the rear waist portion; and iv. left and right hip side portions joining the front waist portion to the rear waist portion and thereby forming a waist opening with a waist opening edge comprising the front waist edge and the rear waist edge, and left and right leg openings; where each of the front waist portion, rear waist portion and gusset comprises a knitted or woven material; where the gusset comprises a durable absorbent panel comprising a wearer-facing, liquid permeable top layer, a durable absorbent layer subjacent to the wearer-facing liquid permeable top layer, a liquid impermeable barrier layer subjacent to the durable absorbent layer, the wearer-facing liquid permeable top layer and the durable absorbent layer fo