EP-4736826-A1 - GUSSET FOR WASHABLE ABSORBENT UNDERGARMENT

EP4736826A1EP 4736826 A1EP4736826 A1EP 4736826A1EP-4736826-A1

Abstract

A washable absorbent undergarment comprising woven or knitted fabrics, has a multi-layer gusset extending at least within a crotch region of the garment. The gusset comprises at least a body-facing top layer, a moisture barrier layer and a garment layer, with lateral seams joining side edges of the layers together. The seams are formed in an everted state and subsequently reversed such that the side edges terminate at an interior of the gusset.

Inventors

KNÖS, Anna
BLOMSTRÖM, Philip

Assignees

Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolag

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20241105

Claims (15)

A washable absorbent undergarment comprising woven or knitted fabric, having a multi-layer gusset extending at least within a crotch region of the garment, the gusset comprising at least a body-facing top layer, a moisture barrier layer and a garment layer, with lateral seams joining side edges of the layers together, wherein the seams are formed in an everted state such that the side edges terminate at an interior of the gusset.
The garment of claim 1, wherein the seams are stitched seams, such as overlock stitched seams
The garment of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at the seams, the garment layer is sandwiched between the barrier layer and the top layer.
The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the barrier layer and garment layer are wider than the top layer, at least in the crotch region, and extend around the side edges of the gusset.
The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein joins between the garment layer and the top layer extend along a body facing surface of the garment.
The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gusset has a waisted shape, being narrowest at the crotch region and wider at a front edge and a rear edge.
The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the garment layer extends beyond the gusset.
The garment of claim 7, wherein the garment layer comprises a single fabric panel extending throughout the undergarment.
The garment of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the garment layer is connected to further fabric panels to form the undergarment.
The garment of any one of the preceding claims, comprising leg elastics extending along the seams.
The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gusset further comprises an absorbent core layer, between the top layer and the moisture barrier layer.
The garment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a strip of hydrophobic material is located between the garment layer and the top layer at the lateral seam.
A multi-layer gusset, comprising woven or knitted fabrics, for a washable absorbent undergarment, the gusset comprising at least a body-facing top layer, a moisture barrier layer and a garment layer, with lateral seams joining side edges of the layers together, wherein the seams are formed in an everted state such that the side edges terminate at an interior of the gusset.
A method of manufacturing a multi-layer gusset, comprising woven or knitted fabric, for a washable absorbent undergarment, the method comprising: a. providing a stack comprising in sequence, a moisture barrier layer, a garment layer, a body-facing top layer and an optional absorbent core layer; b. joining side edges of the layers together to form lateral seams; and c. everting the gusset such that the top layer and the garment layer are outermost.
The method of claim 14, further comprising attaching the garment layer to further fabric panels of garment material or to itself, to form an undergarment.

Description

Field The present disclosure relates to washable absorbent undergarments comprising an integrated absorbent assembly in the form of a gusset. Such articles are intended for reusable sanitary use in absorbing body fluids such as urine and vaginal fluids. The disclosure also relates to such a gusset and methods of manufacture thereof. Background A washable absorbent undergarment may be worn for the purpose of absorbing body fluids such as urine and vaginal fluids. Such garments form an environmental and economical advantageous alternative to disposable sanitary napkins and disposable absorbent undergarments. A washable absorbent undergarment typically comprises fabric panels of woven or knitted materials. Conventionally such a washable absorbent undergarment will also comprise an integral absorbent assembly located in the crotch region of the wearer when the undergarment is worn, sometimes referred to as the gusset. After use the absorbent undergarment is washed or laundered before reuse. In general, it would be desirable that garments can be washed and reused at least 10 times without disintegration. An example of such a washable absorbent undergarment is found in WO2023169665A1. Depending upon the intended use, the gusset may vary in size and construction. It may extend over a smaller or larger area of the garment, e.g. depending on whether it is intended for daytime or night-time use. It may also be thicker or thinner, with additional wicking, distribution, barrier and absorbing layers. Nevertheless, in addition to being functional from an absorbing perspective, the resulting undergarment must inspire confidence and be comfortable to wear for prolonged periods as well as providing a good fit and being aesthetically pleasing. It should also be reusable multiple times without visible deterioration in terms of colour, shape, elasticity or construction. Joining the different layers of the gusset together and to the garment material has been one of the major challenges in developing such undergarments. Although such garments are reusable a number of times, in order to be competitive in replacing other solutions, the garments must be simple and cost effective to produce and adequately able to secure against leakage. In particular, stitching through layers may lead it to leak. Manufacturing procedures such as external seams and tapes used for conventional garments are available but not always convenient. It would thus be desirable to improve the construction of such undergarments and their components. Summary This object may be at least partially achieved with a washable absorbent undergarment according to claim 1, a multi-layer gusset according to claim 13 and a method of manufacturing a multi-layer gusset according to claim 14, and further specified as set out in the dependent claims and in the following description. The disclosure thus concerns a washable absorbent undergarment comprising woven or knitted fabric, having a multi-layer gusset extending at least through a crotch region of the garment. The gusset comprises at least a body-facing top layer, a moisture barrier layer and a garment layer with lateral seams joining side edges of the layers together. The seams are formed in an everted state of the gusset, such that once the gusset is turned to its position of use, the side edges terminate at an interior of the gusset and the barrier layer will form an edge seal of the gusset. In the present context, the term gusset is used to refer to what may form a crotch panel of the garment, stretching between a user's legs from a front side of the garment to a rear side of the garment. In some circumstances, this may be referred to as an integrated absorbent assembly although this term may exclude the garment layer itself. Furthermore, the term everted is distinguished from terms such as reversed or turned inside-out, which might refer to the undergarment being inside-out. Everted is used for the case of a tubular structure that is turned inside out by passing the complete structure through its own lumen or opening. The gusset, with only the side edges joined together, forms such a tubular structure. It should be pointed out that it forms a number of potential lumens or openings between each pair of adjacent layers. As a result of the proposed everting of the gusset, the seam and in particular the side edges extending beyond the seam, are located at an interior of the gusset and not exposed at an exterior of the garment. Everting takes place at a lumen corresponding to the top layer, such that the top layer forms the body facing surface of the undergarment. As used herein, the term "absorbent undergarment" refers to garments that are worn and intended to be placed against the skin of the wearer with the intended function of absorbing and containing body fluids such as urine and vaginal fluids including menstrual fluid, without significant visible external trace. The undergarment may for example be underwear, underp