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EP-4736827-A1 - ABSORBENT ASSEMBLY FOR WASHABLE ABSORBENT UNDERGARMENT

EP4736827A1EP 4736827 A1EP4736827 A1EP 4736827A1EP-4736827-A1

Abstract

A washable integrated absorbent assembly (10) for a washable absorbent undergarment (1), the assembly extending in a longitudinal direction and having a transverse direction. The assembly comprises an absorbent core layer of knitted or woven material connected to one or more further layers and the core layer is provided with one or more stress-release zones to facilitate stretching of the core layer.

Inventors

  • KNÖS, Anna
  • BLOMSTRÖM, Philip
  • FLODIN, Alice

Assignees

  • Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolag

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241104

Claims (15)

  1. A washable integrated absorbent assembly (10) for a washable absorbent undergarment (1), the assembly extending in a longitudinal direction and having a transverse direction, the assembly comprising an absorbent core layer of knitted or woven material connected to one or more further layers, wherein the core layer is provided with one or more stress-release zones to facilitate stretching of the core layer.
  2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the core layer comprises a plurality of separate segments and the stress-release zones extend between adjacent segments.
  3. The assembly of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the stress-release zones comprise incisions extending partly across the core layer to divide the core layer into interconnected regions.
  4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein each incision extends between 10 % and 90 % across the width of the core layer in the transverse direction.
  5. The assembly of claim 3 or claim 4, comprising 1 to 100 incisions.
  6. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the core layer comprises from 2 to 30 separate segments or partly interconnected regions.
  7. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stress-release zones are non-linear.
  8. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stress-release zones extend at least partially in the transverse direction to facilitate stretching of the core layer in the longitudinal direction.
  9. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the further layers comprise a wearer facing top layer and/or a moisture distributing layer and/or further absorbent core layers.
  10. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the further layers comprise a garment facing moisture barrier layer.
  11. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the knitted or woven material of the core layer exhibits lower stretchability than any of the one or more further layers.
  12. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the core layer is connected to the one or more further layers at least partially at its side edges.
  13. A washable absorbent undergarment (1), comprising one or more woven or knitted fabric panels (2) and an assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims located in a crotch region of the undergarment.
  14. The garment according to claim 13, wherein the assembly is permanently attached to at least one of the one or more fabric panels.
  15. The garment according to any one of claims 13 or 14, wherein the fabric panels form a front region (3), a back region (4) and a crotch region (7) extending between the front and back regions (3, 4), the front region (3) and the back region (4) being joined such that the undergarment (1) forms a waist opening (5) and a pair of leg openings (6a, 6b), wherein a central longitudinal axis (y) of the undergarment (1) is defined along the one or more fabric panels (2) of the undergarment (1) from the back region (4) and towards the front region (3), and a transversal crotch axis (x) of the undergarment (1) is defined in a direction extending between the leg openings (6a, 6b) and so as to divide the crotch region (7) into a front crotch region (7a) extending longitudinally between the transversal crotch axis (x) and a front end (61a, 61b) of each leg opening (6a, 6b), and a rear crotch region (7b) extending longitudinally between the transversal crotch axis (x) and a rear end (62a, 62b) of each leg opening (6a, 6b), the transversal crotch axis (x) being perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis (y).

Description

Field The present disclosure relates to washable absorbent undergarments comprising an integrated absorbent assembly having an absorbent core layer. The disclosure also relates to such washable absorbent assemblies. Such articles and assemblies are intended for reusable sanitary use in absorbing body fluids such as urine and vaginal fluids. The disclosure relates in particular to an absorbent assembly having improved flexibility. 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 undergarment is washed or laundered before reuse. An example of such a washable absorbent undergarment is found in WO2023169665A1. Depending upon the intended use, the absorbent assembly 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 nighttime 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. The selection of materials for incorporation into the absorbent assembly is one of the major challenges in developing such undergarments. Natural materials having adequate absorbent capacity are available but are not easily integrated into a garment, while maintaining the levels of comfort, confidence and discretion expected by today's users. It would thus be desirable to improve the efficacity of materials intended for use in the absorbent assembly. Summary This object may be at least partially achieved with an absorbent assembly in accordance with claim 1 and a washable absorbent undergarment according to claim 13. Further embodiments are set out in the dependent claims and in the following description. The disclosure thus concerns an integrated absorbent assembly or gusset for a washable absorbent undergarment. The absorbent assembly extends in a longitudinal direction and has a transverse direction and further comprises an absorbent core layer of knitted or woven material connected to one or more further layers. The core layer is provided with one or more stress-release zones, which facilitate stretching of the core layer. As a result of the stress-release zones, materials may be used for the core layer, which would be otherwise too stiff or inextensible for integration or connection with the further layers. It will be understood that an absorbent assembly, located in the crotch region of a garment must exhibit a minimum of flexibility for it to comfortably conform to the body of a user. Without adequate flexibility, the garment or at least the absorbent assembly will be uncomfortable and may leak due to failure to remain in the intended position. The flexibility of the absorbent assembly will be determined by all the layers making up the assembly and the garment. Nevertheless, it will be understood that it will be the stiffest layer of the combination that will be the limiting factor. By providing stress-release zones in the core layer of the assembly, it may be avoided that this layer is the limiting factor, even if relatively inflexible materials are used. The stress-release zones may extend at least partially in the transverse direction to facilitate and/or enhance the stretchability of the core layer and absorbent assembly in the longitudinal direction. This is the primary direction for which the assembly should be able to stretch during use although it will be understood that diagonal stretch or shear is also important. This can thus be enhanced by the presence of the stress-release zones extending at least partially in the transverse direction. In the following, stretchability will be used to refer to extension in a given direction whereas flexibility will be used more generally to refer to extensions in any combinations of directions. The core layer may comprise a plurality of separate segments. The stress-release zones may be the gaps or separations that extend between adjacent segments. The segments may be separately produced and individually connected to the further layers. Alternatively, the core layer, may be produced as an item and subsequently cut into the segments, prior or after connecting it to the further layers. The segments may abut one another in the relaxed state of the ga