US-12622822-B2 - Absorbent article for liquid stool management

US12622822B2US 12622822 B2US12622822 B2US 12622822B2US-12622822-B2

Abstract

The current invention concerns an absorbent article ( 10 ) comprising an absorbent core ( 12 ) sandwiched between a liquid permeable topsheet ( 14 ) and a liquid impermeable backsheet ( 16 ), and an acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) arranged between said topsheet ( 14 ) and said absorbent core ( 12 ), wherein the absorbent core ( 12 ) comprises at least an absorbent material layer. According to the invention the topsheet ( 14 ) consists essentially of an air-through bonded nonwoven layer and is free of spunbond nonwoven layers, the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) comprises a spunbonded and/or thermocarded nonwoven layer, and the absorbent core ( 12 ) comprises at least one channel ( 26 ) free of absorbent material. The invention also relates to the use of such an absorbent article ( 10 ), for managing liquid stool.

Inventors

Christina Lambertz
Katharina SPROTTE
Agnes Dominika REUTER

Assignees

ONTEX BV
ONTEX GROUP NV

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220624
Priority Date: 20210628

Claims (12)

1 . An absorbent article ( 10 ) comprising an absorbent core ( 12 ) arranged between a liquid permeable topsheet ( 14 ) and a liquid impermeable backsheet ( 16 ), and an acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) arranged between said topsheet ( 14 ) and said absorbent core ( 12 ), wherein the absorbent core ( 12 ) comprises at least an absorbent material layer, characterized in that the topsheet ( 14 ) consists essentially of an air-through bonded nonwoven layer and is free of spunbond nonwoven layers, in that the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) comprises a spunbonded and/or thermocarded nonwoven layer and in that the absorbent core ( 12 ) comprises at least one channel ( 26 ) free of absorbent material.
2 . Absorbent article ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the spunbonded layer of the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) is part of a multi-layer composite sheet additionally comprising a web of meltblown fibers.
3 . Absorbent article ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) is free of air-through bonded nonwoven layers.
4 . Absorbent article ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) is free of spunlaced nonwoven layers.
5 . Absorbent article ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each of the topsheet ( 14 ), acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ), and absorbent core ( 12 ) have an air permeability and wherein the air permeability of the topsheet ( 14 ) is greater than the air permeability of the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) and the air permeability of the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) is greater than the air permeability of the absorbent core ( 12 ).
6 . Absorbent article ( 10 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) has an air permeability of from 1 000 L/m 2 /s to 7 000 L/m 2 /s.
7 . Absorbent article ( 10 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the topsheet ( 14 ) has an air permeability of from 4 000 L/m 2 /s to 12 000 L/m 2 /s.
8 . Absorbent article ( 10 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the air permeability of the topsheet ( 14 ) is 1.1 times greater than the air permeability of the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) and the air permeability of the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) is 1.1 times greater than the air permeability of the absorbent core ( 12 ).
9 . Absorbent article ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each of the topsheet ( 14 ), acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ), and absorbent core ( 12 ) have a mean flow pore size and wherein the mean flow pore size of the topsheet ( 14 ) is greater than the mean flow pore size of the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) and the mean flow pore size of the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) is greater than the mean flow pore size of the absorbent core ( 12 ).
10 . Absorbent article ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the topsheet air-through bonded nonwoven layer is the most exterior layer of a body-facing side of the absorbent article, adapted to be in contact with the skin when the absorbent article is worn.
11 . Absorbent article ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel ( 26 ) is an interconnected channel forming a substantially continuous path.
12 . Absorbent article ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each of the topsheet ( 14 ), acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ), and absorbent core ( 12 ) have a density and wherein the density of the topsheet ( 14 ) is lesser than the density of the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) and the density of the acquisition distribution layer ( 18 ) is lesser than the density of the absorbent core ( 12 ).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure pertains to the technical field of absorbent articles for hygiene products. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the structure or construction of an absorbent article that can be used for absorbing body fluids and exudates, such as urine and fecal material, or blood, menses, and vaginal fluids. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to absorbent garments, such as disposable diapers or diaper pants, disposable incontinence diapers or pants, and which are configured to collect and contain fecal material and avoid leakage, or sanitary napkins or panty liners, which are configured to collect and contain blood, menses, urine, vaginal fluids and avoid leakage. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to an improved absorbent article for liquid stool management and the use of said absorbent article for managing liquid stool. BACKGROUND Disposable diapers conventionally include a chassis having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet and an absorbent structure sandwiched between the topsheet and backsheet. The chassis has a front body panel which, in use, extends over the stomach and front hip area of the user, and a rear body panel which, in use, extends over the back and the rear hip area of the user. Each of the body panels has a waist portion such that, when the diaper is fastened around the waist of the user, the waist portions provide a continuous encirclement of the user. In order to fasten the diaper around the waist of a user, a fastening system comprising fastening tabs is commonly employed. Fastening tabs may be provided on side panels which extend from lateral side edges of the diaper chassis. Disposable pants have a similar construction but typically comprise front and back elasticized belts at either end of the absorbent structure and are sealed together at lateral side seams to form an underwear-resembling product that can be worn by a subject by pulling it up over the legs and may be removed either by pulling it down in the opposite direction or by tearing the side seams. The poo of babies is influenced by their diet whether they are fed formula or breastfed and if they started having solid foods introduced in their diet. As they digest breast milk or formula, the poo is looser and lighter and tends to be liquid stool having a high amount of liquid components with some solid elements. This results in fluid stool which can move unhindered on the surface of the diaper thereby leading to leakage. Solutions in the past such as in WO2017/53036 A1 have focused on improving the absorbent core by introducing channels free of absorbent material to improve the acquisition distribution of fluids. This solution helps to distribute the bodily fluid throughout the absorbent core but is not adapted to manage liquid stool in particular and cannot prevent leakage incident. Another strategy such as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,955 A1 focused on adding feces modifying agents to increase the viscosity of the liquid stool to dewater and immobilize the feces within the absorbent article thereby limiting leakage incident. Although more efficient to limit leakage incident, this solution implies adding chemical additives in a diaper which can be harmful to wearer as well as detrimental to the environment, these absorbent articles being disposable. There remains a need for a fast and effective solution for dewatering and immobilizing liquid stool, in order to lock it in the diaper and avoid leakage incident, that is also more environmental friendly. The invention thereto aims to provide an improved absorbent article and the use of such absorbent article to manage liquid stool efficiently. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an absorbent article comprising an absorbent core arranged between a liquid permeable topsheet and a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an acquisition distribution layer arranged between said topsheet and said absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core comprises at least an absorbent material layer. According to the invention, the topsheet consists essentially of an air-through bonded nonwoven layer and is free of spunbond nonwoven layers, the acquisition distribution layer comprises a spunbonded and/or thermocarded nonwoven layer and the absorbent core comprises at least one channel free of absorbent material. The synergistic combination of these three layers that consists essentially of or comprise: an air-through bonded nonwoven layer, a spunbonded and/or thermocarded nonwoven layer and an absorbent material layer comprising at least one channel free of absorbent material, enables an improved capillary effect or wicking effect. Indeed, the air-through bonded nonwoven fabric is more air permeable, or more porous, than a spunbonded and/or thermocarded nonwoven fabric which is more air permeable, or more porous, than the absorbent material. The liquid stool is thereby naturally drawn towards the absorbent co