GB2242348A

GB2242348A - Disposable absorbent garments.

Info

Publication number: GB2242348A
Application number: GB9106395A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hironori Nomura; Takamitsu Igaue; Hiroyuki Tanji; Tohru Sasaki
Original assignee: Unicharm Corp
Current assignee: Unicharm Corp
Priority date: 1990-03-28
Filing date: 1991-03-26
Publication date: 1991-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2011-03-26
Also published as: EP0449271A1; JPH03122824U; GB9106395D0; AU7376691A; JPH0742422Y2; DE59105639D1; KR910016406U; CA2039011C; KR970000945Y1; GB2242348B; CA2039011A1; AU632409B2; EP0449271B1

Description

DISPOSABLE ABSORBENT GARMENTS -4 -1 a.

The present invention relates to disposable absorbent garments, such as disposable diaper or training pants, comprising an absorbent panel sandwiched between a fluid-permeable topsheet and a fluid-impermeable backsheet.

The absorbent panel, for example, in disposable diaper has usually been fixedly bonded to the respective inner surfaces of the top- and backsheets with a plurality of stripe-like adhesive lines applied on said respective inner surfaces.

For example, in the disposable training pants having the waist-line previously connected together in the form of a closed loop, it is required for the top- and backsheets to maintain their original stretchability in view of handling easiness for wearing and taking off as well as wearing fitness. However, the arrangement that the absorbent panel is bonded to both the top- and backsheets as in the case of the above-mentioned diaper has inconveniently obstructed the stretchability thereof over a wide range and thus has been unsatisfactory for said easiness for wearing and taking off as well as said wearing fitness.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide disposable absorbent garments using stretchable k materials as the topand backsheets and comprising the absorbent panel fastened in such a manner that said panel can not move at hazard and the stretchabilitv of said tonand backsheets, particularly, of said backsheet can be adeauatelv maintained.

The object set forth above is achieved, in accordance with the present invention by an absorbent garment comprising an absorbent panel sandwiched between a fluidpermeable, stretchable topsheet and a fluid- impermeable, stretchable backsheet, wherein said panel is bonded to said topsheet at dot-like locations at given intervals but not bonded to said backsheet.

In one preferred embodiment, said topsheet comprises fluid-permeable, stretchable non-woven fabric while said backsheet comprises fluidpermeable, stretchable non-woven and fluid-impermeable, stretchable barrier sheet such as plastic or rubber film, and said panel comprises a mixture of fluffy pulp, superabsorbent polymer powder and thermoplastic fibres in which said fibres are welded together and thereby the entire mixture is compressionmolded in the direction of its thickness.

In another preferred embodiment, said non-woven fabric of said backsheet is bonded to said barrier sheet at dot- 1 1 1 i 11 Z' 1 1 t like locations at given intervals.

one of the important features of the present invention such that, as has been mentioned above, said panel is not bonded to said backsheet is advantageous in that.said backsheet is'free to be stretchable without any restriction by said panel so as to press said panel against the wearer's body with a good fitness.

The other important feature of the present invention such that said panel is bonded to said topsheet at dot-like locations at given intervals not only provides a more comfortable touch for the wearer's skin than the conventional garments having much more bonded locations but also allows liquid excretions to be rapidly and effectively absorbed from said topsheet into said panel.

Furthermore, the manner of bonding cooperates with intrinsic function of said backsheet to reliably prevent said panel from moving at hazard.

Training pants constructed as an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the training pants; is an exploded perspective view of the same; is a plan view showing the inner surface of topsheet; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the absorbent panel covered with the top- and backsheets.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of training pants 1 having a pair of legholes 2 and a waist-hole 3 provided with elastic members 4, 5, respectively.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pants 1 comprising a fluidpermeable, stretchable topsheet 6, a fluid-impermeable, stretchable backsheet 7, ah absorbent panel 8 and said elastic members 4, 5 for the legs and the waist, respectively.

The topsheet 6 comprises a fluid-permeable, stretchable non-woven fabric. The backsheet 7 comprises a fluidpermeable, stretchable non-woven fabric 7a and a fluidimpermeable, stretchable barrier sheet such as plastic or rubber film 7b. The panel 8 is in so-called hourglass-shape and comprises a mixture 2 fluffy pulp, superabsorbent polymer powder and thermoplastic fibres in which said fibres are welded together and thereby the entire mixture is compression-molded in the direction of its thickness so as to have a semi-rigidity.

z -S Y -5 Opposite side edges of a crotch zone 12 defined between front and rear sections 10, 11 of the top- and backsheets 6, 7 are formed with notched edges 13 to form the respective leg-holes 2. These notched edges 13 and a waist edge 14 are provided with the elastic members 4, 5, respectively. The elastic member 4 for lea-holes consists of a first submember 4A and a second submember 4B. The first and second submembers 4A, 4B intersect each other at points lying adjacent their opposite ends, defining intersections adjacent middle points on the respective notched edges 13. Sections 4A1, 4B1 of these submembers 4A, 4B extending from the respective intersections to the associated outer ends are bonded to the inner surface(s) of the top- and/or backsheets along the respective notched edges 13 with adhesive and intermediate sections 4A2, 4B2 of said submembers 4A, 4B are banded to none of the components but merely positioned on the central underside of the panel 8. The elastic member 5 for the waist-hole is bonded to the inner surface (5) of the top- and/or backsheet along the waist edge 14 with hot melt type adhesive (not shown).

Outer peripheral edges of the top- and backsheets 6, 7 may be bonded to each other by bonding means such as said adhesive or welding (including ultrasonic welding).

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the inner surface of the topsheet 6. The panel 8 is positioned at a zone 16 surrounded by chain line 15 on the inner surface of the topsheet 6. As shown by Fig. 4, the zone 16 of the topsheet 6 is intermittently bonded to the top surface of said panel 8 by dot-like bonding means 17 disposed at relatively large intervals so as to prevent said zone 16 from floating off from the top surface of the panel 8 and thereby from obstructing inward transmission of liquid excretions through said zone 16 and to prevent said panel from moving at hazard. The bonding means 17 also may be selected from said various bonding means.

Preferably, the non-woven fabric 7a of the backsheet 7 and the sheet 7b are intermittently bonded to each other by dot-like said bonding means. If desired, said non-woven fabric 7a may be intermittently bonded, in the panel absent zone, to both the topsheet 6 and the sheet 7b with which said non-woven fabric 7a is in direct contact, by said dotlike bonding means.

A laminate thus assembled as disposable training pants may be longitudinally folded in two along the middle line thereof and then the opposite side edges 9 may be bonded together by said bonding means to form the completed pants 1 as illustrated by Fig. 1. It should be understood that the present invention may be embodied also as disposable diaper of open type including adhesive tape used to loop the waist line.

i i i i i j 1

Claims

CLAIMS (1) Absorbent aarment comprising an absorbent panel sandwiched

between a fluid-permeable, stretchable topsheet and a fluid-immermeable, stretchable backsheet, wherein said panel is bonded to said topsheet at dot-like locations at given intervals but not bonded to said backsheet.
(2) Absorbent garment as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said topsheet comprises fluid -permeable, stretchable nonwoven fabric while said backsheet comprises fluid -permeable, stretchable non-woven and fluidimpermeable, stretchable barrier sheet such as plastic or rubber film, and said fluid-absorptive panel comprises a mixture of fluffy pulp, superabsorbent polymer powder and thermoplastic fibres in which said fibres are welded together and thereby the entire mixture is compressionmolded in the direction of its thichness.
(3) Absorbent garment as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said non-woven fabric of said backsheet is bonded to said barrier sheet at dot-like locations at given intervals.
(4) Absorbent garment substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 at The Patent Offize. Concept House. Cardiff Road. Newport. Gwent NP9 1 RH. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. Cwinfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NP I 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Mary Cray, Kent.