MXPA00006372A - Personal care article having zones with different resistance-to-strech - Google Patents

Abstract

A personal care article includes a resiliently stretchable outer cover. In a first embodiment, a first zone of the outer cover is embossed forming a pattern of embossments providing a first set of desired properties pertaining to stretch of a portion of the outer cover. A second zone of the outer cover is not modified to provide the first set of properties and thus has different stretch properties than the first zone. In a second embodiment, a first panel is secured to a resiliently extensible second panel. A first zone of the second panel can have a pattern of embossments securing the second panel to the first panel. The embossments cause the first zone to have different stretch properties than a second zone of the second panel that is not embossed thereby to impart the set of stretch properties.

Description

ARTICLE FOR PERSONAL CARE THAT HAVE ZONES OF DIFFERENT RESISTANCE TO STRETCHING FIELD OF THE INVENTION Personal care articles are well known, for example, baby diapers, training underpants, incontinent adult products and the like. These items have been widely accepted given their ability to receive and absorb body exudates.

The present invention relates to items for personal care and, in particular, to their characteristics d stretching in different areas of the respective article for personal care. For example, a personal care article should have desired stretchability, stretch resistance and flexibility through the waistband sections or the adjacent leg openings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In general, personal care items should fit comfortably into the body of the wearer. Personal care items are made using materials such as an outer shell and a lining on the side of the body, to make a substrate that is usually not stretchable, or stretchable only to a certain extent, such that it is not greater than about 50%. Therefore, the materials of the primary substrate, from which such articles for personal care are manufactured, lack the flexible stretch characteristics desired in the waist and the leg openings. Accordingly, personal care items typically have elastically stretchable waist elements secured around the waistlines of the articles. Equally, personal care articles generally have elastic elements on the leg on opposite sides of the crotch portion portion adjacent to the leg cuts. Said elastic waist elements and elastic leg elements are used to provide the desired levels of extensibility or retractibility to articles for personal care in the waistband region and in the crotch portion region, respectively.

When, as in the case of the personal care articles of the invention, one or more of the materials used to manufacture the outer cover and the body side lining is flexibly stretchable to more than 50%, for example, up to At least 300%, it is still desirable to provide the same amounts of stretch, resistance to stretching and flexibility than those provided in conventional personal care items. Thus, although flexible stretchability is desired in the areas of the waist and legs, too much stretching or too little resistance to stretching, they are no more acceptable than very little stretch or too much resistance to stretching. Accordingly, in cases where the amount of stretching is greater than desired, or in cases where the stretch resistance is less than desired, in, for example, a stretchable outer covering or a side lining of the stretchable body, appropriate modifications to the outer shell or liner of the respective body side should be made, in order to provide the desired level of stretchability, and resistance to stretching.

SYNTHESIS OF THE DESCRIPTION Applicants' invention defined herein provides the desired level of flexible stretchability and stretch resistance desired in personal care articles that include lexibly stretchable outer cover or flexibly stretchable body side lining, or both. Said stretchable elements are embossed to provide the desired levels of stretch in the selected areas. For example, stretching in the Waistband section can be reduced by embossing the stretchable outer cover in the waist region. Dich embossing increases the resistance to stretching in the embossed area, whereby the resistance to stretching is greater than the resistance to stretching in other areas of the article.

Therefore, unlike the addition of elastomeric elements, or the treatment of materials to increase the stretch, as was known in the prior art, in the products and processes of the applicants, modifications are made to the materials used in the articles for the personal care of the invention, whereby the amount of stretching or elasticity is decreased, to thereby increase the resistance to stretching, in the areas or areas of the personal care articles of the invention thus treated.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a personal care article comprising a stretchable outer cover flexibly in at least one direction. At least a first portion of a first zone of the stretchable outer cover flexibly has a pattern of embossments, effective to reduce or limit or otherwise control the stretching of the outer cover in the first zone, to provide a first set of desired properties relative to the amount of stretchability, and resistance to stretching of the outer shell. The outer cover has a second separate and distinct zone where the outer cover is not modified to provide the first set of limitations. The embossings of the first zone cause the portion thus treated of the outer cover in the first zone to have a different stretch resistance than the untreated or less treated portion, respectively, of the outer cover of the second zone.

In some embodiments, the outer cover has flexible stretchability in at least the transverse direction at the front portion of the personal care article, the outer cover having a first waistband section at the front portion and a second waistband section at the front portion. the back portion, the first zone comprising the first waistband section that provides the first set of desired stretch properties relative to the amount of stretch in the waistband section.

In some embodiments, the second zone comprises an area of the outer cover separated toward the first waistband section.

In some embodiments, the personal care item is devoid of added elastic waist elements.

In some embodiments, the outer cover is flexibly stretchable in at least the transverse direction in the back portion of the personal care article, comprising a second waistband section comprising a third area in the back portion that has greater strength to stretch than the second zone.

In some embodiments, the outer cover includes a fourth and a fifth zones, effectively embossed in portions thereof, such that the fourth and fifth zones have a greater resistance to stretching than the second zone.

In some embodiments, the fourth zone is adjacent a first outer end in at least the crotch portion and the fifth zone is adjacent to a second outer end opposite in at least the crotch portion, the fourth optionally extending and fifth zones along the crotch portion in the longitudinal direction.

In some embodiments, the personal care item is devoid of elastic leg elements added in the crotch portion, the fourth and fifth areas providing the properties of the elastic leg elements.

In some embodiments, the first zon comprises a variety of separate embossments that form an embossing matrix.

In some embodiments, the array comprises at least two rows of separate points. In other embodiments, the array comprises a series of lines or other separate configurations.

In some embodiments, the personal care article has a front end at the front portion, and a rear end at the rear portion, the outer cover being substantially unfolded at the front and rear ends.

In some embodiments, the personal care article includes an absorbent structure super imposed on and connected to the outer cover, to form ai an absorbent personal care article, including the absorbent structure a substantially liquid-impermeable backsheet, a liquid-permeable body-side liner super imposed on the backsheet and an absorbent core disposed between the body-side lining and the back sheet.

In some embodiments, extensible connection elements secure the absorbent structure to the outer cover, while allowing flexible stretching of the outer cover along the transverse direction.

In some embodiments, the extensible connection elements have at least one fold that connects the absorbent structure to the outer cover.

In some embodiments, the outer cover is intermittently embossed in the first area.

In some embodiments, the personal care item comprises a first panel, a second panel stretchable flexibly in at least one direction, the second panel being in surface-to-surface relationship with the other. first panel, defining the first and second panels, e combination, a substrate, having a first portion of a first zone of the second panel an embossing pattern that secures the second panel to the first, thus providing a prime set of desired properties, relative to the Stretching of the second panel, a second zone of the second panel wherein the second panel does not show embossing securing the second panel to the first panel nor the first set of properties, thus causing embossing of the first zone that the first zone has a resistance to different stretch than the second zone.

In some embodiments, the second panel is not stretched by securing the first panel.

In some embodiments, the first zone comprises at least part of the crotch portion of the personal care article, the first zone of the crotch portion having a greater resistance to stretching than the second zone.

In some embodiments, the first panel comprises a lining on the extensible body side and the second panel comprises an outer cover.

In some embodiments, the first panel comprises a substantially non-extensible body side liner.

In some embodiments, the outer cover is pre-stretched in at least one direction by securing it to the body side liner.

In some embodiments, the outer cover is pre-stretched to a predetermined extent of elongation before being secured to the body-side liner, the substrate having a characteristic first load / extension curve relationship, when stretched to the extent of elongation previously determined, and a second characteristic load / extension ratio by stretching beyond the previously determined elongation measurement.

In some embodiments, the embossing pattern of the first zone controls the stretch resistance of the personal care item in the first zone. For example, in some embodiments, the first zone comprises between about 2% and about 50% of the general area, preferably between 5% and about 40% of the total area, and more preferably between about 10% about 30% of the general area, of the second panel.

In some embodiments, about 5% to about 80% of the surface area of the first zone of the second panel is embossed to the first panel.

In some embodiments, the embossments provide the joining of the second panel to the first panel in the form of a pattern of spaced points extending in two dimensions through substantially all of the first zone.

In some embodiments, the joint comprises ultrasonic attachment of the second panel to the first panel.

In other embodiments, the embossments comprise adhesive bonding of the second panel to the first panel.

In some embodiments, the second panel is elongated to not more than about 350% and not less than about 5%, preferably not more than about 200% and not less than about 10%, more preferably not more than 100% and not less than approximately 15%, by insuring it to the first panel.

Other embodiments of the invention comprise methods for imparting first and second set of different stretch properties to the respective first and second zones of a substrate of an article for personal care, the substrate including a first panel and a second flexible stretchable panel, including securing the first panel in surface-to-surface relationship with the second panel, effectively embossing at least portion of a first zone of the second panel to the respective portions of the first panel, the embossing causing the first securing zone a first set of stretching properties other than a second set of stretching properties in a second zone of the substrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of the articles for personal care of the invention.

FIGURE 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the personal care article of FIGURE 1 taken in 2--2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the personal care article of FIGURE 1 taken at 3--3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 shows a close-up view of the cross-sectional view portion of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 shows a plan view of the work surface of an ultrasonic piston-type anvil, including separate bars.

FIGURE 6 shows a graph comparing the characteristic load / extension ratios of the embossed and non-embossed areas of the FIGURE 1 embodiment.

FIGURE 7 shows a top view of a second embodiment of the personal care articles of the invention having a body side liner substantially overlapping the entire outer cover.

FIGURE 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the personal care article of FIGURE 7 taken at 8--8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 shows a top view of the personal care article of FIGURE 7 taken at 9-9 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 shows a graph comparing the characteristic load / extension ratios of the embossed areas of the embodiment of FIGURE 7 with other similar panels but not gofadas.

FIGURE 11 shows a graph comparing the characteristic load / extension ratios of the embossed areas of the embodiment of FIGURE 7 with embossed and non-embossed areas of the FIGURE 7 embodiment.

FIGURE 12 shows a view of a portion of a surface of a substrate having an embossing matrix thereon.

FIGURE 13 shows a top view of a third embodiment of the articles for care personal of the invention similar to that of the embodiment of FIGURE 7, except that the outer cover is previously stretched when it is secured to the lining on the body side.

FIGURE 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the personal care article of FIGURE 1 taken at 14--14 of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 shows a graph comparing the load / extension ratios characteristic of the embossed and non-embossed areas of the FIGURE 13 embodiment.

The invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangement of the elements specified in the description that follows or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may have other embodiments practiced or carried out in various ways. In addition, it should be understood that the terminology and phraseology applied in this document is for descriptive and illustrative purposes and should not be considered as limiting. Equal reference numerals are used to indicate equal elements. The drawings are for illustrative purposes, and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The various embodiments of the present invention will be described in connection with their use in disposable personal care articles, but it should be understood that the potential uses of the structures of the present invention should not be limited to the context of the articles for the city. disposable personal, for example, diapers, feminine care items, incontinence garments and the like.

As used herein and in the claims that follow, the phrase "personal care item" includes articles for incontinent adults, feminine hygiene products, articles that do not have any considerable absorbent function but that receive or store, or both, urine or fecal matter, or both, such as diapers, training shorts and the like.

As used herein and in the following claims, the phrase "stretch resistance" is an expression of the load / extension ratio and means the amount of force required to elongate a panel or other material a certain distance. Thus, a first zone that has a resistance to stretching greater than a second zone it requires the application of a greater force to lengthen the first zone the same distance in which the second zone lengthens with the application of a smaller force.

As used herein and in the claims that follow, "embossing" or "embossing" includes an area in which a material is actuated by pressure, thermal energy, ultrasonic energy or other treatment, including thermoforming, and applying adhesives to join the first second panels in selected areas, to modify the stretching properties of the material in the place where said action is carried out. Other joining techniques to secure the first and second panels together are also within the scope of the term "embossing". Said techniques block the stretching in the second panel given the securing to the first panel in several areas of this.

The personal care article 12 having a longitudinal direction "L" and a transverse direction "C", shown in FIGURE 1, includes a front portion 14 having a leading end 16, a posterior portion 18 having a trailing end 20, and a crotch portion 22 between the front portion 14 and the back portion 18. The longitudinal direction "L" represents a direction along the article for personal care 12. The cross direction "C" represents a cross direction of the width of the article for personal care 12. The article for personal care 12 includes an outer cover 24. Grip panels 26, 28 are secured to the cover outer 24 in the opposite end regions of the front portion 14, as shown in FIGURE 1. Fasteners 30, 32 in the opposite end regions of the back portion 18 hold the opposite end regions of the back portion 18 to the front portion 14 As shown in FIGURE 1, there are embossments 34 in the outer cover 24 disposed at the adjacent front end 16 to the front portion 14, and at the adjacent rear end 20 of the rear portion 18 of the outer cover. The embossments 34 are also disposed at opposite opposite ends 36, 38 of the crotch portion 22 of the personal care article 12. The embossments 34 provide a first set of zones 40, 42, 44, 46 with different resistance to stretch than an embossing. second set of zones 48, 50 of the outer cover 24 that does not contain embossments. Although the zones 48, 50 represent specific areas of the outer cover 24 that do not contain embossments, essentially the entire outer cover comprises a single combined zone that has no embossments, except in the areas 40, 42, 44, 46.

However, in some embodiments, at least portions of the non-embossed areas 48, 50 may contain nominal embossments. Such embossing provides less resistance to stretching than the embossings of the first set of zones 40, 42, 44, 46.

The absorbent structure 52 is over-imposed on and operably secured to the outer cover 24 to form an absorbent article. The absorbent structure 52 includes extensible connecting members 54, 56, 58, 60 secured with adhesive 62 to the respective portions of the outer cover 24.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the absorbent structure 52 includes a substantially liquid impermeable backsheet 64, a liquid-permeable body side liner 68 super imposed on the backsheet 64, and an absorbent core. 70 arranged between the backsheet and the lining on the body side. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the absorbent structure is secured to the outer cover 24 at the front portion 14 through expandable connecting elements 54, 56 and at the rear portion 18 by extendable connecting elements 58, 60 As shown in FIGURE 2, the connecting elements rear extensions 58, 60 are extensions of the backsheet 64 and body side lining 68, and have folded folds between the absorbent core 70 and the outer cover 24. Folded folds allow the extension of the personal care article 122 in the transverse direction "C" without stressing the absorbent core 70 or the lining on the body side 68.

The outer cover 24 preferably comprises a material that is stretchable flexibly in at least the transverse direction for at least about 30% of the entire surface area of the outer cover from a condition at rest. Generally, the outer cover 24 is flexibly stretchable in at least the front portion 14 of the personal care article 12. In some embodiments, the outer cover 24 may be flexibly stretchable in the front portion 14 and in the portion rear 18 of the article for personal care 12. The outer cover 24 can also be flexibly stretchable in at least one direction along the entire length of the outer cover.

In other embodiments, the outer cover 24 can be stretchable flexibly both in the cross direction "C" as in the longitudinal direction "L". Therefore, in certain embodiments, the entire outer cover can extend along the longitudinal direction "L" and the transverse direction "C" to adjust the personal care item 12 to the wearer.

The outer cover 24 may include an elastomeric material that provides the outer cover from about 10% to about 300% elongation within a comfortable tension range for the wearer. In the embodiments, the outer shell 24 can have an elongation of at least about 30 percent when subjected to a tensile force load of 80 grams per linear centimeter width of the outer shell transverse to the stretch direction . The outer cover 24 may include a material comprising a film, laminate (non-woven film), a non-woven elastomer, or a combination thereof.

The phrase "flexibly stretchable" means the ability of a material to elongate or stretch in response to a force and, after release of the force, to return substantially to its unstretched dimension without considerable long-term material deformation. For example, an exemplary outer shell 24 may be extended by 200% with one force (three times its original size) and then return to approximately 150% of its original length after the release of the outside. Said recovery of at least about 75% of the amount of the extension describes a flexibly stretchable outer covering.

Among the elastomers useful in outer shell 24 are thermoplastic elastomers, block copolymers and copolymers (butadienes and the like), ethylene vinyl polyesters and acetates, and crosslinked and cured elastomers, for example, rubbers.

The elastomers can be manufactured in continuous films or with openings ranging from about 0.2 mils to about 5 mils in thickness. The elastomers may also be nonwoven or non-woven polymers fused together with basic weights ranging from about 5 grams per square meter to about 250 grams per square meter. The elastomeric and non-woven components or films can be combined, for example, by adhesive bonding, thermal bonding or ultrasonic bonding of multiple layers to form multilayer laminates. The materials of the outer cover may comprise non-woven materials thermally bonded or otherwise elastomeric films or layers, or laminates of nonwoven materials fused together, for example laminates joined by stretching or laminates bonded by throttling.

A lamination by attached exemplary throttling of the outer shell 24 includes an elastomeric film G2755 KRATON®, commercially available from Shell Chemical Company. The film is disposed between, and joins, two layers of 23 grams per square meter of non-woven fabrics bonded by fusion with 40% stranded polypropylene. Examples of laminates bonded by strangulation are described in U.S. Patent Number 5,226,992 issued July 13, 1993 in favor of Morman, the presentation of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, so as to be congruent (not contradictory) ) with the same.

The outer shell 24 may comprise, for example, suitable elastomeric fibrous webs fused together, as described in U.S. Patent 4,663,220 issued May 5, 1987 in favor of T. Wisneski et al. and incorporated in this document as a reference in its entirety, so that it is consistent (not contradictory) with it. Examples of composite fabrics comprising at least one layer of nonwoven material secured to the elastic layer Fibrous are described in European Patent Application Number E 0110010 published on April 8, 1987 with the inventors listed as J. Taylor et al., the presentation of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, so as to be consistent ( not contradictory) with it.

In a particular embodiment wherein the outer cover 24 includes an elastomeric material, and it is desirable that the outer cover be capable of accommodating or elongation in the transverse direction of at least about 5 percent, more desirably of at least about 14 percent. percent, and even more desirably at least 30 percent when subjected to a tensile strength load of 80 grams in the transverse direction per linear centimeter of the sample measured in the longitudinal direction. In addition, it is also desirable that the outer cover 24 be capable of providing a range of tension from about 20 about 400 grams, more desirably from about 40 to about 275 grams, and even more desirably from about 60 to about 200 grams per linear centimeter of the sample measured in the longitudinal direction when subjected to an elongation of 30 percent in the transverse direction.

In another embodiment of the invention, the outer cover 24 can be a woven polypropylene fabric of yarns fused together, composed of, or formed in a weft. The fabric may be creped or strangled, such that it is extensible at least in the longitudinal direction "L" or in the transverse direction "C". Other materials having advantageous features are also useful as an outer cover 24.

In other embodiments, the outer cover 24 comprises a stretch bonded laminate having adequate flexible stretchability. A stretch-bonded laminate comprises at least one two-layer composite in which one layer is a reunitable layer and the other layer is a gatherable layer. The layers are joined when the stretchable layer is in a stretched condition, of. such that, upon relaxing the composite of the bonded layers, the gatherable layer is gathered. Other suitable materials can be used for the outer cover 24.

Grip panels 26, 28 are preferably non-stretchable, and can be formed with a material other than the outer cover 24, and then assembled and connected to the outer cover 24 at opposite ends of the portion front 14 of the personal care article 12. Grip panels 26, 28 extend outward from the outer cover 24 to form a pair of opposed waist flap sections. Grip panels 26, 28 help a user to apply the personal care item 12 to the body of a person who will wear it.

Grip panels 26, 28 can be secured to the outer cover 24, for example, by ultrasonic bonding. Grip panels 26, 28 can also be secured to the outer cover 24 by adhesives, seam, thermal bonding, pins, staples, solvent bonding or similar methods.

Grasping panels 26, 28 comprise substantially non-stretchable material, for example, polymer films, woven fabrics, substantially non-stretchable non-woven fabrics, or the like, as well as combinations thereof. Fasteners 30, 32 may be formed with different materials that are assembled or connected to the outer cover 24 at opposite ends of the back portion 18 of the personal care article 12. The fastening devices typically comprise substantially non-elastomeric fastening material. In use, the clamping devices 30, 32 secure the back portion 18 to the front portion 14 and thus keep the personal care item 12 in the body of the wearer.

The clamping devices 30, 32 can be permanently secured to the outer cover 24 by ultrasonic connection. The fastening devices 30, 32 can also be secured to the outer cover 24 with adhesives, seam, thermal bonding, pins, staples, solvent bonding or similar methods.

The fastening devices 30, 32 may include, for example, the hooks of an eyelet and hook fastening system. Other well-known fastening systems can be used to support the personal care article 12 on any carrier. For example, a cohesive fastening system, an adhesive fastening system, or the like, may be used in combination with suitable cooperating elements that are on the front portion 14, as necessary, to support the personal care item. in the carrier.

In use, the fastening devices 30, 32 are preferably secured to the stretchable landing area flexibly at the front portion 14 of the outer cover 24, thereby securing the respective fastening devices 30, 32 to the stretch area flexibly. An example of a fastener apparatus suitable for use in the subject invention is specified in U.S. Patent No. 5,399,219 issued March 21, 1995 in favor of Roessler et al., The presentation of which is incorporated herein by reference in its totality, so that it is congruent (not contradictory) with it.

Preferably, the outer cover 24 comprises a material having a suitably looped construction, such that the hooks of the fastening devices 30, 32 are directly connected to the fabric of the outer cover 24. Thus, in the embodiments, the outer cover 24 acts as a landing area for the fastening devices 30, 32. This arrangement helps to control the number of elements that must be formed, placed and secured in the article for personal care 12.

The absorbent structure 52 includes a liquid impervious backsheet 64, a permeable body side liner 68, absorbent core 70, and extensible connecting members 54, 56, 58, 60.

The expandable connecting elements 54, 56, 58, 60 comprise sections extending outwardly from the back sheet 64 and the body side liner 68, extending outwards on opposite sides of the front and the back side of the absorbent structure 52 as shown in FIGURES 1-2. The extensible connection elements 54, 56, 58, 60 each have a bent or folded section. The extendable connecting elements are secured with adhesive 62 to the outer cover 24. Thus, the expandable connecting elements 54, 56, 58, 6 secure the absorbent structure 52 to the outer cover 24, while accommodating the flexible stretch the front portion 14 and the rear portion 18 of the outer cover 24, along at least the transverse direction "C". The expandable connecting element 54, 56, 58, 60 has at least one folded fold thereon, which connects the absorbent structure 52 to the outer cover 24. The fold or folds open extend when the personal care article 12 extends in the transverse direction "C".

In the embodiment of FIGURE 1, the combination of backsheet 64 and body side liner 68 may have limited extensibility or lack thereof, since the folds of extensible connecting members 54, 56, 58, 60 may open and unfold enough to accommodate the stretching of the outer cover 24 in the transverse direction "C", to secure it to the user.

The extensible connecting elements 54, 56, 58, 60 may comprise separate elements (not shown) secured to at least the backsheet 64 or the body side liner 68. They stand out among the suitable materials for use in the various elements of the body. expandable connection 54, 56, 58, 60 polyester, foams and natural fibers. Various other woven and non-woven fabrics may be used in the extensible connecting elements 54, 56, 58, 60. Instead of having folds, the expandable connecting elements 54, 56, 58, 60 may comprise extensible, preferably extensible, flexible elements. which can stretch or extend considerably in at least the transverse direction "C".

The liquid-impermeable backsheet 64 may comprise a single layer, or multiple components, multiple layers, or partial layers of material, such that the resulting backsheet is substantially impermeable to liquids. A typical backsheet 64 can be manufactured with a thin plastic film or other flexible liquid impervious material. For example, the waterproof backsheet 64 can be formed with a polyethylene film, or a film of laminated polyethylene to form a woven n-weave surface, for example, a non-woven web of fused yarns of polyolefin fibers. In addition, the liquid-impermeable backsheet 64 can be formed with a woven or non-woven fibrous tram that has been completely or partially constructed or treated to impart a desired level of liquid impermeability to selected regions that are adjacent or close to the core. absorbent 70. Moreover, the liquid-impermeable backsheet 64 may optionally be comprised of a micro-porous material that allows the vapors of the absorbent core 70 to escape while preventing liquid exudates from traversing the backsheet.

The body side liner 68 comprises a skin facing surface that is compressible, soft to the touch and does not irritate the skin of the wearer. In addition, the lining of the body side 68 must be sufficiently porous to be permeable to liquids, allowing the liquid to penetrate through its thickness.

The body side liner 68 may be composed of a substantially hydrophobic substantially non-wettable material, the hydrophobic material being preferably treated with a surfactant or processed from another way to impart a desired level of wettability hydrophilicity.

The body side liner 68 can be manufactured from a wide selection of weft materials, for example porous foams, cross-linked foams, plastic films with openings or natural or synthetic fibers. For example, the body side liner 68 may comprise cotton wood fibers. Other useful materials, for example, polyester or polypropylene fibers, or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. The body side liner 68 is suitably used to help isolate, from the skin of the wearer, all liquids maintained in the absorbent core 70.

Various woven and non-woven fabrics can be used for the body side liner 68. For example, the body side liner 68 can be composed of a non-woven web of fused polyolefin fibers. The body side liner 68 may also comprise a carded or bonded web composed of natural or synthetic fibers, or both.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the body side liner 68 may comprise a non-woven polypropylene fabric made with fibers fused together of about 2.8 3.2 deniers, formed into a web having a basis weight of about 22 grams per square meter and a density of about 0.06 grams per cubic centimeter. A preferred tel is treated with about 0.3 percent by weight of a surfactant.

The body side liner 68 can be formed from a single layer, or it can comprise a multiplicity of components, layers or partial layers, which correspond to any material presented in the present document for the body side lining, as well as another known one. in the technique.

The absorbent core 79, when used in the personal care articles 12 of the invention, can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, eg, rectangular, trapezoidal, T-shaped, I-shaped, shaped hourglass, etc. and from a wide range of materials. The size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent core 70 must be compatible with the expected port size and the anticipated liquid load imparted by the intended use of the personal care item 12.

The absorbent core 70 suitably comprises a matrix of hydrophilic fibers, for example a web of cellulosic pelus, preferably in combination with a material of great absorbency, commonly known as superabsorbent material. In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent core 70 comprises a mixture of superabsorbent hydroge material and wood pulp fluff. Instead of wood pulp fluff, molten polymer fibers or a combination of these and natural fibers can be used. The superabsorbent material can be mixed substantially homogeneously with hydrophilic fibers or it can be combined in another way within the absorbent core 70.

The absorbent core 70 may comprise a laminate of fibrous webs and superabsorbent material or other suitable means for maintaining the fixed superabsorbent material at desirable locations of the absorbent body.

The high-absorbency material of the absorbent core 70 can be selected from polymers and natural, synthetic and modified natural materials. The high-absorbency materials may be inorganic materials, for example, silica gels or organic compounds such as cross-linked polymers. The term crossed link refers to any means to effectively convert water-soluble materials into substantially water insoluble but swellable, whereby there are available absorbent properties but the swellable material is substantially immobile after absorbing the water-based liquids. Such means include, for example, physical imbrication, crystalline domains, covalent bonds, complexes and ionic associations, hydrophilic associations, for example, hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic associations or Van der Waals forces.

In FIGURE 2, the elastic elements 71 are disposed between and secured to at least one back sheet 64 and body side liner 68 in the crotch portion 22 of the personal care article 12. The elastic elements 71 provide elasticity to the absorbent structure 52 in the longitudinal direction "L". Said optional elastic elements 71 may provide flexible suppleness or additional flexible stretchability in the longitudinal direction "L" to the absorbent structure 52. Among the materials suitable for forming the elastic elements 71 are strands and straps of LYCRA®, or one or more layers thereof. elements of a polymeric or elastomeric material, or both, that can adhere to the article for personal care 12, thus forming flexible stretch in the crotch portion 22, while the elastic elements are in the stretched condition.

In some embodiments, separate left and right containment fins (not shown) may nd longitudinally, throughout the article for personal care 12, into the respective lateral ends of the article for personal care. In such embodiments, the containment fins are typically secured to the body side liner 24. An example of containment fins is specified in U.S. Patent 4,704,116 issued November 3, 1987 in favor of K. Enloe. , whose presentation is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, so that it is congruent (not contradictory) with it.

The containment fins can, for example, be constructed of a fibrous material that is similar to the material comprising the backsheet 64. Other suitable conventional materials, for example polymeric films, can also be employed.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the outer cover 24 may comprise a stratified laminate (NBL, its acronym in English) including an elastomeric film 72 in surface-to-surface ratio with non-woven layers made of filaments fused together and strangled 74, 76, on opposite surfaces of the film. FIGURE 3 shows the result of embossing the outer cover 24 at separate sites, as shown by the penetration of the embossments 34 into the non-woven layers made with filaments fused together and strangled 74, 76. Embossing of the embossings 34 densifies the non-woven layers made with filaments fused together 74, 76 against the elastomeric film 72 in the densified regions 78 (See FIGURE 4). The densified regions 78 and the non-woven layers made with fused filaments 74, 76 in the embossments 34 block the stretching or extensibility of the elastomeric film 72. As the non-woven layers made with fused filaments 74, 76 respectively become densified by heat or pressure, or both, during embossing, the non-woven layers made with fused filaments harden and connect more tightly to the elastomeric film 72. Thus, the non-woven layers made with fused filaments 74, 76 they block the elastomeric stretching of the film 72 in the densified regions 78 of the embossments 34. As used herein, "blocking" of the stretch means that the embossments reduce the amount in which the extensible element extends in response to a given extension force, due to the embossing created on the surface of the extensible material. Said "blocking" prevents or limits the elongation of the outer cover 24, or a compound formed by the outer cover 24 and another layer, in the embossments 34.

Therefore, the embossings 34 increase the stretch resistance of the outer cover 24 in the zones 40, 42, 44, 46 by modifying the physical properties, namely, the stretching properties of the outer cover and thus blocking at least one portion of stretching properties available. Therefore, in the embodiment of FIGURE 1 the stretch resistance is greater in the area 40 extending along the front end 16 adjacent the front portion 14, in an area 42 extending along of the trailing end 20 adjacent to the back portion 18, than the resistance to stretching in the non-embossed areas 48, 50.

Although the non-embossed areas 48, 50 are shown as respective defined zones within the front portion 14 and the back portion 18 of the personal care article, 12, the entire outer cover 24, except for the embossed areas 40, 42 , 44, 46 can be considered a second embossed area. Namely, in preferred embodiments, the outer cover 24 is not embossed anywhere other than the embossments 34. Thus, with the exception of the grip panels 26, 28 and the fastening devices 30, 32, the stretch resistance it is generally uniform in all the outer cover 24. Therefore, in its use, the embossed areas 40, 42 in the front and back portions 14, 18 of the personal care article 12 provide greater resistance to stretching than an unglaced zone. or zones inward of that and, therefore, operate as front and back waistband sections. Thus, the stretch is greater in any other zone and smaller in the front and back sections of the waistband sections, enabling a better assurance and adjustment of the item for personal care 12 in the carrier. The proper operation of the waistband sections reduces the likelihood that exudates will percolate through the personal care item 12, or slide down and out of the wearer's body, during movement of the wearer, as a result of too much stretch and freedom of movement of the outer cover 24 in the waistband sections of the article for personal care.

The embossed areas 40, 42 at the adjacent front and rear ends 16, 20 to the front portions and back 14, 18 provide suitable properties of waist elastic. Thus, the embodiment is devoid of elastic waist elements added in the waistband sections of the front and back portions 14, 18 of the personal care article 12. The outer cover 24 in the first waistband section provides stretching properties flexible, typically present in an elastic waistband element.

Similarly, the opposite ends 36, 38 of the embossed areas 44, 46 of the crotch portion 22 provide greater stretch resistance than the non-embossed region between the gusset areas 44, 46 in the crotch portion 22. Therefore, , in use, the embossed areas 44, 46 resist stretching more than the areas of the personal care article 12 between the areas 44, 46 and, therefore, provide better seal to the legs of a wearer, to prevent leakage of exudates , that an item for personal care that has approximately the same amount of stretch over the entire width of the crotch portion.

The embossed areas 44, 46 in the crotch portion 22 can provide the function of elastic elements for the legs. Therefore, in forms of embodiment, the personal care article 12 is devoid of elastic elements for the legs added in the crotch portion 22 of the outer cover 24.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 1, the outer cover 24 is substantially unfolded at the front end 16 and the rear end 20. Any manufacturing process that requires bending the outer cover 24 at the ends, will require a complex manufacturing process not preferred to be used with the present invention.

The stretch resistance of various materials and zones is best described as specified in the following description of Test Materials, Embossing Process and Test Procedure.

PROOF MATERIALS The materials used as samples in the test procedure are as follows. 1. A stretchable weft flexibly comprises a laminated material bonded (NBL) having two layers of nonwoven weft fused together yes of polypropylene with basic weights strangled of approximately 20 grams per square meter for each face. A METALLOCENE ™ elastomeric resin of 35 grams per square meter comprises the core of the three-layer composite laminate (NBL). The elastomeric resin of METALLOCENE ™ is known as Affinity 58380.00 and is available from Dow Chemical Corp. of Midland, Michigan. The two outer lining layers of the non-woven webs made of fused and stranded polypropylene filaments are on opposite sides of the elastomeric film core. The composite laminate has a total basic weight of 75 grams per square meter. 2. An extensible material comprises 24 grams per square meter of non-woven polypropylene fabric bonded by tapered yarn having about 80% extendability at 20 grams load per inch width of the test sample. 3. A non-extensible material comprises a spunbonded and non-woven polypropylene fabric composed of 2.8-3.2 denier fibers formed in a fabric having a basis weight of 20 grams per square meter.

Test strips made from the above materials have lengths of 25.4 centimeters (10 inches) and widths of 2.54 centimeters (1 inch).

GOVERNMENT OF SAMPLES The embossing of the test samples uses embossing equipment comprising a Branson 85 sonic binder with a plunger-type siren of 0.75 inches wide by 8.0 long and a Branson 1300 P power unit, commercially available at Branson Ultrasonics, company that has offices in Danbury, Connecticut. The settings for embossing / bonding of all test materials are as follows: 70 pounds per square inch (pressure), 85% (full power), 1.0 second (welding time), 2.0 seconds (retention time), and 7.5 rate of decrease. The retention time represents the time the sample is maintained between the anvil 80 and the ultrasonic siren (not shown), while allowing the cooling and solidification of the bond or embossing.

FIGURE 5 shows a plan view of a work surface of an ultrasonic anvil 80 having a series of work contact rods 82 used with the Branson sonic agglutinator. The bars 82 have lengths of approximately 19 millimeters (0.75 inches) and a width of approximately 0.8 millimeters (0.031 inches). Thus, each bar 82 has a joint area of approximately 15.2 millimeters. The bars 82 are approximately 1.6 millimeters (0.062 inches) apart from the adjacent bars. When the embossing of a 2.54 centimeter (1 inch) sample occurs, the bars 82 center across the width of the sample. Therefore, approximately 3.2 millimeters of the sample material on either side of the embossing pattern is free of embossing.

As shown in FIGURE 5, each bar that creates an embossing 82 extends through the width of the ultrasonic anvil 80. When performing the tests, the width of the anvil 80 extends along the width of the respective sample. For this reason, the embossed samples have embossed in the form of lines or bars that extend through the widths of the material of the samples. The bars comprise 33.6% of the area defined by the width of 19 millimeters (0.75 inches) and approximately 178 millimeters (7 inches) of the bar matrix 82. Thus, the bars 82 densify approximately 33.6% of the area of the sample contacted within the profile of the bar matrix. Approximately 3.2 millimeters of the material of the Samples on either side of the embossing pattern are not embossed.

PROOF PROCEDURE The tensile test was performed on a Sintech tensile tester Model # M4011 available from the MTS System Corporation of Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

The test procedure used to determine tensile load-extension curves, namely the characteristics characteristic load / extension characteristics, of the materials is a modification of the ASTM Normal Test Method (Tensile Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheets). ). The following modifications are made to the standard ASTM D882 test procedure. 1. The width of all the samples is 25.4 millimeters (1.0 inches). 2. The initial separation of the teeth from the test apparatus is 76.2 millimeters (3.0 inches). Therefore, the length of the portion of the sample being tested will be 76.2. 3. The separation speed between teeth of the test apparatus is 50 millimeters / minute for all samples tested. 4. When all the samples are held on the teeth of the test apparatus, the tensile load on the tested sample, before any tension was applied by movement of the teeth away from each other, was approximately 10 grams for all samples, except the shows that it generated the load-extension curve D. The sample that generated the load-extension curve D had approximately 20 grams of load. Said minimum loads before the movement were insignificant in general, and caused, to a great extent, by the tightening of the teeth of the test apparatus.

. The tensile test for each sample was stopped at an extension of approximately 60 millimeters for all samples except for the sample generating the load-extension curve D. Namely, the samples were extended to approximately 180% of their lengths originals However, the sample that generated the load-extension curve stopped at approximately 40 millimeters. Therefore, the sample that generated load-extension curve D extended to a length of approximately 152% its original length.

The tests were carried out as follows. A strip or strips of 2.54 centimeters (1.0 inches) by 24.5 centimeters (10.0 inches) of sample material were placed in the tensile tester. The teeth were locked at the ends of the strip of material, so that a length of 7.62 centimeters (3 inches) in length was tested on the strip of material. Stretching along the 7.62 centimeters (3 inches) was measured as a function of the elongation (millimeters) resulting from the amount of force applied (grams).

TEST RESULTS FIGURE 6 shows a graph comparing a flexibly stretchable non-embossed panel and a flexibly similar but embossed stretchable panel. The panels comprise strangulated laminate materials, each including a layer of METALLOCENE ™ with the characteristics described above. The embossing of the embossed panel was made when the panel was in an unstretched condition. No other layers of materials were combined with embossed embossing panel or embossing during the test. As shown in FIGURE 6, the embossed panel has a load-extension curve B that exhibits greater stretch resistance compared to the load-extension curve A of a non-embossed panel made with material Similary. Thus, embossing increases the force required to stretch the stretchable panel flexibly. The greater resistance to stretching becomes more defined as the elongation distance of the tested panels increases.

Therefore, the embossings 34 increase the stretch resistance of the embossed areas in relation to the non-embossed zones.

FIGURE 7 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the absorbent structure 52 (of FIGURE 1) is replaced by a more conventional absorbent arrangement. Namely, the body side liner 68 is secured in surface-to-surface relationship with the outer cover 24, generally around the outer ends of the outer cover and the body side liner, with the absorbent core 70 disposed between it. The elements illustrated in FIGURE 7 have a function similar to the corresponding elements shown in FIGURE 1. In addition, the elements shown in FIGURE 7 can be made with the same materials described above.

As representatively shown in FIGURE 8, the body side liner 68 and the outer shell 24 are they generally extend jointly and have length and width dimensions that are generally greater than the dimensions of the absorbent core 70. As shown in FIGURE 7, the body side liner 68 is related to and generally superfluous. imposed on the entire surface of the outer cover 24, the combination of the outer cover and the body-side liner thus defines the outer perimeter of the personal care article 12. The absorbent core 70 is optionally disposed between the outer cover 24 and the lining of the body side 68, into the outer perimeter of the article for personal care 12.

As in the embodiment described above, the outer cover 24 is flexibly extensible in at least the transverse direction "C" and in at least the portion 14. However, unlike the previous embodiment, in the FIGURE 8, the body side liner 68 is in surface-to-surface relationship with the outer cover 24 and, therefore, is generally extensible in at least the transverse direction "C" at least at the front portion 14. The extensibility of the body side liner 68 is necessary to allow the front portion 14, even a portion thereof containing the absorbent core 70, to expand or stretch at least in the direction cross "C". Said extensibility of the body side liner 68 can be a function of the extensibility of the material used in the lining of the body side, or it can be a function of the size, shape or physical structure, or all of these elements, of the lining on the side of the body. body.

The fastening devices 30, 32 can be formed as an integral part of the outer cover or the body side liner 68, or both parts. Said incorporation of fastening devices 30, 32 reduces the number of elements required to form the article for personal care 12.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9, the lining on the body side 68 can be, for example, a non-woven fabric made of fused polypropylene filaments formed in a weft. The web may be crimped or strangled, such that the web is extensible in at least the transverse direction or the longitudinal direction. The body side liner 68 may also comprise a stretchable layer, for example a stretch bonded laminate (SBL) having the appropriate elasticity and width to create a general contact surface between generally the entire side of the article for personal care 12 that faces the body of the wearer's body. The stretchable layer can be a stretch film or stretchable material, for example a layer of styrene ethylene butylene styrene copolymer or other elastomeric polymer, or a variety of strands of a stretchable material, for example latex or LYCRA®, for example, secured in a stretched condition to a layer or less stretchable plot. As an alternative, other materials with similar properties can also be provided integrally or connected to the body side liner 68, whereby the stretching properties are imparted. No material, however, should interfere with the smooth texture of the body side liner 68 against the skin of the wearer.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9 the outer cover is typically unstretched before being embossed to the body side liner 68. Thus, as shown in the cross section of FIGURE 9, the embossments 34 include densified regions 78.84. The densified regions 78 of the outer shell 24 correspond directly to the densified regions described above with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The densified regions 84, however, comprise regions where the body side lining 68 is embossed and secured to the outer cover 24. In the densified regions 84, the fibrous materials of the body side liner 68 are they densify by heat, pressure or similar methods both to densify the material and to secure the lining of the body side to the outer cover 24. The attachment of the body side liner 68 to the outer cover 24 is caused, in the embodiments preferred, by the combined densification and joining of the body side liner and the non-woven layer made with fused wires of the outer cover 24 in surface-to-surface relationship with the body side liner. The non-woven layer made with fused yarns of the outer cover 24 and the body side liner 68, are fused into individual densified layer elements, thereby attaching the outer cover 24 to the body side liner at selected embossing locations 3. 4.

Although the embossings 34 are generally created by heat or pressure, or both, adhesives, e.g., pressure-responsive adhesives, may also be used to bond the outer cover 24 to the body side liner 68. In such forms of embodiment, there need not be the indentations formed as densified regions 78, 84 and illustrated in FIGURE 9. The embossments 34 can comprise adhesives selectively disposed between the outer cover 24 and the body side liner 68. In said embodiments, densified regions 78, 84 do not have to be present on opposite sides of a substrate formed by the outer cover 24 and the lining of the body side 68.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the non-embossed zone 48 comprises substantially all of the personal care item 12, except for the grip panels 26, 28, the fastening devices 30, 32 and the embossed areas 40, 42, 44 , 46. The embodiment of FIGURE 1, although not illustrated, may have a non-embossed zone similar in shape and size to the non-embossed zone of zone 48 of FIGURE 7.

In use, the resistance to stretching of the embossed area 40 of the front portion 14 of the personal care article 12 of FIGURE 7 is greater than the stretch resistance of the area 48 disposed inwardly of the embossed area 40. Greater resistance to stretching results from the embossments 34 that block the stretching of the outer cover 24 wherein the outer cover is secured to the body side liner 68. In the region 40, the outer cover 24 is preferably extensible flexibly in the transverse direction "C" Thus, zone 48 has greater stretchability and less resistance to stretching than zone 40, whereby zone 40 acts as a waistband section, adjusting and retaining the personal care item 12 around the wearer's waist.

The embossed area 42 in the back portion 18 functions in substantially the same manner as the embossed region 40 of the front portion 14. The outer cover 24 is preferably flexibly extensible in at least the transverse direction "C" in at least the zones embossed 40, 42. The zones 40, 42, in combination, act as front and back waistband sections, securing the personal care item 12 on the body of the wearer.

The embossed areas 44, 46 in the crotch portion 22 extend along and inwardly adjacent the respective opposite lateral ends 36, 38 in the leg cuts of the personal care article 12. At least in the portion of crotch 22, the outer cover 24 and the body side liner 68 are both preferably flexibly extensible in at least the longitudinal direction "L". The embossed areas 44, 46 contain embossments 34, as described above, which impart greater stretch resistance in the embossed areas than in the corresponding portion of the non-embossed zone 48 which is disposed between the embossed areas 44, 46. Thus, the no portion Embossing of the area 48, disposed between the non-embossed areas 44, 46, has greater stretchability than the areas 44, 46 in at least the longitudinal direction "L". The zones 44, 46 can therefore act as elastics for the legs by providing seal on the legs of the wearer, to prevent leakage of the article for personal care 12. If the zones 44, 46 were not embossed , the amount of sealing effect would decrease, perhaps nominally, and filtration would be more likely in the crotch portion 22 adjacent the legs of the wearer.

TEST RESULTS The graph of FIGURE 10 illustrates the greater resistance to stretching of the embossed areas 44, 46 relative to the non-embossed area 48. The graph of FIGURE 10 uses the test materials and methods described above. However, in this embodiment, the flexibly stretchable weft, described above as a strangulated laminate with two layers of nonwoven weft fleece made of fused and stranded filaments of polypropylene with chopped basic weights of about 20 grams per square meter for each outer shell, and an elastomeric film core with a basic weight of 35 grams per square meter, were placed on an embossing plate in an unstretched condition. Next, an extensible material, previously described as a non-woven web made of fused and stranded filaments of polypropylene with a basis weight of 4 grams per square meter, is placed on the stretchable web flexibly. A composite, comprising a combination of the flexibly stretchable web and the extensible material, was embossed in the manner described above by the plunger-type ultrasonic anvil 80 with bars 82 as shown in FIGURE 5.

As shown in FIGURE 10, the embossing of the non stretched panel flexibly stretchable to the stretchable panel increased the stretch resistance of the composite panel, formed by the two joined panels, as shown in the load-extension curve C as compared to the load-extension curve A of a non-embossed panel as described above.

The stretch resistance of the composite panel is even greater than the stretch resistance of the flexibly embossed stretchable panel identified in FIGURE 6 as element B, as shown in the graph of FIGURE 11. As shown in FIGURE 11 the curve of Load-extension C requires of more force to elongate the composite material than the load-extension curve B described above. The difference in the resistance to stretching (force to lengthen) becomes more considerable as the panels extend. Therefore, the embossing of the elastically flexible panel not stretched to the extensible panel creates the areas 44, 46 of greater resistance to stretching.

FIGURE 12 shows a section of the area 40 for another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the embossed zone 40 comprises a variety of embossments 34 having circular or pin shapes. The embossings 34 comprise a matrix of multiple embossed rows. The individual embossments 34 of the matrix are substantially equidistant from the adjacent embossments. The embossed zone 40 of FIGURE 12 functions similarly to the embossed zone 40 described in FIGURE 7.

Although FIGURES 7 and 12 illustrate embossments 34 as a series of separate lines in a matrix including rows of dots, respectively, the invention contemplates other patterns or embossing matrices. For example, the embossments may comprise a pattern of separate stitches, crossed lines, straight lines or curves, continuous or discontinuous, extending in two. dimensions through any portion or through the entire respective embossed area.

The embossings 34 may comprise between 5% and about 80% of the total surface area of the embossed areas 40, 42, 44, 46. In other embodiments, the embossings 34 may comprise from about 15% to about 60% the total area of the embossed area. The embossed areas 40, 42, 44, 46 are identified as embossing-containing areas that have an effect on the stretch resistance of the outer cover 24. Thus, the embossed areas 40, 42, 44, 46 may include non-embossed areas and, therefore, include embossed areas 34 adjacent to outer cover 24 or areas located between closely spaced embossments. In the embodiment used with the test samples described above, approximately 33.6% of the embossed area is physically embossed within itself, thereby reducing the stretchability of a single layer, or is physically embossed with another layer of material.

The embossed areas 40, 42, 44, 46 can be located anywhere on the outer cover 24. Furthermore, only one embossed area 40 has to be present in the outer cover 24. Likewise, many variations can be used to the shown patterns, for example, the embossed areas may extend around the perimeter of the personal care item 12. With special reference to the embodiment of FIGURE 6, the body side liner 68 and the outer cover 24 should ensure a the other in the outward locations of the absorbent core 70, for retaining the absorbent core 70 in the personal care article 12 and preventing the separation of the body side liner and the outer cover in, for example, the ends 16, 20, 36, 38 around the perimeter of the article.

The sizes of the embossed areas 40, 42, 44, 46 in relation to the overall size of the outer cover 24 control the amount of stretch resistance of the personal care item in the embossed areas and, therefore, the resistance to embossing. general stretching of the article for personal care 12. The embossed areas 40, 42, 44, 46 generally comprise between about 2% and about 50% of the general area, preferably between about 5% and about 40% of the general area, and more preferably between about 10% and about 30% of the general area, of the outer cover 24 or a corresponding panel.

FIGURE 13 shows a third embodiment of the invention. This embodiment generally corresponds to the embodiment of FIGURE 7. However, in this embodiment, the outer cover 24 is pre-stretched before being secured to the body-side liner 68.

As shown in FIGURE 14, the pre-stretching of the outer cover 24 before securing the outer cover to the body side liner 68 by the embossing described above, causes some wrinkling or folding of the body side liner 68. In addition, due to the attenuation of the flexibility caused by the embossing, after the embossing and after the subsequent release of the stretching force, the outer cover 24 does not return to its original position.

As in the embodiments described above, in this embodiment, the embossing increases the resistance to stretching of the outer cover 24. As described above, the substrate comprising the outer cover 24 and the body side liner 68 has a greater resistance to stretching in the embossed 40, 42, 44, 46 than in the non-embossed area 48. Accordingly, the embodiment of FIGURE 13 works similarly to the embodiment of FIGURE 7.

However, in use, the embodiment of FIGURES 13 and 14 has a load effect in two stages. The loading effect in two stages occurs when, during normal use, the substrate extends beyond the original previously stretched length of the outer cover 24, which existed when the outer cover 24 was secured to the body side liner 68. A stretch lengths beyond the original previously stretched length, the amount of force required to continue to extend the personal care item 12 is much greater than the amount of force required to stretch the personal care item to the length prior to stretching. Therefore the resistance to stretching of the load-extension curve beyond the original length of the previously stretched outer cover 24 is much greater than the resistance to stretching of the load-extension curve before the length previously has been reached. stretched. Namely, the load / extension ratio increases. Therefore, in extensions beyond the previously stretched length of the outer cover 24, the resistance to stretching increases considerably. By choosing not to be restricted by theory, the applicants contemplate that the greatest resistance is generated mainly in the embossed zones.

Said two-stage effect is clearly illustrated in the graph of FIGURE 15 which shows the operation of a substrate comprising the flexibly stretchable layer described above and the test strip, wherein the layer of the outer cover has been previously stretched at 50.degree. % of its original length before being embossed in a non-extensible panel as described above. The embossing of the panel stretchable flexibly to the extendable panel created a composite panel. Since a 7.62 centimeter (3 inch) length of the composite panel was tested with the tensile tester, the overall length of that section of the stretchable panel flexibly, when pre-stretched and secured to the non-stretchable panel comprised approximately 11.4 centimeters. Therefore, as expected, FIGURE 15 shows a change in the tensile strength of the load-extension curve D at an elongation of about 11 to about 12 centimeters. In this region of the load-extension curve, the slope of the load-extension curve D increases greatly, ending at a value of approximately 1600 grams of force for an elongation of approximately 40 millimeters.

Thus, the load-extension curve D is created by pre-stretching and securing the flexibly extensible panel to the non-extensible panel. The region of the load-extension curve where the slope changes can be controlled by the amount of pre-stretching of the flexibly extensible panel when secured to the non-stretchable panel.

In FIGURE 15, the result of the composite panel is also compared to an otherwise flexibly stretchable panel that is stretched before approximately 50% of its original length and then removed without securing. As expected, the load-extension curve E of the panel that is merely previously stretched, has less resistance to stretching than the composite panel that has previously been stretched and secured / embossed. The greater resistance to stretch of curve D is due to the fact that the previously stretched layer is secured to a non-extensible panel. At lengths beyond the original pre-stretched length, the non-stretchable panel will resist further extension of the composite panel. Thus, the comparison with a stretchable panel flexibly shows greater resistance to stretching in the composite panel.

The select areas of embossing a flexible stretchable panel to an expandable panel when the panel flexibly stretchable pre-stretched provides embossed areas with greater stretch resistance than non-embossed zones and provides a two-stage tensile load-extension curve, wherein the second stage exhibits greater resistance to stretch by increments than the first stage, and begins at the substantially pre-stretched length of the stretchable panel flexibly.

The distance at which the stretchable panel is flexibly stretched previously can be used to control the point (elongation distance) wherein the curve of two lids has a much greater resistance to stretching. In embodiments in which the second panel is pre-stretched, the second panel is generally stretched to no more than about 350% and not less than about 5% of its original length, preferably not more than about 200% and not less than 10% of its original length, and more preferably not less than approximately 100% and not less than 15% of its original length, when secured to the first panel.

Those skilled in the art will now appreciate that certain modifications to the invention presented herein can be made with respect to the illustrated embodiments, without departing from the spirit of the invention. And although the invention has been described above with respect to the embodiments, it should be understood that the invention will be adapted to numerous restraints, modifications and alterations, and that said restraints, modifications and alterations are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.

To the extent that the claims that follow use means more language of function, it is not intended to include in this document, nor in the specification, anything that is not structurally equivalent to that shown in the embodiments presented in the specification.

Claims (75)

1. A personal care article having a lateral transverse direction and a longitudinal direction along, a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion interconnecting the front and rear portions, the personal care article comprising: (a) a stretchable cover flexibly in at least one direction, with an embossing pattern having at least a first portion of a first zone of the flexible outer stretch cover, effective to reduce the stretchability of the outer cover in the first zone, to thereby provide a first set of desired properties, related to the stretching of the outer cover, the flexible outer covering having at least a second zone where the outer cover is not modified to provide the first set of properties, causing the embossing of the first zone that the first zone has a resistance to stretching different from that of the second zone.

2. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the outer cover has flexible stretchability at least in the transverse direction in the front portion of the personal care article, the outer cover having a first section of waistband at the front portion and a second waistband section at the rear portion, the first zone comprising the first waistband section of the front portion of the personal care article, the first waistband section having a greater resistance to stretching than the second zone, the first waistband section providing the first set of desired stretch properties relative to the amount of stretch of the waistband section.

3. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the second zone comprises an area of the outer cover separated inward from the first waistband section towards the crotch portion, the second area being generally free of embossed.

4. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the first waistband section of added elastic waist elements is missing.

5. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the outer cover is flexibly stretchable in at least the transverse direction in the back portion of the personal care article, the second waist section comprising a third zone in the posterior portion of the article for personal care, the waistband section having a greater resistance to stretching than the second zone.

6. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that the outer cover includes a fourth and a fifth areas, the fourth and fifth zones being effectively embossed in portions thereof, such that the fourth and fifth zones have greater resistance to stretching than the second zone.

7. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that the article for personal care has a first and a second outer ends on opposite sides of the crotch portion, the fourth zone adjacent to the first outer end being at least the crotch portion and the fifth zone adjacent the second outer end being at least the crotch portion of the article for the personal care.

8. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that the fourth and fifth zones extend along the crotch portion in the longitudinal direction.

9. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 8, characterized in that the article for personal care is devoid of elastic elements for the legs in the crotch portion.

10. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that the fourth and fifth zones provide the properties of the elastic elements for the legs.

11. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 1, characterized the first The outer shell area comprises a variety of separate embossments that form an embossing matrix.

12. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 11, characterized the matrix comprises at least two rows of separate points.

13. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 11, characterized in that the matrix comprises a series of separate lines.

14. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the outer cover is stretchable flexibly in at least the longitudinal direction in the crotch portion, the article for personal care having a first and a second outer ends on opposite sides of the crotch portion, the first zone of the first outer end being adjacent to at least the crotch portion of the personal care article.

15. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 14, characterized in that the outer cover is embossed in a third area adjacent to the second outer end at least in the crotch portion of the article for personal care, the third zone having greater resistance to stretching than the second zone.

16. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 15, characterized in that the first and the third zone extend along the crotch portion in the longitudinal direction.

17. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that the second zone is located between the first and the third zone in at least the crotch portion of the article for personal care.

18. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the article for personal care has a front end at the front portion and a rear end at the rear portion, the outer cover being substantially unfolded at the ends thereof. front and rear ends.

19. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the article for personal care includes an absorbent structure imposed on and operably connected to the outer cover to form an article for personal care absorbent.

20. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that the absorbent structure includes a backsheet substantially impermeable to liquids, a liquid-permeable body side liner superimposed on the backsheet, and a absorbent core disposed between the lining on the body side and the back sheet.

21. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 20, characterized in that the article for personal care additionally comprises extensible connection elements that ensure the absorbent structure to the outer cover, while allowing flexible stretching of the outer cover along the transverse direction.

22. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that the extensible connecting elements each have at least one folded fold thereon which connects the absorbent structure to the outer cover.

23. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the outer cover is intermittently embossed in the first zone.

24. A personal care article having a lateral transverse direction and a longitudinal direction along, a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion interconnecting the front and rear portions, the personal care article comprising: (a) a first panel; (b) a second panel stretchable flexibly in at least one direction, the second panel being flexible in a surface-to-surface relationship with the first panel, the first and second panels defining, in combination, a substrate, having at least a first portion of a first zone of the second panel a pattern of embossments securing the second panel to the first panel and thus reducing the stretchability of the second panel , a second zone where the second panel does not show embossments that secure it to the first panel or the first set of properties, causing the embossments of the first zone to have a different set of stretch properties than the second.

25. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the second panel is not stretched when it is secured to the first panel.

26. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the first zone comprises at least part of the crotch portion of the article for personal care, the first zone in the crotch portion having a greater resistance to stretching than the second zone.

27. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 26, characterized in that the article for personal care is devoid of elastic elements for the legs in the crotch portion.

28. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 26, characterized in that it has at least a first portion of a third zone of the second panel an embossing pattern that secures the second panel to the first panel.

29. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 28, characterized in that the crotch portion has a first and a second opposite ends in a first and a second cut for the opposite legs in the crotch portion, being located the first and third zones adjacent to the first and second opposite ends, at least in the crotch portion.

30. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 29, characterized in that the second zone is disposed between the first and third zones, the first and third zones having greater resistance to stretching than the second zone.

31. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the first zone of the second panel comprises a variety of embossing patterns that form an embossing matrix.

32. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 31, characterized in that the matrix comprises at least two rows of separate points.

33. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 31, characterized in that the matrix comprises a variety of separate embossed lines.

34. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 25, characterized in that the first panel comprises a lining on the side of the extensible body.

35. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 34, characterized in that the second panel comprises an outer cover.

36. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the The first panel comprises a substantially non-extensible body side liner.

37. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 36, characterized in that the second stretchable panel flexibly comprises an outer cover.

38. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 37, characterized in that the outer cover is previously stretched in at least one direction by securing the lining on the body side.

39. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the outer cover is flexibly stretchable in at least the transverse direction in the front portion of the personal care article, the outer cover having a first waist section in the forward portion and a second waistband section in the back portion, the first zone comprising the waistband section in the front portion of the personal care article, the first waistband section having a greater stretch resistance than the second area, providing the first section of waistband the first set of desired properties relative to the amount of stretch in the waistband section.

40. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 39, characterized in that the second zone comprises an area of the outer cover separated inward from the first waistband section towards the crotch portion.

41. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 39, characterized in that the first waistband section is devoid of elastic elements added.

42. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 39, characterized in that the outer cover is flexibly stretchable in at least the transverse direction in the back portion of the personal care article, the second waist section comprising a third zone in the posterior portion of the article for personal care, the third zone in the waistband section having a greater resistance to stretching than the second zone.

43. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 38, characterized in that the outer cover is previously stretched to a predetermined length of elongation before securing the lining on the body side, the substrate having a first relationship characteristic load / extension when stretched to the previously determined elongation measure, and a second load / extension ratio other than stretching beyond the previously determined elongation measurement.

44. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the embossing pattern of the first zone.

45. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the first zone comprises between approximately 2% and approximately 50% of the general area of the second panel.

46. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the first zone comprises approximately 5% to approximately 40% of the general area of the second panel.

47. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the first zone comprises approximately 10% to approximately 30% of the general area of the second panel.

48. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that approximately 5% to approximately 80% of the surface area of the first zone of the second panel is embossed to the first panel.

49. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 48, characterized in that the embossing provides attachment of the second panel to the first panel as a pattern of separate points extending in two dimensions substantially throughout the first zone.

50. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 49, characterized in that the connection comprises the ultrasonic connection of the second panel to the first panel.

51. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 48, characterized in that the embossed comprise the adhesive bond of the second panel to the first panel.

52. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the second panel is stretched to no more than about 350% and not less than 5% when it is secured to the first panel.

53. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the second panel is lengthened to no more than about 200% and not less than 10% when it is secured to the first panel.

54. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the second panel is lengthened to no more than about 100% and not less than 15% when it is secured to the first panel.

55. A method for imparting first and second sets of stretch properties to a first and second respective zones of a substrate for a personal care article, the substrate including a first panel and a second flexible stretch panel, the method comprising securing the first panel in surface-to-surface ratio with the second panel effectively embossing in at least portions of a first zone of the second panel the respective portions of the first panel, the embossing causing the first securing region to have lower stretchability compared to a second substantially ungofred zone of the substrate.

56. A method, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that the second panel is not stretched when the first panel is secured.

57. A method, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that the first zone has a greater resistance to stretching than the second zone.

58. A method, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that it includes the embossing of the second panel to the first panel in a third zone, the third zone having a resistance to stretching than the second zone.

59. A method, as claimed in clause 58, characterized in that the third zone has a greater resistance to stretching than the second zone.

60. A method, as claimed in clause 58, characterized in that the second zone is disposed between the first and third zones.

61. A method, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that the first zone comprises a variety of separate embossing patterns that form a matrix comprising at least two rows of separate points.

62. A method, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that the matrix of the first zone comprises a variety of separate embossed lines.

63. A method, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that the first panel comprises a lining on the side of the extensible body.

64. A method, as claimed in clause 63, characterized in that the first panel comprises a flexible stretchable outer cover.

65. A method, as claimed in clause 64, characterized in that the first panel comprises a substantially non-extensible body side liner.

66 A method, as claimed in clause 65, characterized in that the second panel comprises an outer cover.

67. A method, as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that it includes pre-stretching the second panel and securing the second panel to the first panel in the previously stretched condition.

68. A method, as claimed in clause 67, characterized in that it includes pre-stretching the second panel to no more than about 350% and not less than 5% before securing it to the first panel in portions of the first zone.

69 A personal care article having a lateral transverse direction and a longitudinal direction along, a front portion, a rear portion, and a crotch portion interconnecting the front and rear portions, the personal care article comprising: (a) a first panel; (b) a second stretchable panel flexibly in at least one direction, the second panel being flexibly pre-stretched to a previously determined measurement and being secured in surface-to-surface relationship with the first panel in the previously stretched condition, defining the first and second panels, in combination, a substrate, the substrate showing a first characteristic load / extension ratio, representing a first stretch resistance in increments, being stretched in a predetermined measure of elongation, and a second load / characteristic extension, by stretching beyond the previously determined degree of elongation.

70. An article, as claimed in clause 69, characterized in that the securing between the second panel and the first panel comprises an embossing pattern that provides a first set of desired properties, related to the stretching of the first zone of the second panel, including the article for personal care, a second area where the second panel does not show embossing that secure it to the first panel, or the first set of properties, causing the embossing of the first zone that the first area has a resistance to stretching different from the second panel.

71. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 69, characterized in that the first panel comprises a lining on the body side and the second panel comprises an outer cover.

72. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 71, characterized in that the outer cover is flexibly stretchable in at least the transverse direction in the front portion of the personal care item, the outer cover having a first section of waistband at the front portion and a second waistband section at the rear portion, the first zone comprising the first waistband section at the front portion of the personal care article, the first waistband section having a greater resistance to stretching than the front section. second zone, providing the first waistband section the first set of desired stretching properties relative to the amount of stretch in the waistband section.

73. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 72, characterized in that the second zone comprises an area of the outer cover separated inward from the first waistband section towards the crotch portion.

74. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 72, characterized in that the first waistband section is devoid of added elastic waist elements.

75. An article for personal care, as claimed in clause 72, characterized in that the outer cover is flexibly stretchable in at least the transverse direction in the back portion of the personal care article, the second waist section comprising a third zone in the posterior portion of the article for personal care, the third zone of the second waistband section having a greater resistance to stretching than the second zone. E S U M E N A personal care item includes a flexible, stretchable outer covering. In a first embodiment, a first area of the outer cover is embossed forming a pattern of embossments that provide a first set of desired properties relative to the stretching of a portion of the outer cover. A second zone of the outer cover is not modified to provide the first set of properties and, therefore, has different stretch properties than the first zone. In a second embodiment, a first panel is secured to a second flexibly extensible panel. A first zone of the second panel may have an embossing pattern that secures the second panel to the first panel. The embossing causes the first zone to have different stretching properties than the second zone of the second panel that is not embossed, thus imparting the set of stretching properties. In a third embodiment, the second panel is stretched before a predetermined elongation measurement before being secured to the first panel. In use, the personal care article has a characteristic load / extension first relationship until the article reaches the previously determined elongation measure and a second load / extension ratio, according to the article extends beyond the previously determined lengthening measure of the second panel.