MXPA98010087A - Breathable pillows for the transpirac - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a breathable breathable pad (A, B, C, E1, E3), such as perspiration pads that are placed under the arm, on the wrist, on the head, collar inserts, and shoe inserts, which have a breathable back sheet to provide improved pad performance for transpiration

Description

BREATHABLE PILLOWS FOR BREATHING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to absorbent articles for absorption of perspiration such as under-the-arm transpiration pads, collar inserts, shoe inserts and the like. The present invention both prevents the generation of sweat and its associated malodour and effectively absorbs any perspiration produced, thus preventing its visible detection and smell.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the generation of sweat by the human body is a well-known bodily function, which is mainly due to climatic changes and physical exercise. In this way, the body provides a natural cooling system. Although the degree of perspiration generated varies from person to person, in certain circumstances the human body will always transpire. However, although transpiration is a bodily natural function, it is also often associated with a lack of hygiene and cleansing of the body. In addition, most people also experience discomfort while perspiring. In addition, sweat is also typically associated with the staining of the garment, which is disgusting. This problem is exacerbated by certain types of garment design, such as tightly fitting garments and the use of synthetic materials in garment manufacturing. Unfortunately, this type of perspiration related to the staining of the garment, is difficult to remove and often remains visible on the garment after washing or dry cleaning. In addition, another problem related to the generation of sweat is the associated unpleasant and distinctive odor. The malodorous compounds typically present can originate from a number of sources. First, the actual components of the fluid discharge, i.e. sweat, may contain malodorous compounds. Secondarily, malodorous compounds are also generated as a result of the degradation of the components of perspiration. The presence and particularly the detection of sweat is the cause of embracing many people considerably, especially those people who suffer from a tendency to perspire copiously. Therefore, it is highly desirable to avoid detection of human sweat. A means of addressing this problem is the use of antiperspirants or deodorants, which are applied to the skin in the form of aerosols, roll-ons, bars and gels. For example, European Patent EPO 710 812 discloses a method for preventing odor under the arm associated with perspiration of the human by the use of a macroporous crosslinked copolymer containing acrylate or methacrylate units. The polymer entraps the fatty acid components of the sweat and thus denies access to the acid by the skin bacteria and consequently reduces the body's bad odor. However, antiperspirants and deodorants are not particularly effective for many people. In addition, there is a desire of many consumers to avoid the use of these compounds in the skin since many of these compounds are considered as skin irritants, and this is also not considered to impede the reaction of the body's natural perspiration. In addition, these products also do not address the problem of spotting the garment. In fact, many of the antiperspirant products cause additional staining of the garments, and contribute to the degradation of the garment itself. An alternative means of addressing this problem of sweat generation is the use of absorbent articles. These articles have long been recognized as a means of addressing this problem, and there are a number of references of articles designed specifically for sweat absorbers, particularly designed for use on areas of the body susceptible to perspiration such as the armpits., neck or soles of the feet. For example, pads for transpiration as described in U.S. Patent No. 467,898, German Patent DE 31, 04,047, German Patent DE 28, 41, 365 and German Patent DE 39,09,218. The primary focus of those pads for transpiration is absorbing and retaining fluids. This is typically accomplished by providing a pad having an absorbent material. However, the use of only an absorbent material for the transpiration pads does not ensure that the absorbed fluids are retained within the pad. Consequently, the transpiration pads are typically further provided with a backing material, or backsheet. In this way, the pad absorbs the excreted fluids and prevents spotting of the garments. However, another problem that arises is that these products in general tend to be uncomfortable to use. In particular, in order to function properly, the pads are required to be kept in close and close contact with the skin. This is normally achieved by the use of a fastener means such as adhesives. In this way, the use of the pads for perspiration on their own can cause the user of the product to transpire more copiously. In addition, the amount of associated malodor resulting from perspiration is increased. Therefore, there is still a need to provide alternate and improved perspiration pads, particularly breathable pads that provide improved user comfort and reduce the detection of malodorous compounds. It has now surprisingly been found that the above needs can be met by the breathable pads having a breathable backsheet. The incorporation of breathable backsheets within absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, to improve comfort of use has been described in the art such as, for example, in British Patent 2,184,389, U.S. Patent No. 3,881, 489 , European Patent EPO 203,821 and Patent of the United States No. 4,059.1 14. However, none of these prior art documents recognizes the benefits of providing a breathable breathable pad by the use of a breathable back sheet. It is believed that the benefit of the performance of a breathable breathable pad is due to a number of factors. Firstly, the reduction of the hot, humid and occlusive environment, between the closeness of the user's skin and the surface facing the body of the pad for transpiration by itself, also reduces the user's tendency to perspire. Therefore, the user will feel more comfortable. Consequently, the associated amount of perspiration related to odor will be reduced. In this way, the breathability of the pad actually reduces the amount of odor generated inside the pad for perspiration. Secondarily, the breathability of the absorbent pad reduces the hot humidity and the anaerobic environment between the user's skin and the surface of the pad for transpiration. This prevents the growth of micro organisms, which are also known to be responsible for the generation of odorous compounds. In that way, the amount of odors associated with the presence of microorganisms is reduced by the transpiration pads of the present invention. In addition, due to the breathable nature of the pad, the malodorous compounds contained therein can, similar to water vapor and air, be more easily exchanged with the environment. Therefore, the malodorous compounds are able to escape from the article and be dissipated in three surrounding parts. More importantly, the breathing ability of the pad also allows the precursor compounds of the malodorous compounds present in the article to escape from the pad for perspiration before degradation begins and consequently before the malodor formation. A further advantage of the transpiration pads of the present invention is that the need to use antiperspirant products is eliminated, thus allowing the body to transpire naturally without the possibility of generating stains on the garments or detecting bad odors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an absorbent pad for transpiration, comprising an absorbent core and a backsheet, wherein the backsheet is breathable. The breathability of the breathable pad provides an improved comfort pad and unexpectedly also provides performance in odor control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to breathable breathable pads, which can be used in combination with articles of garments and undergarments, or as a separate article, placed where transpiration or excessive perspiration occurs. Examples of a perspiration pad include perspiration pads that are placed under the arm, on the wrist and on the head, collar inserts, shoe inserts, hat bands, pads and pads that are placed on the chest. Typically, these products comprise an absorbent core and a backsheet. In accordance with the present invention, the breathability of the breathable pad is provided by the presence of a breathable backsheet which thus allows the circulation of water vapor, and preferably both water vapor and air through water. this.

Back sheet According to the present invention, the transpiration pads comprise as an essential component a breathable back sheet. The main function of the breathable backsheet is to prevent the exudates absorbed and contained in the pad from moistening the garments that are put in contact with absorbent pad, such as jackets, shirts, blouses, dresses, pants and undergarments. In order to achieve this, the backsheet typically extends throughout the entire absorbent structure and may extend inwardly and form part of all or part of the side flaps, side wraps or wings. However, in addition the breathable backsheet allows the transfer of water vapor and preferably both water vapor and air through it, and thus allows the circulation of air in and out of the backsheet and the backsheet pad for perspiration. Breathable backsheets suitable for use herein include all breathable backsheets known in the art. In principle, there are two types of breathable backsheets, the breathable back sheets of a single layer that are breathable and impervious to liquids and the backsheets that have at least two layers, which in combination provide both breathability and liquid impermeability. . The single-layer breathable backsheets suitable for use herein include those described, for example, in GB A 2184 389, GB A 2184 390, GB A 2184 391, US 4 591 523, US 3 989, 867, US 3 156 242 and the European patent application No. 95120653. 1. Breathable backsheets of double or multiple layers suitable for use herein include those exemplified in US 3 881 489, US 4 341 216, US 4 713 068, US 4 818 600, EPO 203 821, EPO 710 471, EPO 710 472 , European patent applications Nos. 95120647.3, 95120652.3, 95120653.1 and 96830097.0. Particularly preferred are the backsheets that meet the requirements as defined in European Patent Application No. 96830343.8, and more preferably where the transpiration pads also meet the requirements as described herein. According to the present invention, the breathable backsheet comprises at least one, preferably at least two layers permeable to water vapor. Suitable water vapor permeable layers include two-dimensional, flat, micro and macroporous films, monolithic films, macroscopically expanded films and films formed with apertures. In accordance with the present invention, the openings in the layer can be of any configuration, but are preferably spherical or oblong.

The openings can also be of variable dimensions. In a preferred embodiment, the openings are preferably evenly distributed across the entire surface of the layer, however, the layers having only certain regions of the surface having openings are also contemplated. The two-dimensional flat films as used herein have openings having an average diameter of about 5 microns to 200 microns. Typically, the two-dimensional flat microporous films suitable for use herein have openings having average diameters of from 150 micrometers to 5 micrometers, preferably from 120 micrometers to 10 micrometers, most preferably from 90 micrometers to 15 micrometers. Typical two-dimensional flat macroporous films have openings having average diameters of from 200 micrometers to 90 micrometers. Macroscopically expanded films and films formed with openings suitable for use herein typically have openings having diameters of 100 micrometers to 500 micrometers. The embodiments according to the present invention wherein the backsheet comprises a macroscopically expanded film or a film formed with openings, the backsheet will typically have an open area greater than 5 percent, preferably from 10 percent to 35 percent of the area of total surface of the back sheet. Suitable two-dimensional flat layers of the backsheet can be made from any material known in the art, but are preferably manufactured from commonly available polymeric materials. Suitable materials are, for example, GORE-TEX (TM) or Sympatex (TM) type materials well known in the art for application in so-called breathable garments. Other suitable materials include XMP-1001 from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, E.U.A. As used herein, the term "two-dimensional flat layer" refers to the layers having a depth of less than 1 millimeter, preferably less than 0.5 millimeter, wherein the openings have an average uniform diameter along their length and which they do not protrude out of the plane of the layer. Materials with openings for use as a backsheet in the present invention can be produced using any of the methods known in the art, such as described in European Patent EPO 293 482 and the references therein. In addition, the dimensions of the openings produced by this method can be increased by applying a force through the plane of the backsheet layer (i.e., stretching the layer). Films formed with suitable apertures include films having discrete apertures, which extend beyond the horizontal plane of the surface that gives towards the garment of the layer towards the nucleus, forming protuberances. The protuberances have a hole located at their terminal ends. Preferably, these protuberances are of a funnel shape, similar to that described in U.S. Patent No. 3,929,135. The openings located within the plane and the holes located at the terminal end of the protrusion by itself, can be circular or noncircular, providing the dimension or cross-sectional area of the hole at the termination of the protrusion that is smaller than the dimension or cross-sectional area of the opening located within the ply-facing surface of the layer. Preferably, the preformed films with openings are unidirectional such that they are at least substantially, if not complete, a direction of fluid transport to the core. Macroscopically expanded films suitable for use herein include films as described in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,637,819 and U.S. Patent No. 4,591,523. Macroscopically expanded films suitable for use herein include films as described in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,637,819 and U.S. Patent 4,591,523. Suitable monolithic films include Hytrel, such as Hytrel HTR-8206 and Hitrel G 3548, available from DuPont Corporation, USA, and other such materials as described in Index 93 Congress, Session 7A "Value added to nonwovens", JC. Cardinal and Y. Trouilhet, Du Pont de Nemours International S.A., Switzerland. In accordance with the present invention, the backsheet may comprise in addition to the water vapor permeable layer additional layers of backsheet. These additional layers can be located on either side of the water vapor permeable layer of the backsheet. The additional layers can be of any material, such as fibrous layers such as nonwovens, woven materials or films with additional water vapor permeable openings. According to the present invention, the transpiration pads may further comprise an absorbent core. The absorbent material or core which can be spongy fibrous absorbent core comprising hydrogel particles if desired, and its laminates with or without particulate materials including hydrogel particles, the fibers of the absorbent core can be any of those known in the art, including cellulose fibers or polymeric fibers made absorbent or even non-absorbent matrix fibers. Also, tissue of sufficient basis weight and absorbency can be used within the absorbent core according to the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, the breathable pads of the present invention may further comprise a topsheet. Suitable top sheets may comprise a single layer or a multiplicity of layers. In a preferred embodiment, the top sheet comprises a first layer providing the user facing surface of the top sheet and a second layer between the first layer and the absorbent structure / core. The top sheet provides a layer through which liquids that are absorbed, penetrate into the absorbent material. The absorbent core is thus positioned intermediate between the top sheet and the back sheet. The upper sheet as a whole and consequently each layer individually needs to be docile, soft feeling and non-irritating to the user's skin. This can also have elastic characteristics that allow it to be stretched in two directions.

Typically, the topsheet extends through the entire absorbent structure and may extend into and form part of all or part of the side flaps, the side wrapping elements or the preferred ones. In accordance with the present invention, the topsheet can be formed from any of the materials available for this purpose and which are known in the art, such as non-woven fabrics, films or combinations of both. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the layers of the topsheet comprises a hydrophobic, liquid-permeable, liquid-permeable polymeric film. Preferably, the upper layer is provided by a film material having openings, which are provided to facilitate the transport of liquid from the surface facing the user towards the absorbent structure, as detailed for example in the United States patent. No. 3,929,135, United States Patent No. 4,151, 240, United States Patent No. 4,319,868, United States Patent No. 4,324,426, United States Patent No. 4,343,314 and United States Patent 4,591, 523. A suitable commercially available top sheet for use herein is BPC 45105 CPM available from BP Chemicals. In accordance with the present invention, the transpiration pad is constructed by joining the various elements such as the topsheet, the backsheet and the absorbent core by any means well known in the art. For example, the backsheet and / or the top sheet may be attached to the absorbent core or to each other by a continuous adhesive layer, a patterned adhesive layer, or an array of separate lines, spirals or spots of adhesive. Alternatively, the elements can be joined by heat bonds, snap links, ultrasonic links, dynamic-mechanical links, or any other suitable joining means known in the art and any combination thereof. Preferably, the breathable backsheet is bonded to the other elements of the transpiration pads to reduce and preferably eliminate any reduction in vapor permeability of the backsheet. In addition to the elements described above, the transpiration pad may also comprise active for odor control. Suitable assets for odor control include antiperspirants and deodorants. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, where the transpiration pad is used in combination with garment articles or undergarments, the pad is also provided with a garment fastening means which allows the attachment of the pad to a garment during use. For example, the garment fastening means may comprise a mechanical fastener such as hook and loop fasteners as sold under the VELCRO trademark, fasteners or fasteners. Alternatively, the pad can be attached to the garment by means of a garment fastening adhesive on the back sheet. The garment fastener adhesive provides a means for securing the pad to the garment, and preferably a means for securing the pad when stained, for the folded and wrapped packaging for convenient disposal. Typically, at least a portion of the garment facing surface of the backsheet is coated with the adhesive to form the garment fastening adhesive. Any adhesive or glue used in the art for these purposes can be used for the fastener adhesive herein. Pressure sensitive adhesives are more preferred. Suitable adhesives include Century A-305-IV manufactured by Century Adhesives Corporation of Columbus, Ohio, and Instant LOK 34-2823 manufactured by the National Starch and Chemical Company of Bridgewater, New Jersey.; 3 Sigma 3153 manufactured by 3 Sigma, LA203 available from Savare SpA, Italy and Fuller H-2238ZP manufactured by H.B. Fuller Co. The garment fastener adhesive is typically applied to the backsheet by slot coating. In order to reduce the effect of the adhesive on the breathability of the backsheet and the sweat pad as a whole, the adhesive is preferably applied in such a way that at least 60 percent, preferably at least 80 percent, one hundred, most preferably at least 90 percent of the garment facing surface of the backsheet is free of adhesive. The required adhesiveness can still, however, be provided even when reduced surface protection is used by using the particular distribution, such as thinner strips, discontinuous strips, intermittent dots, random spiral patterns or mixtures thereof. The garment fastener adhesive is typically covered with a release paper or film capable of being removed to prevent the adhesive from drying or adhering to a different surface of the garment before use. Any commercially available peelable paper or film can be used. Suitable examples include BL 40G EF MGA SILOX CAR10, BL 30MG-A SILOX The O and BL 30 MG-A SILOX 4 P / O available from Akrosil Corporation. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the pad for transpiration can be provided with a user fastening means whereby the pad is provided with a means to be attached to the user's body as it faces the user's garment. . Typically, this fastener means for the user is placed on at least a part of the user facing surface of the topsheet, if present, or in the absorbent core. Alternatively, particularly for applications such as wrist straps and headbands, the fastener means for the user may be provided by elastifying at least part of the pad. According to the present invention, the perspiration pad may find utility as under-the-arm, wrist and head perspiration pads, collar inserts, shoe inserts, hat bands and chest pads. The sweat pad can also find utility in clothes, particularly sports clothing. The present invention finds particular susceptibility as transpiration pads that are placed under the arm. In addition to the components described hereinbefore, the breathability pad may also comprise all those features and parts that are typical for products in the context of their intended use, such as garment fastener means, release paper, wrapping elements and the like. . Typically, the size, flexibility, size and shape of the pad will depend on the intended location of the pad on the body and can be easily adapted by a knowledgeable person depending on the end use. For example, the transpiration pads that are placed under the arm are typically provided in a circular or oval shape or in a waning or oval waning circular shape and are usually symmetrical. Similarly, the transpiration pads can be provided in a range of colors in order to more effectively camouflage the use of the pads, particularly when used under clothing. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a breathable breathable pad that is placed under the arm according to the present invention. The pad comprises two symmetrical areas A and B which are fixed to each other in the curved area indicated as C, with a strip of adhesive D. In addition, the pad also comprises three additional strips of adhesives for the garment E1, E2 and E3 . The adhesive strips are typically covered with a release paper (not shown).

Claims (10)

1. A perspiration pad comprising a backsheet and an absorbent core, characterized in that the backsheet is breathable.

2. A breathable pad according to claim 1, wherein said breathable pad further comprises a system for odor control.

3. A breathable pad according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the breathable backsheet comprises at least one layer selected from a polymeric film formed with openings, a flat, two-dimensional film with openings, or a monolithic movie.

4. A breathable pad according to claim 3, wherein said layer is a layer with two-dimensional, flat openings, wherein the openings have an average diameter of from 150 micrometers to 5 micrometers. A pad for transpiration according to claim 3, wherein said layer is a polymeric film formed with openings, wherein said openings have an average diameter of 100 micrometers to 500 micrometers. 6. A breathable pad according to claim 3, wherein the breathable backsheet comprises at least two layers, a first layer comprising an apertured layer and a second layer comprising a fibrous layer. A pad for transpiration according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said pad for transpiration further comprises a top sheet and wherein said absorbent core is intermediate to the top sheet and the back sheet. 8. A perspiration pad according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said pad is a breathable pad that is placed under the arm. 9. A breathable pad according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said backsheet is provided with garment fastening means. A breathable pad according to claim 9, wherein said garment fastening means comprises at least one strip of adhesive.