ABSORBENT ARTICLE WITH IMPROVED COMBINATION OF SKIN FEEL ANDFLUID HANDLING

• Main Authors: OUELLETTE, WILLIAM ROBERT, VENTURA, PETER DAVID, HASSE, MARGARET HENDERSON, NOEL, JOHN RICHARD, LEE, YANN-PER, WALKER, RICHARD III
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 12.10.2000
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; BRAIDING; COTTON-WOOL; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS,NON-WOVEN FABRICS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; KNITTING; LACE-MAKING; MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARYMATERIAL; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; NON-WOVEN FABRICS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PROSTHESES; TEXTILES; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; TRIMMINGS; WADDING

The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins , panty liners, diapers, adult incontinence pads and briefs, and the like havi ng an improved combination of skin feel and fluid handling properties, such as fluid acquisition and retention. This improved combination is provided by structures where the absorbent core has a high capillary pressure which help s the core to rapidly acquire bodily fluids deposited on the body surface of t he absorbent article and to retain such fluids after they have been acquired. Absorbent gelling materials with reduced gel blocking are a preferred core component that aids in fluid retention by providing an osmotic fluid retenti on mechanism. The topsheets of the present invention cooperate with the core by being both fluid permeable and providing a barrier to rewet of acquired fluids. The topsheet also has a multiplicity of fibrils that create the body surface of the absorbent article. These fibrils are disposed at a density an d have dimensions and mechanical properties such that the body surface has a soft, velutinous body feel.