CZ297044B6 - Absorbent article to be worn by a wearer adjacent the skin - Google Patents

Abstract

In the present invention, there is disclosed an absorbent article to be worn by a wearer adjacent the skin, the absorbent article comprising: a chassis comprising: an outer covering layer comprising: a liquid impervious backsheet (42); and a liquid pervious topsheet (38) joined to said backsheet (42); and an absorbent core (44) positioned between said topsheet (38) and backsheet (42); a cuff joined to said chassis, each said cuff having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite said first surface, wherein said liquid pervious topsheet (38) is provided with a skin care composition (72). The invention is characterized in that an effective amount of a skin care composition (72) is disposed on said cuff, said skin care composition (72) being semi-solid or solid at a temperature of 20 degC, at least partially transferable to a wearer's skin, and differing from said skin care composition (72) provided on the liquid pervious topsheet (38).

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to an absorbent article to be worn by a user such that it adheres to a skin comprising a system comprising an outer cover layer having an impermeable backsheet and a permeable topsheet attached thereto with an absorbent core positioned between the two layers where the cuff is attached thereto. with first and second surfaces facing each other, the permeable topsheet being provided with a skin care composition.

In particular, the absorbent article comprises diapers, training pants, adult incontinence garments, sanitary napkins, feminine hygiene undergarments, etc. having cuffs, including elastic leg cuffs.

More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent articles having a skin care composition on the cuffs or cuffs and the topsheet that is transferable to the wearer's skin by normal contact and / or movement of the wearer and / or body heat thereof. The skin care compositions of the present invention are selected to maintain and / or improve the health of the wearer ' s skin when worn, e.g., to provide the skin with a protective layer or some therapeutic benefit to minimize abrasion between the cuffs and the wearer. skin in the area of contact of the cuffs with the skin of the wearer, which leads to less reddening or irritation of the skin and to improve the cleansing of the skin from the stools or improve the barrier properties of these cuffs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The main function of absorbent articles, such as disposable diapers and panties used in incontinence, i.e. the lack of urine or underwear components, is to absorb and retain body exudates (exudates). Thus, these products are intended to prevent body excretions from contaminating, moisturizing or otherwise contaminating clothing or other products such as bed linen that come into contact with the wearer. The most common failure mode of these products occurs when body exudates escape from the gaps between the product and the legs or waist to the adjacent garment because they are not immediately absorbed inside the article and the absorbent article fails to fit well on the wearer. out of the product. For example, urine tends to deposit on the topsheet so that it gets into the gaps between the article and the wearer where it can come into contact with and be absorbed by clothing or other articles. In addition, liquid exudates that are not readily absorbed by the absorbent article tend to flow over the body-contacting surface and find their way through gaps between the article and the wearer's leg or waist.

Current disposable diapers have a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core, and one or more cuffs, typically elastic cuffs, which are positioned to contact the legs and / or waist of the wearer. These elastic cuffs are generally capable of effectively preventing leakage and leakage of liquid from the diaper into a garment that is in contact with the diaper edges, so that the elastic cuffs constitute an obstacle between the diaper edge and the clothing in contact with it. In addition, they generally have a sealing function around the wearer's legs or waist, thereby maintaining the seal around the legs or waist and minimizing peeling. However, since the forces generated by the elastic components are concentrated along a narrow area, this leads to high local pressures. These elastic cuffs therefore have an increased tendency to create bruises and redness on the wearer's skin. These skin effects are particularly acute in products worn by children and incontinent elderly people because their skin is delicate and sensitive to even slight pressures or abrasions. These effects on the skin are even more acute because the skin is closed by these products. Closing the skin with a diaper

May potentially lead to excessive skin hydration. As a result of excessively hydrated skin, the skin is more susceptible to abrasion damage caused by friction during normal wearer movement and contact with elastic cuffs. It is also generally known that excessively hydrated skin is more susceptible to disease, in particular diaper rash, erythema, abrasions, bruising and loss of skin protective layer. The limited barrier efficacy of abraded and excessively hydrated skin may cause further deterioration of the diaper rash. 21 CFR 333.503 (Code of Federal Regulations, abbreviated as CFR) defines diaper rash as an inflammatory condition of the diaper skin (perineum, buttocks, lower abdomen and inner thigh) caused by one or more of the following factors: moisture, occlusion, abrasion , continued contact with urine, faeces or both, or mechanical or chemical irritation). To address concerns about the adverse effects on the skin associated with wearing diapers and other absorbent articles, the caregiver or wearer often applies to the buttocks, genitals, anal and / or other areas of the skin therapeutic agent before the absorbent article put on the wearer. This process typically involves applying a certain skin-protecting product to the hand and then spreading the hands on the skin of the diaper wearer. In order to eliminate this uneconomical, inconvenient, time-consuming and easy-to-forget process, attempts have been made to produce absorbent articles that already contain a skin care agent on their topsheet.

One such substance used in diaper articles to provide a soothing and protective coating is mineral oil. Mineral oil (also known as liquid petrolatum) is a mixture of various liquid hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of high-boiling petroleum fractions (ie 300 to 390 ° C). The mineral oil is liquid at normal temperatures, i.e. 20-25 ° C. As a result, the mineral oil is relatively fluid and movable when applied to diapers. Because the mineral oil is fluid and movable at normal temperatures, it tends not to remain on the diaper surface and move into the diaper interior. Therefore, a relatively large amount of mineral oil needs to be applied to the diaper to provide the desired therapeutic and protective effects of the oil coating. This leads not only to the increased cost of these treated diaper articles, but also to other negative effects, including reduced absorbency of the underlying absorbent core.

Even without increasing the level of mineral oil, the tendency of this oil to move as it is applied also has other negative impacts. For example, the deposited mineral oil may be transferred to, penetrate and penetrate the packaging material used to pack the treated diapers. This may create the need to use barrier-type wrapping material or packaging film to prevent smearing or other leakage of mineral oil from the diaper article.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,148 discloses a diaper comprising a hydrophobic and an oilophobic topsheet wherein a portion of the topsheet is coated with an intermittent layer of oily material. A major disadvantage of the diapers described in this patent is that the hydrophobic and oilphobic topsheets are slow in promoting urine transfer to the underlying absorbent cores.

In addition to the fluid movement problems that occur when the liquid mixtures reach the topsheet, this patent has forgotten to consider the deleterious effects on skin care caused by the use of the cuffs as well as how to adjust the cuffs to the skin care composition placed thereon remained on the cuff and transferred to the wearer's skin in an effective amount, thereby providing the benefits associated with such skin care. It has also not been found in this patent that the treatment of the topsheet alone does not necessarily transfer the skin care composition to all critical areas of the wearer's skin.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,278 discloses a disposable one-piece absorbent article, such as a diaper, having a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, at least one resiliently contracting gasket, and at least one barrier cuff. The barrier cuff has a proximal end a

-2GB 297044 B6 Remote end. In addition, the absorbent article is provided with a spacer means to limit the distance of the distal end from the top surface of the topsheet. In addition, the adhesive means ensures that the end portions of the barrier cuff are closed. Between the proximal end and the distal end, a channel is formed at least in the crotch region because the distal end is located at a defined distance from the top surface of the topsheet. When the diaper of this embodiment is worn by the wearer, the barrier cuff extends along the inner portion of the wearer's thighs and perineum in the crotch region and along the buttocks in the back waist region. This avoids an increased leak rate since body exudates that are not immediately absorbed by the absorbent core contact the barrier cuff and are maintained in the duct so that they do not leak out of the diaper and leak from the leak between the diaper and the wearer's waist or waist. In addition, should these exudates leak beyond the barrier cuff, the leakage is prevented by the sealing cuff which forms an additional impermeable barrier around the wearer's legs and waist.

WO 96/16682 discloses a diaper comprising a liquid impermeable topsheet coated with a liquid composition. The liquid composition reduces the adherence of the excretions to the wearer's skin and thereby facilitates cleaning of the excretions. The liquid composition comprises a plastic or liquid emollient such as mineral oil or petrolatum, an immobilizing agent that immobilizes the emollient on the surface of the diaper topsheet, such as fatty alcohol or paraffin wax, and optionally also contains a hydrophilic surfactant to improve wettability of the coated topsheet. layers. Since the plasticizer is substantially immobilized on the surface of the topsheet, less fluid composition is required to achieve the therapeutic or protective effect.

However, both solutions are not entirely reliable.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an absorbent article having cuffs in which a skin care composition is provided on the cuffs to provide improved skin care, particularly in areas where the wearer contacts the skin during wear. In order to provide this skin care, the skin care composition must be capable of being transferred to the wearer's skin, but must not impair the functionality of the cuffs of the article.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide diapers or other absorbent articles having one or more cuffs to which a skin care composition is applied which:

(1) have desirable therapeutic and protective effects of the coating;

(2) do not require a relatively large amount of skin care products that are liquid at room temperature (for example, mineral oil) and / or

3) do not adversely affect the absorbency of the diaper; and / or

4) do not necessarily require special packaging or barrier materials for their packaging.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a diaper or absorbent article having one or more cuffs on which a skin care composition is applied, at least a portion of which is transferable to the wearer's skin to provide desirable skin care effects, including less skin irritation. , minor signs of redness, therapeutic effects, including reducing erythema and / or diaper rash and / or reducing adherence of the exudates to the skin, thereby facilitating cleansing of exudates. It is a further object of the present invention to improve the reliability of engagement and barrier function of the cuffs when using hydrophobic skin care compositions.

These and other objects are achieved by the present invention, as will be readily apparent from the following description.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an absorbent article to be worn by a user such that it adheres to a skin comprising a system comprising an outer cover layer having a backsheet and a permeable topsheet attached thereto with an absorbent core positioned between the two layers where the cuff with the first and second surfaces facing each other, wherein the permeable topsheet is provided with a skin care composition according to the invention, wherein the cuff is provided with a skin care composition which is semi-solid or solid at 20 ° C and is at least partially transferable to the wearer's skin and which is different from the permeable topsheet composition.

Preferably, the absorbent article is configured such that the cuff comprises a barrier cuff attached to the assembly, the barrier cuff comprising a barrier portion attached at its proximal edge to the outer wrapper layer, the distal edge of the barrier portion being provided with a spaced elastic portion to straighten the barrier cuff from the outer the packaging layer at a location where the distal edge is free, without being attached to the outer packaging layer.

Preferably, each barrier cuff has a flap portion and a channel portion, wherein the skin care composition is applied at least to the channel portion, in particular to the channel portion and the flap portion.

Preferably, the absorbent article further comprises a sealing lip formed by a side flap attached to the assembly along one of the edges of the absorbent core and extending outwardly from the absorbent core, wherein preferably the side flap comprises at least one first cuff portion attached to the assembly and an elastic portion connected side flap.

Advantageously, the first cuff part, connected to the permeable topsheet, forms a side flap surface which is in contact with the skin of the wearer, preferably a skin care agent is provided on this surface.

Preferably, in the absorbent article, the skin care composition comprises 10 to 95 wt. plasticizers with a plastic or liquid consistency at 20 ° C and 5 to 90 wt. means for immobilizing the plasticizer on the cuff portion.

Preferably, the emollient comprises a moiety selected from the group of petroleum based plasticizers, fatty acid ester plasticizers, polysiloxane plasticizers, sucrose fatty acid ester plasticizers, alkyl ethoxylate plasticizers, wherein the immobilizing agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of fatty acid polyhydroxy fatty acid esters, _{C] 4} to C ₂₂ fatty alcohols, C _I2-C22 fatty acid ethoxylates, C ₂ to C ₂₂ fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof, wherein the means (72) of the skin care composition thereto preferably comprises aloe extract.

Further, in the absorbent article, preferably the permeable topsheet is provided with a skin care composition in an amount to provide the desired effect, the composition being semi-solid or solid at 20 ° C and at least partially transferable to the wearer.

Preferably, one of the skin care agents is hydrophobic and the other hydrophilic or both have the same composition.

In an absorbent article, preferably the skin care composition is disposed on a first surface of the barrier cuff, the surface in contact with the skin of the wearer to form a surface

Or includes a garment facing surface and the means is transferred from the first surface to the second surface.

The invention therefore relates to an absorbent article, such as a disposable diaper, having one or more cuffs in which a skin care composition is present (by application or migration) on the surface of the cuff bodies. It is important that the skin care compositions useful herein are readily transferable to the wearer's skin by normal contact, movement of the wearer, and / or body heat. Once applied to the skin, the skin care composition provides the desired therapeutic effect and / or protection by providing a protective coating, resulting in minor reddish spots on the skin, erythema, diaper rash, and skin irritation and / or reduced fecal material adhesion to the wearer's skin, thereby facilitating its purification of these materials. Where hydrophobic skin care compositions are used, the skin care compositions described in this material may also improve the retention / barrier properties of the cuffs, thereby increasing their protection against leakage leakage. Such a hydrophobic skin care composition in particular allows flexibility in the design of cuffs using nonwoven materials by providing an alternative way to achieve desirable retention / barrier properties. This can lead to reduced material costs.

As used herein, the term cuff includes the leg cuffs, including barrier cuffs, sealing cuffs, combinations and variations thereof, transverse barriers and pockets or spacers, side portions as well as waist cuffs comprising waist flaps, waist belts, waist fasteners. and unitary waist fasteners / belts and combinations of all or some of these cuffs.

It is important that the skin care compositions described herein provide protective and therapeutic benefits upon transmission to the skin of the wearer, including reduction of erythema and / or diaper rash. The skin care composition may also act to minimize rubbing between the cuffs and the skin in the area where the cuffs are in contact with the wearer's skin, resulting in less redness and / or less skin irritation. In addition, a protective coating on the skin of the wearer may reduce the adhesion of the faecal materials to the skin, thereby improving the ease of cleaning thereof.

As will be described below, the skin care compositions useful in the present invention preferably also have a melting profile such that they are relatively immobile at room temperature and located on the cuffs, but are portable to the wearer at body temperature, yet are not completely liquid at extreme temperatures. storage conditions. In such embodiments, less skin care composition is required to achieve the desired benefit. In addition, special barrier or packaging materials are not required when packaging the treated products of the present invention.

In one preferred embodiment, the absorbent article of the present invention comprises a skin care composition present (deposited or migrating) on the cuffs and the topsheet. It has been found within the scope of the present invention that these preferred products increase the transfer of the composition to the skin of the wearer, resulting in increased therapeutic and / or protective effects discussed herein. In this regard, increased transmission will be realized as increased skin coverage (i.e. skin area) and / or increased amount of composition transferred over the gifted skin area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Giant. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a disposable diaper according to the invention having cut away portions to illustrate the backing structure.

Giant. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the plane 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Giant. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

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Giant. 4 is a perspective view of an absorbent article in the form of a disposable diaper according to the present invention.

Giant. 5 illustrates schematically a preferred method of applying the composition of the present invention to diaper barrier cuffs.

Giant. 6 illustrates schematically an alternative method of applying the composition of the present invention to diaper barrier cuffs.

Giant. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Giant. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Giant. 9 is a plan view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Giant. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Giant. 11 is a partial coronal view showing the sanitary napkin of the present invention and panties mounted on a wearer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term means that a variety of components, additives, or steps may be used together in the practice of this invention. The term comprising therefore includes narrower terms consisting essentially of and consisting of.

As used herein, the term skin care composition means any composition that contains one or more agents that, when transferred from the article to the skin of the wearer, provide the skin with some therapeutic and / or protective benefit. Examples of such materials will be discussed in detail below.

All percentages, ratios and proportions used herein are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

A) Absorbent article

As used herein, the term absorbent article means such articles that absorb and contain body exudates, and more particularly, refer to articles that are placed against the wearer's skin to absorb and retain the various excretions secreted by the body. The term "disposable" is used in this material to describe absorbent articles which are not intended to be laundered or otherwise restored or reused as an absorbent article after a single use. Examples of disposable absorbent articles include feminine hygiene articles such as sanitary pants, sanitary napkins and panty liners, diapers, incontinence articles such as panties or linen items, diaper liners, diaper holders, stretch diapers, training pants and the like.

Disposable absorbent articles generally comprise a carcass comprising an outer cover having a liquid pervious topsheet and a liquid impermeable backsheet attached to the topsheet and an absorbent core enclosed within the outer cover layer, preferably positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. Disposable absorbent articles and components thereof, including the topsheet, the backsheet and the absorbent core, and all of the individual layers of the articles, have two major surfaces (a first surface and a second surface), commonly referred to as body facing and garment facing surfaces. As used herein, the body-facing surface (also referred to as a body-contacting or skin-contacting surface) means that surface of the article or component in question, which is intended to include: will be worn facing or against the wearer ' s body while the garment facing surface is for wear

-67097044 B6 tile side, and is expected to face toward the wearer's undergarments when worn.

The following description generally discusses absorbent core, topsheet and backsheet materials that are useful in disposable absorbent articles. It is to be understood that this overall description applies to those parts of the particular absorbent articles shown in Figures 1 to 4 and described below, in addition to those of the other disposable absorbent articles generally described herein. Generally, the absorbent core is capable of absorbing or retaining liquids (e.g., menstrual fluid, urine and / or other body exudates). The absorbent core is preferably compressible, conformable and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. The absorbent core can be manufactured in very many sizes and shapes (e.g., rectangular, oval, hourglass, T-shaped, dog bone, asymmetric, etc.). In addition to the absorbent composites of the present invention, the absorbent core may comprise any material of a wide variety of liquid-absorbent materials commonly used in absorbent articles, such as pulverized wood pulp, commonly referred to as air laid felt. Examples of other suitable absorbent materials used in the absorbent core include creped cellulose wadding, meltblown polymers, including coform; chemically stiffened, treated or crosslinked cellulose fibers, synthetic fibers such as crimped polyester fibers, peat moss, tissue containing tissue paper webs and fabric laminates, absorbent foams, absorbent sponges, superabsorbent polymers, absorbent gelling materials, or any equivalent material or combinations of such materials or mixtures thereof.

The arrangement and construction of the absorbent core may also be varied (the absorbent core may have, for example, different diameter zones) and / or have a profd such that it will be thicker in the center. It may have hydrophilic gradients, absorbent composite gradients, for example, superabsorbent gradients. Further, it may have zones of lower average density and lower average basis weight (e.g., receiving zones, or may comprise one or more layers or structures). However, the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core should be compatible with the intended loading and intended use of the absorbent article. Further, the size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent core may be varied to accommodate different uses such as diapers, incontinence pads, training pants, pantiliners, normal sanitary napkins and night sanitary napkins, and to accommodate wearers in the range of infants to adults.

The absorbent core may also include other absorbent components that are frequently used in absorbent articles, for example, a dusting layer, a suction or acquisition layer (a sudden discharge management layer), or a secondary topsheet to enhance wearer comfort.

The topsheet is preferably adaptable, soft to the touch and non-irritating to the wearer's skin, the topsheet is further permeable to liquids at least in certain areas and allows liquids (e.g., menstrual fluid and / or urine) to readily penetrate deep. A suitable topsheet may be manufactured from a wide range of materials such as woven and nonwoven materials (e.g., a nonwoven web of fibers), including apertured nonwoven materials, polymeric materials such as apertured, shaped thermoplastic films, apertured plastic films, and hydroformed thermoplastic films. porous foams, reticulated foams, reticulated thermoplastic films, and thermoplastic scrims. Suitable woven and nonwoven materials may be comprised of natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (e.g., polymer fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene fibers), bicomponent fibers, or a combination of natural and man-made fibers. When the topsheet comprises a nonwoven web, the web may be manufactured by a number of known techniques. For example, the web may be spunbonded, carded, wet laid, meltblown, braided hydrodynamically, hydrodynamically shaped, perforated hydrodynamically, or formed by a combination of the above methods, and the like.

The backsheet is preferably liquid impervious (e.g., menstrual fluid and / or urine) at least in the crotch region of the absorbent article and is preferably made of a thin plastic film.

Although other flexible, liquid impermeable materials may also be used. As used herein, the term flexible means materials that are compliant and easily conform to the overall shape and contours of the human body. The backsheet prevents the exudates absorbed and retained in the absorbent core from wetting articles in contact with the absorbent article, such as sheets, trousers, pajamas and underwear. Thus, the backsheet may comprise a woven or nonwoven material, polymeric films such as thermoplastic films of polyethylene or polypropylene, or composite materials such as a coated nonwoven material or a film coated nonwoven material. A suitable backsheet is a polyethylene film having a thickness of from about 0.012 mm (0.5 mils) to about 0.051 mm (2.0 mils). Exemplary polyethylene films are manufactured by Clopay Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA under the designation P181401, and Tredegar Film Products of Terre Haute, Indiana, USA under the designation XP-39385. The backsheet is preferably surface treated such that it is embossed and / or matt to provide a more fabric-like appearance. The backsheet may further allow vapors to escape from the absorbent core (i.e., the backsheet is breathable), while still preventing the exudates from passing through the backsheet. (An example of a breathable backsheet suitable for use in the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,571,096. The size of the backsheet is determined by the size of the absorbent core and the precise design of the absorbent article.

The backsheet is positioned adjacent to the garment surface and the topsheet is positioned adjacent to the body surface. The absorbent core is preferably bonded to the topsheet, the backsheet, or both in a manner known per se by attachment means well known in the art. However, embodiments of the present invention are contemplated in which portions of the entire absorbent core are unattached to either the topsheet, the backsheet, or both.

The backsheet and / or the topsheet may be attached to the absorbent core or to each other by a uniform, continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive, or by grouping the adhesive into separate lines, spirals, or point locations. Adhesives manufactured by Η have been found satisfactory. B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, under the designation HL1258 or H-2031. Preferably, the fastening means comprises an open pattern adhesive web of fibers as described in U.S. Patent 4,573,986. An exemplary open pattern web fastener comprises a plurality of lines of adhesive fibers twisted in a spiral pattern as shown in the apparatus and The methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,911,173, 4,785,996 and 4,842,666. Alternatively, the attachment means may comprise heat-sealed joints, pressure-sealed joints, ultrasonic joints, dynamic mechanical joints, or any other suitable attachment means, or combinations thereof which are known in the art.

A preferred disposable absorbent article in which treated cuffs may be used (the term treated cuffs are used herein to refer to cuffs having one or more skin care compositions applied thereto) according to the present invention is diaper. The term diaper as used herein means an absorbent article generally worn by infants and incontinent persons. The diaper is worn around the lower torso of the wearer. In other words, the term diaper includes infant diapers, training pants, adult incontinence products, and the like. The present invention is also applicable to other types of disposable articles such as sanitary napkins and panty liners that comprise cuffs.

Giant. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 of the present invention wherein the diaper is in a straightened, uncontracted state (i.e., all of its elastically contracting portions are stretched), with portions of its structure cut away to more clearly illustrate the diaper structure The side of the diaper 20 that is in contact with the wearer (the body-facing surface) faces the viewer. The diaper 20 shown in Fig. 1 has a front waist region 22, a rear waist region 24, a crotch region 26, and a circumference defined by the outer edges of the diaper, wherein the longitudinal edges are designated 30 and the end edges are designated 32. The diaper 20 also has a transverse axis indicated by 34 and

The diaper 20 comprises a carcass provided with an outer cover layer comprising a liquid pervious topsheet 38 and a liquid impermeable backsheet 42 and an absorbent core 44 having side edges 46, a fastening system preferably comprising a pair of tape strips. and tab fasteners 54 and a liner portion 55, a seal cuff 56, each comprising a side flap 58 and flaps elastic portions 60, a barrier cuff 62, including a barrier cuff portion 63 having a proximal lip 64, a distal lip 66 and a tip 74 and a spacer means, such as a spaced elastic portion 76, for maintaining a distal edge 66 from the body of the topsheet. In addition, the diaper 20 includes closure portions 78 to secure closure end 74 of each barrier cuff 62. While the components of the diaper may be assembled to have a variety of well known arrangements, a preferred diaper arrangement is generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,278.

Giant. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a diaper 20 of the present invention wherein the topsheet 38 and backsheet 42 are of the same range and have length and width dimensions generally greater than the absorbent core 44. The topsheet 38 is joined to the backsheet 42 and overlaps the backsheet 42 thereby forming a diaper circumference 20.

The diaper 20 has a front waist region 22 and a rear waist region 24 extending from the end edges 32 of the diaper periphery toward the lateral axis 34 of the diaper 20. The waist regions include those portions of the diaper 20 that when worn surround the waist of the wearer. The crotch region 26 is the portion of the diaper 20 between the waist regions and includes that portion of the diaper 20 that when worn 20 is positioned between the wearer's legs and covers the lower portion of the torso.

As shown in FIG. 1, the skin care composition 72 is provided on each barrier cuff 62. Preferably, the skin care composition 72 is disposed on the body facing surface of the barrier cuff so that the skin care composition can be worn when worn. easy to carry on the wearer's skin. In the illustrated embodiment, the skin care composition 72 is arranged to be at the distal edge 66, preferably at least in the crotch region 26. More preferably, the skin care composition 72 is disposed at the distal edge 66. a plurality of strips of the skin care composition 72. In the illustrated embodiment, the skin care composition 72 is disposed only on a portion of the barrier cuff 62. With certain skin care compositions, it is preferable to avoid application of the skin care composition to portions of the barrier cuff adjacent to the ends of the spaced elastic portions to ensure for elastic creep resulting from the interaction of the skin care agent and the adhesive. As shown in FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment, the skin care composition 72 is not configured to abut the end of the spaced elastic portion 76 in the front waist region (although it may not alternatively also be arranged adjacent the end in the back waist region ). (Alternatively, an adhesive compatible with the skin care composition may be used so that the placement of the skin care composition on the cuff is not limited in relation to the end of the spacer elastic portions.) As noted herein, the skin care composition may alternatively be applied to the surface facing the barrier cuff and may be passed through to the body surface so as to increase the hydrophobicity of the barrier cuffs. Likewise, it can be arranged on a body-facing surface so as to provide the benefits of skin care. Further, the skin care composition may be applied to other parts of the barrier cuff, the entire barrier cuff, the spacer elastic portions, or any other part of the barrier cuff. The skin care composition may also be arranged in any manner, including intermittent or continuous patterns, or in any amount as described below.

The diaper 20 shown in FIG. 2 has a garment facing surface 86 and a body facing surface 84 opposite the garment facing surface 86. The surface 84 facing the body of the diaper 20 is the portion thereof that is positioned adjacent to the diaper. the body of the wearer during use, i.e. the body-facing surface 84 is generally formed by at least a portion of the topsheet 38 and other parts, including those that

297044 B6 may be attached to the topsheet 38. The garment-facing surface 86 includes that portion of the diaper 20 that is positioned when worn away from the wearer's body, i.e. the garment-facing surface 86 is generally formed by at least a portion of the backsheet 42; other parts, including those that may be attached to the backsheet 42.

Giant. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the diaper structure in the rear waist region 24 of the diaper 20. It will be understood that the diaper construction in the front waist region 22 is substantially the same as the rear waist region. 24. The absorbent core comprises an absorbent layer 48, which is shown completely wrapped with tissue layers 50 and 52. The absorbent core 44 is disposed between the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42. Both the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42 extend beyond the backsheet. the side edge 46 of the absorbent core 44 and define a side flap 58. The side-facing surfaces of the topsheet 38 and backsheet 42 are preferably joined together by a flap attachment portion 88, such as an adhesive. In a preferred embodiment, the flaps elastic portions do not extend into the rear waist region 24, so that a sealing collar is not formed in this region. The barrier cuff 62 is illustrated as a cuff 62 comprising a separate portion, a barrier cuff portion 63 that is attached to the topsheet 38. Its proximal edge 64 is formed by attaching the barrier cuff portion 63 to the topsheet 38 nearer the fastening portion 92. The garment facing surface 68 the barrier cuff 62, also called the inner surface of the barrier cuff, is secured to the body surface 40 by the closure portion 78. Thus, the distal edge 66 is closed, i.e., not spaced apart from the body surface 40. It should be noted that the spacer elastic portion is not disposed in this region because the distal edge 66 is not designed to maintain a pitch from the body surface 40 in the waist regions. Thus, the barrier cuff 62 is neither open nor ready to restrict the flow of body exudates in this area. Also, in this particular embodiment, the skin care composition is preferably not located on the barrier cuff in the back waist region.

Giant. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the diaper structure in the crotch region 26 as this region 26 is shaped before being fitted to the wearer, i.e., the diaper 20 is subjected to elastic contraction . The absorbent core 44 includes an absorbent layer 44 that is shown to be completely enveloped by tissue layers 50 and 52. The absorbent core 44 is disposed between the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42. Both the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42 extend beyond the side edge 46 of the absorbent core 44 and define a side flap 58. The side-facing regions of the topsheet 38 and backsheet 42 are preferably attached to each other by a flap attachment portion 88 such as an adhesive. The topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42 also enclose the flap elastic portions 60 adjacent the longitudinal edge 30. These flap elastic portions 60 are fastened in the topsheet and backsheet-formed side flap 58, preferably the elastic fastening portions 90. The elastically contractible gasket 56 is thereby formed. The sealing collar has a body-facing surface 57 oriented towards the wearer's skin when the diaper is worn and a garment-facing surface 59 opposite the body-facing surface 57. The barrier cuff 62 is shown formed by attaching a separate portion, the barrier cuff portion 63, to the topsheet 38, preferably between the flaps elastic portions 60 and the side edge 46 of the absorbent core 44. The proximal edge 64 of the barrier cuff 62 is formed by securing the barrier cuff portion 63 to the The spacer elastic portion 76 is encapsulated in a tunnel that is formed when the end of the barrier cuff portion 63 is folded back on itself. The spacer elastic portion 76 is secured in the tunnel by the elastic attachment portions 94. The distal edge 66 of the barrier cuff is spaced apart from the body surface 40 by the elastic gathering action of the spacer elastic portion 76. The barrier cuff 62 is shown ready to limit, retain and hold body exudates until the diaper 20 is removed from the wearer. The skin care composition 72 is shown in Figure 3 as positioned on the body facing surface 70 of the barrier cuff 62 (barrier cuff portion 63) so that the skin care composition 72 can be transferred to the skin while worn.

- 10GB 297044 B6

The diapers of the present invention may have a number of well known arrangements with their absorbent cores adapted to the present invention. Examples of arrangements are described generally in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,860,003, 5,151,092, 5,580,411, 5,569,232, and 5,569,234.

The diaper skeleton shown in the drawings forms part of the main body of the diaper for retaining. The carcass comprises at least an absorbent core and preferably an outer shell layer comprising a topsheet and a backsheet. When the absorbent article comprises a separate holder and pad, the carcass generally comprises a holder and pad, i.e., the skeleton comprises one or more layers of material to define the holder, while the pad comprises an absorbent composite such as a topsheet, backsheet and absorbent core. In unitary absorbent articles, the skeleton comprises a main diaper structure with other added features to form a composite diaper structure. Thus, the diaper skeleton comprises a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core.

The topsheet 38, which is particularly suitable for use in diaper 20, is carded and thermally bonded by means well known to those of skill in the art. A suitable topsheet for the present invention comprises staple length polypropylene fibers having a yarn fineness of about 2.2 denier. As used herein, the term staple length fibers means those fibers having a length of at least 15.9 mm (0.625 inches). Preferably, the topsheet has a basis weight of from 14 to 25 g / m ² . A suitable topsheet is manufactured by Veratec. Inc., Division of Intemational Tapper Company, Walpole, Massachusetts, USA, under the designation P-8. An alternative preferred topsheet is a 22 g / m ² nonwoven web available from Fiberweb North America. Inc., in Simpsonville. SC, USA, under the designation 9694.

The topsheet 38 of the diaper 20 is preferably made of a hydrophilic material to promote rapid transfer of liquids (e.g., urine) through the topsheet. If the topsheet is made of a hydrophobic material, preferably at least the body-facing surface of the topsheet, or a portion thereof, is adapted to be hydrophilic so that liquids pass faster through the topsheet. This reduces the likelihood that the body exudates will flow from the topsheet instead of being absorbed through the topsheet and absorbed by the absorbent core. The topsheet may be rendered hydrophilic by treatment with a surfactant. Suitable methods of treating the topsheet with a surfactant include spraying and immersing the surfactant in the surfactant. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,988,344 and 4,988,345 disclose this treatment and hydrophilicity in more detail.

In a particularly preferred embodiment described herein, the topsheet of the absorbent article will also have a skin care composition thereon. Exemplary treated topsheets are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,643,588 and 5,635,191. As noted above, the skin care composition located on both the cuffs and the topsheet will facilitate the transfer of the composition to the skin to a greater extent. to the surface area, compared to when only the cuffs are provided. Additionally, application to both components may allow delivery of a greater amount of skin care composition to the wearer ' s area and / or delivery of various skin care compositions for different skin effects.

In a preferred embodiment of the diaper as described herein, the backsheet 42 has a modified hourglass shape extending beyond the absorbent core around the entire periphery of the diaper. The backsheet is preferably a soft, woven, web-like laminate comprising an optionally apertured, polymeric, shaped film and a nonwoven web. Such a breathable backsheet is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,096.

The absorbent core 44 may be of any size or shape compatible with the diaper 20. One preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 has an asymmetric T-shaped modified absorbent core 44 having tabs in the first waist region, but generally rectangular in the second waistband. areas. Examples of absorbent structures for use as the absorbent core of the present invention that have achieved widespread acceptance and commercial success are described in U.S. Pat.

- 11 GB 297044 B6

US 6,610,678, US 4,673,402, US 4,888,231, EP 640,330 and US 4,834,735. The absorbent core may further include a dual core system comprising a chemically stiffened fiber receiving / distribution core positioned over the absorbent storage core as This is described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,234,423 and 4,147,345.

In a preferred embodiment, the diaper 20 comprises cuffs, each leg cuff comprising a barrier cuff 62 and / or a sealing cuff 56, to provide improved containment of liquids and other body exudates. These cuffs provide improved containment of liquids and other body exudates and can be constructed to have a variety of different configurations. The diaper 20 may also include cuffs comprising elastic waist portions (not shown) and / or elastic side portions (not shown) to fit better to the contours of the figure and to be more effectively seated on. Such cuffs may also be provided with a skin care composition.

Each leg cuff may include several different embodiments to limit leakage of body exudates in the leg regions. (These leg cuffs may be, and sometimes are, referred to as leg bands, side flaps, barrier cuffs, elastic leg cuffs, sealing cuffs, or elastic cuffs). U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,003 discloses a disposable diaper 20 that provides a retractable leg opening with a side flap and one or more elastic portions to form an elastic leg cuff (gasket). U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,803 discloses a disposable diaper 20 having erect elastic flaps (barrier cuffs) to improve retention in the leg region. U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,278 discloses a disposable diaper 20 having double cuffs comprising a sealing cuff and a barrier cuff. Although each such leg cuff may be similarly configured to be similar to the leg belt, side flap, barrier cuff, or elastic cuff as described above, it is preferred that each leg cuff include barrier cuffs 62 and a gasket. the collars 56 as described in detail below.

Each barrier cuff 62 is a flexible portion having a body closest edge 64, a body distal edge 66, a garment facing surface 68 (also called an inner surface) and a body facing surface 70 (also called an outer surface). When the diaper is worn, the garment-facing surface 68 is oriented towards the interior of the diaper and the body-facing surface 70 is oriented towards the wearer's skin. The barrier cuff 62 may be made of a wide variety of materials such as polypropylene, polyester, rayon, nylon, foams, nonwovens, plastic films, molded films and elastic films or foams. A variety of manufacturing methods can be used to manufacture the barrier cuff. For example, the barrier cuff 62 may be woven, nonwoven, spunbonded, meltblown spunbonded, carded, coated, laminated, and the like. for liquid. Exemplary polypropylene fibrous nonwoven material is manufactured by Crown Zellerbach Company under the designation Celestra. A particularly preferred nonwoven material is a carded nonwoven web available from PGI of Landisville. New Jersey, USA, under the designation 67700. Alternatively, the material may be a nonwoven web supplied by Corovin GmbH of Peine, Germany under the designation MD300A. Moreover, due to the hydrophobic skin care compositions used in the present invention, the barrier cuff may be made of a hydrophilic material and have a hydrophobic skin care composition arranged thereon to improve its barrier properties.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the barrier cuff 62, and more particularly the body-facing edge 64, is located within the longitudinal edge 30, adjacent and preferably within the sealing collar 56. The term inside is defined as the direction toward the central axis (34). and 36), respectively, of a diaper that is parallel to the respective edge of the diaper along which a particular sealing collar is arranged. The barrier cuff 62 is disposed adjacent the sealing cuff 56 to provide more effective double protection against the flow of body exudates. The barrier cuff 62 is preferably arranged inside

Thus, the exudates, and in particular the loose fecal material, which is not readily absorbed and tends to flow along the body surface 40, will be in contact with the barrier cuff 62 before it comes into contact with the sealing cuff 56. the cuff 62 is more preferably disposed between the flap elastic portion 60 of the sealing collar 56 and the longitudinal centerline 36 of the diaper 20. Most preferably, the barrier cuff 62 is disposed between the flap elastic portion 60 and the side edge 46 of the absorbent core 44 in the crotch region 26 of the diaper 20.

The proximal edge 64 and the distal edge 66 are spaced from each other and define the width of the barrier cuff 62. The proximal edge 64 and the distal edge 66 may be in a parallel, non-parallel, rectilinear or curvilinear relationship. In addition, the barrier cuff 62 may have a variety of different cross-sectional areas, including circular, square, rectangular, or any other shape as shown in Figure 3. Preferably, the proximal edge 64 is spaced from the distal edge 66 in a parallel and rectangular relationship such that to obtain a barrier cuff 62 having uniform widths.

A preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is provided with a barrier cuff 62 coupled to the topsheet 38. The term bonding includes any means for securing the barrier cuff 62 to the diaper 20 and includes an embodiment wherein the barrier cuff 62 is a separate portion having the proximal edge 64 directly or indirectly attached to the topsheet 38, i.e., integral or embodiments in which the barrier cuff 62 is made of the same portion or material as the topsheet 38, such that the proximal edge 64 is a continuous and non-divided portion of the topsheet, i.e. with her one piece. The barrier cuff 62 may alternatively be attached to the side flap 58, the backsheet 42, the absorbent core 44, the topsheet 38, or any combination of these or other portions of the diaper 20. In the preferred diaper 20, the barrier cuffs 62 are integral with the topsheet 38. The integral barrier cuff 62 is preferably formed by a strip of material, a barrier cuff portion 63 that is attached to the topsheet of the proximal attachment portion 92. The distal edge 66 is formed by folding the ends of the barrier cuff portions 63 to itself.

Preferably, the distal edge 66 is positioned inwardly of the proximal edge 64 to provide a more effective barrier to the exudate stream. The distal edges 66 are held inwardly by the nearer edges 64 by the closing portions 78 so as to prevent their reversal. Although the distal edges 66 may alternatively be arranged at other positions relative to the proximal edges 64, these positions are not preferred.

Preferably, the distal rim 66 is not attached to any other portion at least in the crotch region 26 of the diaper 20, so that it may be spaced from the surface to the body 40 of the topsheet 38. The distal rim 66 is preferably located outside the body-facing surface 40. to increase detention of the product. As used herein, the term spaced apart includes embodiments in which the distal edges 66 may occupy one or more positions relative to the surface 40 facing the body of the topsheet 38, including sometimes occupying a position adjacent to the surface40 facing the body of the topsheet 38. Distance from the distal edge 66 to the body facing surface 40 of the topsheet 38 is measured along a line extending from the distal edge 66 to the closest portion of the topsheet 38 when the distal edge 66 is positioned such that it is spaced as far away from the topsheet as possible. in elastically retracted position.

In addition to the barrier cuffs, the leg cuffs of the present invention preferably further comprise sealing cuffs 56. These sealing cuffs 56 are disposed at the periphery of the diaper 20, preferably along each longitudinal edge 30 such that the sealing cuffs 56 tend to pull and hold the diaper 20 against the legs of the wearer. Although the sealing collars 56 may include any of several means well known in the diaper art, a particularly preferred embodiment of the sealing collar comprises a flexible side flap 58 and a flap elastic portion 60 as described in detail in U.S. Patent 3,860,003. and a device suitable for producing a disposable diaper having additionally elastic sealing collars 56 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,301.

- 13 GB 297044 B6

The side flap 58 should be highly flexible and hence retractable such that the flap elastic portions 60 can take up the side flap 58 to provide a sealing flap 56 around the wearer's legs or waist. The side flaps 58 are preferably that portion of the diaper 20 that is between the periphery and the edges of the absorbent core 44. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, the side flaps 58 are formed from the extension of the backsheet 42 and the topsheets 38 from and along the side edges 46 of the absorbent core 44 of the diaper 20 at least in the crotch region 26. Alternatively, as described in U.S. Patent 3,860,003, the side flaps may be a separate portion attached to the skeleton (topsheet, bottomsheet). layer or absorbent core) or one of the side flap components may be a separate part.

The flap elastic portions 60 are preferably operatively attached to the side flaps 58 in an elastically retractable condition such that, in a normally unrestricted configuration, the flap elastic portions 60 effectively contract or retract the side flaps 58. The flap elastic portions 60 may be secured to the side flaps 58 in an elastically retractable condition in at least two ways. For example, the flaps elastic portions 60 may be stretched and secured to the side flaps 58 while the side flaps 58 are in an uncontracted state. Alternatively, the side flaps 58 may be retracted, for example, by pleating, and the flaps elastic portions 60 may be attached to the retracted side flaps 58, while the flaps elastic portions 60 are in their undeveloped or unstretched condition. Alternatively, the sealing cuffs may comprise a plurality of different, elastically extensible structures, such as elastic nonwoven webs or foams, stretch laminates as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,092, and structural as elastic films (SELF webs) that are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,801.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the flaps elastic portions 60 occupy substantially the entire length of the side flaps 58 in the crotch region 26 of the diaper 20. Alternatively, the flaps elastic portions 60 may occupy the entire length of the diaper 20 or any other length suitable to provide a sealing collar. The length of the flaps elastic portions 60 is dictated by the design of the diaper.

In diaper 20 in Figure 3, the flaps elastic portions 60 are associated with the side flaps 58 by attaching to the side flaps 58 with elastic attachment portions 90. The elastic attachment portions 90 should be flexible and with sufficient grip to keep the flaps elastic portion apart condition. The elastic attachment portions 90 herein are preferably pieces of glue or spiral formed from heat-melt adhesives such as those sold by ATO Findley Incorporated of Wauwatosa, Wis., USA under the designation Findley 2511 or Findley H9254. It is recognized that traditional adhesives may not be compatible with all skin care products. In particular, some skin care compositions may degrade the integrity of the adhesive bonds, resulting in elastic creep and / or poor bonding performance. The adhesive which has been found to be particularly effective in preventing the flow of elastic materials when applied to the skin care composition is Findley H9254. A more detailed description of the manner in which the flaps elastic portions 60 can be positioned and attached to the diaper 20 can be found in U.S. Patents 4,253,461 and 4,081,301.

One flaps elastic portion 60 that has been found suitable is an elastic strand made of natural rubber, available from the Easthampton Rubber Thread Company of Stewart, Va., Under the trademark L-900 Rubber Compound. Other suitable flap elastic portions 60 may be made of natural rubber, such as an elastic strip sold under the trademark Fulflex 9211 from Fulflex Company of Scotland, N. C., USA. An exemplary elastic portion is an elastane strand (Lycra) as available from DuPont Co, of Waynsboro, Virginia, USA, under the tradename Lycra-XA T151. The flap elastic portion 60 may also include any heat-shrinking material well known in the art. Other suitable flap elastic portions 60 may include a wide variety of materials well known in the art, including elastomer films, elastane (Lycra) films, strands of polyurethane, elastomer foams, and elastomer molded scrims.

- 14GB 297044 B6

In addition, the flap elastic portions 60 may have a variety of configurations. For example, the width of the flaps elastic portions 60 may vary from 0.25 mm (0.01 inches) to 25 mm (1.0 inches) or more; the flap elastic portions 60 may comprise a single strand of elastic material, or may comprise a plurality of parallel or non-parallel strands of elastic material, or the flap elastic portions 60 may be rectilinear or curved. The flap elastic portions 60 may still be attached to the diaper 20 in any of several ways well known in the art. For example, the flap elastic portions 60 may be ultrasonically bonded, heat / pressure sealed into the diaper 20 using a variety of connection patterns, or the flap elastic portions 60 may simply be glued to the diaper 20.

The cuff may also include an elastic waist feature, such as an elastic waistband (not shown), which may be constructed in a number of different configurations, including those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,515,595, 5,026,364 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,092. wherein a skin care composition is provided thereon.

The cuff may further comprise elastic side panels, which may be constructed in a number of different configurations in which the skin care composition is placed. Examples of diapers with elastic side panels are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,857,067, 4,381,781, 4,938,753, 5,151,092, 5,580,411, 5,569,897 and 5,569,232.

Embodiments of the cuffs of the present invention may also include pockets for receiving and retaining waste, spacers that provide empty waste compartments, barriers to restrict the movement of waste within the product, compartments or voids that receive and retain waste materials stored in the diaper and the like; any combination thereof, wherein a skin care composition is provided. Examples of pockets and spacers for use in absorbent articles are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,514,121, 5,171,236, 5,397,318, 5,540,671, PCT WO 93/25172, and 5,306,266. spaces are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,968,312, 4,990,147, 5,062,840 and 5,269,755. Examples of suitable transverse barriers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,554,142, PCT WO 94/14395, and US 5,653. 703.

Exemplary attachment systems 54 are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,846,815, 4,894,060, 4,946,527, 3,848,594, 4,963,140, 814,662,875, and 5,151,092. be arranged on one or both components of the fastening system to further enhance a healthy skin condition. For example, the skin care composition as described herein may be provided on the tape tabs to reduce the effects of the tape tabs that rub against the skin.

Giant. 4 is a perspective view of the diaper 20 in its elastically contracted condition prior to being placed upon the wearer. The topsheet 38 is shown as part of the body-facing surface of the diaper 20, the backsheet 42 being disposed away from the wearer's body. The sealing collars 56 are shown as being scooped or contracted by the flaps elastic portions (not shown in FIG. 4). The diaper 20 shown has two barrier cuffs 62 that extend to and adjacent to the sealing cuffs. The distal edges 66 are shown as gathered and contracted by spacers (not shown) in the crotch region. Moreover, the ends 74 of the barrier cuff 62 are closed by fastening to provide comfort to the wearer, to prevent rotation of the barrier cuffs 62 and to facilitate the insertion of the diaper. The skin care composition 72 is positioned on the body facing surface (applied to the body facing surface or applied so as to be able to migrate to the body surface) of each barrier cuff 62 so as to pass to the wearer's skin, thereby providing the herein disclosed skin benefits.

The diaper 20 is fitted to the wearer by placing the back waist region 24 below the wearer's back and by extending the remainder of the diaper 20 between the wearer's legs such that the front waist region 22 is positioned.

Over the front of the person. The end of the tape fasteners 54 are then preferably attached to the stoking member 55 to close the diaper 20. In this way, the barrier cuffs 62 should be positioned in the crotch region of the wearer and provide the dispositions and functions described above. Once deployed, the distal edges 66 of the barrier cuffs 62 extend through the groin areas and extend upwardly along both wearer's buttocks. Neither of the barrier cuffs 62 surrounds the thighs of the wearer, but the sealing cuffs 56 will surround the thighs and form a sealing action against the thighs. The barrier cuffs 62 contact the wearer's skin and transfer the skin care composition 72 thereto to provide all or some of the skin effects described herein.

The modified cuffs of the present invention are also useful in training pants or stretch pants. The term training pants as used herein refers to disposable garments having fixed sides, thereby defining a fixed waist opening and foot openings. The training pants are positioned in the wearer position by inserting the wearer's legs into the leg openings and sliding the training pants to a position around the bottom of the wearer's torso. Suitable training pants are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,246,433, 4,940,464, and 5,092,861. The treated cuffs of the present invention are also applicable to absorbent articles that are a combination or hybrid of training pants and diapers (stretch diapers). as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,234.

Another disposable absorbent article in which the cuffs provided according to the present invention are useful are incontinence articles. The term incontinence product refers to liners, undergarments (liners held in position by a suspension system of some type, such as a belt or the like), absorbent pads, additional pads to increase the capacity of absorbent articles, briefs, beds and the like, whether worn by adults or other incontinent persons. Suitable incontinence products are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,253,461, 4,597,760, 4,597,761, 4,704,115, 4,909,802, 4,964,860 and PCT WO 92/11830.

Giant. 7 is a simplified partial cross-sectional view of an alternative preferred embodiment of a diaper of the present invention. The diaper 720 comprises a carcass and trim collars attached to the carcass. This skeleton contains:

1) an outer cover layer comprising a portion of the topsheet 38 and a portion of the backsheet 42; and

2) an absorbent core 44.

Each cuff includes a barrier cuff 762 and a sealing cuff 756. The barrier cuff 762 includes a separate barrier cuff portion 763 having a flap portion 702 and a channel portion 704.

The flap portion 702 is formed by affixing a portion of the barrier cuff portion 763 to the backsheet 42 adjacent the longitudinal edge 30 of the diaper with the flap attachment portions 88, such as adhesive, wherein the leak resistant seal is formed by the flap attachment portions 88, flap portion 68 and backsheet 42 so protection against leakage of liquids that leak along the topsheet 38 as a wick has been provided. The flap portion 702 and the backsheet 42 define a side flap 758 of the sealing collar 756 and close the flap elastic portions 760. The flap elastic portions 760 are fastened in the side flap 758 formed of the flap portion and the backsheet with elastic fastening portions 90. formed by the side flap 758 and the flap elastic portions 760.

The channel portion 704 of the barrier cuff 762 abuts the flap portion 702 and has a proximal edge 64 and a distal edge 66. The proximal edge 64 is preferably formed within the gasket collar 756, more preferably between the lateral edge 46 of the absorbent core and the flap elastic portion 760 by connecting the barrier cuff segment. a portion 763 to the backsheet 42 closer to the fastening portion 92, for example

A mechanical / pressure connection so as to form a leakproof seal along the proximal edge 64 to create a barrier to the liquid that leaks through the topsheet 38 so as to prevent liquids from leaking beneath the barrier cuffs to the edges of the diaper 20. Preferably, the distal rim 66 is located within the proximal rim 64 and is not attached to any backing portion of the diaper 20. As shown in Fig. 7, the distal rim 66 is preferably formed by folding the end of the barrier cuff portion 763 back on itself and attaching it to the diaper. a further segment of the barrier cuff portion by a distal attachment portion 96 to form a tunnel. A spacer means, such as the spacer elastic portion 76, is enclosed in the tunnel, the spacer elastic portion 76 being secured in the barrier cuff 762 by the elastic attachment portions 94. (In an alternative embodiment, only the ends of the spaced elastic portion are secured to the barrier cuff portion to form the elasticity of the stretched string so that the middle segment of the elastic portion floats in the tunnel This elastic portion resembling the stretched string is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,025. The distal edge 66 is therefore positioned at a distance from the body surface 40 the topsheet 38 by taking up the spaced elastic portion 77.

In the illustrated embodiment, the topsheet 38 is positioned adjacent the body facing surface of the absorbent core 44 and extends beyond the side edge 46 of the absorbent core 44 but terminates within the proximal edge 64. (Alternatively, the topsheet may extend outward beyond the proximal edge but terminate within the outermost a more detailed description of the collar construction of this embodiment is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,795,454.

The flap portion 702 is associated with the channel portion 704 and extends outwardly from the proximal edge 64 of the channel portion 704 toward the longitudinal edge 30, preferably the longitudinal edge 30, such that the flap 758 is formed from an extension of the backsheet 42 and the flap portion 702. Although the flap portion 702 is preferably a continuous segment of the barrier cuff portion 763, the flap portion 702 may be formed from a different piece of material attached to the barrier cuff portion 704 of the barrier cuff 762. Thus, the flap portion 702 may have different physical characteristics, dimensions and parameters than it has a channel portion 704. For example, the flap portion 702 need not be hydrophobic nor extend outwardly toward the longitudinal edge 30. Additionally, each of the barrier cuffs 762 need not have a flap portion so that the flap portion can be completely omitted. However, the flap portion is preferably hydrophobic, conformable, soft to the touch, and non-irritating to the wearer ' s skin since it is in contact with the wearer's leg when worn.

An effective amount of a skin care composition is placed on the cuff to provide skin care benefits to the wearer. In order to deliver the skin care composition to the wearer's skin during wear, it is preferred to place the skin care composition on those parts of the cuff that will be in contact with the wearer's skin. Thus, the skin care composition may be disposed on both surfaces of the cuff, on only one surface of the cuff, or on portions of one or both surfaces. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the skin care composition may be located on the flap portion 702, the channel portion 704, or both there and there. If the skin care composition r and the skin care portion are located on both the flap portion and the canal portion, the composition of the skin care composition disposed on each of them need not be the same. In fact, each skin care composition may have different compositions and properties to provide different benefits. For example, a first skin care composition that, for example, reduces rash from diapers, may be placed on a portion of the channel, while a second skin care composition that, for example, reduces skin irritation and / or soothes the skin may be placed on the flap portion. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the first skin care composition 72 is disposed on a portion of the channel, preferably on a body-facing surface thereof, and the second skin care composition 72 'is disposed on the flap portion, preferably on a body-facing surface thereof, and the third skin care composition 72 is disposed on the topsheet, preferably on the body facing surface thereof. The composition of each of the skin care compositions need not be the same, however, in this particular embodiment, the composition of the skin care compositions is the same. The skin care composition is

297044 B6 is provided in an effective amount to transfer the skin care composition to the wearer's skin.

As shown in Fig. 7, the skin care composition is preferably placed on 5 discontinuous flap portions and a canal portion. More preferably, the skin care composition is applied in one or more strips, most preferably the stripe (s) is in the same direction as the surfaces which lie above the flaps elastic portions or spaced elastic portions. Preferably, the first skin care composition 72 is applied to the channel portion 704 in a wide strip (about 35.56 mm, i.e. 1.4 inches) extending from the distal edge 66 toward the nearer edge 64. In length, the strip is located along a portion of the length of the spaced elastic portion (about 29.85 cm (11.75 inches) long) such that the portion of the barrier cuff 763 partially adjacent the end of the spacing elastic portion in the front waist region does not have skin care means 72 thereon . (See, for example, Fig. 1). Strips 702 of the second skin care composition 72 'are disposed on the flap portion 702.

The skin care composition may be applied to the body-facing surface 57 or the garment-facing surface 59 of the barrier cuff portion 763. When applied to the garment facing surface, the skin care composition preferably acts as a hydrophobic coating and helps to block the flow of urine and / or faecal materials through the barrier cuffs. The skin care composition is also applied by moving or moving through a portion of the barrier cuff to a body facing surface so as to be transferable to the wearer's skin and provide the skin benefits herein.

The skin care composition may also be placed on the topsheet to provide a different benefit or the same benefit as that applied to the barrier cuff. An example of a topical skin care composition is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,643,588.

Giant. 8 is another alternative embodiment of a treated cuff, in particular a breathable, treated elastic leg cuff, according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 8, the diaper 30 8 20 comprises a carcass comprising an outer cover layer comprising a topsheet 38 and a backsheet 42, and an absorbent core 44 enclosed within the outer cover layer, preferably between the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42. The leg cuff 856 includes a side flap 858 and elastic portions 860. The leg cuff 856 is shaped as a separate unit that is attached to the frame. In this particular embodiment, the side flap 858 includes two cuff portions, a first cuff portion 802, 35 attached to and extending therefrom from the topsheet 38, and a second cuff portion 804 attached to and extending outward from the backsheet 42. The first cuff portion 802 and the second cuff portion 804 enclose the elastic portions 860 that are operably coupled to one or both of the cuff portions to form a sealing cuff. In the particular, illustrated embodiment, each cuff portion is formed of a material that permits vapor passage (breathing), although it tends to slow the passage of liquid (air permeable but liquid impermeable). In this particular embodiment, each cuff portion includes a nonwoven web, but other breathable materials can be used, including apertured, shaped films. A more detailed description of such a leg cuff is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,207.

The skin care composition may be placed on either the first cuff portion, the second cuff portion, or both. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8, the skin care composition 872 is positioned on the first cuff portion 802, preferably on the body surface, such that the skin care composition 872 can be readily transferred to the wearer's skin when it is leg cuff 856 in contact with the wearer. The skin care composition 50 is preferably applied in one or more strips, the strip or strips preferably extending in the direction of the surfaces which lie over the elastic portions. Alternatively, the skin care composition may be applied to the garment-facing surface 808 of the first cuff portion 802 or the second cuff portion 804 and allowed to move or transfer through appropriate materials to the surface 806 facing the body of the first cuff portion 802 to benefit from

The skin care composition as well as to provide a leg cuff with reduced leakage. Additionally, the skin care composition may be applied to the elastic portion and may be allowed to be transferred therethrough to the body facing surface of the first cuff portion. In another alternative embodiment, the second cuff portion may be replaced by extending the backsheet over the entire path to the edge of the diaper.

The permeability (vapor permeability) of the cuff improves the function of many of the skin care compositions used in the present invention by allowing vapor exchange within the diaper to reduce the relative humidity within the diaper. Excessive relative humidity in the absorbent article between the wearer ' s skin and the article may be disruptive in the normal transfer of water vapor to and from the skin. By providing a means for transferring this excess moisture (breathable cuffs), the tendency to over-hydrate is reduced. This allows the moisture present in the skin to be removed from the diaper, further improving the health condition of the wearer's skin beyond the improvement provided by the skin care composition of the present invention. (Disposable absorbent articles that provide improved protection against excessive skin hydration because they contain a skin care composition located on the topsheet, allowing increased skin ventilation, due to increased breathability and improved liquid handling performance, are known in the art.

Giant. 9 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention having separate side panel laminates, front side panels 902, and rear side panels 904 that are attached to the chassis (containment assembly). The extensible rear side panels 904 have a multidirectional extensibility provided by the first side panel 906 and the second side panel 908 to provide separate extensibility along the waist and leg panels of the diaper 920. The side panels and diaper are described in more detail in U.S. Patent 5,580,411. The diaper 920 may have a variety of customized cuffs and combinations thereof. The leg cuffs of diaper 920 include a carcass gasket 956 (retainer assembly) and leg edges 910 for the second side panels 908 and front side panels 902. The waist cuffs include an elastic carcass belt 912 (the retainer panel) and a waist edge 914 of the first side panels 906 and front side panels 902. In this embodiment, the skin care composition may be applied to the side panels or any portion thereof, the sealing collar, the elastic waistband, or any combination thereof. For example, the skin care composition may be applied to the elastic waistband and portion of the waist edge of each first side panel and the front side panel. The skin care composition may be provided on each leg cuff, including a sealing cuff segment, a leg edge of the second side panel, and a leg edge of the front side panel. The skin care composition may thus provide a therapeutic or protective coating for the wearer's legs. Alternatively, various skin care compositions may be placed on any or all of the cuff combinations. Another skin care composition may also be disposed on the topsheet 38 as described herein. As shown in Fig. 10, the first skin care composition 972 is disposed on a plurality of spiral strips on the first side panel 906, the second skin care composition 972 'is disposed on a plurality of spiral strips on the second side panel 908, and the third skin treatment means 972 is disposed on the front side panels 902 in a plurality of spiral-shaped strips. Each of these skin care compositions may have the same or different compositions. If the skin care compositions have different compositions, each particular skin care composition may be formulated to provide unique benefits to different areas of skin on the wearer.

Giant. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative preferred diaper design with a modified cuff positioned in the waist regions of the diaper. Giant. 10 shows in particular the unitary waist closure / waistband. An exemplary embodiment of this unitary waistband / waistband is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,026,364. (It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the unitary waistband / waistband, but also includes waistband as shown in U.S. Pat. U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,595, as well as the waist closures disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,677 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,246.) Unitary waistband / waistband

-19GB 297044 B6

1002 is formed from a single piece of elastomeric material operatively connected to the diaper 1020. The outer portion 1004 is operatively connected to the waist flap 1058 in an elastically contractible state adjacent the end edge 32 of the diaper 1020 by a waist attachment portion (not shown) such as ultrasonic joints an elastic waistband 1056 was formed. The inner portion 1006 is associated with the outer portion 1004 and has a proximal edge 1064 and a distal edge 1066. The proximal edge 1064 of the inner portion 1006 is formed within the end edge 32 of the diaper 1020, preferably between the waist edge 47 of the absorbent core 44 and the outer portion 1004. an inner portion 1006 to the waist flap 1058 (topsheet 38) by means of a body closer attachment portion (not shown), such as an adhesive, to form a seal along the proximal edge 1064. the distal edge 1066 is disposed within the proximal edge 104 and not shown none of the backing portions of the diaper 1020, particularly the topsheet 38, such that portions of the inner portion 1006 may be spaced apart from the surface 40 facing the body of the topsheet 38 to form the waist closure 1062 (barrier cuff). In the illustrated embodiment, the sole material serves both as an elastic waistband 1056 and a waist closure 1062 (barrier cuff). This single piece of material is referred to herein as a unitary waist closure / waist belt 1002. The waist belt improves the fit of the diaper around the wearer and slows leakage from the waist region while the waist closure reduces, retains and maintains body exudates within the diaper. However, it should be noted that both the waist closure and the waistband can form separate portions.

In the embodiment shown, the skin care composition may be located on the inner portion, the outer portion, or both. The skin care composition may thus be applied to the waist closure or waistband. Preferably, the skin care composition is applied to the body facing surface of the unitary waist / waist closure around the waist such that when worn it contacts and transmits to the wearer's skin. As shown in FIG. 10, the skin care composition 1072 is preferably arranged in one or more strips on the body facing surface 1070 of the unitary waist / waist closure around the waist, more preferably at the distal edge 1066 of the waist closure 1062 and in the waist 1056 around. waist. In order to increase the hydrophobicity of the waist closure and to provide a skin-transferable skin care composition, the skin care composition may alternatively be applied to the garment facing surface and may be allowed to migrate or be transmitted through the body facing surface, thereby ensuring a hydrophobic coating that helps to slow the passage of the liquid while allowing the skin care composition to be readily transferred to the wearer's skin. In addition, a different skin care composition may be applied to the inner portion and the outer portion.

Another disposable absorbent article of the present invention is feminine hygiene articles such as sanitary napkins. Suitable feminine hygiene products are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,556,146, 814,589,876, 4,687,478, 4,950,264,

US 5,009,653, US 5,267,992, US 5,389,094, US 5,413,568, US 5,460,623, US 5,489,283, US 5,569,231, and US 5,620,430.

Figure 11 is a partial coronal view showing a sanitary napkin 1120 in cross-section having a cuff adapted according to the present invention through a wall in panties 1102 such that it is on the wearer during use. A more detailed description of a sanitary napkin having a barrier cuff is found in U.S. Patent No. 5,649,917. As shown in FIG. 11, the sanitary napkin 1120 comprises a central absorbent pad having an upper layer 38, a lower layer 42, and an absorbent core 44 positioned. between the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42, flap 1104 (commercially called ailerons) extending from each longitudinal edge 1130 of the center absorbent pad, each flap 1104 having at least one flexible axis, preferably a first axis of flexibility 1106 and a second axis of flexibility 1108 so The elastic material in the panties 1102, when used, pushes the flaps 1104 alongside the second flexural axes 1108 pleasantly against the body, resulting in a double-walled barrier to retain menstrual fluid. The treated cuff includes a barrier cuff 1162 (barrier means) having a proximal edge 1164 and a distal edge 1166. the proximal edge 1164 is attached to the insert (preferably flap 1104) to retain body exudates.

-20EN 297044 B6

The skin care composition 1172 is disposed on each barrier cuff 1162 to provide the skin care benefits described herein. Although the skin care composition may be applied to the entire cuff, one surface of the cuff, or any portion thereof, in the illustrated embodiment, the skin care composition is applied in one or more strips to that portion of the surface facing the body of the barrier cuff 1162 that is preferably at the distal edge 1166. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, each flap 1104 also includes a second skin treatment means 1172 '. The third skin care composition 1172 is disposed on the topsheet 38. The second skin care composition 1172 'disposed on the flaps 1104 is preferably positioned on those portions of the flaps that come into contact with the wearer when worn, typically a portion of the flaps of the second skin. axis 1108 of flexibility. The second skin treatment means 1172 'may be positioned between the first flexibility axis 1106 and the second flexibility axis 1108 and / or between the second flexibility axis 1108 and the distal flap edge 1110, or both. The composition of the skin care composition applied to the barrier cuff, topsheet and flaps may be varied to provide a different skin care effect to different parts of the wearer's skin. In the embodiment shown, the skin care compositions located on the topsheet, flaps and barrier cuffs have the same composition.

B. Skin Care Product

Although the particular skin care composition (s) (herein referred to as skin care composition and composition) of the present invention is an important factor in imparting a desirable skin effect, it is preferred that the skin care composition provides a protective, non-occlusive function (e.g. a liquid impermeable but vapor-permeable barrier) to prevent skin hyperhydration and exposure to the materials contained in body excretions, to function to minimize chafing and thereby reduce skin irritation in areas where the cuffs are in contact with the wearer's skin , as well as containing substances which impart, either directly or indirectly, skin-beneficial effects. Indirect advantages include, for example, improved removal of skin irritants such as faeces or urine. The composition may take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, emulsions, lotions, creams, ointments, balms, powders, suspensions, encapsulated substances, gels, and the like.

As used herein, the term "effective amount of skin care composition" means that amount of a particular composition which, when applied to or moved to the body facing surface of the cuff, will be effective in reducing chafing between the cuff and the wearer's skin in areas where the cuff in contact with the wearer's skin will provide a protective barrier and / or provide a positive skin care effect when the device is delivered through the cuffs and / or will reduce stool adhesion to the skin. Unless otherwise stated, the description relating to the placement of the skin care composition on the cuffs will be applicable to the devices placed on the topsheet in such preferred embodiments. However, the effective amount of the composition placed on the cuff will depend to a large extent on the particular skin care composition used. However, the amount of skin care composition positioned on at least a portion of the body-facing cuff surface will preferably range from 0.0078 mg / cm ² (0.05 mg / inch ² ) to 12 mg / cm ² (80 mg / cm ^2). mg / inch ² ) (more preferably from 0.16 mg / cm ² (1 mg / inch ² ) to 6 mg / cm ² (40 mg / inch ² ), and even more preferably from 0.6 mg / cm ² (4 mg) / ⁱⁿ²⁾ to about 4 mg / cm ² (26 mg / inch ^2). These ranges are for illustrative purposes only and those skilled in the art will recognize that the nature of the composition will dictate the level in them must be placed to achieve the desired skin benefits and these levels are determined by routine experimentation taking into account the present disclosure.

Although the level of skin care composition placed on the cuffs is an important aspect of the present invention, more important is the amount of the skin care composition transferred to the skin of the wearer during use of one or more treated cuffs. Although the desired level delivered to the skin to provide the desired skin effect will depend to some degree on the nature of the composition used, it has been found within the invention that they can be delivered relatively

Yet still have desirable effects on the skin. This is particularly true with preferred compositions such as those described in the examples.

Another effect of the present invention is the controlled application of the skin care composition to deliver low but effective levels of the desired composition. This is in contrast to the typically sporadic, manual application of skin care compositions where the caregiver / user often applies significantly higher levels of material than needed. Excess materials added manually can adversely affect the liquid handling properties of the absorbent article as a result of transferring the skin to the article. Indeed, for some materials, such as petrolatum, hand-applied levels can lead to an occlusive effect and thus worsen the condition of the skin. An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a barrier to surface moisture but avoids occlusion of the skin, i.e., maintains the breathability of the skin. Accordingly, the present invention allows the transfer of optimal amounts of the composition to the skin to maintain / improve its health.

In view of the amount of skin care composition that is transferred to the wearer during use of one treated absorbent article worn for about 3 hours (typical time of day wear), especially for preferred skin care compositions such as those described in of Example 1, it is preferred that at least 0.0016 mg / cm ² (0.01 mg / inch ² ), more preferably at least 0.0078 mg / cm ² (0.05 mg / inch ² ) is transferred to the skin over a three-hour wear period. more preferably, at least 0.016 mg / cm ² (0.1 mg / inch ² ) of the composition. Typically, the amount of composition delivered by one treated article will be from 0.0016 mg / cm ² (0.01 mg / inch ² ) to 1.24 mg / cm ² (8 mg / inch ² ), more preferably from 0.0078 mg / cm ² (0.05 mg / inch ² ) to 0.93 mg / cm ² (6 mg / inch ² ), more preferably from 0.016 mg / cm ² (0.1 mg / inch ² ) to 0.78 mg / cm ² (5 mg / inch ² ), during a three hour wear time.

It will be appreciated that among the numerous materials useful in the skin care compositions delivered to the skin of the present invention, those materials considered to be safe and effective skin care compositions are logical to use. These materials include Category I active substances as defined in the Provisional Final Monograph on Consumer Products, which are skin-protecting medicines for humans, issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (21 CFR § 347) ( US Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Tentative Final Monograph on Skin Protectant Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use), which currently includes: allantoin, aluminum hydroxide gel, kalamine, cocoa butter, dimethicone, cod oil liver (in combination), mineral oil, shark liver oil, white petrolatum, talc, external starch, zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide and the like. Other potentially useful materials are active substances of category III, as defined in the Provisional Final Monograph on Consumer Products, which are skin-protecting medicines for humans, issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (21 CFR § 347) include: yeast cellular derivatives, aldioxa, aluminum acetate, microporous cellulose, cholecalciferol, colloidal oatmeal, cysteine hydrochloride, dexpantanol, peruvian balsam oil, proteionic hydrolysates, racemic methionine, sodium bicarbonate, vitamin A or more. These optional materials can be used in conjunction with other additives, such as those described herein.

As will be discussed below, the skin care compositions useful in the present invention preferably have, but are not necessarily, a melt profile such that they are relatively stationary at room temperature and located on the cuff surface in contact with the wearer's body surface. At body temperature, at least a portion of the composition can be transferred to the body of the wearer, yet the composition is not completely fluid even under extreme storage conditions. Preferably, the compositions are readily transferable to the wearer's skin by normal contact, movement of the wearer, and / or body heat. Since this composition is preferably substantially immobilized on the surface of the cuff in contact with the wearer, only relatively low levels of the skin care composition are required to take advantage of the desired skin care benefits. When packing usable products

Moreover, a separate barrier or special packaging materials may not be necessary in the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the skin care compositions useful herein are solid or more often 5 semi-solid at 20 ° C, i.e. at ambient temperature. Semi-rigidity ”here means that the composition has a rheology typical of pseudoplastic or plastic fluids. When no shear force is applied, these means may have a semi-rigid appearance, but when the shear force increases, they may flow. This is due to the fact that although the composition contains primarily solid components, it also contains some smaller liquid components.

The compositions of the present invention preferably have a zero shear viscosity of between 100 and 10,000 Pa.s (1.0 x 10 ⁶ to 1.0 x 10 ⁸ centipoise). More preferably, the zero shear viscosity is between 500 and 5000 Pa · s (5.0 x 10 ⁶ to 5.0 x 10 ⁷ centipoise). As used herein, the term zero shear viscosity means a viscosity measured at very low shear stresses (e.g., 1.0 s ^-1 ) 15 using a plate and tapered viscometer (a suitable instrument is available from TA

Instruments from New Castle. DE, USA, type number CSL 100). It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that compositions other than the high melting point components (as discussed below) can be used to provide comparable viscosities measured for such compositions, provided that such compositions can be measured from a plot of dependence. viscosity to shear stress magnitude for such 20 compositions by extrapolating to zero shear stress at a temperature in the region of 20 ° C.

Preferred compositions are at least semi-solid at room temperature to minimize movement. In addition, these compositions preferably have a melting end temperature (100% liquid) above the potential stress conditions of their storage or storage at which the temperature may be greater than 40 ° C (for example, a Arizona warehouse, a Florida luggage compartment, etc.). In particular, preferred compositions of the invention will have the following melting profile:

characteristics preferred range best % liquid at room temperature (20 ° C) 2-50 3 - 25 % liquid at body temperature (37 ° C) 25 - 95 30-90 final melting point (° C) > 38 Ž45

By being solid or semi-solid at normal ambient temperatures, preferred compositions do not tend to flow and migrate to a significant extent to undesirable locations in the absorbent article. That is, less skin care composition is required to provide the desired therapeutic, protective and / or conditioning effect.

In order to increase immobilization of the preferred compositions, the viscosity of the formulated compositions should be as high as possible to prevent the cuffs from flowing into undesirable locations within the diaper. However, in some cases, higher viscosities may limit the transfer of the composition to the wearer's skin or may be difficult to apply without processing problems. Therefore, equilibrium should be achieved so that the viscosities are high enough to keep the means localized on the body-facing surface of the cuff, but not so high as to hinder transmission to the body.

The wearer's skin. Suitable viscosities for these compositions are generally in the range of from 0.0001 to 0.5 Pa.s (1 to 5000 centipoise), preferably from 0.0005 to 0.03 Pa.s (5 to 300 centipoise), more preferably from 0.0005 to 0.01 Pa.s (5 to 100 centipoise), measured at 60 PCs using a rotary viscometer (a suitable viscometer is available from Lab Line Instruments Inc., from Melrose Park. IL, USA, as a Model 4537). The viscometer is operated at 60 rpm and uses spindle number 2.

For skin care compositions, one or more skin protecting agents or emollients are suitable active ingredients in the compositions. As used herein, the emollient is a material that protects against moisture or irritation, softens, soothes, softens, covers, lubricates, moisturizes, protects and / or cleans the skin (It will be understood that several of the above active Substances are plasticizers as used herein). Preferably, the plasticizers will have either a plastic or a liquid consistency at ambient temperatures, i.e., 20 ° C.

Exemplary emollients useful in the present invention include, but are not limited to, those based on petroleum, fatty acid ester of sucrose, polyethylene glycol and derivatives thereof, wetting agents, type of fatty acid ester, alkyl ethoxylate, fatty acid ester ethoxylates, fatty alcohol, polysiloxane type, propylene glycol and derivatives thereof, glycerol and derivatives thereof, including glycerides, acetoglycerides and ethoxylated glycerides of C ₁₂ -C ₂₈ fatty acids, triethylene glycol and derivatives thereof, spermacet or other waxes, fatty acids, fatty alcohol ethers especially those having from 12 to 28 carbon atoms in its fatty chain, such as stearic acid, propoxylate fatty alcohols, other polyhydroxy alcohol fatty esters, lanolin and derivatives thereof, kaolin and derivatives thereof, any of the aforementioned skin care compositions, or mixtures thereof plasticizers.

Suitable oil-based emollients include those hydrocarbons or mixtures of hydrocarbons having chain lengths of from 16 to 32 carbon atoms. Oil-based hydrocarbons having these chain lengths contain mineral oil (also known as liquid petrolatum) and petrolatum (also known as mineral wax, petroleum petrolatum and mineral petrolatum). The term mineral oil usually includes less viscous mixtures of hydrocarbons having 16 to 20 carbon atoms in the chain. The term petrolatum typically includes a more viscous mixture of hydrocarbons having from 16 to 32 carbon atoms. Petroleum and mineral oil are particularly preferred emollients for the compositions of the present invention.

Suitable emollients fatty acid ester type include those plasticizers which are derived from fatty acids _{C] 2} to _C28, preferably saturated fatty acids, C ₆ to C ₂₂ monohydric alcohols, short chain (Cl to _C8, preferably Cl to C ₃ ). Examples of such esters are methyl palmitate, methyl stearate, isopropyl laurate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, ethylhexyl palmitate, and mixtures thereof. Suitable fatty acid ester plasticizers may also be derived from longer chain fatty alcohol esters (C ₁₂ -C ₂₈ , preferably C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ), and shorter chain fatty acids, for example, lactic acid such as lauryl lactate and cetyl lactate .

Suitable plasticizers alkylethoxylátového type include fatty alcohol ethoxylates _{Cl 2} to C _22, having an average degree of ethoxylation of 2 to 30 is preferably a plasticizer based on a fatty alcohol ethoxylate selected from the group consisting of lauryl, and cetylethoxyláty stearyiethoxyláty and mixtures thereof, having an average degree of ethoxylation Representative examples of such alkyl ethoxylates are Laureth-3 (lauryl ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 3), Laureth-23 (lauryl ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 23), Ceteth-10 (cetyl alcohol ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 10) and Steareth- 10 (stearyl alcohol ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 10). When used, these alkyl ethoxylate plasticizers are generally used in combination with petroleum based plasticizers,

Such a petrolatum, in a weight ratio of alkyl ethoxylate plasticizer to petroleum based plasticizer of from 1: 1 to 1: 5, preferably from 1: 2 to 1: 4.

Suitable fatty alcohol type emollients include fatty alcohols _of C ₁₂ to C _22, preferably fatty alcohols C ₆ to C _eighth Representative examples are cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof, when used, these fatty alcohol softeners typically are used in combination with an oil based plasticizer such as petrolatum in a weight ratio of fatty alcohol plasticizer to petroleum based plasticizer. 1: 1 to 1: 5, preferably from 1: 1 to 1: 2.

Other suitable types of plasticizers useful in the present invention include polysiloxane compounds. Suitable polysiloxane materials generally useful in the present invention include those having monomeric siloxane units of the following structures:

Wherein R ¹ and R ² for each independent siloxane monomer unit may independently be hydrogen or an alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkaryl, aracyl, cycloalkyl, halogenated hydrocarbon, or other radical. Each of such radicals may be substituted or unsubstituted. The radicals R ¹ and R ^{2 of} each particular monomer unit may differ from the corresponding functional groups of the other adjacent monomer unit. In addition, the polysiloxane may be either a straight chain, branched chain or cyclic structure. The radicals R ¹ and R ² can additionally independently siliceous other functional groups, in particular it can be siloxanes, polysiloxanes, silanes, and polysilanes. The radicals R ¹ and R ² may contain any of a variety of organic functionalities including, for example, alcohol, carboxylic acid, phenyl, and amine functionalities.

Exemplary alkyl radicals are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, octadecyl and the like. Exemplary alkenyl radicals are vinyl, allyl and the like. Exemplary aryl radicals are phenyl, diphenyl, naphthyl and the like. Exemplary alkaryl radicals are toyl, xylyl, ethylphenyl and the like. Exemplary aralkyl radicals are benzyl, alpha-phenylethyl, beta-phenylethyl, alpha-phenylbutyl and the like. Exemplary cloalkyl radicals are cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and the like. Exemplary halogenated hydrocarbon radicals are chloromethyl, bromoethyl, tetrafluoroethyl, fluoroethyl, trifluoroethyl, trifluorotloyl, hexafluoroxylyl and the like.

The viscosity of the usable polysiloxanes can vary as broadly as the viscosity of the polysiloxanes generally changes as long as the polysiloxane has the ability to flow or can be made flowable for application to the absorbent article. This includes, but is not limited to, a viscosity as low as 0.0005 Pa.s (5 centistoke) (measured at 37 ° C with a glass viscometer), up to 2000 Pa.s (20,000,000 centistoke). The polysiloxanes preferably have a viscosity in the range of 0.0005 to 0.5 Pa · s (5 to 5000 centistoke) at 37 ° C, more preferably from 0.0005 to 0.2 Pa · s (5 to 2000 centistoke), most preferably from 0.01 to 0.1 Pa.s (100 to 1000 centistoke). High viscosity polysiloxanes, which are themselves creep resistant, can be effectively placed on absorbent articles by methods such as emulsifying the polysiloxanes in a surfactant, or providing the polysiloxanes in solution with a solvent such as hexane, which are only mentioned herein as an example. Specific methods of applying polysiloxane plasticizers to absorbent articles are discussed in more detail below.

-25 GB 297044 B6

Preferred polysiloxane compounds for use in the present invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,282. Particularly preferably, the polysiloxane compounds for use as emollients in the skin care compositions of the present invention comprise phenyl functional group-containing polymethylsiloxane compounds, for example, polyphenylmethylsiloxane (Dow Coming 556 Cosmetic) (Grade Fluid) and cetyl or stearyl functional dimethicones such as Dow 2502 and Dow 2503 polysiloxane fluids. In addition to such substitution with phenyl functional or alkyl groups, effective substitution with amine, carboxyl, hydroxyl, ether, polyether, aldehyde, ketone , amide, ester and thiol groups. Of these active substituent groups, they are more preferred than other groups containing phenyl, amino, alkyl, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, and most preferably phenyl functional groups.

Suitable wetting agents include glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, trihydroxystearin and the like.

When an emollient is present, the amount of emollient that may be included in a particular composition depends on a number of factors, including the particular emollient used, the desired skin effects, other ingredients in the composition, and similar factors. The respective composition will contain from 0 to 100% plasticizer based on the total weight of the composition. Preferably, the composition will contain from 10 to 95%, more preferably from 20 to 80% and most preferably from 40 to 75% by weight of the emollient.

Another optional, but particularly key component of certain skin care compositions useful in the present invention is an agent capable of immobilizing the composition (including a preferred emollient and / or other skin conditioning and protection agents) at a desired location in or on the treated cuff. Because some of the preferred plasticizers in the composition have a plastic or liquid consistency at 20 ° C, they tend to flow or migrate even when subjected to a mild shear stress. When the emollient is applied to a body-facing surface or other location of the cuff, particularly in the molten state, the emollient will not remain primarily in or on the treatment area. Instead, the emollient will tend to migrate and flow into undesirable areas of the absorbent article.

In particular, if the emollient migrates inside the article, it can cause undesirable effects on the absorbency of the absorbent core due to the hydrophobic parameters of many emollients and other skin-affecting agents used in the compositions of the present invention. It also means that much more plasticizer needs to be applied to the cuff in order to achieve the desired effects. Increasing the level of the plasticizer not only increases the cost, but also increases the adverse effects on the absorbency of the core and the unwanted movement of the composition during processing / conversion of the treated cuffs.

The immobilizing agent counteracts this tendency of the plasticizer to migrate or flow by maintaining the plasticizer primarily located on the surface or region of the cuff to which the composition is applied. This is believed to be due in part to the fact that the immobilizing agent increases the melting point and / or viscosity of the composition above that of the plasticizer. Since the immobilizer is preferably miscible with (or dissolved in, or dispersed with, a suitable emulsifier) with the emollient, the immobilizer retains the emollient on the surface of the cuff facing the wearer or in the area to which it is applied.

It is also advantageous to block the immobilizing agent on the surface in contact with the wearer or in the region of the cuff to which it is applied. This can be achieved by using immobilizing agents which, when applied to the cuff, rapidly cure (i.e., solidify). External cooling of the treated cuff by blowers, fans, cold rollers, etc. may further accelerate the crystallization of the immobilizing agent.

-26EN 297044 B6

In addition to being miscible with or soluble in the plasticizer, the immobilizing agent will preferably have a melting profile that will provide a mixture that is solid or semi-solid at ambient temperature. In this regard, preferred immobilizing agents will have a melting point of at least 35 ° C. This is because the immobilizing agent itself will not tend to migrate or flow. Preferred immobilizing agents will have a melting point of at least 40 ° C. The immobilizing agent will have a melting point in the range of 50 to 150 ° C.

When the immobilizing agents disclosed herein are used, they may be selected from a variety of agents, so long as preferably the properties of the skin care composition provide the skin benefits described herein. Preferred immobilizing agents will comprise a member selected from the group consisting of fatty alcohols _of C ₁₄ to C ₂₂ fatty acids, _{C! 2} to C ₂₂ and fatty alcohol ethoxylates _of C ₁₂ to C _22, having an average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to 30 and mixtures thereof. Preferred immobilizing agents include fatty alcohols, C ₁₆ to C] _8, most preferably crystalline high melting materials selected from the group consisting of cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. (The linear structure of these materials may accelerate solidification on the treated cuff.) Mixtures of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are particularly preferred. Other preferred immobilizing agents include fatty acids C _i6 to _{C] 8,} preferably selected from the group consisting of palmitic acid, stearic acid and mixtures thereof. Mixtures of palmitic acid and stearic acid are particularly preferred. Still other preferred immobilizing agents include C ₁₆ to C ₁₈ fatty alcohol ethoxylates having an average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 5 to 20. Fatty alcohols, fatty acids, and fatty alcohol ethoxylates are preferably linear, it is important that these immobilizing agents, such as fatty alcohols, C ₆ to C ₈ increase the rate of crystallization of the composition causing the composition to crystallize rapidly onto the surface of the substrate.

Other types of immobilizing agents that may be used herein include polyhydroxy fatty acid esters, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, and mixtures thereof. Preferred esters and amides will have three or more free hydroxy groups on the polyhydroxy moiety and are generally nonionic in nature. Because of the possible skin sensitivity of the cuff wearers to which the composition is applied, these esters and amides should also be relatively mild and non-irritating to the skin.

Suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid esters for use in the present invention will have the following formula:

wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group _of C ₅ to C _3b preferably alkyl or alkenyl, C ₇ to C _[9 straight chain alkyl, more preferably alkenyl or C ₉ to C | _{7 is} a straight chain, most preferably straight chain alkyl or alkenyl Cn to Cn, or mixtures thereof. Y is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a hydrocarbyl chain with at least 2 free hydroxyls directly attached to the chain and n is at least 1. Suitably the Y groups may be derived from polyols such as glycerol, pentaerythritol, sugars such as raffinose, maltodextrose, galactose, sucrose, glucose, xylose, fructose, maltose, lactose, mannose and erythrosis, sugar alcohols such as erythritol, xylitol, malitol, mannitol and sorbitol, and sugar alcohol anhydrides such as sorbitan.

One class of suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid esters for use in the present invention includes certain sorbitan esters, preferably sorbitan fatty acid esters of C ₁₆ to C ₂₂ . Due to the way in which they are generally made, these sorbitan esters generally contain mixtures of monoesters, diesters, triesters and higher esters. Examples of suitable sor

The bitane esters include sorbitan palmitates (eg, SPAN 40), sorbitan stearates (eg, SPAN 60), and sorbitan behenates that include one or more monoester, diester and triester versions of these sorbitan esters, for example, sorbitan monopalmitate, dipalmitate, tripalmitate and tripalmitate. distearate and tristearate, sorbitan monobehenate, dibehenate and tribehenate, as well as mixtures of monoesters, diesters and triesters of sorbitan and tallow fatty acid. Mixtures of various sorbitan esters, such as sorbitan palmitates with sorbitan stearates, may also be used. Particularly preferred sorbitan esters are sorbitan stearates, typically as mixtures of monoesters, diesters and triesters (plus some tetraester) such as SPAN 60 and sorbitan stearates sold under the tradename GLYCOMUL-S by Lonza. Inc. Although these sorbitan esters generally contain mixtures of monoesters, diesters and triesters, plus some tetraester, monoesters and diesters are usually the predominant species in these mixtures.

Another class of suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid esters for use in the present invention comprises certain glyceryl monoesters, preferably glyceryl monoesters of saturated C ₁₆ to C ₂ fatty acids such as glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl monopalmitate and glyceryl monobehenate. Again, like sorbitan esters, glyceryl monoester mixtures will generally contain some diester and triester, but such mixtures should predominantly contain glyceryl monoesters to be useful in the present invention.

Yet another class of suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid esters for use in the present invention comprises certain sucrose and fatty acid esters, preferably C12- _C22 saturated fatty acid esters and sucrose. Sucrose monoesters and diesters are particularly preferred and include sucrose monostearate and distearate and sucrose monolaurate and dilaurate.

Suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid amides for use in the present invention will have the following formula:

OR * wherein R ¹ is H, hydrocarbyl C 1 -C 4, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, methoxyethyl, methoxypropyl or mixtures thereof, preferably C 1 -C 4 alkyl, methoxyethyl or methoxypropyl, more preferably C 1 or C 2 alkyl or methoxypropyl, most preferably alkyl C) (i.e. methyl) or methoxypropyl and R ² is a hydrocarbyl group of C5 to _C31, preferably alkyl or alkenyl, preferably straight chain C7-C19, more preferably alkyl or alkenyl, preferably straight chain _C9-C17, preferably alkyl or alkenyl, straight chain Cn to C ₁₇ or mixtures thereof, and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, see, U.S. Patent No. 5,174,927, which discloses these polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, as well as their preparation.

Part Z is preferably derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction, most preferably glycityl. Suitable reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose. High dextrose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and high maltose corn syrup can be used, as well as the individual sugars listed above. These corn syrups can provide mixtures of sugar components for the Z-part.

Part Z will preferably be selected from the group consisting of -CH ₂ - (CHOH) _n -CH ₂ OH, -CH (CH ₂ OH) - [(CHOHKJ -CH ₂ OH, -CH ₂ OH-CH ₂ - (CHOH) ₂ (CHO ³⁾ (CHOH) -CH 2 OH, wherein n is an integer from 3 to 5, and R ³ is H or a cyclic or aliphatic monosaccharide Most preferred are glycityls wherein n is 4, especially -CH _{2 -} (CHOH) ₄ -CH ₂ OH .

-28 GB 297044 B6

In the above formula, R ¹ can be, for example, N-methyl. N-ethyl. N-propyl. N-isopropyl. Nbutyl. N-2-hydroxyethyl. N-methoxypropyl or N-2-hydroxypropyl. R 2 may be selected to provide, for example, cocamides, stearamides, oleamides, lauramides, myristamides, capricamides, palmitamides, tallow amides, etc. Part Z may be 1-deoxyglucityl, 2-deoxyfructityl, 1-deoxymaltityl, 1-deoxylactityl, 1-deoxylagityl, 1-deoxylagityl -deoxymannityl, 1-deoxymaltotriotityl etc.

The most preferred polyhydroxy fatty acid amides have the general formula:

wherein R ¹ is methyl or methoxypropyl. R ² is an alkyl or alkenyl group of straight-chain Cn-C] _7th These include N-lauryl-N-methylglucamide. N-lauryl-N-methoxypropylglucamide. N-cocoyl-N-methylglucamide. N-cocoyl-N-methoxypropylglucamide. N-Palmityl-N-methoxypropylglucamide. N-tallowyl-N-methylglucamide or N-tallowyl-N-methoxypropylglucamide.

As mentioned above, some of the immobilizing agents may require an emulsifier to solubilize the plasticizer. This is particularly the case with certain glucamides, such as N-alkyl N-methoxypropylglucamides having HLB values of at least 7. Suitable emulsifiers are generally those having HLB values below 7. In this regard, sorbitan esters such as sorbitan stearates having HLB values in the region of 4.9 or less found to be useful in dissolving these glucamide immobilizing agents in petrolatum. Other suitable emulsifiers include Steareth-2 (polyethylene glycol ethers of stearyl alcohol which correspond to the formula CH 3 (CH ₂ ) i ₇ (OCH ₂ CH 2) _n OH, where n has an average value of 2), sorbitan tristearate, isosorbidelurate and glyceryl monostearate. The emulsifier may be included in an amount sufficient to dissolve the immobilizing agent in the plasticizer so as to obtain a substantially homogeneous mixture. For example, a mixture of about 1: 1 N-cocoyl-N-methylglucamide and petrolatum that does not normally melt into a single-phase mixture will melt into a single-phase mixture after adding 20% of a 1: 1 mixture of Steareth-2 and sorbitan tristearate as emulsifier.

Other types of ingredients that can be used as immobilizing agents either alone or in combination with the aforementioned immobilizing agents include waxes such as carnauba wax, ozokerite, beeswax, candelilla, paraffin, ceresine, esparto, ourikuri, resovax, isoparaffin and others well-known extracted and mineral waxes. The high melting point of these materials can help immobilize the composition on the desired surface or location on the cuff. In addition, microcrystalline waxes are effective immobilizing agents. Microcrystalline waxes can assist in blocking low molecular weight hydrocarbons within the skin care composition. A preferred wax is paraffin wax. An example of a particularly preferred alternative immobilizing agent is a paraffin wax such as Parrafin S. P. 434 from Strahl and Pitsch Inc, P.O. Box 1098, West Babylon, NY 11704, USA.

The amount of optimal immobilizing agent that can be included in the formulation will depend on a number of factors, including the active ingredients used (e.g., plasticizers), the particular immobilizing agent, if any, other components in the formulation, whether an emulsifier is needed to dissolve the immobilizing agent. the agent in the second components and on similar factors. When the agent is present, the skin care composition will generally comprise from 5 to 90% of the immobilizing agent. The composition will preferably contain from 5 to 50%, most preferably from 10 to 40% of the immobilizing agent.

The compositions may include other ingredients which are generally present in emulsions, creams, ointments, lotions, powders, suspensions, etc. of this type. These components include water, modifications

Viscosities, perfumes, disinfectant antibacterial active substances, antiviral agents, vitamins, pharmaceutical active substances, film forming agents, aloe vera, deodorants, opacifiers, astringents, solvents, preservatives and the like. In addition, stabilizers such as cellulose derivatives, proteins and lecithin may be added to extend the shelf life of the composition. All of these materials are well known in the art as additives to these formulations and can be used in appropriate amounts in the formulations for this use.

If water-based skin care products are used, some preservative will be needed. Suitable preservatives include propylparaben, methylparaben, benzyl alcohol, benzylkonnium, trivalent calcium phosphate, BHT, or acids such as citric, tartaric, maleic, lactic, malic, benzoic, salicylic and the like. Suitable viscosity enhancing agents include some of the agents described as effective immobilizing agents. Other suitable viscosity enhancing agents include alkylgalactomannan, quartz, talc, magnesium silicate, sorbitol, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium silicate, zinc stearate, wool wax alcohol, sorbiton, sesquioleate, cetylhydroxyethylcellulose and other treated celluloses. Suitable solvents include propylene glycol, glycerin, cyclomethicone, polyethylene glycols, hexalenglycol, diol, and multiple hydroxy-based solvents. Suitable vitamins include A, D-3, E, 85 and E-acetate.

C. Applying skin care product to cuffs or other belts

In preparing the treated cuff articles of the present invention, the skin care composition is preferably applied to the body facing surface of the cuff, i.e., the surface in contact with the wearer. However, since some skin care compositions described herein may penetrate or migrate through some of the cuff materials described herein, the skin care composition may alternatively be applied to the garment facing surface of the cuff such that an effective amount of the skin care composition is positioned. on the surface facing the body. In fact, in some cases, this may be a convenient approach to benefit from a fully finished cuff, i.e. both surfaces are treated, although deposition occurs on only one surface.

A variety of application methods can be used to apply the skin care composition to the cuffs, which evenly distribute sticky materials having a molten or liquid consistency. Suitable application methods include coating, for example by gravure or groove coating, spraying, printing, for example, flexographic printing, extrusion, or a combination of these or other coating techniques, for example by spraying a skin care composition onto a rotating surface such as a calender roller, which transfers the skin care composition to the body-facing surface of the diaper cuffs. If desired, the skin care composition can also be applied to both sides of the cuffs.

The method of applying the skin care composition to the cuffs should be such that the cuffs do not become oversaturated with the skin care composition. If the cuffs are treated with an excess amount of skin care composition, there is a greater possibility that the skin care composition will move to undesirable areas of the article, for example inside the article, where this may have a detrimental effect on the absorbency of the underlying absorbent core. Also, saturation of the cuffs is not required to achieve the appropriate therapeutic and / or protective benefits of the skin care composition.

The minimum amount of skin care composition to be applied to the cuff is the smallest amount effective to reduce erythema, diaper rash, redness, skin irritation, or other adverse skin conditions. (These compositions may also be effective in reducing stool adherence to the wearer's skin.) However, an effective amount of the skin care composition will largely depend on the particular skin care composition used. Because the emollient is substantially immobilized on the surface of the cuff which

297044 B6 is facing the body, less skin care product is required to provide the benefits of desirable skin care. These relatively low rates of the skin care composition are adequate to achieve the desired therapeutic and / or protective benefits from the use of the skin care composition.

The skin care composition may be applied uniformly and evenly to one or both surfaces of the cuff or to portions thereof, the skin care composition may also be applied in some pattern, i.e., strips, blocks, dots, spirals, etc. Preferably, the skin treatment is on the area of the cuff that will most in contact with the wearer. Most preferably, the skin care composition as described in the examples below is applied in a strip to a portion of the cuff, for example, a portion of 3.45 cm (1.4 inches) wide in the lateral direction of the diaper so as to cover the distal edge a cuff and a 29.8 cm (11.75 inch) long patch in the longitudinal direction of the diaper, located in the crotch portion of the cuff surface facing the body.

The skin care composition may also be applied non-uniformly to one or both of the cuff surfaces. The term nonuniformly means that the amount, pattern of distribution, etc. of the skin care composition can vary along the surface of the cuff. For example, certain portions of the treated cuff surface may have a greater or lesser amount of skin care composition, including portions of the surface that have no skin care composition thereon.

The skin care composition may be applied to the cuff or the waistband portion of the cuff at any time during assembly of the cuff. For example, the skin care composition may be applied to the cuff of the finished article prior to packaging. The skin care composition may also be applied to the cuff or belt prior to being combined with other raw materials to form the finished product, either at the processing site prior to bonding with other product components or as a preformed blank.

The skin care composition is typically applied to the melt cuff. Because the composition melts at a temperature far above ambient temperature, it is typically applied to the cuff as a heated coating. The skin care composition is generally heated to a temperature in the range of from 35 to 100 ° C, preferably from 40 to 90 ° C, before being applied to the cuff. Once the molten skin care composition is applied to the cuff, it is allowed to cool and solidify to form a solidified coating or film on the cuff surface. The method of application is preferably designed to assist in cooling / solidifying the composition.

In applying the skin care composition of the present invention to the cuffs, slot coating methods, extrusion coating, gravure coating coating and spraying methods are particularly suitable. Giant. 5 illustrates a preferred method comprising continuous or intermittent contact application of a skin care composition to a diaper barrier cuff during a slot processing operation. According to FIG. 5, the conveyor belt 1 moves in the direction indicated by the arrows on the rotating rollers 3 and 4 and becomes a returning conveyor belt 2. The conveyor belt 1 carries the diaper 5 not yet covered by the means into contact with the slot of the deposition station 6 where the barrier cuff part 7 is covered with hot, molten (e.g. 65 ° C) skin care composition. Upon exiting the slot coating station 6, the diaper 5 becomes a diaper 8 having modified barrier cuffs. The amount of skin care composition transferred to the barrier cuff portion 7 is controlled by the following:

1) the extent to which the molten skin care composition is applied in the slot coating station 6, and / or

2) the speed at which the conveyor belt 1 moves below the deposition station 6 and / or

3) positioning the slot deposition station 6.

(If desired, the deposition station 6 may be positioned to cover the barrier cuff portion 7 as well as the topsheet portions 38 such that both the cuff portion 7 and the topsheet 38 have on each other placed skin care product).

Giant. 6 illustrates an alternative preferred method comprising contact slotted application of a skin care composition to diaper barrier cuffs before these cuffs are combined with other raw materials into the finished product. According to Fig. 6, the nonwoven barrier cuff strip 1 is unwound from a storage roll of the barrier cuff 2 (rotating in the direction indicated by arrow 2a) and is directed to a contact slit deposition station 6 where one side of the strip is covered with hot, molten (e.g. 65 ° C). ) a skin care product. Upon leaving the aperture deposition station 6, the nonwoven barrier cuff strip 1 becomes a modified barrier cuff strip 3. The modified barrier cuff strip 3 is then guided around the rotating roller 4 and the rotating roller 8 and then wound onto the supply roller 10 (rotating in the direction of indicated by the arrow 10a). The treated belt is then applied to the diaper skeleton to form the barrier cuff portion of the barrier cuff during the processing process.

D. skin care product on the topsheet and on the cuffs

As shown in Fig. 7, the first skin care composition may be disposed on the topsheet and the second skin care composition may be disposed on one or more cuffs. It has been found that the addition of a skin care composition to both the topsheet and the cuffs is more effective than adding only one of these sites. The combination of the treated topsheet and the treated cuffs causes the skin care composition to be carried over a larger area of the skin. With a larger skin area with a transferred skin care composition, all parts of the wearer's skin will be more likely to be maintained in a healthier state.

As mentioned above, the first skin care composition and the second skin care composition may have the same composition, but it has been found that if the first skin care composition is different from the second skin care composition, the diaper may be designed to provides specific skin care benefits to certain parts of the wearer's skin. For example, since the topsheet is generally in contact with the wearer's genitalia and buttocks, a first skin care composition specially formulated to provide, for example, diaper rash protection and / or treatment, may be provided on the topsheet. Because the cuffs tend to come into contact with the wearer's waist and legs, the second skin care composition may be specially formulated, for example, to provide reduced friction / redness marks on the skin. Accordingly, a specific portion of the diaper may have a specifically compounded skin care composition intended for a particular skin area of the wearer to treat or maintain the condition of the skin. This allows for great flexibility in diaper design and in the manufacturer's ability to provide specially designed products for a variety of consumer needs.

A further variation in the composition of the skin care composition may result from the function of the parts on which the skin care composition is placed. For example, the cuffs are typically designed to contain and contain urine and flowing faecal material within the diaper. It may be desirable for the cuffs to be hydrophobic, more particularly liquid impermeable, to prevent liquids from penetrating through the materials. If the skin care composition is also hydrophobic, it may help the cuffs to resist the passage of liquid through them. In contrast, the topsheet needs to be highly permeable to liquids to allow urine and menstrual flow to rapidly penetrate the topsheet into the absorbent core. Placing the hydrophobic skin care composition on the topsheet may degrade the performance of the topsheet. It may be more desirable to provide a hydrophilic skin care composition on the topsheet to maintain performance of the topsheet. Thus, in some embodiments, it may be

It is desirable that at least a portion of the skin care composition placed on the topsheet be made of a hydrophilic material to promote rapid transfer of liquids, e.g., urine, through the topsheet. Similarly, it may be desirable that the skin care composition also be sufficiently wettable to ensure that liquids are rapidly transferred through the topsheet. Alternatively, a hydrophobic skin care composition may be used when used so that the liquid handling properties of the topsheet are appropriately maintained. For example, uneven application of the composition to the topsheet is one means of achieving this.

Where a hydrophilic composition is desired, depending on the particular ingredients used in the composition, a hydrophilic surfactant (or mixture of hydrophilic surfactants) may be required to improve wettability. For example, some immobilizing agents, such as N-cocoyl-N-methoxypropylglucamide, have HLB values of at least about 7 and are sufficiently wettable without the addition of a hydrophilic surfactant. Other immobilizing agents such as fatty alcohols, C ₆ to C _S, having HLB values of less than about 7 may require addition of hydrophilic surfactant to increase the wettability when the composition is a skin care composition applied to the diaper topsheet. Similarly, a hydrophobic plasticizer, such as petrolatum, may require the addition of a hydrophilic surfactant if a hydrophilic composition is desired. Surely the concern about wettability is not a factor when it is desirable that the wearer contacting the surface in question be hydrophobic or when the liquid handling properties of the material are adequately maintained by other means, such as non-uniform deposition.

Suitable hydrophilic surfactants are preferably miscible with other ingredients of the skin care composition to form a blended composition. Because of the possible skin sensitivity of those using disposable absorbent products to which a particular composition is applied, these surfactants should also be relatively mild and non-irritating to the skin. These hydrophilic agents are generally nonionic in order not only to be non-irritating to the skin, but also to avoid other adverse effects on other structures within the treated diaper. For example, reducing the tensile strength of fabric laminate, glued joints, and the like.

Suitable nonionic surfactants may be substantially immobile after the composition has been applied to the topsheet and will generally have HLB values in the range of from 4 to 20, preferably from 7 to 20. To be immovable, the nonionic surfactants as a rule, the melting points are greater than those normally encountered during storage, transport, sale and use of disposable absorbent articles, for example at least 30 ° C. In this regard, these nonionic surfactants will preferably have a melting point similar to the melting point of the immobilizing agents described above.

Suitable nonionic surfactants for use in the compositions to be applied to the topsheet include alkyl glycosides, alkyl glycoside ethers as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,389, alkylpolyethoxylated esters such as Pegosperse 1000MS (available from Lonza, Inc., Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA), ethoxylated sorbitan monoesters, diesters and / or triesters of C ₁₂ to C ₁₈ fatty acids having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 2 to 20, preferably from 2 to 10, such as TWEEN 60 (sorbitan esters of stearic acid) having an average degree of ethoxylation of about 20) and TWEEN 61 (sorbitan stearic esters having an average degree of ethoxylation of about 4) and condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with 1 to 54 moles of ethylene oxide. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol is generally straight-chained and contains from 8 to 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from 11 to 22 carbon atoms with 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Examples of these ethoxylated alcohols include condensation products of myristilal alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, condensation products of coconut alcohol (mixtures of fatty alcohols having alkyl chains of various lengths from 10 to 14 carbon

6 moles of ethylene oxide. A variety of suitable ethoxylated alcohols are commercially available, for example. TERGITOL 15-S-9 (a condensation product of linear alcohols Cn to Cu with moles of ethylene oxide), sold by Union Carbide Corporation. KYRO EOB (condensation product of linear alcohols C ₃ to C ₁₅ with 9 moles of ethylene oxide) sold by The Procter & Gambia Co., a surfactant called NEODOL, sold by Shell Chemical Co., especially NEODOL 25-12, (product of condensation of linear alcohols C _n to C ₁₅ with 12 moles of ethylene oxide) and NEODOL 23-6, 5T (the condensation product of linear alcohols C ₁₂ to C ₁₃ , with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide which has been distilled (atmospherically) to remove certain impurities) and especially surfactants called PLURAFAC, sold by BASF Corp., in particular PLURAFAC A-38 (a straight chain alcohol C ₁₈ condensation product with 27 moles of ethylene oxide). (Certain hydrophilic surfactants, especially ethoxylated alcohols such as NEODOL 251-12, may also function as alkyl ethoxylate plasticizers). Other examples of preferred ethoxylated alcohol surfactants include the ICI class of Brij surfactants and mixtures thereof, with Brij 72 (i.e. Steareth-2) and Brij 76 (i.e. Stearethlo) being particularly preferred. Mixtures of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol ethoxylated to an average degree of ethoxylation of from 20 to 20 can also be used as hydrophilic surfactants.

Another type of suitable surfactant useful in the present invention is Aerosol OT, i.e., sodium sulfosuccinic acid dioctyl ester, sold by the American Cynamid Company.

Yet another type of suitable surfactant for use in the composition comprises silicone copolymers such as General Electric SF 1188 (copolymer of polydimethylsiloxane and polyoxyalkylene ether) and General Electric SF 1228 (silicone polyether copolymer). These silicone surfactants may be used in combination with the other types of hydrophilic surfactants described above, such as ethoxylated alcohols. These silicone agents have been found to be effective at low concentrations of up to 0.1%, more preferably from 0.25 to 1.0%, based on the weight of the composition.

Where a hydrophilic composition is desired, the amount of hydrophilic surfactant required to increase the wettability of the composition to the desired level will depend upon the HLB value and the level of immobilizing agent used, if any, the HLB value of the surfactant used and similar factors. When it is desired to increase the wettability properties of a given composition, the composition may comprise from 0.1 to 50% hydrophilic agent. When it is desired to increase the wettability, the composition comprises from 1 to 25%, most preferably from 10 to 20% of the hydrophilic agent.

It has been found that maintaining or improving a healthy skin condition under an absorbent article can be achieved by reusing the absorbent article for a period of time, for example, several days, wherein the absorbent article is provided with two or more skin care products that are transferred to the wearer. under conditions of normal use (eg by contact, movement, handling by the caregiver after application of the article, body heat, etc.), such as the absorbent articles described herein. In this regard, the method for maintaining or improving the health of the skin on the area covered by the absorbent article comprises the following steps:

(a) applying the absorbent article to the wearer, the absorbent article having a first skin care composition that provides therapeutic and / or protective benefit upon transfer to the skin and a second skin care composition which provides a second benefit after transfer to the skin,

(b) transferring at least a portion of the first skin care composition and the second skin care composition to the wearer during wear; and

-34EN 297044 B6

c) repeating steps a) and b) with one or more other absorbent articles having sufficient frequency to maintain or improve the health conditions of the skin covered by the absorbent article relative to the skin covered by an equivalent absorbent article that does not include first and second skin care products and the need for manual application of a skin care composition (e.g., a caregiver or wearer).

The key to this method is the use of an absorbent article having one or more skin care compositions and frequent cumulative cycles delivering the first and second skin care compositions to the wearer's skin to maintain or improve the health condition of its skin. Furthermore, it has been found that the supply of relatively low levels of these compositions by wearing each product was sufficient to achieve skin benefits resulting from this new method of cumulative delivery.

The article used in the present methods provides a usable source from which the skin care compositions are continuously transferred to the skin. When transferred, these agents accumulate on the skin surface and initiate and maintain a protective action. When the used product is discarded and replaced with a new one, this cycle is repeated and further accumulation of the composition occurs at a rate greater than that achieved by only one or the original product itself. Some of the ingredients for use in preferred skin care compositions are known to penetrate the stratum corneum, e.g., petrolatum, which is used herein as particularly preferred. Although some of these compositions are removed by cleaning, bathing, etc., i.e. although the use of the treated articles as described herein is temporarily discontinued, some of the skin care effects of the composition therefore remain with the wearer. When the use of the treated articles is resumed before all the effects of the composition are lost, the user will benefit in terms of reduced erythema and / or diaper rash, faster than a user who has not previously used the treated articles.

As mentioned above, it is generally known that the skin under the absorbent articles is more susceptible to deterioration of its state of health. Symptoms of this condition on the skin generally include redness (also called erythema) and / or rash. Described herein is a method of maintaining or improving the health of the skin in areas covered by an absorbent article, wherein the desired object of the method is to reduce or avoid erythema and / or rash compared to skin covered with an equivalent absorbent article but without skin care products.

Below are specific examples of a method of making the treated cuffs and diaper topsheets of the present invention. The following are specific examples of treating cuffs and / or topsheets or belts with the skin care compositions of the present invention:

Example 1

A. Preparation of the skin care product:

The skin care composition (composition A) is made by mixing the following molten (i.e., liquid) ingredients together:

petrolatum (available from Witco Corp., Greenwich, CT, USA, under the name Perfecta®), stearyl alcohol (available from The Procter & Gambia Company. Cincinnati, OH, USA, under the name CO1B97), and aloe extract (available) from Madis Botanicals, Inc., South Hackensack, NJ, USA, under the name of Veragel Lipoid in Kaydol.

-35GB 297044 B6

Table I

Component % by weight. petrolatum 58 stearyl alcohol 41 aloe 1

B. Preparing the treated diaper leg cuff with a hot melt coating

The skin care composition A is placed in a heated tank operating at 170 ° F (76.6 ° C). This composition is then applied directly to the body-facing surface of the diaper barrier cuffs on a strip width of 3 using a contact applicator (i.e., a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator operating at 76.6 ° C (170 ° F)), 55 cm (1.4 inches) (transverse direction of the diaper to cover the distal edge of the barrier cuff) and 29.8 cm (11.75 inches) (in the longitudinal direction of the diaper) centered in the carcass in the longitudinal direction such that one or both ends of each spaced elastic portion are covered with a skin care composition. The dosage level is 18.0 g / m ² (0.0116 g / inch ² ). The spaced elastic portions are operably connected to the barrier cuff portion with a specially formulated adhesive to prevent creep, such as Findley H9254, as discussed above.

Example 2

The skin care composition A (prepared according to the method of Example 1) is then applied to the body facing surface of the diaper barrier cuffs in a strip of 1.45 inches wide (transverse direction of the diaper such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered) each barrier cuff and extending along the entire length of the barrier cuff. The dosage level is 18.0 g / m ² (0.0116 g / inch ² ).

Example 3

The skin care composition A (prepared according to the method of Example 1) is then applied to the body facing surface of the diaper barrier cuffs in a strip of 1.45 cm (1.4 inch) (transverse direction of the diaper so that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered). ) to each barrier cuff and 20.3 cm (8 inches) (longitudinal direction of the diaper), wherein the patch is centered in the contracted area of the barrier cuff such that none of the ends of the expanding elastic portions are covered by the skin care composition. The dosage level is 12.0 g / m ² (0.0077 g / inch ² ).

Example 4

A. Preparation of a skin care composition

Anhydrous skin care composition (skin care composition B) is made by mixing the following molten, i.e., liquid, ingredients together:

mineral oil (Carnation White Mineral Oil. USP manufactured by Witco Corp.) a

Cetearyl alcohol (a mixture of a C16-C18 linear primary alcohol manufactured by The Procter & Gambia Company under the brand TAI618).

The percentages by weight of these components are given in Table II, below:

Table II

component % wt. mineral oil 65 Cetarylalkohol 35

B. Preparation of Modified Leg Diaper Cuffs by Hot Melt Coating

The skin care composition B is placed in a heated tank operating at 170 ° F (76.6 ° C). The composition is then applied using a contact applicator (i.e., a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive gun operating at 76.6 ° C (170 ° F)) to the diaper barrier cuffs in an area of 1.45 inches wide. (in the direction of the diaper to cover the distal edge of the barrier cuff) and a length of 29.8 cm (11.75 inches) (longitudinal direction of the diaper), with the patch centered in the contracted area of the barrier cuff such that one or both ends of each the spacer elastic portions are covered with this Skin Care Product. The dosage level is 18.0 g / m ² (0.0116 g / inch ² ).

Example 5

A. Preparation of a skin care composition

Anhydrous skin care composition (skin care composition C) is produced by mixing the following molten (i.e., liquid) ingredients together:

mineral oil (Camation White Mineral Oil. USP, manufactured by Witco Corp.), cetearyl alcohol (a mixed linear primary alcohol C ₁₆ -C _{18 g} , manufactured by The Procter & Gambia Company under the brand TA-1618), and

Cetereath 10 (linear alcohol ethoxylate _C16 to _C18 ) having an average degree of ethoxylation of 10, manufactured by ICI America).

The percentages by weight of these components are given in Table III below:

Table III

Component % wt. mineral oil 50 cetearyl alcohol 35 Ceteareth 10 15 Dec

B. Preparing the treated diaper with a hot melt coating

The skin care composition C is placed in a heated tank operating at 170 ° F (76.6 ° C). This composition is then applied by means of a contact applicator (i.e. a Meltex head)

- 37 GB 297044 B6

EP45 for applying molten adhesive at 76.6 ° C (170 ° F)) to diaper barrier cuffs in a strip of 1.45 inches wide (transverse direction of the diaper so that the far edge of the barrier is covered) cuff) and a length of 29.8 cm (11.75 inches) (longitudinal direction of the diaper), wherein the region is centered in the contracted area of the barrier cuff such that one or both ends of each spacer elastic portion is covered by the skin care composition. The dosage level is 18.0 g / m ² (0.0116 g / inch ² ).

Example 6

A. Preparation of a skin care composition

Anhydrous skin care composition (skin care composition D) is made by mixing the following molten (i.e., liquid) ingredients together:

Petrolatum (available from Witco Corp., Greenwich. CT under the designation Perfecta®), cetearyl alcohol (mixture of linear primary alcohols C _i6 to C _8, manufactured by The Procter & Gamble Company under the brand name TA-1618)

Ceteareth-10 (linear alcohol ethoxylate _{C] 6} to _{C] 8,} having an average degree of ethoxylation of 10, made by ICI America), and Veragel 1: 1 Lipoid with Kaydol (aloe extract in mineral oil made by Dr. Madis Laboratories. Inc.) .

The percentages by weight of these components are given in Table IV below:

Table IV

Component % wt. petrolatum 49 stearyl alcohol 35 Ceteareth 10 15 Dec aloe 1

B. Preparation of a hot melt coated diaper

The skin care composition D is placed in a heated tank operating at 170 ° F (76.6 ° C). Thereafter, the composition is applied by a contact applicator (i.e., a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive gun operating at 76.6 ° C (170 ° F)) to the diaper barrier cuffs over an area of 1.45 inches wide. in the transverse direction of the diaper such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered from the body and a length of 29.8 cm (11.75 inches) (longitudinal direction of the diaper), this region is centered in the contracted area of the barrier cuff so that one or both ends each of the spacer elastic portions are covered with a skin care composition. The addition level is 18.0 g / m ² (0.0116 g / inch ² ).

Example 7

Formulation A (produced according to Example 1) is placed in a heated tank operating at 170 ° F (76.6 ° C). The composition is then applied by means of a contact applicator (i.e. a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator having 5 slits and operating at 76.6 ° C (170 ° F)) to the top

The product layer is in strips, wherein the strips extend in the longitudinal direction of the product. Specifically, 5 strips are applied, each strip being 6.35 mm (0.25 inches) wide (i.e., in the transverse direction of the product) and 298 mm (11.75 inches) long, at a loading level of 12 g / m ² , i.e. 1.1 mg / cm ² (7.7 mg / inch ² ). The distance between the strips is 7.87 mm (0.31 inches).

The skin care composition A is then also applied to the body-facing surface of the barrier cuffs of the article in a 1.45 inch (i.e., diaper direction so that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered) on each barrier a cuff extending over the entire length of the barrier cuff. The addition level is 18.0 g / m ² (0.0116 g / inch ² ). The coating is carried out as described in Example 1.

Example 8

Composition D (produced according to Example 6) is placed in a heated tank operating at a temperature of 76.6 ° C (170 ° F). The composition is then applied by means of a contact applicator (i.e., a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator having a single slit operating at 76.6 ° C (170 ° F)) to the topsheet of the article in a generally uniform coating. Specifically, 1 strip of 6.35 cm (2.5 inches) (i.e., in the transverse direction of the article) 29.8 cm (11.75 inches) long is applied at a loading level of 12 g / m ² , i.e. 19mg / cm ² (7.7 mg / inch ² ). The strip is applied centrally on the longitudinal centerline of the article.

Skin care composition A is then applied to the body-facing surface of the barrier cuffs of the article in a 1.45 inch (i.e., transverse direction so as to cover the distal edge of the barrier cuff) to each barrier cuff, and such that it extends along the length of the barrier cuff. The addition level is 18.0 g / m ² (0.0116 g / inch ² ). The deposition is carried out in the same manner as described in Example 1.

PATENT CLAIMS

Claims (10)

An absorbent article intended to be worn by a user such that it adheres to the skin, comprising a system comprising an outer cover layer having an impermeable backsheet (42) and a permeable topsheet (38) attached thereto with an absorbent core (44) disposed between the two layers ( 42 and 38, wherein a cuff with first and second surfaces facing each other is attached to the assembly, the permeable topsheet being provided with a skin care means, characterized in that it is a cuff provided with a skin care composition (72) that is semi-solid or solid at 20 ° C and is at least partially transferable to the user's skin and which is different from the permeable topsheet (38). The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the cuff comprises a barrier cuff (62) attached to the assembly, wherein the barrier cuff (62) comprises a barrier portion (63) attached by its proximal edge (64) to the outer wrapper, wherein the distal edge (66) of the barrier portion (63) is provided with a spacer elastic portion (76) for straightening the barrier sleeve (62) from the outer wrapper at a location where the distal edge (66) is free without being attached to the outer wrapper. An absorbent article according to claim 2, characterized in that each barrier cuff (62) has a flap portion and a channel portion, wherein the skin care composition (72) is applied to at least the channel portion, in particular both the channel portion and the flap portion. -39GB 297044 B6 An absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with a sealing collar (56) formed by a side flap (58) attached to the assembly along one of the edges of the absorbent core (44) and extending outwardly from an absorbent core (44), wherein preferably the side flap (58) comprises at least one first cuff portion coupled to the assembly and an elastic portion coupled to the side flap (58). An absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein the first cuff portion, attached to the permeable topsheet (38), forms a skin flap surface (40) in contact with the skin. A skin care device (72) is preferably provided on said surface (40). The absorbent article of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the skin care composition (72) comprises 10 to 95 wt. plasticizers with a plastic or liquid consistency at 20 ° C and 5 to 90 wt. means for immobilizing the plasticizer on the cuff portion. An absorbent article according to claim 6, wherein the plasticizer comprises a portion selected from the group of petroleum based plasticizers, fatty acid ester plasticizers, polysiloxane plasticizers, sucrose saturated fatty acid ester plasticizers, alkyl ethoxylate plasticizers, wherein the immobilizing agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy fatty acid esters, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, C _M to C ₂₂ fatty alcohols, C] _2-C22 fatty acids, ethoxylates C _t2 to C ₂₂ fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof, wherein the means (72) of the skin care composition preferably includes aloe extract. An absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the permeable topsheet (38) is provided with a skin care composition (72) in an amount to provide the desired effect, wherein the composition (72) is semi-solid or solid at and is at least partially transferable to the wearer. An absorbent article according to claim 8, wherein one of the skin care compositions (72) is hydrophobic and the other hydrophilic or both compositions (72) have the same composition. The absorbent article of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the skin care composition (72) is disposed on a first surface (70) of the barrier cuff (62), wherein the surface (70) is in contact with the wearer ' s skin forming a body surface, or comprising a garment facing surface and the means (72) being transferred from the first surface to the second surface.