KR100232371B1 - Newborn's growth adjustable absorbent diaper having variable overlapping and non-overlapping ears - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention can be adjusted in length by using the foldable absorbent panel of the front edge and can be adjusted to fit the waist of the baby by the ear member bonded to the front portion in the overlapped or non-overlapping state, It relates to a newborn diaper that can be adjusted in size as the newborn grows. A cushion barrier is provided on the crotch and rear waist edges to protect the newborn's tender and sensitive skin.

Description

Newborn's Growth Adjustable Absorbent Diaper Having Variable Overlapping and Non-Overlapping Ears}

The present invention relates to disposable articles, and more particularly, disposable absorbent articles that can adjust their length and adhesion site to accommodate the relatively rapid growth of newborns.

Currently, disposable absorbent articles are widely used in infant and child hygiene articles and generally replace reusable cloth absorbent articles. Representative disposable absorbent articles generally consist of an upper sheet, a lower sheet, and an absorbent body between the upper sheet and the lower sheet. Such articles typically include several fastening systems that secure the article to the wearer.

Commercial disposable baby diapers are generally accepted by the public, but there is still room for improvement in certain areas. For example, mothers of newborns from 0 to about 4 months of age find that commercial disposable diapers stimulate the umbilical cord during the newborn baby's 1 month of age. Of course, any stimulation to the umbilical cord not only inconveniences the newborn but also causes concern for the mother. Another concern for mothers is that newborn skin is prone to soaking, and is sensitive to weak pressure or friction that can irritate or redden the skin. With commercial diapers, this irritation or compression is caused by an elastic body in the leg area that compresses the diaper to adhere to the newborn baby's skin to prevent urine leakage. This may also occur in the waist region where the back ear of the diaper is firmly attached to the front side of the diaper. Thus, commercial diapers are not optimal absorbent articles for newborns.

In addition to concerns about the tender umbilical cord area and tender skin in newborns, the skin is sensitive to relatively rapid growth from the birth of boys or girls to about four months. During this time, newborns show weight gain and kidney growth from about 2.72 kg (about 6 lb) to 6.80 kg (about 15 lb), so they use a newborn-sized diaper but then during the rapid growth phase The problem arises that the size may not be appropriate for the newborn. It is desirable to use diapers designed for newborns of 0 to about 4 months of age that can be sized with this rapid growth.

1 is a plan view of the body side of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a flattened manner.

2 is a rear plan view of the embodiment of FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, taken along the lines 3-3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.

5 is a body-side plan view of a variation of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 worn by a newborn, having an absorbent panel and overlapping ears that may be folded inwardly.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 except that the ear portions do not overlap.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 except that the collapsible absorbent panel is not folded and an ear portion is attached thereto.

9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.

10 is a perspective view of another cushion barrier.

Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

2: diaper 4: front part

6: front edge 8: rear part

10: rear edge 12: crotch

14,16: ear member 18: lower seat

20 top sheet 21 liner layer

22 main absorber 23 surge layer

24: inner wrinkles 26: outer wrinkles

32: hook surface 34: inner surface

36: outer surface 38, 40, 42: roof surface

44: leg cuffs 48: foldable absorbent panel

50,62: elastic yarn 51,60: waist band

52,58: cushion barrier 54: upper surface

56 elastic member 64, 66 containment flap

68,70: edge 74,76: end

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an absorbent article that is growth-adjustable, consisting of a bottom sheet comprising a front portion, a back portion and a middle crotch portion and a main absorber located at least on the middle crotch portion. The collapsible panel is located on the front part between the main absorbent body and the front edge of the front part. This collapsible panel is moved between a first position that is substantially coplanar with the main absorbent and a second position where the collapsible panel is folded into the main absorbent to provide control to the article.

The above and other features of the present invention and methods of making the same will become more apparent by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the present invention will be better understood as such.

1-4 and 9, a preferred embodiment of the invention consists of a front portion 4 with a front edge 6, a rear portion 8 with a rear edge 10 and a middle crotch 12. The diaper 2 will be described. The rear portion 8 comprises a pair of ear members 14, 16 attached to or integral with it. In general, the ear members 14, 16 are integral with the rear face 8.

In addition, the diaper 2 consists of the lower sheet 18 and the upper sheet 20 in which the main absorbent body 22 is inserted. The lower sheet 18 and the upper sheet 20 may be of the same size and shape, with the ear members 14, 16 formed by extending the lower sheet 18 and the upper sheet 20. If desired, the top sheet 20 does not have to coincide with the bottom sheet 18, but the bottom sheet 18 and the top sheet 20 have a length and a width of the main absorbent 22 in order to attach the edge thereof in an appropriate manner. Larger than is preferred. As shown in FIG. 3, the main absorbent body 22 does not span the entire length of the diaper 2 but at least lies in the middle crotch portion 12.

The lower sheet 18 is preferably cloth-like and liquid-impermeable. Cloth-like fibers that give the diaper 2 a natural fiber feel for newborns and mothers or nanny are preferred as the outermost surface of the bottom sheet 18. This is in contrast to commercial diapers using only polymeric film materials with plastic feel as the bottom sheet. One method of imparting cloth-like and liquid-impermeable to the lower sheet 18 is two folds: liquid-impermeable inner wrinkles 24 and cloth-like outer wrinkles, which may be breathable or non-breathable to steam. The lower sheet is constituted by 26. The inner wrinkle 24 may be a thin film of liquid-impermeable material protruding onto the spunbond material, which is the outer wrinkle 26.

Top sheet 20 is permeable to liquids such as urine and, in one unique aspect of the present invention, has a high level of soft hand or tissue that is highly desirable for sensitive skin of newborns. One preferred means of providing such a highly soft touch or tissue to the top sheet 20 is to construct it with a fiber matrix in which all or at least some of the fibers are bicomponent fibers. These bicomponent fibers may be side-by-side structure or sheath-core structure. Top sheet 20 is described in more detail below. In one preferred embodiment, the top sheet 20 consists of a liner layer 21 of bicomponent fibers and a surge layer 23 of a mixture of bicomponent fibers and other fibers. Layered composite. The liner layer 21 and the surge layer 23 superimpose each other without going through the additional step of joining the two layers together, or the liner layer 21 and the surge layer 23 are joined together and then joined together The upper sheet 20 may be formed through a connecting step. Surge layer 23 is narrower than liner layer 21 and is centered between cushion barrier 52 or containment flap 64 (FIG. 5). The surge layer 23 is preferably between the liner layer 21 and the absorber 22.

The members 14 and 16 then each have a respective hook surface 32 attached near the end on the inner surface 34 of the diaper 2. Each hook surface 32 consists of a plurality of hook members (not shown) suitable for the plurality of loop members described below.

The diaper 2 also includes an outer surface 36 on which three loop surfaces 38, 40, 42 are placed. The roof surface 38 is attached to either or both of the ear members 14 or 16, and is attached to the ear member 16 on the outer surface 36 as shown in FIG. 3. The roof surfaces 40, 42 are attached to the outer surface 36 of the front face 4. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the roof surface 40 is near the front edge 6 and the roof surface 42 is slightly spaced inwardly of the roof surface 40. If desired, loop surfaces 40, 42 may be one single loop surface. The roof surfaces 38, 40, 42 each consist of a plurality of loop members (not shown) suitable for a plurality of hook members on the hook surface 32.

A pair of elasticized leg cuffs 44 is preferably located along each longitudinal surface of the diaper 2 and is attached between the lower seat 18 and the upper seat 20. Leg cuff 44 may be liquid permeable or liquid impermeable and is preferably elastic by multiple elastic yarns 46. The leg cuff 44 is preferably a two-wrinkle composite in which the outermost wrinkle is liquid impermeable and the innermost wrinkle is liquid permeable. In this design, the outermost pleats may be made of the same material as the bottom sheet 18 and the innermost pleats may be made of the same material as the liner layer 21. If it is desirable for the leg cuff 44 to be liquid permeable, the two folds may be made of the same or different permeable material.

In addition to the main absorbent 22, the diaper 2 also includes an absorbent panel 48 that can be folded between the main absorbent 22 and the front edge 6. As with the main absorbent 22, the collapsible absorbent panel 48 is located between the lower sheet 18 and the upper sheet 20. The collapsible absorbent panel 48 may be made of the same absorbent material as the main absorbent 22, and is spaced apart from the main absorbent 22, as shown in FIG. If desired, the primary absorbent 22 and the collapsible absorbent panel 48 may be integral, embossing or crimping the collapsible absorbent panel 48 to fold inward as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. It can be classified separately by catching or drilling. It should also be noted that the roof surface 40 can be folded inward with the absorbent panel 48, such as the corresponding portions of the lower sheet 18 and the upper sheet 20 overlying the absorbent panel 48. If desired, the collapsible panel 48 may preferably be made of a nonabsorbent material having the property of blocking or blocking liquid flow.

In order to give elasticity to the front waist of the diaper 2, which is the corresponding part of the front part 4 adjacent to the front edge 6, a plurality of elastic yarns 50 are provided between the absorbent panel 48 and the lower sheet 18. To. Elastic yarn 50 may first be stretched and then attached to either or both of bottom sheet 18 or panel 48. Otherwise, the elastic yarn 50 may be made of a thermoelastic material that is connected in a loose state and then heated to elasticize to wrinkle the lower sheet 18. If desired, the elastic yarn 50 may be connected with a separate layer of material forming an elastic composite and then connected between the lower sheet 18 and the absorbent panel 48.

The unique aspect of the present invention, considering the tender and sensitive nature of newborn skin, is that there is a cushion barrier that helps prevent leakage while minimizing skin irritation or erythema. A pair of curved crotch cushion barriers 52 are provided on opposite sides of the main absorbent body 22 at least in the region of the middle crotch portion 12. The crotch cushion barriers are each slightly away from the primary absorbent 22 so that they can be easily bent or folded to fit the body shape of the newborn. The cushion barriers 52 each have a top surface 54 extending above the main absorber 22 to form a cup, and more importantly, gently wrap the newborn skin. Each of the cushion barriers 52 generally extends in shape and may have a cross section of a cylinder, a rectangle, an egg, or the like. The cushion barrier 52 may be made of the same material as the main absorbent 22 or may not be absorbent but may be made of other material having elasticity to provide a dam effect on the waist of the body and an effect that gently wraps the skin. have. If desired, an elastic member 56 may be provided to each cushion barrier 52 in a manner positioned between each cushion barrier 52 and the lower seat 18. The elastic member 56 serves to reinforce the cushion barrier 52 in a soft and gentle manner against newborn skin. The elastic member 56 may be made of the same structure and the same material as described for elasticizing the absorbent panel 48 that can be folded using the elastic yarn 50. The elastic member 56 is preferably an elongate member whose length and width are similar to the respective cushion barriers 52. The height at which the upper surface 54 extends upward beyond the upper surface of the main absorbent 22 depends on the absorbent material used, the size and shape of the diaper 2, and the like. The cushion barrier 52 is preferably located between the bottom sheet 18 and the liner layer 21, but may also be located on top of the liner layer 21.

Although the cushion barrier 52 is described as being slightly away from the longitudinal plane of the main absorber 22, it may be located 2 cm further from the main absorber 22 or located above the main absorber 22 near each longitudinal plane. have.

The rear portion 8 includes a rear waist cushion barrier 58 located between the main absorber 22 and the rear edge 10. Preferably, the back waist cushion barrier 58 is sandwiched between the bottom sheet 18 and the liner layer 21, but may be located on top of the liner layer 21. The back waist cushion barrier 58 may be made of the same material as the crotch cushion barrier 52 and includes a back waist band 60. The back waist band 60 may be made of the same material as the front waist band 51. Accordingly, the back waist band 60 may be made of an elastic yarn 62 which is the same as or similar to the elastic yarn 50 of the front waist band 51. The back waist cushion barrier 58 serves two roles, providing a soft cushion to the skin of the newborn and providing a back barrier to the back of the diaper 2. The back waist cushion barrier 58 generally has the same width as the main absorber 22 of the back portion 8 but may of course have a width that is larger or smaller than the desired main absorber 22.

In FIG. 5, the diaper 2 was modified by replacing the crotch cushion barrier 52 with a pair of containment flaps 64 and the back waist cushion barrier with the waist containment flaps 66. The containment flap 64 may be made of the same material as the liner layer 21 or of other suitable material. The containment flaps 64 may generally be formed by one of two methods. One method is to make each containment flap 64 as a separate structural member and then attach it to the liner layer 21 in any suitable way. In this method, adjacent edges 68 of each containment flap 64 are attached to the liner layer 21. In another method, containment flaps 64 are made from the liner layer 21 by essentially crimping the liner layer 21 and then attaching adjacent edges 30 together. In both methods, the distal edge 70 includes one or more strands 72 of extensible material that are attached thereto in an extended state. The front end 74 and back end 76 of the containment flap 64 are secured to the liner layer 21. When disassembling or fastening the diaper 2, the elastic yarn 72 causes the edge 70 to extend upward from the liner layer 21. As such, the containment flaps 64 are located inside or inside the leg cuff 44 as in the cushion barrier 52. A more detailed description of the structure of flap 64 is described in US Pat. No. 4,704,116, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The waist containment flap 66 may be the same as or similar to the containment flap 64 except that it is attached to the back portion 8 near the back edge 10. Waist containment flap 66 may be constructed in the same manner as containment flap 64 and may be made of the same material. The containment flap 64 and the waist containment flap 66 may both be made of a liquid impermeable or liquid permeable material described below.

In FIG. 6, the diaper 2 is illustrated as having a shortest length of about 30.48 cm to about 34.93 cm (about 12 in to about 13.75 in) for newborns. The diaper 2 is worn on newborns in the same manner as commercial diapers except for the following steps. The foldable absorbent panel 48 is folded in such that the outer surface of the foldable absorbent panel 48 and the main absorbent body 22 face each other. The roof surface 40 and the front waist band 51 are folded together with the absorbent panel which can be folded. The roof surface 40 is made of a soft material that does not irritate the baby's skin. After the folding step, the newborn is placed on the diaper 2 and pulls the front part 4 toward the front of the newborn between the legs. The ear members 14, 16 are then wrapped around the waist of the newborn, and the hook surface 32 of the ear member 16 is releasably engaged with the loop surface 42 and the hook surface of the ear member 14. 32 is then positioned to engage the roof surface 38 on the member 16. The diaper 2 can then be comfortably and comfortably worn by the newborn by adjusting the members 16 and 14 to the roof surface 42 and the roof surface 38, respectively. In this folded form, the diaper 2 is the shortest in length, and the ear members 14, 16 overlap each other to fit the newborn waistline, which is the minimum measure of neonatal timing.

In FIG. 7, as the newborn begins to grow rapidly for weeks or months after birth, the diaper 2 can be adjusted as needed to meet the growth trend. The absorbent panel 48, which can be folded, remains folded in, but the ear members 14, 16 can be positioned on the roof surface 42 in a non-overlapping manner as needed as the waistline of the newborn increases. . In this medium size adjustment of the diaper 2, the hook surfaces 32 of the two ear members 14, 16 are attached to the roof surface 42.

As the newborn continues to grow rapidly, the diaper 2 continues to match the growth of the newborn's height and width. As shown in FIG. 8, the absorbent panel 48, which can be folded in accordance with the kidney growth, is placed on the same plane as the main absorbent body 22, as shown in FIG. A maximum length of about 38.10 cm (about 14 in to about 15 in), and the ear members 14, 16 are attached in a non-overlapping manner to the loop surface 40 on the absorbent panel 48 which can be folded. .

In FIG. 10, deformation of the cushion barriers 52 and 58 is shown by the number 53. In FIG. This variant includes one or more, preferably two rows 55 consisting of a plurality of cup-like members 57 for receiving and collecting body excrement. The member 57 faces inward toward the longitudinal centerline of the diaper 2, and when two rows 55 are present, the cup-shaped member 57 of one row 55 is the member 57 of the other row 55. ) And staggered with each other. Member 57 may be liquid permeable or impermeable, vapor permeable or impermeable. In general, member 57 may be made of a material that can be readily molded or formed into a desired shape and geometry. If desired, the string 55 of cup-shaped member 57 may be provided with a cushion barrier 52 and will be positioned between each cushion barrier 52 and leg cuff 44.

The bottom sheet 18 is a two-wrinkle composite wherein the inner wrinkles 24 are liquid impermeable and the outer wrinkles 26 are liquid permeable. Preferably, the inner wrinkles 24 are polypropylene films having a thickness of about 12.70 to about 25.40 μm (about 0.5 to about 1.0 mil), and the outer wrinkles 26 are of bilobal shape and the fiber denier is about Spunbond polypropylene consisting of polypropylene from 1.5 to about 4.0 dpf and having a basis weight of from about 10.17 to about 33.91 g / m ² (about 0.3 to about 1.0 oz / yd ² ). The inner wrinkles 24 and the outer wrinkles 26 may be connected by any suitable method such as spray bonding, adhesive strip, dotted line bonding, thermal bonding, sonic bonding, film layer extrusion on the spunbond layer, and the like. The bottom sheet 18 can be made of other materials that are liquid impermeable or can be treated as liquid impermeable. Some examples include meltblown or film materials consisting of polyethylene or polyolefin copolymers. In addition, the bottom sheet 18 can be not only liquid impermeable but also vapor permeable. The lower sheet 18 generally forms the shape of the diaper 2 and is shaped like an hourglass with ear members 14, 16 extending generally outwardly as shown in the figure. Other shapes are also available and depend on the type of material used, its thickness, and the like.

The top sheet 20 is made of a liquid permeable material and is preferably a two layer composite. In a preferred embodiment, the top sheet 20 is an integrally bonded carded web having a basis weight of about 50.86 g / m ² (about 1.5 osy (oz / yd ² )). The liner layer 21 is made of polyethylene / polyester bicomponent fibers having a basis weight of about 16.95 g / m ² (about 0.5 osy) and a fiber denier of about 2.25 dpf. This kind of bicomponent fiber can be purchased from BASF Corporation's Fiber Division, Enka, North Carolina, USA 28728. The surge layer 23 has a basis weight of about 33.91 g / m ² (about 1.0 osy), about 75 wt% polyester fiber having about 15 dpf denier and about 25 wt% polyethylene / polypropylene bicomponent fiber It is preferred that the fiber matrix is made up. These fibers can be purchased from Chisso Corporation's textile department, 3, 6 rooms, 32, Nakanoshima, Osaka, 530, Japan. These two layers can be integrated, for example, through a ventilation bond or an infrared bond. Top sheet 20 preferably has a density of about 0.02 gcc (g / cm ³ ) and a bulk thickness of about 0.254 cm (about 0.10 in). This combination of layers and fibers forms a unique aspect of the present invention by providing an extremely soft and gentle surface to the skin of a newborn. In a preferred embodiment of the top sheet 20, the top sheet 20 also has a basis weight of about 15 to about 102 gsm (g / m ² ), a density of about 0.01 to about 0.08 gcc, and fiber denier of about 1 to about 15 dpf. And a fiber length of about 1.27 to about 5.08 cm (about 0.5 to about 2.0 in), wherein the fibers can be crimped in the range of about 14 to 22 crimps per 2.54 cm (1 in).

The top sheet 20 can also be made of other liquid permeable materials, such as spunbond webs such as synthetic polymer filaments, spunlace webs, and the like. The top sheet 20 may have the same shape as the bottom sheet 18 or may be similar in length and width. However, it is preferable that the top sheet 20 and the bottom sheet 18 have a rim extending out of the main absorber 22 so that the rims can be glued together by, for example, adhesive strips or sonic bonds or a combination thereof. Do.

The main absorbent 22 is preferably a mixture of pulp fluff and superabsorbent material in which about 13.4 g of pulp is present and about 7.2 g of superabsorbent material is present. Suitable superabsorbent materials may be purchased from the Hoechst Celanese Department of Pottsmouth Technical Center, Pottsmouth West Norfolk Road 3340, 23703, USA. Other superabsorbent materials can also be used as appropriate, examples include organic materials such as silica gels or organic compounds such as crosslinked polymers. Superabsorbent materials can be in various forms such as particles, fibers, layers, and the like. The superabsorbent material and the fluff may be uniformly mixed to have a Z-gradient, or the superabsorbent material may be laminated or multilayered in the fluff. The absorber 22 preferably has a surface area of about 264.52 cm ² (about 41 in ² ), a density of about 0.2 gcc, and a basis weight of about 778 gsm. Absorber 22 comprises two layers of standard tissue wrap having a basis weight of about 22 gsm. The tissue wrap can be adhesive sealed or heat sealed if desired along the perimeter of the absorbent 22.

The absorbent panel 48 that can be folded may be made of the same material as the absorber 22 or a different suitable material. For example, the collapsible panel 48 is preferably non-absorbent and therefore consists of a non-absorbent material or absorbent material that is enclosed within the liquid impermeable layer.

The primary absorbent 22 and the absorbent panel 48 may be attached or connected to the lower sheet 18 by any suitable method, for example by an adhesive strip.

Roof surfaces 38, 40, and 42 are roof material, guild loop style, available from Guilford Mills, inc. It is preferably composed of 18903 or 19902. The shape of each of the roof surfaces 38, 40, 42 depends on the overall shape of the diaper 2. As described, the roof surface 38 is rectangular, and the roof surfaces 40 and 42 are also rectangular and almost extend along the width of the front face 4. The roof surfaces 38, 40, 42 may be attached to the lower sheet 18 by adhesive strips, sonic coupling or any other suitable means.

The hook surface 32 is preferably a hook material, Hook HTH 708, available from Velcro USA, Manchester, New Hampshire, United States. The hook surface 32 is attached to the ear members 14, 16 by adhesive strips, sonic coupling, or the like.

The elastic material made of the elastic yarn 46, the elastic yarn 50, the elastic yarn 62, and the elastic yarn 72 is preferably Lycra.

The cushion barriers 52, 58 may be made of the same material as the main absorbent 22, or may be made of fluff fibers or synthetic fibers alone. If the barriers 52, 58 are desired to be not absorbers, they may be made of any suitable elastic material, such as a foamable material.

Although FIG. 5 shows that the cushion barriers 52, 58 have been replaced by the containment flaps 64, 66, other combinations of these members are also contemplated in the present invention. For example, the diaper 2 may include a crotch cushion barrier 52 with a waist containment flap 66 or a back waist cushion barrier 58 with a containment flap 64.

Although the present invention has been described as a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that further modifications may be made. Therefore, such applications include any modifications, equivalents, uses or modifications of the general principles of the invention which are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains and are within the scope of the appended claims. .

When using the absorbent diaper with variable overlapping and non-overlapping ear according to the present invention, the size can be adjusted according to the rapid growth rate of the newborn, it is more comfortable to wear than the existing products and can protect the skin of the newborn.

Claims (13)

Lower seat with front edge with front edge, rear edge with rear edge and middle crotch, A main absorber located at least on said middle crotch portion, A collapsible panel located on the front portion between the main absorbent body and the front edge, the collapsible panel being movable between a first position in substantially the same plane as the main absorbent body and a second position folded inward over the main absorbent body, And One ear member may be releasably fastened to the front part, and the other ear member may be disassembled from the front part and apart from the one ear member at a first position which may overlap with the one ear member and may be releasably fastened. A pair of ear members each located on opposite sides of said back portion, which can be positioned between second positions that can possibly be fastened An absorbent article that can be adjusted according to growth. The article of claim 1, wherein the other ear member can be positioned in its first position when the collapsible panel is in the second position. The article of claim 1, wherein the other ear member can be positioned in its second position when the collapsible panel is in the first position. The article of claim 1, further comprising a back waist cushion barrier positioned adjacent the back edge of the bottom sheet. The article of claim 1, further comprising a crotch cushion barrier on both sides of the crotch portion. The article of claim 1 further comprising containment flaps on both sides of the crotch portion. The article of claim 1, further comprising a back waist containment flap positioned adjacent the back edge of the bottom sheet. The article of claim 1 further comprising a top sheet consisting of bicomponent fibers. The article of claim 8, wherein the bicomponent fiber is a sheath-core fiber. The article of claim 8, wherein the bicomponent fiber is a side-by-side fiber. The article of claim 8, wherein the top sheet has a basis weight of about 15 to about 102 g / m ² and a density of about 0.01 to about 0.08 g / cm ³ _. The article of claim 8, wherein the fibers have a denier of about 1 to 15 dpf and a length of about 1.27 to about 5.08 cm (about 0.5 to about 2.0 in). The article of claim 8, wherein the fibers have about 14 to about 22 crimps per 2.54 cm (1 in).