MXPA00011953A - Disposable absorbent article having fecal management member - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a disposable absorbent article having a liquid pervious topsheet, a backsheet joined to the topsheet, and a fecal management member positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The fecal management member includes a support member and a plurality of fibers woven into the support member. Portions of the fibers project from the support member such that the fecal management member exhibits an open, lofty configuration.

Description

DISPOSABLE ABSORBENT ARTICLE THAT HAS A MEMBER OF FECAL DATE MANAGEMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to articles that absorb and / or contain body exudates, including disposable absorbent articles such as diapers, adult incontinence products, sanitary napkins and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to disposable absorbent articles that have the ability to retain low viscosity fecal material away from the wearer's skin, in order to reduce leakage and make it easier to clean the user when it is removed. Disposable absorbent article dirty.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Disposable absorbent articles such as diapers and adult incontinence products are well known in the art. These disposable absorbent articles collect and retain the urine and fecal material deposited thereon by the user. To date, most attempts in the art to handle the urine and faecal material collected and retained within the disposable absorbent article have been directed to the management of urine. Dealing with the fecal material collected by the disposable absorbent article is simply more difficult than dealing with urine, due to the complex rheology of the low viscosity material. Exemplary of the prior art of urine handling are several attempts to provide disposable absorbent articles having a first topsheet that is toward and in contact with the user's body, and a secondary topsheet beneath the first topsheet, which either absorbs urine, or transfers the urine to an underlying core for storage until the user's disposable absorbent article is removed. • Typically, the first top sheet and the second top sheet have different material properties. The secondary upper sheet may have a pore size smaller than the first upper sheet, to help transfer urine through the upper sheet. The first top sheet can be hydrophobic and more resilient when wet than the secondary top sheet, so that the fluids penetrate the first top sheet towards the secondary top sheet. In still another attempt of the prior art, the absorbent article • Disposable has a first top sheet, a second top sheet and a core. The secondary topsheet consists essentially of hydrophilic fibers blown in the molten state and has a pore size greater than the pore size of the core. This arrangement allegedly allows the secondary upper sheet to quickly receive multiple insults of liquid and distribute the liquid in the X-Y plane before absorption by the core. In yet another attempt, the enhanced vertical capillary action capacity for urine has been claimed to have been achieved by using inflated cellulose fibers which are • Free of a surface finish or are crosslinked to each other. In another attempt of the prior art, an absorbent core suitable for acquiring and containing liquids such as urine in a particularly effective and efficient manner comprises multiple layers. The first layer, which is closer to the user, comprises fibrous hydrophilic material and has an acquisition zone of a relatively lower average density than other parts of this layer, in order to acquire quickly discharged liquids. Beneath this first layer is a liquid handling layer comprising a low density high void volume resilient material that is insensitive to moisture in order to quickly acquire insults of liquid towards itself through the acquisition and distribution zone. These liquids throughout the liquid handling layer towards a storage layer. The storage layer comprises a combination of fibrous material and discrete particles of gelling absorbent material, and allows the liquid handling layer to be drained of the liquids that have been acquired, such that the liquid handling layer can have sufficient capacity to acquire and distribute subsequent liquid loads. Examples of these prior art attempts include U.S. Patent Nos. 4,047,531 issued September 13, 1977 to Karami.; 4,798,603 issued January 17, 1989 to Meyer et al .; 5,037,409 issued August 6, 1991 to Chen et al .; 5,124,197 issued June 23, 1992 to Bernardin et al .; and 5,134,007 issued on July 28, 1992 to Reising and others. Of course, gelling absorbent materials are also well known in the prior art for their ability to handle urine. The gelling absorbent materials are polymeric materials capable of absorbing large quantities of fluids, such as urine, and retaining these absorbed fluids under moderate pressures. The effectiveness of the gelling absorbent materials is dependent on the shape, position, and weight percent of the gelling absorbent materials that are incorporated into the core of the disposable absorbent article. Recent attempts have been made in the art to provide gelling absorbent materials that have the ability to swell against pressure. These teachings allegedly provide the advantage that the absorbent gelling materials absorb fluid under actual pressures exerted by the body during use. Still other teachings in the art provide gelling absorbent materials that have a particular free swelling rate and absorbency under load. The claimed advantages of these gelling absorbent materials are smaller bulk and volume with approximately the same absorbent capacity, the ability to rapidly absorb a liquid discharged under pressures typically encountered during use, and the ability to retain the liquid absorbed under pressures typically. found during use. Examples of these prior art attempts include U.S. Patents No. 5,147,343 issued September 15, 1992 to Kellenberger and 5,149,335 issued September 22, 1992 to Kellenberger et al. However, all of these attempts to handle the urine, perform negligibly, if at all, the improved handling of the fecal material which may also be present in the disposable absorbent article. Attempts to deal with fecal matter include providing a first top sheet which closely conforms to the user and has an opening. The opening is recorded successfully with the opening of the anus, in such a way that the fecal material passes through it into a hollow space. The first top sheet may comprise various elastic panels so as to closely conform to the user's skin, and / or may have linear elastic threads. Improvements have been made in this area of the prior art, such as by optimizing the material properties of the first top sheet. This optimization makes the first top sheet more comfortable for the user and allows a simple disposable absorbent article to fit a larger range of user sizes. Still other attempts have been made in this area of the prior art to provide an absorbent core with a hole therein, in order to receive the fecal material. The hole may be flattened by the poles, in such a way that it is larger and narrower than the opening in the first upper sheet, or it may be diamond-shaped. The hole in the core can be placed under an opening which has elastic strips around its edge.

Improvements to this type of disposable absorbent articles of the prior art also include the addition of spacers. The spacers may be interposed between the first top sheet and the core, in order to ensure that a hollow space is present to receive the fecal material. Still other attempts have been made in this prior art genre to provide barriers that limit movement of the fecal material to particular parts of the disposable absorbent article. The barriers limit the contact of fecal material to a smaller portion of the user's skin, than a comparable disposable absorbent article that has no barriers. Still other attempts in the prior art provide barrier cuffs for the leg which are raised from the plane of the topsheet. The barrier cuffs for the leg prevent the fecal material from bifurcating around the perimeter of the disposable absorbent article. Examples of these attempts to handle fecal material include U.S. Patent No. 4,892,536 issued January 9, 1990 to DesMarais et al .; U.S. Patent No. 4,909,803 issued March 20, 1990 to Aziz et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,968,312 issued November 6, 1990 to Khan; the commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 4,990,147 issued February 5, 1991 to Freeland; the commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 5,037,416 issued August 6, 1991 to Alien et al .; U.S. Patent No. 5,062,840 issued November 5, 1991 to Holt et al .; the commonly assigned United States Patent No. 5,171, 236 issued December 15, 1992 to Dreier et al .; and the European Patent Application No. 0,355,740 A2 published on February 28, 1990 to Enloe. However, none of these attempts to handle fecal material solve the problem of low viscosity fecal material which is prevalent in very young children, particularly those who are breastfed. The low viscosity faecal material easily migrates into the disposable absorbent article under the influence of gravity and the user's movement or pressure. The migration of the fecal material often moves towards the perimeter of the disposable absorbent article, increasing the probability of leakage. The migration of fecal material also smears against the user's skin, making cleaning more difficult. In order to clean the user, the caregiver should rub the entire area of the skin which has found the fecal material and typically has to deal with a relatively large dirty area. An attempt in the art to handle low viscosity fecal material is found in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 076,713 filed June 11, 1993 in the name of Roe. This application is a disposable absorbent article having a first top sheet with a high penetration through the top sheet covering a secondary top sheet having a penetration through the lower top sheet. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a disposable absorbent article that reduces fecal material leakage from the disposable absorbent article and minimizes the amount of low viscosity fecal material remaining on the wearer's skin once it is removed. the disposable absorbent article. It is further an object of this invention to provide a disposable absorbent article that separates fecal material into components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a disposable absorbent article. The disposable absorbent article comprises a liquid permeable topsheet, a backsheet attached to the topsheet, and a fecal management member positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The fecal management member comprises a support member and a plurality of fibers. The fibers woven in the support member have portions projecting from the support member. The portions of fiber projecting from the support member can be arcuate, loop or antler. The disposable absorbent article preferably comprises an absorbent core which is positioned between the fecal management member and the backsheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Although the description concludes with the claims pointing out in a particular way and claiming differently the exposed matter that is considered as the present invention, it is believed that it will be better understood from the following descriptions which are taken in conjunction with the drawings that accompany, in which similar designations are used to designate substantially identical elements. Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention having portions cut away to reveal the underlying structure, the surface that gives the garment of the diaper to the observer. Figure 2 is a perspective illustration of a fecal management member of the present invention. Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional illustration through the faecal management member of the present invention along a line connecting two points in which a fiber is woven into the support member.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional illustration through a second fecal management member of the present invention along a line connecting two points at which a fiber is woven into the support member. Figure 5 is a vertical illustration in cross section through a # third fecal handling member of the present invention along a line connecting two points in which a fiber is woven in the support member. Figure 6 is a plan view illustration of another embodiment of a fecal management member of the present invention. Figure 7 is a plan view illustration of another embodiment of a Fecal management member of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As used herein, the term "absorbent article" refers to . 15 devices that absorb and contain exudates from the body, and more specifically, refer to devices that are placed against or close to the user's body to absorb and contain the various exudates discharged from the body. The term "disposable" is used here to describe disposable absorbent articles that • are generally not intended to be washed or restored or reused from another The term "absorbent article" is intended to be disposed of after a single use and, preferably, to be recycled, composted or otherwise disposed of in an environmentally compatible manner. (As used herein, the term "Discarded" is used to imply that an element or elements of the diaper is formed (attached and placed) in a particular place or position such as a unitary structure with other diaper elements or as a separate element joined to another diaper element. As used herein, the term "attached" encompasses configurations by means of which one element is directly secured to another element by fixing the element directly to the other element, and configurations by means of which one element is indirectly secured to another element by fixing the element to a member or intermediate members which instead bind to the other element.) A "unitary" absorbent article refers to the absorbent articles which are formed of separate parts joined together to form a coordinated entity in such a way that they do not They require separate manipulated parts like a bra and separate liners. A preferred embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention is the unitary disposable absorbent article, diaper 20, shown in Figure 1. As used herein, the term "diaper" refers to an absorbent article generally worn by infants and incontinent persons around the lower torso. The present invention is also applicable to other absorbent articles such as incontinence briefs, incontinence undergarments, absorbent inserts, diaper liners and liners, feminine hygiene garments and the like. Figure 1 is a plan view of the diaper 20 of the invention present in a flattened state with parts of the structure that are cut away to more clearly show the construction of the diaper 20. The part of the diaper 20 that is given to the wearer is oriented towards the observer. As shown in Figure 1, the diaper 20 preferably comprises an upper sheet 24 permeable to liquid; a back sheet 26 impervious to liquid; an absorbent core 28, which is preferably positioned between at least a portion of the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 26; a fecal management member 29 positioned between the topsheet 24 and the absorbent core 28; side panels 30; elasticated folds for the leg 32; an elastic waist feature 34; and a generally designated fastening system 40. The diaper 20 is shown in Figure 1 to have a waist front region 36, a waist rear region 38 opposite the waist front region 36 and a crotch region 37 located between the waist front waist region and rear waist region. The periphery of the diaper 20 is defined by the outer edges of the diaper 20 in which the longitudinal edges 50 run generally parallel to the longitudinal centerline 100 of the diaper 20 and the end edges 52 run between the longitudinal edges 50 generally parallel to the centerline. side 110 of the diaper 20. The chassis 22 of the diaper 20 comprises the main body of the diaper 20. The chassis 22 comprises at least a portion of the absorbent core 28 and preferably an outer layer of cover including the top sheet 24 and the back sheet 26 If the absorbent article comprises a separate fastener and liner, the chassis 22 generally comprises the fastener and the liner. (For example, the fastener may comprise one or more layers of material to form an outer cover of the article and the liner may comprise an absorbent assembly that includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core.In these cases, the fastener and / or the liner may include a fastener that is used to retain the liner in place throughout the time of use.) For the single absorbent articles, the chassis 22 comprises the main structure of the diaper with other additional features to form the mixed structure of the diaper. Although the topsheet 24, the backsheet 26 and the chassis 22 can be assembled in a variety of well-known configurations, the preferred diaper configurations are generally described in U.S. Patent No. 3,860,003 entitled "Shrinkable side portions for disposable diaper "which was issued to Kenneth B. Buell on January 14, 1975; and in U.S. Patent No. 5,151,092 issued to Buell on September 9, 1992; and in U.S. Patent No. 5,221, 274 issued to Buell on June 22, 1993. Another suitable design of the diaper chassis is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,569,232 entitled "Absorbing article with extensible characteristic of film weft in the form of elastic structural film with multiple zone "which was issued to Roe et al. on October 29, 1996; U.S. Patent No. 5,554,144 entitled "Absorbent article with extensible feature of film weft in the form of structural elastic with multiple zone" which was issued to Roe et al. on September 10, 1996; U.S. Patent No. 5,554,143 entitled "Article # Absorbent with extensible stretch film feature of elastic structural film with multiple zone "which was issued to Roe et al. on September 10, 1996, U.S. Patent No. 5,554,145 entitled" Absorbent Article with extendable characteristic. of film weft in the form of structural elastic film with multiple zone "which was issued to Roe et al. on September 10, 1996; of the United States No. 5,556,394 entitled "Absorbing article with extensible characteristic of film weft in the form of structural elastic with multiple zone" which was issued to Roe et al. On September 17, 1996. Each of these references they are incorporated by reference here. The backsheet 26 is generally that part of the diaper 20 placed adjacent to the surface that gives the garment 45 of the absorbent core 28, which prevents the exudates absorbed and contained therein from staining articles that may be in contact with the diaper 20, such as sheets and undergarments. In preferred embodiments, the backsheet 26 is impervious to liquids (e.g. • urine) and comprises a thin plastic film, such as a thermoplastic film that has a thickness of about 0.012 mm to about 0.051 mm. Suitable backsheet films include those manufactured by Tredegar Industries Inc. of Terre Haute, IN and sold under the trade names X15306, X10962 and X10964. Other suitable materials of the backsheet may include breathable materials that allow the vapors of the diaper 20 to escape while still preventing the exudates pass through backsheet 26. Exemplary breathable materials may include materials such as woven wefts, non-woven wefts, mixed materials such as nonwoven webs, and microporous films as manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Co. , Japan under the designation ESPOIR NO and by EXXON Chemical Co., of Bay City, TX; under the designation EXXAIRE. Suitable mixed breathable materials comprising polymer blends are available from Clopay Corporation, Cincinnati, OH under the name HYTREL blend P18-3097. These mixed respirable materials are described in greater detail in PCT Application No. WO 95/16746, published June 22, 1995 in the name of E.l. DuPont, and the co-pending United States patent application Serial No. 08 / 744,487, filed on November 6, 1996 in the name of Curro. Other breathable backsheets including nonwoven webs and apertured films are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,571,096 issued to Dobrin et al. On November 5, 1996. Each of these references is hereby incorporated by reference. by reference here. The backsheet 26, or any part thereof, may be elastically extensible in one or more directions. In one embodiment, the backsheet 26 may comprise a film web in the form of a structural elastic ("SELF"). A film web in the form of a structural elastic is an extensible material exhibiting a behavior similar to elastic in the direction of elongation without the use of additional elastic materials. The SELF frame includes a tensable network having at least two contiguous, distinct, and different regions. Preferably, one of the regions is configured in such a way that it will exhibit resistance forces in response to an axial elongation applied in a direction parallel to the predetermined axis before a suntial portion of the other region develops significant resistance forces to the applied elongation. At least one of the regions has a surface path length that is greater than that of the other region as measured suntially parallel to the predetermined axis while the material is in a non-stressed condition. The region exhibiting the largest surface path length includes one or more deformations extending beyond the plane of the other region. The SELF frame exhibits at least two significantly different stages of resistance strength controlled to elongation along at least one predetermined axis when subjected to an elongation applied in a direction parallel to the predetermined axis. The SELF web exhibits first applied elongation resistance forces until the elongation of the web is sufficient to make a substantial portion of the region having the greatest surface path length between the plane of the applied elongation, after which the SELF screen exhibits second strengths of additional elongation resistance. The total forces of elongation resistance are greater than the first elongation resistance forces provided by the first region. The SELF webs suitable for the present invention are more fully described in U.S. Patent No. 5,518,801 entitled "Screen material exhibiting behavior in the form of a plastic", which was issued to Chappell, and others the May 21, 1996, which is incorporated herein by reference. In the alternate embodiments, the backsheet 26 may comprise elastomeric films, foams, strands, or combinations of these and other suitable materials with non-woven materials or synthetic films. The backsheet 26 can be attached to the topsheet 24, the absorbent core 28 or any other element of the diaper 20 by any means of attachment known in the art. For example, the fastening means may include a continuous uniform adhesive layer, a patterned adhesive layer, or an array of separate lines, spirals or spots of adhesive. A preferred attachment means comprises a network of open-pattern adhesive filaments as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,573,986 entitled "Disposable Garment for Containment of Waste", which was issued to Minetola et al. On March 4. 1986. Another suitable fixation means includes several lines of adhesive filaments which are twisted in a spiral pattern, as illustrated by the apparatus and methods shown in United States Patent No. 3,911,173 issued to Sprague, Jr. on October 7, 1975; U.S. Patent No. 4,785,996 issued to Ziecker, and others on November 22, 1978; and in U.S. Patent No. 4,842,666 issued to Werenicz on June 27, 1989. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. The adhesives that have been found to be satisfactory are manufactured by H.B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minnesota and marketed as HL-1258. Alternatively, the fixation means may comprise heat bonds, pressure joints, ultrasonic joints, mechanical dynamic joints, or any other suitable means of attachment or combinations of such fixation means as are known in the art. The topsheet 24 is preferably positioned adjacent the body surface 47 of the absorbent core 28 and may be attached thereto and / or to the backsheet by any means of attachment known in the art. Suitable fixation means were described above with respect to the means for attaching the backsheet 26 to other diaper elements 20. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 26 are directly bonded together in some places and are indirectly joined in other places by attaching them directly to other elements of the diaper 20. The topsheet 24 is preferably docile, soft-feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. In addition, at least a portion of the topsheet 24 is permeable to liquid, allowing liquids to easily penetrate through its thickness. A suitable top sheet 24 can be manufactured from a wide range of materials, such as porous foams; cross-linked foams; plastic films with openings; or woven or non-woven from natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), from synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester or polypropylene fibers), or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. If the absorbent assemblies include fibers, the fibers can be spun bonded, carded, wet-laid, melt-blown, hydroentangled, or otherwise processed as is known in the art. A suitable top sheet 24 comprising a polypropylene fiber web of cut length is manufactured by Veratec, Inc., a division of International Paper Company, of Walpole, Massachusetts under the designation P-8. Suitable top sheets of formed film are described in U.S. Patent No. 3,929,135, entitled "Absorption structure having tapered capillaries" which was issued to Thompson on December 30, 1975; U.S. Patent No. 4,324,246 entitled "Disposable absorbent article having a stain resistant top sheet" which was issued to Mullane, et al. on April 13, 1982; U.S. Patent No. 4,342,314 entitled "Resilient plastic screen exhibiting fiber-like properties", which was issued to Radel et al. on August 3, 1982; U.S. Patent No. 4,463,045 entitled "Macroscopically expanded three-dimensional plastic screen exhibiting a non-glossy visible surface and a fabric-like tactile impression", which was issued to Ahr, et al. on July 31, 1984; and in U.S. Patent No. 5,006,394"Multi-Layered Polymer Film" issued to Baird on April 9, 1991. Other tops 30 are made in accordance with U.S. Patent Nos. 4,609,518 and 4,629,643 which were issued to Curro et al. on September 2, 1986 and December 16, 1986, respectively, and both of which are incorporated herein by reference. These formed films are available from The Procter & Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio as "DRI-WEAVE" and of Tredegar Corporation of Terre Haute, Indiana as "CLIFF-T". Preferably, the topsheet 24 is made of a hydrophobic material or is treated to be hydrophobic so as to isolate the wearer's skin from the liquids contained within the absorbent core 28. If the topsheet 24 is made of a hydrophobic material, preferably at least the upper surface of the upper sheet 24 is treated to be hydrophilic in such a way that liquids will transfer through the upper sheet more quickly. This decreases the likelihood that the body exudates will flow out of the upper sheet 24 instead of being drawn through the upper sheet 24 and absorbed by the absorbent core 28. The upper sheet 24 can be made hydrophilic by treating it with an agent surfactant or incorporating a surfactant into the top sheet. Suitable methods for treating the topsheet 24 with a surfactant include spraying the top sheet material 24 with a surfactant and immersing the material in the surfactant. A more detailed discussion of this treatment and the hydrophilic capacity is contained in U.S. Patent No. 4,988,344 entitled "Absorbent articles with multi-layer absorbent layers" issued to Reising, et al. On January 29, 1991 and in the patent. No. 4,988,345 entitled "Absorbent articles with fast-absorbing absorbent cores" issued to Reising on January 29, 1991. A more detailed discussion of some suitable methods for incorporating the surfactant into the top sheet can be found in US Pat. statutory invention registration No. H1670, published on 1st. July 1997 in the of Aziz and others. Each of these references is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Any part of the topsheet 24 may be coated with a lotion as is known in the art. Examples of suitable lotions include those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,607,760 entitled "Disposable absorbent article having a lotion top sheet containing an emollient and a polyol polyester immobilizing agent" which was issued to Roe et al. March 4, 1997; U.S. Patent No. 5,609,587 entitled "Diaper having an upper sheet with lotion comprising a liquid emollient of polyol polyester and an immobilizing agent" which was issued to Roe on March 11, 1997; U.S. Patent No. 5,635,191 entitled "Diaper having a top sheet with lotion containing a polysiloxane emollient" issued to Roe et al. on June 3, 1997; and in U.S. Patent No. 5,643,588 entitled "Diaper having a top sheet with lotion", which was issued to Roe et al. on the 1st. July 1997. The topsheet may also include or be treated with antibacterial agents, some examples of which are disclosed in PCT Publication No. WO 95/24173 entitled "Absorbent articles containing antibacterial agents in the upper sheet for odor control. "which was published on September 14, 1995 in the name of Johnson. In addition, the topsheet 24, the backsheet 26, or any part of the topsheet or the backsheet may be finished in highlight and / or dull to provide a more fabric-like appearance. The absorbent core 28 may comprise any absorbent material which is generally compressible, conformable, non-irritating to the wearer's skin, and capable of absorbing and retaining liquids such as urine and other certain exudates from the body. The absorbent core 28 can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes (eg, rectangular, hourglass, "T", asymmetric, etc.) and can comprise a wide variety of liquid absorbent materials commonly used in disposable diapers and other absorbent articles such as crushed wood pulp, which is generally referred to as air felt. Examples of other absorbent materials include crushed cellulose wadding; meltblown polymers including coform; chemically hardened, modified or crosslinked cellulosic fibers, tissue, including tissue wraps and tissue laminates, absorbent foams; absorbent sponges; superabsorbent polymers; gelling absorbent materials; and any other known absorbent material or combinations of materials.

The configuration and construction of the absorbent core 28 can also be varied (e.g., the core or absorbent cores or other absorbent structure or structures may have zones of varying gauge, a hydrophilic gradient, a superabsorbent gradient, or acquisition zones with lower average density and lower average basis weight, or may comprise one or more layers or structures). However, the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core 28 must be compatible with the design load and intended use of the diaper 20. Exemplary absorbent structures for use as the absorbent assemblies are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,610,678 entitled "High Density Absorbing Structures" issued to Weisman et al. On September 9, 1986; U.S. Patent No. 4,673,402 entitled "Absorbent articles with cores in double layers" issued to Weisman et al. on June 16, 1987; U.S. Patent No. 4,834,735 entitled "High density absorbent members having acquisition zones with lower density and lower basis weight" issued to Alemany et al. on May 30, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 4,888,231 entitled "Absorbent Core Having a Dust Cap" issued to Angstadt on December 19, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 5,137,537 entitled "Absorbent structure containing crosslinked wood pulp cellulose fibers with individualized polycarboxylic acid" which was issued to Herron et al. on August 11, 1992; and in U.S. Patent No. 5,147,345 entitled "High Efficiency Absorbent Articles for Incontinence Management" issued to Young et al. on September 15, 1992; U.S. Patent No. 5,342,338 entitled "Disposable Absorbent Article for Low Viscosity Fecal Material" issued to Roe on August 30, 1994. Figure 2 illustrates a mode of the fecal management member in accordance with the present invention, generally designated by the reference number 29.

In general, the fecal management member 29 comprises a support member 120 and a plurality of fibers 118 which are woven in the support member 120 and which have portions 130 projecting from the support member 120. The member of support 120 comprises a main front surface 123 and a main rear surface 124. In the absorbent article according to the present invention, the fecal management member 29 is oriented such that the front surface 123 of the support member is facing the skin of the user. In one embodiment of the fecal management member of the present invention, the fibers project from both major surfaces of the support member. In other embodiments of the present invention, the fibers project only from a surface of the support member which can be either the front surface or the back surface. In a preferred embodiment of the fecal management member 28 of the present invention, the fibers 118 are woven into the support member at regularly spaced tissue locations 128, the fibers being oriented at least partially parallel to one another. The fabric locations 128 are preferably continuous in at least one direction along the main surface of the support member 120 such that the fabric locations 128 form continuous lines along this direction. Preferably, the fibers 118 connect at least two tissue locations 128 which are spaced apart perpendicular to the anterior direction of the continuous tissue locations. The solid lines of the fabric locations 128 can form regular patterns on the surface of the support member such that the projecting portions of the woven fibers exhibit the same regular patterns. In another equally preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fabric locations are grouped together in such a way that the woven fibers are arranged in a tufted configuration. In this case, a plume projecting from the surface of the support member may comprise ends of fibers and / or fibers connecting a plume to each other. Preferably, the tufts are arranged in a regular pattern. The portions of the fibers projecting from the support member may have different shapes. Preferably, these are arcuate, curl-shaped or post-shaped. Figure 3 illustrates a portion of fiber 180 projecting from the support member 120 connecting two woven locations 128 in an arcuate shape. The two tissue locations 128 are spaced apart along the surface of the support member and the fibers 142 exhibit a curved configuration between the two tissue locations 128. Figure 4 shows a portion of fiber 200 projecting from the support member. 120 which connects two fabric locations 178 in a curl shape. The two fabric locations 178 are in close proximity to each other, preferably to less than two fiber diameters. The fiber 142 may also touch itself at the fabric locations 178. In particular, the two tissue locations may coincide. Fiber 142 exhibits a curved configuration between the two locations of tissue. Figure 5 shows two portions of fiber 205 projecting from the pole-shaped support member into two spaced fabric locations 198, the two portions 205 being the ends of the fiber; the respective fibers 142 being woven into the support member 120. The projecting fiber portions have a generally uniform height from the support member of more than about 0.5 millimeters and preferably greater than 1.0 millimeters, the height of the fiber portions projections is at least one third, and preferably one half to one and one-half times the distance between the tissue locations, the individual fibers are less than 300 denier (preferably within the range of 15 to 30 denier) in size, and the plurality of the fibers without the support member has a basis weight within the range of 5 to 300 grams per square meter (and preferably in the range of 15 to 100 grams per square meter) measured along the first surface to provide sufficient area open between the fibers in the fiber sheet along the projecting portions (i.e., between about 10 and 90 percent open area) rta) to provide easy penetration of the fecal material into the individual fibers along the projection portions. Suitable materials for use as the support member include but are not limited to thermoplastic films, porous films, apertured films, films formed with apertures, films formed without apertures, non-woven fabrics, breathable materials, such as breathable films, including but not limited to microporous films. nonwoven webs with openings and the like. The support member is preferably a relatively thin layer having a thickness in the range of about 0.00125 to about 0.05 centimeters. The fibers may be arranged in various directions with respect to the parallel tissue locations and may or may not be joined together at the crossing points in the projection portions; they may be arranged in various directions with respect to tissue locations parallel with most of the fibers (i.e., above 80 or 90 percent) extending in directions at approximately a right angle with respect to the tissue locations; or all of the individual fibers in the fiber sheet may extend in directions generally at right angles to the generally spaced parallel tissue locations.

The fibers preferably have a hydrophilic capacity that is less than the hydrophilic capacity of the support member. In a preferred embodiment, the fibers themselves may have a hydrophilic capacity gradient wherein the portions projecting from the main front surface have a hydrophilic capacity that is less than the hydrophilic capacity of the fiber portions that are on the opposite side of the fiber. main frontal surface. Preferably, the fecal management member 29 is secured to the topsheet 24 to a very small extent to preserve the opening of the fecal management member 29 to allow easy penetration of the fecal material. More preferably, the fecal management member 29 is not secured to the topsheet 24 at all while retaining the opening of the fecal management member 29 and also allowing the topsheet 24 to separate from the fecal management member 29 by creating additional hollow space. of the disposable absorbent article. However, it is recognized that the fecal management member 29 must be secured within the diaper 20 to prevent him from moving freely therein. For this purpose, it is preferred that the fecal management member 29 be secured directly to the underlying absorbent core 28. The fecal management member 29 may be attached to the absorbent core 28 by any means of attachment known in the art. For example, the attachment means may include a continuous uniform adhesive layer, a patterned adhesive layer, or an array of separate lines, coils, or dots of adhesives. A preferred attachment means comprises a network of filaments of open-pattern adhesive as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,573,986 entitled "Disposable Garment for Containment of Waste", which was issued to Minetola et al. On March 4, 1986. Other suitable fixation means include various lines of adhesive filaments which are twisted in a spiral pattern, as illustrated by the apparatus and methods shown in United States Patent No. 3,911,173 issued to Sprague, Jr. on October 7, 1975; U.S. Patent No. 4,785,996 issued to Ziecker, and others on November 22, 1978; and in U.S. Patent No. 4,842,666 issued to Werenicz on June 27, 1989. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. The adhesives that have been found to be satisfactory are manufactured by H.B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minnesota and they are marketed as HL-1258. Alternatively, the fixing means may comprise thermal joints, pressure joints, ultrasonic joints, mechanical dynamic joints, or any other suitable means of attachment or combinations of these fixation means as are known in the art. A particularly preferred fixing means is an adhesive having a hydrophilic capacity which is greater than the hydrophilic capacity of the fiber sheet 126, more preferably a hydrophilic capacity which is also greater than the hydrophilic capacity of the support member 120. The member of Fecal management 29 is shown in Figure 1 to be positioned in the posterior waist region 38 of the diaper 20. By positioning the fecal management member 29 at least in the rear waist direction 38, the fecal management member 29 is aligned with the user's anus where it can be more effective in handling the fecal material deposited on the diaper 20. However, the fecal management member 29 can extend into the crotch region 37. The fecal management member 29 can also extend toward the front waist region 36 of the diaper 20. In some embodiments, it may also be desirable to have the fecal management member 29 extend throughout the the total longitudinal dimension of the diaper 20. In addition to placing the fecal management member 29 at least in the rear waist region 38, it is also desirable that the portion of the topsheet 24 positioned within the rear waist region 38 have a enough open area to handle low viscosity fecal material.

To be very effective in handling low viscosity fecal material, the fecal management member must have a high open structure. A key component of this equation is the height of the projection portions of the fibers from the support member. As mentioned above, the projection portions of the fibers have a generally uniform height from the support member of more than about 0.5 millimeters and preferably greater than about 1.0 millimeters. Even higher heights would provide excellent handling of low viscosity faecal material, for example, heights of 5.0 centimeters, these heights would create unwanted volume in the diaper which may cause discomfort to the wearer. Another key property of the fecal handling member of the present invention is its resistance to compression under pressure. As used herein the term "compressive strength" refers to the percentage of gauge that a fecal management member exhibits under a certain load compared to its caliber in the no-load condition. In use, the fecal management member must be able, at least partially, to maintain its opening, under the load of the user to be able to easily accept the fecal material. Preferably, the fecal handling member has a compressive strength of at least 30% under an applied pressure of 981 N / cm2, more preferably the fecal handling member has a compressive strength of at least 40% under a applied pressure of 981 N / cm2, most preferably the fecal handling member has a compressive strength of at least 50% under an applied pressure of 981 N / cm2. Another key component is the resistance of the fecal management member 29. As used herein, the term "resilience" refers to the percentage of caliber recovered after the fecal management member has been compressed under a certain load for a certain time. In order to remain open, the faecal management member must have a sufficient resilience to support the packing forces and those applied by the user. This property of the material is measured using the resilience test described in the present application. Preferably, the fecal management member has a resilience of at least 50% after 30 seconds under an applied pressure of 981 N / cm2, more preferably, the fecal handling member has a resilience of at least 75% after 30 seconds under an applied pressure of 981 N / cm2, most preferably, the fecal handling member has a resilience of at least 85% after 30 seconds under an applied pressure of 981 N / cm2. In another embodiment of the present invention, the fecal management member comprises a support structure that includes a second sheet of the support member material. The second sheet of the material of the support member adheres on the side of the layer of the support member opposite the projection fibers. The second sheet of the support member material in the support member is preferably a polymeric film. Other materials suitable for use as the second sheet of support member material include but are not limited to porous films, apertured films, films formed with apertures, films formed without apertures, nonwoven webs, breathable materials such as breathable films, including but limited, to microporous films, nonwoven webs with openings and the like. The second sheet of the support member material is preferably a relatively thin layer having a thickness in the range of about 0.00125 to 0.025 centimeters. In another embodiment of the present invention, the fecal management member comprises a support member that includes a plurality of fibers. The fibers of the support member may be arranged in various directions with respect to the parallel locations of tissue and may or may not be joined together; these may be arranged in various directions with respect to tissue locations parallel with most of the fibers in the support member (i.e., above 80 or 90 percent) extending in directions at approximately a right angle to the locations of tissue; or all of the individual fibers in the support member can extend in directions generally at right angles to the generally parallel spaced fabric locations. Preferably, the individual fibers are not joined together and are separated from one another by a distance of about 0.01 mm to about 10.0 mm. The fibers have a denier within the range of about 0-50. Figure 6 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a fecal management member 302 of the present invention. The fecal management member 302 represents one of many possible configurations for arranging the rows of the projection portions 303. Figure 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a fecal management member 304 of the present invention. The fecal management member 304 represents one of many possible configurations for arranging the rows of the projection portions 305. In addition to the configurations shown in Figures 6 and 7, other possible configurations may also be used (eg, with patterns more intricate) for the arrangement of the rows of projection portions. The diaper 20 can also comprise at least one elastic waist feature 34 that helps provide improved fit and containment. The elastic waist feature 34 is generally intended to expand and contract elastically to dynamically entangle the wearer's waist. The elastic waist feature 34 preferably extends at least longitudinally outward from at least one waist edge 62 of the absorbent core 28 and generally forms at least a portion of the end edge 52 of the diaper 20. The disposable diapers are a often constructed to have two elastic waist characteristics, one placed in the first waist region 36 and one positioned in the second waist region 38. In addition, although the waist elastic feature 34 or any of its constituent elements may comprise one or more separate elements attached to the diaper 20, the elastic waist feature 34 can be constructed as an extension of other diaper elements 20, such as the back sheet 26, the top sheet 24, or both the back sheet 26 and the top sheet 24. elastic waist feature 34 can be constructed in a number of different configurations including those described as in U.S. Patent No. 4,515,595 issued to Kievit et al. on May 7, 1985; U.S. Patent No. 4,710,189 issued to Lash on the 1st. December 1987; U.S. Patent No. 5,151,092 issued to Buell on September 9, 1992; and in U.S. Patent No. 5,221,274 issued to Buell on June 22, 1993. Other suitable waist configurations may include the waist covering feature such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,026,364 issued to Robertson on June 25, 1991 and in U.S. Patent No. 4,816,025 issued to Foreman on March 28, 1989. All of the aforementioned references are incorporated herein by reference. The diaper 20 can also include a fastening system 40. The fastening system 40 preferably holds the first waist region 36 and the second waist region 38 in a lapped configuration to provide lateral stresses around the circumference of the diaper 20, to retain the diaper on the user. The fastening system 40 preferably comprises tape tabs and / or clip and hook fastening components, although other known fastening means are generally acceptable. Some of the exemplary fastening systems are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,848,594 entitled "Disposable diaper tape fastening system" issued to Buell on November 19, 1974; U.S. Patent No. 4,662,875 entitled "Absorbing Article" issued to Hirotsu et al. on May 5, 1987; U.S. Patent No. 4,846,815 entitled "Disposable diaper having an improved fastening device" issued to Scripps on July 11, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 4,894,060 entitled "Disposable diaper • with improved hook fastener portion "issued to Nestegard on January 16, 1990; United States Patent No. 4,946,527 entitled" Pressure sensitive adhesive fastener and method for making same "issued to Battrell on August 7, 1990 , and the aforementioned US patent No. 5,515,192 issued to Buell on September 9, 1992, and in United States Patent No. 5,221, 274 issued to Buell on June 22, 1993. The fastening system may also provide a means to maintain the article in a waste configuration as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,963,140 issued to Robertson and others on April 16, 1993. October 1990. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. The diaper 20 may also comprise side panels 30. The side panels 30 may be elastic or extensible to provide a more comfortable and contoured fit by initially initially comfortably fitting the diaper 20 to the wearer and holding this adjustment throughout the entire time of use. after it has • loaded diaper 20 with exudates, since the elasticized side panels 30 allow that the sides of the diaper 20 expand and contract. The side panels 30 can also provide more effective application of the diaper 20 because even if the diaper user pulls an elasticized side panel 30 farther than the other during the application, the diaper 20 will "self-adjust" during use. Although the diaper 20 of the present invention preferably has the side panels 30 disposed in the second waist region 38, the diaper 20 can be provided with side panels 30 disposed in the first waist region 36 or in both of the first waist region 36 and the second waist region 38. side panels 30 can be constructed in any of the appropriate configurations. Examples of diapers with elasticized side panels are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,857,067 entitled "Disposable diaper having gathered ears" • issued to Wood et al. On August 15, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 4,381,781 issued to Sciaraffa, and others on May 3, 1983; U.S. Patent No. 4,938,753 issued to Van Gompel et al. on July 3, 1990; the above-referenced U.S. Patent No. 5,151,092 issued to Buell on September 9, 1992; and in United States Patent No. 5,221, 274 issued to Buell on June 22, 1993; U.S. Patent No. 5,669,897 issued to LaVon, and others on September 23, 1997 entitled "Absorbent articles that provide sustained dynamic notch"; in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 155,048 entitled "Absorbent article with extensible side panels in multiple directions" filed November 19, 1993 in the name of Robles, and others; each of which are incorporated herein by reference. The diaper 20 preferably further includes leg cuffs 32 which provide improved containment of liquids and other exudates from the body. Leg folds can also be referred to as leg bands, fins • Lateral, barrier folds, or elastic folds. The patent of the United States No. 3,860,003 discloses a disposable diaper that provides a collapsible opening for the leg having a side flap and one or more elastic members to provide an elastified fold for the leg (a fold of gasket). U.S. Patent Nos. 4,808,178 and 4,909,803 issued to Aziz et al. On February 28, 1989 and March 20, 1990, respectively, describe disposable diapers having elastified fins "upright" (barrier folds) that improve the containment of the leg regions. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,695,278 and 4,795,454 issued to Lawson on September 22, 1987 and to Dragoo on January 3, 1989., respectively, describe disposable diapers having double folds, including packing folds and barrier folds. The modality of the diaper 20 of the present invention can be applied to a wearer by placing one of the waist regions, preferably the rear waist region 38, under the wearer's back and pulling the rest of the diaper 20 between the wearer's legs. The other waist region, preferably the waist front region 36 is placed across the front of the wearer. The person placing the diaper then wraps the side panels 30 around the wearer such that the waist front region 36 and the waist rear region 38 are in an overlapping configuration. The side panels 30 will typically be extended and tensioned during this operation to conform to the size and shape of the user. The fastening system 40 is secured to effect a lateral closure. Although the particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, attempts are made to protect all these changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention in the appended claims.

Claims (18)

1. A disposable absorbent article comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a backsheet attached to the topsheet; and a fecal management member positioned between the top sheet and the back sheet, characterized in that the fecal management member comprises a support member and a plurality of fibers, said fibers being woven on the support member, and said fibers having portions that project from the support member.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein portions of the fiber project from only one sue of the support member.

3. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the portions of the fiber projecting from the support member are arcuate in shape.

4. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the portions of the fiber projecting from the support member are loop-shaped.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the portions of the fiber projecting from the support member are horn-shaped.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, further comprising an absorbent core positioned between the fecal management member and the posterior sheet.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the support member is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of fibers, a porous film, a breathable material, a breathable film, a non-woven weft, a weft nonwoven with openings, strips of non-woven material, a sheet of loop material, apertured films, films formed with -i apertures, thermoplastic film strips, a thermal fusion material, or strips of thermal melting material.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the fiber portions projecting from the support member have a height from the support member of at least 0.5 mm.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein the fiber portions projecting from the support member have a height from the support member of at least 1.0 mm.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the fecal handling member has a resilience of at least 85% after 30 seconds under an applied load of 981 N / cm2.

11. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the fecal handling member has a compression resistance of at least 30% under an applied load of 981 N / cm2.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the faecal handling member has a basis weight of between 20 grams per square meter and 500 grams per square meter.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, further comprising a second support member attached to the support member opposite the plurality of fibers.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the fibers have a hydrophilic capacity that is less than the hydrophilic capacity of the support member.

15. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the faecal management member is secured to the absorbent core with an adhesive having a hydrophilic capacity that is greater than the hydrophilic capacity of the fiber sheet.

16. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the fecal management member is not secured to the topsheet.

The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the diaper has a posterior waist region, and a waist front region, the fecal management member positioned in at least the rear waist region of the absorbent article. disposable.

18. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the faecal management member has at least a first region and a second region, said portions of fiber projecting from the support member in said first region having a height from the support member that is less than the height of the support members. portions of fiber projecting from the support member in said second region.