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US5037409A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Absorbent article having a hydrophilic flow-modulating layer

Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1990-07-12
•
Granted: 1991-08-06
•
Expires: 2010-07-12
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Abstract

Abstract An absorbent article including an absorbent body capable of absorbing a liquid and a flow-modulating layer in liquid communication with the absorbent body. The flow-modulating layer is formed from hydrophilic meltblown fibers having an average diameter of from about 20 to about 60 microns. The flow-modulating layer has an average pore size of from about 90 to about 300 microns and a basis weight of from about 50 to about 600 grams per square meter. The average pore size of the absorbent body is less than the average pore size of the flow-modulating layer. The flow-modulating layer is capable of rapidly receiving multiple liquid insults and distributing the liquid in its X-Y plane prior to said liquid being absorbed by the absorbent body.

Inventors

  • 👤 Franklin M. C. Chen
  • 👤 Andrew E. Huntoon
  • 👤 Duane G. Uitenbroek
  • 👤 Anthony J. Wisneski

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 19:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/53; A61F13/534; A61F13/537; A61F13/5376; A61F13/51; A61F13/511; A61F13/15203; A61F2013/15284; A61F2013/15406; A61F2013/15414; A61F2013/15447; A61F2013/15487; A61F2013/15495; A61F13/514; A61F13/51401; A61F2013/51409; A61F2013/530007; A61F13/53708; A61F2013/53721; A61F2013/53795; A61F13/84; A61F2013/8488; A61F2013/8491

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 138 words
An absorbent article, said article comprising: an absorbent body capable of absorbing a liquid, said absorbent body having an average pore size therein; a liquid-permeable body-side liner superposed in facing relation with said absorbent body; and a fibrous flow-modulating layer for modulating the flow of said liquid, said flow-modulating layer being in liquid communication with said absorbent body, being located between said absorbent body and said body-side liner and consisting essentially of hydrophilic meltblown fibers having an average diameter of from about 20 to about 60 microns, said flow-modulating layer having an average pore size of from about 90 to about 300 microns and a basis weight of from about 50 to about 600 grams per square meter, wherein the average pore size of said absorbent body is less than the average pore size of said flow-modulating layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 138 words
An absorbent article, said article comprising: an absorbent body capable of absorbing a liquid, said absorbent body having an average pore size therein; a liquid-permeable body-side liner superposed in facing relation with said absorbent body; and a fibrous flow-modulating layer for modulating the flow of said liquid, said flow-modulating layer being in liquid communication with said absorbent body, being located between said absorbent body and said body-side liner and consisting essentially of hydrophilic meltblown fibers having an average diameter of from about 20 to about 60 microns, said flow-modulating layer having an average pore size of from about 90 to about 300 microns and a basis weight of from about 50 to about 600 grams per square meter, wherein the average pore size of said absorbent body is less than the average pore size of said flow-modulating layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
The absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein said hydrophilic meltblown fiber is formed from a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic nylon copolymers, polyolefins having a nonfugitive hydrophilic surface treatment thereon and polyesters having a nonfugitive hydrophilic surface treatment thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The absorbent article according to claim 2 wherein said nylon copolymer is a block copolymer comprising a nylon moiety and a hydrophilizing polymeric moiety.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
The absorbent article according to claim 3 wherein said nylon copolymer is a block copolymer comprising poly(pentamethylene carbonamide) and polyethylene oxide diamine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The absorbent article according to claim 3 wherein said hydrophilizing polymeric moiety comprises polyethylene oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein said absorbent body comprises wood pulp fluff and a high-absorbency material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The absorbent article according to claim 6 wherein said absorbent body has a density within the range of from about 0.05 to about 0.3.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein said hydrophilic meltblown fiber has a contact angle of water in air of less than about 10 degrees.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
The absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein said flow-modulating layer has a basis weight of from about 100 to about 400 grams per square meter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
The absorbent article according to claim 9 wherein said hydrophilic meltblown fibers have an average diameter within the range of from about 40 to about 60 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
The absorbent article according to claim 10 wherein said flow-modulating layer has an average thickness within the range of from about 0.02 to about 0.24.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 25 words
The absorbent article according to claim 11 wherein said hydrophilic meltblown fiber is formed from a block copolymer comprising poly(pentamethylene carbonamide) and polyethylene oxide diamine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
The absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein said flow-modulating layer has a fluid distribution standard deviation value of less than about 1.0.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 21 words
The absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein said flow-modulating layer has a fluid residual value of less than about 10.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 127 words
An absorbent article, said article comprising: an absorbent body capable of absorbing a liquid, said absorbent body having an average pore size therein; and a fibrous flow-modulating layer for modulating the flow of said liquid, said flow-modulating layer being in liquid communication with said absorbent body and consisting essentially of hydrophilic meltblown fibers having an average diameter of from about 20 to about 60 microns, said flow-modulating layer having an average pore size of from about 90 to about 300 microns, and a basis weight of from about 50 to about 600 grams per square meter, an average thickness of from about 0.02 to about 0.24 inch wherein the average pore size of said absorbent body is less than the average pore size of said flow-modulating layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 127 words
An absorbent article, said article comprising: an absorbent body capable of absorbing a liquid, said absorbent body having an average pore size therein; and a fibrous flow-modulating layer for modulating the flow of said liquid, said flow-modulating layer being in liquid communication with said absorbent body and consisting essentially of hydrophilic meltblown fibers having an average diameter of from about 20 to about 60 microns, said flow-modulating layer having an average pore size of from about 90 to about 300 microns, and a basis weight of from about 50 to about 600 grams per square meter, an average thickness of from about 0.02 to about 0.24 inch wherein the average pore size of said absorbent body is less than the average pore size of said flow-modulating layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 44 words
The absorbent article according to claim 15 wherein said hydrophilic meltblown fiber is formed from a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic nylon copolymers, polyolefins having a nonfugitive hydrophilic surface treatment thereon, and polyesters having a nonfugitive hydrophilic surface treatment thereon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 25 words
The absorbent article according to claim 16 wherein said hydrophilic nylon copolymer is a block copolymer comprising a nylon moiety and a hydrophilizing polymeric moiety.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 22 words
The absorbent article according to claim 17 wherein said nylon copolymer is a block copolymer comprising poly(pentamethylene carbonamide) and polyethylene oxide diamine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 16 words
The absorbent article according to claim 17 wherein said hydrophilizing polymeric moiety comprises a polyethylene oxide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 19 words
The absorbent article according to claim 15 wherein said absorbent body comprises wood pulp fluff and a high-absorbency material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 24 words
The absorbent article according to claim 20 wherein said absorbent body has a density within the range of from about 0.05 to about 0.3.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 25 words
The absorbent article according to claim 15 wherein said hydrophilic fiber has a contact angle of water in air of less than about 10 degrees.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 26 words
The absorbent article according to claim 15 wherein said flow-modulating layer has a basis weight of from about 100 to about 400 grams per square meter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 27 words
The absorbent article according to claim 23 wherein said hydrophilic meltblown fibers have an average diameter within the range of from about 40 to about 60 microns.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 25 words
The absorbent article according to claim 24 wherein said flow-modulating layer has an average thickness within the range of from about 0.02 to about 0.24.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 26 words
The absorbent article according to claim 25 wherein said hydrophilic meltblown fiber is formed from a block copolymer formed from poly(pentamethylene carbonamide) and polyethylene oxide diamine.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 23 words
The absorbent article according to claim 15 wherein said flow-modulating layer has a fluid distribution standard deviation value of less than about 1.0.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 21 words
The absorbent article according to claim 15 wherein said flow-modulating layer has a fluid residual value of less than about 10.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-08-05 1995-02-04 1995-08-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-08-05 1999-02-04 1999-08-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-08-05 2003-02-04 2003-08-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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