SCA issued US patent for shaped absorbent article; patent filed on Nov. 20, 2007

Nevin Barich

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia , June 26, 2014 (Gastroenterology Week) – A patent by the inventors Bergstrom, Maria Gustin (Halso, SE); Hakansson, Carin (Billdal, SE); Hallerod, Paulina (Goteborg, SE), filed on November 20, 2007, was published online on June 17, 2014, according to news reporting originating from Alexandria, Virginia, by NewsRx correspondents (see also SCA Hygiene Products AB).

Patent number 8754286 is assigned to SCA Hygiene Products AB (Goteborg, SE).

The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: "Disposable absorbent articles such as diapers, sanitary napkins, incontinence guards and panty liners are used to absorb and manage bodily exudates such as urine, menses or faces. They can be manufactured so as to adopt a particular shape in use. Such shaped articles can provide improved security against leakage, as their form matches that of the wearer when in use.

"For example, WO 97/17920 and GB 2 289 419 describe disposable liquid-absorbent articles in which pre-stressed curved elastic members are applied across the absorbent body. The elastic members deform the article in use to form a basin-type shape.

"GB 2 289 417 describes an absorbent article having elastic means extending along the entire length of the article which define an outwardly convex curved path on either side of the longitudinal axis, so that the article adopts a bowl shape in use. GB 2 095 561 describes a disposable diaper having elastic strips 34, 36. A portion of each elastic strip overlies, and is bonded to, the pad.

"WO97/17920 describes an absorbent article (e.g. incontinence guard) which has two or more curved elastic members arranged so as to provide the article with a bowl-shape. SE 520 411 shows an absorbent article (e.g. incontinence guard) having elastic threads above the core and elastic threads in the seams. U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,988 illustrates an absorbent article which has elastic material located under both the core and the seams. U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,344 discloses an absorbent article with multiple layers.

"Absorbent articles which adopt a particular shape in use may provide improved fit, yet may also have problems handling large amounts of bodily waste, or rapid insults of bodily waste. There remains a need for improved absorbent articles which are designed to adopt a particular shape in use, said shape being able to receive, distribute and store large amounts of bodily waste rapidly and effectively. It is also advantageous that such absorbent articles can be manufactured in a simple, adaptable, cost-effective way."

In addition to the background information obtained for this patent, NewsRx journalists also obtained the inventors' summary information for this patent: "The invention provides an absorbent core for an absorbent article. The absorbent core extends in the length (Y), width (X) and thickness (Z) directions. The absorbent core comprises an upper absorbent core and a lower absorbent core. The upper core has an extension in the X-direction which is greater than that of the lower absorbent core in at least a region thereof.

"An acquisition layer is located between said upper and said lower absorbent cores in the thickness (Z) direction, in at least said region, said acquisition layer having an extension in the X-direction which is less than that of the upper core in at least said region. The upper absorbent core comprises an opening located in at least said region, such that the opening in the upper absorbent core overlies both the acquisition layer and the lower absorbent core.

"The upper core comprises fold indications which have their greatest extension substantially in the length direction (Y) and which are located between the opening and the edges of the upper core in the width direction (X) of the core.

"The structure of the absorbent core allows it to adopt a 'double-bowl' shape when subject to compression in the width (X) direction. The double-bowl shape is adopted at least in the region. This double-bowl shape is able to receive, distribute and store large amounts of bodily waste rapidly and effectively.

"The opening in the upper core is suitably located in the centre of the upper core in the width (X) direction.

"The absorbent core according to the invention may additionally comprise a resilient forming element which underlies at least the opening in the upper absorbent core. The forming element is preferably located between the acquisition layer and the lower absorbent core. At least in the said region, the forming element has an extension in the width (X) direction which is less than the extension in the width (X) direction of the upper absorbent core, and the extension in the width (X) direction of the lower absorbent core.

"Applying pressure to the core in the width (X) direction causes it to adopt a double-bowl shape--a first bowl (A) which is defined by the curvature of the upper core and a second smaller bowl (B) contained within the first bowl (A) which is defined by the opening in the upper core.

"The present invention also provides an absorbent article comprising the absorbent core of the invention, said absorbent article extending in the length (Y), width (X) and thickness (Z) directions. The absorbent article typically comprises a liquid-permeable topsheet and a liquid-impermeable backsheet. The liquid-permeable topsheet and liquid-impermeable backsheet may extend beyond the absorbent core in at least the width (X) direction and be joined to one another in the area outside the absorbent core to form an edge-seam.

"The absorbent article may additionally comprise two elastic members, each elastic member having a major extension in the length (Y) direction of the article and a minor extension in the width (X) direction of the article. Each elastic member extends along one longitudinal edge of the upper absorbent core such that--along a major portion of the extension of the elastic members in the length (Y) direction--the elastic members overlie both the upper absorbent core and the edge-seam in the width (X) direction.

"The elastic members can overlie both the upper absorbent core and the edge-seam in the width (X) direction along substantially their entire extension in the length (Y) direction. he elastic members are preferably located on the wearer-facing side of the upper core. The elastic members may overlie both the upper absorbent core and the edge-seam to a substantially equal extent in the width (X) direction.

"Definitions

"The term 'upper', when used in reference to a component of the present invention is used to describe components which lie closer to the wearer's body when in use. Similarly, the term 'lower' when used in reference to a component of the present invention is used to describe components which lie further from the wearer's body when in use.

"Within the context of the present invention, the term 'disposable' is used to describe an article which is not intended to be cleaned or reused, but is rather discarded after use."

URL and more information on this patent, see: Bergstrom, Maria Gustin; Hakansson, Carin; Hallerod, Paulina. Shaped Absorbent Article. U.S. Patent Number 8754286, filed November 20, 2007, and published online on June 17, 2014. Patent URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=8754286.PN.&OS=PN/8754286RS=PN/8754286

Keywords for this news article include: Urology, Gastroenterology, SCA Hygiene Products AB.

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