ABSORBENT PAD WITH ELASTIC ELEMENTS

Abstract

An absorbent pad having first and second longitudinal pad side edge. The absorbent pad includes a fluid permeable topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core. The absorbent core has first and second longitudinal side edges. The absorbent core in its longitudinal direction has a front portion, a rear portion and an intermediate portion located between the front portion and the rear portion, the front portion, the rear portion and the intermediate portion being of equal lengths. An elastic element is disposed between the fluid permeable topsheet and the backsheet outside of the respective longitudinal core side edges. A width of the absorbent core in the front portion and the intermediate portion varies no more than 25 mm along a length of the absorbent core. The respective elastic elements each extends along at least a part of the front portion and over at least 30% of the intermediate portion.

Claims

1. An absorbent pad having first and second longitudinal pad side edges and front and rear pad end edges, and comprising a fluid permeable topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core including a first core layer being located between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent core having first and second longitudinal side edges and front and rear end edges, the absorbent core in its longitudinal direction having a front portion, a rear portion and an intermediate portion located between the front portion and the rear portion, the front portion, the rear portion and the intermediate portion being of equal lengths, wherein an elastic element is disposed between the fluid permeable topsheet and the backsheet outside of the respective longitudinal core side edges, wherein a width of the absorbent core in front portion and intermediate portion varies no more than 25 mm along a length of the absorbent core extending in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core, and wherein the respective elastic elements each extends along at least a part of the front portion and over at least 30% of the intermediate portion.

2. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent pad has an interspace free from absorbent material located between the respective elastic elements and the absorbent core.

3. The absorbent pad according to claim 2, wherein the topsheet is attached directly to the backsheet in the interspace free from absorbent material located between the respective elastic elements and the absorbent core.

4. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein the front end of each elastic element is coinciding or being adjacent the respective longitudinal core side edge.

5. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein a width of the first core layer arranged in the front portion and in the intermediate portion of the absorbent core varies 20 mm or less along a length of the first core layer extending in the longitudinal direction.

6. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent core comprises a second core layer located between the topsheet and the backsheet.

7. The absorbent pad according to claim 6, wherein the second core layer extends in at least a part of the front portion and the intermediate portion of the absorbent core and wherein the second core layer has a length which is shorter than a length of the first core layer.

8. The absorbent pad according to claim 6, wherein the respective elastic elements extend laterally outboard a widest portion, as seen in a transverse direction, of the second core layer arranged in the front portion of the absorbent core.

9. The absorbent pad according to claim 6, wherein a width of the second core layer varies less than 25 mm along a length of the second core layer.

10. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein each of the areas outside of the respective longitudinal core side edges in the rear portion of the absorbent core and between the topsheet and the backsheet are free from elastic elements.

11. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent core in the area arranged between the elastic elements has a thickness of 4 mm or more, the thickness measurement being made at a load of 0.5 kPa with a 5.0×5.0 cm square plate.

12. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein the elastic elements each has an extension in the longitudinal direction of from 20% to 50% of the total length of the absorbent core, as measured when the elastic elements is in a relaxed condition.

13. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein the length in the longitudinal direction between the front end edge of respective elastic element and the front end edge of the absorbent core may be not more than 66% of the total length of the front portion of the absorbent core.

14. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein a front end edge of the respective elastic elements is located not more than 20 mm further away from the front end edge of the absorbent core compared to a front end edge of the second core layer, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent core.

15. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein the backsheet is provided with adhesive means on a garment-facing side thereof.

16. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent pad is an over-night pad.

17. The absorbent pad according to claim 1, wherein the topsheet is printed in a printed central absorption zone arranged over the front portion, the rear portion and the intermediate portion of the absorbent core, the printed central absorption zone provided with a first printed pattern comprising first print elements.

18. The absorbent pad according claim 17, wherein the printed central absorption zone is enclosed by a printed contour line(s) following the contour of the central absorption zone.

19. The absorbent pad according claim 17, wherein the printed central absorption zone has a varying transverse width with a portion arranged in a transition area between the front portion and the intermediate portion, of the absorbent core being narrower than the transversal width of the rest of the printed central absorption zone and wherein the transverse width in the most narrow section is from 50% to 80% of a widest section of the absorbent core.

20. The absorbent pad according to claim 17, wherein the topsheet comprises a printed peripheral security zone arranged at least over the rear portion of the absorbent core, the printed peripheral security zone being provided with a second printed pattern comprising second print elements and wherein a degree of coverage of the second printed pattern is at least 30% greater than a degree of coverage of the first printed pattern.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] The present invention will be further explained hereinafter by means of non-limiting examples and with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of an absorbent pad as disclosed herein, and

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view an absorbent pad provided with a printed pattern as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The invention will be described more closely below by reference to an exemplary embodiment. The invention may however be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth in the drawings and the description thereto.

[0051] FIG. 1 schematically shows an absorbent pad 1 according to the present disclosure. The absorbent pad 1 has first and second longitudinal pad side edges 2,3 and front and rear pad end edges 4,5. The absorbent pad 1 comprises a fluid permeable topsheet 6, a backsheet 7 and an absorbent core 8 including a first core layer 18 being located between the topsheet 6 and the backsheet 7. The absorbent core 8 has a first and a second longitudinal side edge 8a,8b and a front and a rear end edge 8c,8d. The absorbent core 8 has in its longitudinal direction L a front portion 9, a rear portion 10 and an intermediate portion 11 located between the front portion 9 and the rear portion 10. The front portion 9, the rear portion and the intermediate portion 11 are of equal lengths, i.e., each representing ⅓ of the length of the absorbent core. Outside each respective longitudinal core side edges 8a,8b the absorbent pad 1 is provided with elastic elements 12,13. The elastic elements 12,13 are disposed between the fluid permeable topsheet 6 and the backsheet 7.

[0052] The absorbent core 8 furthermore includes a second core layer 28 located between the topsheet 6 and the first core layer 18. The second core layer 28 has a smaller surface area than the first core layer 18 and the second core layer 28 has a length which is shorter than the length of the first core layer 18 and a first and a second longitudinal side edge of the second core layer 28 are provided laterally inwards of the respective first and second longitudinal side edges 8a,8b of the absorbent core 8.

[0053] The absorbent core 8 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a slightly curved shape, but a width w of the absorbent core 8 in the front portion 9 and the intermediate portion varies no more than 25 mm, such as not more than 10 mm, along a length l of the absorbent core 8 extending in the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent core 8. This means that a widest width of the absorbent core is not more than 25 mm, optionally 10 mm, wider than the narrowest width of the absorbent core, as measured in a transverse direction T of the absorbent pad 1. As the contour of the first core layer 18 corresponds to the contour of the absorbent core 8, the first core layer 18 has a slightly curved shape with a width w.sub.1 not varying more than 25 mm, such as not more than 10 mm, along a length l of the first core layer 18 extending in the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent core 8. The second core layer 28 also has a width w.sub.2 which does not vary more than 25 mm, such as not more than 10 mm, along a length l of the first core layer 18 extending in the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent core 8. The width w.sub.2 of the second core layer 28 may vary less than the width w.sub.1 of the first core layer 18, such than not more than 5 mm along a length l of the second core layer 28 extending in the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent core 8.

[0054] The topsheet 6 may include or consist of fibrous nonwoven layer(s) being spunbonded, meltblown, carded, hydroentangled, wetlaid etc. Suitable nonwoven materials can be composed of natural fibers, such as wood pulp or cotton fibres, synthetic thermoplastic fibres, such as polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides and blends and combinations thereof or from a mixture of natural and synthetic fibres. The materials suited as topsheet materials should be soft and non-irritating to the skin and be readily penetrated by body fluid, such as urine or menstrual fluid. The topsheet material may essentially consist of synthetic thermoplastic fibers, such as polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides and blends and combinations thereof. The synthetic fibers may be monocomponent fibers, bicomponent fibers or multicomponent fibers including polyesters, polyamides and/or polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene.

[0055] The absorbent core 8 may be of any conventional kind. Examples of commonly occurring absorbent materials are cellulosic fluff pulp, tissue layers, highly absorbent polymers (so called superabsorbents), absorbent foam materials, absorbent nonwoven materials or the like. It is common to combine cellulosic fluff pulp with superabsorbents in an absorbent structure. It is also common to have absorbent structures comprising layers of different material with different properties with respect to liquid acquisition capacity, liquid distribution capacity and storage capacity. Components for improving various properties of the absorbent core can also form part of the absorbent core. Examples of such component are binding fibers, various types of fluid-dispersing layers or fibers, dimensionally stabilising component, reinforcing fibers or like. This is well-known to the person skilled in the art and does therefore not have to be described in detail. The thin absorbent bodies, which are common in today's sanitary articles, often, comprise a compressed mixed or layered structure of cellulosic fluff pulp and superabsorbent. The size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent structure may be varied to be suited for different uses such as sanitary articles, panty liners, adult incontinence pads and diapers, baby diapers, pant diapers, etc.

[0056] The backsheet 7 may consist of a thin plastic film, e.g., a polyethylene or polypropylene film, a nonwoven material coated with a liquid impervious material, a hydrophobic nonwoven material, which resists liquid penetration. Laminates of plastic films and nonwoven materials may also be used. The backsheet material can be breathable so as to allow vapor to escape from the absorbent structure, while still preventing liquids from passing through the backsheet material.

[0057] The elastic elements 12,13 can consist of one or more elastic threads, elastic ribbon, elastic film and/or elastic foam.

[0058] As may be seen in the figure, the respective elastic elements 12,13 each extends along at least a part of the front portion 9 and over at least 30% of the intermediate portion 10, such as in this figure almost 90% of the intermediate portion 10, leaving a portion along the intermediate portion of the absorbent core closest to the rear end edge of the absorbent pad free from elastic elements 12,13. The elastic elements 12,13 are arranged at a distance from the longitudinal side edges 8a,8b of the absorbent core 8, such that there is an interspace free from absorbent material located between the absorbent core 8 and the elastic elements 12,13. The elastic elements 12,13 furthermore extend laterally outboard a widest portion in the front portion 9, as seen in a transverse direction T, of the second core layer (28).

[0059] FIG. 2 illustrates the absorbent pad 1 from FIG. 1 but with a topsheet 6 which is printed with a first printing pattern 15 and a second printing pattern 20. Topsheet 6 may include one or several layers and may also include a so-called acquisition layer. The print may be provided on any of these layers. The topsheet 6 is printed with a first printed pattern 15 in a printed central absorption zone 14 extending over the front portion 9, the rear portion 10 and the intermediate portion 11 of the absorbent core 8. The printed central absorption zone 14 is provided with a first printed pattern 15 comprising first print elements 16, here in the form of dots. The central absorption zone 14 is enclosed by printed contour lines 17 following the contour of the central absorption zone 14. The printed contour lines 17 includes a contour line rear section 17a enclosing a rear transverse end of the central absorption zone 14 and having contour line rear section first and second legs 17b,17c extending at each side of the central absorption zone 14 in the longitudinal direction (L) toward the front end edge 8c of the absorbent core 8. In FIG. 2 the contour line rear section 17a has the shape of a modified W-shaped contour line rear section 17a where at the portion coinciding with a centre line C has a concave part, as seen from the rear end edge 5 and towards the front end edge 4 of the absorbent pad 1. However, contour line rear section 17a may alternatively have a U-shape, modified U-shape or a W-shape. The printed concave part of the contour line rear section 17a has been found to provide indication to the user as to which part of the absorbent pad 1 is the rear part and which part is the front part of the absorbent pad. The printed contour lines 17 further comprises a first and a second intermediate printed contour line 17d,17e extending in the longitudinal direction L on a respective side of the printed central absorption zone 14 and over the front portion 9, the intermediate portion 11 and the rear portion 10 of the absorbent core 8. As illustrated in the figure, the first and the second intermediate printed contour line 17d,17e each has a curved shape following the shape of the central absorption zone 14. The first and the second intermediate printed contour line 17d,17e has a respective first and second front end portion 17f,17g and a respective first and the second rear end portions 17h,17i. The first and the second rear end portions 17h,17i of the first and the second intermediate printed contour line 17d,17e are arranged inwardly of and overlapping with the respective contour line rear section first and second legs 17b,17c, as seen in the transverse direction T.

[0060] In FIG. 2, the printed contour lines 17 further include a U-shaped contour line front section 17j enclosing a front transverse end of the central absorption zone 14 and having contour line front section first and second legs 17k,17l extending at each side of the central absorption zone 14 in the longitudinal direction (L) toward the rear end edge 8d of the absorbent core 8. The first and the second front end portions 17f,17g of the first and the second intermediate printed contour line 17d,17e are arranged inwardly of and overlapping with the respective contour line front section first and second legs 17k,17l, as seen in the transverse direction T.

[0061] The printed central absorption zone 14 has a varying transverse width w.sub.p with a narrow portion of the printed central absorption zone 14 arranged over a part of the topsheet being arranged above the transition zone between the absorbent core front portion 9 and the absorbent core intermediate portion 11, i.e., in a rear section of the front portion 9, or alternatively in a front section of the intermediate portion 11. The narrow portion being narrower than the transversal width w.sub.p of the rest of the printed central absorption zone 14 and wherein the transverse width w.sub.p in the most narrow section is from 50% to 80% of a widest section of the absorbent core 8.

[0062] The topsheet 6 is furthermore provided with a printed peripheral security zone 19 provided around the printed central absorption zone 14 and over the front portion 9, the intermediate portion 11 and the rear portion 10 of the absorbent core 8. The printed peripheral security zone 19 comprises a second printed pattern 20 comprising second print elements 21, here in the form of a floral pattern. A degree of coverage of the second printed pattern 20 is at least 30% greater than a degree of coverage of the first printed pattern 15.