ABSORBENT ARTICLE WITH SYSTEM FOR AGGREGATING AND ISOLATING FECES

Abstract

Disclosed is an absorbent article absorbing and housing human excrements and urine, the absorbent article being wearable by an incontinent subject and adapted to absorb urine. The absorbent article includes, in its structure at the height of its central portion, a composition with variable grain size with clay and thickening polymer base, the composition compacting and neutralizing the bacterial action of feces, the absorbent article also having a tray-like housing adapted to house feces, the composition able to found on the internal surfaces of the housing and being coated with a suitable film of biocompatible material capable of being dissolved in contact with feces at the inlet into the housing, the composition compacting and neutralizing the feces present in the housing, the latter also being provided with a closure system with superimposed tabs which allows the entrance of the feces via gravity within the housing.

Claims

1. Absorbent article adapted for absorbing and housing human excrements and urine, said absorbent article being wearable by an incontinent subject and comprising the common characteristics that can be found in absorbent articles such as diapers adapted to absorb urine, said absorbent article comprising, in the absorbent article's structure at the height of the absorbent article's central portion, a composition with variable grain size with clay and thickening polymer base, said composition compacting and neutralizing the bacterial action of the feces, said absorbent article also having a self-expandable tray-like housing that is adapted to house the feces, said composition able to be found on the internal surfaces of said housing and being coated with a suitable film of biocompatible material capable of being dissolved in contact with the feces at the inlet into said housing, said composition compacting and neutralizing the feces present in said housing, the housing also being provided with a closure system with superimposed tabs which allows the entrance of the feces via gravity within said housing.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said film of biocompatible material, capable of being dissolved when the film of biocompatible material is in contact with the feces, is attained with a substance selected from the group constituted by: polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid or salts thereof, alginic acid, sodium alginate, calcium alginate or other alginate salts or similar substances capable of being dissolved in contact with the feces or with other moist products, and wherein said clay-based composition comprises silica; aluminum; calcium; potassium; iron; magnesium; sodium; manganese; phosphorus.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the composition with clay base comprises silica at 49.6% by weight; calcium at 8% by weight; iron at 5% by weight; potassium at 4.0% by weight; magnesium at 2.4% by weight; sodium at 0.2% by weight; manganese at 0.2% by weight; phosphorus at 0.14% by weight.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the tabs is provided, on an edge of the at least one tab, with a cord that when pulled from the outside ensures that the tab is positioned in a closed configuration if the entrance of the feces into the tray prevented the repositioning thereof in said closed configuration.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the tray-like housing is provided with a closure system comprising a plurality of superimposed tabs having a gradual extension increasing from top to bottom, said configuration of the tabs allowing said tabs and those above to be, following the passage of the feces, spontaneously repositioned into their initial closed configuration, ensuring the closure of said tray-like housing due to at least the closure of the first tabs which are situated directly in contact with the skin and ensuring the isolation of the feces in the tray.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the tabs have, on at least their surface directed towards the skin of the wearer of said absorbent article, an oily and biocompatible substance which facilitates the entrance of the feces into the tray via sliding, without the feces being able to contaminate the surface of the same tabs and consequently the skin of the wearer who comes into contact therewith.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein within the tray-like housing, at least one sensor is present for detecting occult blood, pH, salinity, urea, glucose.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein on the bottom of the tray-like housing, an absorbent fluff is also present which is specific for the absorption of excess liquids which reach the absorbent fluff via percolation.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the clay-based composition has variable grain size with one part fine and micrometric, for a greater feces aggregating and compacting power, and one part coarser, on the order of a millimeter, in order to facilitate the dispersion of the same within the feces, said composition having an overall weight comprised between 150 g and 350 g, said composition being coated with the film connected by means of sewing to the internal surfaces of said housing.

10. The absorbent article according to claim 9, wherein the content of the clay-based composition varies from 150 g to 200 g, said absorbent article being a diaper for children.

11. The absorbent article according to claim 9, wherein the content of the clay-based composition varies from 300 g to 350 g, said absorbent article being a diaper for elderly people or incontinent adults.

12. The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the tabs is provided, on an edge of the at least one tab, with a cord that when pulled from the outside ensures that the tab is positioned in a closed configuration if the entrance of the feces into the tray prevented the repositioning thereof in said closed configuration.

13. The absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the tabs is provided, on an edge of the at least one tab, with a cord that when pulled from the outside ensures that the tab is positioned in a closed configuration if the entrance of the feces into the tray prevented the repositioning thereof in said closed configuration.

14. The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the tray-like housing is provided with a closure system comprising a plurality of superimposed tabs having a gradual extension increasing from top to bottom, said configuration of the tabs allowing said tabs and those above to be, following the passage of the feces, spontaneously repositioned into their initial closed configuration, ensuring the closure of said tray-like housing due to at least the closure of the first tabs which are situated directly in contact with the skin and ensuring the isolation of the feces in the tray.

15. The absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein the tray-like housing is provided with a closure system comprising a plurality of superimposed tabs having a gradual extension increasing from top to bottom, said configuration of the tabs allowing said tabs and those above to be, following the passage of the feces, spontaneously repositioned into their initial closed configuration, ensuring the closure of said tray-like housing due to at least the closure of the first tabs which are situated directly in contact with the skin and ensuring the isolation of the feces in the tray.

16. The absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein the tray-like housing is provided with a closure system comprising a plurality of superimposed tabs having a gradual extension increasing from top to bottom, said configuration of the tabs allowing said tabs and those above to be, following the passage of the feces, spontaneously repositioned into their initial closed configuration, ensuring the closure of said tray-like housing due to at least the closure of the first tabs which are situated directly in contact with the skin and ensuring the isolation of the feces in the tray.

17. The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the tabs have, on at least their surface directed towards the skin of the wearer of said absorbent article, an oily and biocompatible substance which facilitates the entrance of the feces into the tray via sliding, without the feces being able to contaminate the surface of the same tabs and consequently the skin of the wearer who comes into contact therewith.

18. The absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein the tabs have, on at least their surface directed towards the skin of the wearer of said absorbent article, an oily and biocompatible substance which facilitates the entrance of the feces into the tray via sliding, without the feces being able to contaminate the surface of the same tabs and consequently the skin of the wearer who comes into contact therewith.

19. The absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein the tabs have, on at least their surface directed towards the skin of the wearer of said absorbent article, an oily and biocompatible substance which facilitates the entrance of the feces into the tray via sliding, without the feces being able to contaminate the surface of the same tabs and consequently the skin of the wearer who comes into contact therewith.

20. The absorbent article according to claim 5, wherein the tabs have, on at least their surface directed towards the skin of the wearer of said absorbent article, an oily and biocompatible substance which facilitates the entrance of the feces into the tray via sliding, without the feces being able to contaminate the surface of the same tabs and consequently the skin of the wearer who comes into contact therewith.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention, object of the present description, will be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to the enclosed figures in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the absorbent article 1 represented by a diaper. The figure in question shows the presence of the tray-like housing 2 adapted to house the feces of the wearer of said absorbent article. Also observable is the closure system with superimposed tabs 3 with which said housing 2 is equipped.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the absorbent article 1 according to the present invention in a particular embodiment thereof. More in detail the figure in question shows that said absorbent article 1 has a tray-like housing 2 comprising a closure system provided with a plurality of superimposed tabs 3 which have an increasing extension from top to bottom. Such arrangement of the tabs allows ensuring the closure of the housing 2 following the passage of the feces and the isolation of the latter in the tray, so as to prevent the skin of the wearer from contacting the feces, with possible onset of infection risk.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the absorbent article 1 in closed configuration, i.e. when worn (FIG. 3(a)) and in open configuration (FIG. 3(b)). The figures in question in particular intend to indicate the presence of the clay-based composition 5 within the tray-like housing 2 and the presence of the film 4, made of biocompatible material, adapted to cover said composition which coats the internal surfaces 2′ of said housing and which is such to be dissolved when it is in contact with the moist fraction of the entering feces.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the absorbent article 1 in a further embodiment thereof according to the present invention. More in detail the figure in question shows that said absorbent article can comprise a cord 6 that can be found on at least one of the tabs 3 at the height of its edge 3′, adapted to ensure, when tensioned, the closure of the housing 2 following the entrance therein of the feces of the diaper wearer. Also indicated is the presence of sensors 7 for detecting occult blood, pH, salinity, urea, glucose, and an absorbent fluff 8, which can be found on the bottom of the tray-like housing 2, specific for the absorption of excess liquids which reach it via percolation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] In all its embodiments, the object of the present description is an absorbent article 1, by way of a non-limiting example a diaper for children, which in addition to offering all the advantages already offered by the commercially-available diapers in ergonomic terms and for capacity of absorbing the physiological liquids, typically urine, is also able to protect the skin from the risk of onset of infections determined by bacterial proliferation, caused by the contact of the skin with the feces possibly housed in the diaper.

[0031] More in detail the absorbent article 1 according to the present invention is capable of isolating and compacting, in its structure, the possibly present feces, also neutralizing the potential bacterial action thereof, causing the possibility of onset of infection risk. All of this by preventing the feces from constantly contacting the skin of the wearer, typically of the child, up until the diaper is changed.

[0032] Still more in detail, the present absorbent article 1 is characterized by the presence in its structure of a particular combination of a known substance with compacting and neutralizing action against the feces, with a structural characteristic of the present absorbent article itself. Specifically, said absorbent article 1 is characterized in all embodiments thereof in that it has, in its structure, a preferably self-expandable tray-like housing 2 in which a clay-based composition is present, coated with a suitable film made of biopolymer material which is dissolved in contact with the feces at the inlet into said tray, allowing the exit of said composition which can thus carry out its neutralizing action within the tray in which the feces, being neutralized, remain isolated.

[0033] More specifically, the absorbent article 1 in its preferred embodiment is a diaper for children which, in addition to having the structure and absorbing properties common to the latest commercially-available diapers, comprises in its structure, at the height of its central portion, a self-expandable tray-like housing 2 provided on the upper part with a system with superimposed tabs 3 which allows the entrance of the feces via gravity within said housing 2. The latter has, on its internal walls 2′, a film 4 of biocompatible material adapted to contain a pre-established quantity of a clay-based composition 5 which coats said internal walls 2′ of said housing 2. Such composition, thickening and clay-based, has variable grain size and further comprises thickening polymers. Said film 4 made of biocompatible material can be made of polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid or salts thereof, alginic acid, sodium alginate, calcium alginate or other alginate salts or similar substances capable of being dissolved in contact with the feces or with other substantially moist products. In particular, solid feces, with their liquid component, once within the tray come into contact with and are covered by the film 4 of biocompatible polymer material which is dissolved on their surface. Once said film 4 has been dissolved, the feces come in contact with the clay composition 5 which, by mechanical action due to the effect of gravity, is mixed with the feces present in the tray, causing the thickening and the hardening thereof. The closure of the tabs occurs automatically following the passage of the feces into the tray, thus ensuring that the skin of the wearer is protected against the risk of contacting the feces.

[0034] As repeated multiple times during in the course of the present description, the absorbent article 1 according to the present invention allows: thickening and hardening the feces and neutralizing the bacterial action thereof; and preventing the direct contact of the feces with the skin of the wearer, since once present the feces are confined and isolated within the tray-like housing 2.

[0035] In order to optimize the closure mechanism of the system of superimposed tabs 3 from which the feces enter into the tray, some embodiments according to the present invention provide that the absorbent article 1 is provided with a tray-like housing 2 with a closure system with superimposed tabs in which at least one of said tabs 3 is provided on its edge 3′ with a cord 6 that, when pulled from the outside, ensures that the tab is positioned in closed configuration, if the entrance of the feces into the tray prevented the repositioning thereof in said closed configuration.

[0036] For the same purpose, a further embodiment according to the present invention provides that said absorbent article 1 is provided with a tray-like housing 2 comprising a closure system provided with a plurality of superimposed tabs 3 having a gradual extension increasing from top to bottom. Such embodiment allows said tabs and in particular the upper tabs, i.e. those directly in contact with the skin of the wearer, having a smaller extension with respect to those of the underlying tabs, following the passage of the feces, to be spontaneously repositioned in their initial configuration, with a movement that otherwise tends to decrease as the extension of said lower tabs increases. All this with the result of ensuring that the closure of the tray-like housing 2 is assured, due to at least the closure of the first tabs 3 which are situated directly in contact with the skin. It follows that the feces remain isolated in the tray.

[0037] Further embodiments according to the present invention provide that, independent of the number, profile and spatial arrangement of the tabs 3, the latter are made—at least on their upper surface, or on the surface directed towards the skin of the wearer—of a material with little porosity, which instead has a sufficiently smooth surface preferably covered with an oily biocompatible substance that facilitates via sliding the entrance of the feces into the tray, without the latter being able to contaminate the surface of the same tabs and consequently the skin of the wearer who is in contact therewith.

[0038] It is also in the interest of the Applicant to specify that the composition 5 present in the absorbent article 1 according to the present invention can, by way of a non-limiting example, comprise: silica; aluminum; calcium; potassium iron; magnesium; sodium; manganese; phosphorus. Preferably said composition 5 comprises: silica at 49.6% by weight; calcium at 8% by weight; iron at 5% by weight; potassium at 4.0% by weight; magnesium at 2.4% by weight; sodium at 0.2% by weight; manganese at 0.2% by weight; phosphorus at 0.14% by weight.

[0039] The film coating said composition, self-dissolving following its contact with the feces at the inlet into the tray-like housing 2, is obtained by way of a non-limiting example by dissolving, in water, polyvinyl alcohol with molecular weight equal to 100,000 at a concentration of 10% by weight. The solution is stirred up to obtaining a uniform solution, poured within a container with flat base and dehydrated at the temperature of 40° C. in the presence of desiccant salt.

[0040] The final dehydrated film thus obtained, detached from its support, can then be easily connected, by way of a non-limiting example by means of sewing, on the internal walls 2′ of the housing.

[0041] In all embodiments thereof, the clay composition of the absorbent article 1 according to the present invention can have variable grain size with one part fine, even micrometric, for a greater aggregating power and one part coarser, even on the order of a millimeter, in order to facilitate the dispersion of the same within the feces. The total weight of said composition is, by way of a non-limiting example, comprised between 150 g and 350 g. Typically for diapers usable by children, the content of said composition varies from 150 g to 200 g while for those usable by elderly people, or in general by adults with problems of incontinence, the content of said composition varies from 300 g to 350 g.

[0042] Further embodiments according to the present invention provide that, within the tray-like housing 2, there is at least one sensor 7 for detecting occult blood, pH, salinity, urea, glucose. On the bottom of the same tray, an absorbent fluff 8 specific for the absorption of excess liquids, which reach it via percolation, can also be present in this embodiment as in all the embodiments according to the present invention.