FASTENING TAB

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved fastening tabs, in particular to fastening tabs for disposable absorbent articles such as diapers or sanitary napkins.

Claims

1. A fastening tab comprising: a substrate having at least one fastening region, the at least one fastening region comprising one or more patches of a fastening material attached to the substrate, each of the patches comprising a plurality of fastening elements, and one or more exposed areas therein and/or in between the one or more patches of fastening material, the one or more exposed areas being free of fastening material; and a first adhesive provided on the substrate adjacent to the at least one fastening region; wherein the first adhesive has a first tackiness and the one or more exposed areas of the at least one fastening region have a second tackiness, said second tackiness being lower than the first tackiness.

2. The tab of claim 1, wherein the one or more patches of fastening material are attached to the substrate by a second adhesive.

3. The tab of claim 2, wherein the one or more exposed areas expose the second adhesive and wherein the second tackiness is the tackiness of the second adhesive after attachment of the one or more patches of fastening material to the substrate

4. The tab of claim 2, wherein the second adhesive comprises one or a combination of the following materials: a hot melt adhesive, a contact adhesive, a latent-reactive adhesive, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

5. The tab of claim 2, wherein the second adhesive is selected from a group of adhesives having a 90 peel adhesion to a smooth polyethylene test surface of less than 2 N/inch, in particular less than 1.5 N/inch, more particularly less than 1 N/inch as measured according to ASTM D3330, method F using a roll-down weight of 5,000 g and where the polyethylene test surface has an average surface roughness value R.sub.a of about 1.4 m.

6. The tab of claim 1, wherein the first tackiness has a tack value equal to or greater than 0.6 N/mm.sup.2, in particular equal to or greater than 0.8 N/mm.sup.2, and more particularly equal to or greater than 1.0 N/mm.sup.2, as determined in accordance with ASTM D 2979, where probe has an diameter of 0.8 mm, and where the following conditions were used: separation rate 1 mm/min; dwell time 1 second; contact pressure 1950 kPa; and temperature and relative humidity 23 C. and 50%, respectively.

7. The tab of claim 6, wherein the first tackiness has a tack value equal to or less than 3 N/mm.sup.2, in particular equal to or less than 2.5 N/mm.sup.2, more particularly equal to or less than 2 N/mm.sup.2, and most particularly equal to or less than 1.8 N/mm.sup.2.

8. The tab of claim 1, wherein the second tackiness has a tack value less than 0.6 N/mm.sup.2, in particular equal to or less than 0.5 N/mm.sup.2, and more particularly equal to or less than 0.4 N/mm.sup.2, as determined in accordance with ASTM D 2979, where probe has an diameter of 0.8 mm, and where the following conditions were used: separation rate 1 mm/min; dwell time 1 second; contact pressure 1950 kPa ; and temperature and relative humidity 23 C. and 50%, respectively

9. The tab of claim 8, wherein the second tackiness has a tack value equal to 0 (zero) N/mm.sup.2.

10. The tab of claim 1, wherein the first adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

11. The tab of claim 1, wherein the first adhesive is selected from a group of adhesives having a 90 peel adhesion to a smooth polyethylene test surface equal to or greater than 1 N/inch, in particular equal to or greater than 1.5 N/inch, more particularly equal to or greater than 2 N/inch as measured according to ASTM D3330, method F using a roll-down weight of 5,000 g and where the polyethylene test surface has an average surface roughness value R.sub.a of about 1.4 m.

12. The tab of claim 11, wherein the first adhesive selected from a group of adhesives having a 90 peel adhesion to a smooth polyethylene test surface equal to or less than 10 N/inch, in particular equal to or less than 9 N/inch, and more particularly equal to or less than 8 N/inch.

13. The tab of claim 1, wherein the tab has a manufacturer's end and an opposite user's end and wherein the at least one fastening region and the first adhesive is provided in the user's end.

14. The tab of claim 13, wherein the first adhesive is provided adjacent to the at least one fastening region towards and/or away from the manufacturer's end.

15. The tab of claim 13, wherein the outermost end of the user's end is provided with a finger lift.

16. The tab of claim 15, wherein the first adhesive is provided between the at least one fastening region and the finger lift.

17. The tab of claim 1, wherein the first adhesive is provided directly adjacent to at least one of the one or more patches of fastening material.

18. The tab of claim 1, wherein the one or more exposed areas are discrete areas.

19. The tab of claim 1, wherein the one or more patches of fastening material are interconnected, in particular wherein the one or more patches of fastening material form a reticulated mechanical fastener comprising multiple strands of fastening material attached and/or integral to each other at bridging regions of fastening material.

20. The tab of claim 1, wherein the one or more patches of fastening material comprise discrete patches, in particular discrete stripes of fastening material.

21. The tab of claim 1, wherein the tab comprises two or more fastening regions.

22. A tape comprising a plurality of fastening tabs according to claim 1, wherein the fastening tabs are arranged either individually or in endless form on the tape in a cross section so that individual tabs can be cut from the fastening tape.

23. A tape according to claim 22, wherein the tape is provided in the form of a roll.

24. An absorbent article comprising at least one fastening tab according to claim 1.

25. The absorbent article according to claim 24, wherein the absorbent article further comprises a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core and wherein the at least one fastening tab is affixed to the top-sheet and/or the back-sheet.

26. The absorbent article according to claim 24, wherein the absorbent article is disposable, in particular the absorbent article is a diaper, incontinence brief, or a sanitary napkin.

Description

[0022] Further preferred features are elucidated with reference to preferred embodiments which are shown in the following figures, which show:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section of an exemplary embodiment of a fastening tab according to the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross section of another exemplary embodiment of a fastening tab according to the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an exemplary tape including fastening tabs of the type shown in FIG. 1 in an endless form;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic, partial cross section of an absorbent article, in particular a diaper, including two fastening tabs of the type shown in FIG. 1 attached to portions thereof, in particular to ears of the diaper;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a schematic, top view of the fastening tab embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a schematic, top view of the fastening tab embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

[0029] FIG. 7 is a schematic, top view of a further exemplary embodiment of a fastening tab according to the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 8 is a schematic, top view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a fastening tab according to the present invention; and

[0031] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of another exemplary tape including fastening tabs of the type shown in FIG. 7 in an endless form; and

[0032] FIG. 10 is a schematic, top view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a fastening tab according to the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section of an exemplary embodiment of a fastening tab according to the present invention, while FIG. 5 shows a top view of the embodiment. The fastening tab 1 comprises a substrate 2 having a fastening region 3. The fastening region 3 comprises four patches 4 of a fastening material attached to the substrate 2 by means of a second adhesive 8. Each of the patches 4 comprises a plurality of fastening elements 5 (only two of which are shown for clarity purposes). The fastening region 3 further comprises three exposed areas 6 in between the four patches 4 of fastening material. These three exposed areas 6 are free of fastening material. The fastening tab 1 further comprises a first adhesive 7 provided on the substrate 2 adjacent to the fastening region 3. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the first adhesive 7 is provided directly adjacent to one of the four patches 4 of fastening material. The first adhesive 7 has a first tackiness. The exposed areas 6, in particular the second adhesive 8, has a second tackiness, wherein the second tackiness is lower than the first tackiness.

[0034] As can be appreciated from the fastening tab 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, typically fastening tabs have a manufacturer's end 15 e.g. for attaching the fastening tab to a disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper, and an opposite user's end 16 e.g. for fastening and de-fastening the tab by the user. As can be appreciated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the fastening region 3 and the first adhesive 7 are located in the user's end. The outermost portion of the user's end being may be configured and arranged to include a finger lift 9 to facilitate handling of the user's end by the user in particular making it easier to grip the tab while fastening and de-fastening it. Desirably the finger lift 9 is free of fastening material and adhesive. It will be appreciated that a finger lift does not, however, necessarily need to be provided, and accordingly in such alternative embodiments, the illustrated fastening region may extend to the outermost end of the user's end.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the first adhesive 7 is provided directly adjacent to the fastening region 3 on the side of the fastening region 3 towards the manufacturer's end of the tab. However, the first adhesive 7 may also be provided on the opposite side of the fastening region 3, i.e. the side that faces away from the manufacturer's end of the fastening tab. Such an exemplary embodiment is shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, where FIG. 2 provides a schematic cross-sectional view and FIG. 6 a top view. In FIGS. 2 and 6, it will be noted that the first adhesive 7 is positioned adjacent to the fastening region 3 distant to the manufacturer's end; in particular the first adhesive 7 is positioned between the fastening region 3 and the finger lift 9. In further preferred embodiments, the first adhesive may be favourably provided adjacent to both sides of the fastening region, i.e. adjacent to the side towards the manufacturer's end as well as to the side away from the manufacturer's end.

[0036] FIGS. 7 and 8 provide schematic top views of two more exemplary embodiments of fastening tabs according to the present invention. Similar to the previous illustrated embodiments, the fastening tabs 1 comprise a substrate 2 having a fastening region 3 with an first adhesive 7 provided adjacent to the fastening region and with the one or more patches 4 of fastening material being attached to the substrate 2 by means of a second adhesive 8. Here the one or more patches of fastening material is desirably provided in the form of a reticulated mechanical fastener comprising multiple strands of fastening materials attached and/or integral to each other at bridging regions of fastening material. In the illustrated embodiment, it can be seen that the strands are desirably integral to one another, so that the embodiment strictly speaking includes a single integral patch, wherein due to its open double-diamond form exposed areas 6 are provided therein. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first adhesive 7 may be provided adjacent to the fastening region 3 towards or away from the manufacturer's end, or alternatively first adhesive may be provided on both sides of the fastening region. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be seen that the first adhesive 7 is provided as a linear strip so that there may be exposed areas provided between the first adhesive 7 and the outward facing edge of the patch 4 towards the first adhesive. In alternative embodiments the first adhesive may be provided such that it follows the form of the outward facing edge of the patch towards the first adhesive or alternatively the patch may be provided with continuous linear outward facing edge, so that there are no exposed areas between the first adhesive and said edge of the patch.

[0037] From the exemplary embodiments provided herein and the discussion thereof, the person skilled in the art will readily understand that the patches of fastening material, the exposed areas and the first adhesive may be provided in different shapes. As mentioned above, patches of fastening material need not be discrete but may be interconnected. Strip-like patches may have varying cross sections or may be arranged in zig-zag patterns. In addition rather than providing stripes or interconnected or integral strands of fastening material, fastening tabs may also comprise a plurality of individual spots, which are preferably circular, of fastening material.

[0038] In other favourable embodiments, two or more fastening regions may be provided. For example, FIG. 10 provides a schematic top view of such an exemplary embodiment of a fastening tab 3. The fastening tab 1 comprises a substrate 2 with two fastening regions 3 with patches 4 of fastening material being attached to the substrate 2 by means of a second adhesive 8. In the illustrated embodiment, it can be seen that each fastening region has a single open diamond patch an exposed area 6 therein. First adhesive 7 is provided adjacent to each side of the fastening regions, so that the tab includes three linear strips of first adhesive as well as exposed areas between the strips and respective edges of the patches. Similar to that mentioned above, in alternative embodiments, the first adhesive may be provided such that it follows the form the edges of the patches which are facing towards the first adhesive or alternatively the edges of the patches which are facing towards the first adhesive may be configured as linear edges, so that there are no exposed areas between the first adhesive and said edges of the patches.

[0039] The substrate of fastening tabs described herein may be selected from a variety of films or sheetings including single-layered and multi-layered films, co-extended films, laterally laminated films or films comprising film layers. The layers of such films or sheetings may comprise various materials such as, for example, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyolefin copolymers or blends of polyolefins such as, for example, a blend of polypropylene, low density polyethylene and/or linear low density polyethylene, textiles, and non-woven and foamed materials. The thickness of the substrate is preferably between 30 microns and 500 microns, and more preferably between 40 and 150 microns. The base weight of the substrate is preferably between 15 and 500 g/m.sup.2, more preferably between 20 and 300 g/m.sup.2 and particularly preferably between 20 and 200 g/m.sup.2.

[0040] Substantially any thermoplastic materials suitable for film production can be used to produce the one or more patches of fastening material. Preferred thermoplastic resins include polyesters, such as poly (ethylene terephthalate); polyamides, such as nylon; poly (styreneacrylonitrile); poly (acrylonitrilebutadienestyrene);), polyolefins, such as polypropylene; and plasticized polyvinylchloride.

[0041] The plurality of fastening elements preferably have a hook shape and usually comprise a stem supported by the exposed major surface of a patch of fastening material and an enlarged section which is positioned at the end of the stem opposite to the exposed major surface. The fastening elements can also be formed by stem having no enlarged section at the end of the stem, wherein such stems are preferably essentially conical, cylindrical or pyramidal. Fastening elements suitable in the present invention can be manufactured from a wide range of materials including thermoplastic polymers such as, for example, nylon, polyester, polyolefins or any combination of these. The fastening elements preferably comprise the material of which the patch of fastening material is formed. The fastening elements may comprise male fastening elements, in particular male fastening elements selected from the group consisting of hook fasteners, mushroom-shaped fasteners, stem-shaped fasteners, cup-shaped fasteners, T-shaped fasteners and mixtures thereof. The height of the fastening elements may range from 0.1 to 0.4 mm.

[0042] The present invention further relates to a tape comprising a plurality of fastening tabs as described above. Exemplary embodiments of such tapes are shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, both favourably provided in the form of a roll. FIG. 3 provides a schematic perspective view of an fastening tape 10 including fastening tabs of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, while FIG. 9 provides a schematic perspective view of an fastening tape 10 including fastening tabs of the type shown in FIG. 7. Desirably the fastening tabs are arranged in endless form on the tape 10 so that individual tabs can be cut from the fastening tape. Alternatively, the fastening tabs may be arranged individually on the tape for example spaced from each other along the machine direction.

[0043] FIG. 4 provides a schematic, partial cross section of an absorbent article including two fastening tabs of the type shown in FIG. 1 attached to portions of the article. In particular FIG. 4 provides cross section of a back portion of a diaper 11 across for example the two ear portions of the diaper. Although not shown in FIG. 4, absorbent articles in particular disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers and sanitary napkins, typically comprise a top sheet, a back sheet and an absorbent core. The top sheet is typically made of a nonwoven. As shown in FIG. 4, the fastening tabs 1 are affixed at their manufacturer's end to one side, normally the outer side, in particular to the back-sheet 13 of the diaper. The attachment can be achieved for example through a third adhesive 12 or any other suitable means. The fastening tabs 1 are typically folded over so that the user's end faces the opposite side, normally the inner side, in particular to the top-sheet 14 of the diaper 11 and the tabs are releasably attached to inner side, e.g. top sheet 14 via the first adhesive 7. In order to use the fastening tabs, a user may then detach the user's ends from the inner side (e.g. top sheet) for example by lifting the finger lifts 9, whereby the fastening elements 5 of the patches 4 of fastening material may then be fastened to a corresponding complementary engaging material (e.g. loop material) provided at the front portion of the diaper, e.g., on a landing zone. Since the tackiness of the exposed areas of the fastening regions of the tabs is lower than the tackiness of the first adhesive, an attachment of the exposed areas of the fastening regions to the inner side (e.g. the top sheet) of the diaper is minimized or avoided, which in turn minimizes or avoids damage to the inner side (e.g. the top sheet) of the diaper portion, as well as prevents blocking of the fastening material by delaminated material or fibers upon detachment of the user's ends from the inner side of the diaper for use. Furthermore damage to the inner side may be additionally minimized by favourably selecting the first adhesive to facilitate anti-flagging properties in conjunction with an absorbent article while at the same minimizing or avoiding damage to the underlying material of the absorbent article.