Top sheet with side barrier structures and pant-type absorbent article having same

Abstract

The utility model discloses a top piece with a side barrier structure, which comprises a middle area, a side barrier structure and a top piece, wherein the middle area is positioned in the middle of the top piece and has a middle area width measured along the side direction; a first side barrier region and a second side barrier region, where the barrier regions each have at least one flow expanding portion arranged continuously in the longitudinal direction and having a width of 1 to 3 mm, where the first and second side barrier regions each have a side barrier region width measured in the lateral direction, which together with the intermediate region width forms the width of the topsheet; wherein the intermediate zone width is designed to be 20 to 80% of the topsheet width. The utility model further relates to a pants-type absorption product with the pants-type absorption structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present utility model relates to the field of disposable sanitary products, and in particular to a topsheet with a side barrier structure having ideal side leakage prevention performance and a panty-shaped absorbent article having the topsheet. Background Art

[0002] Products such as absorbent articles are often used to collect and retain body exudates including, for example, urine, menses, and / or blood. Comfort, absorbency, and discretion are three main product attributes and areas of concern for the wearers of such products. Specifically, wearers are typically interested in knowing that such products will absorb large amounts of body exudates with minimal leakage so as not to soil their underwear, outerwear, or bed sheets, and that such products will help them avoid the subsequent embarrassment associated with soiling.

[0003] Currently, there are a variety of products for absorbing body exudates in the form of feminine pads, sanitary napkins, pantiliners, underwear liners, incontinence garments, diapers, training pants, adolescent pants, swim pants, and the like. These products typically have an absorbent core positioned between a liquid-permeable topsheet facing the body and a liquid-impermeable backsheet layer facing the clothing. The edges of the topsheet and the backsheet layer are often bonded together at their perimeters to form a seal, thereby containing the absorbent core and body exudates received into the product through the topsheet.

[0004] Since wearers expect to experience a reduced sense of wetness in the product during long-term use (for skin health reasons as well as body comfort), manufacturers have explored many technical methods to address these sensations after the product becomes soiled. Manufacturers have attempted to reduce the initial sense of wetness as well as the persistent "rewetting" sensation. Specifically, manufacturers have chemically enhanced the topsheet and specifically designed a separate topsheet for reducing wetness (and rewetting) to provide a topsheet with hydrophobic properties. In this regard, a hydrophobic topsheet can help the absorbent product exhibit a persistent dry feeling on the skin contact surface of the product. However, the ability of such chemically enhanced hydrophobic topsheets to rapidly and widely divert body exudates from the body to the internal absorbent core is unsatisfactory. When a wearer excretes a large amount of body exudates in a short period of time or when the wearer excretes body exudates during side lying or turning over, such topsheets often cannot fully absorb the body exudates, resulting in uncontrolled outflow of the body exudates from both sides of the topsheet and thus leakage.

[0005] To address such leakage, manufacturers of absorbent articles typically incorporate additional side barrier structures to provide fluid leakage protection. Such leakage protection is designed to prevent body fluids such as urine, feces, or menses from overflowing or passing through the lateral side edges of the article and thus contaminating the user's underwear, outerwear, or bedding. Conventional side barrier structures may include additional layers or structures (which provide a raised platform above the plane of the absorbent core layer within the article) for physically blocking the flow of fluid across the lateral side edges of the article.

[0006] Such wall-like structures can effectively reduce or eliminate side leakage, but require the cost of additional layers and complex manufacturing methods for cutting and / or positioning the structure on the article backsheet body. Additionally, such wall-like structures have side edges that are parallel to each other and interfere with user comfort, and do not conform to the inner thigh region (crotch) of the user during use.

[0007] Accordingly, there has been a continuing need in the art to provide a topsheet having a better side barrier function to have improved side leakage prevention performance, better wearer comfort, and to meet the performance requirements of pant-type absorbent articles in a low-cost and easily manufacturable manner. Summary of the Utility Model

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present utility model to provide a topsheet with a side barrier structure, thereby at least partially overcoming the disadvantages of the above prior art.

[0009] To achieve the above object, the present utility model provides a topsheet with a side barrier structure, which is adapted to be laminated above the absorbent core of an absorbent article and has a first surface on the side facing the wearer that can directly contact the wearer's body and a second surface on the opposite side that abuts against the absorbent core on the side facing the clothing. Wherein, the topsheet includes: an intermediate zone located in the middle of the topsheet, which is designed to be chemically enhanced to have hydrophilic properties, and the intermediate zone has an intermediate zone width measured in the lateral direction; a first side barrier zone and a second side barrier zone, which are designed to be located on both sides of the intermediate zone along the lateral direction of the pant-type absorbent article and extend side by side with the intermediate zone in the longitudinal direction. Each of these barrier zones has at least one flow expansion portion continuously provided in the longitudinal direction and having a width of 1 to 3 millimeters. The flow expansion portion is provided at a certain distance above the intermediate zone and is designed to guide and diffuse the body effluent from the intermediate zone in the longitudinal direction. The first side barrier zone and the second side barrier zone each have a side barrier zone width measured in the lateral direction, which together with the intermediate zone width forms the width of the topsheet; wherein the intermediate zone width is designed to be 20% to 80% of the topsheet width.

[0010] Accordingly, the utility model is provided with a first side barrier zone and a second side barrier zone on both sides of the middle zone, each of which is provided with a flow expansion part continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction. When an excessive amount of body effluent flows to the surface of the middle zone of the topsheet that has been hydrophilized, the flow expansion parts continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction on both sides are used to guide and disperse the body effluent with good fluidity and low flow viscosity. At least the following beneficial technical effects can be achieved according to the utility model: it has improved side leakage prevention performance, better wearer comfort, and can meet the performance requirements of the pant-shaped absorbent article in a low-cost and easy-to-manufacture manner.

[0011] As a preferred aspect, the distance by which the flow expansion part protrudes above the middle zone is designed to be 2 to 5 millimeters.

[0012] As a preferred aspect, the flow expansion part is designed to be a continuous corrugated shape that repeats periodically along the longitudinal direction and has a peak part protruding towards the middle zone and a valley part extending away from the middle zone. The distance between the peak part and the associated valley part in the lateral direction is designed to be at least 1 millimeter. Thus, with the collection effect of the valley part, more body effluent is dispersed along the longitudinal direction instead of being concentrated in a limited area or part (which makes it easy for the body effluent to leak laterally). As a result, the body effluent will be guided and dispersed into a region that significantly increases along the longitudinal direction and infiltrates from the middle and both sides of the topsheet to the absorbent core located directly below the topsheet, enabling the absorbent core to fully absorb the infiltrated liquid.

[0013] As a preferred aspect, there are more than three flow expansion parts arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other, and these flow expansion parts have the same wave shape and period, and the distance between these flow expansion parts is designed to be 3 to 10 millimeters.

[0014] As a preferred aspect, it further includes diversion ports arranged in columns between two flow expansion parts spaced apart from each other. The diameter of these diversion ports is designed to be not less than 1 millimeter and is arranged in the same wave shape and period as the flow expansion parts.

[0015] As a preferred aspect, the flow expansion part is designed to be chemically enhanced to have hydrophilic characteristics.

[0016] As a preferred aspect, the middle zone is provided with a plurality of liquid permeable openings for forming channels penetrating from the first surface to the second surface of the topsheet. The area of the liquid permeable openings is designed to be 0.8 to 1.5 square millimeters, and the percentage of the opening area of the middle zone is between 10% and 80%.

[0017] As a preferred aspect, the topsheet is designed to be constructed of a nonwoven web with a basis weight ranging from 10 gsm to 60 gsm.

[0018] The present utility model also relates to a panty-shaped absorbent article which extends in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction and comprises: a front panel which defines a front panel leg edge longitudinally inwardly spaced from the front waist end edge and laterally opposite first and second front panel side edges; a back panel which defines a back panel leg edge longitudinally inwardly spaced from the back waist end edge and laterally opposite first and second back panel side edges; a topsheet located on the body-facing side; a liquid-impermeable barrier layer located on the garment-facing side; an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the barrier layer; wherein the topsheet is the above-mentioned topsheet.

[0019] As a preferred aspect, the absorbent article may further comprise at least one front leg elastic member disposed adjacent to the front panel leg edge in the front panel and / or at least one back leg elastic member disposed adjacent to the back panel leg edge in the back panel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 A top plan view of the absorbent article according to the present utility model in a flat and open state is shown in line drawing;

[0021] Figure 2 A plan view of the topsheet of the panty-shaped absorbent article according to the present utility model is shown in enlarged drawing;

[0022] Figure 3 Further shown in enlarged drawing is Figure 2 a plan view of the surface pattern of the topsheet in

[0023] Figure 4 Further shown in enlarged drawing is Figure 3 a plan view of the surface pattern of the topsheet in

[0024] Reference numerals repeated in this specification and the drawings are intended to denote the same or similar elements of the present utility model.

[0025] DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0026] 20 - absorbent article; 21 - article length; 22 - lateral direction; 23 - longitudinal direction;

[0027] 24 - central longitudinal axis; 25 - central lateral axis;

[0028] 30 - front zone; 32 - front waist end edge; 34 - back zone; 36 - front waist end edge;

[0029] 38 - crotch zone; 39 - crotch side edge; 40 - front panel; 41 - back panel; 44 - front panel leg edge; 45 - back panel leg edge; 46, 48 - front panel side edges; 47, 49 - back panel side edges;

[0030] 50-absorbent composite structure; 51-length of the absorbent composite structure; 52-barrier layer; 53-width of the absorbent composite structure; 54-absorbent core;

[0031] 55-top sheet; 56-crotch elastic member; 61-absorbent core length; 63-absorbent core width; 70-front leg elastic member;

[0032] 71-first front leg elastic member;

[0033] 75- rear leg elastic member; 76- first rear leg elastic member;

[0034] 77 - second rear leg elastic member; 55A - middle area; 55B1 - first side barrier area;

[0035] 55B2 - second side barrier area; 551 - expansion portion; 551A - peak portion;

[0036] 551B-trough; 552-liquid permeable port; 553-diversion port;

[0037] D1-top sheet width; D2-middle area width; D3-side barrier area width;

[0038] d-the distance between the expansion parts; r-the diameter of the guide port DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Those skilled in the art will understand that the following detailed description is merely illustrative of exemplary embodiments and is not intended to limit the broader aspects of the present disclosure.

[0040] Term Definition

[0041] "Disposable," with respect to absorbent articles, means absorbent articles that are not generally intended to be laundered or otherwise restored or reused as absorbent articles (i.e., they are intended to be discarded after a single use and preferably can be recycled, composted, or otherwise disposed of in an environmentally compatible manner).

[0042] "Absorbent article" or "absorbent garment" as used herein refers to an article that can be placed against or in proximity to the wearer's body (i.e., adjacent to the body) to absorb and contain various liquid, solid, and semi-solid exudates discharged from the body. Such absorbent articles, as described herein, are intended to be discarded after a limited period of use rather than being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse. It should be understood that the present disclosure is applicable to a variety of disposable absorbent articles, including but not limited to diapers, diapers, training pants, swim pants, incontinence products, absorbent feminine care products, etc., without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0043] As used in the present invention, the terms "non-woven" or "non-woven fabric" generally refer to a web having a structure of individual fibers or yarns as a sandwich layer, but not in a distinguishable manner such as a knitted fabric. Examples of suitable non-woven or non-woven fabrics or webs include, but are not limited to, meltblown webs, spunbond webs, bonded-carded webs, airlaid webs, coform webs, hydroentangled webs, and the like.

[0044] As used herein, the term "spunbond" refers to a process in which a molten thermoplastic material is extruded in the form of filaments through a plurality of generally circular fine capillaries of a spinneret, and then the diameter of the extruded filaments is rapidly reduced by a process such as shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., U.S. Patent Nos. 3,338,992 and 3,341,394 to Kinney, U.S. Patent No. 3,502,538 to Levy, U.S. Patent No. 3,502,763 to Hartman, and U.S. Patent No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al. to form fine fibers. Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and have a diameter greater than 7 microns, specifically, having a diameter between about 10 - 30 microns. Spunbond fibers generally do not stick when deposited on a collecting surface.

[0045] As used herein, the term "meltblown" refers to a process in which a molten thermoplastic material is extruded in the form of a melt or filaments through a plurality of generally circular die capillaries into a high-speed air stream (such as an air stream) that thins the molten thermoplastic material and reduces its diameter to the diameter of microfibers. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high-speed air stream and deposited on a collecting surface to form a randomly distributed meltblown fiber web. Such a process is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,849,241 to Butin. Meltblown fibers are continuous or discontinuous microfibers having a diameter generally less than 10 microns.

[0046] As used herein, the term "hot air" refers to the following thermal bonding process, which uses bicomponent fibers having a side-by-side structure or a sheath-core structure. After being carded into a web, the composite fibers are heated by hot air. After the PE in the composite fibers melts, the fibers overlap each other and become a non-woven material having certain tensile and extensile properties after cooling. Since no pressure is applied during the processing, the elasticity and bulkiness of the hot air non-woven material are much better than those of non-woven materials made by other processes. It has a soft and bulky handfeel, which can make the user feel comfortable.

[0047] "Proximal" and "distal" respectively refer to the position of an element being relatively closer to or farther from the longitudinal or lateral centerline of a structure (e.g., relative to the same longitudinal axis, the proximal edge of a longitudinally extending element is closer to the longitudinal axis than the distal edge of the same element).

[0048] "Body-facing" and "garment-facing" refer to the relative position of the element or the relative position of the surface of the element or a group of elements, respectively. "Body-facing" means that during wear, the element or surface is closer to the wearer than some other element or surface. "Garment-facing" means that during wear, the element or surface is farther from the wearer than some other element or surface (i.e., the element or surface is close to the wearer's garment, which may be worn over the disposable absorbent article).

[0049] As used in the present utility model, the term "elongatable" or "extensibility" generally refers to a material that stretches or elongates its relaxed length or width by at least about 25%, about 50% in some embodiments, and at least about 75% in some embodiments in the direction of the applied force. An elongatable material does not necessarily have a recovery property. For example, an elastomeric material is an elongatable material with a recovery property. A meltblown web can be elongatable but does not have a recovery property and is thus an elongatable inelastic material.

[0050] As used in the present utility model, the term "elastomeric" or "elastic" generally refers to a material that, by applying a tensile force, is stretched in at least one direction (e.g., the MD direction), and by releasing the tensile force, it contracts / returns to approximately its original dimensions. For example, the stretched material can have a stretched length that is at least about 50% longer than its relaxed unstretched length, and by releasing the tensile force, it can return to a length within at least 50% of its stretched length. A hypothetical example could be: a 1-inch sample of material that can be stretched to 1.50 inches and by releasing the tensile force, will return to a length of no more than 1.25 inches. Ideally, the material contracts or returns at least 50%, and even more ideally, at least 80% of the stretched length.

[0051] As used herein, the term "joined" in this context means the joining, adhesion, connection, attachment, etc. of two elements. Two elements will be considered joined together when they are joined, adhered, connected, attached, etc. directly to each other or indirectly to each other, such as when joined to an intermediate element. Joining can be carried out, for example, via adhesives, pressure bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, splicing, stitching, and / or welding.

[0052] As used herein, the term "elastic member" in this context includes an elongate material having elasticity, such as but not limited to elastic rubber bands, elastic fiber non-woven fabrics. Among them, elastic rubber bands can be made, for example, of spandex in a beam way according to the spinning process.

[0053] The term "open" means that before or during wearing on the wearer of the article, the opposing waist regions are initially not joined and do not form a continuous waist opening and leg openings.

[0054] The term "closed" means that the opposing waist regions are permanently or repeatably fastened together during encapsulation to form continuous waist and leg openings.

[0055] Pant-shaped Absorbent Article

[0056] First, the basic structure of the pant-type absorbent article of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 A top plan view of the absorbent article according to the present invention in a flat open state is shown in line drawing, showing its body-facing side.

[0057] As Figure 1 shown, when the absorbent article is in the open state and viewed from a perspective facing the body side, the absorbent article 20 according to the present invention extends in a longitudinal direction 23 and a lateral direction 22 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 23.

[0058] As used in describing the specific embodiments of the absorbent article 20, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, the terms "longitudinal" and "lateral" have their conventional meanings, as indicated by the central longitudinal axis 24 and the central lateral axis 25. The central longitudinal axis 24 lies in the plane of the absorbent article 20 when the absorbent article is in a fully stretched and flat state and the front panel 40 and the back panel 41 are separated, and is generally parallel to the vertical plane that divides a standing wearer into left and right body halves when the absorbent article 20 is worn. The central lateral axis 25 lies in the plane of the absorbent article 20 and is generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis 24. The absorbent article 20 has a front region 30 defining a front waist end edge 32, a rear region 34 defining a rear waist end edge 36, and a crotch region 38 longitudinally positioned between the front region 30 and the rear region 34. The crotch region 38 defines two laterally opposed crotch side edges 39. The absorbent article 20 defines a length 21 of the absorbent article extending from the front waist end edge 32 to the rear waist end edge 36, which may typically be designed in the range of 40 to 70 centimeters, for example, depending on the size of the absorbent article 20 and the age and body type of the wearer for which it is intended.

[0059] Absorbent article 20 includes a front sheet 40 that defines a front sheet leg edge 44 longitudinally inwardly spaced from the front waist edge 32 and laterally opposite first and second front sheet side edges 46 and 48. Absorbent article 20 further includes a back sheet 41 that defines a back sheet leg edge 45 longitudinally inwardly spaced from the back waist edge 36 and laterally opposite first and second back sheet side edges 47 and 49. As used herein, "longitudinally inward (or medial)" for describing an absorbent article embodiment means in a direction longitudinally toward the central lateral axis 25. Similarly, as used herein, "laterally inward (or medial)" for describing an absorbent article embodiment means in a direction laterally toward the central longitudinal axis 24. The front sheet 40 and the back sheet 41 are longitudinally spaced apart. The front sheet 40 and the back sheet 41 generally include elastic materials to conform to the wearer's body.

[0060] A pair of side seams connect the front region 30 and the back region 34 such that the absorbent article 20 defines a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The side seams can be permanent but tearable, such as by adhesive, heat, pressure, or ultrasonic bonding, or can be more easily releasable and re-fastenable, such as by using mechanical fastening elements.

[0061] Absorbent article 20 may further include at least one front leg elastic member 70 disposed adjacent the front sheet leg edge 44 and / or at least one back leg elastic member 75 disposed adjacent the back sheet leg edge 45. Such leg elastic members 70 and / or 75 help provide additional elastic support around the leg openings to enhance the fit and leakage protection of the absorbent article 20. Each leg elastic member 70, 75 may include a single strip, strand, or thread (or the like) of elastic material, or each may include two, three, or more strips, strands, or threads (or the like) of elastic material. In a particular embodiment, the back leg elastic member 75 and / or the front leg elastic member 70 extends laterally across the entire width of the absorbent article.

[0062] Such as Figure 1 as representatively shown in, the back leg elastic member 75 may include a pair of back leg elastic members, such as a first back leg elastic member 76 and a second back leg elastic member 77 positioned on opposite sides of the absorbent composite structure 50. Similarly, the front leg elastic member 70 may include a pair of front leg elastic members, such as a first front leg elastic member 71 and a second front leg elastic member positioned on opposite sides of the absorbent composite structure 50. In a preferred embodiment such as Figure 1 as representatively shown in the embodiment, each back leg elastic member 75 may include multiple elastomeric strands, and / or each front leg elastic member 70 may include multiple elastomeric strands.

[0063] Those skilled in the art will understand that the absorbent composite structure 50 is connected to the front panel 40 and the back panel 41 and is located between the front panel and the back panel. The absorbent composite structure 50 may be formed by a liquid-impermeable barrier layer 52, an absorbent core 54 containing absorbent material, a liquid-permeable topsheet 55, and / or a crotch elastic member 56 that are stacked in sequence from the side facing the garment toward the side facing the body and that define a width 53 and a length 51. As used herein, the term "absorbent material" may mean fibrous absorbent material, superabsorbent material (SAM), or a combination of fibrous absorbent material and SAM. In some embodiments, the absorbent core 54 may include a layered structure that includes multiple zones of liquid-absorbing material such as fibrous absorbent material and / or SAM. The absorbent core 54 defines a length 61 and a width 63, where both the length 61 and the width 63 are less than the width 53 and the length 51 defined by the liquid-permeable topsheet 55.

[0064] It should be understood that the exemplary pant-type absorbent article 20 is merely one possible example of an absorbent article that can be used with the absorbent core 54 described herein. As Figure 1 Such absorbent articles 20, as shown, can generally be described as absorbent articles formed using a cross-direction (CD) manufacturing process. Alternative exemplary absorbent articles that can be used with the described absorbent core 54 may include those formed using a machine-direction (MD) manufacturing process.

[0065] Generally speaking, the present utility model is not meant to be limited to the specifically disclosed absorbent articles. Instead, the described absorbent core 54 can be used within any suitable backsheet structure for retaining the described absorbent core 54 on the wearer. In even further contemplated embodiments, the described absorbent core 54 may not be used with any backsheet structure at all. Instead, the absorbent core 54 can be configured to be placed in direct contact with the wearer's body, for example, using a body adhesive provided on the body-side surface of the absorbent core 54.

[0066] Top Sheet with Side Barrier Structure

[0067] Next, in combination with Figures 2 to  4The topsheet 55 with a side barrier structure according to the present utility model will be described herein. Herein, the topsheet 55 has a first surface on the side facing the wearer, which is used to define the part of the absorbent article 20 that can directly contact the wearer's body and is liquid-permeable to receive body exudates, and a second surface opposite thereto, which abuts against the absorbent core 54 on the side facing the clothing. The first surface and the second surface define the thickness of the topsheet, which is, for example, a thickness of 2 to 5 millimeters, preferably 3 millimeters. The topsheet 55 is advantageously provided for comfort and conformability, and functions to direct body exudates away from the wearer's body and towards the absorbent core 54 through its own structure. The topsheet 55 advantageously retains little or no liquid in its structure, so as to provide a relatively comfortable and non-irritating surface next to the skin of the wearer of the absorbent article.

[0068] In the present utility model, the topsheet 55 can be constructed from any woven or non-woven sheet material that is easily permeated by body exudates that may contact the body-facing surface of the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the topsheet 55 can be constructed from various non-woven webs such as spunlace webs or air-through bonded carded webs, which are, for example, used as topsheet raw materials for KOTEX® pads and are available from Sandler AG, Germany. Alternatively, the topsheet 55 can also be constructed from natural fibers. Herein, the topsheet 55 generally can be designed to have a basis weight of less than about 100 grams per square meter (gsm), and in some embodiments, has a basis weight ranging from about 10 gsm to about 60 gsm.

[0069] As described in the background art section of the present utility model, as far as the inventors of the present utility model know, for known pant-type absorbent articles, the topsheets thereof exist in the following two forms: 1. A plain design without any patterns or textures on the surface on the side facing the body, which has a simple manufacturing process and low cost, but does not have a design for forming a side barrier structure or having a side leakage prevention function.

[0070] 2. In order to enhance the function of the topsheet to guide the downward penetration or fluid diffusion of body exudates (such as urine), 3D embossing convex towards the body or perforations concave towards the side facing the clothing are arranged on the surface of the topsheet on the side facing the body. It is known that these 3D embossings or perforations are regularly and uniformly distributed throughout the entire topsheet in a repeating pattern, and there is no functional partition specifically for enhancing the side barrier function.

[0071] After long-term observation and thinking, the inventor of the present utility model found that the top sheet 55 is functionally partitioned along its lateral direction 22: that is, a first side barrier zone 55B1 and a second side barrier zone 55B2 with outwardly convex flow-diverging portions 551 continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction 23 are designed in the regions on both sides of the lateral direction 22 of the top sheet 55, and an intermediate zone 55A is located between the first side barrier zone 55B1 and the second side barrier zone 55B2, wherein these side barrier zones extend side by side with the intermediate zone 55A along the longitudinal direction 23. The flow-diverging portions 551 in the first side barrier zone 55B1 and the second side barrier zone 55B2 will protrude a certain distance above the intermediate zone 55A of the top sheet 55, and here this distance is 2 to 5 millimeters.

[0072] When the intermediate zone 55A receives excessive body effluents from the wearer, these body effluents will flow towards the outwardly convex flow-diverging portions 551 on both sides and be blocked by these flow-diverging portions 551. Since the flow-diverging portions 551 are continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction 23, this enables these body effluents to be diffused along the longitudinal direction 23 under the guiding and diffusing action of the flow-diverging portions 551, rather than only flowing along the lateral direction 22 at limited positions. On the one hand, this avoids the risk that excessive body effluents concentrated at limited positions can easily cross the outwardly convex barrier portions and cause side leakage. On the other hand, this also enables the liquid-permeable or infiltration design of a larger area of the top sheet in the intermediate zone 55A to play a role. In short, the flow-diverging portions 551 continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction 23 and the intermediate zone 55A cooperate with each other to retain a larger amount of body effluents with a simple design.

[0073] Specifically, as Figure 2 shown, the top sheet 55 in Figure 1 is sequentially provided with a first side barrier zone 55B1 with outwardly convex flow-diverging portions 551 continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction 23, an intermediate zone 55A, and a second side barrier zone 55B2 from left to right along the lateral direction 22. Here, the intermediate zone 55A is located in the middle of the top sheet 55, and the first side barrier zone 55B1 and the second side barrier zone 55B2 are respectively arranged on both sides of the intermediate zone 55A.

[0074] In Figure 3In the enlarged view, by way of example, the topsheet 55 has a topsheet width D1 of, for example, 50 to 90 millimeters along the lateral direction 22, and preferably this width is designed to be 80 millimeters here. Of course, those skilled in the art can know that the appropriate overall width can be selected according to the overall dimensions of the absorbent article 20 and the age and body type of the applicable wearer. Further, the width of the intermediate zone 55A located in the middle of the topsheet 55 can be in the range of 20 to 80% of the topsheet width D1. By way of example here, the intermediate zone width D2 of the intermediate zone 55A is 40 millimeters, and the side barrier zone widths D3 of the first side barrier zone 55B1 and the second side barrier zone 55B2 located on both sides of the intermediate zone 55A are 20 millimeters.

[0075] As Figure 3 shown, in order to enhance the function of the topsheet 55 to guide the downward penetration or fluid diffusion of body effluents (such as urine), a plurality of pressure points (not shown, which are beneficial to the diffusion of body effluents along the longitudinal direction) made by means of a embossing process or liquid-permeable openings 552 formed by means of needle roller pressing can be arranged adjacent to each other in the intermediate zone 55A. Preferably, these liquid-permeable openings 552 can be square or circular or diamond-shaped, and their area can generally be designed to be 0.8 to 1.5 square millimeters. The operation of forming these liquid-permeable openings 552 can be completed, for example, at high speed on a production line by means of a roll-to-roll needle punching die commercially available from Burckhardt of Switzerland AG of Switzerland. In order to ensure a lasting dry feeling when the absorbent article 22 is worn, preferably the intermediate zone 55A is chemically enhanced to make it have hydrophilic properties. This method is known in the art and will not be elaborated here. Of course, those skilled in the art can also know that when the topsheet 55 is used for older wearers (which means that the wearer has better urine retention performance), it will also be feasible to design the intermediate zone 55A as a plain weave design without pressure points or liquid-permeable openings 552 made by the embossing process to reduce production costs.

[0076] Preferably, the liquid permeation openings 552 located in the middle region 55A form a channel that penetrates from the first surface to the second surface of the topsheet 55, so that body exudates can flow through the topsheet 55 by the body until received by the absorbent core 54 located therebelow. Additionally, the number and size of these liquid permeation openings 552 can be controlled such that the percentage of the opening area of the middle region 55A of the topsheet 55 with the liquid permeation openings 552 is between about 10% and about 80% based on the surface area of the middle region 55A of the topsheet 55 without counting these liquid permeation openings 552, for example, from about 15% to about 60%, for example, from about 20% to about 40%. To calculate the percentage of the opening area in this way, a specified unit area is defined, the surface area of the liquid permeation openings 552 within the specified unit area is calculated, the total opening area is divided by the total surface area within the specified unit area without counting these liquid permeation openings 552, and then the quotient is multiplied by 100 to determine the percentage of the opening area.

[0077] Additionally, these liquid permeation openings 552 can be arranged in any suitable pattern to impart a desired degree of stability and fluid transfer performance to the middle region 55A of the topsheet 55. The pattern can also be selected such that it has an aesthetically pleasing appearance. For example, these liquid permeation openings 552 can be formed in a honeycomb three-dimensional pattern, so that the topsheet 55 is stable enough to prevent the three-dimensional structure from collapsing during the use of the absorbent article, although it should be understood that other patterns are also useful. This honeycomb pattern can be applied to the topsheet 55 using a metal screen with hexagonal perforations.

[0078] In Figure 3 and 4 The structural details of the first side barrier region 55B1 and the second side barrier region 55B2 are shown enlarged and in detail. In this case, at least one flow expansion portion 551 continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction 23 is provided from left to right in each of the first side barrier region 55B1 and the second side barrier region 55B2. Here, for example, these flow expansion portions 551 can be obtained by means of a flower roller that can perform three-dimensional shaping or embossing towards the top surface on the bottom surface of the topsheet 55 during the manufacturing process of the topsheet 55. In the present embodiment, the three-dimensional height of these flow expansion portions 551 above the middle region 55A, that is, the height, can be designed to be 2 to 5 millimeters.

[0079] Best in Figure 4As shown, these flow expansion portions 551 are in the form of continuous corrugations that repeat periodically in the longitudinal direction, that is, having peak portions 551A that protrude toward the intermediate region 55A and valley portions 551B that extend away from the intermediate region 55A. Here, the width of the flow expansion portion 551 itself can be designed to be 1 to 3 millimeters, and is preferably designed to be 1 millimeter here. Here, the peak portions 551A help to divert the body effluents from the intermediate region 55A to the valley portions 551B on both sides thereof respectively, and the valley portions on both sides are designed to be able to accommodate a considerable volume of body effluents. The distance in the lateral direction between the peak portion 551A and the associated valley portion 551B is designed to be at least 1 millimeter, for example. Due to the streamlined design of the flow expansion portion 551, even for low-viscosity liquids (pure urine) with better fluidity, the excess body effluents can be diverted and diffused along the longitudinal reverse direction 23. It should be noted that although the continuous corrugated design shown here has a satisfactory effect of diversion and diffusion, the flow expansion portion 551 can also be designed into other shapes, such as arc-shaped, continuous broken line-shaped, etc., as long as these flow expansion portions 551 are continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction 23 on the entire surface of the topsheet 55.

[0080] To ensure that the most excessive body effluents can be blocked, in Figure 3 the first side blocking region 55B1 and the second side blocking region 55B2 are each provided with 5 flow expansion portions 551 that are continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction 23. Here, preferably, these flow expansion portions 551 that are continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction 23 are arranged parallel to each other and the spacing between them is designed to be 3 to 10 millimeters. Here, as Figure 4 best shown in, the spacing of the flow expansion portions is, for example, 3 millimeters.

[0081] As a preferred aspect, these flow expansion portions 551 are designed to be hydrophilically treated by chemical enhancement, so as to improve the adsorption capacity for body effluents to prevent the body effluents from easily passing over these flow expansion portions 551 and causing lateral urine leakage.

[0082] As another preferred aspect, rows of diversion openings 553 are arranged between two flow expansion portions 551 that are spaced apart from each other. These diversion openings 553 are preferably arranged in the same wavy shape and period as the flow expansion portions 551. The diameter of these diversion openings 553 is preferably designed to be not greater than 1 millimeter, and is preferably 0.6 millimeter here. Similar to the description above, the operation of forming these diversion openings 553 can be completed at high speed on a production line, for example, by means of a roll-to-roll needle punching die commercially available from Burckhardt of Switzerland AG, Switzerland. To ensure a lasting dry feeling when the absorbent article 22 is worn, preferably, the intermediate region 55A is chemically enhanced to have hydrophilic properties. This method is known in the art and will not be elaborated here.

[0083] As can be seen from the above description, in the present utility model, on both sides of the middle region 55A located in the middle of the topsheet 55, there are provided a first side barrier region 55B1 and a second side barrier region 55B2 respectively with flow expansion portions 551 continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction 23. This enables, when an excessive amount of body exudate flows to the surface of the middle region 55A of the topsheet 55 that has undergone hydrophilic treatment, the body exudate with good fluidity and relatively low flow viscosity to be guided and diffused by the flow expansion portions 551 continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction 23 on both sides.

[0084] Furthermore, since the material of these continuously arranged flow expansion portions 551 can be subjected to hydrophilic treatment, it enables the body exudate to be guided and diffused while infiltrating. For example, by means of the collection effect of the trough portion, more body exudate is dispersed along the longitudinal direction 23 instead of being concentrated in a limited area or part (which makes it easy for the body exudate to leak laterally). As a result, the body exudate will be guided and diffused into a region significantly increased along the longitudinal direction 23 and infiltrate from the middle and both sides of the topsheet 55 to the absorbent core 54 located directly below the topsheet 55, enabling the absorbent core 54 to fully absorb the infiltrated liquid.

[0085] Through comparative tests conducted by the inventor, it is found that even when the pant-type absorbent article with the topsheet 55 having this design is placed in an inclined absorption state (which simulates the state of a wearer such as an infant lying on the side or turning over), by means of the above-mentioned topsheet 55 with a side barrier structure, the occurrence of liquid side leakage similar to the flow viscosity of the body exudate can be significantly avoided or reduced.

[0086] Here, the embodiments of the present utility model have been illustrated and described. However, those skilled in the art should know that the above and other various changes, omissions, and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present utility model. It should not be understood as being limited to the specific embodiments described herein. It includes all possible embodiments that can be embodied within the scope and equivalent scope of the features recited in the appended claims.

[0087] The dimensions and values disclosed herein should not be understood as being strictly limited to the precise numerical values stated. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to represent the stated value and the functionally equivalent range around that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to represent "about 40 mm".

[0088] All documents cited in the "Detailed Description" are incorporated herein by reference in relevant parts; the citation of any document should not be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present utility model. In the event of any conflict between the meaning or definition of a term in this written document and the meaning or definition of a term in the incorporated document, the meaning or definition given to the term in this written document shall prevail.

[0089] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the present invention are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

[0090] When introducing elements of the present invention or its (multiple) preferred embodiments, the articles "a", "an", "the" and "said" are intended to mean that there is one or more elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements in addition to the listed elements. Many modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the above embodiments should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A topsheet with a side barrier structure, which is applicable to be laminated above the absorbent core of an absorbent article, having a first surface on the side facing the wearer that can directly contact the wearer's body and a second surface opposite thereto that abuts against the absorbent core on the side facing the garment, characterized in that , the topsheet comprises: a central region located in the middle of the topsheet, which is designed to be chemically enhanced to have hydrophilic properties, wherein the central region has a central region width measured in the lateral direction; a first side barrier region and a second side barrier region, which are designed to be located on both sides of the central region along the lateral direction of the pant-type absorbent article and extend side by side with the central region in the longitudinal direction, wherein these barrier regions each have at least one flow expansion portion continuously provided in the longitudinal direction and having a width of 1 to 3 mm, the flow expansion portion being provided at a certain distance above the central region and designed to guide and diffuse body effluents from the central region in the longitudinal direction, wherein the first side barrier region and the second side barrier region each have a side barrier region width measured in the lateral direction, which together with the central region width forms the width of the topsheet; wherein the central region width is designed to be 20 to 80% of the topsheet width.

2. The topsheet according to claim 1, wherein wherein the distance by which the flow expansion portion protrudes above the central region is designed to be 2 to 5 mm.

3. The topsheet according to claim 1, wherein The flow expansion portion is designed to be continuously corrugated and periodically repeated in the longitudinal direction and has a peak portion protruding towards the central region and a valley portion extending away from the central region, wherein the distance in the lateral direction between the peak portion and the associated valley portion is designed to be at least 1 mm.

4. The topsheet according to claim 1, wherein, wherein there are provided more than three flow expansion portions spaced apart in parallel from each other, wherein these flow expansion portions have the same wavy shape and period and the spacing between these flow expansion portions is designed to be 3 to 10 mm.

5. The topsheet according to claim 4, characterized in that, There are also provided flow guiding openings arranged in columns between two spaced-apart flow expansion portions, wherein the diameters of these flow guiding openings are designed to be not less than 1 mm and are arranged to have the same wavy shape and period as the flow expansion portions.

6. The topsheet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow expansion portion is designed to be chemically enhanced to have hydrophilic properties.

7. The topsheet according to claim 1, wherein wherein the central region has a plurality of liquid permeable openings for forming channels penetrating from the first surface to the second surface of the topsheet, the area of the liquid permeable openings is designed to be 0.8 to 1.5 square millimeters and the percentage of the opening area of the central region is between 10% and 80%.

8. The topsheet according to claim 1, wherein The topsheet is designed to be constructed of a nonwoven web having a basis weight from 10 gsm to 60 gsm.

9. A pant-type absorbent article, which extends in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction and comprises: a front sheet, wherein the front sheet defines a front sheet leg edge longitudinally inwardly spaced from the front waist end edge and laterally opposite first and second front sheet side edges; a rear sheet, wherein the rear sheet defines a rear sheet leg edge longitudinally inwardly spaced from the rear waist end edge and laterally opposite first and second rear sheet side edges; a topsheet located on the body-facing side; a liquid-impermeable barrier layer located on the clothing-facing side; an absorbent core, the absorbent core being disposed between the topsheet and the barrier layer; characterized in that the topsheet is the topsheet according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The panty-shaped absorbent article according to claim 9, wherein, The absorbent article may further include at least one front leg elastic member provided adjacent to the front sheet leg edge in the front sheet and / or at least one rear leg elastic member provided adjacent to the rear sheet leg edge in the rear sheet.

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