Absorbent member and absorbent article including same

Abstract

This absorbent member is used in an absorbent article. The absorbent member includes an absorbent portion comprising a super absorbent polymer and a fluff pulp, and a breathable portion positioned to the inner side of the absorbent portion and having no absorbent portion formed therein.

Description

Absorbent member and absorbent article containing same

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an absorbent member and an absorbent article including the same.

[0002] Absorbent articles for children's care, feminine care, and adult hygiene personal care are used to protect consumers' outerwear from contamination and to collect and retain body exudates such as menstruation, blood, feces, or urine. This is particularly true for young children (e.g., babies), who may have difficulty promptly communicating with caregivers or whose caregivers may not readily recognize their intent even after multiple absorptions of body exudates. Prolonged contact of body exudates absorbed by absorbent articles with the wearer's body can lead to problems such as skin rashes, bacterial infections, and decreased comfort. Therefore, there is a need for an absorbent article that maintains a desired absorbency and breathability even after repeated absorption of body exudates.

[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure improve or resolve at least some of the problems of conventional absorbent articles. To this end, a plurality of embodiments provide an absorbent member having a breathable portion and an absorbent article including the same.

[0004] Embodiments according to one aspect of the present disclosure relate to an absorbent member. An absorbent member according to an exemplary embodiment is used in an absorbent article, and includes an absorbent portion comprising a superabsorbent polymer and fluff pulp, and a breathable portion located inside the absorbent portion and not formed with the absorbent portion.

[0005] In one embodiment, the ratio of the planar area of ​​the breathable portion to the total planar area of ​​the absorbent member may be in the range of about 15 to 45% or about 17 to 43%.

[0006] In one embodiment, the absorbent member may include a front region including an absorbent portion and a breathable portion and corresponding to the front of the body, and a rear region including the absorbent portion and the breathable portion and located opposite the front region along the length direction of the absorbent article and corresponding to the rear of the body.

[0007] In one embodiment, at the frontmost portion of the front region, the absorbent portion may not include a breathable portion along the transverse direction of the absorbent article, and at the rearmost portion of the rear region, the absorbent portion may not include a breathable portion along the transverse direction.

[0008] In one embodiment, the planar area of ​​the breathable portion of the rear region may be equal to or larger than the planar area of ​​the breathable portion of the front region.

[0009] In one embodiment, the absorbent member may further include a central region positioned between the front region and the rear region and including an absorbent portion.

[0010] In one embodiment, the absorbent member may further include a central region positioned between the front region and the rear region and including an absorbent portion and a breathable portion.

[0011] In one embodiment, the absorbent portion in the central region may be divided into multiple sections by breathable portions.

[0012] Embodiments according to another aspect of the present disclosure relate to an absorbent article. An absorbent article according to an exemplary embodiment includes a top sheet facing the body, a back sheet facing the garment, and an absorbent member disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet. The absorbent member includes an absorbent portion comprising a superabsorbent polymer and fluff pulp, and a breathable portion located inside the absorbent portion and not formed with the absorbent portion.

[0013] In one embodiment, the ratio of the planar area of ​​the breathable portion to the total planar area of ​​the absorbent member may be in the range of about 15 to 45% or about 17 to 43%.

[0014] In one embodiment, the absorbent member may include a front region including an absorbent portion and a breathable portion and corresponding to the front of the body, and a rear region including the absorbent portion and the breathable portion and located opposite the front region along the length direction of the absorbent article and corresponding to the rear of the body.

[0015] In one embodiment, at the frontmost portion of the front region, the absorbent portion may not include a breathable portion along the width direction of the absorbent article, and at the rearmost portion of the rear region, the absorbent portion may not include a breathable portion along the width direction.

[0016] In one embodiment, the planar area of ​​the breathable portion of the rear region may be equal to or larger than the planar area of ​​the breathable portion of the front region.

[0017] In one embodiment, the absorbent member may further include a central region positioned between the front region and the rear region and including an absorbent portion.

[0018] In one embodiment, the absorbent member may further include a central region positioned between the front region and the rear region and including an absorbent portion and a breathable portion.

[0019] In one embodiment, the absorbent portion in the central region may be divided into multiple sections by breathable portions.

[0020] In one embodiment, the absorbent article may further include one or more front channel bonding portions formed in the breathable portion of the front region and extending in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the absorbent article.

[0021] In one embodiment, the absorbent article may further include one or more first rear channel bonding portions formed in the breathable portion of the rear region and extending in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from each other along the width direction of the absorbent article, and one or more second rear channel bonding portions formed in the breathable portion of the rear region and extending in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from each other along the width direction. The first rear channel bonding portion may be spaced apart from the second rear channel bonding portion in the longitudinal direction.

[0022] In one embodiment, the absorbent article may further include a front channel bonding portion formed in the breathable portion of the front region and extending along the width direction of the absorbent article.

[0023] In one embodiment, the absorbent article may further include a first rear channel bonding portion formed in the breathable portion of the rear region and extending in the width direction of the absorbent article, and a second rear channel bonding portion formed in the breathable portion of the rear region and extending in the width direction and spaced apart from the first rear channel bonding portion in the length direction.

[0024] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the absorbent member and the absorbent article comprising the same comprise an absorbent portion and a breathable portion, thereby maintaining a rapid absorption rate even after body exudates have been absorbed, thereby ensuring consistent absorbency. Furthermore, the absorbent member maintains excellent breathability, allowing the wearer to feel dry and comfortable. Therefore, problems such as skin rashes, bacterial infections, and decreased comfort caused by prolonged contact between the absorbent member and body exudates can be prevented.

[0025] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an absorbent article according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 2 is a plan view of the absorbent article illustrated in Figure 1.

[0027] Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the absorbent member illustrated in Figure 1.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating an absorbent member according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating an absorbent article according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 6 is a plan view illustrating the absorbent member illustrated in Figure 5.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating an absorbent article according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating an absorbent article according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] The embodiments of this disclosure are provided for the purpose of illustrating the technical concepts of this disclosure. The scope of rights under this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments presented below or the specific descriptions of these embodiments.

[0034] All technical and scientific terms used in this disclosure, unless otherwise defined, have the meanings commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. All terms used in this disclosure have been selected for the purpose of more clearly explaining this disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of rights under this disclosure.

[0035] Expressions such as “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and the like used in this disclosure should be understood as open-ended terms that imply the possibility of including other embodiments, unless otherwise stated in the phrase or sentence in which the expression is included.

[0036] The singular forms described in this disclosure may include plural meanings unless otherwise stated, and the same applies to the singular forms described in the claims.

[0037] The expressions “first,” “second,” etc. used in this disclosure are used to distinguish between multiple components, and do not limit the order or importance of the components.

[0038] In the drawings attached to the present disclosure, the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article is represented by “X”, and the width direction of the absorbent article is represented by “Y” as a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X).

[0039] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In the attached drawings, identical or corresponding components are assigned the same reference numerals. Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments below, redundant descriptions of identical or corresponding components may be omitted. However, even if a description of a component is omitted, it is not intended that such component is not included in any embodiment.

[0040] An absorbent member according to one aspect of the present disclosure may be used in an absorbent article and may be understood as a component of an absorbent article according to another aspect of the present disclosure. While certain features of the present disclosure are described and illustrated with reference to a band-type diaper for illustrative purposes, various aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure may also be applied to diapers, children's panties, swim briefs, training panties, bedwetting garments, menstrual panties, adult incontinence panties, and the like. The following description focuses on absorbent articles.

[0041] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an absorbent article according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent article illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0042] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an absorbent article (100) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes an upper sheet (110), a back sheet (120), and an absorbent member (130).

[0043] The top sheet (110) faces the wearer's body and defines the body-facing surface of the absorbent article (100). The top sheet (110) is made of a liquid-permeable material to allow body exudates to pass through. The top sheet (110) directs body exudates away from the wearer's body toward the absorbent member (130).

[0044] In various embodiments, the top sheet (110) may be composed of a single material layer or multiple layers of laminated materials. The top sheet (110) may be composed of any material, such as one or more woven sheets, one or more fibrous nonwoven sheets, one or more perforated film sheets, such as blown or extruded films, which may themselves be single-layered or multi-layered, one or more foam sheets, such as reticulated open-cell or closed-cell foams, a coated nonwoven sheet, or a combination of any of these materials. These combinations may be adhesively, thermally, or ultrasonically laminated into a single, planar sheet structure to form the top sheet (110).

[0045] In various embodiments, the top sheet (110) may be composed of various nonwoven webs, such as meltblown webs, spunbond webs, hydroentangled spunlace webs, or breathable bonded carded webs. For the top sheet (110), examples of preferred materials may include natural fiber webs such as cotton, rayon, hydroentangled webs, bonded carded webs of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or other thermally bondable fibers such as bicomponent fibers, polyolefins, copolymers of polypropylene and polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, and aliphatic esters such as polylactic acid. However, the top sheet (110) is not limited to these materials.

[0046] In various embodiments, the top sheet (110) may contain a plurality of perforations formed to allow body exudates to more easily pass into the absorbent member (130). The plurality of perforations may be randomly or uniformly arranged throughout the top sheet (110). The size, shape, diameter, and number of perforations may vary to suit the specific needs of the absorbent article (100).

[0047] In various embodiments, the top sheet (110) may be at least partially hydrophilic. In various embodiments, one portion of the top sheet (110) may be hydrophilic and another portion of the top sheet (110) may be hydrophobic. In various embodiments, the hydrophobic portion of the top sheet (110) may be an inherently hydrophobic material or a material treated with a hydrophobic coating.

[0048] The back sheet (120) faces the garment and defines the garment-facing side of the absorbent article (100). The back sheet (120) is made of a liquid-impermeable material to prevent the passage of body exudates absorbed by the absorbent member (130). The back sheet (120) may be configured to block the passage of liquid while allowing the passage of air or vapor out of the absorbent article (100). The back sheet (120) prevents body exudates from leaking out of the absorbent article (100) and from wetting articles such as bed sheets and garments, as well as the wearer and caregivers.

[0049] In various embodiments, the back sheet (120) may be composed of a single layer or multiple layers. The back sheet (120) may be composed of a hydrophobic nonwoven material having moisture barrier properties, such as a polyolefin film, a polyethylene film, a polypropylene film, or a nonwoven laminate. An example of a hydrophobic nonwoven material may be a four-layer laminate composed of spunbond-meltblown-meltblown-spunbond.

[0050] As illustrated in Fig. 1, an absorbent member (130) is placed between the upper sheet (110) and the back sheet (120). The upper sheet (110) and the back sheet (120) are joined and sealed at the outer edge of the absorbent member (130). The absorbent member (130) absorbs and retains body exudates that have penetrated the upper sheet (110).

[0051] Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the absorbent member illustrated in Figure 1.

[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the absorbent member (130) includes an absorbent portion (131) having an absorbent performance for absorbing body exudates and a breathable portion (132) having a breathable performance for preventing or suppressing the absorbed body exudates from coming into contact with the wearer's body again.

[0053] The absorbent portion (131) absorbs and retains body exudates that have passed through the upper sheet (110). The absorbent portion (131) includes a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and fluff pulp. For example, the absorbent portion (131) may be composed of 50 to 80 wt% of a superabsorbent polymer and 20 to 50 wt% of fluff pulp to maximize absorption performance.

[0054] Superabsorbent polymers (SUAPs) are polymers capable of absorbing and retaining extremely large amounts of liquid relative to their weight. These water-absorbent polymers, often categorized as cross-linkable hydrogels, absorb aqueous solutions through hydrogen bonding and other polar forces with water molecules. The water-absorbent polymer's ability to absorb water is partly based on its degree of ionization (a factor of the ionic concentration of the aqueous solution) and the presence of functional polar groups on the superabsorbent polymer that favor water. SUAPs are typically prepared by polymerizing acrylic acid in combination with sodium hydroxide in the presence of an initiator to form sodium polyacrylate (sometimes referred to as sodium polyacrylate). Additionally, the superabsorbent polymers that make up the superabsorbent polymer may be polyacrylamide copolymers, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers, cross-linked carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, cross-linked polyethylene oxide, and starch-bonded copolymers of polyacrylonitrile. The superabsorbent polymers may be manufactured in the form of particles or fibers, or may be manufactured as a coating layer on other materials or fibers.

[0055] Fluff pulp is a type of highly absorbent wood pulp made from softwood. It typically refers to sheet-like pulp that has been milled into fibrous fluff. Fluff pulp itself absorbs body exudates. Furthermore, fluff pulp is often used in combination with superabsorbent polymers and is often placed between them. The fluff pulp present between the superabsorbent polymers provides them with space to expand.

[0056] The breathable portion (132) is located on the inner side of the absorbent portion (131) and is an empty space between the upper sheet (110) and the back sheet (120) where the absorbent portion (131) is not formed. The periphery of the breathable portion (132) is surrounded by the absorbent portion (131). In the breathable portion (132), the absorbent portion (131) does not exist between the upper sheet (110) and the back sheet (120), and the upper sheet (110) and the back sheet (120) are not completely connected to each other. The breathable portion (132) serves as a passage through which body exudates absorbed in the surrounding absorbent portion (131) and remaining body exudates move to another absorbent portion (131). After the body exudates move to and are absorbed in the other absorbent portion (131), the body exudates are removed in the breathable portion (132), so the wearer can feel dry.

[0057] In one embodiment, the ratio of the planar area of ​​the breathable portion (132) to the total planar area of ​​the absorbent member (130) is in the range of approximately 15 to 45%. When the planar area ratio of the breathable portion (132) is less than approximately 15%, the area of ​​the breathable portion (132) within the absorbent member (130) becomes narrow, which limits the improvement in the absorption rate of body exudates. When the planar area ratio of the breathable portion (132) exceeds approximately 45%, the area of ​​the breathable portion (132) within the absorbent member (130) becomes relatively wide and the area of ​​the absorbent portion (131) becomes relatively narrow, so that the absorption performance of the absorbent portion (131) may deteriorate. Therefore, as the absorption performance of the absorbent portion (131) deteriorates, the absorption speed does not improve. In addition, in this case, a phenomenon in which body exudates absorbed in the absorbent portion (131) flow back into the breathable portion (132) may occur.

[0058] Table 1 below shows the experimental results of absorption rate according to the planar area ratio of the breathable portion (132). With the remaining conditions being the same except for the planar area ratio of the breathable portion (132), when a predetermined amount of liquid corresponding to body exudates was dropped onto one absorbent article (100) once to three times, the time (unit: seconds) until the liquid was completely absorbed into the absorbent member (130) was measured.

[0059] Percentage of flat surface area of ​​breathable part 5% 17% 25% 43% Absorption rate (sec) 1st 15.6 11.7 13.3 8.1 2nd 49.2 30.5 26.3 10.7 3rd 170.5 68.4 61.5 16.4

[0060]

[0061] As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that the absorption rate of body exudates tended to increase in the first to third stages by setting the planar area ratio of the breathable portion (132) to be wider than 17%. When the planar area ratio of the breathable portion (132) was 43%, it was confirmed that the absorption rate increased rapidly in the third stage. Therefore, preferably, the ratio of the planar area of ​​the breathable portion (132) to the total planar area of ​​the absorbent member (130) is in the range of approximately 17 to 43%.

[0062] In one embodiment, the absorbent member (130) may include a front region (A) and a rear region (B). In the following description, the breathable region (132) may be understood to include a front breathable region (132a) located in the front region (A) and a rear breathable region (132b) located in the rear region (B). When the absorbent article (100) is worn, the front region (A) includes the absorbent region (131) and the front breathable region (132a) and corresponds to the front of the body (e.g., the lower abdomen), and the rear region (B) includes the absorbent region (131) and the rear breathable region (132b) and corresponds to the rear of the body (e.g., the buttocks). The rear region (B) is located opposite the front region (A) along the longitudinal direction (X) of the absorbent article (100). The front region (A) and the rear region (B) are located at opposite ends in the longitudinal direction (X) of the absorbent article (100).

[0063] In one embodiment, at the frontmost portion of the front region (A), the absorbent portion (131) does not include a breathable portion (132) along the width direction (Y) of the absorbent article (100). For example, at the frontmost portion of the front region (A), the absorbent portion (131) may be formed densely so as not to include a breathable portion (132) along the width direction (Y). In addition, at the rearmost portion of the rear region (B), the absorbent portion (131) does not include a breathable portion (132) along the width direction (Y). For example, at the rearmost portion of the rear region (B), the absorbent portion (131) may be formed densely so as not to include a breathable portion (132) along the width direction (Y). That is, at both ends of the absorbent member (130) along the longitudinal direction (X), no breathable portion (132) is formed, and only the absorbent portion (131) is formed. Due to this structure, the absorbent portion (131) formed at the frontmost portion of the front region (A) and the rearmost portion of the rear region (B) can prevent body exudates flowing through the breathable portion (132) from flowing to both ends along the longitudinal direction (X) of the absorbent article (100).

[0064] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the planar area of ​​the rear breathable portion (132b) of the rear region (B) may be wider than the planar area of ​​the front breathable portion of the front region (A). Typically, liquid among body exudates is discharged relatively more from the front than from the back of the body. Therefore, by setting the planar area of ​​the front breathable portion (132a) narrow, the absorbent portion (131) can secure high absorption performance in the front region (A). In addition, by setting the planar area of ​​the rear breathable portion (132b) wide, the absorbent portion (131) can secure high ventilation performance in the rear region (B). As a result, an absorbent article (100) that satisfies both high absorption performance and high ventilation performance can be manufactured.

[0065] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the absorbent article (100) may further include one or more front channel bonding portions (141) formed in the front breathable portion (132a) of the front region (A) and extending along the longitudinal direction (X) and spaced apart from each other along the width direction (Y) of the absorbent article (100). Since the front channel bonding portions (141) are formed in the front breathable portion (132a), the absorbent portions (131) are not interposed between the upper sheet (110) and the back sheet (120). The front channel bonding portions (141) are formed by bonding the upper sheet (110) and the back sheet (120) in a state where the absorbent portions (131) are not interposed between the upper sheet (110) and the back sheet (120). The upper sheet (110) and the back sheet (120) may be bonded adhesively, thermally, or ultrasonically. The front channel bonding portion (141) serves to suppress or prevent the superabsorbent polymer from swelling due to body exudates and blocking the front breathable portion (132a). Therefore, even when the superabsorbent polymer expands, the front breathable portion (132a) can maintain a predetermined breathability performance.

[0066] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the absorbent article (100) may include one or more first rear channel bonding portions (142) and one or more second rear channel bonding portions (143). The one or more first rear channel bonding portions (142) are formed on the rear breathable portion (132b) of the rear region (B). The one or more first rear channel bonding portions (142) extend along the longitudinal direction (X) and are arranged spaced apart from each other along the width direction (Y). The one or more second rear channel bonding portions (143) are formed on the rear breathable portion (132b) of the rear region (B). The one or more second rear channel bonding portions (143) extend along the longitudinal direction (X) and are arranged spaced apart from each other along the width direction (Y). The roles and effects of the first rear channel bonding portion (142) and the second rear channel bonding portion (143) are the same as those of the front channel bonding portion (141) described above, so a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0067] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the absorbent member (130) may further include a central region (C) positioned between the front region (A) and the rear region (B) and including an absorbent portion (131). The central region (C) does not include a breathable portion (132) and is composed only of the absorbent portion (131). In this way, the central region (C) including only the absorbent portion (131) can maximize the absorption capacity of the absorbent article (100).

[0068] In one embodiment, the absorbent article (100) may further include one or more central channel bonding portions (144) in the central region (C) to prevent the absorbent portions (131) from moving or clumping together within the upper sheet (110) and the back sheet (120). The one or more central channel bonding portions (144) may extend along the longitudinal direction (X) and be spaced apart from each other along the width direction (Y). For example, the central channel bonding portions (144) may be formed by directly bonding the upper sheet (110) and the back sheet (120) so that the absorbent portions (131) are not interposed between the upper sheet (110) and the back sheet (120).

[0069] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating an absorbent member according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the absorbent member (230) according to another embodiment, the planar area of ​​the rear breathable portion (232b) of the rear region (B) may be the same as the planar area of ​​the front breathable portion (132a) of the front region (A). Depending on the age or purpose of using the absorbent article (100), the total planar area of ​​the absorbent member (230) may be set differently. Therefore, when it is difficult to set the planar area of ​​the rear breathable portion (232b) to be wide, the planar areas of the front breathable portion (132a) and the rear breathable portion (232b) may be set to be the same. For example, the shapes of the front breathable portion (132a) and the rear breathable portion (232b) may be the same. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a front channel bonding portion may be formed in the front breathable portion (132a), and a rear channel bonding portion may be formed in the rear breathable portion (232b).

[0071] Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating an absorbent article according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating the absorbent member illustrated in Fig. 5.

[0072] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, an absorbent article (300) according to another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a top sheet (110), a back sheet (120) (see FIG. 1), and an absorbent member (330). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the remaining components except for the central region (C) of the absorbent member (330) are the same as the components of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, and therefore, descriptions of the overlapping components are omitted.

[0073] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the absorbent member (330) may further include a central region (C) positioned between the front region (A) and the rear region (B) and including an absorbent portion (131) and a breathable portion (132). In the following description, the breathable portion (132) may be understood to further include a central breathable portion (132c) positioned in the central region (C). Since the absorbent member (330) includes both the absorbent portion (131) and the central breathable portion (132c) in the central region (C), the absorbent article (300) may have excellent breathable performance while maintaining a predetermined absorbent performance in the central region (C).

[0074] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, in the central region (C), the absorbent portion (131) may be divided into a plurality of portions by the central ventilation portion (132c). For example, the absorbent portion (131) may include one or more first absorbent portions (131a) divided along the longitudinal direction (X) by the central ventilation portion (132c), one or more second absorbent portions (131b) divided along the longitudinal direction (X) by the central ventilation portion (132c), and one or more third absorbent portions (131c) divided along the longitudinal direction (X) by the central ventilation portion (132c). The first absorbent portion (131a) and the third absorbent portion (131c) are mirror-symmetrical with respect to the second absorbent portion (131b). The first absorbent portion (131a), the second absorbent portion (131b), and the third absorbent portion (131c) are arranged to be partitioned from each other along the width direction (Y) by the central breathable portion (132c). The central breathable portion (132c) that partitions the first absorbent portion (131a) and the third absorbent portion (131c) along the length direction (X) is arranged to be offset from the central breathable portion (132c) that partitions the second absorbent portion (131b) along the length direction (X) so as not to directly communicate with each other along the width direction (Y). Due to this arrangement, body exudates flowing through the central breathable portion (132c) can be prevented from leaking to the outside from both sides of the absorbent member (330).

[0075] As another embodiment, similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the rear ventilation portion may have the same size and shape as the front ventilation portion.

[0076] FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating an absorbent article according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0077] As illustrated in FIG. 7, an absorbent article (400) according to another embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a front channel bonding portion (441) formed in a front ventilation portion (132a) and extending along the width direction (Y) of the absorbent article (400). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the remaining components except for the front channel bonding portion (441) are the same as the components of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, and therefore, a description of the overlapping components is omitted. In addition, the role and effect of the front channel bonding portion (441) according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 are the same as those of the front channel bonding portion (141) according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, and therefore, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0078] In one embodiment, the absorbent article (400) may include a first rear channel bonding portion (442) and a second rear channel bonding portion (443). The first rear channel bonding portion (442) is formed on the rear breathable portion (132b) and extends along the width direction (Y). The second rear channel bonding portion (443) is formed on the rear breathable portion (132b) and extends along the width direction (Y). The second rear channel bonding portion (443) is arranged spaced apart from the first rear channel bonding portion (442) along the length direction (X). The roles and effects of the first rear channel bonding portion (442) and the second rear channel bonding portion (443) according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 are the same as those of the front channel bonding portion (141) according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, and therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0079] FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating an absorbent article according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 8, an absorbent article (500) according to another embodiment of the present disclosure applies a front channel bonding portion (441), a first rear front channel bonding portion (442), and a second rear front channel bonding portion (443) according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 to the absorbent member (330) according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5. Therefore, a detailed description of these components is omitted.

[0081] While the technical concept of the present disclosure has been described above with reference to certain embodiments and examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made without departing from the technical concept and scope of the present disclosure, which would be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Furthermore, such substitutions, modifications, and variations should be considered to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An absorbent member used in an absorbent article, comprising:an absorbent portion including super absorbent polymers and fluff pulps; anda breathable portion disposed within the absorbent portion, the absorbent portion being not formed in the breathable portion.

2. The absorbent member of Claim I. wherein a plane area of the breathable portion with respect to a total plane area of the absorbent member is a range of about 15 to 45 % or about 17 to 43%.

3. The absorbent member of Claim 1, wherein the absorbent member includes:a front region including the absorbent portion and the breathable portion and corresponding a front side of a body; anda rear region including the absorbent portion and the breathable portion and corresponding a rear side of the body, the rear region being disposed in opposite to the front region along a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article.

4. The absorbent member of Claim 3, wherein, in the foremost portion of the front region, the absorbent portion does not include the breathable portion along a width direction of the absorbent article, andwherein, in the rearmost portion of the rear region, the absorbent portion does not include the breathable portion along the width direction.

5. The absorbent member of Claim 3, wherein a plane area of the breathable portion in the rear region is equal to or wider than a plane area of the breathable portion in the front region.

6. The absorbent member of Claim 3, wherein the absorbent member further includes acentral region disposed between the front region and the rear region and including the absorbent portion.

7. The absorbent member of Claim 3, wherein the absorbent member further includes a central region disposed between the front region and the rear region and including the absorbent portion and the breathable portion.

8. The absorbent member of Claim 7, wherein, in the central region, the absorbent portion is partitioned in plural by the breathable portion.

9. An absorbent article, comprising:a top sheet facing to a body;a back sheet facing to a garment; andan absorbent member disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, wherein the absorbent member includes:an absorbent portion including super absorbent polymers and fluff pulps; anda breathable portion disposed within the absorbent portion, the absorbent portion being not formed in the breathable portion.

10. The absorbent article of Claim 9, wherein a plane area of the breathable portion with respect to a total plane area of the absorbent member is a range of about 15 to 45 % or about 17 to 43%.

11. The absorbent article of Claim 9, wherein the absorbent member includes:a front region including the absorbent portion and the breathable portion and corresponding a front side of the body; anda rear region including the absorbent portion and the breathable portion and corresponding a rear side of the body, the rear region being disposed in opposite to the frontregion along a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article.

12. The absorbent article of Claim 11, wherein, in the foremost portion of the front region, the absorbent portion does not include the breathable portion along a width direction of the absorbent article, andwherein, in the rearmost portion of the rear region, the absorbent portion does not include the breathable portion along the width direction.

13. The absorbent article of Claim 11, wherein a plane area of the breathable portion in the rear region is equal to or wider than a plane area of the breathable portion in the front region.

14. The absorbent article of Claim 11, wherein the absorbent member further includes a central region disposed between the front region and the rear region and including the absorbent portion.

15. The absorbent article of Claim 11, wherein the absorbent member further includes a central region disposed between the front region and the rear region and including the absorbent portion and the breathable portion.

16. The absorbent article of Claim 15, wherein, in the central region, the absorbent portion is partitioned in plural by the breathable portion.

17. The absorbent article of Claim 11, further comprising one or more front channel bonding portion formed in the breathable portion of the front region and extending along the longitudinal direction, the one or more front channel bonding portion being spaced apart from one another along a width direction of the absorbent article.

18. The absorbent article of Claim 11, further comprising:one or more first rear channel bonding portion formed in the breathable portion of the rear region and extending along the longitudinal direction, the one or more first rear channel bonding portion being spaced apart from one another along a width direction of the absorbent article; andone or more second rear channel bonding portion formed in the breathable portion of the rear region and extending along the longitudinal direction, the one or more first rear channel bonding portion being spaced apart from one another along the width direction,wherein the first rear channel boding portion is spaced apart from the second rear channel bonding portion along the longitudinal direction.

19. The absorbent article of Claim 11, further comprising a front channel bonding portion formed in the breathable portion of the front region and extending along a width direction of the absorbent article.

20. The absorbent article of Claim 11, further comprising:a first rear channel bonding portion formed in the breathable portion of the rear region and extending along a width direction of the absorbent article; anda second rear channel bonding portion formed in the breathable portion of the front region and extending along the width direction, the second rear channel bonding portion being spaced apart from the first rear channel bonding portion along the longitudinal direction.INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT International application No. PCT / KR2023 / 001241A. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER A61F 13 / 53(2006.01)i; A61F 13 / 49(2006.01)i; A61F 13 / 514(2006.01)i According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC B. FIELDS SEARCHED Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) A61F 13 / 53(2006.01): A61F 13 / 15(2006.01): A61F 13 / 472(2006.01); A61F 13 / 534(2006.01); A61F 13 / 535(2006.01); A61F 13 / 539(2006.01) Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched Korean utility models and applications for utility models: IPC as above Japanese utility models and applications for utility models: IPC as above Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practicable, search terms used) eKOMPASS (KIPO internal) &keywords: #2121 ^5.(fluff pulp), -^7] (ventilation), (bonding), ##(absorption) C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT Category* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No. X Y A Y US 9107779 B2 (MUKAI, H. et al.) 18 August 2015 (2015-08-18) See claims 1, 3 and 5; column 5, lines 41-47; and figures 4-7. JP 5612825 B2 (DAIO SEISHIKK) 22 October 2014 12014-10-22) See claim 1; paragraph [0031]: and figure 5. 1,9 2-8,10-16 17-20 2-8,10-16 A KR 10-2020-0051025 A (KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.) 12 May 2020 (2020-05-12) See entire document. 1-20 A EP 0412549 Bl (UNI-CHARM CO.) 08 June 1994 (1994-06-08) See entire document. 1-20 | | Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box C. | J | See patent family annex. * Special categories of cited documents: “A” document defining the general state of the art which is not considered to be of particular relevance “D” document cited by the applicant in die international application ‘4E” earlier application or patent but published on or after the international filing date *4L” document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) or which is cited to establish the publication date of another citation or other special reason (as specified) “O” document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or other means “P” document published prior to the international filing date but later than the priority date claimed “T” later document published after the international filing date or priority date and not in conflict with the application but cited to understand the principle or theory underlying the invention “X” document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot be considered novel or cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the document is taken alone “Y” document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the document is combined with one or more other such documents, such combination being obvious to a person skilled in the art document member of the same patent family Date of the actual completion of the international search 18 October 2023 Date of mailing of the international search report 20 October 2023 Name and mailing address of the ISA / KR Korean Intellectual Property Office Government Complex-Daejeon Building 4,189 Cheongsa-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35208 Facsimile No. +82-42-481-8578 Authorized officer Telephone No.

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