Package of absorbent articles utilizing a shaped nonwoven
Inventors
Ashraf, Arman • Weisman, Paul Thomas
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12575981-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A package of personal care articles. Each of the personal care articles has a nonwoven substrate as a component. The nonwoven substrate can have a first surface defining a plane of the first surface and a non-regular pattern of a plurality of three-dimensional features extending outwardly from the plane of the first surface. The non-regular pattern can include a first zone of first three-dimensional features and a second zone of second three-dimensional features, wherein in at least one of the first or second zones of the plurality of three-dimensional features has a first three-dimensional feature having a first intensive property and a second three-dimensional feature having a second, different intensive property. The personal care articles can be compressed in the package.
Core Innovation
The invention provides shaped spunbond nonwoven substrates for personal care absorbent articles, where an outer cover nonwoven substrate includes a first surface defining a plane and a plurality of three-dimensional features extending outwardly from the plane. The nonwoven substrate includes a first zone and a second zone within an overall area, with each zone having a different pattern of three-dimensional features and a thickness having a first value and a second, different value. The first pattern of three-dimensional features is different from the second pattern of three-dimensional features.
The outer cover nonwoven substrate retains at least 70% of caliper after being tested according to the Compression Aging Test. In the personal care articles, the outer cover includes a nonwoven substrate in which the first pattern of three-dimensional features is visually discernible from the second pattern of three-dimensional features. In additional configurations, the first three-dimensional features and the second three-dimensional features are bounded by regions of higher density.
A package includes a plurality of personal care articles, with the personal care articles being folded about a lateral axis and compressed in the package. The package is limited by having an In Bag Stack Height of less than about 110 mm according to the In-Bag Stack Height test. The document also includes personal care article architectures comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, in combination with the shaped nonwoven outer cover.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claims, each centered on a package and/or personal care article having a patterned, caliper-retaining nonwoven outer cover with zone-dependent three-dimensional features, together with a compressed package constrained by an In Bag Stack Height of less than about 110 mm.
Caliper-retaining patterned zonal 3D nonwoven outer cover in a compressed package
A package comprising a plurality of personal care articles, each having an outer cover with a nonwoven substrate that retains at least 70% of caliper after being tested according to the Compression Aging Test, the nonwoven substrate comprising a first surface and a plurality of three-dimensional features extending outwardly, where the three-dimensional features comprise a first zone with a first pattern and first thickness value and a second zone with a second, different pattern and second thickness value, and where the first pattern is different from the second pattern, with the personal care articles being folded about a lateral axis and compressed in the package and wherein the package has an In Bag Stack Height of less than about 110 mm.
Personal care article having a visually discernible zonal patterned 3D nonwoven outer cover plus caliper retention
A personal care article comprising an outer cover having a nonwoven substrate with a first surface and a plurality of three-dimensional features extending outwardly, the features comprising a first zone with a first pattern and first thickness value and a second zone with a second pattern and second, different thickness value, wherein the first pattern is visually discernible from the second pattern, the article further including a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the outer cover retains at least 70% of caliper after being tested according to the Compression Aging Test, and wherein the package has an In Bag Stack Height of less than about 110 mm.
Caliper-retaining zonal 3D nonwoven with higher-density bounded features in a compressed package
A package comprising a plurality of personal care articles, each having an outer cover with a nonwoven substrate that retains at least 70% of caliper after being tested according to the Compression Aging Test, the nonwoven substrate comprising a first surface and a plurality of three-dimensional features extending outwardly, where the three-dimensional features comprise a first zone having first three-dimensional features bounded by regions of higher density and a second zone having second three-dimensional features bounded by regions of higher density, wherein the first pattern of three-dimensional features is different from the second pattern, with the personal care articles being folded about a lateral axis and compressed in the package, and wherein the package has an In Bag Stack Height of less than about 110 mm.
Across the independent claims, the key coverage is a patterned, zonal nonwoven outer cover with three-dimensional features having different patterns/thickness values, requiring at least 70% caliper retention after the Compression Aging Test, and used in personal care articles that are folded about a lateral axis and compressed in a package having an In Bag Stack Height of less than about 110 mm; additional claim coverage includes visual discernibility of patterns and bounding of three-dimensional features by regions of higher density.
Stated Advantages
The nonwoven substrate retains at least 70% of caliper after being tested according to the Compression Aging Test.
Documented Applications
Personal care absorbent articles including outer cover nonwoven substrates having patterned zonal three-dimensional features for use in packages where the personal care articles are folded about a lateral axis and compressed.
A personal care article architecture including a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, using the described outer cover nonwoven substrate.
A sanitary napkin is specified as an example personal care article type in the dependent claim set referenced for the personal care article claim.
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