FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an absorbent article in the form of a disposable refastenable diaper that comprises front and back waist panels and a crotch region therebetween. Said front waist panel comprise a target area intended to receive fasteners located on the back waist panel. The present invention relates to a fit indicator printed on the fastener(s) that indicates the proper fit of the absorbent article.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Absorbent articles such as diapers have elastic areas made from elastomeric materials, for example; elastic ears which have been attached on back waist part of the absorbent article.

Fit indicators are used to designate if the elastic areas are stretched too tight or loose around the wearer. As a consequence of fastening the absorbent article too tightly around the wearer, blood circulation problems or skin irritation may occur. Additionally the wearer may not feel comfortable. Moreover an absorbent article fastened too loose may cause leakage of urine and/or feces. Wearing absorbent articles too tight or too loose may become a big problem for babies and disabled people who need care.

The elastic areas especially the elastic ears are stretched to cover and fasten the article. The elastic areas are often arranged to tighten the article around the wearer's legs, around the wearer's waist or the like, when the article is being worn.

The need accordingly exists for absorbent articles in which if it is possible to check that the tension in the elastic areas of the article lies within intended limits and is not too tight or too loose.

l The elastic areas to be used as fit size indicators are described in patent applications in prior art, in which the elastic areas are arranged in the waist area of the article or front waist parts of the absorbent article as described below.

Disposable absorbent articles having fit size indicators, have been issued in the following prior art.

WO2013159273 relates to a pant type diaper that have fit size indicators attached on the belt or waist area of the pant. The belt elastic area of the pant is formed of elastomeric strands used with nonwoven web as known in the art. The elasticized belt portion of the article is designed with fit size graphics attached on nonwoven. The fit size indicators used herein, can only help if the absorbent article suits or not to the wearer. Because pant type articles disclosed in this application is wearable not fastenable. So this approach is not very effective to solve the fastening problems related to the fit size, especially of the drefastenable diaper.

WO2009005413 relates to an absorbent article which has a size fit indicating means located between the frontal tape and a longitudinal side edge of the front face of the article. In this application, the frontal tape is adapted to indicate if the article is too small for the wearer, which does not solves the problem of fastening fit conformation.

WO2006065175 relates to a pant type diaper having means attached on the elasticized area, comprising first and second indicator marker. Said first indicator marker and the second indicator marker are capable of displacement relative to one another in the direction of elongation of the elastic area. Whereas the change in the relative position between the first and the second indicator marker in conjunction with the elongation of the elastic area from a non-elongated position provides a measure of the elongation of the elastic area. Herewith, the application is directly related with measuring of elongation of elastic areas to use as fit indicator.

Thus there exists a need relating to the use of indicating members for guiding the mother or caregiver to fasten a diaper on a user.

Above mentioned absorbent articles comprises fit indicators attached on the absorbent articles. However none of the prior art absorbent articles provide clear information about whether the article is of a correct size or needs to be refasntened or moreover needs to be replaced by fitting in order to provide a satisfactory fit and function. For babies who are growing it is often difficult for the mother or caregiver to determine whether a product is actually too small for the wearer and it is time to change to a larger size. Additionally the caregivers or mothers may fasten the diaper tightly, which makes the wearer feel uncomfortable.

For mother and caregiver it is troublesome to fasten the absorbent article properly. They usually fasten the absorbent article tightly and which makes the baby feel uncomfortable. In that case they need an indicator to realise if the elastic ears are fastened right. There is a need to overcome above mentioned problems about fit size indicating members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an absorbent article for personal hygiene as indicated in the following embodiments. The present invention describes an absorbent article such as disposable or refastenable absorbent article comprising; a chassis including a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core located between said topsheet and backsheet and a liquid acquisition and/or distribution layer located between said topsheet and absorbent core. The crotch region of the absorbent article is lying between the front waist panel and back waist panel.

The present invention provides an absorbent article of independent claim 1 specified with the following dependent claims. The present invention is detailed with given embodiments. The absorbent article has front waist panel and back waist panel located in the opposite edges of the absorbent article. Moreover, the absorbent article has fastening members comprising fasteners and receiving panel wherein; the fasteners are attached on back waist panel and the receiving panel is attached on front waist panel. According to one or more embodiments, the present invention relates to an absorbent article having fasteners comprising fit indicator on fasteners. The crotch region of the absorbent article comprises a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between them wherein the crotch region is lying between the front waist region and the back waist region.

Absorbent article of the present invention comprises fastening members comprised of fasteners and receiving panel.

The fasteners are formed of elastic ears and attaching means. Elastic ears which are formed of elastomeric materials covered with nonwoven web layers are able to stretch and fasten the absorbent article with the help of attaching means.

The receiving panel is called as frontal tape which is formed of nonwoven type web being able to receive the fasteners to fasten the absorbent article.

Absorbent article of the present invention may comprise fastening members, in the form of adhesive tape or hook material, attached to receiving panel on the front waist region. The fasteners are intended to be fastened to a target area on the front waist panel. The target area may comprise a strip of material adapted to receive the fastener or may, simply be a portion of the backsheet in case the outside material of the body panel is adapted to receive the fasteners. For the front waist region, said target area is intended to receive the fasteners for a correct fit of the article. The target area may be indicated by a printed pattern comprised of colour, characters, graphic, text or combinations thereof in order for the caregiver to easily attach the fasteners in a correct position to provide a proper fit of the absorbent article.

In order to avoid leakage a reasonably tight fit on the wearer is necessary. If the size of the article is too loose for the wearer this may also result in leakage problem. If the size of the article is too tight for the wearer this may also result in skin irritations or blood circulation problems.

In the present invention, a proper and efficient way is found for the indication of mentioned fit of the absorbent article by printing fit indicator on the elastic ears of the article. Consequently, the present invention overcomes the mentioned problems by applying fit size indicating structure(s) on elasticized fasteners on elastic ears.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with following accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 : Back view of a diaper according to the present invention

Fig. 2: Front wiev of the diaper of the present invention when in use having fasteners fastened on the target area Fig. 3: Front wiev of the present invention of different fit indicators (3a, 3b) printed on elastic ears when not in use, in unstretched state having first appereance

Fig. 4: Front wiev of the present invention of different fit indicators (4a, 4b) printed on elastic ears when in use, in stretched state having second appereance

Fig.5 Front wiev of the present invention of different fit indicators (5a, 5b) printed on elastic ears when in use, in over-stretched state having third appereance

Fig. 6a: Perspective view of the elastic ear layers according to the present invention

Fig. 6b: Perpective view of the elastic ear layers in attached form, in non-stretched state according to the present invention

Fig. 6c: Perpective view of the elastic ear layers in attached form, in stretched state according to the present invention

Wherein;

Diaper: 1

Backsheet: 2

Fastener: 4 Elastic ear: 6 Mini tape (attaching means): 8 Frontal tape (target area, receiving area): 10 Front waist panel: 12 Back waist panel: 14 Nonwoven web layer: 22 Elastic film layer: 24 Smiley prited pattern: 26 Longitudinal axis: X Lateral axis: Y

ABBREVIATIONS

MD: Machine direction CD: Cross-machine direction NW: Nonwoven F: Force

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An absorbent article having a lateral axis (Y) and longitudinal axis (X) is disclosed in the present invention. The absorbent article relates to a disposable diaper or an incontinence pad having a front waist panel (12), a back waist panel (14) and a pair of elasticized fasteners (4) attached on back waist panel (14) and a target area (10) attached on the front waist panel (12). The absorbent article further comprises fit indicator attached on the elasticized fasteners (4).

The absorbent article disclosed herein comprises, a pair of elasticized fasteners (4) comprising elastic ears (6) and attaching means (8) as mini tapes (8). Said elastic ear (6) has a fit indicator wherein said fit indicator structure has; a first appereance when the elastic ear (6) of the article is not stretched, a second appereance when the elastic ear (6) of the article is stretched to fasten the article, indicating that, the article is fastened in proper fit and, a third appearence when the elastic ear (6) of the article is stretched beyond its desired range to fasten the article indicating that, the article is too small for the wearer or fastened too tight.

According to the present invention, there is provided a disposable refastenable diaper comprises a crotch region comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet (2) and a liquid absorbent core located between said topsheet and the backsheet (2).

The absorbent article comprises a fastening member comprising a pair of elasticized fastener (4) and a frontal tape (10), wherein the elasticized fasteners (4) are attached on back waist panel (14) and the frontal tape (10) is attached on front waist panel (12). Said elasticized fasteners (4) comprise a pair of elastic ears (6) and a pair of mini tapes (8) that are attached on the garment facing side of the backsheet (2) and the frontal tape (10) is attached also on the outer cover of the backsheet (2).

The topsheet is the inner cover of the absorbent article which in use is placed in direct contact with the skin of the wearer. Said topsheet may comprise a nonwoven material, e.g. spunbond, meltblown, carded, hydroentangled, wetlaid etc. Suitable nonwoven materials may be composed of natural fibers, such as wood pulp or cotton fibres, man-made fibres, such as polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, viscose, rayon etc. or from a mixture of natural and man made fibres.

The backsheet (2) is the outer cover of the absorbent article which in use is placed in direct contact with the garment of the wearer. The backsheet (2) can be formed from one or more layers such as; a liquid impervious material as a thin plastic film, e.g. a polyethylene or polypropylene film or a nonwoven material coated with a liquid impervious material, a hydrophobic nonwoven material, which resists liquid penetration, or a laminate of a plastic film and a nonwoven material.

The absorbent core is the absorbent structure disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet (2) of the absorbent artricie. The absorbent core can be formed of any conventional absorbent materials such as; cellulosic material, tissue layers, super absorbent polymers (SAP), absorbent foam materials, absorbent nonwoven materials etc. According to the present invention, cellulosic material and SAP is combined as absorbent core material.

The absorbent article may further include an acquisition distribution layer (ADL) placed on top of the absorbent core, which is adapted to quickly receive and temporarily store discharged liquid before it is absorbed by the absorbent core. Such acquisition distribution layers are well known in the art and may be composed of porous fibrous nonwoven or foam materials.

According to the present invention; the fastening system comprises a fastener (4) comprising an elasticized part and an attaching mean attached with the elasticized part; and a receiving area (10), wherein the attaching mean is capable of engaging the receiving area (10).

The receiving area (10) comprises a nonwoven fabric comprising; fibers having one or more types of polymers such as; propylene polymer, ethylene polymer, wherein the fibers are associated with each other such that the fiber forms a crimped structure therein.

The receiving area (10) may have embossed sections having a plurality of unit patterns and nonembossed sections, wherein the composite fibers are bonded together in the embossed sections. The receiving area (10) may be attached on the front waist panel (12) with an adhesive. For that purpose; the receiving area (10) has a layer of rigid polymeric film that is able to hold adhesives, to be attached on the front waist region of the absorbent article.

The article may further contain elasticized features, such as leg cuffs formed with elastics or leakage barriers along the absorbent core or waist etc. which are known in the art. Specific features of the present invention is disclosed by the following nonlimiting embodiments to express the invention clearly.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the absorbent article is comprising fasteners (4), that are attached to each of the longitudinal side edges of the backsheet (2) of the back waist panel (14). The fasteners (4) are intended to be fastened to the garment facing side of the front waist panel (12).

In the present absorbent article, the fasteners (4) comprise a pair of elasticized nonwoven laminate ears and a pair of mini tape (8). The elastic ears (6) can be formed of any known methods in the art.

In one embodiment; an elastic laminate ear, comprising a first and second non- woven fabric web layers (22) comprised of thermoplastic polymers and at least a layer of elastic film (24) comprised of an elastic polymer wherein; said elastic film (24) is attached to said first and second nonwoven webs (22) with said film and said web in substantially relaxed, unelongated states. Said elastic film (24) being adjoined between said first and second nonwoven web (22) in a laminate construction.

The elastic film layer (24) elongates upon an applied force and retracts when the force is removed in a direction (CD) which is cross to the machine direction (MD). The elastic film (24) is made of an elastic material which can comprise elastomeric polymers such as block copolymers comprising SBS and/or SEBS, styrene block copolymers, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyethers and polyether block copolymers among others. Here "elasticity" or related terms describe the behavior of an elastic material upon application and removal of a force. Size of an elastic material can change dramatically when a force is applied in at least one direction. For example, an elastic material can elongate by at least 200 % of its original length. After removal of applied force it can return to nearly its original length. For example, it can retract at least 50 % of its elongation. In one embodiment, one layer of said nonwoven web (22) has a basis weight of between 10-40 g/m ² , preferably 20 g/m ² and said elastic film (24) has a weight of between 10-70 g/m ² , preferably 50 g/m ² . In one embodiment, said elastic ear (6) structure has a CD elongation of at least 120 % with an elastic recovery of at least 85%.

According to the present invention, at least one fit size indicator structure is attached on elastic ears (6).

In one embodiment, the present invention is a disposable diaper for babies comprising; a topsheet, a backsheet (2), an absorbent core, and the backsheet (2) comprises a pair of fasteners (4) comprise elastic ear (6), and mini tape (8) that are attached on back waist panel (14) of said absorbent article and a target area (10) or frontal tape (10) that is attached on the front waist panel (12) of said absorbent article.

In another embodiment, the absorbent article may also comprise an acquisition and/or distribution layer located between the topsheet and the absorbent core. In one embodiment, the absorbent article in the present invention may also comprise, a pair of longitudinal leg cuffs.

In one embodiment, the topsheet is formed of a liquid pervious nonwoven web structure, that is able to transfer the body waste liquids, and feces in some extend, from top to the absorbent core layer. In one embodiment, the absorbent core is layered between the topsheet and the backsheet (2), extending between the leg cuffs and can be bonded to the backsheet (2) with an adhesive.

Any kind of absorbent polymer material known in the art may be used, as absorbent core material of the article. According to the present invention, the absorbent core is formed of absorbent polymer materials to hold and restrain the body waste. In the present invention, cellulose and/or superabsorbent polymer (SAP) are preferably used as absorbent core material.

In one embodiment, the absorbent core may be covered with a single core wrap, that is formed of a nonwoven web. In one embodiment, the absorbent article comprises a layer of acquisition and distribution layer (ADL) positioned on the absorbent core.

In one embodiment, the backsheet (2) of the present invention is formed of a liquid impervious film layer that is covered with a layer of nonwoven web structure to give the feeling the softness of the garment facing surface of the article to the wearer.

In another embodiment, the absorbent article comprises a pair of leg cuffs extending in the longitudinal axis (Y) of the crotch region wherein the leg cuffs are comprised of a liquid impervious nonwoven (NW) web structure.

In one embodiment, the absorbent article comprise fastening members. The fastening members may be configured to secure the absorbent article about the waist of the wearer and maintain the absorbent article in place during use.

In another embodiment, the fastening members may be included in the front waist panel (12), back waist panel (14) or both. Preferably the fastening members may include a pair of fastener (4)s attached on back waist panel (14). In one embodiment, the absorbent article in the present invention comprises the fastening member comprising; a pair of elastic ears (6) and a pair of mini tapes (8) attached on the elastic ears (6) that are designed to attach on the frontal tape (10) to fasten the absorbent article.

In one embodiment of the present invention the elastic ear (6) is formed of two layers of nonelastic nonwoven fabric sheet (22) and a layer of elastic film (24) disposed between the nonwoven fabric sheets (22).

The mini tapes (8) may be formed of an adhesive tape or a mechanical fastener (4) such as hook fastener (4). The hook fasteners (4) are known in the art as hook-and- loop fastening members. Hook-and-loop fastening members are known as refastenable fastening members. Hook and loop fastening is preferred in the present invention due to its refastenable nature. Also combinations of adhesive and mechanical fasteners (4) may also be provided. The fasteners (4) are intended to be fastened to a frontal tape (10), on the garment facing side of the front waist panel (12) when the article is in use. The frontal tape (10) is defined as the area that is attached on the garment facing side of the front waist panel (12). The object of the frontal tape (10) is receiving the fasteners (4) that are attached on the outer surface of the back waist panel (14).

According to the present invention, the frontal tape (10) is intended to receive the fasteners (4) when the article is of an appropriate size for the wearer.

According to the present invention; the frontal tape (10) comprises a reception material for the fasteners (4) to be attached on the target area (10). A plastic film or a nonwoven material or combinations thereof will function as a reception material for an adhesive type or hook type fastener (4).

In one embodiment, the absorbent article in the present invention comprises fit indicator disposed on the elastic ears (6) of the fasteners (4). The fit indicator is intended to indicate whether the article fits the wearer. Hereby a need is detected to change the absorbent article to a fitting size in order to have a proper fit and avoid leakage. The fit indicator is a printed pattern may comprised of colour, character, graphic, text or combinations thereof. Especially for babies or disabled people who are not able to indicate that the absorbent article is not fitting. The fit indicator is helpful! for the mothers and caregivers.

According to the present invention, the fit indicator is located on the surface of the garment facing side of the elastic ear (6). The elastic ears (6) are arranged to extend in lateral axis, all the way from the target area (10) to the respective side edge of the front waist panel (12). Preferably each fit size indicating structure, has an extension in lateral axis.

According to the present invention, the elastic ear (6) has two layer of nonwoven (22) and one layer of polymeric elastic film layer (24) wherein, the fit indicator may be printed on any layers of the elastic ear (6). In another embodiment a receiving area (10) which is frontal tape (10) or target area (10), is adapted to receive the fastener (4). Said receiving area (10) is located on front waist panel (12) extending in lateral direction of the absorbent article. In a further embodiment the garment facing surface of the absorbent article may act as receiving area (10) adapted to receive said fasteners (4), wherein the surface of the article is formed of a nonwoven web structure.

The invention is described with embodiments detailed with the drawings given as following.

In one embodiment of the invention and by following the drawings the crotch region of the diaper is extending longitudinally between the front waist panel (12) and the back waist panel (14) and intended to extend through the wearer's crotch area, between the legs. An absorbent core is disposed in the crotch region and extends into the front and back waist panels (14).

According to the present invention, the article has a longitudinal axis (Y) and a lateral axis (X). By the way; the front waist panel (12) and back waist panel (14) have longitudinal and transverse side edges, respectively.

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 of the drawings show an embodiment of an absorbent article in the form of a baby diaper or an adult diaper comprising a front waist panel (12), which is the part of the article intended to extend over the stomach and front hip area of the wearer. The article also comprises a back waist panel (14), which is intended to extend over the back and the rear hip area of the wearer.

In Fig. 1 the elastic ear (6) has a character in the form of a smiley printed pattern (26) on the elastic ear (6), wherein the smiley printed pattern (26) is a fit indicator of the absorbent article.

Fig. 2 shows an example of a baby diaper in use, according to the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the absorbent article is fastened by attaching fastener (4)s onto the frontal tape (10). The elastic ear (6) extens along the lateral direction and mini tapes (8), which are formed of hook structures further join the frontal tape (10). As can be seen from Fig. 2 the absorbent article is fastened, by extending the elastic ears (6) to attach the hooks on frontal tape (10).

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show the appereance of fit indicator in use.

Figure 3 shows a fit indicator disposed on the elastic ear (6) in a first appearance when the absorbent article is not fastened. No stretching load is applied to the elasticized parts.

Figure 4 shows fit indicator disposed on the elastic ear (6) in a second appearance wherein a force (F) is applied to fasten the article. The force applied by a mother to fasten the absorbent article is measured as 10 N. This is the desired force needed to fasten the absorbent article in the fitting state.

Figure 5 shows fit indicator disposed on the elastic ear (6) in a third appearance wherein the force (F) is applied to fasten the article is more than the desired force (10 N). The elastic ear (6) stretched more than the desired range of force (F) to fasten the article, therefore the force applied to fasten the article is increased. Herebyt the fit size indicating structure is deformed which is a sign that the absorbent article is too tight for the wearer.

As described in the following; Fig. 3, Fig 4 and Fig. 5 are showing, the indicating structure(s) that are attached on the elastic ear (8) of the fastener (4).

According to the present invention, said elastic ears (6) having a fit indicator structure has a first appereance when the elastic ear (6) of the article is not stretched, a second appereance when the elastic ear (6) of the article is stretched to fasten the article, indicating that the article is fastened in proper fit and a third appearence when the elastic ear (6) of the article is stretched beyond its desired range to fasten the article indicating that the article is too small or too tight for the wearer. The fit indicator can be indicated by different colours, characters, graphics, text, print, paint or combinations thereof. The structures are recognizable from the garment facing side of the elastic ear (6). The fit indicating structure(s) is intended to function in the following manner; - when the article is not fastened to a wearer, as illustrated in Fig. 1 , the fit indicating structure(s) has the first appereance and nondeformed structure as shown in Fig. 3, - when the article is fastened to a wearer, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the wearer is of a size that allows the fasteners (4) to be fastened to the frontal tape (10) properly, the fit indicator will have a proper structure as illustrated in Fig. 4. Thus the fit indicator takes proper shape as to indicate desired size. It can be understood that, the article is fitting properly to the wearer and,

- when the article is fastened to a wearer which is too small for the wearer, the fasteners (4) can not be attached to the target area (10) properly and the fit indicator has a third appereance as illustrated in Fig. 5. Thus the fit indicator's shape takes a distorted shape which indicates that the size of the absorbent article is too small for the wearer or fastened too tightly.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily understand that many modification are possible. Any such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention, which is defined in the claims below. As used herein the terms of "target area", "receiving area" and "frontal tape" may be used interchangable for each other. They are indicating the same structure that have the ability to receive the fasteners (4) to be attached on.

The term "extensible" mean that the width or length of the component in a relaxed state can be extended or increased.

The term "elasticized" mean that a component comprises at least a portion made of elastic material.

As used herein, the term of "stretch" has the same meaning and refer to the elongation of a material when it is subjected to a stretching force. An elastomeric material will tend to generate a return force when subjected to strain as it attempts to relax toward its initial configuration. As such, there is a relationship between degree of stretch or strain of an elastomeric material and the forces tending toward return such a material generates.

As used herein the terms of "extended" or "stretched" materials are used interchangeably and refer to a material that, upon application of a biasing force, can stretch to an elongated length, shows little recovery, without complete rupture or breakage.

The term "Elastomeric or elastic material" used in the present invention, is a material exhibiting elastic properties. Elastomeric materials may include elastomeric films, scrims, nonwovens, and other sheet-like structures.

Process of Manufacturing Elastic ear (6) with Fit Size Indicating Structure^)

A method of making a laminate elastic ear (6) fabric, comprising the steps of: a) providing a first and second nonwoven fabric web (22) comprised of thermoplastic polymers having a basis weight of between 10-40 g/m ² , preferably 20 g/m ² for each web layer, b) providing an elastic film (24) comprised of a elastic polymer having a weight of between 10-70 g/m ² , preferably 50 g/m ² ; c) positioning said elastic film (24) between said first and second nonwoven webs (22), in face to face juxtaposition, said first and second nonwoven webs and said film being in substantially relaxed, untensioned states; d) printing the fit size indicating structure on the elastic ear (6) and; e) applying elevated temperature to affix said nonwoven webs (22) to said film (24). Said elevated temperatures are provided by contact with an engraved calender roll.