Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
1
ABSORBENT ARTICLES HAVING CUFFS WITH SKIN CARE
COMPOSITION DISPOSED THEREON
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as diapers, training
pants, adult incontinence devices, sanitary napkins, feminine garments, and
the like,
having cuffs, including elastic leg cuffs. More particularly, the present
invention
relates to absorbent articles having a skin care composition disposed on the
cuffs or
the cuffs arid the topsheet that is transferable to the wearer's skin by
normal contact
and/or wearer motion and/or body heat. The skin care compositions disclosed in
the
present invention are selected to maintain and/or improve the skin health of
the
wearer upon transfer during use, for example, to provide a skin protective
barrier or a
therapeutic benefit; to minimize the abrasion between the cuffs and skin in
the area
where the cuffs contact the wearer's skin, resulting in less red marking or
skin
irritation; to improve BM clean up on the skin, or to improve the barrier
properties of
the cuffs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The major function of absorbent articles such as disposable diapers and
incontinent briefs or undergarments is to absorb and contain body exudates.
Such
articles are thus intended to prevent body exudates from soiling, wetting, or
otherwise contaminating clothing or other articles, such as bedding, that come
in
contact with the wearer. The most common mode of failure for such products
occurs
when body exudates leak out of the gaps between the article and the wearer's
legs
or waist to adjacent clothing because they are not immediately absorbed within
the
article and the absorbent article is not able to sustain a good fit on the
wearer such
that gaps are created allowing the exudates to leak out of the article. For
example,
urine tends to be deposited onto the topsheet in gushes such that the urine
migrates
to the gaps between the article and the wearer where it can come in contact
with
clothing or other articles and be absorbed by these articles. Additionally,
loose fecal
material that is not easily absorbed
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
2
by the absorbent article tends to "float" on the body-contacting surface and
work its way
past the gaps between the article and the legs or waist of the wearer.
Contemporary disposable diapers have a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent
core,
and one or more cuffs, typically elastic cuffs, positioned to contact the legs
and/or waist
of the wearer. These elastic cuffs prove effective generally to prevent
wicking and
overflow from the fluid laden diaper to clothing contacting the edges of the
diaper in that
the elastic cuffs present a barrier between the edge of the diaper and the
contacting
clothing, and generally in addition, provide a gasketing action about the legs
or waist of
the wearer to maintain a seal about the leg or waist and minimize gapping.
However,
because the forces generated by the elastic members are concentrated along a
narrow
area resulting in high localized pressures, such elastic cuffs have an
increased tendency
to indent and mark the skin of the wearer. These skin effects are particularly
acute for
products worn by infants and incontinent elderly adults due to the tenderness
of their
skin and its sensitivity to even slight pressures or rubbing actions. These
skin effects are
even further acute due to the occlusion of the skin caused by such products.
The
occlusion of the skin by the diaper can potentially lead to skin
overhydration. As a
result, overhydrated skin is more susceptible to damage from abrasion due to
rubbing
caused by normal wearer movements and contact with the elastic cuffs. It is
also
generally known that overhydrated skin is more susceptible to skin disorders,
including
diaper rash, erythema, heat rash, abrasion, pressure marks, and skin barrier
loss. The
reduced barner efficiency of abraded, overhydrated skin can further cause an
increase in
diaper rash. (21 C.F.R. 333.503 defines diaper rash as "[a]n inflammatory skin
condition
in the diaper area (perineum, buttocks, lower abdomen, and inner thighs)
caused by one
or more of the following factors: moisture, occlusion, chafing, continued
contact with
urine or feces or both, or mechanical or chemical irritation.") To address the
concerns of
skin disorders associated with wearing diapers and other absorbent articles,
the caregiver
or wearer often applies skin protective and/or therapeutic products to the
buttocks,
genitals, anal and/or other regions before placing the absorbent article on
the wearer.
This procedure usually involves the caregiver applying the skin protective
product to
their hands, and then wiping the same on the skin of the wearer. To eliminate
the need
for this wasteful, messy, time-consuming, and easily forgotten procedure,
there have
been attempts to prepare absorbent articles which contain a skin care
substance on the
article's topsheet.
One substance that has been applied to diaper products to impart a soothing,
protective coating is mineral oil. Mineral oil (also known as liquid
petrolatum) is a
mixture of various liquid hydrocarbons obtained by distilling the high-boiling
(i.e., 300°-
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
3
390°C) fractions in petroleum. Mineral oil is liquid at ambient
temperatures, e.g. 20°-25
°C. As a result, mineral oil is relatively fluid and mobile when
applied to diapers.
Because mineral oil is fluid and mobile at ambient temperatures, it tends not
to remain
localized on the surface of the diaper, but instead migrates into the interior
of the diaper.
Accordingly, relatively high levels of mineral oil need to be applied to the
diaper to
provide the desired therapeutic or protective coating benefits. This leads not
only to
increased costs for these treated diaper products, but other detrimental
effects as well,
including decreased absorbency of the underlying absorbent core.
Even without increasing its level, the tendency of mineral oil to migrate once
applied has other detrimental effects. For example, the applied mineral oil
can transfer
to, into and through the packaging or wrapper material for the treated diaper
product.
This can create the need for barrier-type packaging or wrapper films to avoid
smearing or
other leakage of mineral oil from the diaper product.
U.S. Patent 3,489,148 to Duncan, et al. teaches a baby diaper comprising a
hydrophobic and oleophobic topsheet wherein a portion of the topsheet is
coated with a
discontinuous film of oleaginous material. A major disadvantage of the diapers
disclosed in the Duncan et al. reference is that the hydrophobic and
oleophobic topsheets
are slow in promoting transfer of urine to the underlying absorbent cores.
In addition to the migration problems encountered by placing liquid
compositions
on the topsheet, the prior art has failed to recognize the skin care
detriments caused by
the use of cuffs, nor of a way to treat the cuffs so that skin care
compositions disposed
thereon remain on the cuff and transfer to the wearer's skin in an effective
amount to
provide a skin care benefit. The prior art has also failed to recognize that
treatment of an
article's topsheet alone does not necessarily transfer the composition to all
critical
regions of the wearer's skin.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an absorbent article having cuffs
wherein a
skin care composition is disposed on the cuffs to provide improved skin care
benefits,
particularly in skin regions in contact with the wearer during use. The skin
care
composition must be transferable to the wearer's skin to provide these skin
benefits, as
well as not inhibiting the functionality of the cuff in the product.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide diaper products or other
absorbent
articles having one or more cuffs with a skin care composition disposed
thereon that: ( 1 )
have desirable therapeutic or protective coating benefits; and/or (2) do not
require
relatively high levels of skin care compositions that are liquid at room
temperature (e.g.,
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
4
mineral oil); and/or (3) do not adversely affect the absorbency of the diaper
product;
and/or (4) do not necessarily require special wrapping or barrier materials
for
packaging.
Therefore, it is an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide a
diaper or absorbent article having one or more cuffs with a skin care
composition
disposed thereon, wherein at least a portion of the composition is
transferable to the
wearer's skin to provide desirable skin care benefits, including less skin
irritation, less
red marking, therapeutic benefits including a reduction in erythema and/or
diaper
rash, and/or reducing the adherence of BM to the skin, thereby improving the
ease of
BM cleanup. It is another object of and aspect of the present invention to
improve the
containment/barrier function of cuffs when hydrophobic skin care compositions
are
used.
These and other objects of an aspect of the invention are obtained using the
present invention, as will become readily apparent from a reading of the
following
disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an absorbent article, such as a disposable
diaper, having one or more cuffs with a skin care composition disposed on
(applied
or migratable to) the body surface of the cuffs. Importantly, the skin care
compositions useful herein are readily transferable to the wearer's skin by
way of
normal contact, wearer motion, and/or body heat. Upon transfer to the skin,
the skin
care composition provides desirable therapeutic and/or protective coating
benefits
resulting in less red marking, erythema, diaper rash, skin irritation, and/or
reducing
the adherence of BM to the skin of the wearer, thereby improving the ease of
BM
clean up. Where hydrophobic skin care compositions are employed, the skin care
compositions described herein can also increase the containment/barrier
properties
of the cuffs, thereby improving their leakage protection. Such a hydrophobic
skin care
composition particularly allows for flexibility in cuff designs using nonwoven
materials
by providing an alternate method to achieve the desired containment/barrier
properties. This can lead to reduced material costs.
As used herein, the term "cuff' includes leg cuffs including barrier cuffs,
gasketing cuffs, combinations and variations thereof; transverse barriers and
pockets/spacers; side panels; as well as waist cuffs including waist flaps,
waistbands,
waistcaps, and unitary waistcap/waistbands; and combinations of all or some of
CA 02223361 2002-O1-09
these cuffs.
Importantly, the skin care compositions described herein provide a protective
and/or a therapeutic benefit upon transfer to the wearer's skin, including
reducing
erythema and/or diaper rash. The skin care composition may also act to
minimize the
abrasion between the cuffs and skin in the area where the cuffs contact the
wearer's
skin, resulting in less redmarking and/or skin irritation. Additionally, the
protective
coating on the wearer's skin may reduce the adherence of BM to the skin,
thereby
improving the ease of BM cleanup.
As will be discussed hereinafter, skin care compositions useful in the present
invention preferably have a melting profile such that they are relatively
immobile and
localized on the cuffs at room temperature, are transferable to the wearer at
body
temperature, and yet are not completely liquid under extreme storage
conditions. In
such embodiments, less skin care composition is needed to impart the desired
skin
care benefits. In addition, special barrier or wrapping materials may not be
necessary
in packaging the treated products of the present invention.
In one preferred embodiment, an absorbent article of the present invention
will comprise a skin care composition disposed on (applied or migratable to)
the cuffs
and the topsheet. Applicants have discovered that such preferred articles
increase
transfer of the composition to the wearer's skin, resulting in increased
therapeutic
and/or protective benefits discussed herein. In this regard, increased
transfer will be
realized as increased skin coverage (i.e., area of skin) and/or the amount of
composition transferred to a given area of skin.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided an absorbent article to be worn by a wearer adjacent the skin, the
absorbent article comprising:
a chassis comprising:
a backsheet; and
a topsheet; and
an absorbent core positioned between at least a portion of said topsheet and
said backsheet;
a cuff joined to said chassis, each said cuff having a first surface and a
second surface disposed opposite said first surface; and
a skin care composition disposed on said cuff, said skin care composition
CA 02223361 2002-O1-09
Sa
being, semi-solid or solid at 20°C and at least partially transferable
to a
wearer's skin, said skin care composition comprises:
(i) from about 10% to about 95% of an emollient having a plastic or fluid
consistency at 20°C, wherein said emollient comprises a member selected
from the group consisting of petroleum-based emollients, spermaceti, fatty
acid esters, polysiloxanes, sucrose ester fatty acids, and mixtures thereof;
and
(ii) from about 5% to about 90% of an agent capable of immobilizing said
emollient on said cuff, wherein said immobilizing agent is selected from the
group consisting of waxes, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, C,4 -Cz2 fatty
alcohols, C,2 -C~ fatty acids, C,2 -C~ fatty alcohol ethoxylates, polyhydroxy
fatty acid esters having the formula:
O
R-CI-O Y
n
wherein R is a C5-C3, hydrocarbyl group; Y is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl
moiety having a hydrocarbyl chain with at least 2 free hydroxyls directly
connected to the chain and is selected from the group consisting, of polyols,
sugars, sugar alcohols, and mixtures thereof; and n is at least one, glyceryl
monoesters of C,s-C22 saturated fatty acids, and mixtures thereof.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided an absorbent article to be worn by a wearer adjacent the skin, the
absorbent article comprising:
a chassis having edges, said chassis comprising:
an outer covering layer; and
an absorbent core encased in said outer covering layer;
a barrier cuff joined to said chassis, said barrier cuff comprising a separate
barrier cuff member having a proximal edge and a distal edge in spaced
relation to said proximal edge, said proximal edge being joined to said outer
covering layer, a portion of said distal edge not being secured to the
absorbent article, and a spacing elastic element operatively associated with
CA 02223361 2002-O1-09
Sb
said distal edge for allowing said barrier cuff element to stand upwardly away
from said outer covering layer; and
a skin care composition disposed on said barrier cuff member, said skin care
composition being semi-solid or solid at 20°C and at least partially
transferable to a wearer's skin, said skin care composition comprises:
(i) from about 10% to about 95% of an emollient having a plastic or fluid
consistency at 20°C, wherein said emollient comprises a member selected
from the group consisting of petroleum-based emollients, spermaceti, fatty
acid esters, polysiloxanes, sucrose ester fatty acids, and mixtures thereof;
and
(ii) from about 5% to about 90% of an agent capable of immobilizing said
emollient on said cuff, wherein said immobilizing agent is selected from the
group consisting of waxes, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, C,4 -C22 fatty
alcohols, C,2 -C22 fatty acids, C,2 -C22 fatty alcohol ethoxylates,
polyhydroxy
fatty acid esters having the formula:
O
R-CI-O Y
n
wherein R is a C5-C3~ hydrocarbyl group; Y is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl
moiety having a hydrocarbyl chain with at least 2 free hydroxyls directly
connected to the chain and is selected from the group consisting, of polyols,
sugars, sugar alcohols, and mixtures thereof; and n is at least one, glyceryl
monoesters of C,g-C22 saturated fatty acids, and mixtures thereof.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided an absorbent article to be worn by a wearer adjacent the skin, the
absorbent article comprising:
a chassis comprising:
an outer covering layer comprising:
a backsheet, and
a topsheet; and
CA 02223361 2002-O1-09
SC
an absorbent core positioned between at least a portion of said topsheet
and said backsheet, said absorbent core having edges;
a gasketing cuff joined to said chassis, said gasketing cuff comprising a side
flap extending outwardly from and along one of said edges of said absorbent
core, said side flap comprising at least one separate first cuff element
affixed
to said chassis, and an elastic element operatively joined with said side
flap;
and
a skin care composition disposed on said barrier cuff member, said skin care
composition being semi-solid or solid at 20°C and at least partially
transferable to a wearer's skin, said skin care composition comprises:
(i) from about 10% to about 95% of an emollient having a plastic or fluid
consistency at 20°C, wherein said emollient comprises a member selected
from the group consisting of petroleum-based emollients, spermaceti, fatty
acid esters, polysiloxanes, sucrose ester fatty acids, and mixtures thereof;
and
(ii) from about 5% to about 90% of an agent capable of immobilizing said
emollient on said cuff, wherein said immobilizing agent is selected from the
group consisting of waxes, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, C,4 -C22 fatty
alcohols, C~2 -C~ fatty acids, C,2 -C22 fatty alcohol ethoxylates, polyhydroxy
fatty acid esters having the formula:
O
R-CI-O Y
n
wherein R is a C5-C3~ hydrocarbyl group; Y is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl
moiety having a hydrocarbyl chain with at least 2 free hydroxyls directly
connected to the chain and is selected from the group consisting, of polyols,
sugars, sugar alcohols, and mixtures thereof; and n is at least one, glyceryl
monoesters of C,6-C~ saturated fatty acids, and mixtures thereof.
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Sd
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided an absorbent article to be worn by a wearer adjacent the skin, the
absorbent article comprising:
a chassis comprising:
an outer covering layer comprising:
a backsheet;
a topsheet; and
an absorbent insert positioned between at least a portion of said topsheet
and said backsheet;
a cuff joined to said chassis, each said cuff having a first surface and a
second surface disposed opposite said first surface; and
a skin care composition disposed on said barrier cuff member, said skin care
composition being semi-solid or solid at 20°C and at least partially
transferable to a wearer's skin, said skin care composition comprises:
(i) from about 10% to about 95% of an emollient having a plastic or fluid
consistency at 20°C, wherein said emollient comprises a member selected
from the group consisting of petroleum-based emollients, spermaceti, fatty
acid esters, polysiloxanes, sucrose ester fatty acids, and mixtures thereof;
and
(ii) from about 5% to about 90% of an agent capable of immobilizing said
emollient on said cuff, wherein said immobilizing agent is selected from the
group consisting of waxes, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, C,4 -C~ fatty
alcohols, C,2 -C22 fatty acids, C,2 -CZZ fatty alcohol ethoxylates,
polyhydroxy
fatty acid esters having the formula:
O
R-CI-O Y
n
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Se
wherein R is a C5-C3~ hydrocarbyl group; Y is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl
moiety having a hydrocarbyl chain with at least 2 free hydroxyls directly
connected to the chain and is selected from the group consisting, of polyols,
sugars, sugar alcohols, and mixtures thereof; and n is at least one, glyceryl
monoesters of C,s-C22 saturated fatty acids, and mixtures thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a plan view of a disposable diaper embodiment of the present
invention having portions cut away to reveal underlying structure.
Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along section line 2 - 2 of
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along section line 3 - 3 of
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of an absorbent article in the form of a
disposable diaper according to the present invention
Figure 5 is a schematic representation illustrating a preferred process for
applying the composition of the present invention to diaper barrier cuffs.
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
6
Figure 6 is a schematic representation illustrating an alternative process for
applying the composition of the present invention to diaper barrier cuffs.
Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a further alternative embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 9 is a plan view of a still further alternative embodiment of the
present
invention.
Figure 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an even still further
alternative
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11 is a fragmentary coronal view showing a sanitary napkin of the
present
invention and a panty in place on a user. -
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As used herein, the term "comprising" means that the various components,
ingredients, or steps, can be conjointly employed in practicing the present
invention.
Accordingly, the term "comprising" encompasses the more restrictive terms
"consisting
essentially of and "consisting of."
As used herein, the term "skin care composition" refers to any composition
which
comprises one or more agents which, when transferred from an article to a
wearer's skin,
provide a therapeutic and/or protective skin benefit. Representative materials
are
discussed in detail below.
All percentages, ratios and proportions used herein are by weight unless
otherwise specified.
A. Absorbent Article
As used herein, the term "absorbent article" refers to devices which absorb
and
contain body exudates, and more specifically, refers to devices which are
placed against
the skin of a wearer to absorb and contain the various exudates discharged
from the
body. The term "disposable" is used herein to describe absorbent articles
which are not
intended to be laundered or otherwise restored or reused as an absorbent
article after a
single use. Examples of disposable absorbent articles include feminine hygiene
products
such as sanitary panties, sanitary napkins, and pantiliners; diapers;
incontinence products
such as briefs or undergarments; diaper holders; diaper inserts; pull-on
diapers and
training pants; and the like.
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7
Disposable absorbent articles typically comprise a chassis comprising an outer
covering layer comprising a liquid pervious topsheet and a liquid impervious
backsheet
joined to the topsheet, and an absorbent core encased within the outer
covering layer,
preferably being positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. Disposable
absorbent articles and components thereof, including the topsheet, backsheet,
absorbent
core, and any individual layers of these components, have two major surfaces
(a first
surface and a second surface) generally designated a body surface and a
garment surface.
As used herein, "body surface" (also referred to as the body-contacting
surface or skin-
contacting surface) means that surface of the article or component which is
intended to
be worn toward or adjacent to the body of the wearer, while the "garment
surface" is on
the opposite side that faces away from the wearer and is oriented toward the
wearer's
garments when the disposable absorbent article is worn.
The following description generally discusses the absorbent core, topsheet,
and
backsheet materials that are useful in disposable absorbent articles. It is to
be understood
that this general description applies to these components of the specific
absorbent articles
shown in Figures 1-4 and further described below, in addition to those of
other
disposable absorbent articles which are generally described herein.
In general, the absorbent core is capable of absorbing or retaining liquids
(e.g.,
menses, urine, and/or other body exudates). The absorbent core is preferably
compressible, conformable, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. The
absorbent core
may be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes (e.g., rectangular,
oval,
hourglass, "T" shaped, dog bone, symmetric, asymmetric, etc.). In addition to
the
absorbent composites of the present invention, the absorbent core may include
any of a
wide variety of liquid-absorbent materials commonly used in absorbent
articles, such as
comminuted wood pulp, which is generally referred to as airfelt. Examples of
other
suitable absorbent materials for use in the absorbent core include creped
cellulose
wadding; meltblown polymers including coform; chemically stiffened, modified
or
cross-linked cellulosic fibers; synthetic fibers such as crimped polyester
fibers; peat
moss; tissue including tissue wraps and tissue laminates; absorbent foams;
absorbent
sponges; superabsorbent polymers; absorbent gelling materials; or any
equivalent
material or combinations of materials, or mixtures of these.
The configuration and construction of the absorbent core may also be varied
(e.g.,
the absorbent core may have varying caliper zones and/or have a profile so as
to be
thicker in the center; hydrophilic gradients; gradients of the absorbent
composite, e.g.,
superabsorbent gradients; lower average density and lower average basis weight
zones,
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
8
e.g., acquisition zones; or may comprise one or more layers or structures).
The total
absorbent capacity of the absorbent core should, however, be compatible with
the design
loading and the intended use of the absorbent article. Further, the size and
absorbent
capacity of the absorbent core may be varied to accommodate different uses
such as
diapers, incontinence pads, training pants, pantiliners, regular sanitary
napkins, and
overnight sanitary napkins, and to accommodate wearers ranging from infants to
adults.
The absorbent core can include other absorbent components that are often used
in
absorbent articles, for example, a dusting layer, a wicking or acquisition
layer (surge
management layer), or a secondary topsheet for increasing the wearer's
comfort.
The topsheet is preferably compliant, soft feeling, and non-irritating to the
wearer's skin. Further, the topsheet is liquid pervious, at least in certain
regions, and
permits liquids (e.g., menses and/or urine) to readily penetrate through its
thickness. A
suitable topsheet may be manufactured from a wide range of materials such as
woven
and nonwoven materials (e.g., a nonwoven web of fibers), including apertured
nonwovens; polymeric materials such as apertured formed thermoplastic films,
apertured
plastic films, and hydroformed thermoplastic films; porous foams; reticulated
foams;
reticulated thermoplastic films; and thermoplastic scrims. Suitable woven and
nonwoven materials can be comprised of natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton
fibers),
synthetic fibers (e.g., polymeric fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, or
polyethylene
fibers), bicomponent fibers, or from a combination of natural and synthetic
fibers. When
the topsheet comprises a nonwoven web, the web may be manufactured by a wide
number of known techniques. For example, the web may be spunbonded, carded,
wet-
laid, melt-blown, hydroentangled, hydroformed, hydroapertured, combinations of
the
above, or the like.
The backsheet is preferably impervious to liquids (e.g., menses and/or urine),
at
least in the crotch region of the absorbent article, and is preferably
manufactured from a
thin plastic film, although other flexible liquid impervious materials may
also be used.
As used herein, the term "flexible" refers to materials which are compliant
and will
readily conform to the general shape and contours of the human body. The
backsheet
prevents the exudates absorbed and contained in the absorbent core from
wetting articles
which contact the absorbent article such as bedsheets, pants, pajamas and
undergarments.
The backsheet may thus comprise a woven or nonwoven material, polymeric films
such
as thermoplastic films of polyethylene or polypropylene, or composite
materials such as
a coated nonwoven or a film-coated nonwoven material. A suitable backsheet is
a
polyethylene film having a thickness of from about 0.012 mm (0.5 mil) to about
0.051
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
9
mm (2.0 mils). Exemplary polyethylene films are manufactured by Clopay
Corporation of Cincinnati. Ohio. under the designation P18-140 1 and by
Tredegar
Film Products of Terre Haute, Indiana, under the designation XP-39385. The
backsheet is preferably embossed and/or matte finished to provide a more
clothlike
appearance. Further, the backsheet may permit vapors to escape from the
absorbent
core (i.e., the backsheet is breathable) while still preventing exudates from
passing
through the backsheet. (An example of a breathable backsheet suitable for use
herein is disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,571,096, "Absorbent Article Having
Breathable
Side Panels", issued to Dobrin, Davis and Weirich on November 5, 1996.) The
size of
the backsheet is dictated by the size of the absorbent core and the exact
absorbent
article design selected.
The backsheet and the topsheet are positioned adjacent the garment surface
and the body surface, respectively, of the absorbent core. The absorbent core
is
preferably joined with the topsheet, the backsheet, or both in any manner as
is
known by attachment members such as those well known in the art. However,
embodiments of the present invention are envisioned wherein portions of the
entire
absorbent core are unattached to either the topsheet, the backsheet, or both.
The backsheet and/or the topsheet may be secured to the absorbent core or
to each other, for example, by a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a
patterned
layer of adhesive, or an array of separate lines, spirals, or spots of
adhesive.
Adhesives which have been found to be satisfactory are manufactured by H. B.
Fuller
Company of St. Paul, Minnesota under the designation HL- 1258 or H-203 1. The
attachment members will preferably comprise an open pattern network of
filaments of
adhesive as is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,573,986, issued to Minetola, et al.
on March
4, 1986. An exemplary attachment means of an open pattern network of filaments
comprises several lines of adhesive filaments swirled into a spiral pattern
such as
illustrated by the apparatus and method shown in U.S. Patent 3,911,173 issued
to
Sprague, Jr. on October 7, 1975; U.S. Patent 4,785,996 issued to Zwieker, et
al. on
November 22, 1978; and U.S. Patent 4,842,666 issued to Werenicz on June 27,
1989. Alternatively, the attachment means may comprise heat bonds, pressure
bonds, ultrasonic bonds, dynamic mechanical bonds, or any other suitable
attachment means or combinations of these attachment means as are known in the
art.
A preferred disposable absorbent article in which the "treated cuffs"
("treated
cuffs" being used herein to designate cuffs having one or more skin care
compositions
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
disposed thereon) of the present invention may be used is a diaper. As used
herein. the
term "diaper" refers to an absorbent article generally worn by infants and
incontinent
persons that is worn about the lower torso of the wearer. In other words, the
term
"diaper" includes infant diapers, training pants. adult incontinence devices,
and the like.
The present invention is also applicable to other types of disposable products
such as
sanitary napkins and pantiliners that contain cuffs.
Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a diaper 20 of the
present
invention in its flat-out, uncontracted state (i.e., with all elastic induced
contraction pulled
out) with portions of the structure being cut away to more clearly show the
construction
of the diaper 20 and with the portion of the diaper 20 which contacts the
wearer (the body
surface) facing the viewer. The diaper 20 is shown in Figure 1 to have a front
waist region
22, a back waist region 24, a crotch region 26, and a periphery which is
defined by the
outer edges of the diaper in which the longitudinal edges are designated 30
and the end
edges are designated 32. The diaper 20 additionally has a lateral centerline
which is
designated 34 and a longitudinal centerline which is designated 36. The diaper
20
comprises a chassis comprising (i) an outer covering layer comprising a liquid
pervious
topsheet 38 and a liquid impervious backsheet 42, and (ii) an absorbent core
44 having
side edges 46; a fastening system preferably comprising a pair of tape-tab
fasteners 54
and a landing member 55; gasketing cuffs 56 each comprising a side flap 58 and
flap
elastic members 60; barrier cuffs 62 comprising a barrier cuff member 63
having a
proximal edge 64, a distal edge 66, and ends 74; and spacing means such as a
spacing
elastic member 76 for spacing the distal edge 66 away from the topsheet. The
diaper 20
additionally comprises closure members 78 for securing closed the ends 74 of
each barrier
cuff 62. While the components of the diaper may be assembled in a variety of
well
known configurations, a preferred diaper configuration is described generally
in U.S.
Patent 4,695,278 issued to Lawson on September 22, 1987.
Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 in which the topsheet
38
and the backsheet 42 are coextensive and have length and width dimensions
generally
larger than those of the absorbent core 44. The topsheet 38 is joined with and
superposed
on the backsheet 42 to thereby form the periphery of the diaper 20.
The diaper 20 has front and back waist regions 22 and 24 extending,
respectively,
from the end edges 32 of the periphery toward the lateral centerline 34 of the
diaper 20.
The waist regions comprise those portions of the diaper 20 which, when worn,
encircle
the waist of the wearer. The crotch region 26 is that portion of the diaper 20
between the
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
11
waist regions and comprises that portion of the diaper 20 which, when worn, is
positioned
between the legs of the wearer and covers the lower torso of the wearer.
As shown in Figure 1, a skin care composition 72 is disposed on each barrier
cuff
62. The skin care composition 72 is preferably disposed on the body surface of
the barrier
cuff so that the skin care composition may readily transfer to the wearer's
skin during use.
In the embodiment shown, the skin care composition 72 is disposed adjacent the
distal
edge 66, preferably at least in the crotch region 26. More preferably, the
skin care
composition 72 is disposed on the distal edge 66. The barrier cuff 62 most
preferably
comprises one or more stripes of skin care composition 72 disposed thereon. In
the
embodiment shown, the skin care composition 72 is disposed on only a segment
of the
barrier cuff 62. For certain skin care compositions, it is preferred to avoid
application of
the skin care composition to the portions of the barrier cuff adjacent the
ends of the
spacing elastic members to insure there is no elastic creep resulting from the
interaction of
the skin care composition and adhesive. As is shown in Figure 1, in a
preferred
embodiment the skin care composition 72 is not disposed adjacent the end of
the spacing
elastic member 76 in the front waist region (although it may alternatively
also not be
disposed adjacent the end in the back waist region). (Alternatively, an
adhesive
compatible with the skin care composition may be utilized such that placement
of the skin
care composition on the cuff is not restricted relative to the ends of the
spacing elastic
members.) As discussed herein, the skin care composition may alternatively be
applied to
the garment surface of the barner cuff and allowed to "transfer through" to
the body
surface so as to enhance the hydrophobicity of the barrier cuffs as well as to
be disposed
on the body surface so as to provide the skin care benefits. Further, the skin
care
composition may be applied to other portions of the barner cuff, the entire
barrier cuff,
the spacing elastic members, or any other component of the barrier cuff. The
skin care
composition may also be disposed in any pattern, including discontinuous or
continuous
patterns, or in any amount as discussed hereinafter.
The diaper 20 is shown in Figure 2 to have a garment surface 86 and a body
surface 84 opposed to the garment surface 86. The body surface 84 of the
diaper 20
comprises that portion of the diaper 20 which is positioned adjacent to the
wearer's body
during use (i.e., the body surface 84 generally is formed by at least a
portion of the
topsheet 38 and other components including those that may be joined to the
topsheet 38).
The garment surface 86 comprises that portion of the diaper 20 which is
positioned away
from the wearer's body during use (i.e., the garment surface 86 generally is
formed by at
least a portion of the backsheet 42 and other components including those that
may be
joined to the backsheet 42).
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
12
Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2--2 of Figure I and
depicts the diaper construction in the back waist region 24 of the diaper 20.
(It should be
understood that the diaper construction in the front waist region ~'2 is
substantially
identical to the construction in the back waist region 24.) The absorbent core
comprises an
absorbent layer 48 that is shown as being completely enveloped by tissue
layers 50 and
52. The absorbent core 44 is disposed between the topsheet 38 and the
backsheet 42; both
the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42 extend beyond the side edge 46 of the
absorbent core
44 to define the side flap 58. The juxtaposed areas of the topsheet 38 and the
backsheet
42 are secured together preferably by a flap attachment member 88 such as an
adhesive.
In a preferred embodiment, the flap elastic members do not extend into the
back waist
region 24 so that the gasketing cuff is not formed in this region. The barrier
cuff 62 is
shown as comprising a separate element, a barner cuff member 63, secured to
the topsheet
38; the proximal edge 64 being formed by securing the barrier cuff member 63
to the
topsheet 38 by proximal securement member 92. The garment surface 68 of the
barrier
cuff 62 (also referred to as the barner cuff s inboard surface) is secured to
the body
surface 40 by the closure member 78. Therefore, the distal edge 66 is closed.
(i.e., it is
not spaced away from the body surface 40). It should be noted that the spacing
elastic
member is not disposed in this region because the distal edge 66 is not
designed to be
spaced away from the body surface 40 in the waist regions. Therefore, the
barrier cuff 62
is not open nor ready to constrain the flow of body exudates in this region.
The skin care
composition also is preferably not disposed on the barner cuff in the back
waist region in
this particular embodiment.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3--3 of Figure 1 and
depicts the diaper construction in the crotch region 26 as it is shaped before
being applied
to the wearer (i.e., the diaper 20 is subjected to elastic contraction). The
absorbent core
44 comprises the absorbent layer 48 that is shown as being completely
enveloped by the
tissue layers 50 and 52. The absorbent core 44 is disposed between the
topsheet 38 and
the backsheet 42; both the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42 extend beyond the
side edge
46 of the absorbent core 44 to define the side flap 58. The juxtaposed areas
of the topsheet
38 and the backsheet 42 are secured together preferably by a flap attachment
member 88
such as an adhesive. The topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42 also enclose the
flap elastic
members 60 adjacent the longitudinal edge 30. The flap elastic members 60 are
secured
in the topsheet-backsheet formed side flap 58 preferably by elastic attachment
members
90. The elastically contractible gasketing cuff 56 is thereby formed by the
side flap 58
and the flap elastic members 60. The gasketing cuff has a body surface 57
oriented
toward the skin of the wearer when the diaper is worn, and a garment surface
59 opposed
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
13
to the body surface 57. The barrier cuff 62 is shown as being formed by
securing a
separate element, barrier cuff member 63, to the topsheet 38 preferably
between the Clap
elastic members 60 and the side edge 46 of the absorbent core 44. The proximal
edge 64
of the barrier cuff 62 is formed by securing the barrier cuff member 63 to the
topsheet 38
by the proximal securement member 92. The spacing elastic member 76 is
enclosed in a
tunnel that is formed when an end of the barrier cuff member 63 is folded back
upon
itself; the spacing elastic member 76 being secured in the tunnel by elastic
attachment
members 94. The distal edge 66 of the barrier cuff is spaced away from the
body surface
40 by the elastic gathering action of the spacing elastic member 76. The
barrier cuff 62 is
shown as being ready to restrain, contain and hold body exudates until the
diaper 20 is
removed from the wearer. The skin care composition 72 is shown in Figure 3 as
being
disposed on the body surface 70 of the barrier cuff 62 (the barrier cuff
element 63) so that
the skin care composition 72 may be transferred to the skin of the wearer
during use.
Diapers of the present invention can have a number of well known
configurations, with the absorbent cores thereof being adapted to the present
invention.
Exemplary configurations are described generally in U.S. Patent 3,860,003
issued to
Buell on January 14, 1975; U.S. Patent 5,151,092 issued to Buell et al. on
September 29,
1992; U.S. Patent 5,580,411 issued to Nease, et al. on December 3, 1996; U.S.
Patent
5,569,232 issued to Roe, et al. on October 29, 1996; and U.S. Patent 5,569,234
issued to
Buell, et al. on October 29, 1996.
The chassis of the diaper is shown in the drawings as comprising the main body
portion (containment assembly) of the diaper. The chassis comprises at least
an
absorbent core and preferably an outer covering layer comprising the topsheet
and the
backsheet. When the absorbent article comprises a separate holder and a liner,
the
chassis generally comprises the holder and the liner (i.e., the chassis
comprises one or
more layers of material to define the holder while the liner comprises an
absorbent
composite such as a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core.) For unitary
absorbent
articles, the chassis comprises the main structure of the diaper with other
features added
to form the composite diaper structure; thus, the chassis for the diaper
comprises the
topsheet, the backsheet, and the absorbent core.
A topsheet 38 which is particularly suitable for use in the diaper 20, is
carded and
thermally bonded by means well known to those skilled in the fabrics art. A
satisfactory
topsheet for the present invention comprises staple length polypropylene
fibers having a
denier of about 2.2 As used herein, the term "staple length fibers" refers to
those fibers
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
14
having a length of at least about 1~.9 mm (0.62 inches). Preferably. the
topsheet has a
basis weight from about 14 to about 2~ grams per square meter. A suitable
topsheet is
manufactured by Veratec, Inc., a Division of International Paper Company. of
Walpole.
Mass. under the designation P-8. An alternative preferred topsheet is a
spunbonded
nonwoven web of 22 grams per square meter basis weight as is available from
Fiberweb
North America, Inc. of Simpsonville, S.C., under the designation 9694.
The topsheet 38 of diaper 20 is preferably made of a hydrophilic material to
promote rapid transfer of liquids (e.g., urine) through the topsheet. If the
topsheet is
made of a hydrophobic material, preferably at least the body surface of the
topsheet, or a
portion thereof, is treated to be hydrophilic so that liquids will transfer
through the
topsheet more rapidly. This diminishes the likelihood that body exudates will
flow off
the topsheet rather than being drawn through the topsheet and being absorbed
by the
absorbent core. The topsheet can be rendered hydrophilic by treating it with a
surfactant.
Suitable methods for treating the topsheet with a surfactant include spraying
the topshegt
material with the surfactant and immersing the material into the surfactant. A
more
detailed discussion of such a treatment and hydrophilicity is contained in
U.S. Patents
4,988,344 entitled "Absorbent Articles with Multiple Layer Absorbent Layers"
issued to
Reising, et al on January 29, 1991 and U.S. Patent 4,988,345 entitled
"Absorbent
Articles with Rapid Acquiring Absorbent Cores" issued to Reising on January
29, 1991.
In a particularly preferred embodiment as described herein, the topsheet of
the
absorbent article will also have a skin care composition disposed thereon.
Representative treated topsheets are described in U.S. Patent 5,643,588,
"Diaper Having
a Lotioned Topsheet", issued to Roe, Bakes & Warner on July l, 1997; and U.S.
Patent
x,635,191, "Diaper Having a Lotioned Topsheet Containing a Polysiloxane
Emollient",
issued to Roe & Mackey on June 3, 1997; each of which are incorporated herein
by
reference. Methods for delivering a skin care composition via the repeated use
of
absorbent articles having such treated topsheets are disclosed in U.S. Patent
Application
Serial No. 081926,532 (P&G Case 6823) "A Method For Maintaining or Improving
Skin
Health", Elder, et al., filed on September 10, 1997; U.S. Patent Application
Serial No.
08/926,533 (P&G Case 6822) "A Method For Improving Skin Condition", Van
Rijswijck, et al. filed on September 10, 1997; and U.S. Patent Application
Serial No.
08/908,852 (P&G Case 5494CR) "Diaper Having A Lotioned Topsheet", Roe, et al.
filed
on August 8, 1997 As discussed
herein, a skin care composition disposed on both the cuffs and the topsheet
will facilitate
transfer of the skin care composition to a greater amount of skin, in terms of
surface area,
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
relative to treatment of the cuffs only. Furthermore. application to both
components may
allow delivery of greater amounts of skin care composition to a given region
of the
wearer and/or delivery of different formulation skin care compositions for
different skin
benefits.
In a preferred embodiment of a diaper as described herein, the backsheet 4?
has a
modified hourglass shape extending beyond the absorbent core around the entire
diaper
periphery. The backsheet is preferably a soft, cloth-like web laminate
comprising a
selectively apertured polymeric formed film and a nonwoven web. Such a
breathable
backsheet is more fully described in U.S. Patent 5,571,096 issued to Dobrin,
et al. on
November 5, 1996.
The absorbent core 44 may take on any size or shape that is compatible with
the
diaper 20. One preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 has an asymmetric,
modified T-
shaped absorbent core 44 having ears in the first waist region but a generally
rectangular
shape in the second waist region. Exemplary absorbent structures for use as
the
absorbent core of the present invention that have achieved wide acceptance and
commercial success are described in U.S. Patent 4,610,678 entitled "High-
Density
Absorbent Structures" issued to Weisman et al. on September 9, 1986; U.S.
Patent
4,673,402 entitled "Absorbent Articles With Dual-Layered Cores" issued to
Weisman et
al. on June 16. 1987; U.S. Patent 4,888,231 entitled "Absorbent Core Having A
Dusting
Layer" issued to Angstadt on December 19, 1989; EP Patent Application 640 330,
The
Procter & Gamble Company, published March 1, 199; and U.S. Patent 4,834,73,
entitled "High Density Absorbent Members Having Lower Density and Lower Basis
Weight Acquisition Zones", issued to Alemany et al. on May 30, 1989. The
absorbent
core may further comprise a dual core system containing an
acquisition/distribution core
of chemically stiffened fibers positioned over an absorbent storage core as
detailed in
U.S. Patent 5,234,423, entitled "Absorbent Article With Elastic Waist Feature
and
Enhanced Absorbency" issued to Alemany et al., on August 10, 1993; and in U.S.
Patent
5,147,345, entitled "High Efficiency Absorbent Articles For Incontinence
Management"
issued to Young, LaVon and Taylor on September 15, 1992.
In a preferred embodiment, the diaper 20 comprises cuffs each comprising a leg
cuff comprising a barrier cuff 62 and/or a gasketing cuff 56 for providing
improved
containment of liquids and other body exudates. The cuffs provide for improved
containment of liquids and other body exudates and can be constructed in a
number of
different configurations. The diaper 20 may also comprise cuffs comprising an
elastic
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
16
waist feature (not shown) and/or elastic side panels (not shown) to provide a
more
contouring fit and more effective application of the diaper 20. Such cuffs may
also be
treated with a skin care composition.
Each leg cuff may comprise several different embodiments for reducing the
leakage of body exudates in the leg regions. (The leg cuff can be and is
sometimes
also referred to as leg bands, side flaps, barrier cuffs, elastic leg cuffs,
gasketing
cuffs, or elastic cuffs.) U.S. Patent 3,860,003, incorporated herein by
reference,
describes a disposable diaper which provides a contractible leg opening having
a
side flap and one or more elastic members to provide an elastic leg cuff
(gasketing
cuff). U.S. Patent 4,909,803 entitled "Disposable Absorbent Article Having
Elasticized
Flaps" issued to Aziz et a!. on March 20, 1990, and incorporated herein by
reference,
describes a disposable diaper having "stand-up" elasticized flaps (barrier
cuffs) to
improve the containment of the leg regions. U.S. Patent 4,695,278 entitled
"Absorbent Article Having Dual Cuffs" issued to Lawson on September 22, 1987,
describes a disposable diaper having dual cuffs including a gasketing cuff and
a
barrier cuff. While each leg cuff may be configured so as to be similar to any
of the
leg bands, side flaps, barrier cuffs, or elastic cuffs described above, it is
preferred
that each leg cuff comprise barrier cuffs 62 and gasketing cuffs 56 as
described in
detail below.
Each barrier cuff 62 is a flexible member having a proximal edge 64, a distal
edge 66, a garment surface 68 (also referred to as the inboard surface) and a
body
surface 70 (also referred to as the outboard surface). The garment surface 68
is
oriented toward the interior of the diaper, and the body surface 70 is
oriented toward
the skin of the wearer when the diaper is being worn. The barrier cuff 62 may
be
manufactured from a wide variety of materials such as polypropylene,
polyester,
rayon, nylon, foams, nonwovens, plastic films, formed films, and elastic films
or
foams. A number of manufacturing techniques may be used to manufacture the
barrier cuff. For example, the barrier cuff 62 may be woven, non-woven,
spunbonded, spunbonded-meltblown-spunbonded, carded, coated, laminated or the
like. A preferred barrier cuff 62 comprises a polypropylene material
containing no
finish or surfactant to render it liquid impermeable. An exemplary
polypropylene fiber
nonwoven material is manufactured by Crown Zellerbach Company as Celestra. A
particularly preferred nonwoven material is a carded nonwoven web as is
available
from PGI of Landisville, New Jersey under the designation 67700.
Alternatively, the
material may be a nonwoven web supplied by Corovin GmbH of Peine, Germany
under the designation MD300A. In addition, because of the hydrophobic skin
care
compositions used in the present invention, the barrier cuff may be made from
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
17
hydrophilic material and have a hydrophobic skin care composition disposed
thereon to
enhance its barrier properties.
As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the barrier cuff 62, and more particularly the
proximal edge 64, is disposed inboard of the longitudinal edge 30, adjacent to
and
preferably inboard of the gasketing cuff 56. The term "inboard" is defined as
the direction
toward the centerline (34 or 36, respectively) of the diaper that is parallel
to the respective
edge of the diaper along which the particular gasketing cuff is disposed. The
barrier cuff
62 is disposed adjacent the gasketing cuff 56 to provide a more effective dual
restraint
against the flow of body exudates. The barrier cuff 62 is preferably disposed
inboard of
the gasketing cuff 56 so that exudates, especially loose fecal material which
is not easily
absorbed and tends to float along the body surface 40, will contact the barner
cuff 62
before it can contact the gasketing cuff 56. The barrier cuff 62 is more
preferably
disposed between the flap elastic member 60 of the gasketing cuff 56 and the
longitudinal
centerline 36 of the diaper 20. Most preferably, the barrier cuff 62 is
disposed between
the flap elastic member 60 and the side edge 46 of the absorbent core 44 in
the crotch
region 26 of the diaper 20.
The proximal edge 64 and the distal edge 66 are in spaced relation to each
other
and define the width of the barrier cuff 62. The proximal and distal edges 64
and 66,
respectively, may be in a parallel, non parallel, rectilinear or curvilinear
relationship. In
addition, the barrier cuff 62 may have a variety of different cross sectional
areas including
circular, square, rectangular or any other shape such as shown in Figure 3.
Preferably, the
proximal edge 64 is spaced from the distal edge 66 in a parallel and
rectilinear
relationship to provide a barner cuff 62 having uniform widths.
A preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 shown in Figures 2 and 3 is provided
with the barrier cuff 62 joined to the topsheet 38. The term "joined" includes
any means
for affixing the barrier cuff 62 to the diaper 20, and includes embodiments
wherein the
barner cuff 62 is a separate element having the proximal edge 64 directly or
indirectly
attached to the topsheet 38 (i.e., integral) or embodiments wherein the
barrier cuff 62 is
made from the same element or material as the topsheet 38 so that the proximal
edge 64 is
a continuous and undivided element of the topsheet (i.e., unitary). The
barrier cuff 62
may alternatively be joined to the side flap 58, the backsheet 42, the
absorbent core 44,
the topsheet 38 or any combination of these or other elements of the diaper
20. In a
preferred diaper 20, the barrier cuffs 62 are integral with the topsheet 38.
The integral
barrier cuff 62 is preferably formed by a strip of material, barner cuff
member 63, which
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
18
is secured to the topsheet by proximal securement member 92. the distal edge
66
being formed by folding an end of the barrier cuff member 63 back upon itself.
The distal edge 66 is preferably disposed inboard of the proximal edge 64 to
present a more effective barrier against the flow of exudates. The distal
edges 66 are
maintained inboard of the proximal edges 64 by the closure members 78 so as to
obviate their inversion. While the distal edges 66 may alternatively be
disposed in
other positions in relation to the proximal edges 64, such positions are not
preferred.
The distal edge 66 is preferably not secured to any other element in at least
the crotch region 26 of the diaper 20 so that it may be spaced away from the
body
surface 40 of the topsheet 38. The distal edge 66 is preferably spaced away
from the
body surface 40 to enhance the containment of the article. As used herein,
"spaced"
includes embodiments wherein the distal edges 66 may assume one or more
positions relative to the body surface 40 of the topsheet 38 including at some
times
assuming a position adjacent the body surface 40 of the topsheet 38. The
distance
between the distal edge 66 to the body surface 40 of the topsheet 38 is
measured
along a line drawn from the distal edge 66 to the closest part of the topsheet
38 when
the distal edge 66 is positioned so as to be spaced away from the topsheet as
far as
possible. (i.e., in the elastically contracted position).
In addition to barrier cuffs, the leg cuffs of the present invention
preferably
further comprise gasketing cuffs 56. The gasketing cuffs 56 are disposed
adjacent
the periphery of the diaper 20, preferably along each longitudinal edge 30 so
that the
gasketing cuffs 56 tend to draw and hold the diaper 20 against the legs of the
wearer.
While the gasketing cuffs 56 may comprise any of several means as are well
known
in the diaper art, a particularly preferred gasketing cuff construction
comprises a
flexible side flap 58 and flap elastic members 60, as is described in detail
in U.S.
Patent No. 3,860,003, issued to Buell on January 14, 1975. In addition, a
method and
apparatus suitable for manufacturing a disposable diaper having elastic
gasketing
cuffs 56 are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,081,301 entitled "Method and
Apparatus
for Continuously Attaching Discrete, Stretched Elastic Strands to
Predetermined
Isolated Portions of Disposable Absorbent Articles" which issued to Buell on
Mar. 28,
1978.
The side flap 58 should be highly flexible and thus contractible so that the
flap
elastic members 60 may gather the side flap 58 to provide a gasketing cuff 56
about
the legs or waist of the wearer. The side flaps 58 are preferably that portion
of the
diaper 20 between the periphery and the edges of the absorbent core 44. Thus,
in a
preferred
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
19
embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 1. the side flaps 58
are
formed from the extension of the backsheet 42 and the topsheet 38 from and
along
the side edges 46 of the absorbent core 44 of the diaper 20 in at least the
crotch
region 26. Alternatively, as described in U.S. Patent 3,860,003, the side flap
may be
a separate member joined to the chassis (topsheet, backsheet, and/or absorbent
core) or one of the components of the side flap may be a separate member.
The flap elastic members 60 are preferably operatively joined (secured) to the
side flaps 58 in an elastically contractible condition so that in a normally
unrestrained
configuration, the flap elastic members 60 effectively contract or gather the
side flaps
58. The flap elastic members 60 can be secured to the side flaps 58 in an
elastically
contractible condition in at least two ways. For example, the flap elastic
members 60
may be stretched and secured to the side flaps 58 while the side flaps 58 are
in an
uncontracted condition. Alternatively, the side flaps 58 may be contracted,
for
example by pleating, and the flap elastic members 60 secured to the contracted
side
flaps 58 while the flap elastic members 60 are in their unrelaxed or
unstretched
condition. The gasketing cuffs may alternatively comprise a number of
different
elastically extensible structures such as elastic nonwoven webs or foams;
stretch
laminates such as is described in U.S. Patent 5,151,092 issued to Buell, et
al. on
September 29, 1992; and structural elastic-like film (SELF) webs such as are
described in U.S. Patent 5,518,801 issued to Chappell, et a!. on May 21, 1996.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the flap elastic members 60 extend
essentially the entire length of the side flaps 58 in the crotch region 26 of
the diaper
20. Alternatively, the elastic members 60 may extend the entire length of
diaper 20,
or any other length suitable to provide a gasketing cuff. The length of the
flap elastic
members 60 is dictated by the diaper's design.
In the diaper 20 of Figure 3, the flap elastic members 60 are associated with
the side flaps 58 by securing them to the side flaps 58 with elastic
attachment
members 90. The elastic attachment members 90 should be flexible and of
sufficient
adhesiveness to hold the flap elastic member in its stretched condition. The
elastic
attachment members 90 herein are preferably glue beads or spirals made of hot
melt
adhesives such as marketed by ATO Findley Incorporated, Wauwatosa, Wis. as
Findley 2511 or Findley H9254. It is recognized that traditional adhesives may
not be
compatible with all skin care compositions. Specifically, some skin care
compositions
may degrade the integrity of the adhesive bonds resulting in elastic creep
and/or poor
bond sufficiency. An
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
20
adhesive which has been found especially effective in avoiding creep of
elastics
when a skin care composition is applied thereto is Findley H9254. A more
detailed
description of the manner in which the flap elastic members 60 may be
positioned
and secured to the diaper 20 can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,461 issued to
Strickland and Visscher on Mar. 3, 1981, and U.S. Patent No. 4,081,301 issued
to
Buell on March 28, 1978.
One flap elastic member 60 which has been found to be suitable is an elastic
strand made from natural rubber as available from Easthampton Rubber Thread
Company of Stewart, Va., under the trademark L- 1900 Rubber Compound. Other
suitable flap elastic members 60 can be made from natural rubber, such as
elastic
tape sold under the trademark Fulflex 9211 by Fulflex Company of Scotland,
N.C. An
exemplary elastic member is a Lycra~'strand such as is available from DuPont
Co. of
Waynesboro, Virginia under the designation Lycra-XA T-1 51. The flap elastic
member 60 may also comprise any heat shrinkable elastic material as is well
known
in the art. Other suitable flap elastic members 60 may comprise a wide variety
of
materials as are well known in the art including elastomeric films, Lycra
films or
strands, polyurethane films, elastomeric foams, and formed elastic scrim.
In addition, the flap elastic members 60 may take a multitude of
configurations. For example, the width of the flap elastic members 60 may be
varied
from about 0.25 mm (0.01 inches) to about 25 mm (1.0 inch) or more; the flap
elastic
members 60 may comprise a single strand of elastic material or may comprise
several parallel or nonparallel strands of elastic material; or the flap
elastic members
60 may be rectilinear or curvilinear. Still further, the flap elastic members
60 may be
affixed to the diaper 20 in any of several ways which are well known in the
art. For
example, the flap elastic members 60 may be ultrasonically bonded,
heat/pressure
sealed into the diaper 20 using a variety of bonding patterns, or the flap
elastic
members 60 may simply be glued to the diaper 20.
The cuff may also comprise an elastic waist feature, such as an elasticized
waistband (not shown), that may be constructed in a number of different
configurations including those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,515,595 issued
to
Kievit et al. on May 7, 1985; U.S. Patent No. 5,026,364 issued to Robertson on
Jun.
25, 1991; and the above referenced U.S. Patent No. 5,151,092 issued to Buell
et al.
on Sept. 29, 1992, wherein a skin care composition is disposed thereon
* = Trade-mark
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
21
The cuff may further comprise elastic side panels that may be constructed in a
number of configurations wherein a skin care composition is disposed thereon.
Examples
of diapers with elastic side panels are disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
4.857,067. issued to
Wood, et al. on Aug. 15, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 4,381,781, issued to Sciaraffa.
et al. on
May 3, 1983; U.S. Patent No. 4,938,753, issued to Van Gompel, et al. on Jul.
3. 1990:
U.S. Patent No. 5,151.092, issued to Buell et al. on Sept. 29, 1992; U.S.
Patent x.580,-tl l
issued to Nease, et al. on December 3, 1996; U.S. Patent 5,669,897 issued to
LaVon, et al.
on September 23, 1997; and U.S. Patent 5,569,232 issued to Roe, et al. on
October 29.
1996:
Embodiments of cuffs of the present invention may also include pockets for
receiving and containing waste, spacers which provide voids for waste,
barriers for
limiting the movement of waste in the article, compartments or voids which
accept and
contain waste materials deposited in the diaper, and the like, or any
combinations thereof
wherein a skin care composition is disposed thereon. Examples of pockets and
spacers
for use in absorbent products are described in U.S. Patent 5,514,121 issued to
Roe et al.
on May 7, 1996, entitled "Diaper Having Expulsive Spacer"; U.S. Patent
5,171,236 issued
to Dreier et al. on December 15, 1992, entitled "Disposable Absorbent Article
Having
Core Spacers"; U.S. Patent 5,397,318 issued to Dreier on March 14, 1995,
entitled
"Absorbent Article Having A Pocket Cuff'; U.S. Patent 5,540,671 issued to
Dreier on
July 30, 1996 entitled "Absorbent Article Having A Pocket Cuff With An Apex";
and
PCT Application WO 93/25172 published December 3, 1993, entitled "Spacers For
Use
In Hygienic Absorbent Articles And Disposable Absorbent Articles Having Such
Spacer";
and U.S. Patent 5,306,266, entitled "Flexible Spacers For Use In Disposable
Absorbent
Articles", issued to Freeland on April 26, 1994. Examples of compartments or
voids are
disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,968,312, entitled "Disposable Fecal Compartmenting
Diaper",
issued to Khan on November 6, 1990; U.S. Patent 4,990,147, entitled "Absorbent
Article
With Elastic Liner For Waste Material Isolation", issued to Freeland on
February 5, 1991;
U.S. Patent 5,062,840, entitled "Disposable Diapers", issued to Holt et al. on
November 5,
1991; and U.S. Patent 5,269,755 entitled "Trisection Topsheets For Disposable
Absorbent
Articles And Disposable Absorbent Articles Having Such Trisection Topsheets",
issued to
Freeland et al. on December 14, 1993. Examples of suitable transverse barriers
are
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,142 entitled "Absorbent Article Having
Multiple
Effective Height Transverse Partition" issued September 10, 1996 in the name
of Dreier et
al.; PCT Patent WO 94/14395 entitled "Absorbent Article Having An Upstanding
Transverse Partition" published July 7, 1994 in the name of Freeland, et al.;
and U.S.
5,653,703 Absorbent Article Having Angular Upstanding Transverse Partition,
issued
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
22
Aug. 5, 1997 to Roe, et al.
Exemplary fastening systems 54 are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,846,815.
issued to Scripps on July 11, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 4,894,060, issued to
Nestegard
on Jan. 16, 1990; U.S. Patent No. 4,946,527, issued to Battrell on Aug. 7,
1990; U.S.
Patent No. 3,848,594, issued to Bud! on Nov. 19, 1974; U.S. Patent 4,963,140
issued to Robertson et a!. on October 16, 1990; U.S. Patent No. B1 4,662,875,
issued to Hirotsu et al. on May 5, 1987; and U.S. Patent No. 5,151,092, issued
to
Buell et al. on Sept. 29, 1992. A skin care composition may be disposed on one
or
more components of the fastening system to further enhance skin health. For
example, a skin care composition as described herein may be disposed on the
tape
tabs to ease the effects of the tape tab chafing the skin.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the diaper 20 in its elastically contracted
position prior to being placed on the wearer. The topsheet 38 is shown as a
portion of
the body surface of the diaper 20, the backsheet 42 being disposed away from
the
body of the wearer. The gasketing cuffs 56 are shown to be gathered or
contracted
by the flap elastic members (not shown in Figure 4). The diaper 20 is shown as
having two barrier cuffs 62 extending adjacent to and inboard of the gasketing
cuffs
56. The distal edges 66 are shown to be gathered and contracted by the spacing
elastic members (not shown) in the crotch region. In addition, the ends 74 of
the
barrier cuff 62 are secured closed so as to provide comfort for the wearer, to
obviate
inversion of the barrier cuffs, and for ease of application of the diaper. A
skin care
composition 72 is disposed on the body surface of (applied to the body surface
or
applied to be migratable to the body surface of) each barrier cuff 62 so as to
transfer
to the skin of the wearer so as to provide the skin benefits discussed herein.
The diaper 20 is applied to a wearer by positioning the back waist region 24
under the wearer's back, and drawing the remainder of the diaper 20 between
the
wearer's leg so that the front waist region 22 is positioned across the front
of the
person. The ends of the tape-tab fasteners 54 are then secured preferably to
the
landing member 55 to close the diaper 20. In this manner, the barrier cuffs 62
should
be disposed in the crotch region of the wearer and should provide the
dispositions
and functions described hereinbefore. Once applied, the distal edges 66 of the
barrier cuffs 62 extend through the groin areas and diverge upwardly along
both of
the buttocks of the wearer. Neither of the barrier cuffs 62 encircle the
thighs of the
wearer. However, the gasketing cuffs 56 will encircle the thighs and create a
gasketing action against the thighs. The barrier cuffs 62 contact
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
23
the skin of the wearer and transfer the skin care composition 72 thereto to
provide
some or all of the benefits described herein.
The treated cuffs of the present invention are also useful in training pants
or
pullon diapers. The term "training pants", as used herein, refers to
disposable
garments having fixed sides thereby defining a fixed waist opening and leg
openings.
Training pants are placed in position on the wearer by inserting the wearer's
legs into
the leg openings and sliding the training pant into position about the
wearer's lower
torso. Suitable training pants are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,246,433,
issued to
Hasse, et al. on September 21, 1993; U.S. Patent 4,940,464 issued to Van
Gompel,
et a!. on July 10, 1990; and U.S. Patent 5,092,861 issued to Nomura, et al. on
March
3, 1992. The treated cuffs of the present invention are also applicable to
absorbent
articles that are a combination or "hybrid" of training pants and diapers
(pull-on
diapers) as are described in U.S. Patent 5,569,234, "Disposable Pull-Qn Pant"
issued
to Buell and Carlin on October 29, 1996.
Another disposable absorbent article for which the treated cuffs of the
present
invention are useful are incontinence articles. The term "incontinence
article" refers to
pads, undergarments (pads held in place by a suspension system of some type,
such
as a belt, or the like), inserts for absorbent articles, capacity boosters for
absorbent
articles, briefs, bed pads, and the like regardless of whether they are worn
by adults
or other incontinent persons. Suitable incontinence articles are disclosed in
U.S.
Patent No. 4,253,461 issued to Strickland, et al. on March 3, 1981; U.S.
Patent Nos.
4,597,760 and4,597,761 issued to Buell; the above-mentioned U.S. Patent No.
4,704,115; U.S. Patent No. 4,909,802 issued to Ahr, et al.; U.S. Patent No.
4,964,860
issued to Gipson, et al. on October 23, 1990; and PCT Publication No. WO
92/11830, The Procter & Gamble Company, published on July 23, 1992.
Figure 7 is a simplified fragmentary sectional view of an alternative
preferred
diaper construction of the present invention. The diaper 720 comprises a
chassis and
treated cuffs joined to the chassis. The chassis comprises (i) an outer
covering layer
comprising a portion of the topsheet 38 and a portion of the backsheet 42, and
(ii) the
absorbent core 44. The cuffs each comprise a barrier cuff 762 and a gasketing
cuff
756. The barrier cuff 762 comprises a separate barrier cuff member 763 having
a flap
portion 702 and a channel portion 704.
The flap portion 702 is formed by affixing portions of the barrier cuff member
763 to the backsheet 42 adjacent the longitudinal edge 30 of the diaper by
flap
attachment members 88, such as an adhesive; a leakage-resistant seal being
formed
by
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
24
the flap attachment members 88, the flap portion 68, and the backsheet 42 to
provide
protection against leakage of liquids wicking along the topsheet 38. The flap
portion
702 and the backsheet 42 define the side flap 758 of the gasketing cuff 756
and
enclose the flap elastic members 760. The flap elastic members 760 are secured
in
the flap portionbacksheet-formed side flap 758 by elastic attachment members
90.
The gasketing cuff 756 is thereby formed by the side flap 758 and the flap
elastic
members 760.
The channel portion 704 of the barrier cuff 762 is contiguous with the flap
portion 702 and has a proximal edge 64 and a distal edge 66. The proximal edge
64
is preferably formed inboard of the gasketing cuff 756, more preferably
between the
side edge 46 of the absorbent core and the flap elastic member 760, by
adjoining a
segment of the barrier cuff member 763 to the backsheet 42 by the proximal
securement member 92 such as a mechanical/pressure bond so as to form a
leakage-resistant seal along the proximal edge 64 to present a barrier to
liquid
wicking through the topsheet 38 so as to prevent the liquids from wicking
underneath
the barrier cuffs to the edges of the diaper
20. The distal edge 66 is preferably disposed inboard of the proximal edge 64
and is
not secured to any underlying elements of the diaper 20. As shown in Figure 7,
the
distal edge 66 is preferably formed by folding the end of the barrier cuff
member 763
back upon itself and securing it to another segment of the barrier cuff member
by the
distal attachment member 96 to form a tunnel. A spacing means such as a
spacing
elastic member 76 is enclosed in the tunnel; the spacing elastic member 76
being
secured in the barrier cuff 762 by the elastic attachment members 94. (As an
alternative embodiment, only the ends of the spacing elastic member are
secured to
the barrier cuff element to create a "drawstring elastic" such that the middle
segment
of the elastic "floats" in the tunnel. This drawstring elastic is described in
more detail
in U.S. Patent 4,816,025 issued to Richardson on March 28, 1989- - by
reference'.)
The distal edge 66 is thus spaced away from the body surface 40 of the
topsheet 38
by the gathering action of the spacing elastic member 77.
In the embodiment shown, the topsheet 38 is positioned adjacent the body
surface of the absorbent core 44 and extends beyond the side edge 46 of the
absorbent core 44 but terminates inwardly of the proximal edge 64.
(Alternatively, the
topsheet may extend outwardly beyond the proximal edge but terminate inwardly
of
outermost flap attachment member 88 to obtain the benefits of the structure.)
A more
detailed description of the cuff construction of this embodiment is described
in U.S.
Patent 4,795,454, "Absorbent Article Having Leakage-Resistant Dual Cuff',
issued to
Dragoo on January 3, 1989.
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
The flap portion 702 is contiguous with the channel portion 704 and extends
outwardly from the proximal edge 64 of the channel portion 704 toward the
longitudinal
edge 30, preferably to the longitudinal edge 30, such that the side flap 758
is formed
from the extension of the backsheet 42 and the flap portion 702. While the
flap portion
702 is preferably a continuous segment of the barrier cuff member 763, the
flap portion
702 may be formed from a different piece of material secured to the channel
portion 704
of the barrier cuff 762. Thus, the flap portion 702 may have different
physical
properties, dimensions, and characteristics than the channel portion 704. For
example,
the flap portion 702 need not be hydrophobic nor extend outwardly to the
longitudinal
edge 30. In addition, each of the barner cuffs 762 need not have a flap
portion such that
a flap portion may be omitted entirely. The flap portion is, however,
preferably
hydrophobic, compliant, soft feeling and non-irritating to the wearer's skin
since it
contacts the legs of the wearer when in use.
An effective amount of a skin care composition is disposed on the cuff to
provide
skin care benefits for the wearer. To effectuate delivery of the skin care
composition to
the wearer's skin during use, it is preferred to dispose the skin care
composition on the
portions of the cuff that will contact the wearer's skin. Thus, the skin care
composition
may be disposed on both surfaces of the cuff, one surface of the cuff, or
portions of
either or both surfaces. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the skin care
composition
may be disposed on the flap portion 702, the channel portion 704, or both. If
a skin care
composition is disposed on both the flap portion and the channel portion, the
formulation
of the skin care composition disposed on each need not be the same. In fact,
each skin
care composition may have different formulations and properties to provide
different
benefits. For example, a first skin care composition that, for example,
reduces diaper
rash may be disposed on the channel portion while a second skin care
composition that,
for example, reduces skin irritation and/or soothes the skin may be disposed
on the flap
portion. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, a first skin care composition 72
is
disposed on the channel portion, preferably on the body surface thereof; a
second skin
care composition 72' is disposed on the flap portion, preferably on the body
surface
thereof; and a third skin care composition 72" is disposed on the topsheet,
preferably on
the body surface thereof. The formulation of each skin care composition need
not be the
same; however, in this particular embodiment, the formulation of each skin
care
composition is the same. Each skin care composition is disposed in an
effective amount
so as to transfer the skin care composition to the skin of the wearer.
As shown in Figure 7, a skin care composition is preferably disposed on
discrete
portions of the flap portion and the channel portion. More preferably, the
skin care
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
26
composition is applied in one or more stripes, most preferably the stripe or
stripes bein~~
aligned with those areas that overlie the flap elastic members or the spacing
elastic
members. The first skin care composition 72 is preferably applied to the
channel portion
704 in a wide stripe (about 1.4 inch) extending from the distal edge 66 toward
the
proximal edge 64. The length of this stripe extends along a portion of the
length of the
spacing elastic member 76 (about 11.75 inch long) such that the portion of the
barrier
cuff element 763 adjacent the end of the spacing elastic member in the front
waist region
does not have the skin care composition 72 disposed thereon. (See, for
example, Figure
1.) A plurality of stripes of the second skin care composition 72' are
disposed on the flap
portion 702.
The skin care composition may be applied to the body surface ~7 or the garment
surface 59 of the barner cuff member 763. If applied to the garment surface,
the skin
care composition preferably acts as a hydrophobic coating to assist in
blocking the flow
of urine and BM through the barrier cuffs. Also, the skin care composition is
applied
such that it will migrate or transfer through to the body surface of the
barrier cuff
member so as to be transferable onto the skin of the wearer and provide the
skin care
benefits discussed herein.
A skin care composition may also be disposed on the topsheet so as to provide
a
different benefit or the same benefit as that applied to the barrier cuff. An
example of a
skin care composition for a topsheet is described in U.S. 5,643,588 issued to
Roe, et al.
on July 1, 1997.
Figure 8 is another alternative embodiment of a treated cuff, particularly a
breathable treated elastic leg cuff, of the present invention. As shown in
Figure 8, the
diaper 820 comprises a chassis comprising an outer covering layer comprising a
topsheet
38 and a backsheet 42, and an absorbent core 44 encased in the outer covering
layer,
preferably between the topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42. The leg cuff 856
comprises a
side flap 858 and elastic members 860. The leg cuff 856 is formed as a
separate unit that
is joined to the chassis. In this particular embodiment, the side flap 858
comprises two
cuff elements, a first cuff element 802 joined to the topsheet 38 and
extending laterally
outwardly therefrom and a second cuff element 804 joined to the backsheet 42
and
extending laterally outwardly therefrom. The first cuff element 802 and the
second cuff
element 804 enclose the elastic members 860 which are operatively joined to
either or
both cuff elements to form a gasketing cuff. In the particular embodiment
shown, each
cuff element is formed of a material which allows the passage of vapor
(breathes) while
tending to retard the passage of liquid (air pervious but liquid impervious).
In this
particular embodiment, the cuff elements each comprise a nonwoven web;
however,
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
27
other breathable materials, including apertured formed films may be used. A
more
detailed description of such a leg cuff is disclosed in U.S. Patent :L636.?07.
issued to
Buell on January 13, 1987,
The skin care composition may be disposed on either the first cuff element.
the
second cuff element, or both. In a preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 8,
the skin
care composition 872 is disposed on the first cuff element 802. preferably on
the body
surface 802, such that the skin care composition 872 may be readily
transferred to the
wearer's skin when the leg cuff 856 is in contact with the wearer. The skin
care
composition is preferably applied in one or more stripes with the stripe or
stripes more
preferably aligned with those areas that overlie the elastic members.
Alternatively. the
skin care composition may be applied to the garment surface 808 of the first
cuff element
802 or to the second cuff element 804 and allowed to migrate or transfer
through the
materials to the body surface 806 of the first cuff element 802 to provide the
benefits of
the skin care composition as well as to provide a leg cuff that has reduced
leakage. In
addition, the skin care composition may be applied to the elastic members and
allowed to
transfer through to the body surface of the first cuff element. (In a further
alternative
embodiment, the second cuff element may be replaced by extending the backsheet
all the
way to the edge of the diaper).
The breathability (vapor permeability) of the cuff enhances the function of
many
of the skin care compositions used in the present invention by allowing vapor
exchange
within the diaper to reduce the relative humidity of the interior of the
diaper. Excessive
relative humidity in the absorbent article between the wearer's skin and the
article can
interfere with the normal transport of water vapor into and out of the skin.
By providing
a means for transport of such excess moisture (breathable cuffs), the driving
force toward
overhydration is reduced. This allows moisture adjacent the skin to be removed
from the
diaper, thereby further enhancing the skin health of the wearer over and above
the
reduction provided by the skin care composition of the present invention
alone.
(Disposable absorbent articles which provide improved protection against skin
overhydration because of a skin care composition disposed on the topsheet,
improved
skin aeration such as is provided by improved breathability, and superior
liquid handling
performance is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/926,566 (P&G
Case
6832Q) "Disposable Absorbent Articles Providing A Skin Condition Benefit",
Elder, et
al. filed on September 10, 1997.
Figure 9 is a plan view of a further alternative embodiment of the present
invention having separate side panel laminates, front side panels 902 and back
side
panels 904, joined to the chassis (containment assembly). The extensible back
side
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
28
panels 904 have multi-directional stretch provided by a first side panel 906
and a
second side panel 908 to provide separate extensibility along the waist and
leg
portions of the diaper 920. The side panels and the diaper are described more
fully in
U.S. Patent 5,580.411, "Zero Scrap Method for Manufacturing Side Panels for
Absorbent Articles" issued to Nease, et al. on December 3, 1996 and U.S.
Application Serial No. 08/115.048 entitled "Absorbent Article With Multi-
Directional
Extensible Side Panels", filed on November 19, 1994 in the names of Robles, et
al.
The diaper 920 can have various treated cuffs and combinations thereof. The
leg
cuffs of the diaper 920 comprise the gasketing cuff 956 of the chassis
(containment
assembly) and the leg edges 910 of the second side panels 908 and of the front
side
panels 902. The waist cuffs comprise the elastic waistband 912 of the chassis
(containment assembly) and the waist edge 914 of the first side panels 906 and
the
front side panels 902. In this embodiment, a skin care composition may be
applied to
the side panels or any portion thereof, to the gasketing cuff, to the elastic
waistband,
or any combination of the above. For example, a skin care composition may be
applied to the elastic waistband and to a portion of the waist edge of each
first side
panel and front side panel. A skin care composition may be disposed on each
leg
cuff including a segment of the gasketing cuff, the leg edge of the second
side panel
and the leg edge of the front side panel. The skin care composition may thus
provide
a therapeutic or protective coating to the legs of the wearer. Alternatively,
different
formulation skin care compositions may be disposed on any combination or all
of
these cuffs. A further skin care composition may also be disposed on the
topsheet 38
as described herein. As shown in Figure 10, a first skin care composition 972
is
disposed on the first side panel 906 in multiple stripes as spirals, a second
skin care
composition 972' is disposed on the second side panel 908 in multiple stripes
as
spirals, and a third skin care composition 972" is disposed on the front side
panels
902 in multiple stripes as spirals. Each of the skin care compositions may be
of the
same formulation or different formulations. If the skin care compositions have
different formulations, each particular skin care composition can be
formulated to
provide unique skin care benefits to different areas of the wearer.
Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternative preferred diaper
construction of a treated cuff disposed in the waist regions of a diaper. In
particular,
the drawing depicts a unitary waistcap/waistband. An exemplary embodiment of
such
a unitary waistcap/waistband is disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,026,364 issued to
Robertson on June 25, 1991. (It should be noted that the present invention is
not
limited to unitary waistcap/waistbands but also encompasses waistbands such as
shown in U.S. Patent 4,515,595 issued to Kievit & Osterhage on May
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
29
7, 1985; as well as waistcaps such as disclosed in U.S. Patent 4.738.677
issued to
Foreman on April 19, 1988 and U.S. Patent 4,743,246 issued to Lawson on May
10.
1988.) The unitary waistcap/waistband 1002 is formed by a single piece of
elastomeric material operatively joined with the diaper 1020. The outward
portion
1004 is operatively joined with the waist flap 1058 in an elastically
contractible
condition adjacent the end edge 32 of the diaper 1020 by a waistband
securement
member (not shown) such as ultrasonic bonds so as to form an elastic waistband
1056. The inward portion 1006 is contiguous with the outward portion 1004 and
has a
proximal edge 1064 and a distal edge 1066. The proximal edge 1064 of the
inward
portion 1006 is formed inboard of the end edge 32 of the diaper 1020,
preferably
between the waist edge 47 of the absorbent core 44 and the outward portion
1004,
by joining a segment of the inward portion 1006 to the waist flap 1058 (the
topsheet
38) by a proximal attachment member (not shown) such as an adhesive so as to
form a seal along the proximal edge 1064. The distal edge 1066 is disposed
inboard
of the proximal edge 1064 and in the view shown, is not secured to any
underlying
elements of the diaper 1020, particularly the topsheet 38, so that portions of
the
inward portion 1006 may be spaced away from the body surface 40 of the
topsheet
38 to form a waistcap 1062 (barrier cuff). in the embodiment shown, a single
piece of
material serves as both the elastic waistband 1056 and as the waistcap 1062
(barrier
cuff). This single piece of material is referred to herein as a unitary
waistcap/waistband 1002. The waistband enhances the fit of the diaper about
the
wearer and retards leakage from the waist area while the waistcap restrains,
contains
and holds body exudates within the diaper. However, it should be noted that
separate
elements may form both the waistcap and the waistband.
In the embodiment shown, a skin care composition may be disposed on the
inward portion, the outward portion, or both. Thus, a skin care composition
may be
applied onto the waistcap or the waistband. The skin care composition is
preferably
applied to the body surface of the unitary waistcap/waistband so as to contact
and
transfer to the skin of the wearer during use. As shown in Figure 10, a skin
care
composition 1072 is preferably disposed in one or more stripes on the body
surface
1070 of the unitary waistcap/waistband 1002, more preferably adjacent the
distal
edge 1066 of the waistcap 1062 and in the waistband 1056. In order to enhance
the
hydrophobicity of the waistcap and to provide a skin care composition
transferable to
the skin, the skin care composition may alternatively be applied to the
garment
surface and allowed to migrate or transfer through to the body surface thereby
providing a hydrophobic coating which helps retard the passage of liquid while
allowing the skin care composition to be readily
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
transferred to the skin of the wearer. In addition, a different formulation
skin care
composition may be applied to the inward portion versus the outward portion.
Another disposable absorbent article of the present invention are feminine
hygiene articles, such as sanitary napkins. Suitable feminine hygiene articles
are
disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,556,146, issued to Swanson et al. on December
3,
1985; U.S. Patent No. B1 4,589,876, issued to Van Tilburg on April 27, 1993;
U.S.
Patent No. 4,687,478, issued to Van Tilburg on August 18, 1997; U.S. Patent
No.
4,950,264, issued to Osborn, III on August 21, 1990; U.S. Patent No.
5,009,653,
issued to Osborn, III on April 23, 1991; U.S. Patent 5,267,992, issued to Van
Tilburg
on December 7, 1993; U.S. Patent No. 5,389,094, issued to Lavash et al. on
February 14, 1995; U.S. Patent No. 5,413,568, issued to Road et a!. on May 9,
1995;
U.S. Patent No. 5,460,623, issued to Emenaker et a!. on October 24, 1995; U.S.
Patent No. 5,489,283, issued to Van Tilburg on February 6, 1996; U.S. Patent
No.
5,569,231, issued to Emenaker et a!. on October 29, 1996; and U.S. Patent No.
5,620,430, issued to Bamber on April 15, 1997.
Figure 11 shows a fragmentary coronal view showing a sectioned sanitary
napkin 1120 having a treated cuff of the present invention positioned in a
panty 1102
in place on a wearer during use. A more detailed description of a sanitary
napkin
having a barrier cuff is found in U.S. Patent 5,649,917 issued to Roberts &
Mancel on
July 22, 1997; which patent is incorporated herein by reference. As shown in
Figure
11, the sanitary napkin 1120 comprises a central absorbent pad comprising a
topsheet 38, a backsheet 42, and an absorbent core 44 positioned between the
topsheet 38 and the backsheet 42; a flap 1104 (commercially referred to as
"wings"
or "tabs") extending from each longitudinal edge 1130 of the central absorbent
pad,
each flap 1104 having at least one flexible axis, preferably a first axis of
flexibility
1106 and a second axis of flexibility 1108 such that, in use, the elastic in
the panty
1102 pushes the flaps 1104 adjacent the second axes of flexibility 1108 snugly
against the body resulting in a double-wall barrier to contain menses; and a
treated
cuff comprising a barrier cuff 1162 (barrier means) having a proximal edge
1164 and
a distal edge 1166, the proximal edge 1164 being joined to the napkin
(preferably in
this embodiment the flap 1104) to contain body exudates.
A skin care composition 1172 is disposed on each barrier cuff 1162 to
provide skin care benefits as described herein. While the skin care
composition may
be applied to the entire cuff, one of the surfaces of the cuff, or any
portions thereof, in
the embodiment shown, the skin care composition is applied in one or more
stripes to
a portion of the body surface of the barrier cuff 1162 preferably adjacent the
distal
edge 1166. In addition, in the embodiment shown, a second skin care
composition
1172' is
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
31
also disposed on each flap 1104. A third skin care composition 1172" is
disposed on the
topsheet 38. The second skin care composition 1172' disposed on the flaps 1104
is
preferably disposed on the portions of the flaps that come in contact with the
wearer
during use, typically the portions of the flaps adjacent the second axis of
flexibility 1108.
The second skin care composition 1172' may be disposed between the first axis
of
flexibility 1106 and the second axis of flexibility 1108 and/or between the
second axis of
flexibility 1108 and the distal edge 1110 of the flap, or both. The
formulation of the skin
care compositions applied to the barrier cuff, the topsheet, and the flaps can
be different
to provide different skin care benefits to different portions of the skin of
the wearer. In
the embodiment shown, the skin care compositions which are disposed on the
topsheet,
the flaps, and the barrier cuffs have the same formulation.
B. Skin Care Composition
While the specific skin care compositions) delivered (referred to herein as
"skin
care composition" and "composition") in accordance with the present invention
is_ an
important factor in delivering desirable skin effects, it is preferred that
the skin care
composition should provide a protective, nonocclusive function (e.g., a
relatively liquid
impervious but vapor pervious barrier) to avoid skin hyperhydration and skin
exposure to
materials contained in body exudates; an abrasion minimizing function to
reduce skin
irritation in the areas where the cuffs contact the wearer's skin; or contain
agents that
deliver, either directly or indirectly, skin care benefits. For example,
indirect benefits
include improved removal of skin irritants such as feces or urine. The
composition may
be in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, emulsions, lotions,
creams,
ointments, salves, powders, suspensions, encapsulations, gels, and the like.
As used herein, the term "effective amount of a skin care composition" refers
to
an amount of a particular composition which, when applied or migrated to
("disposed
on") the body surface of a cuff, will be effective in reducing the abrasion
between the
cuff and skin in the areas where the cuffs contact the wearer's skin,
providing a protective
barner and/or delivering a skin care benefit when delivered via cuffs, and/or
reducing the
adherence of BM to the skin. Unless otherwise indicated, the description
pertaining to
disposition of skin care composition on the cuffs will be applicable to
compositions
disposed on the topsheet, in such preferred embodiments. Of course, the
effective
amount of composition disposed on the cuff will depend, to a large extent, on
the
particular skin care composition used. Nonetheless, the quantity of the skin
care
composition disposed on at least a portion of the body surface of the cuff
will preferably
range from about 0.05 mg/in2 (0.0078 mg/cm2) to about 80 mg/in2 (12 mg/cm2),
more
preferably from about 1 mg/in2 (0.16 mg/cm2) to about 40 mg/in2 (6 mg/cm2),
still
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
32
more preferably from about 4 mg/in2 (0.6 mg/cm2) to about 26 mg/in2 (4
mg/cm2).
These ranges are by way of illustration only and the skilled artisan will
recognize that the
nature of the composition will dictate the level that must be disposed thereon
to achieve
the desired skin benefits, and that such levels are ascertainable by routine
experimentation in light of the present disclosure.
While the level of skin care composition disposed on the cuffs is an important
aspect of the present invention, more important is the amount of composition
transferred
to the wearer's skin during use of one or more of the treated cuffs. Though
the requisite
level delivered to the skin to provide the desired skin benefits will depend
to some
degree on the nature of the composition employed, Applicants have found that
relatively
low levels may be delivered while still providing the desired skin effects.
This is
particularly true for preferred compositions, such as those described in the
examples.
Another benefit of the present invention is the controlled application of the
skin
care composition to deliver the low but effective levels of composition
required. This is
in contrast to typically sporadic manual application of skin care agents,
where the
caregiver/user often applies significantly greater levels of material than are
needed.
Excessive materials added manually may adversely impact the fluid handling
properties
of the absorbent article, as a result of transfer from the skin to the
article. Indeed, for
certain materials, such as petrolatum, the levels applied manually may
actually result in
an occlusive effect, thereby compromising the skin. A benefit of the present
invention is
providing a barrier to surface moisture while avoiding occlusion of the skin
(i.e.,
maintaining skin breathability). Thus, the present invention allows transfer
of optimal
levels of the composition to the skin to maintain and/or improve skin health.
With regard to the level of skin care composition that is transferred to the
wearer
during use of one treated absorbent article worn for a period of about 3 hours
(a typical
daytime wear time), particularly for preferred skin care compositions such as
that
described in Example 1, preferred is where at least about 0.01 mg/in2 (0.0016
mg/cm2),
more preferably at least about 0.05 mg/in2 (0.0078 mg/em2), still more
preferably at
least about 0.1 mg/in2 (0.016 mg/cm2), of the composition is transferred to
the skin over
a three hour wear period. Typically, the amount of composition delivered by
one treated
article will be from about 0.01 mg/in2 (0.0016 mg/cm2)to about 8 mg/in2 (1.24
mg/cm2), more preferably from about 0.05 mg/in2 (0.0078 mg/cm2) to about 6
mg/in2
(0.93 mg/cm2), still more preferably from about 0.1 mg/in2 (0.016mg/cm2)to
about 5
mg/in2 (0.78 mg/cm2), over a three hour wear period.
It will be recognized that of the numerous materials useful in the skin care
compositions delivered to skin in accordance with the present invention, those
that have
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
33
been deemed safe and effective skin care agents are logical materials for use
herein.
Such materials include Category I actives as defined by the U.S. Federal Food
and Drug
Administration's (FDA) Tentative Final Monograph on Skin Protectant Drug
Products
for Over-the-Counter Human Use (21 C.F.R. ~ 347), which presently include:
alantoin,
aluminum hydroxide gel, calamine, cocoa butter, dimethicone, cod liver oil (in
combination), glycerine, kaolin, petrolatum, lanolin, mineral oil, shark liver
oil, white
petrolatum, talc, topical starch, zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide,
and the like.
Other potentially useful materials are Category III actives as defined by the
U.S. Federal
Food and Drug Administration's Tentative Final Monograph on Skin Protectant
Drug
Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use (21 C.F.R. ~ 347), which presently
include:
live yeast cell derivatives, aldioxa, aluminum acetate, microporous cellulose,
cholecalciferol, colloidal oatmeal, cysteine hydrochloride, dexpanthanol,
Peruvean
balsam oil, protein hydrolysates, racemic methionine, sodium bicarbonate,
Vitamin A,
and the like. It will be recognized that one or more of these optional
materials may be
used in combination with other ingredients, such as those described herein.
As will be discussed hereinafter, the skin care compositions useful in the
present
invention preferably, though not necessarily, have a melting profile such that
they are
relatively immobile and localized on the wearer-contacting surface (body
surface) of the
cuff at room temperature, at least a portion of the composition will be
transferable to the
wearer at body temperature, and yet are not completely liquid under extreme
storage
conditions. Preferably, the compositions are easily transferable to the skin
by way of
normal contact, wearer motion, and/or body heat. Because the composition
preferably is
substantially immobilized on the cuff s wearer-contacting surface, relatively
low levels of
skin care composition are needed to impart the desired skin care benefits. In
addition,
special barrier or wrapping materials may be unnecessary in packaging the
articles useful
in the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment, the skin care compositions useful herein are solid,
or
more often semi-solid, at 20°C, i.e. at ambient temperatures. By
"semisolid" is meant
that the composition has a rheology typical of pseudoplastic or plastic
liquids. When no
shear is applied, the compositions can have the appearance of a semi-solid but
can be
made to flow as the shear rate is increased. This is due to the fact that,
while the
composition contains primarily solid components, it also includes some minor
liquid
components.
Preferably, the compositions of the present invention have a zero shear
viscosity
between about 1.0 X 106 centipoise and about 1.0 X 10g centipoise. More
preferably,
the zero shear viscosity is between about 5.0 X 106 centipoise and about 5.0 X
107
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
34
centipoise. As used herein the term "zero shear viscosity" refers to a
viscosity measured
at very low shear rates (e.g., 1.0 sec-1) using plate and cone viscometer (a
suitable
instrument is available from TA Instruments of New Castle, DE as model number
CSL
100). One of skill in the art will recognize means other than high melting
point
components (as discussed below) can be used to provide comparable viscosities
measured for such compositions comprising such means can be measured by
extrapolating a plot of viscosity vs. shear rate for such compositions to a
shear rate of
zero at a temperature of about 20°C.
Preferred compositions are at least semi-solid at room temperature to minimize
composition migration. In addition, the compositions preferably have a final
melting
point ( 100% liquid) above potential "stressful" storage conditions that can
be greater
than 45°C (e.g., warehouse in Arizona, car trunk in Florida, etc.).
Specifically, preferred
compositions will have the following melt profile:
Characteristic Preferred RaneeMost Preferred
liquid at 2-50 3-25
room temp. (20C)
liquid at 25-95 30-90
body temp. (37C)
final melting point>_38 >_45
(C)
By being solid or semisolid at ambient temperatures, preferred compositions do
not have a tendency to flow and migrate to a significant degree to undesired
locations of
the absorbent article. This means less skin care composition is required for
imparting
desirable therapeutic, protective and/or conditioning benefits.
To enhance immobility of preferred compositions, the viscosity of the
formulated
compositions should be as high as possible to prevent flow from the cuff to
undesired
locations within the diaper. Unfortunately, in some instances, higher
viscosities may
inhibit transfer of composition to the wearer's skin or may be difficult to
apply without
processing problems. Therefore, a balance should be achieved so the
viscosities are high
enough to keep the compositions localized on the body surface of the cuff, but
not so
high as to impede transfer to the wearer's skin. Suitable viscosities for the
compositions
will typically range from about 1 to about 5000 centipoise, preferably from
about 5 to
about 300 centipoise, more preferably from about 5 to about 100 centipoise,
measured at
60°C using a rotational viscometer (a suitable viscometer is available
from Lab Line
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
Instruments, Inc. of Melrose Park, IL as Model 4537). The viscometer is
operated at 60
rpm using a number 2 spindle.
For compositions designed to provide a skin care benefit, a useful active
ingredient in these compositions is one or more skin protectants or
emollients. As used
herein, the term "emollient" is a material that protects against wetness or
irritation,
softens, soothes, supples, coats, lubricates, moisturizes, protects and/or
cleanses the skin.
(It will be recognized that several of the monographed actives listed above
are
"emollients", as that term is used herein.) In a preferred embodiment, these
emollients
will have either a plastic or liquid consistency at ambient temperatures,
i.e., 20°C.
Representative emollients useful in the present invention include, but are not
limited to, emollients that are petroleum-based; sucrose ester fatty acids;
polyethylene
glycol and derivatives thereof; humectants; fatty acid ester type; alkyl
ethoxylate type;
fatty acid ester ethoxylates; fatty alcohol type; polysiloxane type; propylene
glycol and
derivatives thereof; glycerine and derivatives thereof, including glyceride,
acetoglycerides, and ethoxylated glycerides of C12-C2g fatty acids;
triethylene glycol
and derivatives thereof; spermaceti or other waxes; fatty acids; fatty alcohol
ethers,
particularly those having from 12 to 28 carbon atoms in their fatty chain,
such as stearic
acid; propoxylated fatty alcohols; other fatty esters of polyhydroxy alcohols;
lanolin and
its derivatives; kaolin and its derivatives; any of the monographed skin care
agents listed
above; or mixtures of these emollients.
Suitable petroleum-based emollients include those hydrocarbons, or mixtures of
hydrocarbons, having chain lengths of from 16 to 32 carbon atoms. Petroleum
based
hydrocarbons having these chain lengths include mineral oil (also known as
"liquid
petrolatum") and petrolatum (also known as "mineral wax," "petroleum jelly"
and
"mineral jelly"). Mineral oil usually refers to less viscous mixtures of
hydrocarbons
having from 16 to 20 carbon atoms. Petrolatum usually refers to more viscous
mixtures
of hydrocarbons having from 16 to 32 carbon atoms. Petrolatum and mineral oil
are
particularly preferred emollients for compositions of the present invention.
Suitable fatty acid ester type emollients include those derived from C 12-C28
fatty acids, preferably C16-C22 saturated fatty acids, and short chain (C1-Cg,
preferably
C1-C3) monohydric alcohols. Representative examples of such esters include
methyl
palmitate, methyl stearate, isopropyl laurate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl
palmitate,
ethylhexyl palmitate and mixtures thereof. Suitable fatty acid ester
emollients can also
be derived from esters of longer chain fatty alcohols (C 12-C2g, preferably C
12-C 16) ~d
shorter chain fatty acids e.g., lactic acid, such as lauryl lactate and cetyl
lactate.
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
36
Suitable alkyl ethoxylate type emollients include C 12-C22 fatty alcohol
ethoxylates having an average degree of ethoxylation of from about 2 to about
30.
Preferably, the fatty alcohol ethoxylate emollient is selected from the group
consisting of
lauryl, cetyl, and stearyl ethoxylates, and mixtures thereof, having an
average degree of
ethoxylation ranging from about 2 to about 23. Representative examples of such
alkyl
ethoxylates include laureth-3 (a lauryl ethoxylate having an average degree of
ethoxylation of 3), laureth-23 (a lauryl ethoxylate having an average degree
of
ethoxylation of 23), ceteth-10 (a cetyl alcohol ethoxylate having an average
degree of
ethoxylation of 10) and steareth-10 (a stearyl alcohol ethoxylate having an
average
degree of ethoxylation of 10). When employed, these alkyl ethoxylate
emollients are
typically used in combination with the petroleum-based emollients, such as
petrolatum,
at a weight ratio of alkyl ethoxylate emollient to petroleum-based emollient
of from
about 1:1 to about 1:5, preferably from about 1:2 to about 1:4.
Suitable fatty alcohol type emollients include C12-C22 fatty alcohols,
preferably
C 16-C 1 g fatty alcohols. Representative examples include cetyl alcohol and
stearyl
alcohol, and mixtures thereof. When employed, these fatty alcohol emollients
are
typically used in combination with the petroleum-based emollients, such as
petrolatum,
at a weight ratio of fatty alcohol emollient to petroleum-based emollient of
from about
1:1 to about 1:5, preferably from about 1:1 to about 1:2.
Other suitable types of emollients for use herein include polysiloxane
compounds.
In general, suitable polysiloxane materials for use in the present invention
include those
having monomeric siloxane units of the following structure:
Rt
-Si-O-
~2
wherein, R1 and R2, for each independent siloxane monomeric unit can each
independently be hydrogen or any alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkaryl, arakyl,
cycloalkyl,
halogenated hydrocarbon, or other radical. Any of such radicals can be
substituted or
unsubstituted. R1 and R2 radicals of any particular monomeric unit may differ
from the
corresponding functionalities of the next adjoining monomeric unit.
Additionally, the
polysiloxane can be either a straight chain, a branched chain or have a cyclic
structure.
The radicals R1 and R2 can additionally independently be other silaceous
functionalities
such as, but not limited to siloxane~ polysiloxanes, silanes, and polysilanes.
The
radicals R1 and R2 may contain any of a variety of organic functionalities
including, for
example, alcohol, carboxylic acid, phenyl, and amine functionalities.
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
37
Exemplary alkyl radicals are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl. hexyl,
octyl,
decyl, octadecyl, and the like. Exemplary alkenyl radicals are vinyl, ally!,
and the like.
Exemplary aryl radicals are phenyl, Biphenyl, naphthyl, and the like.
Exemplary
alkaryl radicals are toyl, xylyl, ethylphenyl, and the like. Exemplary aralkyl
radicals
are benzyl, alpha-phenylethyl, beta-phenylethyl, alpha-phenylbutyl, and the
like.
Exemplary cycloalkyl radicals are cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and the
like.
Exemplary halogenated hydrocarbon radicals are chloromethyl, bromoethyl,
tetrafluorethyl, fluorethyl, trifluorethyl, trifluorotloyl, hexafluoroxylyl,
and the like.
Viscosity of polysiloxanes useful may vary as widely as the viscosity of
polysiloxanes in general vary, so long as the polysiloxane is flowable or can
be made
to be flowable for application to the absorbent article. This includes, but is
not limited
to, viscosity as low as 5 centistokes (at 37°C as measured by a glass
viscometer) to
about 20,000,000 centistokes. Preferably the polysiloxanes have a viscosity at
37°C
ranging from about 5 to about 5,000 centistokes, more preferably from about 5
to
about 2,000 centistokes, most preferably from about 100 to about 1000
centistokes.
High viscosity polysiloxanes which themselves are resistant to flowing can be
effectively deposited upon the absorbent articles by such methods as, for
example,
emulsifying the polysiloxane in surfactant or providing the polysiloxane in
solution
with the aid of a solvent, such as hexane, listed for exemplary purposes only.
Particular methods for applying polysiloxane emollients to absorbent articles
are
discussed in more detail hereinafter.
Preferred polysiloxanes compounds for use in the present invention are
disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,059,282 (Ampulski et al), issued October 22, 1991.
Particularly preferred polysiloxane compounds for use as emollients in the
compositions of the present invention include phenyl-functional
polymethylsiloxane
compounds (e.g., Dow Corning 556 Cosmetic-Grade Fluid:
polyphenylmethylsiloxane) and cetyl or stearyl functionalized dimethicones
such as
Dow 2502 and Dow 2503 polysiloxane liquids, respectively. In addition to such
substitution with phenyl-functional or alkyl groups, effective substitution
may be made
with amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl, ether, polyether, aldehyde, ketone, amide,
ester, and
thiol groups. Of these effective substituent groups, the family of groups
comprising
phenyl, amino, alkyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups are more preferred than
the
others; and phenyl-functional groups are most preferred.
Suitable humectants include glycerine, propylene glycol, sorbitol, trihydroxy
stearin, and the like.
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
38
When present, the amount of emollient that can be included in the composition
will depend on a variety of factors, including the particular emollient
involved, the skin
benefits desired, the other components in the composition and like factors.
The
composition will comprise from 0 to about 100%, by total weight, of the
emollient.
Preferably, the composition will comprise from about 10 to about 95%, more
preferably
from about 20 to about 80%, and most preferably from about 40 to about 75%, by
weight, of the emollient.
Another optional, but especially key component of certain skin care
compositions
useful in the present invention is an agent capable of immobilizing the
composition
(including the preferred emollient and/or other skin condition/protective
agents) in the
desired location in or on the treated cuff. Because certain of the preferred
emollients in
the composition have a plastic or liquid consistency at 20°C, they tend
to flow or
migrate, even when subjected to modest shear. When applied to a body surface
or other
location of a cuff, especially in a melted or molten state, the emollient will
not remain
primarily in or on the treated region. Instead, the emollient will tend to
migrate and flow
to undesired regions of the absorbent article.
Specifically, if the emollient migrates into the interior of the article, it
can cause
undesired effects on the absorbency of the absorbent core due to the
hydrophobic
characteristics of many of the emollients and other skin conditioning agents
used in the
compositions useful in the present invention. It also means that much more
emollient
has to be applied to the cuff to get the desired benefits. Increasing the
level of emollient
not only increases the cost, but also exacerbates the undesirable effect on
the absorbency
of the core and undesired transfer of composition during processing/converting
of the
treated cuffs.
The immobilizing agent counteracts this tendency of the emollient to migrate
or
flow by keeping the emollient primarily localized on the surface or in the
region of the
cuff to which the composition is applied. This is believed to be due, in part,
to the fact
that the immobilizing agent raises the melting point and/or viscosity of the
composition
above that of the emollient. Since the immobilizing agent is preferably
miscible with the
emollient (or solubilized in the emollient with the aid of an appropriate
emulsifier or
dispersed therein), it entraps the emollient on the surface of the wearer
contacting surface
of the cuff or in the region to which it is applied.
It is also advantageous to "lock" the immobilizing agent on the wearer
contacting
surface or the region of the cuff to which it is applied. This can be
accomplished by
using immobilizing agents which quickly set up (i.e., solidify) upon
application to the
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
39
cuff. In addition, outside cooling of the treated cuff via blowers, fans, cold
rolls, etc. can
speed up crystallization of the immobilizing agent.
In addition to being miscible with (or solubilized in) the emollient, the
immobilizing agent will preferably have a melting profile that will provide a
composition
that is solid or semisolid at ambient temperature. In this regard, preferred
immobilizing
agents will have a melting point of at least about 35°C. This is so the
immobilizing
agent itself will not have a tendency to migrate or flow. Preferred
immobilizing agents
will have melting points of at least about 40°C. Typically, the
immobilizing agent will
have a melting point in the range of from about 50° to about
150°C.
When utilized, immobilizing agents useful herein can be selected from any of a
number of agents, so long as the preferred properties of the skin care
composition
provide the skin benefits described herein. Preferred immobilizing agents will
comprise
a member selected from the group consisting of C 14-C22 fatty alcohols, C 12-
C22 fatty
acids, and C 12-C22 fatty alcohol ethoxylates having an average degree of
ethoxylation
ranging from 2 to about 30, and mixtures thereof. Preferred immobilizing
agents include
C 16-C 1 g fatty alcohols, most preferably crystalline high melting materials
selected from
the group consisting of cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, and
mixtures
thereof. (The linear structure of these materials can speed up solidification
on the treated
cuff.) Mixtures of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are particularly
preferred. Other
preferred immobilizing agents include C 16-C 1 g fatty acids, most preferably
selected
from the group consisting of palmitic acid, stearic acid, and mixtures
thereof. Mixtures
of palmitic acid and stearic acid are particularly preferred. Still other
preferred
immobilizing agents include C 16-C 1 g fatty alcohol ethoxylates having an
average
degree of ethoxylation ranging from about 5 to about 20. Preferably, the fatty
alcohols,
fatty acids and fatty alcohols are linear. Importantly, these preferred
immobilizing
agents such as the C 16 - C 1 g fatty alcohols increase the rate of
crystallization of the
composition causing the composition to crystallize rapidly onto the surface of
the
substrate.
Other types of immobilizing agents that may be used herein include polyhydroxy
fatty acid esters, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, and mixtures thereof.
Preferred esters
and amides will have three or more free hydroxy groups on the polyhydroxy
moiety and
are typically nonionic in character. Because of the possible skin sensitivity
of those
using cuffs to which the composition is applied, these esters and amides
should also be
relatively mild and non-irntating to the skin.
Suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid esters for use in the present invention will
have
the formula:
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
O
II
R- C -O Y
n
wherein R is a CS-C31 hydrocarbyl group, preferably straight chain C~-C 1 g
alkyl or
alkenyl, more preferably straight chain Cg-C 1 ~ alkyl or alkenyl, most
preferably straight
chain C 11-C 1 ~ alkyl or alkenyl, or mixture thereof; Y is a
polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl
moiety having a hydrocarbyl chain with at least 2 free hydroxyls directly
connected to
the chain; and n is at least 1. Suitable Y groups can be derived from polyols
such as
glycerol, pentaerythritol; sugars such as raffinose, maltodextrose, galactose,
sucrose,
glucose, xylose, fructose, maltose, lactose, mannose and erythrose; sugar
alcohols such
as erythritol, xylitol, malitol, mannitol and sorbitol; and anhydrides of
sugar alcohols
such as sorbitan.
One class of suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid esters for use in the present
invention comprises certain sorbitan esters, preferably the sorbitan esters of
C 16-C~~
saturated fatty acids. Because of the manner in which they are typically
manufactured,
these sorbitan esters usually comprise mixtures of mono-, di-, tri-, etc.
esters.
Representative examples of suitable sorbitan esters include sorbitan
palmitates (e.g.,
SPAN 40), sorbitan stearates (e.g., SPAN 60), and sorbitan behenates, that
comprise one
or more of the mono-, di- and tri-ester versions of these sorbitan esters,
e.g., sorbitan
mono-, di- and tri-palmitate, sorbitan mono-, di- and tri-stearate, sorbitan
mono-, di and
tri-behenate, as well as mixed tallow fatty acid sorbitan mono-, di- and tri-
esters.
Mixtures of different sorbitan esters can also be used, such as sorbitan
palmitates with
sorbitan stearates. Particularly preferred sorbitan esters are the sorbitan
stearates,
typically as a mixture of mono-, di- and tri-esters (plus some tetraester)
such as SPAN
60, and sorbitan stearates sold under the trade name GLYCOMUL-S by Lonza, Inc.
Although these sorbitan esters typically contain mixtures of mono-, di- and
tri-esters,
plus some tetraester, the mono- and di-esters are usually the predominant
species in these
mixtures.
Another class of suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid esters for use in the present
invention comprises certain glyceryl monoesters, preferably glyceryl
monoesters of C 16-
C22 saturated fatty acids such as glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl
monopalmitate, and
glyceryl monobehenate. Again, like the sorbitan esters, glyceryl monoester
mixtures will
* = Trade-mark
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
41
typically contain some di- and triester. However, such mixtures should contain
predominantly the glyceryl monoester species to be useful in the present
invention.
Another class of suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid esters for use in the present
invention comprise certain sucrose fatty acid esters, preferably the C 12-C22
saturated
fatty acid esters of sucrose. Sucrose monoesters and diesters are particularly
preferred
and include sucrose mono- and di-stearate and sucrose mono- and di- laurate.
Suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid amides for use in the present invention will
have
the formula:
O R~
RZ C-N-Z
wherein R1 is H, C1-C4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl,
methoxyethyl,
methoxypropyl or a mixture thereof, preferably C1-C4 alkyl, methoxyethyl or
methoxypropyl, more preferably C 1 or C2 alkyl or methoxypropyl , most
preferably C 1
alkyl (i.e., methyl) or methoxypropyl; and R2 is a CS-C31 hydrocarbyl group,
preferably
straight chain C7-C 1 g alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight chain Cg-C
17 alkyl or
alkenyl, most preferably straight chain C 11-C 17 alkyl or alkenyl, or mixture
thereof; and
Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at
least 3
hydroxyls directly connected to the chain. See U.S. Patent 5,174, 927 (Honsa),
issued
December 29, 1992 (herein incorporated by reference) which discloses these
polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, as well as their preparation.
The Z moiety preferably will be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive
amination reaction; most preferably glycityl. Suitable reducing sugars include
glucose,
fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose. High dextrose corn
syrup,
high fructose corn syrup, and high maltose corn syrup can be utilized, as well
as the
individual sugars listed above. These corn syrups can yield mixtures of sugar
components for the Z moiety.
The Z moiety preferably will be selected from the group consisting of -CH2-
(CHOH)n-CH20H, -CH(CH20H)-[(CHOH)n_1]-CH20H, -CH20H-CH2-
(CHOH)2(CHOR3)(CHOH)-CH20H, where n is an integer from 3 to 5, and R3 is H or
a
cyclic or aliphatic monosaccharide. Most preferred are the glycityls where n
is 4,
particularly -CH2-(CHOH)4-CH20H.
In the above formula, R1 can be, for example, N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl, N-
isopropyl, N-butyl, N-2-hydroxyethyl, N-methoxypropyl or N-2-hydroxypropyl. R2
can
be selected to provide, for example, cocamides, stearamides, oleamides,
lauramides,
myristamides, capricamides, palmitamides, tallowamides, etc. The Z moiety can
be 1-
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
42
deoxyglucityl, 2-deoxyfructityl, 1-deoxymaltityl, 1-deoxylactityl, 1-
deoxygalactityl, 1-
deoxymannityl, 1-deoxymaltotriotityl, etc.
The most preferred polyhydroxy fatty acid amides have the general formula:
O R~ OH
II I I
R2-C-N-C H2 C H C H2-OH
4
wherein R1 is methyl or methoxypropyl; R2 is a C I l-C 1 ~ straight-chain
alkyl or alkenyl
group. These include N-lauryl-N-methyl glucamide, N-lauryl-N-methoxypropyl
glucamide, N-cocoyl-N-methyl glucamide, N-cocoyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, N-
palmityl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, N-tallowyl-N-methyl glucamide, or N-
tallowyl-
N-methoxypropyl glucamide.
As previously noted, some of the immobilizing agents may require an emulsifier
for solubilization in the emollient. This is particularly the case for certain
of the
glucamides such as the N-alkyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamides having HLB values of
at
least about 7. Suitable emulsifiers will typically include those having HLB
values below
about 7. In this regard, the sorbitan esters previously described, such as the
sorbitan
stearates, having HLB values of about 4.9 or less have been found useful in
solubilizing
these glucamide immobilizing agents in petrolatum. Other suitable emulsifiers
include
steareth-2 (polyethylene glycol ethers of stearyl alcohol that conform to the
formula
CH3(CH2) 1 ~(OCH2CH2)nOH, where n has an average value of 2), sorbitan
tristearate,
isosorbide laurate, and glyceryl monostearate. The emulsifier can be included
in an
amount sufficient to solubilize the immobilizing agent in the emollient such
that a
substantially homogeneous mixture is obtained. For example, an approximately
1:l
mixture of N-cocoyl-N-methyl glucamide and petrolatum that will normally not
melt
into a single phase mixture, will melt into a single phase mixture upon the
addition of
20% of a 1:1 mixture of Steareth-2 and sorbitan tristearate as the emulsifier.
Other types of ingredients that can be used as immobilizing agents, either
alone,
or in combination with the above-mentioned immobilizing agents, include waxes
such as
carnauba, ozokerite, beeswax, candelilla, paraffin, ceresin, esparto,
ouricuri, rezowax,
isoparaffin, and other known mined and mineral waxes. The high melt point of
these
materials can help immobilize the composition on the desired surface or
location on the
cuff. Additionally microcrystalline waxes are effective immobilizing agents.
Microcrystalline waxes can aid in "locking" up low molecular weight
hydrocarbons
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
43
within the skin care composition. Preferably the wax is a paraffin wax. An
example of a
particularly preferred alternate immobilizing agent is a paraffin wax such as
Parrafin S.P.
434 from Strahl and Pitsch Inc. PØ Box 1098 West Babylon, NY 11704.
The amount of the optional immobilizing agent that can be included in the
composition will depend on a variety of factors, including the actives (e.g.,
emollients)
involved, the particular immobilizing agent involved, if any, the other
components in the
composition, whether an emulsifier is required to solubilize the immobilizing
agent in
the other components, and like factors. When present, the composition will
typically
comprise from about 5 to about 90% of the immobilizing agent. Preferably, the
composition will comprise from about 5 to about 50%, most preferably from
about 10 to
about 40%, of the immobilizing agent.
Compositions can comprise other components typically present in emulsions,
creams, ointment, lotions, powders, suspensions, etc. of this type. These
components
include water, viscosity modifiers, perfumes, disinfectant antibacterial
actives, antiviral
agents, vitamins, pharmaceutical actives, film formers, aloe vera, deodorants,
opacifiers,
astringents, solvents, preservatives, and the like. In addition, stabilizers
can be added to
enhance the shelf life of the composition such as cellulose derivatives,
proteins and
lecithin. All of these materials are well known in the art as additives for
such
formulations and can be employed in appropriate amounts in the compositions
for use
herein.
If water-based skin care compositions are used, a preservative will be needed.
Suitable preservatives include propyl paraben, methyl paraben, benzyl alcohol,
benzylkonnium, tribasic calcium phosphate, BHT, or acids such as citric,
tartaric, malefic,
lactic, malic, benzoic, salicylic, and the like. Suitable viscosity increasing
agents include
some of the agents described as effective immobilizing agents. Other suitable
viscosity
increasing agents include alkyl galactomannan, silica, talc, magnesium
silicate, sorbitol,
colloidal silicone dioxide, magnesium aluminum silicate, zinc stearate, wool
wax
alcohol, sorbiton, sesquioleate, cetyl hydroxy ethyl cellulose and other
modified
celluloses. Suitable solvents include propylene glycol, glycerine,
cyclomethicone,
polyethylene glycols, hexalene glycol, diol and multi-hydroxy based solvents.
Suitable
vitamins include A, D-3, E, B-5 and E acetate.
C. Application of Skin Care Composition To Cuffs (Or Other Webs)
In preparing treated cuff products according to the present invention, the
skin
care composition is preferably applied to the body surface (i.e., wearer-
contacting
surface) of the cuff. However, since certain skin care compositions disclosed
herein can
penetrate or migrate through some of the cuff materials disclosed herein, the
skin care
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
44
composition may alternatively be applied to the garment surface of the cuff
such that an
effective amount of the skin care composition is disposed on the body surface.
In fact, in
some circumstances, this may be a preferred approach to achieve the benefits
of a fully
treated cuff (i.e., both sides are treated) though application is to one
surface only.
Any of a variety of application methods that distribute lubricious materials
having a molten or liquid consistency can be used to apply the skin care
composition to
the cuffs. Suitable application methods include coating (e.g., gravure or slot
coating),
spraying, printing (e.g., flexographic printing), extruding, or combinations
of these or
other application techniques (e.g. spraying the skin care composition on a
rotating
surface, such as a calendar roll, that then transfers via contact coating the
skin care
composition to the body surface of the diaper cuffs). If desired, the skin
care composition
can also be applied to both sides of the cuffs.
The manner of applying the skin care composition to the cuffs should be such
that the cuffs do not become over saturated with the skin care composition. If
the cuffs
are treated with excessive amounts of the skin care composition, there is a
greater
potential for the skin care composition to migrate to undesired locations of
the article, for
example, into the interior of the article where it can have a detrimental
effect on the
absorbency of the underlying absorbent core. Also, saturation of the cuffs is
not
required to obtain the therapeutic and/or protective skin care composition
benefits.
The minimum level of skin care composition to be applied to the cuff is the
smallest amount effective in reducing erythema, diaper rash, red marking, skin
irntation
or other adverse skin conditions. (The compositions can also be effective in
reducing the
adherence of BM to the skin of the wearer.) Of course, the effective amount of
a skin
care composition will depend, to a large extent, on the particular skin care
composition
used. Because the emollient is substantially immobilized on the body surface
of the cuff,
less skin care composition is needed to impart the desired skin care benefits.
Such
relatively low levels of skin care composition are adequate to impart the
desired
therapeutic and/or protective skin care composition benefits to the cuff.
The skin care composition may be applied evenly and uniformly onto either or
both surfaces of the cuff or portions thereof. The skin care composition may
also be
applied in a pattern (i.e., stripes, boxes, dots, spirals, etc.). Preferably,
the skin care
composition is registered with the region of the cuff that will, in use, be
most in contact
with the wearer. Most preferably, as described in the Examples hereinafter,
the skin care
composition is applied in a stripe to a discrete portion of the cuff , e.g., a
1.4 inch wide
(diaper lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the cuff is covered)
and 11.75 inch
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
long (diaper longitudinal direction) patch generally disposed in the crotch
portion of the
body surface of the cuff.
The skin care composition can also be applied nonuniformly to either or both
surfaces of the cuff. By "nonuniform", it is meant that the amount, pattern of
distribution,
etc., of the skin care composition can vary over the cuff surface. For
example, some
portions of the treated surface of the cuff can have greater or lesser amounts
of skin care
composition, including portions of the surface that do not have any skin care
composition
on it.
The skin care composition can be applied to the cuff or a web that forms a
portion of the cuff at any point during assembly. For example, the skin care
composition
can be applied to the cuff of the finished product before it has been
packaged. The skin
care composition can also be applied to the cuff or the web before it is
combined with the
other raw materials to form a finished product, either at the converting site
prior to
combination with other article components or as a pretreated stock material.
The skin care composition is typically applied from a melt thereof to the
cuff.
Since the skin care composition melts at significantly above ambient
temperatures, it is
usually applied as a heated coating to the cuff. Typically, the skin care
composition is
heated to a temperature in the range from about 35° to about
100°C, preferably from 40°
to about 90°C, prior to being applied to the cuff. Once the melted skin
care composition
has been applied to the cuff, it is allowed to cool and solidify to form a
solidified coating
or film disposed on the surface of the cuff. Preferably, the application
process is
designed to aid in the cooling/set up of the composition.
In applying skin care compositions of the present invention to cuffs, slot
coating,
extrusion coating, gravure coating, and spraying methods are preferred. Figure
5
illustrates a preferred method involving continuous or intermittent contact
slot coating of
the skin care composition on to a diaper barrier cuff during the converting
operation.
Referring to Figure 5, conveyor belt 1 advances in the direction shown by the
arrows on
turning rolls 3 and 4 and becomes returning conveyor belt 2. Conveyor belt 1
carries
nonlotioned diaper 5 to contact slot coating station 6 where the barner cuff
member 7 is
coated with a hot, molten (e.g., 65°C) skin care composition. After
leaving slot coating
station 6, the diaper 5 becomes diaper 8 having treated barrier cuffs. The
amount of skin
care composition transferred to barrier cuff member 7 is controlled by: (1)
the rate at
which the molten skin care composition is applied from contact slot coating
station 6;
and/or (2) the speed at which conveyor belt 1 travels under slot coating
station 6; and/or
(3) positioning of the contact slot coating station. (If desired, the coating
station may be
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
46
positioned so as to coat the barrier cuff member 7 as well as portions of the
topsheet 38
such that both the cuff and the topsheet have a skin care composition disposed
thereon.)
Figure 6 illustrates an alternate preferred method involving contact slot
coating of
the skin care composition on the diaper barrier cuffs before the cuffs are
assembled with
the other raw materials into a finished product. Referring to Figure 6, a
nonwoven
barrier cuff web 1 is unwound from parent barrier cuff roll 2 (rotating in the
direction
indicated by arrow 2a) and advanced to the contact slot coating station 6
where one side
of the web is coated with a hot, molten (e.g., 65°C) skin care
composition. After leaving
slot coating station 6, nonwoven barrier cuff web 1 becomes a treated barrier
cuff web
indicated by 3. Treated barrier cuff web 3 is then advanced around turning
roll 4 and
turning roll 8, and then wound up on parent roll 10 (rotating in the direction
indicated by
arrow 10a). The treated web is then applied to the chassis of the diaper to
form the
barrier cuff member of the barrier cuff during the converting operation.
D. Skin Care Composition on Topsheet and Cuffs -
As shown in Figure 7, a first skin care composition may be disposed on the
topsheet while a second skin care composition may be disposed on one or more
of the
cuffs. It has been found that the addition of a skin care composition to both
the topsheet
and the cuffs performs more effectively than either alone. The combination of
a treated
topsheet and treated cuffs provides a greater skin area to which the skin care
composition
may be transferred. With a larger area of the skin having the skin care
composition
transferred thereto, the better the likelihood that all parts of the wearer's
skin will be
maintained in a healthier state.
As discussed above, the first skin care composition and the second skin care
composition can be the same formulation. However, it has been found that if
the first
skin care composition is different than the second skin care composition, then
the diaper
can be designed to deliver specific skin care benefits to specific portions of
the skin of
the wearer. For example, since the topsheet is typically in contact with the
genitals and
buttocks of the wearer during use, a first skin care composition specifically
formulated
to, for example, provide diaper rash prevention and/or treatment can be
disposed on the
topsheet. Since the cuffs tend to come in contact with the waist and legs of
the wearer,
the second skin care composition can be specifically formulated to, for
example, provide
reduced friction/red marking benefits. Thus, a specific portion of the diaper
may have a
specifically formulated skin care composition to target a specific area of the
skin of the
wearer for a skin care treatment or maintenance. This allows great flexibility
in the
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
47
design of the diapers and the ability of the manufacturer to provide specially
designed products for a number of different consumer needs.
Another variation in the formulations of the skin care composition can result
from the function of the elements on which the skin care composition is
disposed. For
example, the cuffs are typically designed to contain and restrain urine and
runny BM
within the diaper. It may be desired that the cuffs be hydrophobic, more
particularly
liquid impermeable, to prevent liquids from getting through the materials. If
the skin
care composition is also hydrophobic it can assist the cuff in resisting the
passage of
liquid through the cuff. In contrast, the topsheet needs to be highly liquid
pervious to
allow urine or menses to rapidly penetrate through the topsheet to the
absorbent
core. Placement of a hydrophobic skin care composition on the topsheet may
degrade the performance of the topsheet. It may be more desirable to dispose a
hydrophilic skin care composition on the topsheet to maintain the performance
of the
topsheet. Therefore, in some embodiments, it may be desirable that at least a
portion
of the skin care composition disposed on the topsheet be made of a hydrophilic
material to promote rapid transfer of liquids (e.g., urine) through the
topsheet.
Similarly, it may be desirable that the skin care composition be sufficiently
wettable to
ensure that liquids will transfer through the topsheet rapidly. Alternatively,
a
hydrophobic skin care composition may be utilized, so long as they are applied
such
that the fluid handling properties of the topsheet are adequately maintained.
For
example, nonuniform application of the composition to the topsheet is one
means to
accomplish this goal. An example of nonuniform application is disclosed in
U.S.
Patent Application Serial No. 08/908,852, (P&G Case 5494CR) "Diaper Having A
Lotioned Topsheet", Roe, et a!. filed on August 8, 1997.
Where a hydrophilic composition is desired, depending upon the particular
components used in the composition, a hydrophilic surfactant (or a mixture of
hydrophilic surfactants) may, or may not, be required to improve wettability.
For
example, some immobilizing agents, such as N-cocoyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide
have HLB values of at least about 7 and are sufficiently wettable without the
addition
of hydrophilic surfactant. Other immobilizing agents such as the C16 - C18
fatty
alcohols having HLB values below about 7 may require addition of hydrophilic
surfactant to improve wettability when the composition is applied to the
topsheet.
Similarly, a hydrophobic emollient such as petrolatum may require the addition
of a
hydrophilic surfactant if hydrophilic composition is desired. Of course, the
concern
around wettability is not a factor when the wearer-contacting surface under
consideration is
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
48
desired to be hydrophobic or when fluid handling properties of the material is
adequately maintained via other means (e.g., nonuniform application).
Suitable hydrophilic surfactants will preferably be miscible with the other
components of the skin care composition so as to form blended mixtures.
Because of
possible skin sensitivity of those using disposable absorbent products to
which the
composition is applied, these surfactants should also be relatively mild and
non-
irritating to the skin. Typically, these hydrophilic surfactants are nonionic
to be not
only non-irritating to the skin, but also to avoid other undesirable effects
on any other
structures within the treated diaper. For example, reductions in tissue
laminate
tensile strength, adhesive bond sufficiencies, and the like.
Suitable nonionic surfactants may be substantially nonmigratory after the
composition is applied to the topsheet and will typically have HLB values in
the range
of from about 4 to about 20, preferably from about 7 to about 20. To be
nonmigratory,
these nonionic surfactants will typically have melt temperatures greater than
the
temperatures commonly encountered during storage, shipping, merchandising, and
use disposable absorbent products, e.g., at least about 30°C. In this
regard, these
nonionic surfactants will preferably have melting points similar to those of
the
immobilizing agents previously described.
Suitable nonionic surfactants for use in compositions that will be applied to
the topsheet include alkyiglycosides; alkylglycoside ethers as described in
U.S.
Patent 4,011,389 (Langdon, et al), issued March 8, 1977; alkylpolyethoxylated
esters
such as Pegosperse 1000MS~ (available from Lonza, Inc., Fair Lawn, New
Jersey),
ethoxylated sorbitan mono-, di- and/or tri-esters of C12-C18 fatty acids
having an
average degree of ethoxylation of from about 2 to about 20, preferably from
about 2
to about 10, such as TWEEN 60* (sorbitan esters of stearic acid having an
average
degree of ethoxylation of about 20) and TWEEN 61 (sorbitan esters of stearic
acid
having an average degree of ethoxylation of about 4), and the condensation
products
of aliphatic alcohols with from about I to about 54 moles of ethylene oxide.
The alkyl
chain of the aliphatic alcohol is typically in a straight chain (linear)
configuration and
contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the
condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from about
11 to
about 22 carbon atoms with from about 2 to about 30 moles of ethylene oxide
per
mole of alcohol. Examples of such ethoxylated alcohols include the
condensation
products of myristyl alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of
alcohol, the
condensation products of coconut alcohol (a mixture of fatty alcohols having
alkyl
chains varying in length from 10 to 14 carbon atoms) with about 6 moles of
ethylene
* = Trade-mark
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
49
oxide. A number of suitable ethoxylated alcohols are commercially available,
including
~r
TERGITOL 1 ~-S-9 (the condensation product of C 11-C 1 ~ linear alcohols with
9 moles
of ethylene oxide), marketed by Union Carbide Corporation; KYRO EOB
(condensation
product of C 13-C 1 ~ linear alcohols with 9 moles of ethylene oxide),
marketed by The
Procter & Gamble Co., the NEODOL~~brand name surfactants marketed by Shell
Chemical Co., in particular NEODOL 25-12 (condensation product of C 12-C 1 ~
linear
alcohols with 12 moles of ethylene oxide) and NEODOL 23-6.ST (condensation
product
of C 12-C 13 linear alcohols with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide that has been
distilled
(topped) to remove certain impurities), and especially the PLURAFAC brand name
surfactants marketed by BASF Corp., in particular PLURAFAC A-38~(a
condensation
product of a C 18 straight chain alcohol with 27 moles of ethylene oxide).
(Certain of the
hydrophilic surfactants, in particular ethoxylated alcohols such as NEODOL 25-
12, can
also function as alkyl ethoxylate emollients). Other examples of preferred
ethoxylated
alcohol surfactants include ICI's class of Brij surfactants and mixtures
thereof, with Brij
72 (i.e., Steareth-2) and Brij 76 (i.e., Steareth-10) being especially
preferred. Also,
mixtures of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol ethoxylated to an average degree
of
ethoxylation of from about 10 to about 20 may also be used as the hydrophilic
surfactant.
Another type of suitable surfactant for use in the composition includes
Aerosol
OT, a dioctyl ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid marketed by American Cyanamid
Company.
Still another type of suitable surfactant for use in the composition includes
silicone copolymers such as General Electric SF 1188 (a copolymer of a
polydimethylsiloxane and a polyoxyalkylene ether) and General Electric SF 1228
(a
silicone polyether copolymer). These silicone surfactants can be used in
combination
with the other types of hydrophilic surfactants discussed above, such as the
ethoxylated
alcohols. These silicone surfactants have been found to be effective at
concentrations as
low as 0.1 %, more preferably from about 0.25 to about 1.0%, by weight of the
composition.
Where a hydrophilic composition is desired, the amount of hydrophilic
surfactant
required to increase the wettability of the composition to a desired level
will depend in-
part upon the HLB value and level of immobilizing agent, if any, used, the HLB
value of
the surfactant used and like factors. The composition can comprise from about
0.1 to
about 50% of the hydrophilic surfactant when needed to increase the
wettability
properties of the composition. Preferably, the composition comprises from
about 1 to
about 25%, most preferably from about 10 to about 20%, of the hydrophilic
surfactant
when needed to increase wettability.
* = Trade-mark
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
Applicants have discovered that maintaining or improving healthy skin under
absorbent articles can be accomplished with repeated use, over a period of
time (e.g.,
several days), of absorbent articles that are treated with two or more skin
care
compositions that are transferred to the wearer under normal usage conditions
(e.g.,
contact, movement, handling by the caregiver after application of the article,
body heat,
etc.) such as the absorbent articles described herein. In this regard, a
method for
maintaining or improving skin health in the area covered by an absorbent
article,
comprises the steps of:
(a) applying to the wearer an absorbent article having a first skin care
composition that provides a therapeutic and/or protective skin benefit upon
transfer to the skin and a second skin care composition that provides a
second skin benefit upon transfer to the skin;
(b) transferring to the wearer at least a portion of the first skin care
composition
and the second skin care composition during wear; and -
(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) with one or more additional articles with
sufficient frequency to maintain or improve the health of the skin covered
by the absorbent article relative to the skin covered by an equivalent
absorbent article that does not comprise the first skin care composition and
the second skin care composition, and without the need for manual
application of skin protective agents (e.g., by the caregiver or wearer).
A key to this method is the use of an absorbent article having two or more
skin
care compositions and frequent cycles of cumulative delivery of a first skin
care
composition and a second skin care composition to the wearer's skin to
maintain or
improve skin health. Applicants have further discovered that delivery of
relatively low
levels of the compositions with each article wear are sufficient to obtain the
skin benefits
resulting from this novel method of cumulative delivery.
The article used in the present methods provides an available source from
which
the skin care compositions transfer onto the skin continuously over time. As
the
compositions are transferred, they accumulate on the skin surface to initiate
and maintain
protective activity. As a used article is discarded and replaced by a new one,
this cycle is
repeated for further composition accumulation above and beyond what a single
or
original article would have delivered on its own. Certain of the ingredients
for use in
preferred skin care compositions are known to penetrate the stratum corneum
(e.g.,
petrolatum, which is preferred for use herein). Thus, even as some amount of
the
compositions are removed by cleaning, bathing, etc., or even if usage of
treated articles
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
51
as described herein is discontinued temporarily, some of the benefits of the
skin
compositions will remain with the user. As usage of treated articles is
resumed before all
of the benefits of the composition have dissipated, the user will derive
benefits, in terms
of reduced erythema and/or rash, more rapidly than would a user who has not
used
treated articles.
As indicated above, it is generally recognized that skin under absorbent
articles is
more susceptible to degradation of that skin's condition. Typically, cutaneous
manifestations of these skin conditions include redness (also referred to as
erythema)
and/or rash. As such, Applicants describe herein a method for maintaining or
improving
skin health in regions covered by an absorbent article, wherein the desired
endpoint of
the method is the reduction or avoidance of erythema and/or rash when compared
to skin
covered by an equivalent absorbent article that does not comprise the skin
care
compositions.
SPECIFIC ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE PREPARATION OF TREATED DIAPER
CUFFS AND TOPSHEETS ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT INVENTION
The following are specific illustrations of treating cuffs and/or topsheets or
webs
with skin care compositions in accordance with the present invention:
Example 1
A. Preparation of Skin Care Composition
A skin care composition (Composition A) is made by mixing the following
melted (i.e., liquid) components together: Petrolatum (available from Witco
Corp.,
Greenwich, CT as Perfecta~) Stearyl Alcohol (available from The Procter &
Gamble
Company, Cincinnati, OH as C01897) and aloe extract (available from Madis
Botanicals, Inc., South Hackensack, NJ as Veragel Lipoid in Kaydol). The
weight
percentages of these components are shown in Table I below:
Table I
Component Weight
Petrolatum 58
Stearyl Alcohol41
Aloe I 1
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
52
B. Preparation of Treated Diaper Lei Cuff by Hot Melt Coating
Skin care composition A is placed into a heated tank operating at a
temperature of
170°F. The composition is subsequently applied with a contact
applicator (i.e., a
Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at a temperature of
170°F) directly onto the body surface of the barrier cuffs of a diaper
in a 1.4 inch
wide (diaper lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff
is
covered) and 11.75 inch long (diaper longitudinal direction) area, the patch
centered in the chassis in the longitudinal direction such that one or both
ends of
each spacing elastic member is covered by the skin care composition. Add-on
level = 0.0116 g/in2 (18.0 g/m2). The spacing elastic members is operatively
joined to the barrier cuff member by a specially formulated adhesive to avoid
creep such as Findley H9254 as discussed previously herein.
Example 2 _
The skin care composition A (prepared in accordance with the procedure in
Example
1 ) is subsequently applied onto the body surface of the barrier cuffs of a
diaper in a
1.4 inch wide (diaper lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the
barrier cuff is
covered) stripe on of each barrier cuff and extending the entire length of the
barrier
cuff. Add-on level = 0.0116 g/in2 (18 g/m2).
Example 3
The skin care composition A (prepared in accordance with the procedure in
Example
1 ) is subsequently applied onto the body surface of the barrier cuffs of a
diaper in a
1.4 inch wide (diaper lateral direction, such that the distal edge of the
barrier cuff is
covered) stripe on each barrier cuff and 8 inch long (diaper longitudinal
direction)
area, the patch centered in the contracted area of the barner cuff such that
each of the
ends of the spacing elastic members is not covered by the skin care
composition.
Add-on level = 0.0077 g/in2 (12.0 g/m2).
Example 4
A. Preparation of Skin Care Composition
A water free skin care composition (Skin care composition B) is made by mixing
the following melted (i.e., liquid) components together: Mineral Oil
(Carnation
White Mineral Oil, USP made by Witco Corp.); and Cetearyl Alcohol (a mixed
linear C 16-C 1 g primary alcohol made by The Procter & Gamble Company under
CA 02223361 2000-10-26
53
the name TA-1618). The weight percentages of these components are shorn in
Table II below:
Table II
Component Weight
Mineral Oil I 65
Cetearyl Alcohol35
B. Preparation of Treated Lee Cuffs by Hot Melt Coatine
Skin care composition B is placed into a heated tank operating at a
temperature of
170°F. The composition is subsequently applied with a contact
applicator (i.e., a
~e
Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at a temperature of
170°F) onto the barrier cuffs of a diaper in a 1.4 inch wide (diaper
lateral
direction, such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered) and 11.75
inch
long (diaper longitudinal direction) area, the patch centered in the
contracted area
of the barrier cuff such that one or both ends of each spacing elastic member
is
covered by the skin care composition. Add-on level = 0.0116 g/in2 (18.0 g/m2).
Example 5
A. Preparation of Skin Care Composition
A water free skin care composition (Skin care composition C) is made by mixing
the following melted (i.e., liquid) components together: Mineral Oil
(Carnation
White Mineral Oil, USP made by Witco Corp.); Cetearyl Alcohol (a mixed linear
C 16-C 1 g primary alcohol made by The Procter & Gamble Company under the
name TA-1618); and Cetereath 10 (a C 16-C 1 g linear alcohol ethoxylate having
an average degree of ethoxylation of 10, made by ICI America). The weight
percentages of these components are shown in Table III below:
Table III
Component Weight
* = Trade-mark
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
54
Mineral Oil 50
Cetearyl Alcohol 35
Ceteareth 10 15
B. Preparation of Treated Diaper by Hot Melt Coating
Skin care composition C is placed into a heated tank operating at a
temperature of
170°F. The composition is subsequently applied with a contact
applicator (i.e., a
Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at a temperature of
170°F) onto the barrier cuffs of a diaper in a 1.4 inch wide (diaper
lateral
direction, such that the distal edge of the barrier cuff is covered) and 11.75
inch
long (diaper longitudinal direction) area, the patch centered in the
contracted area
of the barrier cuff such that one or both ends of each spacing elastic member
is
covered by the skin care composition. Add-on level = 0.0116 g/in2 ( 18.0
g/m~).-
Example 6
A. Preparation of Skin care composition
A water free skin care composition (Skin care composition D) is made by mixing
the following melted (i.e., liquid) components together: Petrolatum (available
from Witco Corp. as Perfecta~); Cetearyl Alcohol (a mixed linear C 16-C 18
primary alcohol made by The Procter & Gamble Company under the name TA-
1618); Ceteareth 10 a C 16-C 1 g linear alcohol ethoxylate having an average
degree of ethoxylation of 10, made by ICI America; and Veragel 1:1 Lipoid with
Kaydol (aloe extract in mineral oil made by Dr. Madis Laboratories, Inc.). The
weight percentages of these components are shown in Table IV below:
Table IV
Component Weight
Petrolatum 49
I~ Stearyl Alcohol35
Ceteareth 10 15
Aloe 1
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
B. Preparation of Treated Diaper by Hot Melt Coating
Skin care composition D is placed into a heated tank operating at a
temperature of
170°F. The composition is subsequently applied with a contact
applicator (i.e., a
Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at a temperature of
170°F) onto the barrier cuffs of a diaper in a 1.4 inch wide (diaper
lateral
direction, such that the distal edge of the barner cuff is covered) and 11.75
inch
long (diaper longitudinal direction) area, the patch centered in the
contracted area
of the barrier cuff such that one or both ends of each spacing elastic member
is
covered by the skin care composition. Add-on level = 0.0116 g/in2 (18.0 g/m2).
Example 7
Composition A (made according Example 1 ) is placed into a heated tank
operating at a temperature of 170°F. The composition is subsequently
applied with ~
contact applicator (using, for example, a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive
applicator head
having 5 slots and operating at a temperature of 170°F) onto the
topsheet of an article in
a striped pattern where the stripes run in the article's longitudinal
direction. Specifically,
5 stripes are applied, each stripe measuring 0.25 in. wide (i.e., in the
articles lateral
direction) and 11.75 in. long at an add-on level = 7.7 mg/in2 (12 g/m2, 1.19
mg/cm2).
The distance between the stripes is 0.31 in.
Skin care composition A is also subsequently applied onto the body surface of
the barrier cuffs of an article in a 1.4 inch wide (lateral direction, such
that the distal edge
of the barrier cuff is covered) stripe on each barrier cuff and extending the
entire length
of the barrier cuff. Add-on level = 0.0116 g/in2 (18 g/m2). Application is
accomplished
in the same manner as described in Example 1.
Example 8
Composition D (made according Example 6) is placed into a heated tank
operating at a temperature of 170°F. The composition is subsequently
applied with a
contact applicator (using, for example, a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive
applicator head
having a single slot and operating at a temperature of 170°F) onto the
topsheet of an
article in generally uniform coating. Specifically, 1 stripe, measuring 2.5
in. wide (i.e.,
in the article's lateral direction) and 11.75 in. long, is applied at an add-
on level = 7.7
mg/in2 (12 g/m2, 1.19 mg/cm2). The stripe is applied so as to be centered on
the
article's longitudinal centerline.
CA 02223361 1997-12-03
56
Skin care composition A is subsequently applied onto the body surface of the
barrier cuffs of the article in a 1.4 inch wide (lateral direction, such that
the distal edge of
the barrier cuff is covered) stripe on each barrier cuff and extending the
entire length of
the barrier cuff. Add-on level = 0.0116 g/in2 ( 18 g/m2). Application is
accomplished in
the same manner as described in Example 1.
