MXPA01001081A - Disposable absorbent article having fecal management member - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a disposable absorbent article having a backsheet, and a fecal management member joined to the backsheet.The fecal management member includes a backing and a sheet of fibers. The sheet of fibers have anchor portions in the backing at spaced bonding locations and have arcuate portions of the sheet projecting from the backing between bonding locations. The arcuate portions include a surface coating agent.

Description

DISPOSABLE ABSORBENT ARTICLE THAT HAS A FECAL MANAGEMENT MEMBER FIELD OF THE INVENTION • The present invention relates to articles that absorb and / or contain exudates from the body, including disposable absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence products for adults, sanitary napkins and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to disposable absorbent articles, which have the ability to retain low viscosity fiscal matter away from the wearer's skin, in order to > reduce leakage and make it easier for the user to clean, when the dirty disposable item is removed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 15 Disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers and incontinence products for adults, are well known in the art. Said disposable absorbent articles collect and retain urine and fecal material deposited thereon by the user. At present, many attempts in the art to handle urine and fecal matter collected and retained in the disposable absorbent article have been directed to the management of urine. With regard to the fecal matter collected by the disposable absorbent article, it is simply more difficult than the handling of the urine, due to the complex rheology of the low viscosity material. In the prior art several illustrative attempts to handle the urine to provide disposable absorbent articles having a first topsheet that faces towards and makes contact with the wearer's body, and a secondary topsheet under the first topsheet, which both absorbs urine, and transfers the urine to an underlying core for storage until the disposable absorbent articles are removed from the user. Typically, the first topsheet and the topsheet have different material properties. The secondary topsheet may have a pore size smaller than the first topsheet, to assist in the transfer of urine through the topsheet. The first topsheet may be hydrophobic and more elastic when wetted than the secondary topsheet, in order to pass the fluids through the first topsheet towards the secondary topsheet. In yet another attempt in the prior art, the disposable absorbent article has a first topsheet, a secondary topsheet and a core. The secondary topsheet consists essentially of meltblown hydrophilic fibers and has a pore size greater than the pore size of the core. This arrangement supposedly allows the secondary upper sheet to quickly receive multiple liquids and distribute the liquid in the X-Y plane before being absorbed by the core. In yet another attempt, the improved vertical penetration capacity for urine has been allegedly achieved by using inflated cellulose fibers, which are free of a surface finish or interlocked with each other. In another attempt in the prior art, an absorbent core suitable for acquiring and containing liquids such as urine, in a particularly effective and efficient manner comprises multiple layers. The first layer, which is the one closest to the user, comprises a hydrophilic fibrous material and has an acquisition zone of a relatively lower average density than other portions of this layer, in order to quickly acquire the discarded liquids. Below the first layer there is a liquid handling layer comprising a high void, low density, elastic material which is insensitive to moisture in order to rapidly acquire liquids by itself through the zone. of acquisition and distribute these liquids through the liquid handling layer to a storage layer. The storage layer comprises a combination of fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material, and allows the liquid handling layer to be drained of the liquids it has acquired, so that the liquid handling layer can have a capacity of enough to acquire and distribute subsequent loads of liquids. Examples of such attempts in the prior art are included in the patents of E.U.A. 4,047,531 issued September 13, 1977 to Karami; 4,798,603 issued on January 17, 1989 to Meyer et al .; 5,037,409 issued August 6, 1991 to Chen et al .; 5,124,197 issued June 23, 1992 to Bernardín et al .; and 5,134,007 issued on June 28, 1992 to Reising and others. Of course, absorbent gelling materials are now well known in the art for their urinary handling ability. Absorbent gelling materials are polymeric materials capable of absorbing large amounts of fluids, such as urine, and retaining said fluids absorbed under moderate pressure. The effectiveness of absorbent gelling materials is absolutely dependent on the shape, position and percentage by weight of the absorbent gelling materials that are incorporated in the core of the disposable absorbent article. Recent attempts have been made in the art to provide absorbent gelling materials, which have the ability to swell against pressure. These teachings supposedly provide the advantage that the materials of gelling absorbers absorb fluid under actual pressures exerted by the body during use. Still other teachings in the art provide absorbent gelling materials having a particular free swelling rate and absorbency under load. The alleged advantages of such absorbent gelling materials are lower volume and mass with approximately the same absorbency capacity, the ability to rapidly absorb a discarded liquid under typically 5 w pressures encountered during use, and the ability to retain low absorbent liquid. pressures typically encountered during use. Examples of such attempts in the prior art include the patents of E.U.A. 5,147,343 issued September 15, 1992 to Kellenberg and 5,149,335 issued September 22, 1992 to Kellenberg et al. However, all these attempts to handle urine do little, if anything, to improve the handling of low viscosity fecal matter, which may also be present in the disposable absorbent article. Attempts to handle the fecal matter include providing a first top sheet that closely conforms to the user and has an opening. The opening is with registered optimism with the opening anal, so that the fecal material passes through it into a hollow space. The first topsheet may comprise several elastic panels, in order to conform closely to the wearer's skin, and diagonal or be able to have linear elastic strands. Improvements have been made in this area of the prior art, such as optimizing the properties of the first top sheet material. This optimization makes the first topsheet more comfortable for the user and allows a single disposable absorbent article to fit a large scale of user sizes. Further attempts have been made in this area of the prior art to provide an absorbent core with a hole therein, in order to receive fecal material. The hole may have a flattened shape, so it is larger and narrower than the opening in the first topsheet, or it may be diamond-shaped. The hole in the core can be placed under an opening, which has elastic strips around its edges. Improvements for this type of disposable absorbent articles of the prior art include the addition of spacers. The spacers can be interposed between the first topsheet and the core, in order to ensure that a • 5 hollow space to receive stool. Still other attempts have been made in this prior art art to provide barriers that limit the movement of fecal matter to particular portions of the disposable absorbent article. The barriers limit the contact of the fecal matter with a smaller portion of the user's skin, than an absorbent article. disposable comparable with which it has no barriers. # Still other attempts in the prior art provide barrier cuffs for the legs, they are straight from the anus of the topsheet. The barrier cuffs for the legs prevent the fecal material from reaching the perimeter of the disposable absorbent article. Examples of such attempts to handle fecal matter include the patent of 15 E.U.A. 4,892,536 issued on January 9, 1990 to DesMarais; the patent of E.U.A. 4,908,803 issued on March 20, 1990 to Azíz et al .; the patent of E.U.A. 4,968,312 issued November 6, 1990 to Khan; patent of E.U.A. commonly assigned 4,990,147 issued on February 5, 1991 to Freeland; patent of E.U.A. commonly assigned 5,037,416 issued August 6, 1991 to Alien et al .; patent of E.U.A. 20 5,062,840 issued November 5, 1991 to Holt et al .; patent of E.U.A. commonly assigned 5,171, 236 issued December 15, 1992 to Dreier et al .; and European patent application 0,355,740 A2 published on February 28, 1990 to Enloe. However, none of these attempts to handle fecal matter solved the problem of low viscosity fecal matter, which is important in very young children. children, particularly those who are being breastfed. The low viscosity fecal matter readily migrates into the disposable absorbent article under the influence of gravity and movement or pressure by the user. The migration of fecal matter usually moves it towards the perimeter of the disposable absorbent article, increasing the likelihood of leakage. The migration of the fecal matter also muds it against the user's skin, making the cleaning more difficult. In order to clean the user, the caregiver must rub the entire area of the skin that has had contact with the stool and typically has to treat a relatively large stained area. An attempt in the prior art to handle low viscosity fecal matter is found in the patent application of E.U.A. series No. 08 / 076,713 filed on June 11, 1993 in the name of Roe. This application is a disposable absorbent article which has a first top sheet with a high penetration of trans-top sheet covering a secondary top sheet having a lower penetration of superior translamina. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a disposable absorbent article 15 with which to reduce leakage or leakage of fecal material from the disposable absorbent article and minimize the amount of low viscosity fecal material on the wearer's skin once that the disposable absorbent article is removed. Furthermore, an object of this invention is to provide a disposable absorbent article, which separates fecal matter into components. 20 COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a disposable absorbent article. The disposable absorbent article comprises a backsheet and a member of fecal matter management attached to the backing sheet either directly or indirectly. The fecal management member comprises a backsheet and a sheet of fibers. The fiber sheet has anchoring portions in the backrest at separate bonding sites and has arcuate portions of the sheet projecting from the backing between the bonding locations. The arcuate portions comprise a surface coating agent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Although the specification concludes with the claims, particularly pointing out and claiming indiscriminately the subject matter, which is related to the present invention, it is believed that the description will be understood from the following descriptions, which can be taken together with the attached drawings where similar designations are used to designate substantially identical elements. Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention having portions cut away to reveal the underlying structure, the surface that looks at the garment of the diaper facing the viewer. Figure 2 is a perspective illustration of a fecal material handling member of the present invention. Figure 3 is a perspective illustration of a second embodiment of a fecal material handling member of the present invention. Figure 4 is a perspective illustration of a third embodiment of a fecal material handling member of the present invention. Figure 5 is a perspective illustration of a fourth embodiment of a fecal material handling member of the present invention. Figure 6 is a perspective illustration of a fifth embodiment of a fecal handling member of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a plan view illustration of another embodiment of a fecal handling member of the present invention. Figure 8 is a plan view illustration of another embodiment of a fecal handling member of the present invention. Figure 9 is a schematic illustration of a method and equipment for making the fecal material handling member of the present invention. Figure 10 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of a method and equipment for making the fecal material handling member of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The arcuate portions of the fecal handling member of the present invention comprise a surface coating agent. As used herein, the term "surface coating agent" refers to any substance or composition that covers at least part of the surface of the arcuate portions of the fiber sheet. Preferably, the surface coating agent of the present invention is a silicone-containing composition and / or an oil-containing composition. Other suitable surface coating agents include, but are not limited to, fluorinated materials, such as fluoropolymers (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene).

(PTFE), commercially available under the trade name TEFLON ™), chlorofluoropolymers. Other materials that can prove to be suitable as a surface coating agent for the present invention include latex, paraffins, and the like. A silicone-containing composition suitable for the present invention is a silicone release coating available from Dow Corning of Midland. Michigan, USA, under the designation of Syl-Off 7677 to which is added an interlayer available as Syl-Off 7048, preferably in proportions of 100 parts to 10 parts, respectively. Another composition containing suitable silicone is a UV curable silicone comprising a mixture of two commercially available silicones of • General Electric Company, Silicone Products Division, of Waterford, New York, USA, under the designations of UV 9300 or UV 9380C-D1, preferably in weight ratios of 100 parts to 2.5 parts, respectively. In one embodiment of the disposable absorbent article of the present invention, the arcuate portions comprise a composition containing oil, which is At least, partially transferable to the user's skin during use intended for • through normal contact, user movement and / or body heat. Preferably, said oil-containing composition is placed on a surface that measures the user of the arcuate portions of the fecal management member. The oil-containing composition can also be spent in such a way that it is only released at the time of intended use such as being microencapsulated. Preferably, the oil-containing compositions suitable for the present invention have a melting profile so that they are relatively immobile and localized with respect to their placement within the disposable absorbent article at room temperature and are not completely liquid under the conditions of extreme storage. Oil-containing compositions suitable for the present invention are solid, or more regularly semi-solid at 20 ° C, that is, at room temperature. By "semisolid" is meant that the composition containing oil has a typical rheology of fluids of pseudoplastics or plastics. When I do not know With no major effort applied, the oil-containing 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, although the oil-containing composition contains mainly solid components, it also includes some minor liquid components. Oil-containing compositions suitable for the present invention are at least semi-solid at room temperature to minimize migration of the oil-containing composition. In addition, the oil-containing compositions preferably have a final melting point (100% liquid) above the potential "stressor" storage conditions which may be greater than 45 ° C.

Specifically, oil-containing compositions suitable for the present invention should have the following melting profile: Feature Preferred scale Very Preferred% liquid at temperature 2-50 3-25 ambient (20 ° C)% liquid at body temperature 25-95 30-90 (37 ° C) final melting point (° C) > 38 > Four. Five Being solid or semisolid at room temperature, these oil-containing compositions do not tend to flow and migrate into the disposable absorbent article where they are applied. This means that it requires less oil-containing composition to impart desirable therapeutic protective coating benefits. When applied to the surface facing the user of the fecal matter handling member of the present invention, oil-containing compositions suitable for the present invention are preferably transferable to the user's skin through normal contact, movement of the user and / or body heat. A preferred embodiment of the disposable absorbent article of the present invention contains an effective amount of an oil-containing composition. As used herein, the term "effective amount of an oil-containing composition coating" refers to an amount of a particular oil-containing composition that, when applied to the fecal handling member of the present invention, will be effective to satisfy the protective, therapeutic or cosmetic intention. Of course, the effective amount of an oil-containing composition coating will depend, to a greater degree, on the particular oil-containing composition used. Oil-containing compositions suitable for the present invention comprise: (1) an emollient (s); (2) an immobilization agent (s) for the emollient; (3) optionally a hydrophilic surfactant (s); and (4) other optional components. The viscosity of the formulated oil-containing compositions, including the emollient, immobilizing agent, and optional components, should be as high as possible to maintain the oil-containing composition flowing into the interior of disposable absorbent article. Unfortunately high viscosities can also lead to oil-containing compositions being difficult to apply without processing problems. Therefore, an equilibrium should be obtained so that the viscosities are high enough to maintain the oil-containing compositions located on the user-facing surface of the disposable absorbent article, but not so high as to cause processing problems. Suitable viscosities for oil-containing compositions typically range from about 5 about 200 centipoise, preferably about 15 to about 100 centipoise, measured at 60 ° C. The key active ingredient in these oil-containing compositions is one or more emollient. As used herein, an emollient is a material that softens, accomodates, supplies, coats, lubricates, or cleanses the skin. An emollient typically achieves several of these objectives such as softening, moisturizing and lubricating the skin. To be suitable for use in the disposable absorbent article of the present invention, these emollients have either a plastic or fluid consistency at 20 ° C, that is, at room temperature. This particular consistency of the emollient allows the composition containing oil to impart a smooth, lubricating, lotion. The emollients useful in the disposable absorbent article of the present invention may be petroleum based, fatty acid ester type, alkyl ethoxylate type ester, fatty acid ethoxylate ester, fatty alcohol type ester, polysiloxane type or mixtures of these emollients. Suitable petroleum-based emollients include those hydrocarbons or mixtures of hydrocarbons, which have chain lengths of 16 to 32 carbon atom. Petroleum-based hydrocarbons that have these chain lengths include mineral oil (also known as "liquid petrolatum") ^ and petrolatum (also known as "mineral wax", "jelly and oil" and "mineral jelly"). Mineral oil usually refers to less viscous mixtures of hydrocarbons that has from 16 to 20 carbon atoms. Petrolatum usually refers to more viscous mixtures of hydrocarbons having from 16 to 32 carbon atoms. Petrolatum and mining oil are particularly preferred emollients for oil-containing compositions of the present invention. The immobilization agent counteracts the tendency of the emollient to migrate or flow towards the disposable absorbent article of the present invention keeping the emollient mainly located on the surface of the disposable absorbent article wherein the oil-containing composition is applied. Immobilization agents suitable for use in the disposable absorbent article of the present invention may comprise a selected member consisting of fatty alcohols of 14 to 22 carbon atoms, fatty acids of 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and fatty alcohol ethoxylates of 12 to 22 carbon atoms, having an average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to about 30, and mixtures thereof. Preferred immobilizing agents include fatty alcohols of 16 to 18 carbon atom, most preferably selected from the group consisting of cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. Mixtures of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are particularly preferred. Other preferred immobilizing agents include fatty acids of 16 to carbon atoms, 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. Other preferred immobilizing agents include fatty alcohol ethoxylates of 16 to 18 carbon having an average degree of ethoxylation ranging from about 5 to about 20. Preferably, the fatty alcohols, the fatty acids and the fatty alcohols are linear. It is important that the composition having oil also be sufficiently wettable to ensure that liquids can penetrate quickly to at least the first component of the disposable absorbent article. This decreases the likelihood that body exudates will flow out of the coating of the oil-containing composition instead of being drawn into at least the first component. Depending on the particular immobilization agents used in the oil-containing composition of the present invention, an additional hydrophilic surfactant (or a mixture of hydrophilic surfactants) may or may not be required to improve the wettability. The oil-containing compositions may comprise other optional components typically present in emollients, creams and oil-containing compositions of this type. These optional components include water, viscosity modifiers, perfumes, disinfectant antibacterial actives, pharmaceutical actives, film formers, deodorants, opacifiers, astringents, solvents and the like. In addition, stabilizers may be added to improve the shelf life of the oil-containing composition such as cellulose derivatives, proteins and lecithins. All of these materials are well known in the art as additives to such formulations and can be employed in appropriate amounts in the oil-containing compositions of the present invention. As used herein, the term "absorbent article" refers to devices that absorb and contain exudates from the body, and more specifically, refer to devices that are placed against or close to the user's body to absorb and contain the various exudates. discarded from the body. The term "disposable" is used herein to describe absorbent articles that are generally not intended to be washed or otherwise restored or reused as an absorbent article (i.e., are intended to be discarded after a single use, and preferably can be recirculated formed in compost or otherwise disposed of in an environmentally compatible manner). (As used herein, the term "discard" is used to represent that a diaper element (s) is formed (attached and placed) in a particular location or position as a unitary structure with another diaper element or with a separate element attached to another element of the diaper As used herein, the term "attached" encompasses configurations by which one element is directly secured to another element by fixing the element directly to the other element, and configurations by which one element is indirectly insured to another element, fixing the element to intermediate members, which in turn are fixed to another element). A "unitary" absorbent article refers to absorbent articles that are formed of separate parts joined together to form a coordinated entity so that they do not require separate handling portions such as a separate support and liner. The disposable absorbent article of the present invention comprises a backsheet and a fecal material handling member. Preferably the disposable absorbent article of the present invention further comprises an absorbent core intermediate to the stool handling member and the backing sheet. In one embodiment of the present invention, the disposable absorbent article further comprises a sheet supepor attached to the backsheet. The topsheet can cover at least a part of the fecal material member, so that part of the fecal material handling member remains positioned intermediate the upper sheet and the backing sheet. The top sheet can also cover the entire fecal management member. The disposable absorbent article of the present invention preferably comprises an absorbent core, which is positioned between the fecal material handling member and the backing sheet. One embodiment of the disposable absorbent article of the present invention is the unitary disposable absorbent article, diaper 20 shown in Figure 1. As used herein the term "diaper" refers to an absorbent article generally worn by infants and incontinent persons around of the lower torso. The present invention is also applicable to other absorbent articles such as incontinence briefs, incontinence underwear, absorbent inserts, diaper bras and liners, feminine hygiene projects and the like. Figure 1 is a plan view of a diaper 20 of the present invention in a planar state with portions of the structure being cut away to more clearly show the construction of the diaper 20. The portion of the diaper 20, which faces the wearer, is oriented towards the viewer. As shown in Figure 1, diaper 20 preferably comprises a liquid permeable topsheet 24, a liquid impermeable backsheet 26.; an absorbent core 28, which preferably, is positioned between at least a portion of the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 26; a fecal material handling member 29 positioned between the topsheet 24 and the absorbent core 28; side panels 30; elastic cuffs 32 for the legs; and an elastic waist feature 34; and a fastening system generally designated 40. The diaper 20 is shown in Figure 1 and has a front waist region 36, one back waist region 38 opposite the front waist region 36 and a region of • Crotch 37 located between the front waist region and the rear waist region. The periphery of the diaper 20 is defined by the outer edges of the diaper 20 wherein the longitudinal edges 50 run generally parallel to the longitudinal centerline 100 of the diaper 20, and the end edges 52 run between the longitudinal edges 50. generally parallel to the lateral center line 100 of the diaper 20. The chassis 22 of the diaper 20 comprises the main body of the diaper 20. The chassis 22 comprises at least a portion of the absorbent core 28 and preferably an outer covering layer including the sheet 24 and the backsheet 26. If the absorbent article comprises a separate support and liner, the chassis 22 generally comprises the support and the liner. (For example, the support may contain one or more layers of material to form the outer cover of the article and the liner may comprise an absorbent assembly including a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core. / or the liner, may include a fastening element, which is used to hold the liner in place through of all the time of use). For unitary absorbent articles, the chassis 22 comprises the main structure of the diaper with other aspects added to form the mixed diaper structure. Although the topsheet 24, the backsheet 26 and the chassis 22 can be assembled in a variety of well-known configurations, the preferred diaper configurations are generally described in US Pat. 3,860,003 entitled "Contractible Side Portions for Disposable Diaper" (Side Portions) • 5 Contractile For Disposable Diaper), which was issued to Kenneth B ,. Buell on January 14, 1975; and patent of E.U.A. No. 5,151,092 issued to Buell on September 9, 1992; and the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,221,274 issued to Buell on June 22, 1993. Other suitable diaper chassis designs are described in the U.S. patent. No. 5,569,232 entitled "Absorben Article ITU Multiple Zone Structural Elastic-Like Film Web Extensible Waist Feature "(Article Absorbent With A Waist Feature That • It can extend the film weft of Elastic, Structural Type, of Multiple Zones), issued to Roe et al. on October 29, 1996; patent of E.U.A. No. 5,554,744 entitled "Absorbent Article With Multiple Structural Zone Elastic-Like Film Web Extensible Waist Feature" (Article Absorbent With A Waist Feature That Can Extend Multiple Elastic Structural Elastic Type Film Screening) issued to Roe et al., September 10, 1996; patent of E.U.A. No. 5,554,143 entitled "Absorbent Article With Multiple Zone Structural Elastic-Like Web Film Extensible Waist Feature" (Absorbent Article With A Waist Feature That Can Extend From Elastic Type Structural Type Film to Zones Múltales) issued to Roe et al. On September 10, 1996, patent of E.U.A. No. 5,554,145 entitled "Absorbent Article With Multiple Zone Structural Elastic-Like Film Web Extensible Waist Feature" (Absorbent Article With A Waist Feature That Can Extend From Film Frame of Structural Elastic Type of Mild Zones) issued to Roe et al. September 10, 1996; patent of E.U.A. Do not. 5,556,394 entitled "Absorbent Article With Multiple Zone Structural Elastic-Like Film Web" Extensible Waist Feature "(Absorbent Article With A Waist Feature That Can Extend From Multiple Elastic Structural Elastic Type Film Screening) issued to Roe et al. On September 17, 1996. Each of these references is incorporated herein by The backing sheet 26 is generally that portion of the diaper 20 placed adjacent to the garment facing surface 45 of the absorbent core 28, which prevents the absorbed exudates, and contained therein, from staining articles that can the contact with the diaper 20, such as bedding and underwear, In preferred embodiments, the backsheet 26 is impervious to liquids (eg, urine) and comprises a thin plastic film such as a thermoplastic film having a thickness from approximately 0.012 mm to approximately 0.051 mm Suitable backing sheet films include those manufactured by Tredegar Industries Inc. of Terre Haute, IN and sold under the trade names of X15305, X10962 and X10964. Other suitable backsheet materials may include breathable materials, which allow the vapors to escape from the diaper 20, while still preventing exudates from passing through the backing sheet 26. Illustrative breathable materials may include materials such as woven wefts, non-woven wefts, mixed materials such as nonwoven webs, and microporous films such as those made by Mitsui Toatsu Co., of Japan under the designation ESPOIR NO and by EXXON Chemical Co., of Bay City, Tx, under the designation EXXAIRE. Suitable mixed breathable materials comprising polymer blends are obtained from Clopay Corporation Cincinnati, OH under the tradename HYTREL blend P18-3097. Said breathable mixed materials are described in greater detail in PCT application No. WO 95/16746, published June 22, 1995 in the name of E.l, DuPont and patent application of E.U.A. copendiente series No. 08 / 744,487, filed on November 6, 1996 in the name of Curro.

Other breathable backsheets that include non-woven webs and apertured films are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,096 issued to Dobrin et al. on November 5, 1996. Each of these references is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The backing sheet 26, or any portion thereof, may be • 5 elastically extensible in one or more directions. In one embodiment, the backsheet 26 may comprise a film frame of structural elastic type ("SELF"). A web of structural elastic type film is an extensible material exhibiting an elastic type behavior in the direction of elongation, without the use of elastic aggregate materials. The SELF frame includes a deformable network having at least two distinct and contiguous regions. Preferably, one of the regions is configured • so as to exhibit resistive forces in response to an axial elongation applied in a direction parallel to the predetermined axis before a substantial portion of the other region develops significant resistive forces to the applied elongation. At least one of the regions has a surface path length, which is greater than that of the other region as measured substantially parallel to the predetermined axis, while the material is in a non-tense condition. The region exhibiting the longest surface path length includes one or more deformations that extend beyond the plane of the other region. The SELF frame exhibits at least 2 significantly different stages from resistive force controlled at the elongation along at least one predetermined axis when subjected to an elongation applied in a direction parallel to the predetermined axis. The SELF plot exhibits first resistive forces to the applied elongation until the elongation of the frame is sufficient to cause a substantial portion of the region having the longest path length to enter the plane of elongation applied, so that the SELF frame exhibits second resistive forces to the additional elongation. The total resistive forces to the elongation are greater than the first resistive forces to the elongation provided by the first region. SELF frames suitable for the present invention are described more fully in the U.S.A. No. 5,518,801, entitled "Web Materials Exhibiting Elastic-Like Behavior" (Screen Materials Exhibiting Elastic-Type Behavior), issued to • 5 Chappell, et al on May 21, 1996, which is incorporated herein by reference. In alternative embodiments the backsheet 26 may comprise elastomeric films, foams, strands, or combinations of these or other suitable materials with non-woven or synthetic films. The backsheet 26 can be attached to the topsheet 24, the core absorbent 28, the fecal material handling member 29 or any other element of the • diaper 20 through any means of attachment known in the art. For example, the joining means may include a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a layer in patterns of adhesive, or an arrangement of separate lines, spirals, or adhesive spots. A preferred joining means comprises an open pattern network of filaments of adhesive as described in the patent of E.U.A. 4,573,986 entitled "Disposable Waste-Containment Garment", (Disposable Waste Containment Garment), issued to Minetola et al. On March 4, 1986. Other suitable joining means include several adhesive filament lines, which are wound in a spiral pattern. , as illustrated by the apparatus and methods shown in the patent of E.U.A. No. 3,911,173 issued to Sprague, Jr. on October 7, 1975; the patent of E.U.A. 4,785,995 issued to Ziecher et al. on November 22, 1978; and patent of E.U.A. 4,842,666 issued to Werenicz on June 27, 1989. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. The adhesives that have been found to be satisfactory are manufactured by H.B. Fuller Company of St. Paul Minnesota and sold as HL-1258. Alternatively, the joining means may comprise thermal joints, pressure joints, ultrasonic joints, dynamic mechanical joints, or any other suitable joining means or combinations of these joining means as is known in the art. The topsheet 24 is preferably positioned adjacent the body surface 47 of the absorbent core 28 and may be attached thereto and / or to the backsheet 26 through any joining means known in the art. Suitable attachment means are described above with respect to the means for attaching the backsheet 26 to other elements of the diaper 20. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 26 are bonded directly between yes in some places and are indirectly joined together in other places by attaching them directly to other elements of the diaper 20. The topsheet 24 is preferably pleasant, soft-feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. In addition, at least a portion of the topsheet 24 is permeable to liquids, allowing liquids to easily penetrate through their thickness. A suitable top sheet 24 can be manufactured from a wide variety of materials, such as porous foams; cross-linked foams; plastic films with openings; another one more woven or non-woven of natural fibers (for example, wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (for example, polyester or polypropylene fibers), or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. If the absorbent assemblies include fibers, the fibers can be spin-spun, carded, wet-stretched, melt-blown, hydroentangled or otherwise processed as is known in the art. A suitable top sheet may also comprise openings, the openings preferably have a size of at least 0.2 mm2. A suitable top sheet 24 comprising a web of short length polypropylene fibers is manufactured by Veratec, Inc., a division of International Paper Company, of Walpole, Massachusetts under the designation P-8. The top sheets formed of suitable film are described in the U.S. patent. No. 3,929,135, entitled "Absorptive Structures Having Tapered Capiilaries", (Absorption Structures Having Capillaries To Used) issued to Thompson on December 30, 1975; patent of E.U.A. 4,324,246 entitled "Disposable Absorbent Article Having a Satin Resistant Topsheet" (Disposable Absorbent Article Having a Top Sheet Resists Tension) issued to Mullane, et al. on April 13 1982; patent of E.U.A. 4,342,314 entitled "Resilient Plástic Web Exhibiting Fiber-Like Properties" (Elastic Plastic Screen That Exhibits Fiber Type Properties), issued to Radel, and others on August 3, 1982; patent of E.U.A. No. 4,463,045 entitled "Macroscopically Expanded Three-Dimensional Plástic Web Exhibiting Non-Glossy Visible Surface and Cloth-Like Tactile Printing" (Three-dimensional Plastic Weft) Macroscopically Expanded Showing A Non-Shine Visible Surface And A Fabric-type Touch Print) issued to Ahr, et al. On July 31, 1984; and patent of E.U.A. No. 5,0069,394"Multilayer Polymeric Film" issued to Baird on April 9, 1991. Other sheets 30 are made in accordance with the patents of E.U.A.Nos. 4,609,518 and 4,629,643 issued to Curro et al. On September 2, 1986 and December 16, 1986, respectively, and both are incorporated herein by reference. Said films formed are available from The Procter & Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio as "DRI-WEAVE" and Tredegar Corporation of Terre Haute, Indiana as "CLIFF-T". Preferably, the topsheet 24 is made of a hydrophobic material or is treated to be hydrophobic in order to isolate the user's skin from the liquids contained in the absorbent core 28. If the topsheet 24 is made of a hydrophobic material, preferably at least the upper surface of the topsheet 24 is treated to be hydrophilic so that liquids will be transferred through the topsheet more quickly. This decreases the likelihood that the body exudates will flow out of the topsheet 24 instead of being drawn through the topsheet 24 and absorbed by the absorbent core 28. The topsheet 24 can be made hydrophilic by treating it with a surfactant. or by incorporating a surfactant agent in the upper sheet. Suitable methods for treating the topsheet 24 with a surfactant include spraying the material of the topsheet 24 with the surfactant and immersing the material in the surfactant. A more detailed discussion of said treatment and hydrophilic character is contained in the patent of E.U.A. No. 4,983,344 entitled "Absorbent Articles with Multiple Layer Absorbent Layers" (Absorbent Articles with Absorbent Layers of Multiple Layers) issued to Reising et al. on June 29, 1991; and patent of E.U.A. No. 4,988,345 entitled "Absorbent Articles with Rapid Acquiring Absorbent Cores" (Absorbent Articles with Nuclei Rapid Acquisition Absorbents), issued to Reising on January 29, 1991. A more detailed discussion of some suitable methods for incorporating surfactant into the topsheet can be found in U.S. Statutory Invention Registration No. H1670, published on July 1, 1997 in the names of Aziz et al. Each of these references is incorporated herein by reference. In another embodiment of the present invention, the topsheet 24 comprises the fecal material handling member 29. In this case, the fecal material handling member may extend over the entire length of the topsheet or may extend only over regions of upper sheet such as the rear waist region. Any portion of the topsheet 24 can be coated with a lotion as is known in the art. Examples of suitable lotions include those described in the US patent. No. 5,607,760 entitled "Disposable Absorbent Article Having A Lotioned Topsheet Containing an Emollient and a Poiyol Polyester Immobilizing Agent" (Disposable Absorbent Article Having a Top Sheet with Lotion Containing an Emollient and a Polyole Polyester Immobilization Agent) issued to Roe on March 4, 1997; patent of E.U.A. No. 5,609,587 entitled "Diaper Having A Lotioned Topsheet Comprising A Liquid Poiyol Polyester Emollient And An Immobilizing Agent" (Diaper Having A Top Sheet With Lotion Comprising A Poliol Polyol Emollient And A Mobilizing Agent) Issued To Roe On November 11, March 1995; patent of E.U.A. No. 5,635,191 entitled "Diaper Having A Lotioned Topsheet Containing a Polysilozane Emollient" (Diaper Having a Top Foil with Lotion Containing a Polysiloxane Emollient), issued to Roe et al. On June 3, 1997; and patent of E.U.A. No. 5,643,588 entitled "Diaper Having a Lotioned Topsheet" (Diaper Having a Top Blade with Lotion), issued to Roe et al. On July 1, 1997. The topsheet may also include or be treated with antibacterial agents, some examples of which are described in PCT publication No. WO 95/24173 entitled "Absorbent Articles Containing Antibacterial Agents in the Topsheet for Odor Control" (Absorbent Articles Containing Antibacterial Agents in the Top Sheet for Odor Control) which is published on September 14, 1995 in the name of Jonson. In addition, the topsheet 24, the backsheet 26 or any portion of the topsheet or the backsheet may be embossed and / or have a matte finish to provide a clothing or fabric type appearance. The absorbent core 28 may contain any absorbent material that is generally compressible, conformable, non-irritating to the user's skin and capable of absorbing and retaining liquids such as urine, and other exudates from the body. The absorbent core 28 can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes (eg, rectangular, hourglass-shaped, T-shaped, asymmetric, etc.) and may comprise a wide variety of liquid absorbent materials commonly used in disposable diapers and other absorbent articles such as pulp of crushed wood, which is generally referred to as air felt. Examples of other suitable absorbent materials include curled cellulose wadding; meltblown polymers, including coform; chemically hardened, modified or interlaced cellulosic fibers; tissue paper including tissue paper wrappers and tissue paper laminates; absorbent foams; absorbent sponges; superabsorbent polymers; absorbent gelling materials, or any other known absorbent material or combination of materials. The configuration and construction of absorbent core 28 can also be varied (e.g., the absorbent core or other absorbent structure can have zones of varying gauge, a hydrophilic gradient, a superabsorbent gradient, or a lower average density and weight acquisition zones lower average base, or may comprise one or more layers or structures). However, the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core 28 must be compatible with the design load and intended use of diaper 20. Illustrative absorbent structures for use as absorbent assemblies are described in US Pat. 4,610,678 titled "High Density Absorbent Structures" (High Density Absorbent Structures) issued to Weisman et al. on September 9, 1986; patent of E.U.A. 4,673,402 entitled "Absorbent Articles With Dual-Layered Cores "(Absorbent Articles with Double Layer Cores) issued to Weisman et al., June 16, 1987; US Patent 4,834,735 entitled" High Density Absorbing Members Having Lower Density and Lower Basis Weight Acquisition Zones " of High Density Having Acquisition Zones Lower Density and Lower Base Weight), issued to Ale any et al., May 30, 1989; US Patent 4,888,231 entitled "Absorbent Core Having A Dusting Layer" (Absorbent Core Which Has a Powder Coating), issued to Angstadt on December 19, 1989; US Patent No. 5,137,537 entitled "Absorbent Structure Containing Individualized, Polycarboxylic Acid Crosslinked Wood Pulp Cellulose Fibers" (Absorbent Structure Containing Wood Pulp Cellulose Fibers Interlaced Polycarboxylic Acid, Individualized), issued to Herrón et al. on August 11, 1992; and U.S. Patent No. 5,147,345 entitled "High Efficiency Absorbent Articles for Incontinence Management" (Issued to Young et al., "High Efficiency Absorbent Articles for Incontinence Management"). September 15, 1992; patent of E.U.A. No. 5,342,338 entitled "Disposable Absorbent Article For Low-Viscosity Fecal Material", issued to Roe on August 30, 1994. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. Figure 2 illustrates a first embodiment of a fecal member according to the present invention, generally designated with the reference number 29. Generally, the fecal material handling member 29 is a sheet of loop material 128, having a backing 120 preferably comprising a thermoplastic backing layer 122 (eg, polypropylene) having front and rear major surfaces 123 and 124, and a multitude of longitudinally oriented fibers in a specially formed fiber sheet 126 having an anchor, generally portions of non-deformed anchor 127 attached being embedded in the backing layer 122 in the separate elongation generally parallel to junction locations 128 that are continuous in a direction along the front surface 123 with arcuate portions 130 of the fiber sheet 126 projecting from the front surface 123 of the backing layer 122 between the junction locations 128 and the continuous rows also extending transversely through the bound material sheet 118.

The arcuate portions 130 of the fiber sheet 126 comprise a surface coating agent 132 and have a generally uniform height of the backing layer 122 of more than about 0.5 mm and preferably greater than about 1.0 mm, the height of the sheet fiber 126 formed is at least one third, and preferably one half and one half the distance between the bonding locations 128, the individual fibers in the fiber sheet 126 have a size smaller than 25 denier (preferably on a scale from 1 to 10 denier), and the fiber sheet 126 without the backing layer 120 has a basis weight on the scale of 5 to 300 grams per square meter (and preferably on the scale of 15 to 100 grams per square meter) measured along the first surface 123 to provide a sufficient open area between the fibers in the fiber sheet 126 along the arcuate portions 130 (ie, between approximate 10 and 90% of the open area) to provide easy penetration of the fecal matter into the individual fibers along the arcuate portions 130. Materials suitable for use as the backing layer120 include, but are not limited to, films thermoplastics, porous films, films with apertures, films formed with apertures, films formed without apertures, nonwoven webs, breathable materials, such as breathable films, including but not limited to microporous films, nonwoven webs with apertures, canvases, and the like. The term "canvas" as used herein refers to a network of fibers or strands comprising at least two parallel strands or fibers running in a first direction and at least two parallel strands or fibers running in a second direction. At least some of the fibers or strands running in the first direction are connected to at least some of the fibers or strands that run in the second direction at the respective crossing points. The angle between the first and the second direction is at least 30 °, preferably 45 °, preferably 60 °, and most preferably 90 °. A canvas can comprise fibers or strands of different shapes, compositions and dimensions. Preferably, the backing layer is made of thermoplastic polymers. The backing layer 120 is preferably a relatively thin layer with a thickness in the scale of about 0.00125 to 0.025 centimeters.

The fibers in the fiber sheet 126 may be disposed in various directions with respect to the parallel joining locations 128 and may or may not be joined together at crossing points in the arcuate portions 130; they can be arranged in various directions with respect to the parallel joining locations 128 with most of the fibers in the fiber sheet 126 (i.e., over 80 or 90%) extending in directions at approximately a right angle to the locations binding 128; or all of the individual fibers in the fiber sheet 126 may extend in generally right-angled directions toward the generally parallel spaced apart 128 locations. The fiber sheet 126 preferably has a hydrophilic character, which is less than the hydrophilic character of the layer. rear 120. In a preferred embodiment, the fiber sheet itself has a gradient of hydrophilic character, wherein the arcuate portions 130 have a hydrophilic character that is less than the hydrophilic character of the bonded locations 128. Still in this configuration, it is preferred that the attached locations 128 of the fiber sheet 126 have a hydrophilic character that is less than the hydrophilic character of the backing layer 120. Preferably, the fecal material handling member 29 is secured to the topsheet 24 in a very minimal degree to preserve the opening of the fecal material handling member 29 to allow easy penetration of the fecal matter. Most preferably, the fecal material handling member 29 is not secured to the topsheet 24 while retaining the opening of the fecal material handling member 29 and also allowing the topsheet 24 to separate from the fecal material handling member 29 creating a additional hollow space within the disposable absorbent article. However, it is recognized that the fecal matter handling member 29 must be secured with the diaper 20 to prevent it from moving freely around it. Up to this point, it is preferred that the fecal material handling member 29 be secured directly to the underlying absorbent core 28. The fecal material handling member 29 may be attached to the absorbent core 28 through any attachment means known in the art. . For example, the joining means may include a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive, or an arrangement in separate spiral lines or spots of adhesive. A preferred attachment means comprises an open-pattern network of filaments of adhesive as described in US Pat. 4,573,986, entitled "Disposable Waste-Containment Garment," issued to Minetola et al. On March 4, 1986. Other suitable bonding media include several lines of adhesive filaments, which are crimped at a spiral pattern, as illustrated by the apparatus and methods shown in the US patent 3,911, 173 issued to Sprague, Jr. on October 7, 1975; the patent of E.U.A. 4,785,996 issued to Ziecker et al. On November 22, 1978; and patent of E.U.A. 4,842,666 issued to Werenciz on June 27, 1989. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. The adhesives that have been found to be satisfactory are manufactured by H. B. Fuller Company of St.

Paul Minnesota and sold as HL-1258. Alternatively, the joining means may comprise heat bonds, pressure joints, ultrasonic joints, dynamic mechanical joints, or any other suitable joining means or combinations of these joining means as is known in the art. A particularly preferred binding means is an adhesive having a hydrophilic character, and which is greater than the hydrophilic character of fiber sheet 126, most preferably a hydrophilic character which is also greater than the hydrophilic character of backing layer 120. fecal management member 29 is shown in Figure 1 placed in the rear waist region 38 of diaper 20. When placing the fecal material handling member 29 at least in the rear waist region 38, the operating member of fecal matter 29 is aligned with the user's rectum, where it can be more effective in handling fecal material deposited on the diaper 20. However, the fecal material handling member 29 can be extended to the crotch region 37 The fecal matter management member 29 also extends to the waist region 36 of the diaper 20. In some embodiments, it is also desirable that the fec at 29 extends along the entire longitudinal dimension of the diaper 20. In addition to placing the fecal material handling member 29 at least in the rear waist region 38, it is also desirable that the portion of the top sheet 24 placed within the rear waist region 38 have a sufficient open area to handle low viscosity faecal material. To be more effective in handling low viscosity fecal matter, the fecal management member must have an open structure in elevation. A key component of this equation is the height of the arcuate portions 130 of the fiber sheet 126 from the backing layer 120. As mentioned above, the arcuate portions 130 of the fiber sheet 126 have a generally uniform height from the layer rear 120 of more than about 0.5 millimeters and preferably greater than about 1.0 millimeters. Although even higher heights can provide excellent handling of low viscosity fecal matter, for example, heights of 0.5 centimeters at such heights can create an unwanted volume in the diaper that can cause discomfort to the wearer. The other key component is the elasticity of the fecal handling member 29, more particularly the elasticity of the fiber sheet 126. In order to remain open, the fiber sheet 126 must have sufficient elasticity to withstand the packing forces and those applied by the user. Preferably the fiber sheet 126 has an elasticity of at least 50% after 30 seconds under an applied force of 100g / cm2, most preferably, the fiber sheet 126 has an elasticity of at least 75% after 30 seconds under an applied force of 100g / cm2, most preferably the fiber sheet 126 has an elasticity of at least 85% after 30 seconds under an applied force of 100g / cm2. The anchoring portions 127 are preferably of such dimension that a flat circle having a diameter of about 0.2 millimeters to about 20 millimeters can be inscribed thereon, most preferably, the anchoring portions 127 are preferably of such dimension that a flat circle having a diameter of about 0.2 millimeters to about 10 millimeters can be inscribed thereon and preferably, the anchor portions 127 preferably are of such dimension that a flat circle having a diameter of about 0.2 millimeters to about 5 millimeters can be inscribed about them. Figure 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a faecal management member in accordance with the present invention, generally designated with the reference numeral 140, said fecal matter handling member 140 has the same structure as the faecal handling member 29 (the same reference numbers being used with respect to their corresponding portions), except that the Backing layer 145 of linker sheet material 118 includes a second backing sheet 147, this second backing sheet 147 is adhered to side 124 of backing layer 122 opposite fiber sheet 126. The second backing sheet backing material 147 in the backing layer 145 of the laminating material sheet 118 is preferably a polymeric film. Other materials suitable for use as the second sheet of backing material 147 include, but are not limited to, porous films, film with openings, films formed with openings, films formed without openings, nonwoven webs, breathable materials, such as breathable films , including, but not limited to, microporous films, nonwoven webs with openings and the like. The second sheet of backing material 147 is preferably a relatively thin layer with a thickness in the scale of about 0.00125 to 0.025 centimeters. Figure 4 illustrates a third embodiment of a fecal material handling member with the present invention, generally designated with the reference number 150, said fecal management member 150 has the same structure as the stool handling member 29 (the same reference numbers being used with respect to their corresponding portions), except that the backing layer 155 of the sheet linker material 118 includes a plurality of fibers 157. Fibers 157 of backing layer 155 may be disposed in various directions with respect to parallel joining locations 128 and may or may not be joined together; can be arranged in several directions with respect to the parallel joining locations 128 with most of the fibers in the backing layer 155 (ie, more than 80 or 90%) extending in directions at approximately a right angle to the locations of union 128; or all of the individual fibers 157 in the backing layer 155 may extend in generally right-angled directions toward the generally parallel, spaced apart joining locations 128. Preferably the individual fibers 157 are not joined together and are separated from one another by a distance from about 0.01 mm to about 10.0 mm. The fibers 157 have a denier within the range of about 0-50. Figure 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a fecal handling member according to the present invention, generally designated, with the number of references 160, said member Fecal management device 160 has the same structure as the fecal material handling member 29 (the same reference numbers being used with respect to their corresponding portions), except that the fecal material handling member 160 includes a second sheet of linker material 162, said second sheet of linker material 162 is adhered on the side 124 of backing layer 122 opposite fiber sheet 126. The second sheet of linker material 162 comprises a multitude of fibers longitudinally oriented on a fiber sheet 176 specially formed having an anchored portion 177 generally not deformed attached being embedded in the backing layer 122 in generally parallel, elongated, spaced joining sites 178, which are continuous in a direction along the surface 124 with the arcuate portions 180 of fiber sheet 176 projecting from the surface 124 of the backing layer 122 between the bonding locations 178 in continuous rows also extending transversely through the sheet of the bonding material 162. The arcuate portions 180 of the fiber sheet 176 have a generally uniform height from the backing layer 122 of more than about 0.5 millimeters and preferably greater than about 1.0 millimeters, the height of the formed fiber sheet 176 is at least one third, and preferably one half or several times half the distance between the bonding locations 178, the individual fibers in fiber sheet 176 have a size less than 25 denier (preferably on the scale of 1 to 10 denier), and the fiber sheet 176 without the denier layer spaldo 120 has a basis weight on the scale of 5 to 300 grams per square meter (and preferably on the scale of 15 to 100 grams per square meter) measured along the first surface 124. In one embodiment shown in figure 5 , the junction locations 128 and 178 are aligned with each other, i.e., junction location 128 positioned directly above the junction location 178, causing the arcuate portions 130 and 180 to be in phase. The junction locations 128 and 178 may also be placed along the backing layer 120, so that they do not align with each other causing the arcuate portions 130 and 180 to be out of phase. Figure 5 shows a fifth embodiment of a faecal management member according to the present invention; generally designated with the reference numeral 190, said fecal matter handling member 10 has the same structure as the stool handling member 29 (the same reference numbers being used with respect to their corresponding portions), except that the layer backing 195 of the linker sheet 118 is a sheet of linker material 196, which is directly adhered to the linker material 118. The sheet of linker material 196 comprises a multitude of longitudinally oriented fibers in a specially formed sheet of fibers having an anchoring portion 197, generally non-deformed joined through a thermo bond to the material linker 118 at generally parallel, elongated, spaced joining locations, 198, arcuate portions 200 of fiber sheet 196 projecting from the anchoring portions 197 in continuous rows which also extend transversely through the sheet of linker material 196. In the embodiment of Figure 6, the rows of arcuate portions of the sheet of linker material 118 and 196 extend parallel to one another in ia cross direction Alternatively, the rows of arcuate portions of the sheet of the linker material 118 and 196 may not be parallel. For example, the rows of the arcuate portions of the sheet of the link material 118 may extend in the transverse direction, while the rows of the arcuate portions of the sheet of the link material 196 extend at an angle towards the transverse direction. Figure 7 in a top plan view of another embodiment of a fecal material handling member 202 of the present invention. The fecal management member 202 illustrates one of the many possible configurations for the arrangement of the rows of arcuate portions 203. Figure 8 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a stool management member 204 of the present invention. The fecal matter management member 204 illustrates one of the many possible configurations for the arrangement of the rows of arcuate portions 205. In addition to the configurations shown in Figures 7 and 8, other possible configurations for the arrangement of the rows of arched portions. Figure 9 schematically shows a method and equipment for forming the stool handling member 29. The method illustrated in Figure 9 generally comprises forming longitudinally oriented polymer fibers to a fiber sheet 126, forming the fiber sheet 126, of which has arcuate portions 130 projecting in the same direction from the generally parallel, spaced anchoring portions 127 of the fiber sheet 126, and joining the generally parallel parallel anchoring portions 127 of the fiber sheet 126 projecting from the front surface 123 of the backing layer 120. This method is performed by providing first and second hot corrugation members or rolls 226 and 227, each having an axis and including a plurality of generally axially extended, circumferentially spaced flanges, 228, around and defining its periphery, the flanges 228 having external surfaces and defining e spacing between ridges 228 adapted to receive the portions of the flanges 228 of the other corrugation member 226 and 227 in a coincident relationship with the fiber sheet 126 between the matching flanges 228 and to provide a roller coupling between the flanges 228 and spaces of the corrugation members in the form of gear teeth. The corrugation members 226 and 227 are mounted in an axially parallel relationship with the portions of the flanges 228 of the corrugation members 226 and 227 generally coinciding in the shape of gear teeth; at least one of the corrugation members 226 or 227 is rotated; and the fiber sheet 126 is fed between the mating portions of the ridges 228 of the corrugation members 226 and 227 to generally form the fiber sheet 126 to the periphery of the first corrugation member 226 and form the arcuate portions 130 of the sheet of fibers 126 in the spaces between the flanges 228 of the first corrugation member 226 and the generally parallel anchoring portions of the fiber sheet 126 along the outer surfaces of the flanges 228 on the first corrugation member 226. The sheet of fibers 126 formed is retained along the periphery of the first corrugation member 226, after it has moved beyond the mating portions of the flanges 228. The thermoplastic backing layer 120 is formed and is attached to the anchoring portions 127 of the fiber sheet 126 on the end surfaces of the flanges 228 on the first corrugation member 226 by extruding the thermoplastic backing layer 120 (e.g., polypropylene) in a molten state from a die 240 toward a nozzle between the anchor portions 127 of the fiber sheet 126 on the periphery of the first binder member. corrugation 226 and a cooling roller 250, after which the fecal material handling member 29 is separated from the first corrugating member 226 and carried partially around the cooling roller 250 and through a nozzle between the cooling roller and a roller in step 260 to complete the cooling and solidification of the thermoplastic backing layer 120. After leaving the drag roller 260, the surface coating agent 192 is applied to the arcuate portions 130 of the fiber sheet 126 through a surface coating device 190. Many suitable surface coating devices are known in the art, preferably the device of surface coating selected from roller coater, die coater, spray coater, gravel coater, knife coater or slot orifice coater. The sheet of fibers 126 fed between the mating portions of the ridges 228 of the corrugation members 126 and 127 may be in the form of strands distributed such that the fibers in the fiber sheet 126 fed between the matching edges 228 of the members The corrugation members 226 and 227 are uniformly distributed across the width of the fiber sheet 126 and extend generally perpendicular to the axes of the corrugation members 226 and 227, or the fibers in the fiber sheet 126 can be disposed in a random orientation as in a nonwoven web or sheet. Said non-woven sheet of randomly oriented fibers 126 without any internal bond except for the friction between the fibers, can be formed from loose fibers using a carding machine 270, as illustrated, said non-woven sheet of randomly oriented fibers 126 has sufficient integrity to be fed from the carding machine 270 to the nozzle between the corrugation members 226 and 227 (if necessary, a conveyor belt (not shown) can be provided to assist the support and guidance of the non-woven fiber sheet randomly oriented 126, preferably the first corrugation member 226 has a rough finish (e.g., formed from sand-sprinkling tooth), the second corrugation member 227 has a smooth polishing finish, and the first corrugation member 226 is heated to a temperature slightly above the temperature of the second corrugation member 226, so that the sheet of f preferably non-woven fibers 126 will remain along the surface of the first corrugating member 226 and will be brought towards the nozzle between the first corrugating member and the cooling roller 250 after passing through the nozzle between the corrugation members 226 and 227. The corrugation members 226 and 227 adapted to have said fiber sheet 126 fed thereto may have their flanges 228 oriented generally in the range of 0 to 90 degrees with respect to their axes, but preferably have ridges 226 oriented to 0 degrees with respect to (or parallel to) their axes which simplifies the fabrication of the corrugation members 226 and 227.

Instead of extruding a solid thermoplastic sheet 120 from a die 240, a plurality of fibers can be extruded from a die to form a backing layer, such as the backing layer 255 illustrated in Figure 4. Instead of extruding a thermoplastic material from a die such as a die • 240, a non-melted backing layer can be used. Roller 250 is then heated for thermobonding of the backing layer to the fiber sheet, Figure 10 illustrates schematically another embodiment of a method and equipment according to the present invention for forming the fecal material handling member 140, said method is generally the same and uses a lot of the same equipment illustrated in the figure 9 (with similar portions of the equipment having the same reference numbers), • except for the addition of means including a drive roller 340 to feed the backing sheet 147 toward the nozzle between the first corrugating roller 226 and the cooling roller 250 along the surface of the cooling roller 250 , which results in the molten thermoplastic backing layer, extruded 120 to from the die 240 being deposited between the formed fiber sheet 126 along the periphery of the first corrugation member 226 and the sheet of backing material 120 along the surface of the cooling roll 250, so that the molten thermoplastic backing layer 120 wraps and adheres to the anchoring portions of 127 of the fiber sheet 126 to the backing material sheet 147 after the The fecal material handling member 140 is separated from the first corrugating member 226 and partially carried around the cooling roller 250 when its backing layer 145 against the cooling roller 250 cools and solidifies its thermoplastic backing layer 120 completely. molten thermoplastic backing layer 120 can be extruded towards the nozzle, on the anchoring portions 127 of fiber sheet on the The first corrugation member 226 before going to the nozzle, or on the backing sheet 147 along the periphery of the cooling roll just before the nozzle, can work best for any given application. The cooling roller 250 can be cooled water and have a chromium-plated periphery, which is particularly useful for forming the fecal material handling member 140 due to the high heat transfer rate said cooling roller 250 which offers from the molten thermoplastic backing layer 120, through the sheet of polymeric backing material 147 and towards the cooling roll 250. Alternatively, the cooling roll 250 may have an outer rubber layer defining its surface, which may be preferred for forming the fecal material handling member 140 if the sheet of the backing material is of a material which (eg, paper) tends to restrict said heat transfer to the cooling roller 250, whereby the rubber layer provides a alternative advantage to form adjacent to its nozzle with the first corrugating roller 226 to provide intimate contact of the rim layer molten thermoplastic back 120 with the anchoring portions 12 of the fiber sheet 126 and the backing material sheet 147. The backing sheet 147 incorporated in the backing layer 145 can be a knitted, knitted, randomly woven layer , needle puncture, non-woven or other solid or porous layer of interlaced fibers, or it may be a continuous polymeric film. Said film used for the sheet of the backing material 21 can be a single layer of a polymeric material such as polypropylene, polyester or polyamide; or may have a plurality of layers such as a core layer of a relatively high strength material such as a polyester, a layer defining the first surface of a material more easily bonded to the layer of the thermoplastic material 120 so that the ethylene-vinyl or polyethylene acetate, and a layer defining the outer surface of the backing layer 147 adapted to adhere the backing to the substrate such as polyethylene or a bonding layer of non-tacky thermoplastic material at room temperature. The sheet of backing material may also be a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive along the release liner disposed so that the release liner contacts the cooling roll 250, resulting in the adhesive layer sensitive to the pressure that is disposed alone towards the back surface of the layer of thermoplastic material 120, with the release liner on the layer of the pressure sensitive adhesive and that can be removed so that the pressure sensitive adhesive can be used for adhere the faecal management member to a substrate. Preferably, the actuators for the corrugation member 226 and 227 and for the cooling roller 250 are separately controllable, so that the cooling roller 250 can be rotated at a surface speed that is equal to, or different from, the surface velocity of the first corrugation member 226. When the cooling roller 250 and the first corrugation member 226 are rotated to have the same surface velocity, the fiber sheet 126 will have approximately the same shape along the length of the surface. the back layer 120 as that which it had along the periphery of the first corrugation member 226 as illustrated in Figures 2 to 5. When the cooling roll 250 and the first corrugation member 226 are rotated so that the The cooling roller has a surface velocity that is less than the surface velocity of the first corrugation member 226, the anchor portions 127 of fiber sheet 126 will be moved closer in the backing layer 120 at the nozzle between the cooling roller 250 and the first corrugation member 226, resulting in a greater density of the linker portions 130 along the back layer 120 that when the cooling roller 250 and the first corrugation member 226 are rotated so as to have the same surface velocity. This technique for increasing the amount of linker portions 130 or link population is useful both for making fecal handling members having different numbers of linker portions 130 per centimeter of backup length using the same type, as for making managing members. of fecal matter with more bound portions 130 per centimeter of the back length that can be formed between the ridges 228 machined on the corrugation member 226 and 227 due to physical limitations in the machining of said ridges 228 very closely. The diaper 20 may also comprise at least one elastic waist feature 34 that helps provide improved fit and containment. The elastic waist feature 34 is generally adapted to elastically expand and contract to dynamically fix the wearer's waist. The elastic waist feature 34 preferably extends at least longitudinally outward from at least one waist edge 62 of the absorbent core and generally forms at least a portion of the outer edge 52 of the diaper 20. In general, disposable diapers are constructed in order to have two elastic waist feature, one placed in the first waist region 36 and one positioned in the second waist region 38. In addition, although the elastic waist feature 34 or any of its constituent elements may comprise one or more separate elements fixed to the diaper 20, the elastic waist feature 34 can be constructed as an extension of other diaper elements 20, such as the backsheet 26, the topsheet 24 or both the backsheet 26 and the topsheet 24. The elastic waist feature 34 can be constructed in a number of different configurations, including those described in the U.S.A. 4,515,595 issued to Kievit and others on May 7, 1985; the patent of E.U.A. 4,710,189 issued to Lash on December 1, 1987; the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,151,092 issued to Buell on September 9, 1992; and the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,221, 274 issued to Buell on June 22, 1993. Other suitable waist configurations may include waist cap features such as those described in the U.S.A. ,026,364 issued to Robertson on June 25, 1991 and the patent of E.U.A. 4,816,025 issued to Foreman on March 28, 1989. All references hereinbefore mentioned are incorporated herein by reference. The diaper 20 may also include a fastening system 40. The fastening system 40 preferably maintains the first waist region 35 and the second waist region 38 in an overlapping configuration, in order to provide lateral stresses around the circumference of the diaper. 20 to maintain the diaper 20 on the wearer. The fastening system 40 preferably comprises tape tabs and / or hook and loop fastening components, although any known fastening means is generally acceptable. Some illustrative fastening systems are described in the US patent. 3,848,594 entitled "Tape Fastening System for Disposable Diaper" issued to Buell on November 19, 1974; patent of E.U.A. B1 4,662,875 entitled "Absorbent Article" (Absorbing Article) issued to Hirotsu et al. on May 5, 1987; patent of E.U.A. 4,846,815 entitled "Disposable Diaper Having An Improved Fastening Device" (Disposable Diaper Having an Enhanced Fastening Device) issued to Scripps on July 11, 1989; patent of E.U.A. 4,894,060 entitled "Disposable Diaper With Improved Hook Fastener Portion" (Disposable Diaper with Improved Hook Fastener Portion), issued Nestegard on January 16, 1990; patent of E.U.A. 4,946,527 entitled "Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Fastener And Method of Making Same" (Sensitive Bra The Pressure and Method to Do The Same) issued to Baitrell on August 7, 1990; and the formerly named patent of E.U.A. No. 5,151,092 issued to Buell on September 9, 1992 and patent of E.U.A. No. 5,221,274 issued to Buell on June 22, 1993. The fastening system may also provide a means to maintain the article in a waste configuration as described in the US patent. Do not. 4,963,140 issued to Robertson et al. On October 16, 1990. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. The diaper 20 can also comprise side panels 30. The side panels 30 can be elastic or extensible to provide a more comfortable and contour fit by initially and comfortably securing the diaper 20 to the wearer and maintaining this fastening through all the time the user spends. when the diaper 20 has been loaded with exudates, since the elastic side panels 30 allow the sides of the diaper 20 to expand and contract. The side panels 30 also provide a more effective application of the diaper 20, since even if the diaper wearer pulls an elastic side panel 30 past the other during application, the diaper 20 will "self-adjust" during use. The diaper 20 of the present invention preferably has the side panels 30 disposed in the second waist region 38, the diaper 20 can be provided with side panels 30 disposed in the first waist region 36 or both the first waist region 36 as in FIG. the second waist region 38. The side panels 30 can be constructed in any suitable configuration. Examples of diapers with elastic side panels are described in U.S. Pat. 4,857,067 entitled "Disposable Diaper Having Shirred Ears", issued to Wood, et al., August 15, 1989; patent of E.U.A. 4,381,781 issued to Sciaraffa et al. On May 3, 1983; patent of E.U.A. 4,938,753 issued to Van Gompel et al. On July 3, 1990; the patent of E.U.A. 5,151, 092 previously mentioned here issued to Buell on September 9, 1992; and the patent of E.U.A. 5,221,274 issued to Buell on June 22, 1993; patent of E.U.A. No, 5,669,897 issued to LaVon et al. On September 23, 1997 entitled "Absorbent Articles Providing Sustained Dynamic Fit" (Absorbent Articles That Provide a Sustained Dynamic Adjustment); patent application of E.U.A. No. 08 / 155,048, entitled "Absorbent Article With Multí-Directional Extensible Side Panels "(Article Absorbent with Extensible Multidirectional Side Panels) presented on November 19 in the names of Robles, and others, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.The diaper 20 preferably further includes 32 cuffs for the legs, which provide improved containment of liquids and other body exudates Leg cuffs may also be referred to as leg bands, side flaps, barrier cuffs or elastic cuffs US Patent 3,860,003 describes a disposable diaper that provides a contractile leg opening having a side flap and one or more elastic members to provide an elastic leg cuff (a joint cuff) U.S. Patent Nos. 4,808,178 and 4,909,803 issued to Aziz et al. on February 28, 1989 and March 20, 1990, respectively, describe disposable diapers having "straight" elastic flaps (p. barrier nails) which improve the containment of the leg regions. The patents of E.U.A. 4,695,278 and 4,795,454 issued to Lawson on September 22, 1987 and Dragoo on January 3, 1989, respectively, describe disposable diapers having double cuffs, including gasket cuffs and barrier cuffs. The modality of the diaper 20 of the present invention can be applied to a user by placing, one of the waist regions, preferably the rear waist region 38, under the user's back and extracting the remainder of the diaper 20 between the legs of the wearer. The other waist region, preferably the front waist region 36, is positioned across the front of the user. The diaper then wraps the side panels 30 around the wearer so that the front waist region 36 and the rear waist region 38 are in an overlapping configuration. The side panels 30 will typically be extended and tensioned during this operation in order to conform to the size and shape of the user. The fastening system system 40 is ensured to effect a lateral closure.

Claims (10)

1. - A disposable absorbent article comprising a backsheet and a fecal material handling member attached to the backsheet, said fecal material handling member comprising a backing of a fiber sheet, said sheet of fibers having anchoring portions in the backing in separate bonding sites and having arcuate portions of the sheet projecting from the backing between the bonding locations, wherein said arched portions comprise a surface coating agent.

2. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the surface coating agent is a silicone-containing composition and / or an oil-containing composition.

3. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, further comprising a topsheet.

4. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein at least part of the fecal material handling member is positioned intermediate the upper sheet and the backing sheet.

5. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein the fecal material handling member is not secured to the topsheet.

6. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, further comprising an absorbent core positioned between the fecal material handling member and the backing sheet.

7. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the arched portions have a height from the back of at least 0.5 mm.

8. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the faecal handling member has an elasticity of at least 85% after 30 seconds under a load of 100g / cm2.

9. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the fiber sheet has a hydrophilic character that is less than the hydrophilic character of said backing.

10. The disposable absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the diaper has a back waist region and a front waist region, the fecal material handling member being positioned at least in the rear waist region of the body. Disposable absorbent article. SUMMARY The present invention is a disposable absorbent article having a backsheet, and a fecal handling member attached to the backsheet. The fecal management member includes a backing and a fiber sheet. The fiber sheet has anchoring portions in the backrest at separate bonding sites and has arched portions of the sheet projecting from the backing between the bonding sites. The arcuate portions include a surface coating agent.