(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2009/0221978 A1 Gatto Et Al
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US 20090221978A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2009/0221978 A1 Gatto et al. (43) Pub. Date: Sep. 3, 2009 (54) ABSORBENT ARTICLE WITH LOTION Publication Classification COMPRISINGAPOLY PROPYLENE GLYCOL (51) Int. Cl. MATERAL A6F 3/15 (2006.01) (76) Inventors: Joseph Anthony Gatto, Redondo (52) U.S. Cl. ................ 604/367; 604/385.23; 604/385.01 Beach, CA (US); Brent Taylor (57) ABSTRACT Ginn, Monroe, OH (US); Robert An absorbent article, such as a catamenial device, comprises Ya-lin Pan, Cincinnati, OH (US) a liquid pervious topsheet, the topsheet having an inner Sur face oriented toward the interior of the absorbent article and Correspondence Address: an outer surface oriented toward the skin of the wearer when THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY the absorbent article is being worn. The absorbent article Global Legal Department - IP includes a backsheet joined to the topsheet, the backsheet Sycamore Building - 4th Floor, 299 East Sixth having an inner surface oriented toward the interior of the Street absorbent article and an outer surface oriented toward the CINCINNATI, OH 45202 (US) garment of the wearer when the absorbent article is being worn. The absorbent article includes an absorbent core dis (21) Appl. No.: 12/369,922 posed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent core having an inner Surface oriented toward the skin of the (22) Filed: Feb. 12, 2009 wearer when the absorbent article is being worn and an outer surface oriented toward the garment of the wearer when the absorbent article is being worn. The absorbent article Related U.S. Application Data includes a lotion composition applied to at least a portion of (60) Provisional application No. 61/029,165, filed on Feb. the outer surface of the topsheet, wherein the lotion compo 15, 2008. sition comprises a polypropylene glycol material. Patent Application Publication Sep. 3, 2009 Sheet 1 of 3 US 2009/0221978 A1 L - IO 14 18 16 Fig. 1 Patent Application Publication Sep. 3, 2009 Sheet 2 of 3 US 2009/0221978 A1 Fig. 2 Patent Application Publication Sep. 3, 2009 Sheet 3 of 3 US 2009/0221978 A1 L - Fig. 3 US 2009/0221978 A1 Sep. 3, 2009 ABSORBENT ARTICLE WITH LOTION 0007 Additionally, it would be beneficial to have a treat COMPRISINGAPOLY PROPYLENE GLYCOL ment for feminine hygiene articles that enables migration of MATERAL fluid. Such as menstrual fluid, in a controlled fashion. 0008 Further, it would be beneficial to have a treatment CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED for feminine hygiene articles that facilitates fluid. Such as APPLICATIONS menstrual fluid, being moved so as to enhance perceived 0001. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provi cleanliness of both the topsheet and of the skin of the wearer, sional Application No. 61/029,165, filed Feb. 15, 2008. especially after multiple assaults of bodily fluid. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF INVENTION 0009. An absorbent article, such as a catamenial device, 0002 This application relates to absorbent articles, comprises a liquid pervious topsheet, the topsheet having an including catamenial devices such as tampons and sanitary inner surface oriented toward the interior of the absorbent napkins for the absorption of menses. More particularly, the article and an outer surface oriented toward the skin of the present invention relates to catamenial devices comprising a wearer when the absorbent article is being worn. The absor lotion composition comprising a polypropylene glycol mate bent article includes a backsheet joined to the topsheet, the rial, the lotion composition being applied to an outer Surface backsheet having an inner Surface oriented toward the interior thereof. of the absorbent article and an outer surface oriented toward the garment of the wearer when the absorbent article is being BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION worn. The absorbent article includes an absorbent core dis posed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent 0003 Disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers, train core having an inner Surface oriented toward the skin of the ing pants, and catamenial devices having lotioned topsheets wearer when the absorbent article is being worn and an outer are known. Lotions of various types are known to provide surface oriented toward the garment of the wearer when the various skin benefits, such as prevention or treatment of dia absorbent article is being worn. The absorbent article com per rash. These lotions can be applied to the topsheet of prises a lotion composition applied to at least a portion of the absorbent articles, for example, and can be transferred to the outer surface of the topsheet, with the lotion composition skin of the wearer during use. comprising a polypropylene glycol material. In one embodi 0004. Unlike many types of disposable absorbent articles, ment, the lotion composition consists essentially of a catamenial devices such as pads and pantiliners are specifi polypropylene glycol material, especially a polypropylene cally designed to acquire menstrual fluid. Menstrual fluid glycol homopolymer Such as polypropylene glycol, and differs from other exudates, such as urine, in many important optionally a carrier. In another embodiment, the lotion com properties. Such as Viscosity and Solids, chemical, and/or position comprises a polypropylene glycol material selected color content. Therefore, catamenial devices should differ in from the group consisting of polypropylene glycol copoly their structural components from Such devices as baby dia mer, polypropylene glycol Surfactant, and mixtures thereof. pers to be optimized for the maximum absorption of men The lotion composition comprising the polypropylene glycol strual fluid. material as applied to the outer surface of the topsheet helps to 0005 Treatments to the bodyside surface of the topsheet resist the adherence of bodily fluid, such as menses, to the of diaper absorbent products have been proposed to primarily topsheet and upon transfer to the wearer of the absorbent provide skin health benefits and secondarily to allow fluid article, resist the adherence of bodily fluid to the skin of the such as urine to be absorbed into the product. Skin health wearer, thereby resulting in less staining on the topsheet of the benefits may include reduced direct contamination of body absorbent article and less fouling of the skin of the wearer. fluids in contact with the body surface and/or delivery of The lotion composition as applied to the outer surface of the ingredients to improve skin function, i.e., skin barrier. None topsheet can also help to improve continuous fluid acquisition theless these treatments are known to impede the acquisition of the absorbent article. of bodily fluids and schemes have been designed to place these treatments on regions of the bodyside surface of the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS topsheet to minimize their effect on fluid acquisition. Treat 0010 While the specification concludes with claims par ments of the bodyside surface of the topsheet of feminine ticularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the Subject mat hygiene products have also been proposed to provide skin ter of the present invention, it is believed that the invention health benefits and similarly the treatment deployment is can be more readily understood from the following descrip generally performed to minimize the hindrance of menstrual tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in fluid acquisition. Nonetheless, the use of these topsheet treat which: ments often becomes ineffective after repeated assaults of 0011 FIG. 1 is a top view of a representative catamenial bodily fluid due to deposition of blood cells or other soils on device having a topsheet, backsheet, and an absorbent core. the topsheet Surface. In addition, the treatment sometimes can 0012 FIG. 2 is a top view of another representative cata provoke negative product failure signals to the user of femi menial device having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absor nine hygiene products including the appearance of a dirty or bent core. Soiled topsheets or negative odor sensorial signals. This type 0013 FIG. 3 is a top view of another representative cata of treatment on a topsheet may provide a compromised skin menial device having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absor health benefit and a non-acceptable appearance of a used bent core. feminine hygiene product. 0006. It would be beneficial to have a treatment for femi DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION nine hygiene articles that can enable migration of fluid away 0014. The present invention is directed to absorbent from the body and through the topsheet into the product. articles, particularly disposable absorbent articles, having US 2009/0221978 A1 Sep. 3, 2009 thereon a lotion treatment composition, the treatment com backsheet prevents external leakage of exudates absorbed and position comprising a polypropylene glycol (“PPG) mate contained in the catamenial device. Flexible materials suit rial. Disposable absorbent articles can be baby diapers or able for use as the backsheet include, but are not limited to, feminine hygiene articles, including incontinence devices woven and nonwoven materials, laminated tissue, polymeric and catamenial products such as tampons, sanitary napkins, films such as thermoplastic films of polyethylene and/or pantiliners, interlabial products, and the like. The invention is polypropylene, composite materials such as a film-coated disclosed below with respect to one embodiment of a cata nonwoven material, or combinations thereof, as is well menial device. Such as a sanitary napkin or pantiliner. known in the art of making catamenial products such as 0015 FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show a catamenial device 10, that sanitary napkins, pantiliners, incontinence pads, and the like. can be a sanitary napkin orpantiliner, having a body-contact 0020. The catamenial device also comprises an absorbent ing Surface 12 comprising the outer Surface of a topsheet 14, core. The absorbent core is typically positioned between the a liquid impervious backsheet 16 joined to the topsheet 14, an topsheet and the backsheet.