Patent ID: 6307120
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A disposable absorbent article arranged to be worn by a wearer to trap and collect liquid waste products of the wearer, said article comprising a flexible chassis having a front portion, a crotch portion, and a back portion, said front portion having a pair of breathable front side panels and a liquid-impervious central panel, said back portion having a pair of breathable back side panels and a liquid-impervious central panel, said chassis including a liquid absorbent layer, each of said back side panels having at least one fastening tab projecting therefrom, each of said fastening tabs having an adhesive surface, each of said front side panels being formed of a cloth-like material having an outer surface and at least one zone located on said outer surface, said zone comprising a single layer of a moisture impervious, tear-resistant, plastic film including a large plurality of small perforated apertures therein rendering said plastic film vapor-pervious, said plastic film having an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface of said plastic film being secured to said outer surface of a respective one of said side panels, said outer surface of said plastic film forming a release surface to which a respective one of said fastening tabs is arranged to be repeatedly adhesively releasably secured by said adhesive surface of said fastening tabs capable of holding said article in place on a wearer, said plastic film of each of said zones also making up a portion of said central panel of said front portion, said plurality of small apertures in said plastic film enabling moisture vapor from within said article to pass therethrough at a flow rate in the range of approximately 10 m3/m2.s to approximately 80 m3/m2.s per unit area of said plastic film, said plastic film being resistant to damage from repeated releasable securement of said fastening tabs thereto.