US 11,986,378 B2
Fluid distribution material for absorbent articles
Andrew D. Maschino, Paris, IL (US); Phillip A. Mellor, Simpsonville, SC (US); and Jesse B. Schalburg, Simpsonville, SC (US)
Assigned to FITESA FILM PRODUCTS LLC, Simpsonville, SC (US)
Filed by FITESA FILM PRODUCTS LLC, Simpsonville, SC (US)
Filed on Nov. 12, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/096,335.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/976,919, filed on Feb. 14, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/935,480, filed on Nov. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0145657 A1, May 20, 2021
Int. Cl. A61F 13/512 (2006.01); A61F 13/15 (2006.01); A61F 13/511 (2006.01); A61F 13/514 (2006.01); A61F 13/515 (2006.01); A61F 13/53 (2006.01); A61F 13/537 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 13/5126 (2013.01) [A61F 13/15577 (2013.01); A61F 13/5116 (2013.01); A61F 13/514 (2013.01); A61F 13/515 (2013.01); A61F 13/53 (2013.01); A61F 13/53713 (2013.01); A61F 13/53747 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15926 (2013.01); A61F 2013/51165 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A formed film for use as a fluid distribution material in an absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core between the topsheet and backsheet, the formed film being positionable between the top sheet and the absorbent core, the formed film comprising:
a first side comprising
a plurality of protrusions in the form of elongated ridges having peaks extending from a first land area of the first side and oriented in a first direction,
a plurality of valleys defined by adjacent protrusions and the first land area and oriented in the first direction, and
a plurality of primary apertures located at bottoms of the valleys; and
a second side opposite the first side, the second side comprising
a plurality of apertured protuberances, each of the apertured protuberances comprising a continuous sidewall extending from a second land area of the second side to a distal end comprising a secondary aperture, wherein each secondary aperture is substantially aligned with a primary aperture,
wherein the formed film has a thickness greater than about 0.9 mm under a pressure of 0.071 psi, and a thickness greater than about 0.3 mm under a pressure of 0.6 psi,
wherein the plurality of protrusions excludes the plurality of primary apertures and the plurality of apertured protuberances,
wherein the plurality of protrusions are narrower than the plurality of valleys, and
wherein the peaks are spaced from the first land area by a first distance that is uniform from a first end to a second end in the first direction.