US 12,357,515 B2
Absorbent article with spacer element
Bart Van Malderen, Zele (BE); Steven Smet, Zele (BE); and Werner Van Ingelgem, Zele (BE)
Assigned to Drylock Technologies NV, Zele (BE)
Appl. No. 17/250,037
Filed by Drylock Technologies NV, Zele (BE)
PCT Filed May 14, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/062301
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 10, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/219655, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 21, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 18172153 (EP), filed on May 14, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0161731 A1, Jun. 3, 2021
Int. Cl. A61F 13/515 (2006.01); A61F 13/51 (2006.01); A61F 13/53 (2006.01); A61F 13/534 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 13/515 (2013.01) [A61F 13/534 (2013.01); A61F 2013/51019 (2013.01); A61F 2013/51021 (2013.01); A61F 2013/530007 (2013.01); A61F 2013/530481 (2013.01); A61F 2013/530868 (2013.01); A61F 2013/5349 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An absorbent article having a front edge intended to be positioned at a front side of a person and a rear edge intended to be positioned at a rear side of a person, said absorbent article comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent material between said topsheet and said backsheet, wherein at least a first spacer element is included between said topsheet and said backsheet, wherein the first spacer element has a top side facing the topsheet, a bottom side facing the backsheet, and a number of lateral sides between the top and the bottom side;
said first spacer element being configured to guide liquid to the absorbent material upon wetting of the absorbent article;
wherein no absorbent material is present between the first spacer element and the topsheet; and
wherein the first spacer element is attached to both the topsheet and the backsheet;
wherein said attachment is realized by any of the following: a binder layer from glue, an ultrasonic bond, a heat bond, a pressure bond, or combinations thereof, wherein the absorbent material extends along the lateral sides of the first spacer element such that a contour of the first spacer element is adjacent to and surrounded by the absorbent material as seen from a top view and such that a valley is created at a location of the first spacer element by the absorbent material that expands in volume upon wetting of the article while the first spacer element remains attached to both the topsheet and the backsheet.