KR20000069286A - Absorbent articles having cuffs with skin care composition disposed thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an absorbent product, such as a diaper, in which the skin care composition contains treated cuffs. Skin protective compositions treated with cuffs can be delivered to the wearer's body by normal contact and / or wearer's movements and / or body heat. The skin care compositions disclosed herein maintain and / or improve the wearer's skin hygiene during delivery, for example provide a skin protection barrier or therapeutic benefit, and cuffs and skin in areas where the cuff is in contact with the wearer's skin. It is selected to minimize friction between to reduce skin irritation, improve BM removal from the skin, or improve the cuff's blocking properties.

Description

Absorbent articles having cuffs with skin care composition disposed thereon

This application is a partial application of Japanese Patent Application No. 08 / 766,386, filed December 3, 1996, and a continuous application of Patent Application No. 08 / 345,159, filed on November 28, 1994, and issued June 27, 1997, now issued US Patent No. 5,463,588. It is a partial application for patent application No. 08 / 884,069 dated and a partial application for application for patent application No. 08 / 908,852 dated August 8, 1997.

The primary function of absorbent articles such as disposable diapers and incontinence briefs or undergarments is to absorb and load body secretions. Accordingly, such absorbent products are intended to prevent contamination, wetting, or other contamination of clothing or other products, such as bedding, due to body secretions when in contact with the wearer. The most common failure mode for such products is adjacent to absorbent products and garments because the body secretions are not immediately absorbed inside the absorbent product and the absorbent product is unable to maintain good fixation with the wearer, thus allowing the release of secretions from the product. Occurs when leaking from gaps with the wearer's legs or waist. For example, urine tends to deposit on the top sheet to contact the garment or other product upon ejection and move into the gap between the wearer and the product that can be absorbed by the product. Additionally, loose stool material that is not readily absorbed by the absorbent product tends to "float" at the body contact surface and travel in a path through the gap between the absorbent product and the wearer's leg or waist.

Current disposable diapers have a top sheet, a back sheet, an absorbent core and one or more cuffs, typically elastic cuffs, positioned to contact the wearer's leg and / or waist. The elastic cuff generally provides a barrier between the garment where the elastic cuff contacts the end of the diaper and also provides a gasket action around the leg or waist of the wearer, which generally maintains a seal around the leg or waist to minimize gap formation. It has been found to be effective in preventing wicking or spillage from the fluid loaded diaper to the garment in contact with the end of the diaper. However, the forces generated by the elastic member are concentrated along the narrow area to create high local pressure, so such elastic cuffs increase the tendency to leave jagged marks and marks on the wearer's skin. Since the products worn by infant and elderly incontinence patients are soft and sensitive to the skin, the skin effect is particularly severe even with a slight pressure or friction action. This skin effect is exacerbated by the blockage of the skin by the product. Occlusion of the skin by diapers can potentially lead to excessive hydration of the skin. As a result, the overhydrated skin is more susceptible to abrasion due to friction caused by normal wearer movement or contact with the elastic cuff. In general, excessively hydrated skin is also more susceptible to skin diseases, including diaper rash, erythema, heat rash, inflammation, pressed marks, and skin barrier damage. Reduced blocking of exfoliated and overhydrated skin can further cause an increase in diaper rash. [21 C.F.R. 333.503 refers to diaper areas (perineum, hips, lower abdomen, inner thighs) that cause diaper rash to be moistened, occluded, exfoliated, urine or fecal material, or both, or by one or more factors of mechanical or chemical irritation. In order to address skin problems associated with wearing diapers and other absorbent products, the caregiver or wearer often touches the wearer to the hips, genitals, around the anus and / or other areas before filling the absorbent product with the wearer. Apply skin protection and / or therapeutic products. Attempts have been made to produce absorbent products containing skin protection materials on the top sheet of the product in order to eliminate the hassle of such a wasteful, cumbersome, time consuming and initially forgetful method.

One of the materials applied to provide a soft protective coating on a diaper product is mineral oil. Mineral oil, also known as liquid waselin, is a mixture of various liquid hydrocarbons obtained by distilling high boiling fractions [boiling point: 300-390 ° C.] in petroleum. Mineral oil is a liquid at ambient temperature, for example 20-25 ° C. As a result, mineral oil is relatively fluid and mobile when applied to diapers. Mineral oil is fluid and mobile at ambient temperature, so it tends to remain localized on the diaper surface and instead moves inside the diaper. Thus, a relatively high level of mineral oil needs to be applied to provide the desired therapeutic or protective coating advantage. This application not only raises the cost of the treated diaper product, but also causes other side effects, including lowering the performance of the absorbent core below.

Even without increasing its level, the mobility of the mineral oil once applied has other side effects. For example, the applied mineral oil can be delivered into and through the material in a package or wrap material for the treated diaper product. This may lead to the need for a packaging or wrapping film in the form of a barrier to prevent bleeding or leakage of mineral oil from the diaper product.

Duncan et al. US Pat. No. 3,489,148 teaches infant diapers comprising hydrophobic and oleophobic topsheets in which a portion of the topsheet is covered with a discontinuous film of oily material. A major advantage of the diapers disclosed in the Duncan et al. Patent is that hydrophobic and oleophobic topsheets slowly promote delivery of urine to the lower absorbent core.

In addition to the migration problems manifested by positioning the liquid composition on the top sheet, the prior art does not rely on the treatment of cuffs to deliver them to the wearer's skin in an amount effective to retain the cuff and provide skin protection benefits. Skin injury problems caused by the use of cuffs were not recognized. The prior art also failed to recognize that the treatment of only the top sheet of the product does not necessarily deliver the composition to all critical areas of the wearer's skin.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an absorbent product having a cuff that is treated with a cuff to provide improved skin protection benefits, particularly to areas of the skin that come into contact with the wearer during use. The skin care composition should be able to be delivered to the wearer's skin to provide the skin benefit without inhibiting the function of the cuff in the product.

Thus, (1) it has the desired therapeutic or protective coating advantage, and / or (2) does not require a relatively high level of skin protection composition (such as mineral oil) that is liquid at room temperature, and / or (3) diaper products It is desirable to provide a diaper product or other absorbent product that has one or more cuffs treated with a skin protection composition that does not adversely affect the absorbent capacity of and / or (4) does not necessarily require a special wrapping or barrier material for packaging. .

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention that at least a portion of the skin protection composition comprises reduced skin irritation, desirable skin protection benefits including reduced red marking, reduction of erythema and / or diaper rash and / or BM on the skin. It is an object of the present invention to provide a diaper or absorbent product having one or more cuffs treated with a skin care composition deliverable to the wearer's skin to provide a therapeutic benefit that improves the ease of BM removal by reducing the adhesion of the.

As will be apparent from the following description, these and other objects are achieved using the present invention.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to an absorbent product, such as a disposable diaper, wherein the skin care composition has one or more cuffs treated on the body contacting surface of the cuff (applied to or movable to the body contacting surface). Importantly, the skin care compositions useful herein can be readily delivered to the wearer's skin by conventional contact, wearer's movement, and / or body heat. When delivered to the skin, the skin care composition provides the desired therapeutic and / or protective coating benefits of improving redness, erythema, diaper rash, skin irritation and / or improving the ease of BM removal by reducing the adhesion of BM to the wearer's skin. to provide. When a hydrophobic skin care composition is used, the skin care composition described herein can also improve its leak-stopping ability by increasing the loading / blocking properties of the cuff. The hydrophobic skin care composition allows particularly flexibility in the design of cuffs with nonwovens by providing another way to achieve particularly desirable loading / blocking properties. This can reduce the material cost.

As used herein, the term “cuff” refers to waist flaps, waist bands, waistcaps and single waists, as well as barrier cuffs, gasket cuffs, combinations and variations thereof, transverse cuffs and pockets / spacers, leg cuffs including side panels. Waist cuffs including a cap / waist band, and combinations of all or part of these cuffs.

Importantly, the skin care compositions described herein provide a protective and / or therapeutic benefit, including reducing erythema and / or diaper rash when delivered to the wearer's skin. The skin care composition can also act to exhibit reduced redness and / or skin irritation by minimizing friction between the cuff and the skin in areas where the cuff contacts the wearer's skin. In addition, the protective coating on the wearer's skin can improve the ease of BM removal by reducing BM adhesion to the skin.

Skin protection compositions useful in the present invention as described below are preferably melt profiles in which these compositions are relatively fixed and localized in the cuff at room temperature, can be delivered to the wearer at body temperature and are not completely liquid at extreme storage conditions Has Small amounts of skin protection compositions are required to provide the desired skin protection benefits in this embodiment. In addition, no special blocking or wrapping material may be required to package the treated product of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent article of the present invention comprises a skin protective composition (applied or movable) treated on the cuff and the top sheet. We have found that this preferred product increases the deliverability of the composition to the wearer's skin and increases the therapeutic and / or protective benefits discussed herein. In this regard, improved delivery capacity is realized by an increase in the amount of skin coating (ie, skin area) and / or composition delivered to a given skin area.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to absorbent articles having cuffs including elastic leg cuffs, such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinence devices, sanitary napkins, women's garments and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to skin protection compositions or absorbent articles having such cuffs and top sheet treated on cuffs deliverable to the wearer's skin by normal contact and / or wearer's movement and / or body heat. The skin care compositions disclosed herein maintain and / or improve the skin hygiene of the wearer during use, for example provide a skin protection barrier or therapeutic benefit, and cuffs and skin in areas where the cuff is in contact with the skin of the wearer. It is selected to minimize friction between them, thereby reducing redness and skin irritation, improving BM removal on the skin or improving the barrier properties of the cuff.

1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a disposable diaper of the present invention with a cut portion showing the underlying structure.

2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG.

3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG.

4 is a perspective view of an absorbent article in the form of a disposable diaper according to the present invention.

5 is a process diagram illustrating a preferred method for applying the composition of the present invention to a diaper barrier cuff.

6 is a process diagram illustrating another method for applying the composition of the present invention to a diaper barrier cuff.

7 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a cross sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a partial cross sectional view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a partial corona diagram showing the sanitary napkin and panties of the present invention worn by a user.

As used herein, the term "comprising" means that various components, components, or steps may be used together to practice the present invention. Thus, the term "comprising" is used in a more restrictive sense "essentially consisting of" and "consisting of".

As used herein, the term "skin protection composition" means any composition comprising one or more agents that provide a therapeutic and / or protective benefit to the skin when delivered from the product to the skin of the wearer. Representative materials are discussed below.

All percentages, ratios, and ratios used herein are by weight unless otherwise specified.

A. Absorbent Products

As used herein, the term "absorbent product" refers to a device that absorbs and loads body secretions, and more particularly, is positioned against the skin of the wearer to absorb and load various secretions discharged from the body. The term "disposable" as used herein is a term used to denote an absorbent product that is not intended to be washed or intended to be stored or reused after a single use. Examples of disposable absorbent articles include feminine hygiene products such as menstrual panties, and panty liners; Diapers, incontinence products such as briefs or undergarments; Diaper supports; Diaper inserts; Pull-on diapers and stools;

Disposable absorbent articles typically include a chassis comprising an outer covering layer comprising a liquid permeable top sheet and a liquid impermeable back sheet bonded to the top sheet, and a top sheet and a back sheet wrapped in an outer covering layer, preferably And absorbent cores positioned between. Disposable absorbent articles and their top sheets, their components, including absorbent cores, and the individual layers of these components have two major surfaces (first surface and second surface), generally named body contacting surfaces and garment facing surfaces. . As used herein, the term "body facing surface" (commonly referred to as the body contacting surface or skin contacting surface) means the surface of the product or component intended to be worn towards or adjacent to the wearer's body, and the "garment facing surface" Means the opposite face that is spaced from the wearer and oriented towards the wearer's garment when the disposable absorbent article is worn.

In the following, absorbent core, top sheet and back sheet materials useful in disposable absorbent articles are generally discussed. This general technique applies to the components of the particular absorbent article shown in FIGS.

In general, absorbent cores may absorb or maintain liquids (eg, menses, urine and / or other body secretions). The absorbent core should be compressible, conformable and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. Absorbent cores can be made in a variety of sizes and shapes (eg, rectangular, oval, hourglass, T-shaped, dog bone, symmetric, asymmetric, etc.). In addition to the absorbent composites of the present invention, absorbent cores may include various liquid absorbent materials commonly used in absorbent articles, such as groundwood pulp, which is generally referred to as airfelt. Examples of other suitable absorbent materials for use in absorbent cores include creped cellose wadding; Melt blown polymers, including coform; Chemically rigid, modified or crosslinked cellulosic fibers; Synthetic fibers such as pleated polyester fibers; Peat; Tissue, including tissue wraps and tissue stacks; Absorbent foams; Or any comparable substance or combination of substances; Or mixtures thereof.

The arrangement and structure of the absorbent core can be altered. [For example, absorbent cores may have a profile, hydrophobic gradient that has a variable caliper region and / or becomes thicker; Absorbent complexes such as superabsorbent gradients; May have a low average density and a low average reference weight area, for example, a capture area, or may comprise one or more layers or structures. do. In addition, the size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent cores are variable to accommodate different uses such as, for example, diapers, incontinence pads, stools, panty liners, regular sanitary napkins, and night sanitary napkins and to accommodate the wearer range from infant to adult. Can be.

The absorbent core may include other absorbent components often used in absorbent articles, such as dusting layers, wicking or trapping layers (crushing treatment layers), or second topsheets for enhancing wearer comfort. have.

The top sheet is preferably non-irritating to a soft, soft hand and wearer skin. In addition, the top sheet is liquid permeable at least in certain areas and easily penetrates the liquid (mens and / or urine) through the thickness. Suitable topsheets include a wide variety of materials, such as perforated nonwovens; Perforated thermoplastic films, perforated plastic films, and hydroformed thermoplastic films; Porous foams; Reticulated foam; Reticulated thermoplastic film; And wovens and nonwovens (eg, nonwoven webs of fibers) comprising polymeric materials such as thermoplastic yarns. Suitable fabrics or nonwovens are natural fibers (such as wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (such as polymeric fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene fibers), bicomponent fibers, or natural and synthetic fibers. It may consist of blends. If the top sheet comprises a nonwoven web, the web can be manufactured by a number of known techniques. For example, the web can be spun bond, carding, wet winding, melt blown, hydroentangle, hydroformed or a combination thereof.

The back sheet is preferably liquid (eg, menses and / or urine) impermeable at least in the crotch region of the absorbent article, and is preferably made from a thin plastic film even when other flexible liquid impermeable materials are also used. As used herein, the term "flexible" means a property of a material that is compliant and easily conforms to the general shape and contour of the human body. The back sheet prevents the secretions that are absorbed and loaded into the absorbent cores from wetting products that come into contact with absorbent products, such as bed sheets, pants, pajamas and undergarments. Thus, the back sheet may comprise a woven or nonwoven fabric, a polymeric film (such as a thermoplastic film of polyethylene or polypropylene) or a composite material (such as a coated nonwoven or a film coated nonwoven). Suitable backsheets are polyethylene films having a thickness of about 0.012 mm (0.5 mil) to about 0.051 mm (2.0 mil). Examples of polyethylene films are those manufactured under the trade name P18-1401 by Clopay Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio and under the trade name XP-39385 by Tredega Film Products, Terre Haute, Indiana. The back sheet is preferably embossed and / or matted to have a more garment-like appearance. In addition, the back sheet can release vapor from the absorbent core while preventing secretions from passing through the back sheet (ie, the back sheet is breathable). [Examples of breathable backsheets suitable for use herein are disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,571,096 entitled “Absorbent Products with Breathable Side Panels, issued to Doblin, Davis and Weirich on Nov. 5, 1996, This patent is incorporated herein by reference] The size of the backsheet is determined by the size of the absorbent core and the design of the chosen correct absorbent article.

The back sheet and the top sheet are located adjacent to each of the garment facing surface and the body facing surface of the absorbent core. The absorbent core is preferably bonded by a top sheet, a back sheet or both and a known method by means of attachment members which are well known in the art. However, aspects of the present invention are designed such that portions of the entire absorbent core do not adhere to the top sheet or back sheet, or both.

The back sheet and / or top sheet may be secured to the absorbent core or to each other by the alignment of a uniform continuous adhesive layer, a patterned adhesive layer or adhesive in the form of separate lines, spirals or dotted lines. The adhesive that turned out to be satisfactory was H in Minnesota St. Paul. ratio. Manufactured under the trade names HL-1258 or H-2031 by H. B. Fuller Company. The attachment member preferably comprises a filament of an open pattern network adhesive as disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,573,986, issued to Minetola et al. On March 4, 1986, which patent is incorporated herein by reference. Is cited. Examples of attachment means for the open pattern reticulated filaments are described in US Pat. No. 3,911,173 to Sprague, Jr., dated October 7, 1975; As exemplified by the apparatus and method shown in US Pat. No. 4,785,996 to Zwieker et al. On November 22, 1978 and US Pat. No. 4,842,666 to Werenez on June 27, 1989. It includes several lines of adhesive pattern squirling into the same spiral pattern. In addition, the attachment means may comprise thermal bonds, pressure bonds, ultrasonic bonds kinetic bonds or other suitable attachment means or combinations of these attachment means known in the art.

A preferred disposable absorbent article in which the "treated cuff" of the present invention (wherein "treated cuff" means cuff treated with one or more skin care compositions) is a diaper. As used herein, the term "diaper" refers to an absorbent product worn by an infant or incontinent patient around the lower body of the wearer. That is, the term "diaper" includes infant diapers, training pants, adult incontinence equipment, and the like. The present invention can also be applied to other types of disposable products, such as sanitary napkins and pantyliners containing cuffs.

FIG. 1 is a complete unshrinkable state (all elastic induction) having a portion of the cut structure and a portion of the diaper 20 (body facing surface) in contact with the wearer facing the observer to more clearly show the construction of the diaper 20 Is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 of the present invention in a state where the contracted shrinkage is tensioned. As shown in FIG. 1, the diaper 20 has a front waist region 22, a rear waist region 24, a crotch region 26, and an outer end of the diaper, where the longitudinal end is designated as 30. And the distal end is designated by (36)]. The diaper 20 includes a chassis comprising (i) an outer covering layer comprising a liquid permeable top sheet 38 and a liquid impermeable back sheet 42, and (ii) an absorbent core 44 having a lateral end 46. A fastening system, preferably comprising a pair of tape-tab fasteners 54 and a landing member 55; Each of a gasket cuff 56 including a side flap 58 and a flap elastic member 60; Blocking cuff 62 including a blocking cuff member 63 having a proximal end 64, a distal end 66, and a distal 74; And spacing means such as a spacing elastic member 76 for spacing the distal end 66 spaced apart from the top sheet. The diaper 20 further includes a tie member 78 for fixedly closing the distal end 74 of each blocking cuff 62. The components of the diaper may be assembled in a variety of known configurations, but the preferred arrangement is generally described in US Pat. No. 4,695,278, issued to Lawson on September 22, 1987, which is herein incorporated by reference. Cited by reference.

1 shows that the top sheet 38 and the back sheet 42 are disposed in the same space and are generally longer in length and wider than the absorbent core 44. The top sheet 38 is disposed in combination with the back sheet 42 to form the periphery of the diaper 20.

The diaper 20 has front and rear waist regions 22 and 24 that extend from the peripheral distal end 32 toward its lateral centerline 34, respectively. The waist region includes a portion of the diaper 20 that wraps around the wearer's waist when worn. The crotch region 26 is the portion of the diaper 20 between the waist regions and includes a portion of the diaper 20 positioned between the wearer's legs when worn and surrounding the lower body of the wearer.

As shown in FIG. 1, skin protection composition 72 is applied to each blocking cuff 62. The skin protection composition 72 is preferably treated on the body facing surface of the blocking cuff so that it can be easily delivered to the wearer's skin during use. In the embodiment shown, skin protection composition 72 is disposed adjacent distal end 66, preferably at least in crotch region 26. More preferably skin protection composition 72 is disposed at distal end 66. The blocking cuff 62 most preferably comprises one or more lines of skin care compositions treated thereon. In the embodiment shown, skin protection composition 72 is treated only with a piece of blocking cuff 62. In certain skin care compositions, it is desirable to prevent the skin care composition from being applied to a portion adjacent the ends of the spaced apart elastic member in order to avoid the elastic creep caused by the interaction of the skin care composition with the adhesive. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the skin protection composition 72 is not disposed adjacent to the distal end of the spaced apart elastic member 76 in the anterior waist region (not disposed adjacent the distal end in the posterior waist region). Even if). [In addition, when using an adhesive miscible with the skin care composition, placing the skin care composition on the cuff may not be limited to the distal end of the spaced apart elastic member] As discussed herein the skin care composition may also be a barrier cuff. It can be applied to the garment facing surface and delivered through the facing body to enhance the hydrophobicity of the blocking cuff as well as placing it on the facing body to provide skin protection benefits. In addition, the skin care composition may be applied to other portions of the barrier cuff, the entire barrier cuff, the spaced apart elastic member or other components of the barrier cuff. The skin care composition can also be disposed in any pattern, including discontinuous or continuous patterns, or in any amount discussed below.

The diaper 20 shown in FIG. 2 has a garment facing surface 86 and a body facing surface 84 opposite the garment facing surface 86. The body facing surface 84 of the diaper 20 includes a portion of the diaper 20 positioned adjacent to the wearer's body during use. [Ie, the body facing surface 84 is generally formed by other components, including those that can be coupled to at least a portion of the top sheet 38 and the top sheet 38] The garment facing surface 86 is used A portion of the diaper 20 positioned halfway away from the wearer's body. [Ie, the garment facing surface 86 is generally formed by at least a portion of the back sheet 42 and other components including those that can be bonded to the back sheet 42]

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing the configuration of the diaper in the back waist region of the diaper 20. [This should be understood to indicate that the diaper configuration in the anterior waist region 22 is substantially the same as the configuration in the posterior waist region 24.] The absorbent core may be applied to the tissue layers 50 and 52 as shown. It comprises an absorbent layer 48 which is completely sealed by. An absorbent core 44 is disposed between the top sheet 38 and the back sheet 42, both of which the top sheet 38 and the back sheet 42 both define an absorbent core 44 that defines a side flap 58. Extends out of the lateral end 46. The parallelly disposed regions of the top sheet 38 and the back sheet 42 are preferably secured to each other by a flap attachment member 88 such as an adhesive. In a preferred embodiment, the flap resilient member does not extend into the rear waist region 24 such that no gasket cuff is formed in the rear waist region 24. The blocking cuff 62 includes a blocking cuff member 63 which is a separate element fixed to the upper sheet 38; It is shown to include a distal end 64 formed by securing the blocking cuff member 63 to the top sheet 38 by a peripheral securing member 92. The garment facing surface of the blocking cuff 62 (also referred to as the inner surface of the blocking cuff) is fixed to the body facing surface 40 by the binding member 78. Thus, distal end 66 is closed. (Ie not spaced apart from body opposing face 40) It should be understood that the distal end 66 is not designed to be spaced apart from body opposing face 40 in the waist region, so that no spaced apart elastic member is disposed in the region. Thus, the blocking cuff 62 is neither open nor inhibits the flow of body secretions in the area. The skin care composition is not disposed on the blocking cuff in the posterior lumbar region in this particular embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a diaper configuration in the crotch region 26 which is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and shaped prior to application to the wearer. [Ie, the diaper 20 is subjected to elastic contraction] The absorbent core 44 includes an absorbent layer 48, which is shown to be completely enclosed by the tissue layers 50 and 52. An absorbent core 44 is disposed between the top sheet 38 and the back sheet 42, wherein the top sheet 38 and the back sheet 42 both of the absorbent core 44 define a side flap 58. It extends out of the side end 46. The parallelly arranged regions of the top sheet 38 and the back sheet 42 are preferably fixed to each other by a flap attachment member 88 such as an adhesive. The top sheet 38 and the back sheet 42 also surround the flap resilient member 60 adjacent to the longitudinal end 30. The flap elastic member 60 is preferably secured to the side sheet flap 58 formed by the upper sheet-back sheet by the elastic attachment member 90. The elastically shrinkable gasket cuff 56 is thus formed by the side flap 58 and the flap elastic member 60. The gasket cuff has a body facing surface 57 oriented to face the wearer's skin when wearing a diaper, and a garment facing surface 59 positioned opposite the body facing surface 57. The blocking cuff 62 is shown as being formed by fixing the blocking cuff member 63, which is a separate element, to the top sheet 38, preferably between the flap elastic member 60 and the side flap of the absorbent core 44. have. The proximal end 64 of the blocking cuff 62 is formed by fixing the blocking cuff member 63 to the top sheet 38 by an adjacent fixing member 92. The spaced apart elastic member 76 is sealed in a tunnel formed when the blocking cuff member 63 itself is folded and the spaced apart elastic member 76 is fixed in the tunnel by the elastic attachment member 94. The distal end 66 of the blocking cuff is spaced apart from the body opposing surface 40 by the elastic collecting action of the spaced apart elastic member 76. The blocking cuff 62 is shown to inhibit, contain and retain body secretions until the diaper 20 is removed from the wearer. In FIG. 3 the body care composition 72 is shown to be disposed on the body facing surface of the ckekss cuff 62 (blocking cuff member 63) such that the skin care composition 72 can be delivered to the wearer's skin during use. have.

The diaper of the present invention may have a number of known arrangements with absorbent cores according to the present invention. Examples of such arrangements are described in US Pat. No. 3,860,003 to Buell, January 14, 1975; US Patent No. 5,151,092, issued to Buel et al. On September 29, 1992; US Patent No. 5,580,411 to Nease et al. On December 3, 1996; US Patent No. 5,569,232 to Roe et al. On October 29, 1996; And US Pat. No. 5,569,234, issued to Buel et al. On October 29, 1996. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference.

The chassis of the diaper is shown in the figure as including the main body portion (loading assembly) of the diaper. The chassis comprises at least an absorbent core and an outer covering layer, preferably comprising a top sheet and a back sheet. If the absorbent article includes separate supports and liners, the chassis generally includes the supports and the liners. [Ie, the chassis comprises one or more layers of material defining the support, but the liner comprises absorbent composites such as top sheets, back sheets and absorbent cores] In a single absorbent article, the chassis is added to form a composite diaper structure. And a main structure of a diaper having another aspect, so that the chassis for the diaper includes a top sheet, a back sheet and an absorbent core.

Top sheet 38 particularly suitable for use in diaper 20 is carded and thermally bonded by means well known to those skilled in the textile arts. Topsheets satisfactory to the invention include staple length polypropylene fibers of about 2.2 den. As used herein, the term “staple length fiber” means a fiber that is about 15.9 mm (0.625 in) in length. Preferably the top sheet has a reference weight of about 14 to about 25 g / m ² . Suitable topsheets are manufactured under the trade name P-8 by Veratec, Inc., a subsidiary of International Paper Company, Walpole, Massachusetts. Another preferred top sheet is a 22 g / m ² basis weight spinning bond sold under the trade name 9694 from Fiberweb North America, Inc. of Simpsonville, SC. It is a nonwoven web.

The top sheet 38 of the diaper 20 is preferably made of a hydrophilic material that promotes rapid delivery of liquids (eg, urine) through the top sheet. If the top sheet is made of a hydrophobic material, preferably at least the body facing surface of the top sheet, or a portion thereof, is hydrophobized to allow the liquid to be delivered more quickly through the top sheet. In this case, there is a possibility that the body secretion is absorbed through the upper sheet and flows out of the upper sheet rather than being absorbed by the absorbent core. The top sheet can be made hydrophilic by surfactant treatment. Suitable methods for treating the top sheet with a surfactant include spraying a surfactant onto the top sheet material and immersing the material in the surfactant. A more detailed discussion of such treatments and hydrophilicity is given to Rasing as US Patent No. 4,988,344, entitled “Absorbent Products with Multilayer Absorption Layers,” issued to Reising et al. On 29 January 1991 US Pat. No. 4,988,345, entitled "Absorbent Product with Rapidly Capture Absorbent Core," which is incorporated herein by reference.

In a particularly preferred embodiment described herein, the top sheet of absorbent article will also have a skin care composition disposed thereon. Examples of treated topsheets are described in US Pat. No. 5,643,588, entitled “Nappies with Lost Top Sheets,” issued to Low Bakes and Warner on July 1, 1991; The "Diaper with a Rosed Top Sheet Containing Polysiloxane Softener," issued to Rowe and Mackie on June 3, 1997, these patents are incorporated herein by reference. A method of bonsai of a skin care composition through repeated use of an absorbent article having the treated top sheet is described in US patent application entitled "Method of Maintaining or Promoting Skin Hygiene" filed by Elder et al. On September 10, 1997. 08 / 926,532 (P & G Case 6823); US Patent Application No. 08 / 926,533 (P & G Case 6822) entitled “Method for Enhancing Skin Condition”, filed Sept. 10, 1997, filed on September 10, 1997; And US patent application Ser. No. 08 / 908,852 to P & G Case 5494CR, filed by Row et al., Filed Aug. 8, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference. . As discussed herein, skin care compositions disposed on both the cuff and the top sheet will facilitate delivery of a greater amount of skin care composition to the skin in terms of surface area as compared to cuff only treatment. Moreover, the application of the two components may dispense a large amount of skin care composition to a given area of the wearer and / or dispense different dosage forms of skin care composition for different skin benefits.

In a preferred embodiment of the diaper described herein, the back sheet 42 has a modified sandpaper form that extends out of the absorbent core around the entire diaper. The back sheet is preferably a soft garment feel web laminate comprising an optionally perforated polymeric molded film and a nonwoven web. Such breathable backsheets are more fully described in US Pat. No. 5,571,096 to Doblin et al. On Nov. 5, 1996, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The absorbent core 44 may take a size or shape that is miscible with the diaper 20. One preferred embodiment of the diaper 20 has a modified T-shaped absorbent core 44 of symmetrical form that is ear shaped in the first waist region but generally rectangular in the second waist region. An example of an absorbent structure useful as the absorbent core of the present invention in which a wide range of tolerances and commercial successes is achieved is described in US Pat. ; US Pat. No. 4,673,402, entitled “Absorbent Product with Double Layer Core,” issued to Weissman et al. On June 16, 1987; U.S. Patent No. 4,888,231, entitled "Absorbent Kernel with Dusting Layer," to Angstadt, dated Dec. 19, 1989; European Patent Application No. 640 330 to The Procter & Gamble Co., published March 1, 1995; And US Pat. No. 4,834,735 entitled "High Density Absorbing Members with Low Density and Low Reference Weight Capture Regions, issued to Alemany et al. On May 30, 1989. Absorbent cores are further absorbent storage. Double core systems containing capture / distribution moieties of chemically stiffened fibers located above the cores. See US Pat. No. 5,234,423, entitled "Absorbent Article with Elastic Waist Feature and Enhanced Absorbency" issued to Alemany et al. , on August 10, 1993; and in US Patent 5,147,345, entitled "High Efficiency Absorbent Articles for Incontinence Manament" issued to Young, LaVon and Taylor on September 15, 1992. All these patents are incorporated herein by reference.

In a preferred embodiment, the diaper 20 includes a cuff each including a leg cuff comprising a blocking cuff 62 and / or a gasket cuff 56 to provide improved liquid and other body secretion loading capacity. Cuffs provide improved loading capacity of liquids and other secretions and can be configured in a number of different arrangements. The diaper 20 also includes a cuff that includes an elastic waist portion (not shown) and / or an elastic side panel (not shown) to provide a more consistent fit and more effective applicability of the diaper 20. can do. Such cuffs can also be treated with a skin care composition.

Each leg cuff may include several different aspects of reducing leakage of body secretions in the leg area. [Leg cuffs can sometimes be referred to as leg bands, side flaps, blocking cuffs, elastic leg cuffs, gasket cuffs, or elastic cuffs, or are referred to herein] US Pat. No. 3,860,003, incorporated herein by reference, discloses Disclosed is a disposable diaper that provides a retractable leg opening with at least one elastic member that provides a cuff (gasket cuff). US Pat. No. 4,909,803, entitled “Disposable Absorbing Products with Elastic Flap,” to Aziz et al., March 20, 1990, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a "stand that improves the loading capacity of the leg area. Disposable diapers with elastic up flaps (blocking cuffs) are described. “Absorbent product with double cuffs”, incorporated herein by reference on September 22, 1987, describes disposable diapers having double cuffs, including gasket cuffs and barrier cuffs. Where each leg cuff can be arranged to be similar to any of the leg bands, side flaps, blocking cuffs, or elastic cuffs, each leg cuff is a blocking cuff 62 and a gasket cuff 56 discussed in detail below. It is preferable to include.

Each leg cuff 62 has a proximal end 64, a distal end 66, a garment facing surface 68 (also referred to as an inner surface) and a body facing surface 70 (which is also referred to as an outer surface). Is also mentioned]. The garment facing surface 68 is oriented to the inside of the diaper and the body facing surface 70 is oriented to face the wearer's skin when the diaper is worn. The barrier cuff 62 can be made from various materials, such as polypropylene, polyester, rayon, nylon, foam, nonwovens, plastic film, molded film and elastic film or foam. Multiple manufacturing techniques can be used to make the blocking cuff. For example, the blocking cuff 62 can be woven, nonwoven, spunbond, spunbond-melt blow-spraybond, carded, coated, laminated. Preferred barrier cuffs 62 comprise a polypropylene material that does not contain a treating agent or surfactant that renders the liquid impermeable. Examples of polypropylene fiber nonwovens are made as Celestra by Crown Zellerbach Company. Particularly preferred nonwovens include carded nonwoven webs [PGI, Landesville, New Jersey; Trade name: 67700. The material may also be a nonwoven web provided under the trade name MD300A by Corbin GmbH, Paine, Germany. The hydrophobic skin care composition used in the present invention also allows the blocking cuff to be made from hydrophilic material and has a treated hydrophobic skin care composition that enhances the blocking properties.

1 and 3, the blocking cuff 62, and more preferably the proximal end 64, is disposed adjacent the inside of the longitudinal end 30 and preferably inside the casing cuff 56. do. The term “inside” is defined as the direction towards the centerline 34 or 36 of the diaper parallel to each of the ends of the diaper on which the particular gasket cuff is disposed. The blocking cuff 62 is disposed adjacent the gasket cuff 56 to provide a more effective double suppression action on the flow of body secretions. The blocking cuff 62 is preferably a block cuff 62 before secretion, especially loose stool material that is not readily absorbable and tends to float along the body facing surface 40, may come into contact with the gasket cuff 56. The inner side of the gasket cuff 56 to be in contact with. The blocking cuff 62 is more preferably disposed between the flap resilient member 60 of the gasket cuff 56 and the longitudinal centerline 36 of the diaper 20. Most preferably the blocking cuff 62 is disposed between the flap resilient member 60 and the side end 46 of the absorbent core 44 in the crotch region 26 of the diaper 20.

Proximal end 64 and distal end 66 are spaced apart from each other and define the width of blocking cuff 62. Adjacent and distal ends 64 and 66 may exist in parallel, non-parallel, straight or curved relationships, respectively. In addition, the blocking cuff 62 may have a variety of different intersecting zones, including a circle, square, rectangle or any shape as shown in FIG. 3. Preferably the proximal end 64 is spaced apart from the parallel and rectangular distal end 66 providing a uniform width blocking cuff 62.

The diaper 20 of the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is provided with a blocking cuff 62 coupled with the top sheet 38. The term "coupled" means securing the cuff cuff 62 to the diaper 20, which has a separate proximal end 64 having the cuff cuff 62 attached directly or indirectly to the top sheet 38. An aspect (bonded), or aspect cuff 62, which is an element of, is made from the same element or material as the upper sheet 38 such that the proximal end 64 is a continuous and undivided element of the upper sheet. ). The blocking cuff 62 may also be combined with the side flap 58, the back sheet 42, the absorbent core 44, the top sheet 38, or a combination of these or other elements of the diaper 20. In the preferred diaper 20, the blocking cuff 62 is coupled with the top sheet 38. The mating blocking cuff 62 is formed by a blocking cuff member 63 which is preferably a strip of material, which is fixed to the top sheet by an adjacent fixing member 92 and the distal end 66 is formed by the blocking cuff member ( 63) is formed by folding the ends.

The distal end 66 is preferably disposed inside the proximal end 64, which provides a more effective barrier to the flow of secretions. The distal end 66 is retained inside the proximal end 64 by the binding member 78 to prevent inversion. Distal end 66 may also be disposed in other positions relative to proximal end 64, although such a position is undesirable.

The distal end 66 is preferably not fixed with other elements at least in the crotch region 26 of the diaper 20 so as to be spaced apart from the body facing surface 40 of the top sheet 38. The distal end 66 is preferably spaced apart from the body facing surface 40 to enhance the load capacity of the product. The term “spaced apart” as used herein refers to one relative to the body facing surface of the top sheet 38 that includes an estimate of the location where the distal end 66 is often adjacent to the body facing surface 40 of the top sheet 38. It includes an aspect capable of estimating the above position. The distance between the distal end 66 to the body facing surface of the top sheet 38 is closest to the top sheet 38 from the distal end 66 when the peripheral end 66 is positioned to be as far away from the top sheet as possible. Measured along a line extending in part (ie, in a retracted position).

In addition to the blocking cuff, the leg cuff 56 of the present invention preferably further comprises a gasket cuff 56. Gasket cuffs 56 are disposed adjacent the periphery of the diaper 20, preferably along each longitudinal end 30 such that the gasket cuffs 56 tension to support the diaper 20 against the wearer's leg. do. Gasket cuff 56 may comprise a number of means well known in the diaper art, and particularly preferred gasket cuff structures include a flexible side flap 58 and a flap elastic member 60 (cf. 1975). US Patent No. 3,860,003, issued to Buell on January 14; Which is incorporated herein by reference]. Also suitable are methods and apparatus for making disposable diapers having elastic gasket cuffs 56, see U.S. Pat. Patent No. 4,081,301 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Continuously Attaching Discrete, Stretched Elastic Strands to Predetermined Isolated Portions of Disposable Absorbent Articles" which issued to Buell on Mar. 28, 1978; This document is incorporated herein by reference.

The side flap 58 must be highly flexible and therefore retractable so that the flap elastic member 60 can gather the side flap 58 providing the gasket cuff 56 around the wearer's leg or waist. The side flap 58 is preferably part of the diaper 20 between the periphery and the end of the absorbent core 44. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, the side flap 58 is a rear sheet along the side end 46 of the absorbent core 44 of the diaper 20 at least in the crotch region 26. And an extension of the top sheet 38. Further, as described in US Pat. No. 3,860,003, the side flap may be a separate member coupled to the chassis (top sheet, back sheet and / or absorbent core) or one of the components of the side flap may be a separate member. Can be.

The flap resilient member 60 is preferably capable of moving to the side flap 58 in elastically retractable conditions such that the flap resilient member 60 effectively retracts or gathers the flap 58 in an arrangement that is not normally maintained. (Fixed) The flap elastic member 60 may be secured to the side flap 58 in at least two ways under stretchable conditions. For example, the flap elastic member 60 can be stretched and secured to the side flap 58 while the side flap 58 is in an uncontracted state. In addition, the side flap 58 may be retracted, for example by pleating, and the flap elastic member 60 is secured to the retracted side flap 58 while in an unrelaxed or unstretched state. Gasket cuffs also include a number of different stretchable structures such as elastic nonwoven webs or foams; Stretch laminates described in US Pat. No. 5,151,092, incorporated herein by reference on September 29, 1992 to Buel et al .; And structural elastic films (SELFs) described in US Pat. No. 5,518,801, incorporated herein by reference on May 21, 1996 to Chapel et al.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the flap elastic member 60 essentially extends the entire length of the side flap 58 in the crotch region 26 of the diaper 20. In addition, the elastic member 60 may extend the entire length of the diaper 20 or another length suitable to provide a gasket cuff. The length of the flap elastic member 60 is defined by the diaper design.

In the diaper 20 of FIG. 3, the flap elastic member 60 is connected to the side flap 58 by fixing it to the side flap 58 with an elastic attachment member 90. The elastic attachment member 90 should be flexible and exhibit sufficient adhesion to support the flap elastic member in the stretched state. The elastic adhesive member 90 herein preferably comprises a high temperature melt adhesive [manufactured by ATO Findley Incorporated, Wauwatosa, Wis .; Trade name: Glue bead or spiral, manufactured by Findley 2511 or Findley H9254. It is recognized that conventional adhesives may not be compatible with all skin care compositions. In particular, some skin care compositions can degrade the bonds of adhesive bonds that produce elastic creep and / or poor binding capacity. An adhesive that has been found to be particularly effective at preventing creep of elasticity when a skin care composition is applied is Findley H9254. A more detailed description of how the flap resilient member 60 can be positioned and secured to the diaper 20 is described in US Pat. Discussed in US Pat. No. 4,081,301 to Buell, dated 28, which is incorporated herein by reference.

One flap elastic member 60, which has been found to be suitable, is made of natural rubber [Esthampton Rubber Thread Company of Stewart, Va; Trade name: L-1900 Rubber Compound. Other suitable flap elastic members 60 may be formed of natural rubber such as elastic tapes [Fulflex Company of Scotland, N.C .; Trade name: Fulflex 9211. An example of an elastic member is Lycra Strand, marketed under the trade name Licra-XA T-151 by DuPont Company, Weinsboro, Virginia. The flap elastic member 60 may also comprise a heat shrink elastic material known in the art. Other suitable flap elastic members 60 may include a wide range of materials that are well known in the art, including elastomeric films, lycra films or strands, polyurethane films, elastomeric foams, and molded elastic yarns. .

In addition, the flap elastic member 60 can take multiple arrangements. For example, the width of the flap elastic member 60 can vary from about 0.25 mm (0.01 in) to about 25 mm (1.0 in); Flap elastic member 60 may comprise a single strand of elastic member 60 or may comprise several parallel or non-parallel elastic materials; The flap elastic member 60 may be straight or curved. In addition, the flap elastic member 60 may be secured to the diaper 20 in several ways known in the art. For example, the flap elastic member 60 may be ultrasonically coupled into the diaper 20 using various bonding patterns and may be heat / pressurized, or the flap elastic member 60 may simply be adhered to the diaper 20. .

Cuff is also incorporated herein by reference to US Pat. US Patent No. 5,026,364 to Robertson, dated June 25, 1991; And elastic waists, such as elasticized waists (not shown), which can be configured in a number of different arrangements, including those described in US Pat. No. 5,151,092, issued September 29, 1992 to Buel et al. can do.

The cuff may further comprise an elastic side panel, which may consist of a number of arrangements in which the skin care composition has been treated. Examples of diapers having elastic side panels are described in the patent literature, U.S. Pat. Patent No. 4,857,067, issued to Wood, et al. on Aug. 15, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 4,381,781, issued to Sciaraffa, et al. on May 3, 1983; U.S. Patent No. 4,938,753, issued to Van Gompel, et al. on Jul. 3, 1990; U.S. Patent No. 5,151,092, issued to Buell et al. on Sept. 29, 1992; U.S. Patent No. 5,580,411 issued to Nease, et al. on December 3, 1996; U.S. Patent No. 5,669,897 issued to LaVon, et al. on September 23, 1997; and U.S. Patent No. 5,569,232 issued to Roe, et al. on October 29, 1996.

Embodiments of the cuff of the present invention also allow for pockets for receiving and retaining waste, spacers that provide space for waste, barriers to restrict movement of waste in the product, waste attached to diapers, and Similar to the above, or any combination thereof, in which the compartment or space to be retained and the skin care composition are placed. Examples of pockets and spacers for use in absorbent articles are shown in the following patents: US Pat. No. 5,514,121 to Roe et al., Entitled “Diaper Having Expulsive Spacer”; Grant date: May 7, 1996]; US Pat. No. 5,171,236 to Dryer et al., Entitled “Disposable Absorbent Article Having Core Spacers”; Date of grant: December 15, 1992]; US Patent No. 5,397,318 to the dryer [name of invention: "Absorbent Article Having A Pocket Cuff"; Grant date: March 14, 1995]; US Patent No. 5,540,671 to Dryers [name of invention: "Absorbent Article Having A Pocket Cuff With An Apex"; Grant date: 30 July 1996]; PCT Application WO 93/25172, entitled "Spacers For Use In Hygienic Absorbent Articles And Disposable Absorbent Articles Having Such Spacer": Publication Date: December 3, 1993; And Freeland, U.S. Patent 5,306,266, entitled "Flexible Spacers For Use In Disposable Absorbent Articles"; Authorization date April 26, 1994]. Examples of compartments or spaces are also shown in the following patents: US Pat. No. 4,968,312 to Khan, entitled “Disposable Fecal Comparmenting Diaper”; Grant date 6 November 1990]; Freeland, U.S. Patent 4,990,147, entitled "Absorbent Article With Elastic Liner For Waste Material Isolation"; Date of grant February 5, 1991]; Holt et al. US Pat. No. 5,062,840, entitled "Disposable Diapers"; No. 5, 1991, and US Pat. No. 5,269,755 to Freeland et al., Entitled “Trisection Topsheets For Disposable Absorbent Articles And Disposable Absorbent Articles Having Such Trisection Topsheets”; Authorization Date: December 14, 1993]. Examples of suitable transverse barriers are also given in the following patents: US Pat. No. 5,554,142 to Dryer et al., Entitled “Absorbent Article Having Multiple Effective Height Transverse Partition”; Date of grant, September 10, 1996; PCT Patent No. WO 94/14395 to Freeland et al., Entitled “Absorbent Article Having An Upstanding Transverse Partition”; Publication date: July 7, 1994] and US Pat. No. 5,653,703 to Roy et al., Entitled "Absorbent Article Having Angular Upstanding Transverse Partition; Grant Date: August 5, 1997." Hereby incorporated by reference.

Fastening system 54 may be exemplified by the following patents: US Pat. No. 4,846,815 to Scripps, issued July 11, 1989; Nestegard, US Pat. No. 4,894,060, issued January 16, 1990; US Pat. No. 4,946,527 to Batrell, dated Aug. 7, 1990; Buell, US Pat. No. 3,848,594, issued November 19, 1974; US Pat. No. 4,963,140 to Robertson et al., Issued Oct. 16, 1990; US Patent No. B1 4,662,875 to Hirotsu et al., Dated May 5, 1987; And US Pat. No. 5,151,092 to Buell et al., Issued Sep. 29, 1992; Each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Skin care compositions may be placed on one or more components of the fixation system to further enhance skin hygiene. For example, the skin protection compositions described herein can be placed on tapered steps to mitigate the action of tape steps that are swept and afflicted on the skin.

4 is a perspective view of the diaper 20 in an elastically retracted state before being placed on the wearer. The top sheet 38 is shown as part of the body facing surface of the diaper 20, and the back sheet 42 is disposed away from the wearer's body. Gasket cuff 56 is shown to be wrinkled or shrunk by the flap elastic member (not shown in FIG. 4). The diaper 20 is shown having two blocking cuffs 62 extending inward adjacent the gasket cuff 56. There is a distal end 66 that is pleated and retracted by a spaced apart elastic member (not shown) in the crotch region. In addition, the end 74 of the blocking cuff 62 is hermetically secured to provide comfort to the wearer, to prevent overturning of the blocking cuff and to facilitate application of the diaper. The skin protection composition 72 is placed on each body facing surface of the blocking cuff 62 (by applying to or moving to the body facing surface) so that the composition is delivered to the skin of the wearer and used herein. Provide the skin benefits discussed.

The diaper 20 places the rear waist region 24 under the wearer's back and pulls the remainder of the diaper 20 between the wearer's legs so that the front waist region 22 is positioned across the front of the person. Apply. Next, the end of the tape step fixing agent 54 is preferably fixed to the landing member 55 to seal the diaper 20. In this way, the blocking cuff 62 should be placed in the crotch region of the wearer and provide the arrangement and function described above. Once applied, the distal end 66 of the blocking cuff 62 extends through the wearer's groin and extends upward along both hips. The blocking cuff 62 does not surround the thigh of the wearer. However, gasket cuff 56 will surround the thigh and cause gasket action on the thigh. The blocking cuff 62 is in contact with the skin of the wearer and delivers the skin protective composition there to provide some or all of the benefits described herein.

Treated cuffs of the present invention are also useful for training pants or pull-on diapers. As used herein, the term "back training pants" refers to a disposable garment that has a side attachment and defines a waist hole and a leg hole. In the training pants, the wearer's legs are put in the leg hole, and the training pants are put around the lower body of the wearer and worn by the wearer. Suitable training pants are described in US Pat. No. 5,246,433 to Hasse et al., Dated September 21, 1993; US Patent No. 4,940,464 to Van Gompel et al., Issued July 10, 1990; And US Patent No. 5,092,861 to Nomura et al., Issued March 3, 1992, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The treated cuff of the present invention can also be applied to absorbent products that are "hybrid" or combinations of training pants and diapers (full-on diapers) (eg, from Buell and Carlin). US Patent No. 5,569,234, entitled "Disposable Pull-On Pant"; Grant Date; October 29, 1996, which is incorporated herein by reference).

Another disposable absorbent article in which the treated cuff of the present invention is useful is an incontinence product. The term "incontinence products" means pads, undergarments (pads placed in place by some types of hanging systems such as belts), inserts for absorbent products, and absorbent products, whether worn by adults or other incontinence For capacity boosters, briefs, bed pads, and the like. Suitable incontinence products are described in the following patents: US Pat. No. 4,253,461 to Strickland et al., Dated March 3, 1981; Buell's US Pat. Nos. 4,597,760 and 4,597,761; US Patent No. 4,704,115, mentioned above; US Patent No. 4,909,802 to Ahr et al .; US Pat. No. 4,964,860 to Gibson et al., Dated October 23, 1990; And PCT Publication No. WO 92/11830, published July 23, 1992 in the name of The Procter & Gamble Company, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

7 is a simplified partial fragmentary view of another preferred diaper structure of the present invention. The diaper 720 includes a body portion and a treated cuff coupled to the body portion. The body portion comprises (i) an outer covering layer comprising a portion of the top sheet 38 and a portion of the back sheet 42 and (ii) the absorbent core 44. The cuff includes a blocking cuff 762 and a gasket cuff 756, respectively. The blocking cuff 762 includes a separate blocking cuff member 763 having a flap portion 702 and a channel portion 704.

Attaching a portion of the blocking cuff portion 763 to the back sheet 42 adjacent the longitudinal end 30 of the diaper by a flap attachment member 88 such as an adhesive to form the flap portion 702; A leak resistant seal is formed by the flap attachment member 88, the flap portion 68, and the back sheet 42 to protect against leakage of liquid sucked along the top sheet 38. The flap portion 702 and the back sheet 42 define a flap 758 of the gasket cuff 756 and surround the flap elastic member 760. The flap resilient member 760 is secured to the side flap 785 formed by the resilient attachment member 90 as a flap site-back seat. As a result, the gasket cuff 756 is formed by the side flap 758 and the flap elastic member 760.

Channel portion 704 of blocking cuff 762 is adjacent flap portion 702 and has a proximal end 64 and a distal end 66. It is desirable to form the proximal end 64 inside the gasket cuff 756 by engaging a fragment of the blocking cuff member 763 with the back sheet 42 by a proximal fixation member 92, such as a mechanical / pressure coupling. And more preferably formed between the lateral end 46 and the flap elastic member 760 of the absorbent core to form a leak-resistant seal along the proximal end 64 for suction of liquid through the upper sheet 38. Provide a barrier and prevent liquid from being sucked into the end of the diaper 20 under the barrier cuff. The distal end 66 is preferably disposed inside the proximal end 64 and is not secured to any lower element of the diaper 20. As shown in FIG. 7, forming the distal end 66 by rolling up the end of the blocking cuff member 763 and fixing it to another piece of the blocking cuff member by the distal attachment member 96 to form a tunnel. desirable. In the tunnel there are spaced means, such as spaced elastic members 76; The spaced elastic member 76 is fixed to the blocking cuff 762 by the elastic attachment member 94. (In another embodiment, only the ends of the spaced apart elastic members are secured to the blocking cuff members to form a "tightening elastic portion" so that the middle piece of elastic portion "floats" in the tunnel. March 28, 1989 It is described in more detail in US Pat. No. 4,816,025 to Richardson, which is incorporated herein by reference.) Thus, the distal end 66 may be subjected to the pleating action of the spaced apart elastic member 77. This is separated from the body facing surface 40 of the upper sheet 38.

In the illustrated embodiment, the top sheet 38 is positioned adjacent the body facing surface of the absorbent core 44 and extends out of the lateral end 46 of the absorbent core 44 but terminates inside the distal end 64. (Alternatively, the top sheet extends outwards out the proximal end but terminates inside the topmost flap attachment member 88 to obtain the advantages of the structure.) A more detailed description of the cuff structure of this embodiment is herein incorporated by reference. Dragoo, cited in US Pat. No. 4,795,454, entitled "Absorbent Article Having Leakage-Resistant Dual Cuff, dated January 3, 1989".

The flap portion 702 is adjacent to the channel portion 704 and extends outwardly from the proximal end 64 of the channel portion 704 toward the longitudinal end 30, and preferably the longitudinal end 30. The flap 758 is formed from the extension of the back sheet 42 and the flap portion 702. The flap portion 702 is preferably a continuous piece of blocking cuff member 763, but the flap portion 702 can be formed from different pieces of material that adhere to the channel portion 704 of the blocking cuff 762. Thus, the flap portion 702 can have different physical properties, dimensions, and features than the channel portion 704. For example, the flap portion 702 need not be hydrophobic or extend outwardly to the longitudinal end 30. In addition, each blocking cuff 762 does not have a flap portion so that the flap portion can be omitted entirely. However, it is desirable that the flap area is hydrophobic, comfortable, soft to the touch, and does not irritate the wearer's skin because it contacts the wearer's leg when worn.

An effective amount of skin care composition is placed on the cuff to provide skin protection benefits to the wearer. In order to deliver the skin care composition to the wearer's skin when in use, it is desirable to place the skin care composition at the site of the cuff in contact with the wearer's skin. Thus, the skin care composition can be applied to both surfaces of the cuff or to one or both or part of both surfaces. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the skin care composition can be placed in the flap region 702, the channel region 704, or both. When the skin care composition is placed in both the flap site and the channel site, the combination of the skin care compositions disposed in each need not be the same. In fact, each skin care composition can have different formulations and physical properties to provide different benefits. For example, a first skin care composition that reduces diaper rash can be placed in the channel area while a second skin care composition that reduces skin irritation and / or soothes the skin can be placed in the flap area. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a first skin care composition 72 is applied to a channel site, preferably on a body facing surface; Applying a second skin care composition 72 'to the flap site, preferably on the body facing surface; A third skin care composition 72 "is applied on the topsheet, preferably on the body facing surface. The formulations of the individual skin care compositions need not be the same, but in certain embodiments, the combination of each skin care composition is the same. Each skin care composition is placed in an effective amount to deliver the skin care composition to the wearer's skin.

As shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable to place the skin protection composition in separate portions of the flap portion and the channel portion. More preferably, the skin care composition is applied in one or more strips, and most preferably, the strip (or strips) is arranged in an area overlapping the flap elastic member or the spaced elastic member. The first skin care composition 72 is preferably applied to the channel portion 704 in the form of a wide strip (about 1.4 inch) extending from the distal end 66 toward the proximal end 64. The length of the strip extends along the length portion of the spaced apart elastic member 76 (about 11.75 inches long), so that a portion of the blocking cuff member 763 adjacent the distal end of the spaced apart elastic member in the anterior waist region has a skin protection composition 72. Do not place). (See, eg, FIG. 1) A plurality of strips of second skin care composition 72 ′ are placed at the flap site 702.

The skin care composition may be applied to the body facing surface 57 or the garment facing surface 59 of the blocking cuff member 763. If applied to the garment facing side, the skin care composition preferably acts as a hydrophobic coating to help block the flow of urine and BM through the blocking cuff. The skin protection composition is also applied to be delivered or moved to the body facing surface of the blocking cuff member to be delivered to the wearer's skin to provide the skin protection benefits discussed herein.

The skin care composition can be placed on the top sheet to provide the same or different advantages as applied to the barrier cuff. Examples of skin protective compositions for topsheets are described in US Pat. No. 5,643,588 to Grant et al., Issued July 1, 1997, incorporated herein by reference.

8 is another alternative embodiment of the treated cuff of the present invention, in particular the breathable treated elastic leg cuff. As shown in FIG. 8, the diaper 820 is wrapped in an outer covering layer comprising an upper sheet 38 and a back sheet 42, and an outer covering layer, and preferably the upper sheet 38 and the back sheet 42. A body portion comprising an absorbent core 44 between them. Leg cuff 856 includes a side flap 858 and an elastic member 860. Leg cuff 856 is formed in a separate unit coupled to the body portion. In this particular aspect, the side flap 858 is coupled to two cuff members, namely the first cuff member 802 and the back sheet 42, which extend laterally outwardly from the top sheet 38. And a second cuff member 804 extending laterally outward therefrom. An elastic member 860 is contained within the first cuff member 802 and the second cuff member 804, which are operatively coupled to one or both of the cuff members to form a gasket cuff. In the particular embodiment shown, each cuff member is made of a material (air permeable or liquid impermeable) that resists passage of liquid but permits passage of vapor. In this particular aspect, the cuff members each comprise a nonwoven web; However, other breathable materials may be used, including perforated molded films. A more detailed description of leg cuffs is found in US Pat. No. 4,636,207 to Buel, January 13, 1987, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The skin care composition can be placed on the first cuff member, the second cuff member, or both. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the skin protection composition 872 is applied to the first cuff member 802, preferably to the body facing surface 802, so that when the leg cuff 856 contacts the wearer, Skin protective composition 872 can be readily delivered to the wearer's skin. It is preferred to apply the skin care composition in one or more strips, more preferably the strips (or strips) are arranged with an area covered by the elastic member. Alternatively, the skin care composition may be applied to the garment facing surface 808 or the second cuff member 804 of the first cuff member 802 to provide leg cuffs with reduced leakage, as well as through the material. It can be moved or transferred to the body facing surface 806 of the one cuff member 802 to provide the benefit of a skin care composition. Additionally, the skin care composition may be applied to the elastic member to deliver it to the body facing surface of the first cuff member. (In another embodiment, the second cuff member can be replaced by extending the back sheet away to the diaper end).

The breathability (vapor permeability) of the cuff allows for the exchange of vapors inside the diaper to reduce the relative humidity inside the diaper, thereby increasing most of the function of the skin care composition used in the present invention. Excessive relative humidity of the absorbent product, which occurs between the skin of the wearer and the absorbent product, can interfere with normal delivery of water vapor into and out of the skin. By providing an excess water transfer means (breathable cuff), the force to overhydrate is reduced. This force further increases the wearer's skin hygiene, in addition to the reduction in the relative humidity provided by the skin care composition of the present invention alone by allowing moisture adjacent the skin to be removed from the diaper. Disposable absorbent products are provided by Elder, which improves protection against skin overhydration with the skin protection composition provided on the top sheet, improves skin breathability as provided by improved breathability, and provides good liquid handling. Et al., Incorporated herein by U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 926,566, filed Sep. 10, 1997, entitled "Disposable Absorbent Articles Providing A Skin Condition Benefit" (P & G Case 6832Q), which is incorporated herein by reference. It was.

9 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention having separate side panel laminates, front side panel 902 and rear side panel 904 coupled to a body portion (holding assembly). The extensible rear side panel 904 has multidirectional stretches provided by the first side panel 906 and the second side panel 908 to provide separate deity along the waist and leg portions of the diaper 920. . Side panels and diapers are described in US Pat. No. 5,580,411 to Nease et al., Entitled “Zero Scrap Method for Manufacturing Side Panels for Absorbent Articles”; Grant Date: December 3, 1996] and US Patent Application No. 08 / 115,048 to Robles et al., Entitled “Absorbent Article With Multi-Directional Extensible Side Panels”; Application date: November 19, 1994]. The diaper 920 may have various treated cuffs and combinations thereof. The leg cuff of the diaper 920 includes a gasket cuff 956 of the body portion (holding assembly) and the leg end 910 of the second side panel 908 and the front side panel 902. The waist cuff includes an elastic waist band 912 of the body portion (holding assembly) and a waist end 914 of the first side panel 906 and the front side panel 902. In this embodiment, the skin care composition can be applied to the side panel or any portion thereof, to the gasket cuffs, to the elastic waist band, or to any combination thereof. For example, a skin care composition may be applied to the elastic waist band and applied to a portion of the waist end of each of the first side panel and the front side panel. The skin care composition can be placed on each leg cuff, including a piece of gasket cuff, a leg end of the second side panel and a leg end of the front side panel. Thus, the skin care composition can provide a therapeutic or protective coating on the wearer's leg. Alternatively, different combination skin care compositions can be placed in any combination or all cuffs of these cuffs. Additional skin care compositions can also be disposed on the top sheet 38 as disclosed herein. As shown in FIG. 10, the first skin protection composition 972 is placed on the first side panel 906 in several spiral strips, and the second skin protection composition 972 ′ is placed in multiple spiral strips. And the second skin protection composition 972 "is placed in the front side panel 902 in several spiral strips. Each skin protection composition may be the same or different formulations. Skin If the protective compositions have different formulations, then each particular skin protective composition can be formulated to provide unique skin protection benefits to different areas of the wearer.

10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another preferred diaper structure of the treated cuff disposed in the waist region of the diaper. In particular, the figure shows an integral waist cap / waist band. An exemplary embodiment of this unitary waistcap / waist band is described in US Pat. No. 5,026,364 to Robertson, June 25, 1991, which is incorporated herein by reference. (Note that the present invention is not limited to the integrated waist cap / waist band, but also the waist shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,515,595 to Kivit & Osterhage, issued May 7, 1985). Bands and waist caps as described in US Pat. No. 4,738,677 to Foreman, April 19, 1988 and US Pat. No. 4,743,246 to Lawson, May 10, 1988; These patents are incorporated herein by reference). The unitary waistcap / waist band 1002 is formed by a single piece of elastomeric material operatively associated with the diaper 1020. The outer portion 1004 operates with the waist flap 1058 in a state that is elastically retractable near the distal end 32 of the diaper 1020 by a waist band fixing member (not shown) such as ultrasonic coupling. Possibly coupled to form an elastic waist band 1056. The medial portion 1006 is in contact with the outer portion 1004 and has a proximal end 1064 and a distal end 1066. A fragment of the inner portion 1006 is joined to the waist flap 1058 (top sheet 38) by a proximal attachment member (not shown) such as an adhesive to the inside of the distal end 32 of the diaper 1020. Preferably, a proximal end 1064 of the inner portion 1006 is formed between the waist end 47 and the outer portion 1004 of the absorbent core 44 to form a seal along the proximal end 1064. The distal end 1066 is disposed inside the proximal end 1064, and in the figure shown, a portion of the inner portion 1006 is not secured to any lower element of the diaper 1020, in particular the top sheet 38, so that a portion of the inner portion 1006 is the top sheet. Waist cap 1062 (blocking cuff) can be formed away from body facing surface 40 of 38. In the illustrated embodiment, a single piece of material acts as both an elastic waist band 1056 and a waist cap 1062 (blocking cuff). This single piece of material is referred to herein as a unitary waistcap / waist band 1002. The waist band fits the diaper around the wearer to prevent leakage from the waist area, while the waist cap restricts, contains and retains secretions in the diaper. However, separate elements may form both the waist cap and the waist band.

In the illustrated embodiment, the skin care composition can be placed on the inner side, the outer side, or both. Thus, the skin care composition can be applied to a waist cap or waist band. The skin care composition may be applied to the body facing surface of the unitary waistcap / waist band to be brought into contact with the skin of the wearer during use. As shown in FIG. 10, the skin protection composition 1072 is preferably disposed in one or more strips on the body facing surface 1070 of the unitary waist cap / waist band 1002, more preferably, the waist cap ( 1062 and the distal end 1066 of the waist band 1056. In order to increase the hydrophobicity of the waistcap and provide a skin-protective composition that is deliverable to the skin, the skin-protective composition is easily applied to the skin of the wearer by transferring it to the body-facing surface by alternatively applying it to the garment facing surface. At the same time, it is possible to provide a hydrophobic coating material that prevents the passage of liquid. In addition, different blended skin care compositions can be applied to the inner area as compared to the outer area.

Another disposable absorbent product of the present invention is a feminine hygiene product such as a sanitary napkin. Suitable feminine hygiene products are described in the following patents: US Pat. No. 4,556,146 to Swanson et al., Issued December 3, 1985; US Patent No. B1 4,589,876 to Van Tilburg, issued April 27, 1993; Van Tilberg, US Patent No. 4,687,478, issued August 18, 1997; USborn 4,950,264 to Osborn, III, issued August 21, 1990; Osborne, III, US Pat. No. 5,009,653, issued April 23, 1991; Van Tilberg, U.S. Patent No. 5,267,992, issued December 7, 1993; US Patent No. 5,389,094 to Lavash et al., Issued Feb. 14, 1995; US Patent No. 5,413,568 to Rod et al., May 9, 1995; US Patent No. 5,460,623 to Emenaker et al. On October 24, 1995, issued October 24, 1995; Van Tilberg, US Patent No. 5,489,283, issued Feb. 6, 1996; US Patent No. 5,569,231 to Emmenaker et al., Dated October 29, 1996, and US Patent No. 5,620,430 to Bamber, dated April 15, 1997, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Cited.

FIG. 11 shows a fragmentary corona shape showing compartmentalized sanitary napkin 1120 having the treated cuff of the present invention in place of a wearer's panty 1102 during use. A more detailed description of sanitary napkins with blocking cuffs is found in US Pat. No. 5,649,917 to Roberts & Mancel, July 22, 1997, incorporated herein by reference. As shown in FIG. 11, sanitary napkin 1120 includes a top sheet 38, a back sheet 42, and a central absorbent pad 44 between the top sheet 38 and the back sheet 42. ; Flaps 1104 (commercially referred to as "wings" or "tabs") extending from each longitudinal end 1130 of the central absorbent pad (each flap 1104 may have one or more flexible axes, preferably When used with the first flexible shaft 1106 and the second flexible shaft 1108, the body of the pant 1102 can be moved to the flap 1104 where the elasticity of the panty 1102 is adjacent to the second flexible shaft 1108. And a diaphragm (preferably, in this embodiment, flap 1104) that binds comfortably to the proximal end 1164 and distal end (which contains body secretions). A processed cuff comprising a blocking cuff 1163 (blocking means) with 1166.

Skin protection composition 1172 is placed on each blocking cuff 1162 to provide skin protection benefits as described herein. The skin care composition may be applied to the entire cuff in the embodiment shown, to one of the cuff surfaces, or to any site, but the skin care composition is preferably applied to a portion of the body facing surface of the blocking cuff 1162. Preferably in one or more strips adjacent to distal end 1166. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, a second skin care composition 1172 ′ is also disposed on each flap 1104. A third skin protection composition 1172 " is disposed on the top sheet. A portion of the flap that contacts the wearer during use of the second skin protection composition 1172 'disposed on the flap 1104, typically a second one. It is desirable to place a portion of the flap adjacent to the flexible axis 1108. A second skin care composition 1172 'is placed between the first flexible axis 1106 and the second flexible axis 1108 and And / or between the second flexible shaft 1108 and the distal end 1110 of the flap or both. The skin protection compositions disposed on the top sheet, the flap and the blocking cuff may have the same formulation.

B. Skin Protection Compositions

Certain skin care composition (s) delivered in accordance with the present invention (herein referred to herein as "skin protection compositions" and "compositions") are important factors in providing the desired skin effect, but skin care compositions are known to prevent skin overhydration. Protective non- occlusive functions (eg, relatively liquid impermeable or vapor permeable barriers) to reduce and avoid skin exposure to substances contained in body secretions; Providing a wear minimization function that reduces skin irritation in areas where the cuff contacts the skin of the wearer; Or it contains substances which directly or indirectly provide skin protection benefits. For example, further elimination of skin irritants such as feces or urine is an indirect benefit. The composition may be in various forms including, but not limited to, emulsions, lotions, creams, ointments, plasters, powders, suspensions, capsules, gels, and the like.

As used herein, the term "effective amount of skin protective composition" refers to the wear between cuff and skin at the area where the cuff contacts the wearer's skin when applied or delivered ("placement") to the body facing surface of the cuff. Reducing the amount of the particular composition effective to provide a protective barrier or to deliver skin protection benefits when delivered via cuffs and / or to reduce the adhesion of BM to the skin. Unless stated otherwise, the description relating to placing the skin care composition on the cuff shown in the preferred embodiment above will also be cited in the composition placed on the top sheet. Of course, the effective amount of the composition applied to the cuff will vary greatly depending on the specific skin care composition used. Nevertheless, the amount of skin care composition disposed on at least a portion of the body facing surface of the cuff is preferably from about 0.05 mg / in ² (0.0078 mg / cm ² ) to about 80 mg / in ² (12 mg / cm ² ) , More preferably about 1 mg / in ² (0.16 mg / cm ² ) to about 40 mg / in ² (6 mg / cm ² ), more preferably about 4 mg / in ² (0.6 mg / cm ²⁾ ) To about 26 mg / in ² (4 mg / cm ² ). These ranges are shown for illustrative purposes only, and those skilled in the art will determine the amount to be placed in order to obtain the desired skin benefit by the nature of the composition, which amount is determined by routine experimentation based on the teachings herein. You will recognize that you can get it.

The amount of skin care composition disposed on the cuff is an important feature of the present invention, but the amount of composition delivered to the wearer's skin during the use of one or more of the treated cuffs is more important. The amount delivered to the skin to provide the desired skin benefit will vary to some extent depending on the nature of the composition used. Applicants have found that they can deliver relatively small amounts while still providing the desired skin effect. This is particularly true of preferred compositions as described in the Examples.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the skin protection composition is applied slowly to provide the required composition in small or effective amounts. This is in contrast to sporadic application, which is typical for skin protectants which often apply a material in excess of the required amount. Excess material added by hand from the skin to the product may adversely affect the fluid handling properties of the absorbent product. In fact, for certain substances, such as waselin, the amount applied by hand actually clogs and soils the skin. An advantage of the present invention is to provide a barrier against surface moisture (ie, to maintain skin breathability) while avoiding blockage of the skin. Thus, the present invention delivers the optimal amount of composition to the skin to maintain and / or improve skin hygiene.

In skin care compositions delivered to the wearer while wearing one treated absorbent article for about 3 hours (typical wear time), in particular preferred skin care compositions such as those described in Example 1, preferably about 0.01 mg / in of the composition ^{At least 2} (0.0016 mg / cm ² ), more preferably at least about 0.05 mg / in ² (0.0078 mg / cm ² ), and even more preferably at least about 0.1 mg / in ² (0.016 mg / cm ² ) It is delivered to the skin during the wearing period of time. Typically, the amount of the composition delivered by one treated product for at least 3 hours of wear is between about 0.01 mg / in ² (0.0016 mg / cm ² ) to about 8 mg / in ² (1.24 mg / cm ² ), more Preferably from about 0.05 mg / in ² (0.0078 mg / cm ² ) to about 6 mg / in ² (0.93 mg / cm ² ), further preferably from about 0.1 mg / in ² (0.016 mg / cm ² ) to about 5 mg / in ² (0.78 mg / cm ² ).

Among the many materials useful in skin care compositions delivered to the skin in accordance with the present invention, materials considered to be safe and effective skin care agents will be considered essential materials herein. These substances include Class I activators as defined in the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration's Temporary Final Monograph (21 CFR §347) for OTC Human Skin Protection Drugs (OTC), Class I Active agents currently include the following materials: allantoin, aluminum hydroxide gels, calamine, cocoa butter, dimethicone, cod liver oil (combination), glycerin, kaolin, waselin, lanolin, mineral oil, shark liver oil, white waselin, talc Topical starch, zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, etc. Other potentially useful substances include Class III activators as defined in the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration's Temporary Final Monograph (21 CFR §347) for OTC Human Skin Protection Drugs, which currently include: Raw yeast cell derivatives, aldioxa, aluminum acetate, microporous cellulose, cholecalciferol, colloidal oatmeal, cysteine hydrochloride, dexpantanol, berubin balsam oil, protein hydrolysates, racemic methionine, sodium bicarbonate, Vitamin A and the like. One or more of these optional materials can be used in combination with other components as disclosed herein.

As described below, the skin care compositions useful in the present invention are relatively fixed at room temperature and are localized on the wearer's contact surface (body facing surface) of the cuff and at least a portion of the composition is delivered to the wearer at body temperature but is not completely liquid under extreme storage conditions. It is not necessary, but desirable, to have a melt profile. It is desirable to easily deliver the composition to the skin by normal contact, wearer movement and / or body heat. Since the composition is substantially secured to the wearer's contact surface of the cuff, a relatively small amount of skin protection composition is needed to provide the desired skin protection benefit. In addition, special barriers or cover materials are unnecessary when packaging absorbent articles useful in the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the skin care compositions useful in the present invention are solid or even semi-solid at 20 ° C., ie ambient temperature. "Semi-solid" means that the composition has a fluidic typical of pseudoplastic or plastic liquids. When no shear force is applied, the composition has a semisolid appearance but can flow when increasing the shear rate. This is due to the fact that the composition mainly contains solid components, but also contains some small amounts of liquid components.

Preferably, the composition of the present invention has a zero point shear viscosity of about 1.0 × 10 ⁶ centipoises to about 1.0 × 10 ⁸ centipoises. More preferably, the zero point shear rate is about 5.0 × 10 ⁶ centipoises to about 5.0 × 10 ⁷ centipoises. As used herein, the term "zero point shear viscosity" refers to a very low shear rate (e.g., using a plate cone viscometer (available under model number CSL 100 from TA Instruments, New Castle, Delaware). 1.0 sec ^-1 ). One skilled in the art can use a means other than a high melting point component (discussed below) to provide a comparable viscosity measured in the composition, which means that a plot of viscosity versus shear rate of the composition is about 20 It can be measured by extrapolating to a shear rate of zero at a temperature of < RTI ID = 0.0 >

Preferred compositions are at least semisolid at room temperature to minimize migration of the composition. In addition, the compositions preferably have a final melting point (100% liquid) above potential "stress" storage conditions (eg, warehouses in Arizona, car trunks in Florida, etc.) that may be above 45 ° C. Specifically, the preferred composition will have the following melt profile:

Preferred compositions are solid or semisolid at ambient temperature, and therefore do not tend to flow and do not migrate to a desired portion of the absorbent article to a significant extent. This means less skin protection compositions are needed to provide the desired treatment, protection and / or coordination benefits.

In order to increase the fixability of the desired composition, the viscosity of the blended composition should be as high as possible to prevent the composition from flowing from the cuff to the unwanted area of the diaper. Unfortunately, in some instances, higher viscosity may prevent the composition from being delivered to the skin of the wearer or may be difficult to apply without processing problems. Therefore, the viscosity should be balanced so as to be high enough to maintain the ubiquitous composition on the body facing surface of the cuff, but not so high as to interfere with delivery to the wearer's skin. Suitable viscosities of the compositions are typically about 1 to about 5000 centipoise, preferably measured at 60 ° C. using a rotational viscometer (a suitable viscometer can be obtained as model 4537 from Labline Instruments, Melrose Park, Ill.) Will be in the range of about 5 to about 3000 centipoise, more preferably about 5 to 100 centipoise. The viscometer is operated using spindle 2 at 60 rpm.

In compositions designed to provide skin protection benefits, the active ingredient useful in this composition is one or more skin protectants or emollients. As used herein, the term "softener" refers to a substance that protects against dampness or irritation, softens, softens, softens, coats, lubricates, moisturizes, protects and / or cleanses the skin. . (The various active agents listed above are used herein as "softeners.") In a preferred embodiment, these softeners will have a plastic or liquid consistency at ambient temperature, i.

Representative softeners useful in the present invention include petroleum softeners; Sucrose ester fatty acids; Polyethylene glycols and derivatives thereof; Wetting agents; Fatty acid ester types; Alkyl ethoxylate type; Fatty acid ester ethoxylates; Fatty alcohol type; Polysiloxane type; Propylene glycol and its derivatives; Glycerin derivatives including glycerin and glycerides, acetoglycerides, and ethoxylated glycerides of C ₁₂ -C ₂₈ fatty acids; Triethylene glycol and its derivatives; Spermaceti or other waxes; fatty acid; Fatty alcohol ethers; Especially those having from 12 to 28 carbon atoms in the fatty chain, for example stearic acid; Propoxylated fatty alcohols; Other fatty esters of polyhydric alcohols; Lanolin and its derivatives; Kaolin and its derivatives; One of the skin protectants listed above; Or mixtures of these softeners.

Suitable petroleum softeners include hydrocarbons having a chain length of 16 to 32 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof. Petroleum hydrocarbons having such a chain length include mineral oil (also known as "liquid waselin") and waselin (also known as "mineral wax", "waselin jelly" and "mineral jelly"). Mineral oil usually refers to a less viscous hydrocarbon mixture having 16 to 20 carbon atoms. Waselin is usually a mixture of highly viscous hydrocarbons having 16 to 32 carbon atoms. Waselin and mineral oil are particularly preferred emollients in the compositions of the present invention.

Suitable fatty acid ester softeners include those derived from C ₁₂ -C ₂₈ fatty acids, preferably C ₁₆ -C ₂₂ saturated fatty acids and short-chain (C ₁ -C ₈ , preferably C ₁ -C ₃ ) monohydric alcohols. . Representative examples of these esters are methyl palmitate, methyl stearate, isopropyl laurate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, ethylhexyl palmitate and mixtures thereof. Suitable fatty acid ester softeners are also derived from long chain fatty alcohols (C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ , preferably C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ ) and esters of short chain fatty acids such as lactic acid, such as lauryl lactate and cetyl lactate. Can be.

Suitable alkyl ethoxylate-type emollients include C ₁₂ -C ₂₂ fatty alcohol ethoxylates having an average degree of ethoxylation of about 2 to about 30. Preferably, the fatty alcohol ethoxylate emollient is selected from the group consisting of lauryl, cetyl and stearyl ethoxylates and mixtures thereof having an average degree of ethoxylation of about 2 to about 23. Representative examples of this alkyl ethoxylate include laureth-3 (lauryl ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 3), laureth-23 (lauryl ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of 23) and ceteth-10 (Cetyl alcohol ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation) and steareth-10 (stearyl alcohol ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation). In use, these alkyl ethoxylate softeners may comprise a weight ratio of petroleum softener, such as waseline, and alkyl ethoxylate softener to petroleum softener, from about 1: 1 to about 1: 5, preferably from about 1: 2 to about 1: 4. It is typical to use in combination.

Suitable fatty alcohol type softeners are C ₁₂ -C ₂₂ fatty alcohols, preferably C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohols. Representative examples include cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. If used, these fatty alcohol softeners are used in combination with petroleum softeners (e.g., wasselin), where the weight ratio of fatty alcohol softener to petroleum softener is from about 1: 1 to about 1: 5, preferably from about 1: 1 to A range of about 1: 2 is typical.

Other softener types suitable for use herein are polysiloxane compounds. In general, polysiloxane materials suitable for use in the present invention include those having monomeric siloxane units of the formula:

Wherein R ¹ and R ² in each independent siloxane monomeric unit may each independently be hydrogen or any alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, halogenated hydrocarbon or other radical Can be. Any of the radicals may be unsubstituted or substituted. The R ¹ and R ² radicals of any particular monomeric unit may then differ from the corresponding functional groups of the adjacent monomeric units. In addition, the polysiloxanes may be either straight, branched, or have a cyclic structure. The radicals R ¹ and R ² may further independently be other silicic functional groups such as, but not limited to, siloxanes, polysiloxanes, silanes and polysilanes. The radicals R ¹ and R ² may contain various organic functional groups including, for example, alcohol, carboxylic acid, phenyl and amine functionalities.

Alkyl radicals include, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, octadecyl and the like. Alkenyl radicals include vinyl, allyl, and the like. Aryl radicals include phenyl, diphenyl, naphthyl and the like. Alkaryl radicals include toyl, xylyl, ethylphenyl and the like. Aralkyl radicals include benzyl, alpha-phenylethyl, beta-phenylethyl, alpha-phenylbutyl and the like. Cycloalkyl include cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl. Halogenated hydrocarbon radicals include chloromethyl, bromoethyl, tetrafluoroethyl, fluoroethyl, trifluoroethyl, trifluorotoyl, hexafluoroxyl, and the like.

The viscosity of the useful polysiloxanes can vary widely as long as the viscosity of the polysiloxane generally changes as much as it can flow or flow for application in absorbent articles. This includes, but is not limited to, viscosities as low as 5 centistokes (as measured by a glass viscometer at 37 ° C.) to 20,000,000 centistokes. Preferably, the polysiloxane has a viscosity at 37 ° C. of about 5 to about 5,000 centistokes, more preferably about 5 to about 2,000 centistokes, most preferably about 100 to about 1000 centistokes. High viscosity polysiloxanes that are resistant to flow can be effectively placed in absorbent articles in the same manner as emulsifying polysiloxanes in surfactants or providing polysiloxanes in solution with the help of solvents such as hexane listed for illustrative purposes only. Specific methods of applying polysiloxane softeners to absorbent articles are discussed in more detail below.

Preferred polysiloxane compounds for use in the present invention are described in US Pat. No. 5,059,282 to Ampulski et al, dated Oct. 22, 1991. Particularly preferred polysiloxane compounds for use as emollients in the compositions of the present invention include phenyl-functional polymethylsiloxane compounds (e.g., Dow Corning 556 Cosmetic Fluid: Polyphenylmethylsiloxane) and cetyl or stearyl functionalized dimethicone, Examples include Dow 2502 and Dow 2503 polysiloxane liquids, respectively. In addition to substitution with phenyl-functional groups or alkyl groups, it can be effectively substituted with amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl, ether, polyether, aldehyde, ketone, amide, ester and thiol groups. Among these effective substitution groups, groups comprising phenyl, amino, alkyl, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups are preferred over others; Most preferred are phenyl functional groups.

Suitable wetting agents include glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, trivalent stearin and the like.

If present, the amount of emollient that can be included in the composition will vary depending on several factors including the particular emollient involved, the desired skin benefit, other components of the composition, and similar factors. The composition will comprise from 0 to about 100% by weight softener based on the total weight. Preferably, the composition will comprise about 10 to 95 weight percent, more preferably about 20 to about 80 weight percent, and most preferably about 40 to about 75 weight percent of emollient.

Another optional or particularly important component of certain skin care compositions useful in the present invention include materials that can fix the composition in the treated cuff or in a desired place on the cuff (preferably emollient and / or other skin conditioning / protective agents). Is). Certain emollients of the preferred emollients in the composition tend to flow or migrate even when applied to a suitable shear because they have a plastic or liquid consistency at 20 ° C. When applied to the body facing surface of the cuff or elsewhere in the molten or dissolved state, the softener will not remain primarily in or on the treated area. Instead, the softener will be likely to migrate and flow into unwanted areas of the absorbent product.

Specifically, if the emollients migrate to the inside of the product, the hydrophobic nature of many of the emollients and other skin conditioning agents used in the compositions useful in the present invention can cause undesirable effects on the absorbency of the absorbent core. This fact also means that much larger amounts of emollient must be applied to the cuff to obtain the desired benefit. Increasing the amount of softener not only increases the cost, but also has an undesirable effect on the absorbency of the core upon processing / conversion of the treated cuff and worsens the unwanted migration of the composition.

Immobilizers offset the tendency for the softener to migrate or flow by predominantly localizing the softener in the region of the cuff to which the composition is applied or on the cuff surface. This is believed to be due in part to the fact that the immobilizing agent raises the melting point and / or viscosity of the composition above the melting point and / or viscosity of the softener. Since the immobilizing agent is preferably mixed with the softening agent or dissolved or dispersed in the softening agent with the aid of an appropriate emulsifier, the softening agent is captured on the surface of the wearer's contact surface of the cuff or in the area where the softening agent is applied.

It is also advantageous to "confine" the fixative in the wearer contact surface of the cuff or in the region where the softener is applied. The immobilizing agent can be confined by the use of a rapidly hardening (ie solidifying) immobilizing agent when applied to the cuff. In addition, the treated cuff using an blower, a fan, a cooling roll, or the like can be cooled externally to accelerate the crystallization of the immobilizing agent.

In addition to the nature of the immobilizing agent (or dissolution in the softener), the immobilizing agent will preferably have a melt profile that provides a composition that is solid or semisolid at ambient temperature. In this regard, preferred fixatives will have a melting point of about 35 ° C. or higher. As a result, the fixative itself does not tend to move or flow. Preferred fixatives will have a melting point of about 40 ° C. or higher. Typically, the fixative will have a fixative in the range of about 50 ° C to about 150 ° C.

When used, the fixatives useful herein can be selected from a number of fixatives so long as the skin benefits described herein are provided by the desirable properties of the skin care composition. Preferred fixatives will include members selected from the group consisting of C ₁₄ -C ₂₂ fatty alcohols, C ₁₂ -C ₂₂ fatty acids and C ₁₂ -C ₂₂ fatty alcohol ethoxylates having an average degree of ethoxylation of 2 to about 30. Preferred fixatives include C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohols, most preferably crystalline high melt materials selected from the group consisting of cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol and mixtures thereof. (The linear structure of this material can promote solidification in the treated cuff). A mixture of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol is particularly preferred. Other preferred fixatives are selected from the group consisting of C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ fatty acids, most preferably palmitic acid, stearic acid and mixtures thereof. Particular preference is given to mixtures of palmitic acid and stearic acid. Still other preferred immobilizing agents are C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohol ethoxylates having an average degree of ethoxylation of about 5 to about 20. Preferably, the fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty alcohols are linear. Importantly, these preferred fixatives, such as C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohols, increase the crystallization rate of the composition to rapidly crystallize the composition on the substrate surface.

Other types of fixatives that can be used herein include polyhydric fatty acid esters, polyhydric fatty acid amides, and mixtures thereof. Preferred esters and amides will have three or more hydroxy groups on the multivalent component and typically have nonionic properties. Due to skin sensitivity issues that may arise from using the cuff to which the composition is applied, these esters and amides should also be relatively mild to the skin and non-irritating.

Suitable polyhydric fatty acid esters for use in the present invention will have the formula:

Wherein R is a C ₅ -C ₃₁ hydrocarbyl group, preferably straight chain C ₇ -C ₁₉ alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight chain C ₉ -C ₁₇ alkyl or alkenyl, most preferably straight chain C ₁₁ -C ₁₇ alkyl or alkenyl, or mixtures thereof; Y is a polyhydric hydrocarbyl component having a hydrocarbyl chain in which at least two free hydroxyls are bonded directly to the chain; n is 1 or more.

Suitable Y groups include polyols such as glycerol, pentaerythritol; Sugars such as raffinose, maltodextrose, galactose, sucrose, glucose, xylose, fructose, maltose, mannose and erythrose; Sugar alcohols such as erythritol, xylitol, malitol, mannitol and sorbitol; And anhydrides of sugar alcohols such as sorbitan.

One class of suitable polyhydric fatty acid esters that may be used in the present invention include certain sorbitan esters, preferably sorbitan esters of C ₁₆ -C ₂₂ saturated fatty acids. By their typical manner of preparation, these sorbitan esters typically comprise a mixture of esters such as mono-, di-, tri- and the like. Representative examples of suitable sorbitan esters are one or more mono-, di- and tri-ester variants of sorbitan esters, for example sorbitan mono-, di- and tri-palmitate, sorbitan mono-, di- and tri Sorbitan palmitate (eg SPAN 40), sorbitan stearate (eg SPAN 60) and sorbitan behenate, including stearate, sorbitan mono-, di and tri-behenate Mixed tallow fatty acid sorbitan mono-, di- and tri-esters. Mixtures of different sorbitan esters can also be used, such as a mixture of sorbitan palmitate and sorbitan stearate. Particularly preferred sorbitan esters are typically marketed under the trademark GLYCOMUL-S by Solbitan Stearate and Lonza, Inc., such as mixtures of mono-, di- and tri-esters (+ some tetraesters) such as SPAN 60. There is sorbitan stearate. These sorbitan esters typically include mixtures of mono-, di- and tri-esters plus some tetraesters, but mono- and di-esters are commonly used as the main component in these mixtures.

Another class of polyhydric fatty acid esters suitable for use in the present invention are certain glyceryl monoesters, preferably C ₁₆ -C ₂₂ saturated fatty acids such as glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl monopalmitate, and glyceryl monobehenate Glyceryl monoesters. Like sorbitan esters, glyceryl monoester mixtures will typically contain some di- and triesters. However, these mixtures should mainly contain glyceryl monoester species that would be useful in the present invention.

Another class of polyhydric fatty acid esters suitable for use in the present invention include certain fatty acid esters, preferably C ₁₂ -C ₂₂ saturated fatty acid esters of sucrose. Sucrose monoesters and diesters are particularly preferred, and sucrose mono- and di-stearates and sucrose mono- and di-laurates are included.

Suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid amides for use in the present invention will have the formula:

Where

R ¹ is H, C ₁ -C ₄ hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, methoxyethyl, methoxypropyl or mixtures thereof, preferably C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, methoxy Ethyl or methoxypropyl, more preferably C ₁ -C ₂ alkyl or methoxypropyl, most preferably C ₁ alkyl (ie methyl) or methoxypropyl;

R ² is a C ₅ -C ₃₁ hydrocarbyl group, preferably straight chain C ₇ -C ₁₉ alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight chain C ₉ -C ₁₇ alkyl or alkenyl, most preferably straight chain C ₁₁ -C ₁₇ alkyl or alkenyl, or mixtures thereof;

Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl residue having a linear hydrocarbyl chain to which at least three hydroxyls are directly linked.

See US Pat. No. 5,174,927, incorporated herein by reference on December 29, 1992, to which these polyhydroxy fatty acid amides and methods of making them are disclosed.

The Z moiety will preferably be derived from a reducing sugar, most preferably glycidyl, in a reductive amination reaction. Suitable reducing sugars are glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose and xylose. In addition to the individual sugars described above, high dextrose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and high maltose corn syrup can be used. Such corn syrup may provide a mixture of sugar components corresponding to the Z residue.

The Z moiety is preferably -CH _2- (CHOH) _n -CH ₂ OH, -CH (CH ₂ OH)-[(CHOH) _n-1 ] -CH ₂ OH, -CH ₂ OH-CH _2- (CHOH ) ₂ (CHOR ³ ) (CHOH) —CH ₂ OH, wherein n is an integer from 3 to 5 and R ³ is H or a cyclic or aliphatic monosaccharide. Most preferred are glycidyl, in which n is 4, in particular -CH _2- (CHOH) ₄ -CH ₂ OH.

Wherein R ¹ is, for example, N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl, N-isopropyl, N-butyl, N-2-hydroxyethyl, N-methoxypropyl or N-2-hydroxy Oxypropyl. R ² may be selected to provide, for example, cokeamide, stearamide, oleamide, lauamide, myristicamide, capricamide, palmitamide, tallowamide and the like. Z residues are 1-deoxyglucityl, 2-deoxyfructitil, 1-deoxymaltyl, 1-deoxylactyl, 1-deoxygalactityl, 1-deoxymannityl, 1-deoxymalto Triotityl and the like.

Most preferred polyhydroxy fatty acid amides have the general formula:

Where

R ¹ is methyl or methoxypropyl;

R ² is a C ₁₁ -C ₁₇ straight chain alkyl or alkenyl group.

These are N-lauryl-N-methyl glucamide, N-lauryl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, N-cocoyl-N-methyl glucamide, N-cocoyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, N -Palmityl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, N-tallowyl-N-methyl glucamide or N-tallowyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide.

As mentioned above, some fixatives may require emulsifiers to solubilize in the softener. This is especially the case for certain glucamides, such as N-alkyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, having an HLB value of about 7 or more. Suitable emulsifiers typically include those having an HLB value of less than about 7. In this regard, it has been found that the aforementioned sorbitan esters, such as sorbitan stearate, having an HLB value of about 4.9 or less are useful for solubilizing the glucamide immobilizing agent in waseline. Other suitable emulsifiers include stearet- ₂ (polyethylene glycol ether of stearyl alcohol according to formula CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₁₇ (OCH ₂ CH ₂ ) _n OH, wherein n is on average 2), sorbitan tri Stearates, isosorbide laurate and glyceryl monostearate. Emulsifiers may be included in an amount sufficient to solubilize the immobilizing agent in the softener so that a substantially homogeneous mixture is obtained. For example, about a 1: 1 mixture of N-cocoyl-N-methyl glucamide and waseline, which generally does not melt in a single phase mixture, is a 1: 1 mixture of stearet-2 and sorbitan tristearate as an emulsifier It will melt into a single phase mixture when 20% is added.

Other types of ingredients that may be used alone or in combination with the above-mentioned immobilizing agents include carnauba, ozokerite, beeswax, candelilla, paraffin, ceresin, esparto, uricuri, rezowax, iso Paraffins, and other known waxes such as waxes from the ground and broad waxes. The high melting point of these materials can help the composition to be immobilized at the desired surface or location of the cuff. Microcrystalline waxes are also effective fixatives. Microcrystalline wax may help to "fix" low molecular weight hydrocarbons into the skin care composition. Preferably the wax is paraffin wax. Another particularly preferred immobilizing agent is a paraffin wax such as Paraffin S. P. 434 of Strhl and Pitsch Inc., West Babylon Piobox 1098, 11704, New York, USA.

The amount of optional immobilizing agent that may be included in the composition is related to the active substance (e.g., softener) involved, the particular immobilizing agent involved, other components in the composition, if any, whether emulsifier is required to solubilize the immobilizing agent to the other components. And many other factors. If present, the composition will typically comprise about 5 to about 90% of an immobilizing agent. Preferably, the composition will comprise about 5% to about 50%, most preferably about 10% to 40%, of an immobilizing agent.

The composition may typically include other components in the form of emulsions, creams, ointments, lotions, powders, suspensions and the like. These ingredients include water, viscosity modifiers, fragrances, antiseptic antimicrobials, antivirals, vitamins, pharmaceutical actives, film formers, aloe vera, deodorants, opacifiers, astringents, solvents, and preservatives. In addition, stabilizers such as cellulose derivatives, proteins and lecithin can be added to improve the shelf life of the composition. All these materials are known in the art as additives for such formulations and can be used in amounts suitable for the compositions used herein.

If water-based skin care compositions are used, preservatives will be needed. Suitable preservatives include propyl paraben, methyl paraben, benzyl alcohol, benzylconium, tribasic calcium phosphate, BHT or acids such as citric acid, tartaric acid, maleic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, benzoic acid, salicylic acid and the like. Suitable viscosity increasing agents include several reagents described as effective fixatives. Other suitable viscosity increasing agents include alkyl galactomannan, silica, talc, magnesium silicate, sorbitol, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium aluminum silicate, zinc stearate, wool wax alcohol, sorbitol, sesquinoliate, cetyl hydroxy ethyl cellulose And other modified celluloses. Suitable solvents include propylene glycol, glycerin, cyclomethicone, polyethylene glycol, hexylene glycol, diols and polyhydroxy solvents. Suitable vitamins include vitamin A, vitamin D-3, vitamin E, vitamin B-5 and vitamin E acetate.

C. How to Apply Skin Protection Composition to Cuffs (or Other Webs)

In preparing a cuff product treated according to the invention, the skin protective composition is preferably applied to the body facing surface (ie the wearer contact surface) of the cuff. However, certain skin care compositions disclosed herein may penetrate or migrate through some of the cuff materials disclosed herein, such that the skin care composition may alternatively be applied to the garment facing surface of the cuff so that an effective amount of the skin care composition is located on the body facing surface. It may also be applied. In fact, in some situations, this method may be the preferred method of taking advantage of cuffs that have been fully treated (ie, both sides) with only one application to one surface.

The skin care composition can be applied to the cuff using a variety of application methods for dispensing a lubricious material having melt or liquid roughness. Suitable application methods include coating (e.g., gravure coating or slot coating), spraying, printing (e.g. flexo printing), extrusion or rotation of these or other application techniques (e.g. calender rolls). Spraying the skin care composition onto the surface, and then contact coating the skin care composition to the body facing surface of the diaper cuff to deliver the skin care composition. If desired, the skin care composition may also be applied to both sides of the cuff.

When applying the skin care composition to the cuff, the cuff should not be supersaturated with the skin care composition. If the cuff is treated with an excess skin care composition, it is likely that the skin care composition will migrate into the product's undesirable location, for example the skin care composition may have a deleterious effect on the absorbency of the absorbent core beneath it. Big. In addition, saturation of the cuff is not necessary to obtain the benefit of a therapeutic and / or protective skin care composition.

The minimum amount of skin care composition applied to the cuff is the lowest amount effective to reduce erythema, diaper rash, red mark, skin irritation or other harmful skin condition. (The composition may also be effective to reduce the adhesion of bowel movements to the skin of the wearer.) Of course, the effective amount of skin care composition will largely depend on the particular skin care composition used. Since the softener is substantially immobilized on the body facing surface of the cuff, lesser amount of skin protection composition is needed to confer the desired skin protection benefit. Such relatively small amounts of skin care compositions are suitable to impart the desired therapeutic and / or protective skin care composition benefits to the cuff.

The skin care composition may be evenly and evenly applied on one or both sides of the cuff or part thereof. The skin care composition can also be applied in any pattern (ie, stripes, boxes, dots, spirals, etc.). Preferably, the skin care composition is positioned in conformity with the area that will be in most contact with the wearer when in use. Most preferably, as described in later examples, the skin care composition is 1.4 inches wide (diaperally lateral, cuffs) disposed generally in a separate portion of the cuff, eg, the crotch portion of the body facing surface of the cuff. So that the proximal end of is covered) and a patch of length 11.75 inches (diaper longitudinal).

The skin care composition can also be applied unevenly on one or both sides of the cuff. The term " non-uniform " means that the amount, distribution pattern, etc. of the skin care composition can vary across the cuff surface. For example, some portions of the treated surface of the cuff may have more or less skin protection composition, including surface portions where no skin protection composition is present.

The skin care composition may be applied at any point during assembly to the cuff or web forming part of the cuff. For example, the skin care composition can be applied to the cuff before the final product is packaged. The skin care composition may also be applied to the cuff or web before the cuff or web is combined with another material to form the final product, at the conversion site before being combined with the other product components or as a pretreated raw material.

Skin care compositions are typically applied to the cuff from its melt. Since skin care compositions melt at temperatures significantly above ambient temperature, they are generally applied as a heated coating on the cuff. Typically, the skin care composition is heated to about 35 to about 100 ° C, preferably 40 to about 90 ° C before it is applied to the cuff. As soon as the molten skin care composition is applied to the cuff, it is cooled and solidified to form a solidified coating or film disposed on the surface of the cuff. Preferably, the application process is designed to benefit the cooling / composition of the composition.

When applying the skin protection composition of the present invention to a cuff, slot coating, extrusion coating, gravure coating and spraying methods are preferred. FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred method comprising continuously or discontinuously covering contact skin coating composition with a diaper barrier cuff during the conversion process. 5, the conveyor belt 1 advances in the direction of an arrow in the rotation rolls 3 and 4, and becomes the reciprocating conveyor belt 2. As shown in FIG. The conveyor belt 1 carries the unlotioned diaper 5 to a contact slot coating station where the blocking cuff member 7 is covered with a hot molten (eg 65 ° C.) skin protection composition. . The diaper 5 leaves the slot covering station 6 and then becomes a diaper 8 having a treated blocking cuff. The amount of skin protection composition delivered to the blocking cuff member 7 can be determined by (1) the rate at which the molten skin protection composition is applied from the contact slot coating station 6; And / or (2) the speed of the conveyor belt 1 moving down the slot covering station 6; And / or (3) the position of the contact slot covering station. (In some cases, the coating station may be positioned to cover a portion of the blocking cuff member 7 and the top sheet 38 so that both the cuff and the top sheet have a skin protection composition.)

6 illustrates another preferred method comprising contact slot coating a skin protection composition on a diaper barrier cuff before the cuff is assembled into the final product along with another material. 6, the nonwoven blocking cuff web 1 is unrolled from a parent blocking cuff roll 2 (rotating in the direction of the arrow 2a) so that one side of the web is hot melted (eg , 65 ° C.), advances to the contact slot coating station 6 which is coated with the skin protection composition. The nonwoven blocking cuff web 1 leaves the slot covering station 6 and then becomes a treated blocking cuff web indicated by (3). The treated cuff web 3 is then wound around the rotary roll 4 and the rotary roll 8 and wound around the mother roll 10 (rotating in the direction of the arrow 10a). The treated web is then applied to the diaper base to form the blocking cuff member of the blocking cuff during the conversion process.

D. Skin Protective Compositions on Top Sheets and Cuffs

As shown in FIG. 7, the first skin care composition may be placed on the top sheet, and the second skin care composition may be located on one or more cuffs. It has been found that the application of the skin care composition to both the top sheet and the cuff is more effective than to only one. The combination of the treated top sheet and the treated cuff results in a larger skin area where the skin care composition can be delivered. The larger the area of skin to which the skin care composition is delivered, the greater the likelihood that all parts of the wearer's skin will remain healthy.

As discussed above, the first skin care composition and the second skin care composition may be in the same combination. However, when the first skin care composition is different from the second skin care composition, the diaper can be designed to provide certain skin protection benefits to certain parts of the wearer's skin. For example, the top sheet typically contacts the wearer's genitalia and hips in use, so that, for example, a first skin care composition specifically formulated to prevent and / or treat diaper rash can be placed on the top sheet. Since the cuff is in contact with the waist and legs of the wearer, the second skin care composition can be specially formulated to provide the advantage of, for example, reducing friction / red marks. Thus, certain portions of the diaper may have a skin care composition specifically formulated to target a particular skin area of the wearer for skin protection treatment or maintenance. This provides great flexibility in the design of diapers and allows manufacturers to provide products specifically designed for many different needs of consumers.

Other changes in the formulation of the skin care composition may be due to the function of the element on which the skin care composition is disposed. For example, cuffs are typically designed to contain and contain urine and flowable bowel movements in diapers. It may be desirable to make the cuff hydrophobic, more specifically liquid impermeable, to prevent liquid from passing through the material. If the skin care composition is also hydrophobic, it can help to prevent the liquid from passing through the cuff. In contrast, the topsheet should be very liquid permeable to allow urine or menstrual blood to quickly penetrate from the topsheet into the absorbent core. Placing the hydrophobic skin care composition on the top sheet can degrade the top sheet's performance. It may be more desirable to place the hydrophilic skin care composition on the top sheet to maintain the performance of the top sheet. Thus, in some embodiments, it may be desirable for at least a portion of the skin care composition located on the top sheet to be made of a hydrophilic material to facilitate the rapid delivery of liquid (eg, urine) through the top sheet. Similarly, it may be desirable for the skin care composition to be wettable enough for the liquid to quickly move past the top sheet. Alternatively, the hydrophobic skin care composition can be used so that the fluid handling of the top sheet is properly maintained. For example, uneven application of the composition to the top sheet is one means of achieving this goal. Examples of non-uniform application are disclosed in US patent application Ser. No. 08 / 908,852 (P & G Case 5494CR) filed August 8, 1997 to Roe et al., Which is incorporated herein by reference.

If a hydrophilic composition is desired, a hydrophilic surfactant (or a mixture of hydrophilic surfactants) may or may not be required to improve wettability, depending on the particular component used in the composition. For example, some fixatives, such as N-cocoyl-N-methoxypropyl glucamide, have an HLB value of about 7 or greater and are sufficiently wettable without the addition of hydrophilic surfactants. Other fixatives, such as C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohols having an HLB value of less than about 7, may require the addition of hydrophilic surfactants to improve wettability when the composition is applied to the top sheet. Similarly, hydrophobic emollients such as waselin may require the addition of a hydrophilic surfactant if a hydrophilic composition is desired. Of course, the problem with wettability is not a factor if the wearer contact surface under consideration is desired to be hydrophobic or if the fluid handling properties of the material are adequately maintained by other means (eg, uneven application).

Suitable hydrophilic surfactants will preferably be miscible with the other components of the skin care composition to form a blending mixture. Because of the possible skin sensitivity of those using the disposable absorbent product to which the composition is applied, the surfactant should also be relatively mild and non-irritating to the skin. Typically, these hydrophilic surfactants are nonionic and not only non-irritating to the skin, but also have undesirable effects on other structures in the treated diaper (e.g., reduced tissue laminate tensile strength, sufficient adhesive bonding), and the like. Do not give.

Suitable nonionic surfactants may be substantially non-movable after the composition has been applied to the top sheet and will typically have an HLB value of about 4 to about 20, preferably about 7 to about 20. To be non-mobile, these nonionic surfactants will typically have a melting point (eg, greater than or equal to about 30 ° C.) or higher than temperatures typically encountered during storage, transportation, sales, and use of disposable absorbent articles. In this regard, these nonionic surfactants will preferably have a melting point similar to those of the aforementioned immobilizing agents.

Suitable nonionic surfactants for use in the composition to be applied to the top sheet include alkylglycosides; Alkylglycoside ethers described in US Pat. No. 4,011,389, issued March 8, 1977 to Langdon et al., Which is incorporated herein by reference; Pegosperse 1000MS (available from Lonza, Inc., Fairlon, NJ), with an average ethoxylation degree of about 2 to about 20, preferably about 2 to about 10 Ethoxylated sorbitan mono-, di- and / or tri-esters of C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ fatty acids, such as TWEEN 60 (sorbitan ester of stearic acid with an average degree of ethoxylation of about 20) and tween 61 Alkylpolyethoxylated esters, such as (sorbitan esters of stearic acid with an average degree of ethoxylation of about 4); And condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with about 1 to about 54 moles of ethylene oxide. The alkyl chains of aliphatic alcohols typically have a straight (linear) structure and have about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Especially preferred are condensation products of alcohols having alkyl groups of about 11 to 22 carbon atoms with about 2 to about 30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Examples of such ethoxylated alcohols include condensation products of myristyl alcohol and 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, condensation products of coconut alcohol (a mixture of fatty alcohols having alkyl chains of 10 to 14 carbon atoms) with about 6 moles of ethylene oxide. There is this. Many suitable ethoxylated alcohols are commercially available, examples of which include 9 moles of tergitol 15-S-9 (C ₁₁ -C ₁₅ linear alcohols sold by Union Carbide Corporation). Condensation products of ethylene oxide); KYRO EOB (condensation product of C ₁₃ -C ₁₅ linear alcohol and 9 moles of ethylene oxide), sold by The Procter & Gamble Co., sold by Shell Chemical Co. By surfactants, especially neodol 25-12 (condensation products of C ₁₂ -C ₁₃ linear alcohols and 12 moles of ethylene oxide) and neodol 23-6.5T (distillation) Condensation product of C ₁₂ -C ₁₃ linear alcohol with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide, removing certain impurities); And, in particular, the trade name surfactant PulaFAC sold by BASF Corp., in particular the flulapak A-38 (condensation product of C ₁₈ straight alcohols with 27 moles of ethylene oxide). (Specific hydrophilic surfactants, in particular ethoxylated alcohols such as neodol 25-12, can function as alkyl ethoxylate softeners.) Another example of a preferred ethoxylated alcohol surfactant is Brij of ICI. There are surfactants and mixtures thereof, with Breeze 72 (ie stearet-2) and Breeze 76 (ie stearet-10) being particularly preferred. In addition, mixtures of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol ethoxylated with an average ethoxylation of about 10 to about 20 can also be used as hydrophilic surfactants.

Another type of surfactant suitable for use in the composition is Aerosol OT, a dioctyl ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid sold by the American Cyanamid Company.

Another class of surfactants suitable for use in the compositions include General Electric SF 1188 (copolymer of polydimethylsiloxane and polyoxyalkylene ether) and General Electric SF 1228 (silicone polyether copolymer). Silicone copolymers. Such silicone surfactants may be used in combination with other types of hydrophilic surfactants described above, such as ethoxylated alcohols. Such silicone surfactants have been found to be effective at concentrations as low as 0.1% by weight, more preferably about 0.25% to about 1.0% by weight of the composition.

If a hydrophilic composition is desired, the amount of hydrophilic surfactant needed to increase the wettability of the composition to a desired level will depend in part upon the HLB value of the immobilizing agent and the amount of use thereof, the HLB value of the surfactant used, and the like. The composition may comprise from about 0.1 to about 50% hydrophilic surfactant if it is desired to increase its wettability. Preferably, the composition comprises from about 1% to about 25%, most preferably from about 10% to about 20%, of a hydrophilic surfactant when needed to increase wettability.

The Applicant believes that maintaining or improving healthy skin under an absorbent product is subject to normal use conditions (e.g., contact, movement, handling by the caregiver after wearing the product, body temperature, etc.) over a period of time (e.g., several days). It has been found that this can be achieved by repeated use of an absorbent product (eg, an absorbent product such as that disclosed herein) treated with two or more skin care compositions delivered to the wearer, and the like. In this regard, a method of maintaining or improving the skin hygiene of the area covered by an absorbent product is directed to (a) a first skin care composition and skin that provides therapeutic and / or protective skin benefits when delivered to the skin. Wearing to the wearer an absorbent article having a second skin care composition that provides another skin benefit when delivered; (b) delivering at least a portion of the first skin care composition and the second skin care composition to the wearer during use; And (c) a frequency sufficient to maintain or improve the hygiene of the skin covered by the absorbent product as compared to the skin covered by an equivalent absorbent product that does not include the first and second skin care compositions. And, repeating steps (a) and (b) with one or more additional products without the need to apply the skin protectant by hand (eg, a carer or wearer).

Important for this method is to maintain or improve skin hygiene by the use of an absorbent product having two or more skin care compositions and repeated delivery of accumulating the first and second skin care compositions. The Applicant has also found that a relatively small amount of the composition delivered when wearing each product is sufficient to obtain a skin benefit by such a cumulative delivery.

The products used in the present invention serve as an effective source of continuous delivery of the skin care composition to the skin over time. As the composition is delivered, the composition accumulates on the skin surface to initiate and maintain protective activity. If the used product is discarded and replaced with a new one, this cycle is repeated to accumulate more composition than one or the first product can deliver. Certain components for use in preferred skin care compositions are known to penetrate the stratum corneum (eg, waseline, which is preferred for use herein). Thus, even if some of the composition is removed by washing, bathing, or the like, or if the use of the treated product as described herein is temporarily suspended, some benefits of the skin composition will remain with the user. If the user resumes the use of the treated product before all the benefits of the composition disappear, the user will benefit in terms of erythema and / or rash sooner than a person who does not use the treated product.

As mentioned above, the skin under the absorbent product is considered to be apt to deteriorate the skin condition. Typically, indications of such skin conditions include redness (also called erythema) and / or rash. As such, Applicants describe herein methods for maintaining or improving skin hygiene in areas covered by absorbent articles, and the object of the present invention is to provide an equivalent absorbent article that does not include a skin care composition. Covered is to reduce or prevent erythema and / or rash compared to skin.

Specific examples of the manufacturing method of the diaper cuff and the top sheet treated according to the present invention

The following specifically illustrates a method of treating a cuff and / or top sheet with a skin care composition in accordance with the present invention.

Example 1

A. Preparation of Skin Protective Composition

Waselin (available as Perfecta from Witco Corp., Greenwich, Connecticut), Stearyl alcohol (available as CO1897 from The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio). And aloe extract (available as Veragel Lipoid in Kaidol from Madis Botanicals, Hackensack, NJ) in the liquid state )) A skin protection composition (Skin Protection Composition A) is prepared by mixing the components together. The weight percentages of these components are shown in Table I below:

B. Preparation of Treated Diaper Leg Cuffs by Hot Melt Coating

Skin protection composition A is placed in a heating tank operating at 170 ° F. The composition was then placed directly on the body facing surface of the diaper's blocking cuff with a width of 1.4 inches (diaper lateral, so that the proximal end of the blocking cuff was covered) and an area of 11.75 inches (diaper longitudinal) (the patches were each spacing elastic Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at 170 ° F. to a contact applicator (ie, longitudinally positioned at the center of the base plate such that one or both ends of the member are covered by the skin protection composition). ) Is applied. The addition amount is 0.0116 g / in ² (18.0 g / m 2). The spaced elastic member is operatively coupled to the blocking cuff member by an adhesive specifically formulated to prevent creep (eg, Findley F9254 as described above).

Example 2

Skin protection composition A (prepared according to the procedure of Example 1) with a stripe 1.4 inches wide (diaper lateral, covering the proximal end of the blocking cuff) over the entire length of each blocking cuff on the body facing surface of the blocking cuff of the diaper. Skin protection composition A). The addition amount is 0.0116 g / in ² (18.0 g / m 2).

Example 3

On the body facing surface of the blocking cuff of the diaper, each blocking cuff has a width of 1.4 inches (diaper lateral, so that the proximal end of the blocking cuff is covered) and a stripe in the area of 8 inches (diaper longitudinal) (the patch is each spacing elastic member) Skin protection composition A (prepared according to the procedure of Example 1) is applied with one or both ends of is positioned longitudinally in the center of the base plate so as to be covered by the skin protection composition. The addition amount is 0.0077 g / in ² (12.0 g / m 2).

Example 4

A. Preparation of Skin Protective Composition

Mineral oil (Carnation White Mineral Oil (USP) manufactured by Witco Corporation); And a skin care composition (skin) by mixing together the molten (ie, liquid state) components of cetearyl alcohol (a mixed linear C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ primary alcohol made by TA Procter & Gamble Co., Ltd.) Prepare protective composition B). The weight percentages of these components are shown in Table II below:

B. Preparation of Diaper Leg Cuffs Treated by Hot Melt Cloth

Skin protection composition B is placed in a heating tank operating at 170 ° F. The composition is then placed in the diaper blocking cuff with a width of 1.4 inches (diaper lateral, so that the proximal end of the blocking cuff is covered) and an area of 11.75 inches (diaper longitudinal) (the patch is one end of each spacing elastic member or It is applied with a contact applicator (ie, a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at 170 ° F.) which is located longitudinally in the center of the base so that both ends are covered by the skin care composition. The addition amount is 0.0116 g / in ² (18.0 g / m 2).

Example 5

A. Preparation of Skin Protective Composition

Mineral oil (carnation white mineral oil USP manufactured by Witco Corporation; cetearyl alcohol (mixed linear C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ primary alcohol made by TA-618 from The Procter & Gamble Co.); and cetearet 10 Skin protection composition (skin) by mixing together the molten (ie, liquid) components of (C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ linear alcohol ethoxylates having an average ethoxylation of 10, manufactured by ICI America) Protective Composition C) is prepared The weight percentages of these components are shown in Table III below:

B. Preparation of Diaper Leg Cuffs Treated by Hot Melt Cloth

Skin protection composition C is placed in a heating tank operating at 170 ° F. The composition is then placed in the diaper blocking cuff with a width of 1.4 inches (diaper lateral, so that the proximal end of the blocking cuff is covered) and an area of 11.75 inches (diaper longitudinal) (the patch is one end of each spacing elastic member or It is applied with a contact applicator (ie, a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at 170 ° F.) which is located longitudinally in the center of the base so that both ends are covered by the skin care composition. The addition amount is 0.0116 g / in ² (18.0 g / m 2).

Example 6

A. Preparation of Skin Protective Composition

Waselin (available as perfecta from Witco Corp.), cetearyl alcohol (mixed linear C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ primary alcohol manufactured by TA Procter & Gamble Co., TA-1618); Cetearet 10 (C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ linear alcohol ethoxylates having an average degree of ethoxylation of 10, manufactured by ICA America); And fused (ie, liquid) components of Veragel 1: 1 lipoid (aloe extract in mineral oil manufactured by Dr. Madis Laboratories, Inc.) in Kydol. The skin protection composition (skin protection composition D) is prepared by mixing together. The weight percentages of these components are shown in Table IV below:

B. Preparation of Diaper Leg Cuffs Treated by Hot Melt Cloth

Skin protection composition D is placed in a heating tank operating at 170 ° F. The composition is then placed in the diaper blocking cuff with a width of 1.4 inches (diaper lateral, so that the proximal end of the blocking cuff is covered) and an area of 11.75 inches (diaper longitudinal) (the patch is one end of each spacing elastic member or It is applied with a contact applicator (ie, a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at 170 ° F.) which is located longitudinally in the center of the base so that both ends are covered by the skin care composition. The addition amount is 0.0116 g / in ² (18.0 g / m 2).

Example 7

Skin Protective Composition A (prepared according to Example 1) is placed in a heating tank operating at 170 ° F. The composition is then applied to the top sheet of the product in a longitudinally striped stripe pattern of the product (e.g., a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at 170 ° F with five slots). Apply with In particular, five stripes of 0.25 inch wide (ie, laterally of the product) and 11.75 inch long were applied in an additional amount of 7.7 mg / in ² (12 g / m 2, 1.19 mg / cm 2). The distance between stripes is 0.31 inches.

The skin protection composition A is then applied to the body facing surface of the blocking cuff of the product in stripes 1.4in wide (diaperally lateral, covering the proximal end of the blocking cuff) over the entire length of each blocking cuff. The addition amount is 0.0116 g / in ² (18.0 g / m 2). Application is carried out in the same manner as described in Example 1.

Example 8

Skin protection composition D (prepared according to Example 6) is placed in a heating tank operating at 170 ° F. The composition is then applied to the top sheet of the article with a contact applicator (e.g., a Meltex EP45 hot melt adhesive applicator head operating at 170 ° F. with one slot). In particular, one streak of 2.5 inches wide (ie, laterally of the product) and 11.75 inches long is applied in an additional amount of 7.7 mg / in ² (12 g / m 2, 1.19 mg / cm 2). Stripes are applied to center the longitudinal centerline of the product.

The skin protection composition A is then applied to the body facing surface of the barrier cuff of the diaper with a stripe of 1.4 in width (diaper lateral, so that the proximal end of the barrier cuff is covered) over the entire length of each barrier cuff. The addition amount is 0.0116 g / in ² (18.0 g / m 2). Application is carried out in the same manner as described in Example 1.

Claims (10)

A chassis comprising a back sheet, an outer coating layer comprising a liquid permeable top sheet bonded to the back sheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the top sheet and the back sheet; A cuff coupled to the chassis, each cuff having a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface, An absorbent article worn adjacent to a wearer's skin, characterized in that the skin protection composition is semisolid or solid at 20 ° C. and is at least partially delivered to the wearer's skin in an effective amount on the cuff. The method of claim 1, The cuff comprises a blocking cuff coupled to the chassis, preferably the blocking cuff comprises a separate blocking cuff member having a proximal end and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end, the proximal end being coupled to the outer covering layer and distal The end is not secured to the absorbent article and the spacing resilient element is movably connected with the distal end that aligns the barrier cuff away above the outer covering layer. The method of claim 2, Each barrier cuff has a flap portion and a channel portion, preferably a skin protective composition is applied to at least the channel portion, and more preferably a skin protective composition is applied to the channel portion and the flap portion. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The cuff includes a gasket cuff coupled to the chassis, preferably the gasket cuff includes a flap extending outwardly from one of the ends of the absorbent core and along one of the ends, more preferably the side flap is secured to the chassis. An absorbent article comprising at least one first cuff, wherein the resilient element is movably coupled with the side flap. The method of claim 4, wherein An absorbent article, wherein the first cuff member is coupled to the top sheet to form the body facing surface of the side flap, and preferably the skin care composition is treated on the body facing surface of the first cuff member. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The skin care composition comprises (i) about 10 to about 95% of a softener having plasticity or fluid fastness at 20 ° C. and about 5 to about 90% of an agent capable of immobilizing the softener on a cuff. The method of claim 6, Softeners include those selected from the group consisting of petroleum softeners, fatty acid ester softeners, polysiloxane softeners, sucrose ester fatty acid softeners, alkyl ethoxylate softeners, and mixtures thereof, preferably the immobilizing agent is a polyhydroxy fatty acid ester, polyhydroxy Fatty acid amides, C ₁₄ -C ₂₂ fatty alcohols, C ₁₂ -C ₂₂ fatty acids, C ₁₂ -C ₂₂ fatty alcohol ethoxylates and mixtures thereof, more preferably the skin care composition further comprises aloe Absorbent product comprising extract. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, An absorbent article in which the skin protective composition is semisolid or solid at 20 ° C. and is at least partially delivered to the wearer's skin in an effective amount on the top sheet. The method of claim 8, The skin care composition has a different formulation than the second skin composition, preferably the skin care composition is hydrophobic and the second skin care composition is hydrophilic, or the skin care composition has the same formulation as the second skin care composition. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The skin care composition is treated on a first surface, preferably the first surface of the cuff is in contact with the wearer skin to form a body facing surface during use and the first surface is spaced apart from the wearer to form a garment facing surface during use. An absorbent article comprising a surface and wherein the skin care composition is transferred from the first surface to the second surface.