Disposable absorbent articles

Claim 2

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 2 wherein each slit is from 0.07 to 0.2 inch in length and wherein said slits are present in said topsheet in an amount of about 30 to 150 per square inch of topsheet.

Claim 3

An absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein said dimples are disposed on said topsheet in an amount of about 1 to about 100 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 4

An absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein said dimples are disposed on said topsheet in an amount of about 3 to about 25 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 5

An absorbent article according to claim 1 wherein said dimples are disposed on said topsheet in an amount of about 6 to about 15 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 6

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 1 wherein the total area of said dimples does not exceed more than 20 percent of the area of said absorbent pad.

Claim 7

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 1 wherein the total area of said dimples is from 4 to 12 percent of the area of said absorbent pad.

Claim 8

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 1 wherein said dimples have a circular configuration with a diameter of from about 0.025 to about 0.250 inch.

Claim 9

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 1 wherein said dimples have a circular configuration with a diameter of from about 0.075 to about 0.150 inch.

Claim 10

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of valvular openings are substantially parallel straight slits disposed in longitudinal rows, each slit being angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said row and being arranged in a manner such that the end points of each slit lie in a line substantially between the end points of corresponding slits in adjacent rows.

Claim 11

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 11 wherein said slits are from about 0.030 to about 0.250 inch in length.

Claim 12

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 11 wherein said slits are from about 0.07 to about 0.2 inch in length.

Claim 13

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 11 wherein said slits are present in said topsheet in an amount of 30 to 150 per square inch.

Claim 14

An absorbent article according to claim 11 wherein said dimples are disposed on said topsheet in an amount of about 1 to about 100 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 15

An absorbent article according to claim 11 wherein said dimples are disposed on said topsheet in an amount of about 3 to about 25 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 16

An absorbent article according to claim 11 wherein said dimples are disposed on said topsheet in an amount of about 6 to about 15 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 17

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 11 wherein the total area of said dimples does not exceed more than 20 percent of the area of said absorbent pad.

Claim 18

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 11 wherein the total area of said dimples is from 4 to 12 percent of the area of said absorbent pad.

Claim 19

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 11 wherein said dimples have a circular configuration with a diameter of from about 0.025 to about 0.250 inch.

Claim 20

An absorbent article in accordance with claim 11 wherein said dimples have a circular configuration with a diameter of from about 0.075 to about 0.150 inch.

Claim 21

A disposable baby diaper comprising in combination, the hydrophobic topsheet, the substantially liquid impermeable backing sheet, the absorbent pad and the dimples as defined in claim 1 wherein the topsheet and backing sheet are each 0.5 to 2.0 mil thick and of substantially the same dimensions and being at least partially adhered to each other around their periphery to form an integrated diaper structure having the absorbent pad substantially enclosed and sandwiched between the topsheet and the backing sheet, and wherein the valvular openings are substantially straight slits arRanged in parallel rows, each slit being disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rows.

Claim 22

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 22 wherein each slit is from about 0.030 to about 0.250 inch in length and wherein said slits are present in said topsheet in an amount of about 30 to 150 per square inch of topsheet.

Claim 23

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 23 wherein the hydrophobic topsheet is an ethylene-ethyl acrylate film and wherein the absorbent pad is a stack of layers of absorbent wadding.

Claim 24

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 22 wherein said dimples are disposed on said hydrophobic topsheet in an amount of about 1 to about 100 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 25

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 22 wherein said dimples are disposed on said topsheet in an amount of from about 3 to about 25 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 26

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 22 wherein said dimples are disposed on said topsheet in an amount of from about 6 to about 15 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 27

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 22 wherein the total area of said dimples does not exceed more than 20 percent of the area of said absorbent pad.

Claim 28

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 22 wherein the total area of said dimples is from 4 to 12 percent of the area of said absorbent pad.

Claim 29

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 22 wherein said dimples have a circular configuration with a diameter of from about 0.025 to about 0.250 inch.

Claim 30

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 22 wherein said dimples have a circular configuration with a diameter of from about 0.075 to about 0.150 inch.

Claim 31

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 22 wherein said topsheet and backing sheet are heat sealed to each around their periphery.

Claim 32

A disposable baby diaper which comprises in combination: a hydrophobic topsheet, for placement adjacent to the body, having a plurality of valvular openings therein, said openings being substantially parallel straight slits disposed in longitudinal rows, each slit being angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of each row; at least one absorbent pad adjacent to said topsheet characterized by its ability to absorb and retain liquid passed through said openings; a substantially liquid impermeable backing sheet adjacent to the absorbent layer on the side opposite the topsheet, the openings in said topsheet being substantially closable to prevent contact of said absorbent pad with the body and to retard backflow of liquid from said absorbent pad, and said topsheet and said backing sheet being of substantially the same dimensions and being at least partially adhered to each other around their periphery to form an integral diaper structure having the absorbent pad substantially enclosed and sandwiched between the topsheet and backing sheet; and a system of dimples disposed on said topsheet, said dimples having a frequency of at least 1 per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 33

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 33 wherein said slits are further characterized in that they are arranged in a manner such that the end points of each slit lie in a line substantially between the end points of corresponding slits in adjacent rows and are from about 0.030 to about 0.250 inch in length.

Claim 34

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 33 wherein said dimples have a frequency of about 1 to about 100 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area, and wherein said topsheet and bottom sheet are adhered by heat sealing said topsheet to said backing sheet.

Claim 35

A disposable baby diaper which comprises in combination: a hydrophobic topsheet, for placement adjacent to the body, hAving a plurality of valvular openings therein, said openings being substantially parallel straight slits disposed in longitudinal rows, each slit being angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of each row and being arranged in a manner such that the end points of each slit lie in a line substantially between the end points of corresponding slits in adjacent rows and are from about 0.030 to about 0.250 inch in length; at least one absorbent pad adjacent to said topsheet characterized by its ability to absorb and retain liquid passed through said openings; a substantially liquid impermeable backing sheet adjacent to the absorbent layer on the side opposite the topsheet, the openings in said topsheet being substantially closable to prevent contact of said absorbent pad with the body and to retard backflow of liquid from said absorbent pad, and said topsheet and said backing sheet being of substantially the same dimensions and being at least partially heat sealed to each other around their periphery to form an integral diaper structure having the absorbent pad substantially enclosed and sandwiched between the topsheet and backing sheet; and a system of dimples disposed on said topsheet, said dimples having a frequency of about 1 to about 100 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 36

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 36 wherein said dimples are disposed on said topsheet in an amount of about 3 to about 25 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 37

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 36 wherein said slits are from about 0.07 to about 0.2 inch in length.

Claim 38

A disposable baby diaper in accordance with claim 36 wherein the slits closest to said dimples are opened to a greater extent than slits situated further from said dimples.

Claim 39

A disposable baby diaper which comprises in combination: a hydrophobic topsheet, for placement adjacent to the body, having a plurality of valvular openings therein, said openings being substantially parallel straight slits disposed in longitudinal rows, each slit being angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of each row and being arranged in a manner such that the end points of each slit lie in a line substantially between the end points of corresponding slits in adjacent rows and are from about 0.07 to about 0.2 inch in length; at least one absorbent pad adjacent to said topsheet characterized by its ability to absorb and retain liquid passed through said openings; a system of dimples disposed on said topsheet, said dimples having a frequency of about 3 to about 25 dimples per square inch of absorbent pad area; and a substantially liquid impermeable backing sheet adjacent to the absorbent layer on the side opposite the topsheet, the slits in said topsheet closest to said dimples being opened to a greater extent than slits situated further from said dimples, said slits being substantially closable to prevent contact of said absorbent pad with the body and to retard backflow of liquid from said absorbent pad and said topsheet and said backing sheet being of substantially the same dimensions and being at least partially heat sealed to each other around their periphery to form an integral diaper structure having the absorbent pad substantially enclosed and sandwiched between the topsheet and backing sheet.

Claim 40

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 40 wherein said dimples have a frequency of about 6 to about 15 per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 41

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 36 wherein the total area of said dimples does not exceed more than 20 percent of the area of said absorbent pad.

Claim 42

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 36 wherein the total area of said dimples is from 4 to 12 percent of the area of said absorbent pad.

Claim 43

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 36 wherein said dimPles have a circular configuration and are from about 0.025 to about 0.250 inch diameter.

Claim 44

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 36 wherein said dimples have a circular configuration and are from about 0.075 to about 0.150 inch diameter.

Claim 45

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 36 wherein said slits are disposed in said topsheet in an amount of about 30 to about 150 per square inch.

Claim 46

A disposable baby diaper which comprises in combination: a non-fibrous hydrophobic topsheet, for placement adjacent to the body, having a plurality of valvular openings therein, said openings being substantially parallel straight slits disposed in longitudinal rows, each slit being angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of each row and being arranged in a manner such that the end points of each slit lie in a line substantially between the end points of corresponding slits in adjacent rows and are from about 0.07 to about 0.2 inch in length and having a frequency of about 30 to 150 per square inch of topsheet; at least one absorbent pad adjacent to said topsheet characterized by its ability to absorb and retain liquid passed through said openings; and a system of dimples disposed on said topsheet, said dimples having a circular configuration and being about from 0.25 to about 0.250 inch diameter, and wherein the total area of said dimples does not exceed more than 20 percent of the area of said absorbent pad.

Claim 47

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 47 wherein the total area of said dimples is from 4 to 12 percent of the area of said absorbent pad.

Claim 48

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 47 wherein said non-fibrous hydrophobic topsheet is a film of ethylene-ethyl acrylate and wherein said absorbent pad is a stack of layers of absorbent wadding.

Claim 49

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 49 wherein said ethylene-ethyl acrylate film is from 0.5 to 2.0 mil thick.

Claim 50

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 47 wherein the slit size is 0.1 inch and wherein there is present about 81 slits per square inch of topsheet.

Claim 51

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 47 wherein the slits closest to said dimples are opened to a greater degree than slits situated further from said dimples.

Claim 52

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 47 wherein said dimples are from about 0.075 to about 0.150 inch diameter.

Claim 53

A disposable baby diaper which comprises in combination: an ethylene-ethyl acrylate film of 0.5 to 2.0 mil thickness as topsheet, for placement adjacent to the body, having a plurality of valvular openings therein, said openings being substantially parallel straight slits disposed in longitudinal rows, each slit being angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of each row and being arranged in a manner such that the end points of each slit lie in a line substantially between the end points of corresponding slits in adjacent rows and are about 0.1 inch in length and of a frequency of about 81 per square inch of topsheet; at least one absorbent pad comprising a stack of layers of absorbent wadding adjacent to said topsheet characterized by its ability to absorb and retain liquid passed through said openings; and a system of dimples disposed on said topsheet, said dimples having a circular configuration and being about from 0.25 to about 0.250 inch diameter, and wherein the total area of said dimples does not exceed more than 20 percent of the area of said absorbent pad, said diaper being further characterized in that the slits closest to said dimples are opened to a greater degree than slits situated further from said dimples.

Claim 54

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 54 wherein the dimples have a frequency of about 1 to about 100 per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 55

A disPosable baby diaper according to claim 54 wherein the dimples have a frequency of about 3 to about 25 per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 56

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 54 wherein the dimples have a frequency of about 6 to about 15 per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 57

A disposable baby diaper which comprises in combination: a hydrophobic topsheet, for placement adjacent to the body, having a plurality of valvular openings therein, said openings being substantially parallel straight slits disposed in longitudinal rows; at least one absorbent pad adjacent to said topsheet characterized by its ability to absorb and retain liquid passed through said openings; a substantially liquid impermeable backing sheet adjacent to the absorbent layer on the side opposite the topsheet, the openings in said topsheet being substantially closable to prevent contact of said absorbent pad with the body and to retard backflow of liquid from said absorbent pad, and said topsheet and said backing sheet being of substantially the same dimensions and being at least partially adhered to each other around their periphery to form an integral diaper structure having the absorbent pad substantially enclosed and sandwiched between the topsheet and backing sheet; and a system of depressed areas disposed on said topsheet the lower portion of said depressed areas extending below the plane of said topsheet and being substantially liquid impermeable and in nonadhering relation with said absorbent pad, said depressed areas having a frequency of at least 1 per square inch of absorbent pad area.

Claim 58

A disposable baby diaper according to claim 58 further characterized in that the slits are angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of each row and are arranged in a manner such that the end points of each slit lie in a line substantially between the end points of corresponding slits in adjacent rows.