Personal wear article having containment flaps

Abstract

An absorbent article has an inner layer, an outer layer and an absorbent body therebetween. A pair of containment flaps is secured to the inner layer in spaced relation with each other, with each flap having a first layer extending from a base to a distal end of the flap whereby the flap first layer has a lateral surface and a medial surface. A liquid permeable second layer is disposed in generally opposed relationship with the medial surface of the flap first layer and is free from fixed engagement with at least a portion of the medial surface of the flap first layer to define a surge chamber therebetween for receiving liquid body waste. A surge member is disposed within the surge chamber for taking in liquid waste received in the surge chamber and releasing the liquid waste to the absorbent body.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An absorbent article for personal wear, said absorbent article comprising: 
 an inner layer adapted for contiguous relationship with the wearer, at least a portion of said inner layer being liquid permeable;    an outer layer in opposed relationship with the inner layer;    an absorbent body disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer of said article for absorbing liquid body waste;    a pair of containment flaps secured to the inner layer of said article in spaced relation with each other, each flap having a base secured to the inner layer of said article and a distal end, at least a portion of the distal end being movable relative to said base to a position in which said distal end is spaced from the inner layer of said article, said containment flaps each comprising:    a first layer extending from the base of the flap to the distal end of said flap, said flap first layer having a lateral surface and a medial surface;    a liquid permeable second layer disposed in generally opposed relationship with the medial surface of the flap first layer and being free from fixed engagement with at least a portion of the medial surface of said flap first layer to define a surge chamber therebetween for receiving liquid body waste; and    a surge member disposed within the surge chamber for taking in liquid waste received in the surge chamber and releasing said liquid waste to the absorbent body.    
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 1  wherein the liquid permeable portion of the inner layer is interposed between the surge member and the absorbent body.  
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 1  wherein the flap second layer has a width greater than a width of said portion of the medial surface of the flap first layer.  
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 3  wherein said portion of the medial surface of the flap first layer extends substantially from the base of the flap to the distal end of the flap.  
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 3  wherein the flap second layer is secured to the medial surface of the flap first layer at a first seam therebetween generally at the distal end of the flap.  
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 5  wherein the flap second layer is further secured to the medial surface of the flap first layer at a second seam spaced from said first seam, said portion of the medial surface of the flap first layer extending between the first seam and the second seam.  
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 6  wherein said second seam is located generally at the base of the flap.  
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 7  wherein the flap second layer is tucked between the medial surface of the flap first layer and the inner layer of said article generally at said second seam, said flap second layer being secured to the inner layer of said article thereby securing the base of the flap to the inner layer of said article.  
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 1  wherein the surge chamber has a volume, the surge member occupying a space within the surge chamber, said space having a volume in the range of about 2 to about 100 percent of the volume of the surge chamber.  
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 9  wherein the space occupied by the surge member has a volume in the range of about 5 percent to about 50 percent of the volume of the surge chamber.  
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 1  wherein the surge member has a basis weight in the range of about 20 gsm to about 120 gsm.  
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 1  wherein the surge member has a density in the range of about 0.008 to about 0.025 grams per cubic centimeter.  
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 1  wherein the surge member is generally rectangular in cross-section.  
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 1  wherein the surge member is generally triagular in cross-section.  
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 1  wherein the surge member is generally ovate in cross-section.  
     
     
         16 . An absorbent article for personal wear, said absorbent article comprising: 
 an inner layer adapted for contiguous relationship with the wearer, at least a portion of said inner layer being liquid permeable;    an outer layer in opposed relationship with the inner layer of said article;    an absorbent body disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer of said article for absorbing liquid body waste; and    a pair of containment flaps secured to the inner layer of said article in spaced relation with each other, each flap having a base secured to the inner layer of said article and a distal end, at least a portion of the distal end being movable relative to said base to a position in which the flap is spaced from the inner layer of said article, said containment flaps each comprising:    a first layer extending from the base of the flap to the distal end of said flap, said flap first layer having a lateral surface and a medial surface;    a liquid permeable second layer at least partially surrounding the lateral and medial surfaces of the flap first layer, said flap second layer being free from fixed engagement with at least a portion of the medial surface of said flap first layer to define a surge chamber therebetween for receiving liquid body waste; and    a flow control member disposed in the surge chamber for controlling the flow of liquid body waste received in the surge chamber.    
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 16  wherein the flow control member comprises a surge member adapted to take in liquid body waste received in the surge chamber and release the liquid body waste to the absorbent body.  
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 16  wherein the flow control member is adapted for absorbing liquid body waste received in the surge chamber.  
     
     
         19 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 16  wherein the surge chamber has a volume, the flow control member occupying a space within the surge chamber, said space having a volume in the range of about 2 percent to about 100 percent of the volume of the surge chamber.  
     
     
         20 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 19  wherein the space occupied by the flow control member has a volume in the range of about 5 percent to about 50 percent of the volume of the surge chamber.  
     
     
         21 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 16  wherein the flow control member has a basis weight in the range of about 20 gsm to about 120 gsm.  
     
     
         22 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 16  wherein the flow control member has a density in the range of about 0.008 to about 0.025 grams per cubic centimeter.  
     
     
         23 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 16  wherein the flow control member is generally rectangular in cross-section.  
     
     
         24 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 16  wherein the flow control member is generally triagular in cross-section.  
     
     
         25 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 16  wherein the flow control member is generally ovate in cross-section.  
     
     
         26 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 16  wherein the flap first layer is formed separate from the inner layer of said article.  
     
     
         27 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 26  wherein the flap second layer is formed separate from the inner layer of said article.  
     
     
         28 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 26  wherein the flap second layer inhibits contact of the flap first layer with the wearer's skin.  
     
     
         29 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 28  wherein the flap second layer overlays substantially the entire lateral surface of the flap first layer.  
     
     
         30 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 26  wherein the flap first layer is substantially liquid impermeable.  
     
     
         31 . An absorbent article for personal wear, said absorbent article comprising: 
 an inner layer adapted for contiguous relationship with the wearer, at least a portion of said inner layer being liquid permeable;    an outer layer in opposed relationship with the inner layer;    an absorbent body disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer of said article for absorbing liquid body waste; and    a pair of containment flaps secured to the inner layer of said article in spaced relation with each other, each flap having a base secured to the inner layer of said article and a distal end, at least a portion of the distal end being movable relative to said base to a position in which said distal end is spaced from the inner layer of said article, said containment flaps each comprising:    a first layer extending from the base of the flap to the distal end of said flap, said flap first layer having a lateral surface and a medial surface;    a liquid permeable second layer in opposed relation with the medial surface of the flap first layer, said flap second layer being free from fixed engagement with at least a portion of the medial surface of said flap first layer to define a surge chamber therebetween for receiving liquid body waste, said liquid permeable portion of the inner layer of said article being interposed between the surge chamber and the absorbent body of said article; and    a flow control member disposed within the surge chamber for controlling the flow of liquid body waste received in the surge chamber.    
     
     
         32 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 31  wherein the flow control member comprises a surge member adapted to take in liquid body waste received in the surge chamber and release the liquid body waste to the absorbent body.  
     
     
         33 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 31  wherein the flow control member is adapted for absorbing liquid body waste received in the surge chamber.  
     
     
         34 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 31  wherein the surge chamber has a volume, the flow control member occupying a space within the surge chamber, said space having a volume in the range of about 2 percent to about 100 percent of the volume of the surge chamber.  
     
     
         35 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 34  wherein the space occupied by the flow control member has a volume in the range of about 5 percent to about 50 percent of the volume of the surge chamber.  
     
     
         36 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 31  wherein the flow control member has a basis weight in the range of about 20 gsm to about 120 gsm.  
     
     
         37 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 31  wherein the flow control member has a density in the range of about 0.008 to about 0.025 grams per cubic centimeter.  
     
     
         38 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 31  wherein the flow control member is generally rectangular in cross-section.  
     
     
         39 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 31  wherein the flow control member is generally triagular in cross-section.  
     
     
         40 . The absorbent article set forth in  claim 31  wherein the flow control member is generally ovate in cross-section.  
     
     
         41 . An article for personal wear, said article comprising: 
 a substrate adapted for contiguous relationship with the wearer of said article, and    a pair of containment flaps secured to the substrate for contiguous relationship with the wearer of said article, the containment flaps being in spaced relation with each other, each flap having a base secured to the substrate and a distal end, at least a portion of the distal end being movable relative to said base to a position in which said distal end is spaced from the substrate of said article, said containment flaps each comprising:    a first layer extending from the base of the flap to the distal end of said flap, said flap first layer having a lateral surface and a medial surface;    a liquid permeable second layer disposed in generally opposed relationship with the medial surface of the flap first layer and being free from fixed engagement with at least a portion of the medial surface of said flap first layer to define a surge chamber therebetween for receiving liquid body waste; and    a surge member disposed within the surge chamber for taking in liquid waste received in the surge chamber and subsequently releasing said liquid waste for transfer out of said surge chamber.