Color printed laminated structure, absorbent article comprising the same and process for manufacturing the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a color printed liquid permeable laminated structure comprising a first liquid permeable layer and a second liquid permeable layer, the first layer is color printed on at least one of its surfaces prior being laminated to the second layer and stabilizing the laminated structure with a bonding means. These color printed laminated structures are particularly suitable for use in disposable absorbent articles for feminine protection, typically as so called ‘secondary’ topsheet in face to face relation with so called ‘primary’ topsheet, through which they are visible.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A color printed liquid permeable laminated structure comprising at least a first liquid permeable layer and a second liquid permeable layer, the second layer being a fibrous web, the first layer being color printed on at least one of its surfaces prior laminating it to the second layer and stabilizing the laminated structure with a bonding means.  
     
     
         2 . A laminated structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is a non-woven, preferably a spunbonded non-woven.  
     
     
         3 . A laminated structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the first layer, prior laminating it to the second layer, is color printed on at least the surface thereof directly adjacent to the second layer in the laminated structure, the color print being visible through the first layer on its opposite surface.  
     
     
         4 . A laminated structure according to claims  1  or  2  or  3 , wherein the second layer is a dry laid fibrous web, typically comprising cellulose fibers.  
     
     
         5 . A laminated structure according to  claim 4 , wherein the dry laid fibrous web is an air laid.  
     
     
         6 . A laminated structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding means stabilizing the structure comprises a latex binder typically selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate and acrylic ester copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, styrene butadiene carboxylate copolymers, and polyacrylonitriles, typically at a level of about 2% to about 30% by weight of the total weight of the laminated structure.  
     
     
         7 . A laminated structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding means comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material in finely divided form distributed into the second fibrous layer in order to bond the fibers of said fibrous layer.  
     
     
         8 . A laminated structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the color for color printing the first layer is selected from a range of colors ranging from yellow to blue (440 to 580 nanometers).  
     
     
         9 . A laminated structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is color printed with a water-based ink and preferably a self-crosslinking acrylic copolymer emulsion.  
     
     
         10 . A disposable absorbent article, preferably a sanitary napkin or pantiliner, comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and a color printed laminated structure according to any of the preceding claims  1 ,  2  or  3 , typically as an underlying layer directly adjacent to the topsheet so as to be visible through said topsheet.  
     
     
         11 . A disposable absorbent article according to  claim 10 , wherein said topsheet is provided with at least some regions, which are transparent, and most preferably is completely transparent.  
     
     
         12 . A process for manufacturing a laminated structure according to any of the preceding  claims 1  to  9 , wherein the process comprises the steps of: 
 (a)-providing the first layer, then color printing it on at least one of its surfaces,  
 (b)-then providing fibers onto the first layer to form the second layer,  
 (c)-then applying a bonding means, preferably a latex binder, onto the outer surface of said second layer and curing and/or  
 (d)-applying a bonding means, preferably a latex binder, onto the outer surface of said first layer and curing  
 wherein when both steps (c) and (d) are carried out, steps (c) and (d) might be carried in any sequence, including first (c) then (d) or first (d) then (c) or simultaneously, provided (a) and (b) are operated before (c) and (d).  
 
     
     
         13 . A process according to  claim 12 , wherein the color printing of the first layer is made per flexography printing.  
     
     
         14 . An absorbent article for feminine protection comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, an underlying layer visible through the liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet and an absorbent core positioned between the underlying layer and the backsheet, characterized in that the underlying layer visible through the topsheet is a color printed liquid permeable laminated structure comprising at least two liquid permeable layers, each layer having a pair of opposed surfaces, at least one layer of the laminated structure is color printed on at least a surface directly adjacent another liquid permeable layer of the laminated structure, prior laminating the liquid permeable layers of the laminated structure together.