Absorbent products with a linked enzyme treatment

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(12) United States Patent

Dibb et al.

(io) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent:

US 7,928,282 B2 Apr. 19, 2011

(54) ABSORBENT PRODUCTS WITH A LINKED ENZYME TREATMENT

(75) Inventors: Karyn Clare Dibb, Neenah, WI (US);

David Charles Potts, Dunwoody, GA
(US); Jack Nelson Lindon, Alpharetta,
GA (US); Alice Y. Romans-Hess,

Pinehurst, NC (US)

(73) Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.,

Neenah, WI (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 1362 days.

(21) Appl.No.: 10/837,133

(22) Filed: Apr. 30, 2004

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2005/0256471 Al Nov. 17, 2005

(51) Int. CI.

A61F13/15 (2006.01)
A61F13/20 (2006.01)
C04B9/02 (2006.01)
B32B5/12 (2006.01)
B32B 27/04 (2006.01)

(52) U.S. CI 604/367; 604/378; 106/14.15;

442/58; 442/93; 442/152; 442/158

(58) Field of Classification Search 604/367,

604/385.01, 359-360, 368; 435/267-269,

435/263

See application file for complete search history. (56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

The present invention provides a substrate treated with an linked enzyme. It has been discovered that a substrate treated with a linked enzyme can be effective in improving the ability of the substrate to absorb viscoelastic materials, such as menses, by cleaving a protein structure present in some viscoelastic materials. In addition, the linked enzyme is less likely to migrate from the treated material onto the user, as compare to an enzyme being placed directly on the substrate, thereby reducing the risk of sensitization to the user of the absorbent product. Also provided by the present invention are absorbent articles which contain at least one surface or layer containing the linked enzyme.

38 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets

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