CA1329573C

CA1329573C - Absorbent pad and method for constructing same

Info

Publication number: CA1329573C
Application number: CA000611934A
Authority: CA
Inventors: John C. Rhodes; Ronald R. Aljoe; Berne F. Ellers
Original assignee: Sealed Air Corp
Current assignee: Sealed Air Corp
Priority date: 1988-09-19
Filing date: 1989-09-19
Publication date: 1994-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-17
Also published as: US5055332A

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure An absorbent pad for meat and poultry products and the like and a method for constructing same is disclosed. The absorbent pad includes upper and lower plastic film layers, at least one of which is perforated, and an intermediate absorbent layer disposed between the layers. The intermediate absorbent layer includes a series if juxtaposed and overlapping absorbent material fibers with superabsorbent granules dispersed throughout the absorbent layer and supported by the absorbent material fibers within interstices thereof. The surperabsorbent granules are capable of absorbing and suspending liquids therein while being physically retained in place and supported by absorbent material fibers have liquid therein. The superabsorbent granules are fixed and held in place by structurally interacting absorbent material fibers and/or by attachment to one or more of the types of absorbent material fibers constituting the absorbent layer.
The upper and lower film layers are attached to one another at least partially along opposite marginal edge portions thereof to retain the absorbent layer between the upper and lower layers.
The superabsorbent granular particles are homogeneously dispersed throughout the absorbent layer and supported in generally spaced relationship within the interstices of the absorbent material fibers, to enable suspension and retention of liquid by said superabsorbent granules and absorbent material fibers.

Description

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1~29~73 s2~i~ ~}~ In~ n~lo~
The pre ent :Lnvention re~Lates 1:o an ab~or~e~l~ pad ~or m~at and poul~y pxodu~e,~ and the 1 ike, a.nd to $hQ m~tth~d :Eor con~;tructing su~h ~ 30~hent: pad~;. Mc:,re par~,~culaxly, the pre~nt inv~ntion rela~es to ~ ~ew and ~mproved 2Ibsorbent pacl incorpor~tin~ ~nd ret~inlnc3 ~uperab~orben~ gr anuler, .Ln pla~e therein~ and to ~ metho~l for con~3~ru~inc~ the ~ame.
M~at and poultry ~ood product~; are typio~lly sold } n a ~upporting 'cray ~ha~ i~ ov~ rapped ~y a t~an~par~n~ pln~ f i~Lm or in ~ranc;pEIrent pla~3tic bag~, ~n~b:Linçl vi~wing and in~pf~ion of the i~oosl prc)du~t~. The publl~ ha~ be~ome aci~u~omed ~o E~u~cha~ng meat ~nd poultry ~ood proi~uct~ olltained ~within ~ueh pac:kage~, no~ only heaalus~ the produc~t~ c:an ~e eagily view~ed ~.na in~;pec:ted, ~ut al50 bR,-~au~e consum~rs believe ~hat ~he ~ood prod~lat~ con'cained wlthin sui-h pa,okage~ are ~ain~ained in s~ile en~rlronm~nt~ Whlle it ~ rue that ,3uppor~ crays wi.th ~ran~pa:ten'c pla~t~c overwx ~p and tran~paren'c pl~stic bags do, i. n fac~, pro~ec~ the foc~d prod~ 'rom ~ax~ern~l aontAm~ n~tion, c:onsum~3r~ ~re no~ alw~yE; aw~re o~ th~ po~n~lal ~Qr i.n~ernal aon~amination, ~ the re~ult o$~ juice~ or liquids exuded l~rom suah ~ood prcsduat6. I~ ha~ b~en ~und ~hAt ~ulce~ o~ llqtlids exuded ~ro11n such ~ood produc~a~ cAn support t:he! ~apid growt:h o~.
~aateria which m~ g~a1:e }: a~X ln~o arld aroun~ the ~ood pro~llct~ t r~sul~ing ill ~3poil~e or det~r~ oxati.on o~ fc: od prodl~lat~3 .

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1329~73 Furtht3rmor~, ~uch exutled liquid~ c~r juiae~ axea~e an unde,~ ab~.t~
visual impresæion to a con~umer, qivi,rlg thes con~llmer ~he ~mpre~ion tha~ the ~o~d produ~ arel unapp~alin~.
As ~ re~ult~ ~uh~t:~ntial de~elopmenks h~e ~:~esen mad~s :L~
an effor'c ~o overcome ~uch problem~. In ~ene ral, ~he3~
de~elopment~ ha~re centeresd ~round thfs u~ o~ ~n a~ior~en~ Ipad hi~h i~ recelved in a supporting tra~ or b~g and underlie~ i~o~rl produ~s~cs in ~he s~lpportlng tray or ba~. ~{ow~er, th,~ pro~lem iE;
not so easi.ly ~olved ~y providin~ an ab~orbent pad a'lones I becau commonly l~;ed ab~o~ben~ pads do no~ neces~ar:Lly a~sor~ all o~
~uch liquicl~ o~ iae!~3, and ~urther, the mea~ or poul~ry pxoduc~
still aomo into conta~ct with thR jula~ r l i~uid~ ab~orhecl by~
the ab~orbent pad. As a rQ~ult, ~ome ab~or~lent pada ha~e, b~en de~reloped wi'ch an isnper~or~te pLas~ia film or non-~b~sorp~ive barrier above th~ ab~orbent pad a~lc~wing ~ide and ba~'¢om wiçk~ng ~f th~ ~3xuded liqu~d~; and ~uic:e!3, whil~ ~eekin~ ~o E~r~vent rever&s~ m~gx~tion of the liguid~ or jui~e~ bac1c in~o ~onta::t wi~h the food product~. An exalmple o:E ~ i.s ~howr~ in ~ . P~tenl:
No. 3,Q26,20g~ S~me mor~ :reaent de~telopmsnt~; hav~ i.ncluded t;l'le u~e of an a~sorbent p~d ~al~d wlthin upper and low~!r pla~tla i~ilm~, and wi~h one o~ ~he upper or low~r films being perPor~ted Por ~op and/or bc~ttom wic~lng o~ the exudRd liquld~ or ~uice~ by ~he ~b~orl~ent pad within l:he ~eal~d lpper and lower ~ilm layer~.

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Ex~mple~ c~ c;ir~m~er~n~inl and periph~xAlly ~eal~d upper and lowe~ pl~ 8 ~onta:Lning an ab~:orbent pad therein ~re hc~wn p~14024/0~1511P¦~54~D

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1329~73 by V.S. Patent Mo~. 4~27$,~11; 4,321,~97; 4~3132~507 and 4, 410, 57~ . In gener~l, these patent~; ~eaah th~t per~4rating only one ~ n layer~ re~er~,bly th~ bott.om ~ilm layer only, perml~s k~ottom w1 ak:lng an~ ~e~:~n~:ion o~ the exuded li~:~uld~; or juiceE;
wi~h~ n ~he s~lx~::un~fRrerlti;~lly ~aled upper and lower film la.yers, wi~chout: ~ny re~t~r~3e mlgrati~n o~ the liquidE; c~r ~uic~e~ h~c:k; :into thc food produc:~s.

Wh;ile ~h~ afor~mentionQd d~igns have wo~ke~ i1;e~ well for ~heir in~end~:d purpose~, they have not~ ~o1~red ~11 o~ th~

problems s~;oaiated wi~h ~xllded llqulds oX ;jUiC:~:B ~rvm meat an~
poultry products. Thus~ where th~ bot'com plA~s;tic:: f ilm 1~
per~or~'ced ~o allow ~or bot~om wicking Oh~ ome lic~uids or juices remained trApp~3~d b~tween ~ha imper~ora~R upper ~ilm la~ r And the food product, creatln~ the! po~ential ~or ~poil~ge or di~c:oloration . Even ~her~ l~o~h ~e uppe~ and low~r pla~tic: f ilm lay~r~3 have beel~ per~ora~ed to allow ~csr both top and ~ot~om wlakin~, the a~orbent; layer has no~ been suf fif~ ly abso~berlt ~o ret~in the li~auid~ or ~ulces therein. Some o~ ~hs p~ior art.
designs hav~ even sugqested various addlt:lve~ to ~he a~sorbent pad to inc::rea~e its ab~orben~; however, ~n fac:~, none of t:he propo~ed ad~ltive~ have Punctioned well ~nough to ~orb and xetain the exud~d li~;{u~d~; or iuis~ withln ~hle ab~or}: ent psld .
Where the ab . oxbent p~d hA~ reaahed it~ maximum po~en~ial D1~.02-./0~ 1910541p , .

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~329~73 al~sork~ency, no more ~f ic~idE; or ~uic:es ~ n b~ abE;uxhed, ancl 'chi ~i result~ in exaes~ ~ulceG ~em~ln~rlg o~At~ide o~ th~ al~sorber~t pacl i~or cont~c~ wi~h ~he m~a~ produ~t:s ~nd/or ~iewing by the csonstm~er.
I'~ has been observed th~lt the ~ orlbent p~.d, acsqordirlg to ~h~ U.S. Patents ~lo:~ 4,275,~.1, 4,321,~97, 4,382,~07 ~Ind 4,410,57~, canno~ E;ui'~iciently ahsor:b an~l retaln 'ch~ ~U1O~ fxo:m ~he meat p.rodus~ in ¢~rtain ~ppllç~tiotl~. ]For example~ ~.f the~
abEiorl~ent pad is expc~e~ preE;sur~, tha ~uice will be ~:quee~ed cut ~rc~m the pad an~ on~o th~ prclduct. In U. S ~ Pa'cen~ Ns;~.
4, 3 21, ~97, ~he ~orb~llt pad i~; provided with a ~:paalng means ~'or prev~n~ing the ~;qu~az~ng out o~ the juiae~, recogni~ing that ~uch p~oble~n eX.i~t~.
A~cord~:lg ~c~ the pre~ent inventic)n, it h~ n c~b~er~red 'chat: the~ lnclu~.ioh oX a superab~c~bent m~terial in ~h~ ab~orb~!nt p~d improves the ~eten~ion prope~:t~ the ab~ bent pad ~o that ~ t doe~ no~ ~iv~ of ~ ~he ab~ior~ed llquld even when ~xposecl ~o a pre~¢1lre. I)ue to t:hi~ propP.rty, lt i~ now po~ le t;o enolo~e th~ Ab~orbenl: pad withln pla~ic heet~ wher~in ~he uE~pe~
~heet i8 pl~r~o~ated. Thu3, th~ ri~3k; 1;ha~ the ~uic:e is aacumulat~ he~ween l;he me~ produc:t and ~he upper ~hee~ i~
21void~fl .
Howeve~ i3 very lmpor~ant that: ~he ~uper~b~or~ent;
particle~ ~e ~3venly ~p~¢ed wi~hln lk~e abss:3r;~ent pAd and r.~tained in plsce. According to ~h~ prese.nt inven~ion, t~i~ ob~ t i~
aahleved by inaludinc~l the guperabso~bent p~rt.i&l~3~ in a networh~

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~329~73 fo~med between cellulosic ~iber~ ancl. thermopla~tic f'iber~ (or other ~imllar flh~rs~, which are ~onided in a ~hexmobondlng proce~. The ~uperab~or~!nt particle~ a.re generally homogeneously di~pe~,s~d or evenly spaced in ~he ma~r~al and hla,ld in place ~ the int~racting ther~nop'..a~ti.c and ~ellulosic :eibq:r~3 Thus, the ~upera~sorbent pArticl~3s, when a~or~ing llquid, ~rl-prevented ~rom movlng within the mA1::erial. It i~ b~lieved tha1t;
~hl~ prope.rty i~ ~u~ lent for prevent~.ng reve~ e T1i~r~ion o:e the ~ uice8 ba~k to t~e ~eat produc~ J even when the upper :3h~et i6 perfor~ted. In applications where h~gher d~mand~ a~e pla,ae~ olr the ~b~orbent pa~, it may be constru~ec~ wit:~ an imperforate upper ~heet, but the ~ide~ ~hereo~ Inay ~tlll be unsl~led ~o th,elt the ~uiae~ e ab~:orb~d through ~ait~ Bide~.

A~cordingl~ a~ong the ~everal ob~e~t~ ~nd advantagQ~ of the pre~ent inventlon lh~lude:
the provl~;lon o~ a new and improved Ab~orJ~nt pad ~or meat and poultry product~ Whic:h ove scome thei a~orenot~d d~icienaie~ o~ the prior aXt;
t:he provl~:ion o~ the a~oreLn~ntionedà ab30rbent pad whiah includ~s a 3uperabsorb~nt to ab~orb and hold l~2ids in su~p~n~ioll within th~ al~sor~n~ pad~;

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the provision o~. the a~orel~e.nt~ ne~l a~4rb~nt pad whic:h i8 manu~ac,tured ~rom JnAn ~nade or n~ll;ura~. ~a~rics or colnbi:n~ions th~reo~, ~n~l which ~1~3o ab3or~c~ Ll~.lid~ thex~in, while. su~porti.ng and phy~i~ally retaining t:he superab~orktent in plaae ~a$mst mov~3ment;
the provigion o~ the ~o~qment~.one~ ah~orbe~nt pad ln which the superab~or~ent :~8 ~enerally hc,~nogeneou~ly or un:lfonnl~

2~J?pl 1 e~ thro~ghout the ab~o~b~nt layer to en~ble abs,orptit7n ~d ~uspen2sion o~ liquid~ by ~he ~up~ra~so~bent and ab~o~l~ing la~e throughou'c;
the provi6ion of the ~or~mentioned ab~ori7Qn~ pacl w~.c~
provide~ both top ancl~or bot~om wicking an~or ~ wickir.~g o~' li~uids or juiaeE3 the~rein, while r~tainin~ a;Ll liq~i~d~ or juice3 within the aksorbent p~d~
the provi~;lon o~ a ~nethod f~r ~onsttuct.~rag an ~b~orbent pad d~ ik,ed ab~v~ u~ing well es~b;lished m~lnu~ t~lrincs tecJhhiqu~:~L wi~h ~dditional novel pro~u~al ~tepel to ~cilitate the m~nu~ctu:re c~ ~;uch ~b~3orben~ pads: wherq~ such ~ orbent p~d~
are be manu~ac:turFed lnto in~livlc~ l c~omponents or lh ~n ~:Longat~
~trlp for sep~r~tion intc~ epa~at~ aQmponen'c~ o~: unl t:~ ~ are rslati~l~ sihlple and ea~y to c:on.~trU~t and r~anu44ture, and ar~
otl~erwise w~ll adapted for t~ p~lrpo~aq inltended.
Br~ ~Ply ~t~t~dl, th~ ~b~orbRrLt pad gor me~ ~nd po~ltry product~ an~ tho llk~ acaording 1:o th~ pr~sen~ inven~lon, lncludeE~ up~er and lower plasti~: Xilm laysrs, at le~ one of UN40:~410913119~0341D

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1329~73 whlc:h h~ a pl~rality ~ per~ora~ions thi~ret}lrou~h, and preIerably where both. have a plurali l:y o~ per~ora~ions therRthrouqh. ~n i~ ediate ab~orlbent pa.d i8 pc:siltlohed in~Rrmediat:q ~he upper and lower pl~.tic ~ilm layer~; ahd inçludes a !3eries oi` juxtapo2: ~d and overlappl!llg al~sor~ent ~nat~3rial ~i~er~;
which are c:onstru~d to provide a p.:Lura:Lity of fi;pac(~d inter~ 3s~ throll~hout the absorbent layer. Superab~sorbant granul~r plrtl~zla~ ~r~ di~per~ throt~ ut 1:.h~ abso:rbeht lay~r ~nd are ~uE~?ort~d at xandom loc:ationl; by the absorbent material ~ibers within at l~ast ~om~ of th~ i.nter~tic~ s thereof. At lea some a~ the al:~sorl~n~ matexial P~bers throughou~ the absorbent laye~ ~3eincl c~onEIltru~ed ~o g~p and phy~3:ic~al~y xetain the ~perabsorbent gr~n~lar partlole~ in pla~e in the absorbent layer. Th~! ~upe~b~or~ent gr~nulc~ part:icl~6~ are aap~ of ~bsorbin~ ~Ind ~u~pend~ng liqui~ ther~in while ~ing retained an~1 ~uppor~ed ~)Y ~h~ Absorbent m~terial ~lber~ w~ h ~1~D a~sorb ~ id~ ~herqin. ~he upper ~nd lower film layer~ a~e attached t:o one another at l~a~ pa~ti~lly along oppv~it6~ mar~inl~l ed~e portion~ th.er~o~ ~o ~etain the ab o~bent lay~!r be~we~an the upp,er ~nd lower pla~tl~ ~l;m laye~. If d~sir~d, the upper ~d lower fllm layer~ may be attached t~ one another throughou1: the ~n~i:r~
marginal ed~e portl~ns th~re~f.
~ h~ ~uper~bsorbent grAnular par~iGl~ ~r~ homogb~eou~ly dispexsed throu~hout the a~so~ben~ ~ay~r and suppor~ed in g~ner~lly ~p~oed r~lation~hip ~o one ano~her within the spa~ed DN4024/091~13glO541D

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1~29~73 in~er:3tlce~: o~ ~he ~uxtApo~ed ~nd ove!rlap~ping ab~o~ n~ mate:~icll ~ibers to eni~ble ~u~p~nsion and r~3ten~ion. of li~ by th~
~;Uperab~orbent gra~ul~ an~ ~b60rbRnt: ma~eri~l fibera,. ~he ~uper a~so~l~ant grallu:L,I3~3 may ~ lude aar~oxy~me~h~ c:~llulo~e or.
an 21cryl io 6uper~b~0~ent .
The upps~ and low~.r plas1;ic film l~y~r~ ar~ prePerably ~ormed ~rom poly~thylen~ material whi.le the ~bs~b~nt ma~erl~Ll fib~r3 of th~ ~b~or~ent 1AYe~ are pre~er~bly ~nAde ~rom oel~ul~
and ~;hermoplastl~: fib~r~. ~he abEaorben~ m~rial fiber~ m~y b~
made ~rom man made or natural ~iber~; o~ combinations ther~of ancl may be o~ woven o~ non-wo~re~n materiall but pre'~erably~ have boncie~d ~ibers ~ ~he absorl~en~ ~at~,rial ~;lbqr, s gene~,lly aomprifie ~erie~ of ~uxtaposed and overlapping abfiorbent ma~eri.al ~ibe~fi wh~h a~e ~scured So one another 1:o prov~e ~ plu~lity of int~r~a~ing struc~ura:Lly supportes~ ~i.be~ with epaced inter~tices ~hetre~e~w~en through~u~ th~ a~or~)ent l~y~r.
m e ~60r~ent pad pre~era~ly ha~ a genetrall~ rectangula~
~hape d~ined ~ two opposing pair~ a,~ margln,~l edge poxtic~n~ a~
leA~ one o e the twc~ oppo~ing pairs o~ marginal edge portic)ns belng eal6td to one another. Al~etrnatively, ~c~th of the oppo~ing palr~ o~ ma~inal e~ge por~ion~ may be ~e~ed to on2 ~no~he!r to provid~ a airaumferential ~al aroun~ the etntire ab~orb~n~ pad.
The method o~ ~on~truc~ing an ~bsorbent pa~ ~r meat ~nd poultry proclu~t~ and the l~k~ inal~de~ ~he B~ep~ 0~ f~ming uppex ~nd low~tE pla~tic f~lm ~ayers a~ leas~ ~ne of whi~h is I~N~o2~ln9l589los4lD

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' . . ' ' 1~29~73 per~or~ted: positloning ~he ~ilm ;layer~: i.n ~:pf~ced re~ation~3hip 1:o one anothe~; ~ormlng a ser~e6 o~ ;~ux~.apo~le~ ~nd o~e~Lappin~
absor~en~ materlal fi.ber~ h ~paaet.q lnt;er~tice~ the~rein l~o provide an a)~:or~3en~ m~texial laye~ ho~c~gene4u~ly di~per~;:Lng superab~rb~nt gr~nule~: throu~hou~ ~cl.id a.~iior.loent layer for receipt ~lth~n ~ le~:3t ~on~e o~ the ~"pac:e;d in~er~icet~ thereo~;
th~3rmo~0ndlng the ab~or})ent mater:lal fibex~ into hon~lEtd rqlatlon~;hlp anCI ~cuxing t~e supera1c~orhent gr~nule~; thereto;
pofiltioning tho abaorl~E~n~ ~.aye~ b~twe~n ~he upper ~n~l lowe~
pl~t~c f~lm lay~rs: movinq ~he layer.s in,'co as~3~mbl~l prox:imity to one another; and a~tac:hlng ~nar~3incLl ed.ge~ oP the upper and lower laye~ at lea~ partlally a~:Lony ~ircumferen~i~l port:LonE;
tl~6~reo~ t~ re~Aln th~ ab60rbent l~yer.~ the,rebe~t~reen~
The upper an~l lo~er fllm layer~ and the inte~ diA~e ~bsorbent layer ~nay be formed in~o an elo~gat~d ab:orban1: pad ~trlp, and th~ a)~o~bent p~d 131;rip m~ly be sep~At~d t:ran6vers~l~,r thereoP lnto di~reot un~ t~ ea~ ~orn~ing an indivlduall absorben1:
pad . In ~orming the ~310ngated al~or~ent pad ~rip, t he upper and low~r layer~ are ~tached ~o one nnot:her along ~ppo~
c~ontinuoUs :n~arginal e~ portions thereo~. Followin~ ~rAn~:~ters6 separation o~ indi~rldual a~6~orben~ pad~ ~rom ~he e~longated pad ~t~ip, 'che uppe~ and :Lower layers may }:~e a~ta~he~ al~ng Qpposlt:e par~t~d t:ransveræe ~dg~ portions i~ order ~o cir~ut~rentiall.y ~3e~1 th~ ab~orb~n~ pad thro~lghout ~che ~n~ire periE~her~l extent thereo~. Alternatl-rely, the upper an~ ~o~wer .layer~: tnay be ~R4 ~241 091~1}91a5 blD

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-~ 1329573 a'cta~::hed to on~ another hoth along o~.~po ite conti~luo~ narginal ed~e por'cie~ns ~nd along ~:p~s;:ed transver~;ely ,!3xten~in~ p~rt:ion~ l:o ~orm a serie~ o~ ab~o:~b~nt pads w:i~hi.n the ~b~or~qnt pad ~1:rip, and wlt~ th~ abso~benlt pad strip ~ein~ separ~ted ~lo~g l;he spaced trnnsvRrsely ex~endlng por~.~ ons the~e!of ~o ~orm individusl ab64rhent p.~ he 1:ranver~;ely extendlng portl4n~ may also be perforated t~e~ealon~ to faailitAt:e ~eparation int~ indiviclual ~bsor~ent pad~.
otnex ol~ea~E~ and re&lture~ o~ ~he pr,~ent inv~ntic)h wi.l.l b~come more ~eadlly apparent f~om the en~3uing d~oxip~ion.
sr~ f ~\~36ÇI;'.i~8 In the dx~awing~3, FIG. ~ an explod~3d i~ ric. ~iew o~
the c:ompon~n~3 or l~yq~rs forming t:he ~b~or~3en~t pa~ o~ the p~e~enlt inveh~ion t F~. 2 ~ n enlarged i~c,metria view o~ ~ortion~ o~ eaLc~
of th~ aompvnents or la~rers of th~! ab~orbent l~ad o~ ~h~ pr~ent:
lnventlon;
FIG . 3 i~ ~n i~ome~r~a view of a:n ~b~30xb~nt p~d in a~mbled r~lationship and ready for u~e;
FIG. 3A i~ an i~onle~ri~ vi~w of ~n abso~b~nt pad posi~ioned in a ~ransp~rent plastic b;~g cont~:ininq a poul~y pro~u~;
FIG, 4 ls a ~ragment~r~ ectl~nal vie~w oi~ th~ upper ~ilm layer a~ ~i6~wed along lin~; 4-4 of P~ r ;2;

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' ~329~73 ~ :G. 5 i~ an enlalAged fr~gme.~nt~ry pe~r~pe~titre view o~
the intexme~diate absor~ent la~er .a~ vlewed al.ong lines 5-5 of FI~. 2;
~ G~ ~ 1B an enlRrged ~ragmen~ary s~at~onal vi~w o~ th~
a~sembled absoxb~nt pad a~ ~iewed ~long l.ine~ ~-6 of th~ F:C~. 3, FI~. 7 i~ ~ top plan ~iew il.lust:r~i ng ~ . ~er~e~ o;~
ahsorbent pads ~o~ned in an elong;~tet~ pa~ 3tr:ip ~nd ~1ith a s~rie~
of psrPorations ~o~m~d in ~:he ~lo~qat.ed pad ~trlp t~ ~a~ L~ate separatioh in~o indivldual ~b~orbent p~d ;
FIG. ~ is a ~ide el~va~lonal vi~w of the elon~ted pad ~t~ip ~hown in FI¢. 7;
~ G. ~ is a top plah vi~w of an a~sorben~. p~d h~v:ing only oppo~ite marginn'L edge po~tion~ o~ t~e upper and lower ~ilm layers ~aled to one anoth~r;
FI4. 10 i~ a top ~.an ~i~w clf an absorbent pad h~ring ~11 marginal ed~e portlon~ o~ the upper and lowe~ film ~ay~r s~aled ~o one ano~-her ~o a~ to ~ir~ium~erentially ~eal the ab~or~e~ layer wi~h~n th~ upper ~nd lowe~ ~tlm l~y~rs;
FI~. 11 is a gr~a~y enlarge~d 6chem~tiç vi~3w of the ab~orbent pad inc~luding abMorbent mat~ri~l ~iber~ And ~uperab00rbent granula~ p~rkl¢l~ pri.o~ to the~mo~ond.lng ~hereof;
and ~IG. 12 i~ a ~che~ati~ vlew similar ~o ~G. 11 after -~
thermobonding tho ~b~orb~nt pad.

DN41~a4/05~1~8g/354113 1329~73 correspohdill~ re~ererae n~}neral~ will be u~ed thr.oughou~
the varioll~ flgures o~ the d~wings.
I)eE;~;~;2tion_of thç Pr~ferr~ o~ ent Re~ren~e 1~ now madç~ tc~ ~h,e dxawlng~ ~o~ ~ de3ar~p~ n of t}~,e a~sorberl'¢ pad ~or rhe~t ancl poul~r~t product~ ~nd the li~e~, toge'che~r w.Lth ~he Jn~i:hod ~or ~ons:truatlng ame. In ~ha discus~ion tha'c i~ to follow, it will be under~tood tha'c l;h~3 purposç~ o~ ~h~ ab;o~en~ pad ls t:o absorb ~luid~ or liguicl~ th~
2~re exuded ~rom proc~2sed mea~ ~uch a~ meat ~nd poultry p~oduct~ In ad~t~c)n, the a~ orben~ pa~d may be u~d ~n other market~ or exampl~, whe~e ~::ontamlnated hum;~n and anima~ blocld shlpmen~s m~y r~stuir~! an al~rl~ent pad i:n ~h.ipment.
The ab~orben~ pad i: g~nerally ~derl~ified in E`IGS, ~ 1- 3 b~r the numeral 1 and ~.nclude8 ~pper and lower plasti~ f~.lm laye rs 3-5 and inl:erlnediate ab30rk~en~ layer 7. A~ :;llus~rated in the drawlng~3, t:he absorbe~ pad ~ i~ pre~er~bly ~s~ rect~n~ular ~;h~p~
3Q a~ t~ b~ po~itlone.d along or 8UPPDrte~ by a~ least par~ ~f the bc~ttom ~z~ll of a re~ngul~r~shaped ~upporting trely ~ ~hown ln dotted ~in~s in E~IG. 1 of ~he d~awings, or alon~ one sidl3 of a ~xanspaX~ent pl~ia ~ 10 ao~taining a poulll~ry pr~duct P, ~or example, a~; ~;hown ln FIG. ~ o~ the drawlng~.. When ~he upper and lowe~ f ilm lAyer8 ~%, 5 and interlnediate ab~;orbent ,la~er 7 Are z~ 3mbled t:o one anot~er, ~he ~nargin~l ~dge p~r~ion~; 11 o~ ~he upper ~nd lower ~il~ layer~ ~r~ attached to ~n~ ot:h&r, thxough the u~e o~ heat ~nd/or pre~;~ure, to ciraum~eI.~ntially attAc:h and DN402/./Ogl589~03hlD

, .

:

~:

132~73 seal the upper ~nd low~r ~ilm laye.r~ 31 5 to one another, a.s be~si~
se~n in FIG~. 3 and ~ of the drawi.ng~. FDr ~om~ product~, it m~!y be nece~s~r~ to ~l on~y oppo~3i~e: m~r~inal e~ge portion~3 o~ the upper and lower ~1~ layers in the! ~sorbent p~ w11]. ~e discuss~d herea~er~ ~h lieu of ~leat. and/or ;p~s~urs ~e~li.ng, ho~ mel~ or c:old Adh~a~iveY may ~e! u~ed ~o ~e~l the m.arginal ~clc~e po~ion~ oi' th~ upp~r nd low~r ~ilm lAyer~3 or ~hq~:a ~, 5.
A~ shown ln FIas~ 1 and 2 oft ~he d~awing~ koth oi' the~
upper and lower pl~s~c:ia f ilm ~:heet:~ ~, 5 are provide~ with a series o~ perforAtlon~ or opening~3 scattered acro~3 th~ ~aul-fac~
thereo~ in a prado~ennlned p~tter~ m~y be de~iredL. ~n the upper layer 3, per~or~tlon~ 13 are pro~ided, ~nd ih ~.he lower ~ilm layer 5, per~r~lon~ 15 are ~hc~wn. In the preferred embodiment of ~he ~nvention, both o~ the upper an~L lower p~La~tic ~ilm layer~ 3, 5 ~r~ perforated LJI o~der t~ provide bo~h top allcl botto~ ~icking o~ ~he ~b~orbent l~yer 7, a~ wlll becoma ~pp~rent~ ~he u~per ~nd lower pl~ti~ f~lm la~r~ are pre~erahly both mad~ ~ro~ po1~th~len~ material, ~nablin~ eit~er the uppe~ :
or low~r ~ilm lay~r 3 r 5 t:o al~o ~:er-~e a~ ~ hyd~c)pho~ bar.riex ~o proc~ss~d meat with re~pe~ to re~erse migration o~ liguids fr~m ~i~hin ~he absor~ent l~yer 7~ The per~oration~ 13 ln the upper lay~r ~nd per~oration~ 15 in t~le low~r lay~r will allow llquid~ to pa~ ther~hrou~, over a predeter~ined ti.m~ p~r~od~

DN4024/09lSa9/D5~1a .

~ `
"'~

, .

1329~73 such that l:Lquids will not overfil~ th~ orbes~ yer 7. To f~nctio" A3 'I n'~;elld~a ~ it i~ lmpor~,n~ tha~ the aomponen~ o~ the preE;e,nt lnv~ntion Abgorb ~.nd hold ~lu:id~; an~ :L ls[uids therein, as will bec:om~ appAr~n~. .
For ~3~Allng t:he marginal ~dges of ~h~.t upper and lc,wer film 3, 5 to on~ ~noth~r n~ong m~rginal e~ga portic)n~, po~y~thylene work~ qtaite well ~or ~hi6 purpo~, through the uEie:
of h~ and pr~sgur~ t:o .ea~ and klond marginal edge por~ior!s of:
the Upper and lower ~ m layers together, 2S E;hown, ~o~ exzlmple, in FIG . 5 O:e t~ dr~w:Lng~ a~ ga in, hot .meI~:~ 4~ cold adhesivaE; m.~y b~ emplo}red a~ dl~:aussed abov~.
Att~ntion 1~ now d.ixeo~ecl ~ the in~e~media~ b6c~r3~ent layer 7 ~st ~hown 1~ PIGS. 1-2, ~ n~ 11-12 o~ ~he. drawlngs., ~he a~svrb~nt pad may b~ ~on~tru~t;ed ~rom man ma~e o~ natural ~iber~ or ~ ao~b~n~tion th~reof, el~hex wo~eh or non-wov~n r wh~c~h a~e ~ecur~d or at~hud to one anoth~.r~ Preferahly, the a~orbent m,~ter~ iber~ of the absc~r~nt pad ara ~orm~d 1~rom c~llulo e an~ ~h~rmopl~stl~ f~bex~ (i.e., polyole~ln) that are non-woven and ~aoh~d to one ~nother. Pr~erably, t~e cellulo:e and ~hermopla~tl~ ~ib~r~ are ~ux~apo~d and overlapp~ or supe~impQ~ rel~tive to one anoth~r and compre~ed ~ici~ntly to main~ain their relatlve con~is~ency or integri~ during man~faatur~ng ope~ation~. M~re ~p~ ally, th~ ~x.taposed ~s~cl o~re~lapping abs~orl~ent material ffb~r~ ar~ seaured ~o one ano~hf3r a~ a plural~y o~ inte~c'clng, sl;ru~ura~ly supported fi~er.~

PN~024/Ogl5h9t~';4111 ~ 15 --.. ..

' ~ ' ' h~ ing ~;pac:ed in'c~r~k.ices t.hereb~t;ween, ~or purpo~e~ which will be~om~ app~rant.
Wh~t~vRr absor~nt ma~riLal .~i~er~; ~re ~o~!n, it is 1mportant that th~y no~ only ahsor.~ f.lu1d~ ancl liquidls ther~in"
bll~ al~o are ~apable o~ ~upport1n~3 su.per~bsor~6~n~ gr~lnule particles g4nerEllly de~i~na~ced 17 1 n the dr~wings whloh are di~3per3~d ~hrou~ou~c ~he ~ ;orbenl: laye~ 7.
A~ will be Alppreci.~ted, ¦uxt:.apo~ed an~ overlappin~
a~orben'c ~aterlAl ~1ber~ will havR i,.n~er~tic~ or ~q~
therebetween, wh~c:h may be enlarged ~:,y th~ flexinS~ o~ the m~terial ~ibers, ~o receive ~he superab~orben~ gr~nular partic.les 17 di~per~ed within at lea~ ome o~ the lnte,rs~ice~, between juxtaposed ~nd o~v~rlapping materi,~l ~I'lbe~.
The ~upe~ab~or~ent, granu:lar p~t~ le:~ 17 axe homo~eneouE;ly dis~pQr k!~ ~hro~ghout the a~6~rk)en~ layer 7, eithler a~; the ~uxt:apo~ d. ahd o~erlapping ma1::~3rial fibex~ o~ thq ~sorl~ent layer 7 are l~rough~ ~nt~ aE;6embled r~l~t1c)nship to one ano~her or E;llb~quently ~n the fo:rnat;ion o~ t:h~3 ~bsorbent layer 7, ~uC:h a~ by unifor~l~ dustirlg or spre~ding the supe~rab64r~ent granule~ 17 throughout the ab~b~n~ lay~3r~
It wlll ~e noted ~rom FI~So 5-6 of t;he clraw:Lng2~ that the ~uper~bsor~ent g~nul~s 17 are generally homogon~30us Ly or unlforml~ dispersed th~oughout ~h~ absorbent layer 7 inc:lu~ng within the ab~or~en~ l~yer ~ a~3 w~ s on thle ouS;er ~ur:eac:~
ther~ , Ths ;uper2~b~0rbent gran~lar par'c~ efi 17 ar.e aloo ~hown DN4o24/o~s~lplos~lD
1~ -.

, .

, .
. ~ , .

1329~73 a~ be~n~ e~ di~e~nt 8iZe~B ~hroughoult the absorl~n~ layer 7, requlrin~ ~he inte~st:Lae~; ~e~weer~ xt~po~;ed e~nd overlappirlg materlal ~ r~ to exp~nd or enlarge ~ in E~om~ aa~eti, to ~oaommodE~e ths var1QIloe 6izeF~ of ;up~rzlb.sor~ nt gx~ ar p~rticle~ 17, a~ will be appreolat:ed.
Sp~ol~lc :Ls~renc:e i~: now made ~o onl~ pre~err~d em~odimQnt o~ tha pre~:e~t invent~on in wh~h ~ellulo~lc fiber~
and ~hermop1as~ia ~ r ~re bohded in a th~mo~ondlny proce~s t:o form the ab.30rben~ ph~ ally retl1ned in pl~e by khe thormoplastic An~ cellulo~ic ~iber~ e.ven a~te~ liquid is akl~orb~

in the ~up~:rabsorben~ ~anular par.ticllea and ~bEi~o~bent ma~er ~i~er~ .
In ~orming th~ ah~ork~en~ lay~e~ 7, cQllulosi~ fibe~s 3~., thermopl~ bers ~or ~i~rilR) 33 ~nd ~uper~b~c~rbent ~r~lnular partial~ 17 are homo~3enou~y blended and air~ on a wire in a aon~en~ional d~y ~orm:Lng proc:edur~ ~ e, ~ . ~h~ gene~al procedure as de~cribQ~ ln publL~hed t.J~ Patert Appl.ica'cion No~ 200~62~ A. ~le re~ult~ ng m~terial on th~ wlre i8 ~hown enla~g~d in P'i~. l;l ~ Th~
celluloE~la ~iber~ 31 ar~3 p~i~ble elc~ngated aylind~rs positloned in a random orienta~ion a~ ~;hown. q~he ~uperabsc:~rbent; granul~
particle~ 17 have dl~ ren~ size~ as qhown alnd ar~ homo~enously dl~itributed throughou1: ~he entirs~ ~h~c:kne ~ of th~ materi2~ .he thermopl~t~c fiber~ 33 ar~ px~erably ~pu~ed po~yo~,e~in i.-iber~:
o~ the ~ype PU~PEX ~ ~g de,~or~bed in UB P~tent No. 4, 45~, 042 ancl are very i~ine hlghly ~ran~hed, di.con~inuou~ fikrils made ~rom I~N~024/091~9tO-.~lD
~ 17 --., .
' ~

' i ~ ' .:, ', " ' '' :....... ' "
.' :, ' ': ' ' . ~ .,. . ' ' ;
~' ' ' . ~ " . ' , , ,:
' "' - , ' , 1329~73 t~ermopla~tic pol~mer~,~ Spur~ed polyolefin pulp~ have a lclrge ~ur~a~e area And low densities~. q~he ~ibrils 3~ ~re ~chemat:ical].y ~hown ~ irregul~r bodle~ ln F15~
The m~erlal ~hu~; ~ormed c~ he wl~e i~ en heat consolida~e,d in ~ m~.nn~r known pex sel. The m~ rl~l a~er heat;
~us~ion i~; ~;.hc~wn in Fic,~ whi~::h s;~ow~ ~hç qAmE~ mat~rial ~ Fig.
11 ~fter he~ ~u~lon. Durin~ thA fu~iont the ~ibrils~ contr~ct and re~orm to droplets~ 35 ak; ~;hown in ~g. 12. ~urlng ~h~
~usion, the flb~ bocom~ s~icky and adhere ~o th~ c~llulosi~
Pib~rs and to any ~raJIular partic~e& in t~e vlcinity therec,P.
Th~ llulo~ fib~s are drawn ~oget:her as ~hown.at 37, 3~, 41, 43 and 45 in Fig~ 10 when ~he ~ibril~, fuse 1:G droplet 33. '~he ther~nopla~tic~ er~ o~ r~ alæo adher~ to aLny granular particle~ hown a~ 3g ~ 47, 4~ elnd 51. Some granular partiole~
are Rnclo~e~ in meE~heo 53 forlned by t.he c6~11ulo~ eræ ~l ~ncl th~ droplet~ 35, whil~ ~ome g~nular parti~les l~F are still fr.6!e wi~hin the ma~rial a~ ~hown in Fig. 12.
It is alearly ~een in Fi~. ~.2 tha~ ~h~ m~terlal ai-`tex heat aonsolidation fo~s a non-woven, bonded pad or a~orbf~nt ~a~erial whe~eln th~ cellulo~ia ~ib~r~ a~e ~tru~turally bonded in me~hes by ~he th~rmop~ti~ ~iber to ~orm an ab~or~nt pafl 7.
~he den~ity o~ the p~ is ~ontr~lled ~o that the pad ha~ A
¢ertain, a~pill~ry actlon ln ~rd~r to tran~po~ any liquid en~rlng ~he pad ~om ~ither th~ bottom or the ~op ~hroughs~ut 1he t~rial. ~uring ~uah tr~n~port, the liquid me~to ~up~a~rb~nt DN4024 /8~1158~/0941D

13~957~

gr~nu~ar pa~icle~: ~7, whic h ab~o:r}~ t~he 1 i~uid . In ~Ibsorl~;ing uid, th~ æuper~.b~o:rbent gr~nuli~r ~:larticle~: 17 ~xp21nd and re~orm to a yel which, unlesg resltraiined, C:~n ~elc~cat:R within 1-~e me~ es o~E th~ c:alluloi~.c ~lbers. Ho~ ever, sinc~ luany sl2perab 7;0~b~n~ g~anular partloles 17 are ad~ere~ by t:he ~h~zmopl~stic dr~pletl~ 35, ~;uoh adhel:ance! pxe~en~ th~
~uper~ orbent granul~ pa~ le~;, when ~orm~d into al gel hy ~he a1~sorp~lon of wa~er, :erom mo~ring ~erom their ~ix~d loaationr, ln th~ mat-erial. A~,~o, 1~ ~he mesh~s ol ~he o~llulo~ia ma~erial ar~3 6u~iciently 1;igh~, ~h~3 gel ~odie63 are prevent~d ~rom relocza~ing withln ~h~ materi.~lO Fortuna~ely, the c~pillary aatioll men~ioned above alk;o mean~ that rathe~ ~ight: meE;he~ must be f~xmed and thua, th~ m~tex~al is ~o~ d with a rather ~igh density, a~;
oompared. ~o c~1:he~ ~im:Llar pro~uatE;. The mate:rial ac~ordi~ o the pr~ent in~r~n~iorl thus has ~ relativ~ly high de~ y and a rel~lv6~ly his~h stru~1:ural bondinc1, whi~h i8 ;~ahif~ed ~y the addition o~ a high pxoportion o~ t-.hermoplasti~ ma~arial Pib~rs.
rery lFIlporta~ At, the ~uper~ orben'c granu7 ar par~içl a~ ~re r2tained ~n plac:~ within ~h~ a~sorbent layer 7, e-ten afte~ liquid 1~3 ab~orb6id in thR superabsorbent ~ranulclr partlale~3 arld absorbe1~t ~ erlal ~ibers. w~en th~ ~up~rAb~ r~n~
~ranul~r particsleis a~.o~b ll5~uld, they exp~nd and ~ m a gel. If ~u~h ~ Pree wl~hln the materi.~l, it wlll tend to ~c~cumulate ~t the ~ottom o~ the ~naterial and bloc:k the hole~ 13 in the ~heet 3 ~A p~r'cl~ally ~hown at hol~ 13 i.n Fig. ~ and al~ blo~:k the D~4~24/osll~s~os~lD

~ . , .
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' , 132~73 entranc~ o~ Purther liquid in the mal::eriall ~rom th~t side. Surh ~el blo :::king iæ a m~,~ or problem and :Ls ~olved. ac~:~3rd~Lng to the pres~nt inven~ion by l:he i~ZlC'C 'chat tlle s~lp~rabsorl~enl~ granular partiol~:s u.r~3 preven~ed ~rom moving wlthi.n thi~ m~teria~ afker a3~rb~n~ liquid by ~he structural me~he~; of ~h~ mate:rial .~nd by the adherance to ~h~ ~hermopla~'clc f:iber~l.
P.~ compared with prior a:rt prodt:lc~3, the ~uperabsorben ~.
granular p~r~icl~s 17, toge~her wi~h ~he a~so~ben~ ma~la;l fil~ers, su~stan~ially incr~a ~ the f:luid or l.~idl r~at~antior~ of the ab~orben~ pad 1 o~ ~he pre~ent invqnt:ion. Thi~: p~Xlllit5 bOtkl ~h~ upper ~nd lower ~ilm lflyers to be pe!rfor~,ted, allowing both ~op ~nd bot~om wic:king o~ t:he intQrmediat:e akl~orl~ent l~ye~ 7, which al~orb~ and su~pe~dE~ ~lu~d~; and liçluid~. therein. Thu~, little c)r no rever~e imigratlon of ~he~ ~luid~: or ll~uf~d~ b~k into çon~act w~h ~he proae~3~d me~t p:roduc:t~3 will be Re~litted ~ince ~he ab~or~ent m~t~rlal ~ibe~r~ o~ ~he absc rbent layer 7 ~ to~ether with the ~3uperA~s~ben1; grz nular p~rtial~ 17, r~tain ~ r substanti~l~y all o:~ ~he ~luld or lic~uid p~oduçt thereln.
It h~s been di~cov~red th~t by retaining ~upe~a~r~ent pa~cles 17 withln ~ a~t ~;ome o~ ~he intex~ ice~ o~ m~Ghçs of the jux~aposed and ove~lapping ab~3er~enk material ~ er~: a~; w~
as being a~lhered tc~ ~iomo o~ the ~ 3r~, the sup~rab~c~rben~
part~ales 17 will ~ ork llqu~ d whilq~ be~ h~ held in pl~ce~ by mat~ial ~ibe~; tl~a~ al~;o ab~orb ~ id, as we,ll. The r~ult 1 subRtan'cially great~r liqui~l ~e~ tlon ~h~n prior ;~r~ evic:es, 1~1140a~ /0915~g/Ds~lD
-- ~0 --: , ':

,: ~
.
...

1329~73 while prev~.h~cin~ reverse migration o e th~ ~u~ces baalc into conta~ w~ th the mQa~ or poultry produat, eve!n Wh~II e~xp~ed t~.o pressure fx o~n th~ w~lght o~ the produat: . As a xe~ult, i~ i~
po~sible l:o enolose the absorbent pa~ wit:hln upper and lower pla~tic ~ilm~ whexe both th~ sheets are perfora~ce~ her~by avoiding the rl~k ~:hat ~uice ~ accur~ul~l:ed ~-e~ween the meat or pou~try produqt and the upper ~ha~t. The abP~orbent pa~ y be used ln other applia~tlon~ wh~r~ top and~'or bot~c7m and/or side wic~king or rapillary ~raction ig de~ired, a~i di c:u~sed herein.
q~le ~uper~bsorban~ granul~r parl;icle~ 17 ar~ ~elec~ed ~rom ah~mic:al compound~ tha~ have a li~u:Ld ~uperab~o:rp~io:n capabil~ty. Some~ chemlcal comlpound~ tha1^ ha~re been Pound particu~arly e~ective fo~ this purpo~e :include a Garbox5~-methyl-aellulose æuper~bsorl~l~nt aompc~und And an ~arylic~
~perab~o~ent ~ac~ylic aaid and ~odium aarylate aopolymer) compound. Bo~h o~ 'che~e chemiaal oompounds are USDA,/FDA appr~ed or appr~va~ hemical compound~ th~ c:an be uEied in ~c~nnecstion with proc~.3{~cl me~ ~roduat~. Other ~uperab~l~rbent (~hemic:a.l compoun~ls that aan be u~;ed ~ uspenclecl c~ranulelr pa~l;ic;~le~ 17 wl~hin ~he a~orbent layer 7 may Ibe u~ed, a~ de~ire~
~ s~ addi~ion ~o ~op and bo~1;om w~.Gking throuc.~h the uppar and lower ~ilm layer~ 3, 5, ~n ab~orbetl~ pad 1 may h~ ~onstructed a~ ~hown in FIG. g o~ the draw~nç~s wherei.n th~ upper and lower film lAy~r~; along oppo~:~te ~n~rqinal ç.~ds~e~ , l9 ~ay ~ ~e~le~t ~oge~h&r, lea~irlg an ~xpo~ed pai~ of gld~: or end ma~qlrlal ,~dge~;.

~N402~/1)915~ 54111 .' ~' ' ' . .
' " : :' , .

^` ~32957~

This will e:nabl~ liqu:Ld~: or fluid~; t~, enter t:he int~rm~r~liat:e absorbent l~y~r 7 ~h~u~h ~;ide wic:kir,,g or aapillary ac~ion, a~
will be 2~ppar~nt. FC~o 10 lllu~;'c2~a~e~ an em~dlment ~imil~lr ~o FIG. 3 o~ the d~awing~ wnere ~ our marginal e~ a 21 o~ ~he a~3orb~3nt pad 1 hRv~ the upper a~cl lc,wer fllm lay~r~ ~ealed to pro~lde a circum~erentiallyr ;ealecl akl~orl3en~ pad 1 c:ont ainlng l:~e in~ermedl~te ~or~ent lay~r 7 th~rei.n.
The me~hod ~ e con~.tructillg e,n a~:orl~ent pa~l ~L wil:L
be~ome appa~en~ by re te~ring ~o ~I~S . 1-2 ~nd 7-8 o~ the drawing~. Tha method ~tepot inc:lud~ ~orming upper and lower pla~tit:: ~ilm l~y43rE;, ,~ nn~ o~ which ~ ~ per~or2lte~ a~
~;hown in FIGS. 1-2 o~ th~3 drawing3~ t:he upper and lower fi:lm layer~ 3, 5 mu~t b~ po~it~c)ned ln a ~;pac~e!d rel~ n~hlp to one Ano~her priox ~o ;!lssembly, a~ al~ shown in FIGS. l-Z. Thl-in'cerme~iate ab~sox~etlt mat~rial layer 7 may ~e fo~me~ ~y ~ ~eries o~ juxtapo~ed a~d ~vQrlapping ab~or~e:nt ma~6~rial ~iberG with ~pa~ed inte~s~lae~ there~n, ~ d~ rs.~d al~ve, ~d witlh ~uper-ab~o~b~nt granul~r particle# hc~mogeneouE;ly disE)~rsed throuclhout, for rac:~ip~ w~thin z~ leaE;t ~ me o~ the ~:pac-~ed inter~ti~ee, ~h~ ~anner o~ ~o~min~ ~he inte~m~di~te a~orberlt materlal l~yer 7 ~nd homo~neou~ly di.~;persin~ th~ 3upera~gorben~
gran~lar par~icle~ 17 h~ ~l o ~en cll~c~s~ed abov~. Wheh ~o GOn~tructec~ the ~ib~or~en~ materi~l layexs 7 i3 then po~itioned be~ween ~he upper ~nd lower ~ilm l~iyeix~ 3, ~ a~ .ihown ln FIGS.
1-~ o~ the dirawinc~, and the l~yer~ ~Ira moved into a~;6embl~d PN4024/O~,S~i~/0541D

"' . ~ , , :

proxim~ty 'co dne ~hoth~r~ to enabl~3 maLrglnal edge of ~he upper and lower layex~; 3, 5 a~ leel~ pal~ia~i ly ~,long cl~Gumlterent.i~l port Lons thereo~ ~o be attaahedt for retai.nlng the ah~i:orhen~
l~yer 7 therebe~we~n, A ~hown in FI(i,. 7 of ~he dx~wlng~, the layers 3, 5 ~n~l 7 h~ay .bR ~o~med lnto an el.on~at:ed alb~;c~bent pad ~;trip Z3 which i~ protlided with a ~ie of perforati~ns ~5 ex 'cer~din~ trAt~gve~ely acro~s thQ ~trip to enable lhdll vidua l ~ o~bent pAd~ o be ~orm~d. Al~rrl~tlvely, the str.ip Z3 may be au~ ~t various pxedetermined location~ by a UE;er~ A~ ~hown in FIGS. 7 o~ the d~wlng~, th~ upper ~ncl lower fi:lm layer~ be a~tached to on~3 another a~ong oppo~t~i! contln~al marglnal edge po~iLon~ 27 dur$ng ~he as~e~ proc~e~, and f~ollowln~ ~eparatior Of ~he elon~ated ab~orben~ pad ~trip .:~3 into dli~arete absor,bent pad~ 1, ea~h ab~orb~nt p~d 1 may b,e provlded with opposed attached or s~a~le~l m~rginal e~g~t l~ ~ 19 as in the YIG.
embodiment, or may be ~dditionally ~e~led ac:rc~3s ~h~ l:ran~;~rer~e 6eparate~ or p~r~rate~ por~ion ~o pro~ d~ all ~our ed~e~; ~eale~l a~ ~ 21 ~n F~G~ 10 o~ ~h~ drawings. Ial t~hql al~sem~ly pxoc:e~s, the elon~at~.d al~eo~bent p~d :trlp 23 may be at~¢hed 1:o one another b~t.h alon~ oppo~;ite conti~uoU~; ma~in~l edge por~ion~ 2 7 and al o alon~ 3paced tran~;ver~ly ext~.endlng portlon~ ; in ~he v~cinity c)~ -he perfc~ratIon~a 2 5, EiU~h that upon E;eparating indivldu~l ~b~3:orben~ pRds 1 fxom ~h~ ~loncJated absorb~nt pa~
strip 23, ~h~ ab~;orl~nl; paa~: 1 will alr~dy be ~onned in th~
c~iraumi~erentlally ~ od em~c~dim~3nt: b~ttwe~n ~our seal~d eqg~ 21 DN40;~410ql5a~/0~41D
-- ~3 -- .

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1329~73 a~i showrl in ~ ;. 1C) oi~ ~he~ dr~.wing,i~. In Isuch a cai~e, th~
pe~orationlS 25 ~xt~ncl a~.ong and s~pa:ra~e the ~r~n~:ver~:ely geale!d por~ion~ o~ thi~ elong~ ed ab~orber,~ p,~ ~trip, ~n~bling ind~vidual abiso~b~nt E~ad~ 1 to be ~orimed thereby.
Fr~m ~ orc~yoing, it wi.ll :oe appreriated thiat juiçeE.
or l.iquld~: :Erom $ prod~lqt restirlg on the ab~o.rbent pad 1 wi11 pas~3 ~hr~ugh ~h~ p~ c~Ation~3 13, 15 in the uppex ~nd lowe~r ~
layer~3 3, 5 to pr~v1de! ~op and~or bo~tom ~wis::k.Lng o~ the absor~e!nt p~d 1 aa d~3ire~ ~h~! çapillAry action o~ the e~bi~iorl~ent m~.'ceri.~:l fibers iand ~he sup~r~}~orben~ ~ri~nular partic::Lea 17 ln the a10 orbeht 1~y~r 7 tencl 'cc~ draw the, li~id~ c)r juic~ into t:he ab~orban'c layer 7, inc:1uding ~he E;uper~b6Dxhen~ ~r~4nular particles 1'7, wh~e they are ab~orbed and ~3uslp~ndR~ th~rein, out o~ c,o~ltac~ wi~h the ~ood product. Th~ 6uperal~0rbent granular parti~-les 17 axe supporte~ wlkhln inters~ e~ be~ween ~uxt~Lpo~;edL
and ov~rl~pping ab~or~ent materl~ ibe~xs ~x~ndlng th~oughou~
the abso~ben~ layers ~, and toge~her wi~h the a1~ or}~nt mat:eria].
~iberf~, th~ 63uper ~b~rb~n~ gr~nular partic:le~ ~7 will ~:ub~t~n'cially lnc:re~;e ~hs Plui~ or llquid :~eten~ion o~ th~
al:~orbent p~d l. A~ a re~ul~, ~h~re will be l~tkle Clr no r.evel.~;e mi~r~tion of the i~luid~ or liqui~lE; b~lc in~o ~ontact with ~ea~
produat, e~en whe~e perfo~atic)n~3 13 are provlded in th~ uppe~
~llm l~yer 3. In ~me c:a~a~ where ~lde wic:kin~ is3 de~ired, t~ e embodin~eln1~ ~hown in ~ may b~ u~ed where ~nl~ two oppo~;ite marginal edgeæ o~ the absorbent p~d 1 ar6~ ~ealecl; ln other 11N402410gl-e9fO'i41D

, :

instance~;, circ~um~rentlal sealing o~ all o:e the m~L~glnnl e(~ge por~ n~ o~ the ~.b~30rbR~t pe~d, a~ :3hown ir.~ ~X~ . lo of the drawing~ y be used ln the de~i;ired ~a~sorbent. l?ad 1 to be con~tructe~ .
~ cordlng to the pre~ent inve.lnticln th~ ab~orbent: p~d ~nd the me~hod. ~f con~trua~in~ 4me provit'ieE; rleW and l~npre~rba r~ul1~a ~nd proce~ural Btep~ no h~reto~o:re c~ ntempl~.ted~ It will ~hu13 be ~een ~hat. th~ ~ev~ral obj ects and i.'~atur~E~ o~ l:hi~ inY~n ~ion are ac:hieved c~nd ~her advantage resu~l.t~ alt~ai.ned.
~ s variou~3 changes aould l~e ~alde ln ~he above aonstructton~; and. m~thod~ wlthout depar'cing from ~e ~;cope o~ e lnventlon r it i~ 'cend~ad that all mat.:t~r aon~.alned ln the ~bov~
de~orlptlon or ~:hown in ~he accomp~ny~l.ng drawin~6 ~ha~l be~
ln~erpr~d AQ lllu~tra~.ve and no~ lrl ~ ~.lmit;ing ~eh~;eo D!l~24/~qlsa~os'~D

, ~ .
. , , .

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Claims

1. An absorbent pad for meat and poultry products and the like including:
upper and lower perforated plastic film layers;
an intermediate absorbent layer disposed between said upper and lower layers and having a plurality of juxtaposed and overlapping absorbent material fibers which are operatively secured to adjacent absorbent material fibers in structural supporting relationship and are also constricted to provide a plurality of spaced interstices extending throughout said absorbent layer;
a plurality of superabsorbent granular particles dispersed throughout the absorbent layer and being supported at random and spaced locations by said absorbent material fibers within at least some of the spaced interstices, at least some of the absorbent material fibers throughout the layer also being constructed to grip and physically retained some of the super absorbent granular particles in place in the absorbent layer, said superabsorbent granular particles being capable of absorbing and suspending liquids therein while being supported and physically retained in place by the absorbent material fibers of said absorbent layer even after liquid is absorbed in said superabsorbent granular particles and absorbent material fibers;
and said upper and lower perforated plastic film layers being attached to one another at least partially along opposite marginal edge portions thereof to retain said absorbent layer between said upper and lower layers.

2. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 1 wherein said superabsorbent granular particles are homogenously dispersed throughout said absorbent layer and supported in generally spaced relationship to one another while said juxtaposed and overlapping absorbent material fibers conform to the shape of said particles in surrounding locations thereof, in order to provide suspension and retention of liquid by said superabsorbent granules and absorbent material fibers.

3. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 2 wherein the upper and lower perforated plastic film layers have a plurality of perforations which are dimensioned and arranged across each film layer to permit liquids to pass therethrough for entry into the absorbent layer over a predetermined time period.

4. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 1 wherein said juxtaposed and overlapping absorbent material fibers are secured in bonded relationship to one another to provide interacting fibers for structurally supporting and retaining in place said superabsorbent granular particles.

5. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 1 wherein said superabsorbent granules comprise carboxy-methyl-cellulose.

6. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 1 wherein said superabsorbent granules comprise an acrylic superabsorbent.

7. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 1 wherein said absorbent pad is formed as a series of adjacent absorbent pads frangibly connected to one another in an elongated strip, opposite marginal edges of each pad being sealed along the opposite marginal portions of upper and lower perforated plastic film layers.

8. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 1 wherein said absorbent pad, including all layers thereof, has a generally rectangular shape defined by two opposing pairs of marginal edge portions, at least one of said two opposing pairs of marginal edge portions being sealed to one another.

9. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 8 wherein both of said opposing pairs of marginal edge portions are sealed to one another.

10. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 1 wherein the absorbent material fibers of said absorbent layer are made from cellulose and thermoplastic fibers.

11. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 10 wherein said cellulose and thermoplastic fibers are non-woven and attached to one another.

12. An absorbent pad for meat and poultry products and the like including:

upper and lower plastic film layers, at least one of which has a plurality of perforations therethrough;
a plurality of juxtaposed and overlapping absorbent material fibers forming an absorbent layer disposed between said upper and lower layers, said juxtaposed and overlapping absorbent material fibers being operatively secured to adjacent absorbent material fibers throughout said layer to provide a plurality of interacting structurally supported fibers that also includes a plurality of spaced interstices therethrough;
superabsorbent granular particles homogeneously dispersed throughout said absorbent material fibers and being supported and physically retained in place by said absorbent material fibers in at least in some of said spaced interstices, at least some of the absorbent material fibers throughout the layer also being constructed to grip and physically retain some of the super absorbent granular particles in place in the absorbent layer, said superabsorbent granular particles being capable of absorbing and suspending liquids while being held n supported and retained relationship by said material fibers within the spaced interstices thereof even after liquid is absorbed in said superabsorbent granular particles and absorbent material fibers; and said upper and lower plastic film layers being attached along at least some marginal edge thereof in order to retain said absorbent layer therebetween.

13. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 12 wherein said upper and lower perforated plastic film layers are attached to one another throughout the entire circumferential extent of the marginal edges thereof, whereby to provide top and/or bottom wicking only of said absorbent layer including said subabsorbent granules through the perforations in at least one of said upper and lower plastic film layers.

14. An absorbent pad for meat and poultry products and the like including:
upper and lower plastic film layers;
an intermediate absorbent layer disposed between said upper and lower layers and having a plurality of juxtaposed and overlapping absorbent material fibers operatively secured to adjacent absorbent material fibers and also being constructed to provide a plurality of spaced interstices extending throughout said absorbent layer;
superabsorbent granular particles dispersed throughout the absorbent layer and being supported at random locations by said absorbent material fibers within at least some of the interstices therebetween, at least some of the absorbent material fibers throughout the layer also being constructed to grip and physically retain some of the super absorbent granular particles in place in the absorbent layer, said superabsorbent granular particles being capable of absorbing and suspending liquids therein while being supported and physically retained in place by the absorbent material fibers of said absorbent layer even after liquid is absorbed in said superabsorbent granular particles and absorbent material fibers; and said upper and lower plastic film layers being attached to one another at least partially along opposite marginal edge portions thereof to retain said absorbent layer between said upper and lower layers, while permitting side wicking into said absorbent layer and superabsorbent granular particles.

15. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 14 wherein at least one of said upper and lower plastic film layer also being perforated to also provide top and/or bottom wicking into said absorbent layer.

16. An absorbent pad for meat and poultry products and the like including:
upper and lower plastic film layers each having a plurality of perforations therethrough which are dimensioned and arranged to permit liquids to pass through said layers;
an intermediate absorbent layer disposed between said upper and lower layers and having a plurality of material fibers in which adjacent absorbent material fibers are secured in bonded and structurally supporting relationship to one another at spaced locations by thermoplastic fibers to provide a plurality of interacting structurally supported fibers with spaced interstices therebetween throughout said absorbent layer;

superabsorbent granular particles homogeneously dispersed throughout said absorbent layer and being supported an physically retained in place by said interacting structurally supported absorbent material fibers in at least in some of said spaced interstices, at least some of the thermoplastic fibers also gripping and physically retaining some of the superabsorbent granular particles in place in the absorbent layer, said superabsorbent granular particles being capable of absorbing and suspending liquids therein while being held in supported and retained relationship by said interacting structurally supported absorbent material fibers within the interstices thereof even when said absorbent material fibers also have absorbed liquid therein; and said upper and lower perforated plastic film layers being attached to one another at least partially along opposite marginal edge portions thereof to retain said absorbent layer between said upper and lower film layers.

17. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 16 wherein the superabsorbent granules comprise carboxy-methyl-cellulose.

18. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 16 wherein the superabsorbent granules comprise an acrylic superabsorbent.

19. The method of constructing an absorbent pad for meat and poultry products and the like, comprising the steps of;
forming upper and lower plastic film layers at least one of which is perforated, positioning said film layers in spaced relationship to one another;
forming a series of juxtaposed and overlapping absorbent material fibers with spaced interstices therein to provide an absorbent material layer;
homogeneously dispersing superabsorbent granules throughout said absorbent layer fro receipt within at least some of said spaced interstices thereof;
securing some of the superabsorbent granules to some of the absorbent material fibers throughout the absorbent layer;
positioning the thus formed absorbent layer between said upper and lower film layers;
moving said layers into assembled proximity to one another; and attaching marginal edges of said upper and lower layers at least partially along circumferential portion thereof to retain said absorbent layer therebetween.

20. The method as defined in Claim 19 wherein each of said layers are formed into an elongated absorbent pad strip, and separating said absorbent pad strip transversely of said strip into discrete units each forming an individual absorbent pad.

21. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein said upper and lower layers are attached to one another along opposite continuous marginal edge portions during an assembly process, and following separation of said absorbent pad into discrete absorbent pads transversely of said elongated absorbent pad strip, attaching said upper and lower layers along opposite separated transverse edge portions for circumferentially attaching each absorbent pad throughout the entire peripheral extent thereof.

22. The method as defined in Claim 20 wherein said upper and lower layers are attached to one another both along opposite continuous marginal edge portions and along spaced transversely extending portions to form said individual absorbent pads.

23. The method as defined in Claim 22 wherein said spaced transversely extending portions are also perforated therealong to facilitate separation into individual absorbent pads which are circumferentially sealed along all peripheral edges thereof.

24. The absorbent pad as defined in Claim 16, wherein some of said superabsorbent granular particles are physically retained in place by said thermoplastic fibers and said cellulosic absorbent material fibers bonded in a densely formed mesh construction, whereby said superabsorbent granular particles, when absorbing liquid are prevented from moving within said absorbent layer.