1. An absorbent article comprising a substantially liquid pervious topsheet, a substantially liquid impervious backsheet and an absorbent core between said topsheet and said backsheet, wherein said topsheet and said backsheet are at least partially joined together, and wherein said absorbent core comprises a storage zone and a fluid acquisition zone discrete from and adjacent to said storage zone, wherein said fluid acquisition zone comprises surface-coated superabsorbent polymer particles, wherein:
a) said surface-coated superabsorbent polymer particles comprise superabsorbent polymer particles having a surface, and cationic polymers on the surface of the superabsorbent polymer particles, wherein said cationic polymers have 1 to 25 molkg, referring to the total weight of the cationic polymers, of cationic groups, which can be protonated, wherein said cationic polymers are not substantially covalently bound to said superabsorbent polymer particles; and
b) said surface-coated superabsorbent polymer particles of the fluid acquisition zone have a Cylinder Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CCRC) of less than 20 gg;
further wherein the storage zone does not comprise superabsorbent polymer particles which have a CCRC of less than 25 gg; wherein said fluid acquisition zone comprises said surface-coated superabsorbent polymer particles in a concentration of at least 50% by weight of said fluid acquisition zone; and
said superabsorbent polymer particles of the fluid acquisition zone are substantially free of covalent surface cross-links.
2. Absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said fluid acquisition zone comprises at least one layer and wherein said surface-coated superabsorbent particles are comprised by said at least one layer in a concentration of at least 70% by weight of said acquisition layer.
3. Absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said superabsorbent polymer particles of the fluid acquisition zone are slightly network cross-linked to each other.
4. Absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said cationic polymers are nitrogen-containing cationic polymers.
5. Absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein said nitrogen-containing cationic polymers are partially hydrolyzed.
6. Absorbent article according to claim 5, wherein said nitrogen-containing cationic polymers are hydrolyzed in the range of 30% to 80%.
7. Absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said cationic polymers are primary amines, secondary amines or tertiary amines.
8. Absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said surface-coated superabsorbent polymer particles of the fluid acquisition zone have a permeability of at least 400\xd710\u22127 cm3 secg.
9. Absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said surface-coated superabsorbent polymer particles of the fluid acquisition zone have a Wet Porosity of at least 0.20.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A heating element comprising:
an electrically conductive terminal pin comprising a cylindrical portion and a conically tapered stem portion, the cylindrical portion located next to the conically tapered stem portion;
an electrically and thermally conductive connection member having a constant inner diameter, the connection member attached to the terminal pin with an interference fit, the connection member directly engaging the terminal pin and only at the location of the cylindrical portion; and
a resistance wire fixedly attached directly to an outer surface of the connection member.
2. The heating element of claim 1, wherein the terminal pin further comprises a protrusion portion abutting a side of the connection member, the protrusion portion having an outer dimension that is greater than the inner diameter of the connection member.
3. The heating element of claim 1, wherein the resistance wire is welded to the connection member.
4. The heating element of claim 3 further comprising a thermal protection device, said terminal pin operable to conduct thermal energy from the resistance wire to the thermal protection device.
5. The heating element of claim 3 further comprising an outer sheath covering the terminal pin, the connection member, and the resistance wire; and
magnesium oxide disposed in the space between the resistance wire and the outer sheath.
6. The heating element of claim 5, wherein the heating element is partially compacted.
7. The heating element of claim 5, wherein the heating element is fully compacted.
8. The heating element of claim 1, wherein the terminal pin further comprises a second portion having a second diameter located adjacent to the cylindrical portion, the second diameter being greater than the inner diameter of the connection member; and
wherein the connection member is located adjacent to the second portion of the terminal pin.
9. The heating element of claim 3, wherein the connection member is a generally cylindrically shaped, hollow sleeve and the terminal pin extends through the connection member.
10. A heating element comprising:
a terminal pin;
a connection insert secured over the terminal pin; and
a resistance wire fixedly secured directly to the connection insert;
wherein the connection insert is a generally cylindrically shaped, hollow annular sleeve and the terminal pin extends through the sleeve; and
wherein the terminal pin further comprises a first portion on a first side of the annular sleeve and a second portion on a second side of the annular sleeve, the annular sleeve disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion having a first diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the annular sleeve and the second portion having a second outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the annular sleeve and greater than an inner diameter of the annular sleeve.
11. A heating element for an appliance comprising:
a thermal protection device;
a copper terminal pin connected to the thermal protection device, the terminal pin extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a first portion having a first axial length and a first constant diameter, and a second portion located adjacent to the first portion comprising a conically tapered stem portion;
a steel insert having a second axial length less than or equal to the first axial length of the first portion of the terminal pin and comprising an annular inner surface, the insert fixedly attached to the first portion of the terminal pin along the second axial length, the inner surface of the insert directly engaging an outer surface of the first portion of the terminal pin;
a resistance wire fixedly secured to an outer surface of the insert;
a thermally conductive layer surrounding the resistance wire; and
an outer sheath surrounding the thermal protection device, the terminal pin, the resistance wire, and the conductive layer.
12. The heating element of claim 11, wherein the terminal pin extends through the insert.
13. The heating element of claim 12, wherein the insert is secured to the terminal pin with an interference fit.
14. The heating element of claim 11, wherein the heating element is partially compacted.
15. The heating element of claim 11, wherein the heating element is fully compacted.
16. The heating element of claim 11, wherein the terminal pin further comprises third portion having a diameter greater than the first constant diameter; and
the insert is secured to the terminal pin adjacent to the third portion.
17. The heating element of claim 11, wherein the terminal pin further comprises a protrusion portion on a side of the insert, the protrusion portion having an outer dimension that is greater than an inner dimension of the insert and less than an outer dimension of the insert.