# US 10,245,191 B2 · Absorbent article having a graphic visible through body contacting surface

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,245,191 B2
- Document ID: US10245191B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/548,979
- Filed: 2014-11-20
- Published: 2015-03-19
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2002-07-16
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Tsunetoshi Miura; Kensuke Ito; Akiko Sasaki; Yoshiko Nakao; Shuri Kondo; Koichi Tomi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245191B2

## CPC

- A61F 13/51496: {having visual effects}
- A61F 13/472: specially adapted for female use
- A61F 13/4755: {the means being a flat barrier on or inside the absorbent article, e.g. backsheet wrapped around the edges}
- A61F 13/511: Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
- A61F 13/51394: {creating a visual effect, e.g. having a printed or coloured topsheet, printed or coloured sub-layer but being visible from the topsheet, other than embossing for purposes of bonding, wicking, acquisition, leakage-prevention}
- A61F 13/84: Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads
- A61F 2013/15243: {printed or coloured, e.g. to match skin}
- A61F 2013/8497: {having decorations or indicia means}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

An absorbent article for feminine hygiene, comprising: a body contacting layer; a garment contacting layer; and an absorbent core disposed between the body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer. The absorbent core has a core edge. The core edge defines a core region within the core edge and an outer region outside the core region. The body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer extend outward into the outer region and joined together in the outer region. The garment contacting layer may have a graphic printed on the body facing surface or the body contacting layer may have a graphic printed on the garment facing surface. The body contacting layer has a first light transmittance so that the graphic can be seen through the body contacting layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An absorbent article, comprising:
a. a body contacting layer comprising an apertured formed film having opposing longitudinal side edges;
b. a garment contacting layer;
c. an absorbent core disposed between the body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer;
d. a pair of flaps extending laterally outwardly from the article, the pair of flaps being formed from a portion of the garment contacting layer and a nonwoven material that overlays the longitudinal side edges of the body contacting layer and that extends to an edge of the flaps;
e. a plurality of graphic elements disposed on the garment contacting layer;
f. wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are truncated at a periphery of the garment contacting layer and wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are visible through the nonwoven material forming part of the flaps.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of graphic elements comprise at least two colors.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are visible through the apertured formed film.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are visible through a body contacting surface of the absorbent article.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the body contacting layer comprises a number of discrete fusion bonds that collectively form an arcuate pattern.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the nonwoven material comprises bi-component fibers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the nonwoven material comprises a spunbonded web.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of graphic elements are disposed on a body facing surface of the garment contacting layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of graphic elements are visible through the garment contacting layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the body contacting layer has a first light transmittance and the garment contact layer has a second light transmittance, and wherein the difference between them is less than 70%.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The absorbent article of claim 10, wherein the difference between the first light transmittance and the second light transmittance is less than 50%.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The absorbent article of claim 10, wherein the difference between the first light transmittance and the second light transmittance is less than 10%.

### Claim 13

An absorbent article, comprising:
a. a body contacting layer;
b. a garment contacting layer;
c. an absorbent core disposed between the body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer;
d. a pair of flaps extending laterally outwardly from the article, the pair of flaps being formed from a portion of the garment contacting layer and a nonwoven material that overlays the longitudinal side edges of the body contacting layer and that extends to an edge of the flaps;
e. a plurality of graphic elements disposed on the garment contacting layer;
f. wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are visible through a body contacting surface of the absorbent article; and
g. wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are truncated at a periphery of the garment contacting layer and wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are visible through the nonwoven material forming part of the flaps.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the body contacting layer comprises an apertured formed film.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the body contacting layer comprises a nonwoven web.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the plurality of graphic elements comprise at least two colors.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the plurality of graphic elements are disposed on a body facing surface of the garment contacting layer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the plurality of graphic elements are visible through the garment contacting layer.

### Claim 19

An absorbent article, comprising:
a. a body contacting layer;
b. a garment contacting layer;
c. an absorbent core disposed between the body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer;
d. an article circumferential edge that extends beyond an outer edge of the absorbent core;
e. a pair of flaps extending laterally outwardly from the article, the pair of flaps being formed from a portion of the garment contacting layer and a nonwoven material that overlays the longitudinal side edges of the body contacting layer and that extends to an edge of the flaps;
f. a plurality of graphic elements disposed on the garment contacting layer;
g. wherein when viewing the body contacting layer, some of the plurality of graphic elements are truncated at the outer edge of the absorbent core due to the absorbent core overlaying the same; and
h. wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are truncated at the article circumferential edge and wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are visible through the nonwoven material forming part of the flaps.