# US 10,765,567 B2 · Absorbent articles with channels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,567 B2 - Document ID: US10765567B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/894,149 - Filed: 2018-02-12 - Published: 2018-06-14 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-27 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Donald Carroll Roe; Kathy Quinlan Ames-Ooten; Blanca Arizti; Julia Boesel; Aniruddha Chatterjee; Nelson Edward Greening, II; Sharon Irene Grenberg; Carsten Heinrich Kreuzer; Cornelia Beate Martynus; Marie Brigid O'Reilly; Rodrigo Rosati; Sandra Sautter; Beate Simon; Lutz Stelzig; Rachael Eden Walther - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765567B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/512: characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations - A61F 13/42: with wetness indicator or alarm - A61F 13/5125: {the apertures not being formed through the complete thickness of the topsheet, e.g. blind holes (blind holes in a single layered topsheet A61F13/51104)} - A61F 13/532: inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad - A61F 13/5323: {having absorbent material located in discrete regions, e.g. pockets} - A61F 13/533: having discontinuous areas of compression - A61F 13/537: characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer {(A61F13/538 takes precedence)} - A61F 13/53708: {the layer having a promotional function on liquid propagation in at least one direction} - A61F 13/539: characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers - A61F 13/4704: {having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves} - A61F 13/49001: {having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves} - A61F 2013/15243: {printed or coloured, e.g. to match skin} - A61F 2013/428: {for articles with superabsorbent materials} - A61F 2013/51019: {being cellulosic material} - A61F 2013/51066: {for rendering the surface hydrophilic} - A61F 2013/5113: {being foams} - A61F 2013/530562: {being arranged in discontinuous pattern} - A61F 2013/5307: {characterized by the quantity or ratio of superabsorbent material} - A61F 2013/5395: {with thermoplastic agent, i.e. softened by heat} - 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 The present disclosure is directed, in part, to an absorbent article comprising a liquid management system (LMS) and an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate a topsheet and a backsheet. The LMS defines one or more channels therein. The one or more channels of the LMS may at least partially overlap or not overlap with channels defined in the absorbent core. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article comprising: a central longitudinal axis; a total longitudinal length extending in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis; a front waist region; a rear waist region; a crotch region positioned intermediate the front waist region and the rear waist region, wherein the front waist region, the rear waist region, and the crotch region each define ⅓ of the total longitudinal length of the absorbent article; a liquid permeable material; a liquid impermeable material; an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable material and the liquid impermeable material and comprising an absorbent material, wherein the absorbent material is positioned within a core wrap, wherein the absorbent material comprises superabsorbent polymers, wherein the absorbent core defines a first channel, wherein the absorbent core defines a second channel, and wherein the first and second channels are free of overlap with the central longitudinal axis; and a liquid management system positioned at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable material and the core wrap, wherein the liquid management system is free of any superabsorbent polymers, wherein the liquid management system defines a third channel and a fourth channel, wherein the third and fourth channels each extend into the front waist region, and wherein the third and fourth channels are free of overlap with the central longitudinal axis; wherein the first channel has a first longitudinal length taken in the direction generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis, wherein the third channel has a second longitudinal length taken in the direction generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the first longitudinal length is greater than the second longitudinal length. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein a portion of the liquid permeable material is recessed into the third channel and/or the fourth channel, and wherein the portion of the liquid permeable material forms side walls in the third channel and/or the fourth channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first channel at least partially overlaps a portion of the third channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The absorbent article of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the second channel at least partially overlaps a portion of the fourth channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the first channel and the second channel have substantially the same longitudinal length taken in the direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The absorbent article of claim 5, wherein the third channel and the fourth channel have substantially the same longitudinal length taken in the direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first channel and the third channel are positioned on a first side of the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the second channel and the fourth channel are positioned on a second, different side of the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein the first channel, the second channel, the third channel, and the fourth channel each comprise an arcuate portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the liquid management system comprises more than one layer, and wherein one of the layers comprises cross-linked cellulose fibers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first channel is a mirror image of the second channel relative to the central longitudinal axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The absorbent article of claim 10, wherein the third channel is a mirror image of the fourth channel relative to the central longitudinal axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein a portion of the liquid permeable material is recessed into the first channel and/or the second channel, and wherein the portion of the liquid permeable material forms side walls in the first channel and/or the second channel. ### Claim 13 An absorbent article comprising: a central longitudinal axis; a total longitudinal length extending in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis; a front waist region; a rear waist region; a crotch region positioned intermediate the front waist region and the rear waist region, wherein the front waist region, the rear waist region, and the crotch region each define ⅓ of the total longitudinal length of the absorbent article; a liquid permeable material; a liquid impermeable material; an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable material and the liquid impermeable material and comprising an absorbent material, wherein the absorbent material is positioned within a core wrap, wherein the absorbent core defines a first channel, wherein the absorbent core defines a second channel, wherein the first and second channels are free of overlap with the central longitudinal axis, wherein the first channel is positioned on a first side of the central longitudinal axis, wherein the second channel is positioned on a second side of the central longitudinal axis; and a liquid management system positioned at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable material and the core wrap, wherein the liquid management system is free of any superabsorbent polymers, wherein the liquid management system defines a third channel and a fourth channel, wherein the third and fourth channels each extend into the front waist region, wherein the third and fourth channels are free of overlap with the central longitudinal axis, wherein the third channel is positioned on the first side of the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the second channel is positioned on the second side of the central longitudinal axis; wherein the first channel at least partially overlaps a portion of the third channel; wherein the second channel at least partially overlaps a portion of the fourth channel; and wherein the first channel has a first longitudinal length taken in the direction generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis, wherein the third channel has a second longitudinal length taken in the direction generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the first longitudinal length is greater than the second longitudinal length. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the first channel is a mirror image of the second channel relative to the central longitudinal axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The absorbent article of claim 14, wherein the third channel is a mirror image of the fourth channel relative to the central longitudinal axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the first channel and the second channel have substantially the same longitudinal length taken in the direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The absorbent article of claim 13, wherein the third channel and the fourth channel have substantially the same longitudinal length taken in the direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis. ### Claim 18 An absorbent article comprising: a central longitudinal axis; a total longitudinal length extending in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis; a front waist region; a rear waist region; a crotch region positioned intermediate the front waist region and the rear waist region, wherein the front waist region, the rear waist region, and the crotch region each define ⅓ of the total longitudinal length of the absorbent article; a liquid permeable material; a liquid impermeable material; an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable material and the liquid impermeable material and comprising an absorbent material, wherein the absorbent material is positioned within a core wrap, wherein the absorbent material comprises superabsorbent polymers, wherein the absorbent core defines a first channel, wherein the absorbent core defines a second channel, and wherein the first and second channels are free of overlap with the central longitudinal axis; and a liquid management system positioned at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable material and the core wrap, wherein the liquid management system is free of any superabsorbent polymers, wherein the liquid management system defines a third channel and a fourth channel, wherein the third and fourth channels each extend into the front waist region, and wherein the third and fourth channels are free of overlap with the central longitudinal axis; wherein at least a portion of the first channel at least partially overlaps a portion of the third channel, or wherein at least a portion of the second channel at least partially overlaps a portion of the fourth channel; and wherein the first channel has a different length than the third channel. ### Claim 19 An absorbent article comprising: a central longitudinal axis; a total longitudinal length extending in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis; a front waist region; a rear waist region; a crotch region positioned intermediate the front waist region and the rear waist region, wherein the front waist region, the rear waist region, and the crotch region each define ⅓ of the total longitudinal length of the absorbent article; a liquid permeable material; a liquid impermeable material; an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable material and the liquid impermeable material and comprising an absorbent material, wherein the absorbent material is positioned within a core wrap, wherein the absorbent material comprises superabsorbent polymers, wherein the absorbent core defines a first channel, wherein the absorbent core defines a second channel, and wherein the first and second channels are free of overlap with the central longitudinal axis; and an acquisition material positioned at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable material and the core wrap, wherein the acquisition material is free of any superabsorbent polymers; a distribution material positioned at least partially intermediate the acquisition material and the core wrap, wherein the distribution material defines a third channel and a fourth channel, wherein the third and fourth channels are free of overlap with the central longitudinal axis, wherein at least a portion of the first channel overlaps with at least a portion of the third channel, wherein at least a portion of the second channel overlaps with at least a portion of the fourth channel, and wherein the first channel has a different longitudinal length than the third channel; wherein a portion of the acquisition material is recessed into the third channel and the first channel, and wherein the portion of the acquisition material forms side walls in the third channel and the first channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The absorbent article of claim 19, wherein a second portion of the acquisition material is recessed into the fourth channel and the second channel, and wherein the second portion of the acquisition material forms side walls in the fourth channel and the second channel.