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US 10,842,688 B2Granted
Absorbent article with elevated skin-contacting topsheet layer
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsMoonYoung Cho, HyungByum Kim, JuHyung Lee, HyungWoo Park, SeongDae Roh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An absorbent article includes two planar liquid permeable topsheet layers with a first topsheet layer suspended from the longitudinal ends of the second topsheet layer. The first topsheet layer is of shorter length than the second topsheet layer such that the relaxed absorbent article includes a curvature along its length. The first topsheet layer defines a central opening and two end openings which allow for air circulation through the article and also for the second topsheet layer to be seen through the openings in the first topsheet layer. While the first topsheet layer is at least extensible, it is desirably elastic.
Claims24
An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a depth direction, said absorbent article having absorbent article opposing first and second longitudinal direction ends, and absorbent article opposing lateral side edges extending between said absorbent article opposing first and second longitudinal direction ends, said absorbent article comprising:
- a central longitudinal direction;
- a liquid permeable first topsheet layer having a first topsheet layer relaxed length, first topsheet layer opposing longitudinal direction ends, and first topsheet layer opposing lateral side edges extending between said first topsheet layer opposing longitudinal direction ends, said liquid permeable first topsheet layer defining a centrally positioned opening and further wherein said liquid permeable first topsheet layer being extensible along at least said absorbent article longitudinal direction;
- a liquid permeable second topsheet layer subjacent to said liquid permeable first topsheet layer along said absorbent article depth direction, said liquid permeable second topsheet layer having a second topsheet layer relaxed length that is longer than said first topsheet layer relaxed length, and said liquid permeable first topsheet layer being attached by attachment zones to said liquid permeable second topsheet layer at said liquid permeable first topsheet layer opposing longitudinal direction ends;
- and which said liquid permeable second topsheet layer can be viewed through said liquid permeable first topsheet layer opening;
- a liquid impermeable backsheet layer subjacent to said liquid permeable second topsheet layer along the absorbent article depth direction;
- at least one absorbent core layer sandwiched between said liquid permeable second topsheet layer and said liquid impermeable backsheet layer;
- an apertured layer having a centrally positioned aperture, said apertured layer situated between said liquid permeable second topsheet layer and said absorbent core layer in the absorbent article depth direction, and further wherein said centrally positioned aperture is aligned along the absorbent article depth direction with said centrally positioned opening;
- wherein said absorbent article further includes at least two opposing longitudinal direction end openings at or adjacent said absorbent article opposing longitudinal direction ends, said longitudinal direction end openings formed by portions of said liquid permeable first topsheet layer and wherein said centrally positioned opening is selected from the group consisting of oval shaped, circular shaped, oblong, and multiple proximate openings positioned along said absorbent article central longitudinal direction between said opposing longitudinal direction end openings.
5 more elements
An absorbent article including multiple topsheet layers, a backsheet layer and an absorbent core layer sandwiched between one of said topsheet layers and said absorbent core layer comprising:
- a central longitudinal direction;
- a first planar, liquid permeable topsheet layer and a second planar, liquid permeable topsheet layer, both the first planar, liquid permeable topsheet layer and the second planar, liquid permeable topsheet layer having a substantially elongate shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, each liquid permeable topsheet layer comprising two opposing longitudinal ends;
- said first planar, liquid permeable topsheet layer being extensible and defining a centrally positioned opening and at least two opposing longitudinal end openings therein wherein the centrally positioned opening is selected from the group consisting of oval shaped, circular shaped, oblong, and multiple proximate openings positioned along said absorbent article central longitudinal direction between said opposing longitudinal end openings, whereby the second planar, liquid permeable topsheet layer is visible through said centrally positioned opening and at least two opposing longitudinal end openings;
- an apertured layer having a centrally positioned aperture, said apertured layer situated between said liquid permeable second topsheet layer and said absorbent core layer in the absorbent article depth direction, and further wherein said centrally positioned aperture is aligned along the absorbent article depth direction with said centrally positioned opening;
- said first planar, liquid permeable topsheet layer being suspended between the opposing longitudinal ends of the second planar, liquid permeable topsheet layer, whereby the two liquid permeable topsheet layers are mutually joined solely at or adjacent their opposing longitudinal ends;
- the second planar, liquid permeable topsheet layer being curved in the longitudinal direction such that a void space is present between said first planar, liquid permeable topsheet layer and said second, planar liquid permeable topsheet layer;
- such that the first planar, liquid permeable topsheet layer having a length which is less than the length of the second planar, liquid permeable topsheet layer when both topsheet layers are in a relaxed state.
4 more elements
An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a depth direction, said absorbent article having absorbent article opposing first and second longitudinal direction ends, and absorbent article opposing lateral side edges extending between said absorbent article opposing first and second longitudinal direction ends, said absorbent article comprising:
- a central longitudinal direction;
- a liquid permeable first topsheet layer having first topsheet layer opposing longitudinal direction ends, and first topsheet layer opposing lateral side edges extending between said first topsheet layer opposing longitudinal direction ends, said liquid permeable first topsheet layer defining a centrally positioned opening and further wherein said liquid permeable first topsheet layer being elastic along at least said absorbent article longitudinal direction;
- a liquid permeable second topsheet layer subjacent to said liquid permeable first topsheet layer along said absorbent article depth direction, said liquid permeable second topsheet layer being attached by attachment zones to said liquid permeable second topsheet layer at said liquid permeable first topsheet layer opposing longitudinal direction ends, such that said attachment of said liquid permeable first topsheet layer to said liquid permeable second topsheet layer imparts a curvature to said absorbent article towards said liquid permeable first topsheet layer;
- and which said liquid permeable second topsheet layer can be viewed through said liquid permeable first topsheet layer opening;
- a liquid impermeable backsheet layer subjacent to said liquid permeable second topsheet layer along the absorbent article depth direction;
- at least one absorbent core layer sandwiched between said liquid permeable second topsheet layer and said liquid impermeable backsheet layer;
- an apertured layer having a centrally positioned aperture, said apertured layer situated between said liquid permeable second topsheet layer and said absorbent core layer in the absorbent article depth direction, and further wherein said centrally positioned aperture is aligned along the absorbent article depth direction with said centrally positioned opening;
- wherein said absorbent article further includes at least two opposing longitudinal direction end openings at or adjacent said absorbent article opposing longitudinal direction ends, said longitudinal direction end openings formed by portions of said liquid permeable first topsheet and wherein said centrally positioned opening is selected from the group consisting of oval shaped, circular shaped, oblong, and multiple proximate openings positioned along said absorbent article central longitudinal direction between said opposing longitudinal direction end openings.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.