# US 10,864,119 B2 · Absorbent articles with colored topsheet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,119 B2 - Document ID: US10864119B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/361,573 - Filed: 2016-11-28 - Published: 2017-06-01 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-30 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Ernesto Gabriel Bianchi; Theodore Cory Fites; Nicole Anja Reichardt; Thomas Walenzyk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864119B2 ## CPC - 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 13/49: specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers or nappies - B65D 85/62: for stacks of articles; for special arrangements of groups of articles - A61F 2013/51002: {with special fibres} - A61F 2013/51014: {characterized by the connection between the fibres} - 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) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract An absorbent article having a wearer-facing side and garment-facing side, the article comprising: —a nonwoven topsheet on the wearer-facing side, wherein the topsheet has a first color which is not white and comprises thermal bonds; a backsheet on the garment facing-side; an absorbent core between the topsheet and the backsheet; optionally an acquisition layer; and a visual signal disposed on the topsheet or a layer of the article under the topsheet; wherein the visual signal comprises a first portion having a first appearance and a second portion having a different second appearance. The topsheet has an opacity index of at least 28% as measured by the opacity index test as described herein and the visual signal is visible on the wearer-facing side of the article. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article having a wearer-facing side and a garment-facing side, the article comprising: a nonwoven topsheet on the wearer-facing side, wherein the topsheet has a first color which is not white and comprises thermal bonds; a backsheet on the garment facing-side; an absorbent core between the topsheet and the backsheet; and a visual signal disposed on the topsheet or a layer of the article under the topsheet; wherein the visual signal comprises a first portion having a first appearance and a second portion having a different second appearance; wherein the first portion is a colored portion and the second portion of the visual signal is a non-colored portion and wherein the wearer-facing side has a maximum color difference ΔE* between a first area corresponding to the colored portion and a second area corresponding to the non-colored portion of the visual signal, and ΔE* is of at least 2.0, wherein the color difference is measured according to the Color Measurement (CIE L*a*b* space) Test herein; and wherein the first portion comprises a network of printed intersecting lines and wherein the second portion comprises a non-colored inclusion at the intersection of two lines; wherein the topsheet has an opacity index of at least 28% as measured by the Opacity Test herein and wherein the visual signal is visible on the wearer-facing side of the article. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the topsheet has an opacity index from 28% to 50%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the topsheet comprises spunbond fibers, and at least some of the spunbond fibers comprise a colored pigment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the topsheet has a basis weight ranging from 10 gsm to 30 gsm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the topsheet comprises at least 0.1% TiO2 particles by weight of the topsheet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the thermal bonds cover from 15% to 30% of the surface of the topsheet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein at least some the thermal bonds have an individual area which ranges from 0.1 mm2 to 10 mm2. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the colored portion of the visual signal comprises an adhesive comprising an ink. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the visual signal is applied on the garment-facing side of the topsheet, or the wearer-facing side of an acquisition layer, or the garment-facing side of the acquisition layer, or the wearer-facing side of the absorbent core. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the visual signal comprises a pair of curved features that run lengthwise in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, wherein each curved feature comprises at least two lines that are symmetric across the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the second portion further comprises a non-colored closed unit between a plurality of intersection points, and wherein a colored inclusion is positioned within the non-colored unit. ### Claim 12 An absorbent article having a wearer-facing side and a garment-facing side, the article comprising: a nonwoven topsheet on the wearer-facing side, wherein the topsheet has a first color which is not white and comprises thermal bonds; a backsheet on the garment facing-side; an absorbent core between the topsheet and the backsheet; and a visual signal disposed on the topsheet or a layer of the article under the topsheet; wherein the visual signal comprises a first portion having a first appearance and a second portion having a different second appearance; wherein the first portion is a colored portion and the second portion of the visual signal is a non-colored portion and wherein the wearer-facing side has a maximum color difference ΔE* between a first area corresponding to the colored portion and a second area corresponding to the non-colored portion of the visual signal, and ΔE* is of at least 2.0, wherein the color difference is measured according to the Color Measurement (CIE L*a*b* space) Test herein; and wherein the first portion comprises a network of printed intersecting lines and wherein the second portion comprises a non-colored inclusion at the intersection of two lines; wherein the colored portion of the visual signal comprises an adhesive comprising an ink. ### Claim 13 An absorbent article having a wearer-facing side and a garment-facing side, the article comprising: a nonwoven topsheet on the wearer-facing side, wherein the topsheet has a first color which is not white and comprises thermal bonds; a backsheet on the garment facing-side; an absorbent core between the topsheet and the backsheet; and a visual signal disposed on the topsheet or a layer of the article under the topsheet; wherein the visual signal comprises a first portion having a first appearance and a second portion having a different second appearance; wherein the first portion is a colored portion and the second portion of the visual signal is a non-colored portion and wherein the wearer-facing side has a maximum color difference ΔE* between a first area corresponding to the colored portion and a second area corresponding to the non-colored portion of the visual signal, and ΔE* is of at least 2.0, wherein the color difference is measured according to the Color Measurement (CIE L*a*b* space) Test herein; and wherein the first portion comprises a network of printed intersecting lines and wherein the second portion comprises a non-colored inclusion at the intersection of two lines; wherein the second portion further comprises a non-colored closed unit between a plurality of intersection points, and wherein a colored inclusion is positioned within the non-colored unit.