# US 10,993,848 B2 · Discreet disposable absorbent article > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,993,848 B2 - Document ID: US10993848B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/729,792 - Filed: 2017-10-11 - Published: 2018-04-12 - Granted: 2021-05-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-11 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Stephen Lebeuf Hardie; Ronda Lynn Glassmeyer; Edward Paul Carlin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10993848B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/475: characterised by edge leakage prevention means - A61F 13/15203: {Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency (chemical aspects A61L15/00)} - A61F 13/47: Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins (A61F13/49 takes precedence) - A61F 13/472: specially adapted for female use - A61F 13/4758: {the means preventing fluid flow in a longitudinal direction} - A61F 13/51121: {characterised by the material} - A61F 13/514: Backsheet, i.e. the impermeable cover or layer furthest from the skin {(A61F13/15211, A61F13/15252 take precedence)} - A61F 13/534: having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad (A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence) - A61F 13/53409: {having a folded core} - A61F 13/535: inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes ({A61F13/5323,} A61F13/537 take precedence) - 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 13/5611: {using fastening strips, e.g. adhesive, on the undergarment-facing side} - A61L 15/225: {Mixtures of macromolecular compounds} - A41B 9/12: Protective undergarments (combined with swabs or absorbent pads or specially adapted for supporting them A61F13/15) - A61F 13/49: specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers or nappies - A61F 13/49009: {with elastic means} - A61F 2013/15121: {for mild incontinence} - A61F 2013/15292: {Resistance, i.e. modulus or strength} - A61F 2013/15357: {Stiffness, e.g. Taber rigidity} - A61F 2013/15365: {Dimensions} - A61F 2013/15406: {Basis weight} - A61F 2013/15463: {Absorbency} - A61F 2013/15487: {Capillary properties, e.g. wicking} - A61F 2013/530233: {being thermoplastic fibres} - A61F 2013/53024: {being bicomponent fibres} - A61F 2013/530248: {being thermosetting fibres} - A61F 2013/530481: {having superabsorbent materials, i.e. highly absorbent polymer gel materials} - A61F 2013/530613: {in fibres} - A61F 2013/5355: {with terraced core} - 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) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A41B: SHIRTS; UNDERWEAR; BABY LINEN; HANDKERCHIEFS ## Abstract Disposable absorbent articles suitable for providing leakage protection for users that experience relatively small to relatively large discharges of fluids wherein the article comprises a chassis which comprises a primary topsheet; a backsheet; an absorbent core having a front end portion, a central portion, and a rear end portion along its length, the core being disposed between the primary topsheet and the backsheet, and the article exhibits an article length of from about 371 mm to about 500 mm according to the Article Length Method; an Acquisition Time for a load of 60 ml of less than about 39 seconds according to a Speed of Acquisition with Balloon Applied Pressure Method; a dry pad thickness of between about 4.6 mm to about 12 mm according to a Pad Thickness Method; and an Energy of Recovery at a load of 30 ml of from about 4 mJ to about 11 mJ according to a Bunch Compression Method. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article comprising: a. a primary topsheet having a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface; b. a backsheet having a body-facing surface and garment-facing surface; c. an absorbent core having a front end portion, a central portion, and a rear end portion along its length, said core being disposed between said primary topsheet garment-facing surface and said backsheet body-facing surface, and wherein said article exhibits an article length of from about 371 mm to about 500 mm according to the Article Length Method; an Acquisition Time for a load of 60 ml of less than about 39 seconds according to a Speed of Acquisition with Balloon Applied Pressure Method; a dry pad thickness of between about 4.6 mm to about 12 mm according to a Pad Thickness Method; and an Energy of Recovery at a load of 30 ml of from about 4 mJ to about 11 mJ according to a Bunch Compression Method. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said article exhibits an Acquisition Time for a load of 60 ml of less than about 37 seconds according to the Speed of Acquisition with Balloon Applied Pressure Method. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The absorbent article of claim 2 wherein said article exhibits an Acquisition Time for a load of 60 ml of less than about 35 seconds according to the Speed of Acquisition with Balloon Applied Pressure Method. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said article exhibits a dry pad thickness of between about 4.8 mm to about 10 mm according to a Pad Thickness Method. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said article exhibits an Energy of Recovery at a load of 30 ml of from about 4.3 mJ to about 10 mJ according to a Bunch Compression Method. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said core comprises a) a first laminate which includes a first superabsorbent layer disposed onto a first distribution layer and b) a second laminate which includes a second distribution layer joined to a second superabsorbent layer; wherein said first distribution layer is joined to said second distribution layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6 wherein said first distribution layer is joined to said second distribution layer in an offset manner along a length of the core such that said central portion of said core is formed from an overlapping joinder of said first and second laminates. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein said first and second superabsorbent layers have different cross direction widths from one another. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The absorbent article of claim 8 wherein said first superabsorbent layer has a lesser cross-direction width than said second superabsorbent layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein each of said first and second superabsorbent layers span greater than 50% of the cross-direction width of the respective adjoining first or second distribution layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein said first or second superabsorbent layers are substantially free of airfelt. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein said first superabsorbent layer is disposed discontinuously onto the first distribution layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein said second superabsorbent layer is disposed in a continuous pattern. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein said first and second laminates have cross-direction widths that are the same. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein said first and second laminates have cross-direction widths that are different. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein said first and second laminates have machine-direction lengths that are the same. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein said first and second laminates have machine-direction lengths that are different. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein said first and second distribution layers each comprise an airlaid material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein said first and second laminates each have a first end that is complementary in shape to a respective second end of the same laminate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said front end portion and said rear end portion are respectively disposed at opposing ends of said central portion of said core. ### Claim 21 An absorbent article comprising a chassis which comprises: a. a primary topsheet having a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface; b. a backsheet having a body-facing surface and garment-facing surface; c. an absorbent core which is disposed between said primary topsheet garment-facing surface and said backsheet body-facing surface and wherein said core further comprises a first laminate having a first end which is complementary in shape to a respective second end, said first laminate comprises a first superabsorbent layer disposed onto a first distribution layer; wherein said article exhibits an article length of from about 371 mm to about 500 mm according to the Article Length Method; an Acquisition Time for a load of 60 ml of less than about 39 seconds according to a Speed of Acquisition with Balloon Applied Pressure Method; a dry pad thickness of between about 4.6 mm to about 12 mm according to a Pad Thickness Method; and an Energy of Recovery at a load of 30 ml of from about 4 mJ to about 11 mJ according to a Bunch Compression Method. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The absorbent article of claim 21 wherein said core further comprises a second laminate having a first end which is complementary in shape to its respective second end and wherein said second laminate includes a second distribution layer joined to a second superabsorbent layer; wherein said first distribution layer is joined to said second distribution layer in an offset manner along a length of the absorbent article wherein the absorbent core has a front end portion that is formed by the first end of the second laminate. ### Claim 23 An absorbent article comprising a chassis which comprises: a. a primary topsheet having a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface; b. a backsheet having a body-facing surface and garment-facing surface; c. an absorbent core which is disposed between said primary topsheet garment-facing surface and said backsheet body-facing surface, wherein said core comprises 1) a first laminate which includes a first superabsorbent layer disposed onto a first distribution layer and 2) a second laminate which includes a second distribution layer joined to a second superabsorbent layer; wherein said first distribution layer is joined to said second distribution layer along a length of the absorbent article wherein either of the first or second laminates has a larger cross-direction width than the other and wherein said article exhibits an article length of from about 371 mm to about 500 mm according to the Article Length Method; an Acquisition Time for a load of 60 ml of less than about 39 seconds according to a Speed of Acquisition with Balloon Applied Pressure Method; a dry pad thickness of between about 4.6 mm to about 12 mm according to a Pad Thickness Method; and an Energy of Recovery at a load of 30 ml of from about 4 mJ to about 11 mJ according to a Bunch Compression Method. ### Claim 24 An absorbent article comprising a chassis which comprises: a. a primary topsheet having a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface; b. a backsheet having a body-facing surface and garment-facing surface; c. an absorbent core which is disposed between said primary topsheet garment-facing surface and said backsheet body-facing surface, wherein said core comprises a first laminate which includes a first superabsorbent layer disposed discontinuously onto a first distribution layer and a second laminate which includes a second distribution layer joined to a second superabsorbent layer; wherein said first distribution layer is joined to said second distribution layer; and wherein said article exhibits an article length of from about 371 mm to about 500 mm according to the Article Length Method; an Acquisition Time for a load of 60 ml of less than about 39 seconds according to a Speed of Acquisition with Balloon Applied Pressure Method; a dry pad thickness of between about 4.6 mm to about 12 mm according to a Pad Thickness Method; and an Energy of Recovery at a load of 30 ml of from about 4 mJ to about 11 mJ according to a Bunch Compression Method. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The absorbent article of claim 24 wherein said first and second laminates are joined to one another in an offset manner via their respective distribution layers.