Absorbent article with improved fit and conformity
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsJuliana Rodrigues Calil, Stephanie Anne-Genevieve Riemer, Linsey Ann Griffin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An absorbent article includes a chassis extending in a longitudinal direction and at least one ear attached to, and extending outwardly from, the chassis. The at least one ear is formed of a fabric adapted to stretch such that the at least one ear has a stretch direction. The at least one ear is attached to the chassis such that the stretch direction of the at least one ear is oriented relative to the longitudinal direction at an oblique stretch angle when the absorbent article is oriented in a flat, laid-ont position and in an uncontracted state.
Claims20
An absorbent article comprising:
- a chassis extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a front portion, a rear portion, an intermediate portion connecting the front portion and the rear portion, a first lateral side, an opposing second lateral side, an outer surface and an opposing inner surface;
- and
- at least one ear attached to, and extending outwardly from, the first lateral side of the chassis,
- wherein:
- the at least one ear is formed of a fabric adapted to stretch such that the at least one ear has a stretch direction;
- and
- the at least one ear is attached to the first lateral side such that the stretch direction of the at least one ear is oriented relative to the longitudinal direction at an oblique stretch angle when the absorbent article is oriented in a flat, laid-out position and in an uncontracted state.
An absorbent article comprising:
- a chassis extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a front portion, a rear portion, an intermediate portion connecting the front portion and the rear portion, a first lateral side, an opposing second lateral side, an outer surface and an opposing inner surface;
- a first ear attached to, and extending outwardly from, the first lateral side;
- and
- a second ear attached to, and extending outwardly from, the second lateral side,
- wherein:
- the first ear and the second ear are each formed of a fabric adapted to stretch in at least one of a machine direction or a cross-machine direction such that the first ear has a first ear stretch direction and the second ear has a second ear stretch direction, wherein each of the first ear stretch direction and the second ear stretch direction is parallel to one of the machine direction or the cross-machine direction of the fabric;
- the first ear is attached to the first lateral side such that the first ear stretch direction is oriented relative to the longitudinal direction at a first ear stretch angle when the absorbent article is oriented in a flat, laid-out position and in an uncontracted state;
- the second ear is attached to the second lateral side such that the second ear stretch direction is oriented relative to the longitudinal direction at a second ear stretch angle when the absorbent article is oriented in the flat, laid-out position and in the uncontracted state;
- and
- the first ear stretch angle and the second ear stretch angle are between 40° and 80°, inclusive.
A method for manufacturing an absorbent article comprising:
- providing a chassis that extends in a longitudinal direction and comprises a lateral side;
- providing an ear formed of a fabric adapted to stretch in at least one of a machine direction or a cross-machine direction of the fabric such that the ear has a stretch direction that is parallel to the one of the machine direction or the cross-machine direction of the fabric;
- and
- attaching the ear to the lateral side of the chassis such that the stretch direction of the ear is oriented relative to the longitudinal direction at an oblique angle when the absorbent article is oriented in a flat, laid-out position and in an uncontracted state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.