Fluid activated mechanical absorbency gauge
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Corporation
InventorsAndrew E. Huntoon, Thomas H. Roessler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A distinctive absorbent article includes a backsheet layer and an absorbent body superposed in adjacent, facing relation with the backsheet layer. An actuating member connects to the article in liquid communication with the absorbent body and is composed of a liquid-contractible material. The liquid-contractible material is capable of shrinking upon contact with an aqueous liquid while maintaining a substantially unitary configuration. An indicating mechanism is connected to the actuating member for designating a wetness condition of the absorbent body, and is translatable along a selected path in response to the shrinkage of the actuating member.
Claims24
An absorbent article comprising:
- a backsheet layer;
- an absorbent body superposed in adjacent, facing relation with said backsheet layer;
- an actuating member, which is connected to said article in liquid communication with said absorbent body and is composed or a liquid-contractible material, said liquid-contractible material capable of shrinking upon contact with an aqueous liquid while maintaining a substantially unitary configuration;
- an indicating means which is connected to said actuating member of designating a wetness condition of said absorbent body, and is translatable along a selected path in response to the shrinkage of said actuating member, said indicating means translatable in a plurality of increments which are correlated and generally proportional to a plurality of increasing levels of wetness in said absorbent body;
- and
- measurement means for gauging the levels of wetness of said absorbent body.
An absorbent article as recited in claim 8, further comprising directing means for guiding said indicating means along said selected path.
An absorbent article comprising:
- a backsheet layer;
- an absorbent body superposed in adjacent, facing relation with said backsheet layer;
- an actuating member, which is connected to said article in liquid communication with said absorbent body and is composed of a liquid-contractible material, said liquid-contractible material capable of shrinking upon contact with an aqueous liquid while maintaining a substantially unitary configuration, and said actuating member not subject to a continuous mechanical stress arranged to break said actuating member before contraction thereof;
- an indicating means which is connected to said actuating member for designating a wetness condition of said absorbent body, and is translatable along a selected path in response to the shrinkage of said actuating member, said indicating means translatable in a plurality of increments which are correlated and generally proportional to a plurality of increasing levels of wetness in said absorbent body;
- and
- measurement means for gauging the levels of wetness of said absorbent body.
An absorbent article, comprising:
- an absorbent body having lateral side edges;
- a substantially liquid-impermeable backsheet layer superposed in facing relation with said absorbent body;
- a gatherable gasket member extending from each of the lateral side edges of said absorbent body;
- an elastic member connected to each of the gatherable gasket members for shirring said gasket members;
- an actuating member, which is connected to said article in liquid communication with said absorbent body and is composed of a liquid-contractible material, which is capable of shrinking upon the contact with an aqueous liquid;
- indicating means connected to said actuating member for designating a wetness condition of said absorbent body, said indicating means comprising a portion of said article attached to said actuating member said attached portion of said article arranged to form corrugations therein in response to the shrinkage of said actuating member, said corrugations providing degrees of gathering correlated to a plurality of increasing amounts of wetness in said absorbent body;
- and
- measurement means for gauging the degrees of gathering.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.