Absorbent article having increased flexibility in use
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsThomas Ward Osborn, III, Letha Margie Hines
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Abstract
A disposable absorbent article for wearing in an undergarment, such as a sanitary napkin, pantiliner, or incontinence pad is described. The absorbent article includes a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core, and a stiffening feature. The stiffening feature places the absorbent article in an initially stiffened condition during placement of the article in an undergarment. After the article is subjected to the forces exerted by the body of the wearer, the stiffening feature no longer provides an increased initial stiffness and the article becomes more flexible.
Claims23
An absorbent article comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, wherein said absorbent article has a first condition, and a second condition, said first condition being an initially stiffened condition, said second condition being a more flexible condition, and wherein said absorbent article transitions from said first condition to said second condition after being subjected to forces exceeding a pre-determined initial stiffness threshold.
An absorbent article for wearing in an undergarment, said absorbent article comprising:
- a liquid pervious topsheet;
- a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;
- and
- an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;
- wherein at least one of said topsheet, said backsheet, and said absorbent core serves as a stiffening feature, said stiffening feature being capable of maintaining at least portions of said absorbent article in an initially stiffened condition when said absorbent article is handled prior to wear and placed in said undergarment, said stiffening feature becoming more flexible when said absorbent article is worn so that said stiffening feature ceases to maintain said portions of said absorbent article in said initially stiffened condition, allowing said absorbent article to assume a more flexible condition.
An absorbent article for wearing in an undergarment said absorbent article having a garment facing side and a body facing side, said absorbent article further comprising:
- a liquid pervious topsheet;
- a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;
- an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;
- and
- at least one stiffening member juxtaposed at least one of said topsheet, said backsheet, and said absorbent core, wherein said stiffening member maintains at least portions of said absorbent article in an initially stiffened condition when said absorbent article is handled prior to wear and placed in said undergarment, and wherein as a consequence of mechanical forces exerted on said absorbent article by a wearer's body, said stiffening member ceases to maintain said portions of said absorbent article in said initially stiffened condition when said absorbent article is worn, allowing said absorbent article to assume a more flexible condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.