Elasticated topsheet with an elongate slit opening
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsDonald Carroll Roe, Gregory Ashton, Oliver Edwin Clarke Mason, Jörg Müller, Lars Westerheide
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An absorbent article having a void space for receiving bodily exudates comprises an elongate slit opening in communication with the void space. The elongate slit opening includes elasticated region disposed along longitudinal side edges of the slit opening which maintain longitudinal and lateral alignment and Z-direction proximity with a point of discharge on a wearer during use. The elasticated regions contain stored elastic energy producing tensile forces which are distributed laterally away from the slit opening enabling the edges to deflect and allow bodily exudates to pass through the slit opening to the void space.
Claims20
A wearable article having a longitudinal axis, a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region interposed therebetween, the wearable article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core interposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the topsheet comprising:
- an elongate slit opening providing a passageway to a primary void space for receiving bodily exudates therein;
- the elongate slit opening is disposed in the crotch region along the longitudinal axis having a first end oriented towards the first waist region and a second end oriented towards the second waist region;
- the elongate slit opening including longitudinally opposing side edges having elasticated regions disposed along at least a portion of each of the side edges to maintain longitudinal and lateral alignment and Z-direction proximity of the slit opening with a point of discharge on the wearer, the elasticated regions containing stored elastic energy producing tensile forces which are distributed laterally away from the slit opening.
A disposable diaper having a longitudinal axis, a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region interposed therebetween, the disposable diaper comprising:
- a backsheet;
- a primary topsheet joined to the backsheet;
- an absorbent core disposed intermediate the backsheet and the primary topsheet;
- a secondary topsheet covering at least a portion of the primary topsheet and joined thereto to form a primary void space for receiving fecal matter therein, the secondary topsheet including an elongate slit opening in communication with the primary void space;
- the elongate slit opening is disposed in the crotch region along the longitudinal axis having a first end oriented towards the first waist region and a second end oriented towards the second waist region;
- the elongate slit opening including longitudinally opposing side edges having elasticated regions disposed along at least a portion of each of the the side edges to maintain longitudinal and lateral alignment and Z-direction proximity of the slit opening with a point of discharge on the wearer, the elasticated regions containing stored elastic energy producing tensile forces which are distributed laterally away from the slit opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.