Center-fill absorbent article with a central rising member
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsFung-jou Chen, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Julie Marie Bednarz, Joseph DiPalma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An absorbent article is disclosed comprising a central absorbent member, an outer absorbent member, and a central rising member for urging the central absorbent member toward the body of the user when compressed laterally inward by the legs of the user. The article is able to achieve good center-fill performance when in use and maintain excellent body fit.
Claims72
An absorbent article having a first end, a second end, two generally longitudinal sides, a top surface, a bottom surface, a thickness and a target zone, the absorbent article comprising:
- a) a liquid impervious backsheet;
- b) a liquid pervious topsheet attached to the backsheet;
- c) an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent core comprising:
- a central absorbent member having a width in the target zone;
- an outer absorbent member defining a central void open toward the top surface of the absorbent article for receiving at least a portion of the central absorbent member;
- the outer absorbent member having a width in the target zone greater than the width of the central absorbent member in the target zone;
- and
- a central rising member disposed beneath the central absorbent member, adapted to deflect the central absorbent member away from the backsheet upon application of compression forces laterally to the generally longitudinal side of the absorbent article.
An absorbent article for use on the body of a wearer, the article having a first end, a second end, two generally longitudinal sides, a top surface, a bottom surface, a thickness and a target zone, comprising:
- a) a liquid impervious backsheet;
- b) a liquid pervious topsheet attached to the backsheet;
- c) an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent core comprising:
- a central absorbent member having a width in the target zone;
- an outer absorbent member defining a central void open toward the top surface of the absorbent article for receiving at least a portion of the central absorbent member, the outer absorbent member having a width in the target zone greater than the width of the central absorbent member in the target zone;
- and
- a central inflatable member disposed within the central void adapted to deflect the central absorbent member away from the backsheet when activated by a wearer.
An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet joined to the topsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet, the absorbent core comprising an outer absorbent member and a central absorbent member operatively associated with a central rising member, the central rising member having a garment-side surface, two generally longitudinal sides and a longitudinally central hinge dividing the central rising member into a first portion and second portion, the article further comprising attachment means in cooperative relationship with the central rising member, wherein application of inwardly lateral compressive force to the longitudinal sides of the central rising member causes the central rising member to deflect upward along the longitudinally central hinge, and wherein the attachment means holds the central rising member in an upwardly deflected state when the inwardly lateral compressive force is relaxed.
A method for producing an absorbent article having a central absorbent member, the method comprising:
- a) preparing an outer absorbent member, wherein the outer absorbent member has a central void;
- b) disposing a central absorbent member in the central void;
- c) disposing a central rising member beneath the central absorbent member;
- d) disposing a backsheet beneath the central rising member and beneath the outer absorbent member;
- e) disposing a topsheet above the central absorbent member and the outer absorbent member;
- and
- f) attaching the topsheet to the backsheet.
A method for producing an absorbent article having a first end, a second end, two generally longitudinal sides, a top surface, a bottom surface and a thickness, comprising:
- a) preparing an outer absorbent member, wherein the outer absorbent member defines a central void open toward the top surface of the absorbent article;
- b) disposing a central rising member in the central void;
- c) inserting an absorbent material into the central void to form a central absorbent member, wherein the central rising member is adapted deflect the central absorbent member toward the top surface of the absorbent article upon the application of compression forces laterally to the generally longitudinal sides of the absorbent article.
An absorbent article having a first end, a second end, two generally longitudinal sides, a top surface, a bottom surface and a target zone, the absorbent article comprising:
- a) a backsheet;
- b) a topsheet attached to the backsheet;
- and
- c) an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent core including:
- a central absorbent member having a width in the target zone;
- an outer absorbent member having a width in the target zone greater than the width of the central absorbent member in the target zone, the outer absorbent member defining a central void with at least a portion of the central absorbent member received within the central void;
- and
- a central rising member disposed beneath the central absorbent member and above the backsheet, the central rising member effective to deflect the central absorbent member away from the backsheet upon application of compression forces laterally to the generally longitudinal sides of the absorbent article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.