Absorbent articles having improved longitudinal fluid movement
OwnerCharles W. Chappell, Lee M. Hines +2inventors
InventorsCharles W. Chappell, Lee M. Hines, John L. Hammons, Theresa L. Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides absorbent articles, especially sanitary napkins, containing a flow regulator positioned between the topsheet and the absorbent core. In-use, fluid deposited on the topsheet is internally moved in the longitudinal direction by the flow regulator before being released to the absorbent core. By moving substantial amounts of fluid in the longitudinal direction the flow regulator provides a more effective use of the absorbent core.
Claims19
An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a z-direction, said absorbent article comprising:
- (a) a fluid pervious topsheet;
- (b) a fluid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;
- (c) an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core having an uppermost surface facing said topsheet and a lowermost surface facing said backsheet;
- and
- (d) a flow regulator positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent core said flow regulator enhancing movement of fluid in the longitudinal direction while controlling movement of fluid in the transverse and z-directions.
An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a z-direction, said absorbent article comprising:
- (a) a liquid pervious topsheet;
- (b) a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;
- (c) an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core having an uppermost surface facing said topsheet and a lowermost surface facing said backsheet;
- (d) a secondary topsheet positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent core, said secondary topsheet being arranged in a plurality of pleats extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of said absorbent article;
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- (e) a plurality of fibers having external capillary channels being positioned between said topsheet and said secondary topsheet within said pleats of said secondary topsheet.
An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a z-direction, said absorbent article comprising:
- (a) a liquid pervious topsheet;
- (b) a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;
- (c) an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core having an uppermost surface facing said topsheet and a lowermost surface facing said backsheet;
- (d) a secondary topsheet having a body facing surface and a garment facing surface positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said secondary topsheet being arranged in a plurality of pleats extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of said absorbent article;
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- (e) a nonwoven web of fibers having external capillary channels being positioned between said topsheet and said secondary topsheet and being superposed on the body facing surface of said secondary topsheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.