Absorbent article and package thereof

• US 20030078553A1
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Suga, Ayami, Wada, Mitsuhiro
• Application Number:
  US10/267,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078553A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4756 the means consisting of grooves, e.g. channels, depressions or embossments, resulting in a heterogeneous surface level
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51394 creating a visual effect, e.g. having a printed or coloured topsheet, printed or coloured sub-layer but being visible from the topsheet, other than embossing for purposes of bonding, wicking, acquisition, leakage-prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/533 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/536 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5513 packaging of feminine sanitary napkins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/55145 multiple packaged items
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51377 having decoration properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8497 having decorations or indicia means

Abstract

Disclosed is an absorbent article including: a liquid permeable topsheet disposed on a body surface of the article; a liquid barrier sheet for preventing liquids from exuding toward a garment surface of the article; and an absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the liquid barrier sheet. The absorbent article has a liquid receiving region of a predetermined area where the topsheet and the absorbent layer overlap each other. A reference mark for visually measuring an extent of liquid spread in the liquid receiving region is provided on a body surface of the topsheet.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a liquid permeable topsheet disposed on a body surface of the article;

a liquid barrier sheet for preventing liquids from exuding toward a garment surface of the article; and

an absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the liquid barrier sheet, the absorbent article having a liquid receiving region of a predetermined area where the topsheet and the absorbent layer overlap each other, wherein

a reference mark for visually measuring an extent of liquid spread in the liquid receiving region is provided on a body surface of the topsheet.

2. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of reference marks are provided in the liquid receiving region such that one reference mark is spaced apart from another reference mark toward a periphery of the liquid receiving region.

3. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reference mark is a continuous or discontinuous border line surrounding a predetermined area of the liquid receiving region.

4. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein a grade designator assigning a grade to the reference mark is provided on the body surface of the topsheet along with the reference mark.

5. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body surface of the topsheet is colored or patterned differently between a region surrounded by the reference mark and a region surrounding the reference mark.

6. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 1, wherein the absorbent layer has a higher density in a region surrounded by the reference mark than in a region surrounding the reference mark.

11. A package comprising

at least one absorbent article including:

a liquid permeable topsheet disposed on a body surface of the article;

a liquid barrier sheet for preventing liquids from exuding toward a garment surface of the article; and

an absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the liquid barrier sheet, the absorbent article having a liquid receiving region of a predetermined area where the topsheet and the absorbent layer overlap each other, and

a packaging sheet in which the absorbent article is packaged, wherein

the package is provided with a grade indication indicating a liquid absorption capacity of the liquid receiving region of the packaged absorbent article that is determined in accordance with a standard common to the reference mark provided in the absorbent article as set forth in claim 1.

7. An absorbent article comprising a main body including:

a liquid permeable topsheet disposed on a body surface of the main body;

a liquid barrier sheet for preventing liquids from exuding toward a garment surface of the main body; and

an absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the liquid barrier sheet, the main body having a liquid receiving region of a predetermined area where the topsheet and the absorbent layer overlap each other, wherein

the absorbent article further comprises a see-through measuring sheet having a reference mark for measuring an extent of liquid spread in the liquid receiving region, wherein the measuring sheet is separate from the main body and is to be put on the main body for covering at least the liquid receiving region after the main body is used for liquid absorption.

8. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 7, wherein a plurality of reference marks are provided on the measuring sheet such that one reference mark is spaced apart from another reference mark toward a periphery of the measuring sheet.

9. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 7, wherein the reference mark is a continuous or discontinuous border line surrounding a predetermined area of the measuring sheet.

10. The absorbent article as set forth in claim 7, wherein a grade designator assigning a grade to the reference mark is provided on the measuring sheet along with the reference mark.

12. A package comprising

at least one absorbent article including:

a liquid permeable topsheet disposed on a body surface of the article;

a liquid barrier sheet for preventing liquids from exuding toward a garment surface of the article; and

an absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the liquid barrier sheet, the absorbent article having a liquid receiving region of a predetermined area where the topsheet and the absorbent layer overlap each other, and

a packaging sheet in which the absorbent article is packaged, wherein

the package is provided with a grade indication indicating a liquid absorption capacity of the liquid receiving region of the packaged absorbent article that is determined in accordance with a standard common to the reference mark provided in the absorbent article as set forth in claim 7.