Absorbent article having outwardly convex longitudinal central channels for improved protection

• US 20060116653A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Ohba, Kiyoe, Munakata, Yoko
• Granted Patent: US 8,715,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/380
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15203 Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency chemical aspects A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47 Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins A61F13/49 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4702 having a reinforcing member
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4704 having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves
• 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 13/532 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/533 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15373 Calliper, i.e. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4587 with channels or deep spot depressions on the upper surface A61F13/4704 and A61F13/49001 take precedence

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, the invention is directed to an absorbent article having a pair of longitudinal edges, front and rear transverse edges, a front end region, a rear end region, and a central region disposed between the front and rear end regions. The absorbent article comprises: a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet; an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; a pair of outwardly convex longitudinal central channels formed at least in the central region. The traversal distance of the pair of outwardly convex longitudinal central channels decreases towards the both ends of the channels to define a central closed area which has a maximum length of 80-220 mm and a maximum width of 25-70 mm. The absorbent article further comprises a rear channel defining a rear closed area in the rear end region. Preferably, the absorbent core is profiled within the central closed area so that the central region has a caliper that is greater than the caliper of the outside of the central closed area. The absorbent article of the invention provides improved protection from soiling. The invention also provides a sanitary napkin that fits closer to the wearer'"'"'s body in the areas where menses and other body fluids originate.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a pair of longitudinal edges, front and rear transverse edges, a front end region, a rear end region, and a central region disposed between the front and rear end regions, the absorbent article comprising:

a liquid pervious topsheet;

a liquid impervious backsheet;

an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;

a pair of outwardly convex longitudinal central channels formed at least in the central region, the traversal distance of the pair of outwardly convex longitudinal central channels decreasing towards the both ends of the channels to define a central closed area which has a maximum length of 80-220 mm and a maximum width of 25-70 mm; and

a rear channel defining a rear closed area in the rear end region;

the absorbent core being profiled within the central closed area so that the central region has a caliper that is greater than the caliper of the outside of the central closed area.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the absorbent core is profiled within the central closed area so that the central region has a caliper that is greater than the caliper of the outside of the central closed area

3. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the maximum width of the rear closed area is no greater than that of the maximum width of the central closed area.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3 further comprising a front channel defining a front closed area in the front end region, wherein the maximum width of the front closed area is no greater than that of the maximum width of the central closed area.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the front end region has a width defined between the longitudinal edges, the rear end region has a width defined between the longitudinal edges, and the ratio of the width of the rear end region to the width of the front end region ranges between 1:

1 and 2.5;

1.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the pair of outwardly convex central longitudinal channels assist the central region of the absorbent article in assuming a W-shaped cross-sectional configuration when the absorbent article is laterally compressed by the wearer'"'"'s thighs, thereby allowing improved contact with the wearer'"'"'s genital area.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1 further comprising a pair of central side flaps each extending laterally outward in the central region.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the pair of outwardly convex longitudinal channels has higher compression portions and lower compression portions which are alternatively repeated along the longitudinal direction of the channel.

9. An absorbent article having a pair of longitudinal edges, front and rear transverse edges, a front end region, a rear end region, and a central region disposed between the front and rear end regions, the absorbent article comprising:

a liquid pervious topsheet;

a liquid impervious backsheet;

an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;

a pair of longitudinal channels formed in the front end region, the central region and the rear end region; and

a pair of central side flaps each extending laterally outward in the central region;

wherein the pair of longitudinal channels has (1) an outwardly convex channel portion in the central region, (2) a front inwardly concave channel portion at the transition area between the front end region and the central region, and (3) a rear inwardly concave channel portion at the transition area between the rear end region and the central region.

10. The absorbent article of claim 9 wherein the absorbent core is profiled within the pair of longitudinal channels at the outwardly convex channel portion in the central region so that the central region has a caliper that is greater than the caliper of the end regions.