Trisection topsheets for disposable absorbent articles and disposable absorbent articles having such trisection topsheets

• US 5,269,775 A
• Filed: 06/12/1992
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Allen, Patrick J., Freeland, Mary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARKE, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US07/897,689
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 604/358, 604/385.2, 604/385.1
• US Class Current: 604/385.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49011 the elastic means is located at the waist region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49012 the elastic means being elastic panels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49017 the elastic means being located at the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/491 specially adapted for gender distinct urine discharge pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/494 characterised by edge leakage prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/495 with faecal cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51 characterised by the outer layers wicking or transfer layers A61F13/537
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/537 characterised by a layer facilitating or inhibiting flow in one direction or plane, e.g. a wicking layer A61F13/538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/153 in dry conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15365 Dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15406 Basis weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15552 Air permeability
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49022 being elastomeric sheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49031 being elastic in longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49033 being elastic in transversal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49039 the elastic means is located around the target zone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4948 the edge leakage prevention means being elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51004 characterized by the length of the fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51011 characterized by the count of the fibres, e.g. denier or tex
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51066 : for rendering the surface hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51333 : in only specific parts or sections of the top layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51409 : being a film
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51413 : with macroscopic openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5149 : being embossed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530007 : being made from pulp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530445 : by defining a target or acquisition or vulnerability zone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530481 : having superabsorbent materials, i.e. highly absorbent polymer gel materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530613 : in fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53445 : from several sheets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53769 : with the wicking layer not contacting the absorbent core
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53795 : being a surge management layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53908 : with adhesive

Abstract

A topsheet for use in a disposable absorbent article. The topsheet is divided into three trisections disposed in a particular arrangement along the longitudinal axis of the disposable absorbent article. The front trisection has no elastic extensibility. The central trisection has elastic extensibility in the transverse direction. The rear trisection has elastic extensibility in the longitudinal direction. If desired, the topsheet may be further provided with an aperture for communicating fecal material through the topsheet into a void space in the disposable absorbent article. An exemplary disposable absorbent article is also included in the disclosure.

Claims

1. A topsheet for use in a disposable absorbent article having a front waist margin, a rear waist margin, and a longitudinal axis, said topsheet comprising:

a front trisection adapted to be juxtaposed with said front waist margin of said disposable absorbent article, said front trisection being generally inelastic;

a rear trisection adapted to be juxtaposed with said rear waist margin of said disposable absorbent article, said rear waist margin being longitudinally elastically extensible; and

a central trisection intermediate said front trisection and said rear trisection, at least a portion of said central trisection being transversely elastically extensible, said central trisection being generally H-shaped whereby said central trisection longitudinally extends into at least one of said front trisection and said rear trisection.

2. A topsheet for use in a disposable absorbent article having a front waist margin, a rear waist margin, and a longitudinal axis, said topsheet comprising:

a front trisection adapted to be juxtaposed with said front waist margin of said disposable absorbent article, said front trisection being generally inelastic;

a rear trisection adapted to be juxtaposed with said rear waist margin of said disposable absorbent article, said rear waist margin being longitudinally elastically extensible; and

a central trisection intermediate said front trisection and said rear trisection, said central trisection being transversely elastically extensible, said central trisection longitudinally extending into at least one of said front trisection and said rear trisection,

wherein said topsheet is unapertured and creates a pocket in said rear trisection for the receipt of fecal material.

3. A topsheet for use in a disposable absorbent article having a front waist margin, a rear waist margin, and a longitudinal axis, said topsheet comprising:

a front trisection adapted to be juxtaposed with said front waist margin of said disposable absorbent article, said front trisection being generally inelastic;

a rear trisection adapted to be juxtaposed with said rear waist margin of said disposable absorbent article, said rear waist margin being longitudinally elastically extensible; and

a central trisection intermediate said front trisection and said rear trisection, said central trisection being transversely elastically extensible, said rear trisection and said central trisection comprising linear elastic strands,

said topsheet further comprising curvilinear borders between said trisections.