Absorbent articles providing sustained dynamic fit
First Claim
1. An absorbent article for fitting about a wearer to contain body exudates, the wearer having a low motion zone, the absorbent article comprising:
- a containment assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region opposed to said front waist region, a front end edge, a back end edge, longitudinal edges, a longitudinal axis, a longitudinal direction defined as the direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a lateral direction defined as the direction parallel to said lateral axis, said containment assembly comprising;
an outer covering layer; and
an anatomically low motion zone-fitting absorbent core joined with said outer covering layer, said absorbent core having a longitudinal centerline, side edges, a front waist edge having an abdominal point oriented on said longitudinal centerline, and a back waist edge, each said side edge having a leg segment and a buttocks segment, each said leg segment having a substantially concave arcuate shape so as to provide a narrowed crotch portion to fit between the legs of the wearer which defines a crotch point, said absorbent core being positioned within said containment assembly such that a ratio of the longitudinal distance from said crotch points to said back end edge of said containment assembly to the longitudinal distance from said abdominal point to said crotch points is at least about 1.5;
1; and
closure means for anchoring the absorbent article on the wearer by forming a primary line of tension disposed at an angle of greater than about 5°
from the lateral direction about the low motion zone of the wearer to sustain fit of the absorbent article throughout wearing, said closure means being joined to said containment assembly.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinent briefs, training pants, diaper holders and liners, feminine hygiene garments, and the like, designed to provide sustained dynamic fit about the wearer during use as well as to improve the containment of body exudates and wearer comfort/mobility. Such an absorbent article has an absorbent core preferably designed to fit within the low motion zone of the wearer so that dynamic forces imparted by movements of the wearer on the absorbent core are minimized. The absorbent article is also provided with a closure system for anchoring the absorbent article on the wearer to sustain the dynamic fit of the absorbent article throughout wearing. The closure system is designed so that a primary line of tension, fitting at an angle to the body, is formed to secure the absorbent article on a wearer. The absorbent article preferably further comprises elastic features for fitting about the extremities of the wearer, including elastic waist features, elastic leg features, and elastic side panels, that allow freedom of movement for the wearer as well as maintenance of forces about the body to sustain the fit of the absorbent article. Preferred containment assembly (chassis) designs are also provided.
-
Citations
40 Claims
-
1. An absorbent article for fitting about a wearer to contain body exudates, the wearer having a low motion zone, the absorbent article comprising:
-
a containment assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region opposed to said front waist region, a front end edge, a back end edge, longitudinal edges, a longitudinal axis, a longitudinal direction defined as the direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a lateral direction defined as the direction parallel to said lateral axis, said containment assembly comprising; an outer covering layer; and an anatomically low motion zone-fitting absorbent core joined with said outer covering layer, said absorbent core having a longitudinal centerline, side edges, a front waist edge having an abdominal point oriented on said longitudinal centerline, and a back waist edge, each said side edge having a leg segment and a buttocks segment, each said leg segment having a substantially concave arcuate shape so as to provide a narrowed crotch portion to fit between the legs of the wearer which defines a crotch point, said absorbent core being positioned within said containment assembly such that a ratio of the longitudinal distance from said crotch points to said back end edge of said containment assembly to the longitudinal distance from said abdominal point to said crotch points is at least about 1.5;
1; andclosure means for anchoring the absorbent article on the wearer by forming a primary line of tension disposed at an angle of greater than about 5°
from the lateral direction about the low motion zone of the wearer to sustain fit of the absorbent article throughout wearing, said closure means being joined to said containment assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A unitary disposable absorbent article for fitting about a wearer to contain body exudates, the wearer having a low motion zone, the absorbent article comprising:
-
a containment assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region opposed to said front waist region, a front end edge, a back end edge, longitudinal edges, a longitudinal axis, a longitudinal direction defined as the direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, and a lateral direction defined as the direction parallel to said lateral axis, said containment assembly comprising; an outer covering layer; an anatomically low motion zone-fitting absorbent core joined with said outer covering layer, said absorbent core having a longitudinal centerline, side edges, a front waist edge having an abdominal point oriented on said longitudinal centerline, and a back waist edge, each said side edge having a leg segment and a buttocks segment, each said leg segment having a substantially concave arcuate shape so as to provide a narrowed crotch portion to fit between the legs of the wearer which defines a crotch point, said absorbent core being positioned within said containment assembly such that a ratio of the longitudinal distance from said crotch points to said back end edge of said containment assembly to the longitudinal distance from said abdominal point to said crotch points is at least about 1.5;
1;a back elasticized waistband positioned in said back waist region, said back elasticized waistband providing elastic extensibility having a vector component in the lateral direction; and elastic side panels positioned in said back waist region, said elastic side panels being elastically extensible in a direction having a vector component in the longitudinal direction; and closure means for anchoring the absorbent article on the wearer by forming a primary line of tension disposed at an angle of between about 5° and
about 30°
from the lateral direction about the low motion zone of the wearer to sustain fit of the absorbent article throughout wearing, said closure means being joined to said containment assembly;wherein said closure means, said back elasticized waistband, and each said elasticized side panel are aligned to provide a continuous primary line of tension disposed at an angle from the lateral direction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A unitary disposable absorbent article for fitting about a wearer to contain body exudates, the wearer having a low motion zone, the absorbent article comprising:
-
a containment assembly having a front waist region, a back waist region opposed to said front waist region, a front end edge, a back end edge, longitudinal edges, a longitudinal axis, a longitudinal direction defined as the direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a lateral direction defined as the direction parallel to said lateral axis, said front end edge having a substantially concave arcuate shape, said back end edge having a substantially convex arcuate shape, and said longitudinal edges having at least a portion having a substantially concave arcuate shape, said containment assembly comprising; a topsheet; a backsheet joined with said topsheet; an anatomically low motion zone-fitting absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core having a longitudinal core centerline, side edges, a front waist edge, and a back waist edge, each of said side edges having a leg segment and a buttocks segment, said leg segment having a substantially concave arcuate shape so as to provide a narrowed crotch portion to fit between the legs of the wearer which defines a crotch point, said front end edge having a substantially concave arcuate shape having a pair of laterally spaced hip points and an abdominal point positioned on said longitudinal centerline, wherein a ratio of the lateral distance between said hip points to the longitudinal distance from said hip points to said abdominal point is between about 6;
1 and about 9;
1;
said absorbent core being positioned within said containment assembly such that a ratio of the longitudinal distance from said crotch points to said back end edge of said containment assembly to the longitudinal distance from said abdominal point to said crotch points is at least about 1.5;
1;a front elastic waist feature positioned in said front waist region, said front elastic waist feature extending longitudinally outwardly from said front waist edge of said absorbent core, said front elastic waist feature comprising a front elasticized waistband; a back elastic waist feature positioned in said back waist region, said back elastic waist feature extending longitudinally outwardly from said back waist edge of said absorbent core, said back elastic waist feature having a substantially convex arcuate shape; and elastic side panels positioned in said back waist region, said elastic side panels comprising a zero strain stretch laminate comprising a portion of said backsheet, a portion of said topsheet, and an elastic side panel member positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said stretch laminate being mechanically stretched such that each said elasticized side panel is elastically extensible in a direction having a vector component in the longitudinal direction; and a closure system for anchoring the absorbent article on the wearer by forming a primary line of tension disposed at an angle of between about 5° and
about 30°
from the lateral direction about the low motion zone of the wearer that sustains fit of the absorbent article throughout wearing, said closure system joined to said containment assembly, said closure system comprising;a primary fastening system comprising; a tape tab disposed adjacent each of said longitudinal edges in said back waist region, each said tape tab comprising a fixed portion joined to said containment assembly, and a tab portion contiguous with said fixed portion and disposed so said portions can extend beyond said longitudinal edge of said containment assembly, and a first fastening component joined to said tab portion, said tab portion having a proximal edge, a distal edge, and sidelong edges, said proximal edge having a top point and a bottom point, said distal edge having an upper point and a lower point, wherein said upper point of said distal edge is disposed at an angle to the lateral direction from said top point of said proximal edge, and said bottom point of said distal edge is disposed at an angle to the lateral direction from said bottom point of said proximal edge, such that said tab portion is shaped and oriented at an angle to the lateral direction; and a landing member disposed in said front waist region, said landing member comprising a second fastening component engageable with said first fastening component, said landing member being shaped and oriented so as to provide a primary line of tension at an angle to the lateral direction about the wearer, said landing member being positioned over said absorbent core so as to secure the absorbent article as well as absorbent core in a sustained position within the low motion zone of the wearer; and a waist closure system for providing a variable positioning, passively activated, waist closure for the absorbent article that dynamically maintains tension through at least a portion of said front elasticized waistband, said waist closure system comprising; at least one first attachment component disposed in said front waist region, said first attachment component being positioned so as to be longitudinally aligned with at least a portion of said front elasticized waistband, and at least one second attachment component disposed in said back waist region, said second attachment component being engageable with said first attachment component so that when the primary closure is formed said second attachment component engages said first attachment component at at least two anchor zones longitudinally aligned with said front elasticized waistband so as to dynamically maintain tension through at least a portion of said front elasticized waistband; wherein said closure system, said back elastic waist feature, and each said elasticized side panel is disposed and oriented so as to provide a continuous primary line of tension at an angle to the lateral direction about the wearer. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
Specification