Disposable absorbent article having a sealed expandable component
First Claim
1. A disposable absorbent article comprising:
- a backsheet;
a liquid pervious topsheet joined to the backsheet;
an absorbent core disposed intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet; and
an expandable component disposed on the absorbent article, the expandable component comprising a resilient element compressed within a sealed air impermeable envelope, the expandable component expandable from a first thickness when compressed to a second thickness greater that the first thickness upon removing a portion of the envelope and equalizing the pressure inside the opened envelope with the atmospheric pressure outside the opened envelope when the resilient element is expanded to its free unrestrained thickness.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An absorbent article having an expandable component. The expandable component comprises a compressed, resilient element disposed within an air impermeable envelope. The compressed element provides the absorbent article with a thin, low bulk profile prior to use of the disposable absorbent article, thereby reducing shipping and storage space. At the point of use of the absorbent article, the air impervious envelope is opened, thereby permitting entry of air into the envelope and expansion of the compressed element. In one embodiment the expandable component is a spacer for maintaining fecal void space in a disposable diaper. Alternatively, the expandable component can provide displacement of the topsheet relative to the backsheet along the longitudinal centerline of a sanitary napkin.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A disposable absorbent article comprising:
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a backsheet; a liquid pervious topsheet joined to the backsheet; an absorbent core disposed intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet; and an expandable component disposed on the absorbent article, the expandable component comprising a resilient element compressed within a sealed air impermeable envelope, the expandable component expandable from a first thickness when compressed to a second thickness greater that the first thickness upon removing a portion of the envelope and equalizing the pressure inside the opened envelope with the atmospheric pressure outside the opened envelope when the resilient element is expanded to its free unrestrained thickness.
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2. A disposable absorbent article comprising:
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a backsheet; a liquid pervious topsheet joined to the backsheet; an absorbent core disposed intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet; and
,an expandable component disposed on the absorbent article, the expandable component comprising a resilient element compressed within a sealed air impermeable envelope, the expandable component expandable from a first thickness when compressed to a second thickness greater than the first thickness upon opening of the sealed air impermeable envelope and equalizing the pressure inside the opened envelope with the atmospheric pressure outside the opened envelope when the resilient element is expanded to its free unrestrained thickness. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A sanitary napkin having a front edge, a rear edge, longitudinal edges, and longitudinal and lateral centerlines, the sanitary napkin comprising:
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a liquid pervious topsheet; a backsheet joined to the topsheet; an absorbent core intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet; and an expandable component disposed on the sanitary napkin, the expandable component comprising a compressed resilient element disposed within an air impermeable envelope, the expandable component expandable from a first thickness to a second thickness greater than the first thickness upon opening of the air impermeable envelope. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification