Absorbent article having a window with a body-conforming acquisition element positioned therein
First Claim
1. An absorbent article for wearing in a crotch region of a wearer'"'"'s undergarment, said absorbent article having a body surface, a garment surface, a longitudinal centerline, and a transverse centerline, said absorbent article comprising:
- a liquid pervious topsheet;
a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;
an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core comprising a first layer and a second layer wherein said second layer underlies said first layer; and
an acquisition component positioned such that at least a portion of said acquisition component is disposed above at least a portion of said absorbent core and at least a portion of said acquisition component is disposed between said first layer and said second layer of said absorbent core, said acquisition component being in liquid communication with said absorbent core and comprising a mass of wet and dry resilient material, said acquisition component having a compressed configuration when it is subjected to inward compressive forces in the direction of and along said transverse centerline and an uncompressed configuration when said compressive forces are absent, wherein when said acquisition component is in its uncompressed configuration, the body surface of said absorbent article overlying said acquisition component forms a continuous curve having a curvature, and when said acquisition component is in its compressed configuration, said acquisition component forms a hump on said body surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin is provided. The sanitary napkin of the present invention has at least one component facing the body surface of the sanitary napkin having a window cut out therein. The sanitary napkin is provided with an acquisition/distribution component such as a tow of resilient fibers having intra-fiber capillary channels. The tow of resilient fibers is positioned so that it at least partially lies in the space defined by the window. The acquisition/distribution component has a compressed configuration and an uncompressed configuration. In its uncompressed configuration, the acquisition/distribution component lies relatively flat behind the window. In its compressed configuration, the acquisition/distribution component forms a hump on the body surface that protrudes from the window.
138 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An absorbent article for wearing in a crotch region of a wearer'"'"'s undergarment, said absorbent article having a body surface, a garment surface, a longitudinal centerline, and a transverse centerline, said absorbent article comprising:
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a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet; an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core comprising a first layer and a second layer wherein said second layer underlies said first layer; and
an acquisition component positioned such that at least a portion of said acquisition component is disposed above at least a portion of said absorbent core and at least a portion of said acquisition component is disposed between said first layer and said second layer of said absorbent core, said acquisition component being in liquid communication with said absorbent core and comprising a mass of wet and dry resilient material, said acquisition component having a compressed configuration when it is subjected to inward compressive forces in the direction of and along said transverse centerline and an uncompressed configuration when said compressive forces are absent, wherein when said acquisition component is in its uncompressed configuration, the body surface of said absorbent article overlying said acquisition component forms a continuous curve having a curvature, and when said acquisition component is in its compressed configuration, said acquisition component forms a hump on said body surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An absorbent article for wearing in a crotch region of a wearer'"'"'s undergarment, said absorbent article having a body surface, a garment surface, and a transverse centerline, said absorbent article comprising:
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a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet; an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and backsheet, said absorbent core comprising a first layer and a second layer wherein said second layer underlies said first layer; and an acquisition component positioned such that at least a portion of said acquisition component is disposed above at least a portion of said absorbent core and at least a portion of said acquisition component is disposed between said first layer and said second layer of said absorbent core, said acquisition component comprising a wet and dry resilient material, said acquisition component having a compressed configuration when it is subjected to inward compressive forces along said transverse centerline and an uncompressed configuration when such forces are absent, wherein when said acquisition component is in its compressed configuration, said acquisition component forms a hump on the body surface;
whereinsaid absorbent core has a window cut out therein and at least a portion of said acquisition component is positioned within said window. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An absorbent article for wearing in a crotch region of a wearer'"'"'s undergarment, said absorbent article having a body surface, a garment surface, a longitudinal centerline, a transverse centerline, two longitudinal side edges, and two transverse end edges, said absorbent article comprising:
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a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet; an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and backsheet, said absorbent core having a first layer facing said topsheet, a second layer facing said backsheet wherein said first layer has a window cut out therein; an acquisition/distribution component, at least a part of said acquisition/distribution component being positioned within said window and at least a portion of said acquisition/distribution component being positioned between said first layer and said second layer, said acquisition/distribution component having a compressed configuration wherein said acquisition/distribution component forms a hump on the body surface that protrudes from said window when said acquisition/distribution component is subjected to inward compressive forces along said transverse centerline and uncompressed configuration when such forces are absent wherein said acquisition/distribution component lies relatively fiat; and a fastener on the garment surface of said absorbent article for fastening said absorbent article to said undergarment. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An absorbent article for wearing in a crotch region of a wearer'"'"'s undergarment, said absorbent article having a body surface, a garment surface, a longitudinal centerline, and a transverse centerline, said absorbent article comprising:
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a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said top sheet; an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core comprising a first layer and a second layer wherein said second layer underlies said first layer, and said first layer of said absorbent core having a window cut out therein; and a resilient acquisition component positioned within said window such that at least a portion of said acquisition component is dispose between said first layer and said second layer of said absorbent core, said acquisition component comprising capillary channel fibers having intra-fiber capillary channels, said acquisition component being in liquid communication with said absorbent core.
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Specification