Absorbent article having a topsheet that includes selectively openable and closable openings
First Claim
1. An absorbent article adapted to be worn adjacent the lower torso of a wearer for receiving and retaining body exudates, said absorbent article comprising:
- a. a liquid impervious, elastically extensible backsheet having an outer, garment-facing surface and an inner, body-facing surface;
b. an absorbent core having a shape to enable the core to be placed adjacent the body of a wearer and having the capacity of absorbing liquids;
c. a flexible, elastically extensible liquid-pervious topsheet overlying the absorbent core, the topsheet including a plurality of spaced discontinuities that are substantially closed when the topsheet is in an untensioned condition and that are open to define a plurality of spaced openings extending through the topsheet when the topsheet is subjected to tension, to enable solid and semi-solid body exudates to pass through the topsheet to the absorbent core.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An absorbent article adapted to be worn about the lower torso of a wearer. The article includes a liquid-impervious, flexible backsheet adapted to face outwardly relative to the body a wearer, a liquid-pervious topsheet adapted to face the body of the wearer, and an absorbent core positioned between the backsheet and the topsheet. The topsheet is elastically extensible and includes a plurality of slits or cuts that extend through the topsheet material and that enlarge to define a plurality of openings in the topsheet when it is subjected to tensile forces as it is worn. The openings permit solid and semi-solid bodily exudates to pass through the topsheet to the absorbent core as the diaper is worn. Upon removal of the diaper from the body of the wearer the tensile forces within the topsheet are relaxed, thereby causing the openings in the topsheet to close and substantially conceal from view the bodily exudates that had passed through the topsheet.
237 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An absorbent article adapted to be worn adjacent the lower torso of a wearer for receiving and retaining body exudates, said absorbent article comprising:
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a. a liquid impervious, elastically extensible backsheet having an outer, garment-facing surface and an inner, body-facing surface; b. an absorbent core having a shape to enable the core to be placed adjacent the body of a wearer and having the capacity of absorbing liquids; c. a flexible, elastically extensible liquid-pervious topsheet overlying the absorbent core, the topsheet including a plurality of spaced discontinuities that are substantially closed when the topsheet is in an untensioned condition and that are open to define a plurality of spaced openings extending through the topsheet when the topsheet is subjected to tension, to enable solid and semi-solid body exudates to pass through the topsheet to the absorbent core. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An absorbent article adapted to be worn adjacent the lower torso of a wearer for receiving and retaining body exudates, the absorbent article having a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges, said absorbent article comprising:
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a. a liquid impervious, backsheet having an outer, garment-facing surface and an inner, body-facing surface; b. an absorbent core having a shape to enable the core to be placed adjacent the body of a wearer and having the capacity of absorbing liquids; c. a flexible, liquid-pervious topsheet overlying the absorbent core, the topsheet including a plurality of spaced discontinuities that are substantially closed when the topsheet is in an untensioned condition and that are open to define a plurality of spaced openings extending through the topsheet when the topsheet is subjected to tension, to enable solid and semi-solid body exudates to pass through the topsheet to the absorbent core; and d. spacing means for spacing at least a portion of the topsheet from at least a portion of the absorbent core to define a cavity between the topsheet and the absorbent core for receiving solid and semi-solid bodily exudates. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An absorbent article adapted to be worn adjacent the lower torso of a wearer for receiving and retaining body exudates, the absorbent article having a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges, said absorbent article comprising:
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a. a liquid impervious, backsheet having an outer, garment-facing surface and an inner, body-facing surface; b. an absorbent core having a shape to enable the core to be placed adjacent the body of a wearer and having the capacity of absorbing liquids; c. a flexible, liquid-pervious topsheet overlying the absorbent core, the topsheet including a plurality of spaced discontinuities that are substantially closed when the topsheet is in an untensioned condition and that are open to define a plurality of spaced openings extending through the topsheet when the topsheet is subjected to tension, to enable solid and semi-solid body exudates to pass through the topsheet to the absorbent core; and d. a spacing member disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet for spacing at least a portion of the topsheet from at least a portion of the absorbent core to define a cavity between the topsheet and the absorbent core for receiving solid and semi-solid bodily exudates.
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Specification