Absorbent article with flexible hinge
First Claim
1. An absorbent article comprising:
- a liquid-permeable topsheet on a skin surface; and
a backsheet on a garment surface,wherein first flexible hinges and second flexible hinges are formed to extend longitudinally of the absorbent article, the first flexible hinges being disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article to define a central absorbent portion, the second flexible hinges being disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal centerline and spaced outwardly apart from the first flexible hinges to define support portions between adjacent first and second flexible hinges and side portions outside the second flexible hinges, the first flexible hinges facilitating bending of the support portions from the central absorbent portion, and the second flexible hinges facilitating bending of the side portions from the support portions,wherein an absorbent layer is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet in both the central absorbent portion and the support portions, the absorbent layer having a higher basis weight in the central absorbent portion than in the support portions, so that when no external force is exerted on the absorbent article, the support portions, as well as the first and second flexible hinges, are located below a midpoint of thickness of the central absorbent portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an absorbent article including: a liquid-permeable topsheet on a skin surface; and a backsheet on a garment surface. First flexible hinges and second flexible hinges are formed to extend longitudinally of the absorbent article. The first flexible hinges are disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article to define a central absorbent portion having an absorbent layer therebetween. The second flexible hinges are disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal centerline and spaced outwardly apart from the first flexible hinges to define support portions between adjacent first and second flexible hinges and side portions outside the second flexible hinges. The first flexible hinges facilitate bending of the support portions from the central absorbent portion, and the second flexible hinges facilitate bending of the side portions from the support portions.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An absorbent article comprising:
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a liquid-permeable topsheet on a skin surface; and a backsheet on a garment surface, wherein first flexible hinges and second flexible hinges are formed to extend longitudinally of the absorbent article, the first flexible hinges being disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article to define a central absorbent portion, the second flexible hinges being disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal centerline and spaced outwardly apart from the first flexible hinges to define support portions between adjacent first and second flexible hinges and side portions outside the second flexible hinges, the first flexible hinges facilitating bending of the support portions from the central absorbent portion, and the second flexible hinges facilitating bending of the side portions from the support portions, wherein an absorbent layer is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet in both the central absorbent portion and the support portions, the absorbent layer having a higher basis weight in the central absorbent portion than in the support portions, so that when no external force is exerted on the absorbent article, the support portions, as well as the first and second flexible hinges, are located below a midpoint of thickness of the central absorbent portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An absorbent article comprising:
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a liquid-permeable topsheet on a skin surface; and a backsheet on a garment surface, wherein first rear compressed portions are disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article to define a rear central absorbent portion having an absorbent layer therebetween, the first rear compressed portions extending rearwardly of the absorbent article to gradually approach each other, and second rear compressed portions are disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal centerline, the second rear compressed portions extending rearwardly of the absorbent article while being spaced outwardly apart from the first rear compressed portions, wherein front ends of the second rear compressed portions are spaced a predetermined distance behind a line on which a lateral distance between the first rear compressed portions is increased to a maximum. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification