Absorbent article having perception of depth

• US 7,241,280 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Feller, Bryan Keith, Christon, Patricia Lee, Hernandez, Rosa Alejandra, Glassmeyer, Ronda Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): KIDWELL, MICHELE M
• Application Number:
  US10/945,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20050038402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 604/359, 604361-362, 604/367, 604/378, 604/385.01, 604/381
• US Class Current: 604/385.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15203 Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency chemical aspects A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/472 specially adapted for female use A61F13/474, A61F13/475, A61F13/476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/511 Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51394 creating a visual effect, e.g. having a printed or coloured topsheet, printed or coloured sub-layer but being visible from the topsheet, other than embossing for purposes of bonding, wicking, acquisition, leakage-prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/531 having a homogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/84 Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5128 characterized by open targets or acquisitions or vulnerability zones
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51377 having decoration properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51383 being adapted for female properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51388 being adapted to male properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8497 having decorations or indicia means

Abstract

The absorbent article provides a signal viewable from the top surface of the absorbent article which gives a perception of depth within the absorbent article. This creation of depth perception is accomplished by the use of at least two tones within a color and/or by the use of multiple tones and multiple colors operating together to create a perception of depth within the absorbent article.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having an upper surface, a lower surface and a periphery, comprising:

a topsheet having a bottom surface and a viewing surface positioned opposite to the bottom surface, the viewing surface facing upwardly towards the upper surface of the absorbent article;

a backsheet having a garment facing surface and a user facing surface positioned oppositely to the garment facing surface, the user facing surface facing upwardly toward the upper surface, the backsheet being joined to the topsheet;

an absorbent core having a top surface and a bottom surface positioned opposite to the top surface, the absorbent core being positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet;

an insert positioned between the topsheet and the absorbent core, and

the insert having at least a first layer, the first layer having a colored portion, the colored portion being viewable from the viewing surface of the topsheet, the colored portion having a first shade and a second shade, the first shade being positioned substantially centrally within the second shade, the second shade being different from the first shade, wherein the second shade is white.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the first shade is darker than the second shade.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the color of the first shade and the second shade of the colored portion and the non-colored portion are measured by the Hunter Reflectance Meter test according to the colors'"'"' L, a, and b values, the L, a, and b values being measured from the viewing surface of the topsheet inboard of the absorbent article'"'"'s periphery.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein the color differences between the colored portion and the non-colored portion are measured at a first point, a second point, and a third point on the viewing surface of the topsheet inboard of the periphery of the absorbent article, the first point being measured within the first shade, the second point being measured within the second shade, and the third point being measured within the non-colored portion of the absorbent article, the color differences being calculated using the L, a, and b values by the formula Δ

E=[(L*_x·

−

L*_y)²+(a*_x·

−

a*_y)²+(b*_x−

b*_y)²]^1/2.

5. The absorbent article of claim 4 wherein the difference in color between the first shade and the second shade is at least 3.5.

6. The absorbent article of claim 4 wherein the difference in color between the first shade and the non-colored portion is at least 6.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the size of the colored portion ranges from about 5% to about 98% of the viewing surface of the topsheet.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the colored portion is a multi-layered insert positioned beneath the topsheet.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the colored portion comprises a multi-colored insert positioned beneath the topsheet and comprising at least a first layer and a second layer wherein the first layer comprises one shade of the color and wherein the second layer comprises another shade of the color.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the topsheet comprises a formed film topsheet.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the topsheet comprises a nonwoven.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the topsheet comprises a formed film and a nonwoven.