Diaper design having zones of reduced stiffness and continuous breathability
First Claim
1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a longitudinal length, a lateral width, longitudinal end edges and lateral side edges, a front waist region, a rear waist region, an intermediate crotch region interconnecting the front and rear waist regions, and a pair of leg openings on the lateral sides of the crotch region, the article further comprising:
- a liquid-pervious backsheet;
a liquid-pervious topsheet;
a pair of liquid-pervious barrier cuffs bonded to the topsheet;
an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;
a liquid-impervious barrier layer disposed between the absorbent core and the backsheet; and
leg elastic members located in at least a portion of the crotch region adjacent to the leg openings;
wherein the barrier layer is not present in the portion of the article where the leg elastic members are located, the barrier layer does not wrap around the core, and the barrier cuffs and the backsheet extend past lateral edges of the barrier layer and terminate at the lateral side edges of the absorbent article.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An absorbent article, such as a disposable diaper, having a topsheet, barrier cuffs, an optional acquisition layer, an absorbent core, a barrier layer, and a backsheet. The diaper is arranged so as to create breathable zones of reduced stiffness surrounding the wearer'"'"'s thighs. That is, the layers of material forming the diaper are arranged so the area surrounding the wearer'"'"'s thighs includes only the backsheet, barrier cuffs and leg elastics. No liquid-impervious material is present within the breathable zones of reduced stiffness. Furthermore, these breathable zones of reduced stiffness preferably are formed so that only hydrophobic material is present. Thus, providing a better fitting, less irritating absorbent article by reducing the stiffness and increasing the breathability of the diaper in the area surrounding the wearer'"'"'s thighs, resulting in increased comfort and fit around the wearer'"'"'s thighs.
179 Citations
48 Claims
-
1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a longitudinal length, a lateral width, longitudinal end edges and lateral side edges, a front waist region, a rear waist region, an intermediate crotch region interconnecting the front and rear waist regions, and a pair of leg openings on the lateral sides of the crotch region, the article further comprising:
-
a liquid-pervious backsheet; a liquid-pervious topsheet; a pair of liquid-pervious barrier cuffs bonded to the topsheet; an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; a liquid-impervious barrier layer disposed between the absorbent core and the backsheet; and leg elastic members located in at least a portion of the crotch region adjacent to the leg openings; wherein the barrier layer is not present in the portion of the article where the leg elastic members are located, the barrier layer does not wrap around the core, and the barrier cuffs and the backsheet extend past lateral edges of the barrier layer and terminate at the lateral side edges of the absorbent article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a longitudinal length, a lateral width, longitudinal end edges and lateral side edges, a front waist region, a rear waist region, an intermediate crotch region interconnecting the front and rear waist regions, and a pair of leg openings on the lateral sides of the crotch region, the article further comprising:
-
a liquid-pervious hydrophobic backsheet; a liquid-pervious hydrophilic topsheet; a pair of liquid-pervious hydrophobic barrier cuffs bonded to the topsheet; an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; a liquid-impervious barrier layer disposed between the absorbent core and the backsheet; and leg elastic members located in at least a portion of the crotch region adjacent to the leg openings; wherein the barrier layer is not present in the portion of the article where the leg elastic members are located, and the barrier cuffs and the backsheet extend past lateral edges of the barrier layer and terminate at the lateral side edges of the absorbent article. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a longitudinal length, a lateral width, longitudinal end edges and lateral side edges, a front waist region, a rear waist region, and an intermediate crotch region interconnecting the front and rear waist regions, the article further comprising:
-
a liquid-pervious hydrophobic backsheet; a liquid-pervious hydrophilic topsheet; a pair of liquid-pervious hydrophobic barrier cuffs bonded to the topsheet; an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; a liquid-impervious barrier layer disposed between the absorbent core and the backsheet, the barrier layer having longitudinal edges and lateral edges; and breathable zones of reduced stiffness located in the portions of the article beyond the lateral edges of the barrier layer, wherein the barrier cuffs and the backsheet extend past the lateral edges of the barrier layer and terminate at the lateral side edges of the absorbent article. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
Specification