Absorbent article having an absorbent structure configured for improved donning of the article
First Claim
1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting said front and back waist regions, said article comprising:
- an outer cover stretchable in at least one direction;
a liner in opposed relationship with the outer cover and stretchable in at least one direction; and
an absorbent structure disposed between the liner and the outer cover and extending from the crotch region to at least one of the front waist region and the back waist region of the article, the absorbent structure having at least one weakening element disposed therein for reducing the resistance of the absorbent structure to stretching in a direction that defines an angle relative to the lateral axis of the absorbent article of greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An absorbent article generally has a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions. The absorbent article has an outer cover stretchable in at least one direction and a liner in opposed relationship with the outer cover and stretchable in at least one direction. An absorbent structure is disposed between the liner and the outer cover and extends from the crotch region to at least one of the front waist region and the back waist region of the article. The absorbent structure has at least one weakening element disposed therein for reducing the resistance of the absorbent structure to stretching in a direction that defines an angle relative to the lateral axis of the absorbent article of greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees.
-
Citations
50 Claims
-
1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting said front and back waist regions, said article comprising:
-
an outer cover stretchable in at least one direction; a liner in opposed relationship with the outer cover and stretchable in at least one direction; and an absorbent structure disposed between the liner and the outer cover and extending from the crotch region to at least one of the front waist region and the back waist region of the article, the absorbent structure having at least one weakening element disposed therein for reducing the resistance of the absorbent structure to stretching in a direction that defines an angle relative to the lateral axis of the absorbent article of greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting said front and back waist regions, said article comprising:
-
an outer cover; a liner in opposed relationship with the outer cover; and an absorbent structure disposed between the liner and the outer cover and extending from the crotch region to at least one of the front waist region and the back waist region of the article, the absorbent structure having at least one elongate weakening element therein for reducing the resistance of the absorbent structure to stretching, the at least one elongate weakening element having a maximum length dimension extending in a direction that defines an angle relative to the lateral axis of the absorbent article of greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
- 29. A stretchable absorbent structure for an absorbent article, the absorbent structure being stretchable in at least one direction and having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, longitudinal ends and lateral side edges, said absorbent structure having at least one weakening element disposed generally adjacent at least one of said longitudinal ends to reduce resistance of the absorbent structure to stretching, said at least one weakening element being elongate and having a maximum length dimension extending in a direction that defines an angle relative to the lateral axis of the absorbent structure of greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees.
-
39. An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting said front and back waist regions, said article comprising:
-
an outer cover stretchable in at least one direction; a liner in opposed relationship with the outer cover and stretchable in at least one direction; and an absorbent structure disposed between the liner and the outer cover and extending from the crotch region to at least one of the front waist region and the back waist region of the article, the absorbent structure having at least one weakening element disposed therein extending in the longitudinal direction for separation of the absorbent structure upon application of a donning force to the absorbent article and at least one other weakening element generally adjacent to said at least one longitudinally oriented weakening element and extending in a direction other than the longitudinal direction of the article to reduce resistance of the absorbent structure to stretching. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
-
44. The absorbent article set forth in 39 wherein said at least one other weakening element comprises two groups of parallel weakening elements each group of parallel weakening elements being located on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal weakening element.
-
45. The absorbent article set forth in 39 wherein said at least one other weakening element comprises an elongate slit disposed in the absorbent structure and extending at least partially therethrough.
Specification