Absorbent article including a plurality of longitudinally extending channels

• US 8,034,991 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edgewell Personal Care Brands, LLC (Edgewell Personal Care Company)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Ind. E Com. Ltda.
• Inventors: Wiermann Paques, Fernanda, Bruzadin, Fernanda, Hernandez, Francisco J. V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephens; Jacqueline F.
• Application Number:
  US12/431,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20100280474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 604/378, 604/380, 604/381, 604/385.101
• US Class Current: 604/378
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4756 the means consisting of grooves, e.g. channels, depressions or embossments, resulting in a heterogeneous surface level
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4758 the means preventing fluid flow in a longitudinal direction

Abstract

An absorbent article including a first end region, a second end region and a central region, a plurality of channels arranged in each of the first and second end regions, at least one channel arranged in the central region and extending in a longitudinal direction of the article, the at least one channel being connected at each end thereof to the plurality of channels in the first end region and the plurality of channels in the second end region.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising:

a longitudinally extending centerline;

a transversely extending centerline;

a first end region and a second end region;

a central region arranged between the first and second end regions;

a first longitudinal edge;

a second longitudinal edge;

a first transverse edge;

a second transverse edge;

a first embossing pattern having a first portion located in the first end region and a section portion located in the second end region, each of the first portion and second portion including a plurality of interconnected channels arranged in each of the first and second end regions;

a second embossing pattern including at least one channel arranged in the central region and extending in a longitudinal direction of the article, the at least one channel intersecting at least one of the plurality of interconnected channels in the first end region and at least one of the plurality of interconnected channels in the second end region; and

wherein the plurality of channels in the first end region are arranged in spaced relationship to the plurality of channels in the second end region.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the plurality channels in the first and second end regions comprise a plurality of arcuate channels, each one of the arcuate channels extending across the absorbent article from one side of the longitudinally extending centerline to the other side of the longitudinally extending centerline.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein each of the arcuate channels intersects at least one other arcuate channel at an oblique angle relative thereto and each of the arcuate channels extends across the longitudinally extending centerline at an oblique angle relative thereto.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1, further comprising a first end channel located in the first end region and a second end channel located in the second end region, each one of the plurality of channels in the first end region intersecting with and terminating at the first end channel, each one of the plurality of channels in the second end region intersecting with and terminating at the second end channel.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the first end channel and the second end channel are substantially U-shaped, the first end channel being spaced inwardly relative to a first transverse edge of the article and the second end channel being spaced inwardly relative to a second transverse edge of the article.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the at least one longitudinally extending channel comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending channels, one of the longitudinally extending channels being substantially coextensive with the longitudinally extending centerline of the article, and the other longitudinally extending channels being arranged in spaced relationship to the channel that is substantially coextensive with the longitudinally extending centerline.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 6, wherein the longitudinally extending channel that is substantially coextensive with the longitudinally extending centerline intersects at least one of the plurality of channels in the first end region and at least one of the plurality of channels in the second end region.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 7, wherein the absorbent article comprises:

a cover layer;

a barrier layer;

a first absorbent layer and a second absorbent layer arranged between the cover layer and the barrier layer, the first absorbent layer being arranged adjacent the cover layer and the second absorbent layer being arranged adjacent to the first absorbent layer;

wherein the first absorbent layer including a plurality of longitudinally extending material-free zones, each one of the material-free zones corresponding in size, shape and location to a corresponding one of the longitudinally extending channels.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 8, wherein the cover layer includes a plurality of first regions arranged in spaced relationship to the second absorbent layer and a plurality of second regions arranged in surface to surface contact with the second absorbent layer.

10. The absorbent article according to claim 9, wherein each one of the plurality of second regions is located within one of the material-free zones of the first absorbent layer.

11. The absorbent article according to claim 10, wherein the second absorbent layer is provided with a plurality of channels each one of the plurality of channels corresponding in shape and location to a corresponding one of the plurality of longitudinally extending channels.

12. The absorbent article according to claim 11, wherein each one of the plurality of channels in the second absorbent layer corresponds in shape and location to a corresponding one of the material-free zones.

13. The absorbent article according to claim 12, wherein each one of the plurality of longitudinally extending channels is a continuous channel.

14. The absorbent article according to claim 12, wherein each one of the plurality of longitudinally extending channels comprises a plurality of discretely arranged depressed regions.

15. The absorbent article according to claim 14, wherein each one of the plurality of discretely arranged depressed regions is arranged in spaced relationship to an adjacent one of the plurality of discretely arranged depressed regions.

16. The absorbent article according to claim 15, wherein each one of the depressed regions is circular in shape.

17. The absorbent article according to claim 15, wherein each one of the depressed regions is rectangular in shape.

18. The absorbent article according to claim 15, wherein each one of the depressed regions is diamond in shape.

19. The absorbent article according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of longitudinally extending channels is provided with a color cue visible from a top surface of the article.