Absorbent article demonstrating controlled deformation and longitudinal fluid distribution
First Claim
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1. An absorbent article having a transversely extending centerline and a longitudinally extending centerline and a body facing surface, the body facing surface comprising:
- a central region having i) a first transverse side parallel to the transversely extending centerline and a second transverse side parallel to the transversely extending centerline and opposite the first transverse side in the direction of the longitudinally extending centerline; and
ii) a first longitudinal side parallel to the longitudinally extending centerline and a second longitudinal side parallel to the longitudinally extending centerline and opposite the first longitudinal side in the direction of the transversely extending centerline, the central region comprising an embossing pattern comprising at least two longitudinally extending channels having respective ends thereof and interconnecting with each other, other than at or in addition to their respective ends, to define at least one substantially non-embossed region;
a first longitudinal end region extending from the first transverse side of the central region directionally along the longitudinally extending centerline away from the central region, the first longitudinal end region comprising a first plurality of channels wherein at least one of the channels in the first plurality of channels extends directionally along the longitudinally extending centerline from the first transverse side across from about 50% to about 90% of the first longitudinal end region;
a second longitudinal end region extending from the second transverse side of the central region directionally along the longitudinally extending centerline and away from the of the central region, the second longitudinal end region comprising a second plurality of channels wherein at least one of the channels of the second plurality of channels extends directionally along the longitudinally extending centerline from the second transverse side across from about 50% to about 90% of the second longitudinal end region, the embossing pattern of the central region located longitudinally between and interconnected with the first and second plurality of channels at the respective ends of the at least two longitudinally extending channels of the embossing pattern of the central region;
a central longitudinal zone extending longitudinally across the first and second transverse end regions and the central region, the central longitudinal zone extending symmetrical about and directionally along the longitudinally extending centerline and comprising opposing longitudinally extending central longitudinal zone edges parallel to the longitudinally extending centerline defining a central longitudinal zone width W of from about 5 mm to about 20 mm, wherein the embossing pattern of the central region is located within and does not extend beyond the central longitudinal zone width W;
a first transverse end region extending from the first longitudinal side of the central region directionally along the transversely extending centerline and away from the central region, the first transverse end region comprising a least one first longitudinally extending outer channel spaced from about 5 mm to about 26 mm from the nearest central longitudinal zone edge; and
a second transverse end region extending from the second longitudinal side of the central region directionally along the transversely extending centerline and away from the of the central region, the second transverse end region comprising a least one second longitudinally extending outer channel spaced from about 5 mm to about 26 mm from the nearest central longitudinal zone edgewherein the embossing pattern of the central region interconnects in fluid communication with the embossing patterns of the first and second longitudinal end regions.
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Abstract
The present invention generally relates to absorbent articles and in particular to a absorbent articles demonstrating controlled deformation and enhanced fluid wicking in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent articles.
30 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An absorbent article having a transversely extending centerline and a longitudinally extending centerline and a body facing surface, the body facing surface comprising:
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a central region having i) a first transverse side parallel to the transversely extending centerline and a second transverse side parallel to the transversely extending centerline and opposite the first transverse side in the direction of the longitudinally extending centerline; and
ii) a first longitudinal side parallel to the longitudinally extending centerline and a second longitudinal side parallel to the longitudinally extending centerline and opposite the first longitudinal side in the direction of the transversely extending centerline, the central region comprising an embossing pattern comprising at least two longitudinally extending channels having respective ends thereof and interconnecting with each other, other than at or in addition to their respective ends, to define at least one substantially non-embossed region;a first longitudinal end region extending from the first transverse side of the central region directionally along the longitudinally extending centerline away from the central region, the first longitudinal end region comprising a first plurality of channels wherein at least one of the channels in the first plurality of channels extends directionally along the longitudinally extending centerline from the first transverse side across from about 50% to about 90% of the first longitudinal end region; a second longitudinal end region extending from the second transverse side of the central region directionally along the longitudinally extending centerline and away from the of the central region, the second longitudinal end region comprising a second plurality of channels wherein at least one of the channels of the second plurality of channels extends directionally along the longitudinally extending centerline from the second transverse side across from about 50% to about 90% of the second longitudinal end region, the embossing pattern of the central region located longitudinally between and interconnected with the first and second plurality of channels at the respective ends of the at least two longitudinally extending channels of the embossing pattern of the central region; a central longitudinal zone extending longitudinally across the first and second transverse end regions and the central region, the central longitudinal zone extending symmetrical about and directionally along the longitudinally extending centerline and comprising opposing longitudinally extending central longitudinal zone edges parallel to the longitudinally extending centerline defining a central longitudinal zone width W of from about 5 mm to about 20 mm, wherein the embossing pattern of the central region is located within and does not extend beyond the central longitudinal zone width W; a first transverse end region extending from the first longitudinal side of the central region directionally along the transversely extending centerline and away from the central region, the first transverse end region comprising a least one first longitudinally extending outer channel spaced from about 5 mm to about 26 mm from the nearest central longitudinal zone edge; and a second transverse end region extending from the second longitudinal side of the central region directionally along the transversely extending centerline and away from the of the central region, the second transverse end region comprising a least one second longitudinally extending outer channel spaced from about 5 mm to about 26 mm from the nearest central longitudinal zone edge wherein the embossing pattern of the central region interconnects in fluid communication with the embossing patterns of the first and second longitudinal end regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An absorbent article comprising:
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a longitudinally extending centerline; a transversely extending centerline; a first longitudinal end region; a second longitudinal end region; a central region arranged between the first and second longitudinal end regions; a body facing surface comprising; a central longitudinal zone which extends from one end of the article to the other end of the article directionally along and symmetrically about the longitudinally extending centerline, the central longitudinal zone comprising opposing longitudinally extending zone edges defining a central longitudinal zone width W of from about 5 mm to about 20 and wherein the central longitudinal zone width W is symmetrical about the longitudinally extending centerline; first and second end embossing patterns, each of the first and second end embossing patterns located in each of the first and second longitudinal end regions, respectively, the first and second end embossing patterns comprising, respectively and independently, a first and second plurality of branched channels wherein at least one of each of the first and second plurality of branched channels extends longitudinally within and not extending beyond the central longitudinal zone across from about 50% to about 90% of the first and second end regions, respectively; a central embossing pattern located within the central longitudinal zone and not extending beyond the central longitudinal zone width W, the central embossing pattern located in the central region and comprising at least two longitudinally extending channels having respective ends thereof extending in the direction of the longitudinally extending centerline to interconnect, at their respective ends, with the first and second plurality of branched channels, the longitudinally extending channels further interconnecting with each other, other than at their ends, to define at least one substantially non-embossed region; and an outer embossing pattern comprising at least two longitudinally extending outer channels, the longitudinally extending outer channels positioned opposite one another and at least partially separated by the central longitudinal zone, wherein each longitudinally extending outer channel is spaced from about 5 mm to about 26 mm from the nearest central longitudinal zone edge; wherein the central embossing pattern interconnects in fluid communication with the first and second end embossing patterns of the first and second longitudinal end regions to facilitate fluid flow longitudinally across the article; and wherein the central embossing pattern, the first and second end embossing patterns and outer embossing pattern cooperate to facilitate deformation of the article into a hump deformation upon application of the article to a user'"'"'s crotch region where the body facing surface is aligned to contact a user'"'"'s body.
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Specification