IP Library Granted Patent US 9,012,715
Granted Patent B2
US 9,012,715 · App. 11/751,963 · Granted Apr 21, 2015

Absorbent article having a wetness indicator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,012,715
App. No.
11/751,963
Granted
Apr 21, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An absorbent article having an outer cover with an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, an absorbent core positioned adjacent the interior surface of the outer cover, and a wetness indicator graphic located on the outer cover. The wetness indicator graphic has a permanent graphic defining at least one non-printed area and a changing graphic located within the at least one non-printed area of the permanent graphic such that the permanent graphic and the changing graphic together give the appearance of a uniform graphic.

Claims (26)

1. An absorbent article comprising:

an outer cover having an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface;

an absorbent core positioned adjacent the interior surface of the outer cover; and

a wetness indicator graphic located on the outer cover, the wetness indicator graphic comprising:

a permanent graphic defining at least one non-printed area having a first shape; and

a changing graphic located within the at least one non-printed area of the permanent graphic and having a second shape substantially similar to the first shape,

wherein the permanent graphic can not be differentiated from the changing graphic when the changing graphic is visually perceptible.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the changing graphic disappears with moisture contact so as to reveal the non-printed area of the permanent graphic.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the changing graphic appears with moisture contact.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , further comprising a character graphic.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 4 , wherein the changing graphic disappears with moisture contact so as to reveal the non-printed area, and the non-printed area is in a shape that is related to the character graphic.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 4 , wherein the changing graphic disappears with moisture contact so as to reveal the non-printed area, and the non-printed area is in a shape that is unrelated to the character graphic.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , further comprising a seam pattern located on the outer cover.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the wetness indicator graphic is related to at least a portion of the seam pattern.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the permanent graphic is related to at least a portion of the seam pattern.

10. The absorbent article according to claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the changing graphic is related to at least a portion of the seam pattern.

11. The absorbent article according to claim 7 , further comprising a character graphic.

12. The absorbent article according to claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the seam pattern is related to the character graphic.

13. The absorbent article according to claim 11 , wherein the changing graphic disappears with moisture contact so as to reveal the non-printed area, and the non-printed area is in a shape that is related to the character graphic.

14. The absorbent article according to claim 11 , wherein the changing graphic disappears with moisture contact so as to reveal the non-printed area, and the non-printed area is in a shape that is related to at least a portion of the seam pattern.

15. The absorbent article according to claim 11 , wherein the changing graphic disappears with moisture contact so as to reveal the non-printed area, and the non-printed area is in a shape that is unrelated to the character graphic.

16. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the permanent graphic and the changing graphic are substantially the same color before the changing graphic contacts moisture.

17. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the permanent graphic and the changing graphic are substantially the same color after the changing graphic contacts moisture.

18. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the permanent graphic and the changing graphic are different colors before the changing graphic contacts moisture.

19. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the permanent graphic and the changing graphic are different colors after the changing graphic contacts moisture.

20. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the permanent graphic completely surrounds the changing graphic.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: ASSOCIATED HYGIENIC PRODUCTS LLC; ATTENDS HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055476/0256 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM) Recorded Mar 2, 2021
From: ASSOCIATED HYGIENIC PRODUCTS LLC; ATTENDS HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055564/0308 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED UNDER REEL/FRAME: 026552/0052 Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: FSJC VI, LLC
To: ASSOCIATED HYGIENIC PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 056971/0051 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 6, 2011
From: ASSOCIATED HYGIENIC PRODUCTS LLC
To: FSJC VI, LLC
Reel/Frame 026552/0052 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2011
From: ARQUEST, INC.
To: ASSOCIATED HYGIENIC PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 026456/0753 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 25, 2011
From: ASSOCIATED HYGIENIC PRODUCTS, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AGENT
Reel/Frame 026340/0379 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2007
From: SCHROER, CHARLES F, JR., MR.
To: ARQUEST, INC.
Reel/Frame 019395/0752 →