IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,554,055
Granted Patent B2
US 11,554,055 · App. 16/702,927 · Granted Jan 17, 2023

Absorbent article with absorbent body providing improved access to containment pocket of waist containment member

Inventors: David F. Bishop (Appleton, WI); Patsy A. Benedict (Waupun, WI); Joseph D. Coenen (Kaukauna, WI); Kaitlyn E. Mast (Neenah, WI); Michael J. Faulks (Neenah, WI)
Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
A61F13/51104A61F13/494A61F13/496A61F13/4942A61F13/49466A61F13/53A61F13/534A61F13/533A61F2013/530481
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,554,055
App. No.
16/702,927
Granted
Jan 17, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An absorbent article ( 10, 110, 210, 310, 410 ) can include a waist containment member ( 54 ) and an absorbent body ( 34, 134, 234, 334, 434 ). The waist containment member ( 54 ) can include a proximal portion ( 76 ) and a distal portion ( 78 ) configured to freely move with respect to the chassis ( 11 ) when the absorbent article ( 10, 110, 210, 310, 410 ) is in a relaxed configuration to provide a containment pocket ( 82 ). The absorbent body ( 34, 134, 234, 334, 434 ) can be configured to provide improved access for exudates into the containment pocket ( 82 ) of the waist containment member ( 54 ).

Claims (26)

1. An absorbent article extending in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction comprising:

a chassis including a body facing surface;

an elasticated waist containment member disposed on the body facing surface of the chassis, the waist containment member comprising:

a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, the second longitudinal side edge being opposite from the first longitudinal side edge;

an upper lateral edge and a lower lateral edge, the upper lateral edge being opposite from the lower lateral edge, the upper lateral edge and the lower lateral edge extending in the lateral direction;

a laterally extending proximal portion being coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis; and

a laterally extending distal portion being free to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in the relaxed configuration to provide a pocket for exudates, the laterally extending distal portion comprising one or more laterally extending elastic members; and

an absorbent body comprising:

a first end edge and a second end edge;

a pair of opposing longitudinal edges that extend between the first end edge and the second end edge;

a first section having a first thickness;

a second section having a second thickness, the first section and the second section each at least partially disposed under the waist containment member; and

an intermediate section disposed laterally between the first section and the second section, a thickness of the intermediate section being less than the first thickness and less than the second thickness, at least a portion of the intermediate section being disposed under the waist containment member.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate section includes a lower edge, and the lower edge of the intermediate section is not disposed under the waist containment member.

3. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first thickness is substantially equal to the second thickness.

4. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the intermediate section is less than 75% of the first thickness and less than 75% of the second thickness.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent body includes at least two intermediate sections wherein a thickness of each of the at least two intermediate sections is less than the first thickness and less than the second thickness.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein a laterally extending fold separates the proximal portion from the distal portion such that the proximal portion is disposed under the distal portion.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent article further comprises:

a fastening system including a pair of back fasteners disposed on opposite side edges of the absorbent article, the pair of back fasteners each including a stretch component; and wherein the waist containment member is longitudinally aligned with the stretch component of each back fastener.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent article includes a front waist region, a rear waist region, and a crotch region, the waist containment member being disposed in the rear waist region.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein a lateral width of the intermediate section is greater than 25% of a lateral width of one of the first end edge and the second end edge of the absorbent body.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein a lateral width of the intermediate section is greater than 40% of a lateral width of one of the first end edge and the second end edge of the absorbent body.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate section comprises absorbent material.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate section comprises an embossed portion of the absorbent body.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the waist containment member is coupled to the to the body facing surface of the chassis with adhesive such that the adhesive is disposed directly above, in a direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, a portion of the absorbent body having a thickness greater than the intermediate section.

Continuity (3)
Division 15511720
Provisional Application 62212051 · Aug 31, 2015
Related Publication 20200107973A1 · Apr 9, 2020
Cited By (4)
US 12,364,628 US 12,496,232 US 12,582,557 US 12,642,711