IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,674,168
Granted Patent B2
US 8,674,168 · App. 12/646,296 · Granted Mar 18, 2014

Disposable wearable absorbent articles with multiple indicating colors

Inventors: Miguel Alvaro Robles (Wyoming, OH); Mattias Schmidt (Idstein, DE); Kuang-Kai Liu (Cincinnati, OH); Donald Carroll Roe (West Chester, OH)
Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,674,168
App. No.
12/646,296
Granted
Mar 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A disposable wearable absorbent article comprises a topsheet, an absorbent core, an outer cover, a waist opening, leg openings, a first visual fullness indicating area, and a second visual fullness indicating area. The first visual fullness indicating area is configured to change to a first subsequent color when indicating the presence of a bodily exudate. The second visual fullness indicating area is configured to change to a second subsequent color when indicating the presence of a bodily exudate. The second subsequent color is visually distinguishable from the first subsequent color. At least a portion of each of the visual fullness indicating areas is visible from outside of the disposable wearable absorbent article when the article is worn by a wearer.

Claims (25)

1. A disposable wearable absorbent article, comprising:

a topsheet;

an absorbent core;

an outer cover;

a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline that cross at a center;

a first visual fullness indicating area, having an inboard end and an outboard end, configured to change from a first initial color to a first subsequent color progressively starting from the inboard end moving toward the outboard end and along a wet edge, when indicating the presence of a bodily exudate, wherein at least a portion of the first visual fullness indicating area is visible from outside of the disposable wearable absorbent article when the article is worn by a wearer; and one or more parts of the first visual fullness indicator is disposed near, at, or overlapping the center; the inboard end and the outboard end of the first visual fullness indicating area are inboard the absorbent core; and

at least, a second visual fullness indicating area, having an inboard end and an outboard end, configured to change from a second initial color to a second subsequent color progressively starting from the inboard end moving toward the outboard end and along a wet edge, when indicating the presence of a bodily exudate, wherein the second subsequent color is visually distinguishable from the first subsequent color, and wherein at least a portion of the second visual fullness indicating area is visible from outside of the disposable wearable absorbent article when the article is worn by a wearer;

wherein the outboard end of the second visual fullness indicating area is outboard of the absorbent core and the inboard end of the second visual fullness indicating area is inboard the absorbent core.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the second visual fullness indicating area is outboard from the first visual fullness indicating area.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2 , wherein the second visual fullness indicating area is longitudinally outboard from the first visual fullness indicating area.

4. The absorbent article of claim 2 , wherein the second visual fullness indicating area is laterally outboard from the first visual fullness indicating area.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the second visual fullness indicating area is immediately adjacent to the first visual fullness indicating area.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the second visual fullness indicating area is spaced apart from the first visual fullness indicating area.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first visual fullness indicating area has an overall shape that is substantially elongated.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first visual fullness indicating area has a substantially uniform width.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the second visual fullness indicating area has an overall shape that is substantially elongated.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the second visual fullness indicating area has a substantially uniform width.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein an overall length of the second visual fullness indicating area is less than an overall length of the first visual fullness indicating area.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the first subsequent color is selected from the group including: the color green, a variation of the color green, the color blue, a variation of the color blue, the color purple, and a variation of the color purple.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the second subsequent color is selected from the group including: the color yellow, a variation of the color yellow, the color orange, a variation of the color orange, the color red, and a variation of the color red.

14. The absorbent article of claim 1 , including, at least, a third visual fullness indicating area, configured to change to a third subsequent color when indicating the presence of a bodily exudate, wherein the third subsequent color is visually distinguishable from the second subsequent color.

15. The absorbent article of claim 14 , wherein the third visual fullness indicating area is outboard from the second visual fullness indicating area.

16. The absorbent article of claim 14 , wherein the third visual fullness indicating area is immediately adjacent to the second visual fullness indicating area.

17. The absorbent article of claim 14 , wherein the third visual fullness indicating area is spaced apart from the second visual fullness indicating area.

18. The absorbent article of claim 14 , wherein the third subsequent color is selected from the group including: the color yellow, a variation of the color yellow, the color orange, a variation of the color orange, the color red, and a variation of the color red.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2010
From: ROBLES, MIGUEL ALVARO; SCHMIDT, MATTIAS; LIU, KUANG-KAI; ROE, DONALD CARROLL
To: PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY, THE
Reel/Frame 023904/0521 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 12346445 · Dec 30, 2008
Related Publication 20100168695A1 · Jul 1, 2010