Kimberly-clark Corporation

David R King

Valerie Victoria Finch

Thomas H Gilman

Laurie Couture-Dorschner

Joseph DiPalma

James John Hlaban

Paul John Serbiak

Patricia A Mitchler

Ann M Nichols

Alice Y Romans-Hess

Robert J Peerenboom

Thomas W Van Den Bogart

Timothy Scot Stilp

An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, has an absorbent and a substantially non-absorbent resilient layer adjacent to the absorbent. The absorbent is sufficiently stiff to resist twisting of the absorbent article during use. The resilient layer is sufficiently resilient to resist bunching during use. As a result, the absorbent article resists both twisting and bunching. The absorbent article has zones which vary in caliper, stiffness and absorbency. A central absorbent zone is thickest in caliper, more absorbent than the other zones and is stiffer than the other zones. An adjacent zone is less thick in caliper, less absorbent and less stiff. A peripheral zone, located near the outer side edges, is least thick in caliper, least absorbent and least stiff.

Article having a non-absorbent resilient layer

An absorbent article is disclosed which exhibits enhanced wicking capacity. The absorbent article includes a liquid-permeable cover, a liquid-impermeable baffle and an absorbent enclosed therebetween. The absorbent is constructed of first, second and third members. Each member has a wicking capacity for body fluids discharged by a human body. The first member has a high wicking capacity, the second member has a lower wicking capacity than the first member, and the third member has a greater wicking capacity than the second member. The different wicking capacities of the three members promotes a systematic distribution of body fluid away from the body-side cover down into the absorbent article. The second member also has an equal or greater width than either the first or third members so as to provide a visual cue of when the absorbent article is in need of changing. By changing the absorbent article when the second member appears to be soiled, the user can prevent side leakage and soiling of an adjacent undergarment.

Absorbent article having enhanced wicking capacity

A thin sanitary napkin is disclosed along with its method of manufacture. The napkin has a liquid-impermeable baffle and an absorbent retained on the baffle. The absorbent has a longitudinally-extending central absorbent zone with a width of less than about 2 inches. The central zone is capable of absorbing at least 20 grams of body fluid which is discharged from the vaginal cavity and deposited onto the napkin. The central zone also has a greater stiffness than adjacent portions of the napkin so as to resist twisting and bunching during use. The sanitary napkin further has a caliper of less than about 5 millimeters.

Thin sanitary napkin having a central absorbent zone and a method of

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Neenah, WI, United States of America

David R King