Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Jacqueline Ann Martin

Paul Theodore Van Gompel

Yung Hsiang Huang

Gary Mack Reynolds

Larry Neal Johns

An integral absorbent article has a longitudinal article length and a lateral article width. The article includes an absorbent composite having first and second longitudinally opposed end regions, laterally opposed side regions, a bodyside surface, an outward surface, and a first longitudinally terminal end edge. The absorbent composite further includes a substantially liquid-impermeable backsheet layer; a liquid permeable topsheet layer; and a retention portion sandwiched between said backsheet and topsheet layers. An extensible outercover is joined to extend over a major portion of said outward surface of the said absorbent composite. The extensible outercover is desirably capable of providing a the selected elongation when subjected to a tensile force. The extensible outercover is also desirably capable of providing a selected, sustained deformation, when subjected to an applied tensile force and then allowed to relax after a removal of the applied force. In particular aspects, the outercover can provide an elongation of at least about 1 cm when subjected to a tensile force of 30 gmf per inch. In further aspects, the extensible outercover may also provide a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 20%, when subjected to a tensile force of 50 gmf per inch and then allowed to relax for a period of 1 minute (after a removal of the applied tensile force).

Expandable cover garment

An integral absorbent article (10), has a longitudinal article length (26) and a lateral article width (24). An absorbent composite (32) has first and second longitudinally opposed end regions (78 and 79), and has laterally opposed side regions (80). The absorbent composite also includes a first longitudinally terminal end edge (82). The absorbent composite (32) includes a substantially liquid-impermeable backsheet layer (30), a substantially liquid permeable topsheet layer (28), and a retention portion (48) which is sandwiched between the backsheet and topsheet layers. The article includes at least one, first body panel (52) having a body side surface (54), an outward surface (56), and a panel length (58) which is less than the article length (26). The first body panel (52) also includes a first, outboard terminal end edge (60), and a second, relatively inboard terminal end edge (62). In desired configurations, the first, outboard terminal end edge (60) can be substantially coterminous with a first terminal end edge of the article. An expandable attachment section (90) is joined along at least a portion of each side region (80) of the absorbent composite (32) in the first end region (78) of the absorbent composite. Each expandable attachment section (90) is extendible at least outwardly or at least along the article width (24), and each expandable attachment section is configured to secure its correspondingly joined side edge region of the absorbent composite to the outward surface (56) of the first body panel (52).

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

Jacqueline Ann Martin