The Procter Gamble Company

Lars Westerheide

Mattias Schmidt

Joerg Andreas Mueller

Michael Divo

Frederick Michael Langdon

Donald Carroll Roe

Mark James Kline

Gregory Nmn Ashton

Oliver Edwin Clarke Mason

J&ouml;rg M&uuml;ller

Joerg Müeller

Olivier Edwin Clarke Mason

The invention relates to an absorbent, disposable article, preferably a diaper, having a backsheet and a topsheet comprising a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region interposed there between, a longitudinal axis, and an opening, which provides a passageway to a primary void space for receiving bodily exudates therein, positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, whereby the opening is positioned in at least the crotch region along the longitudinal axis; whereby the topsheet is elasticated; and whereby the article has a shortened article portion, as defined herein, which has a shortened article length L, a stretched shortened article length Land a contracted shortened article length L, whereby the article and/or its topsheet has an specific elastic profile and/or a specific ratio of Lto L. The article preferably has a slit opening with on each side elastic regions, preferably in the shape of an X, as shown in FIG., and preferably making an angle with the adjacent topsheet and thereby bending away from the void space underneath the topsheet.

Articles with elasticated topsheets

The invention relates to an absorbent, disposable article, preferably a diaper, having a backsheet and a topsheet comprising a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region interposed there between, a longitudinal axis, and an opening, which provides a passageway to a primary void space for receiving bodily exudates therein, positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet; whereby the opening is positioned in at least the crotch region along the longitudinal axis; whereby the topsheet is elasticated; and whereby the article has a shortened article portion, as defined herein, which has a shortened article length L, a stretched shortened article length Land a contacted shortened article length L, whereby the article and/or its topsheet has an specific elastic profile and/or a specific ratio of Lto L.

An external change aid having engaging means which can engage with a landing member on an absorbent article and having a specific peel force and/or shear force when engaged with such an absorbent article. Also provided are combinations of such external change aids and absorbent articles and methods for applying an absorbent article by use of the external change aid. Also provided are external change aids having specifically designed engaging means structures and absorbent articles with specifically designed engaging means structures.

Change aids for external articles

An absorbent article having a void space for receiving bodily exudates comprises an elongate slit opening in communication with the void space. The elongate slit opening includes elasticated region disposed along longitudinal side edges of the slit opening which maintain longitudinal and lateral alignment and Z-direction proximity with a point of discharge on a wearer during use. The elasticated regions contain stored elastic energy producing tensile forces which are distributed laterally away from the slit opening enabling the edges to deflect and allow bodily exudates to pass through the slit opening to the void space.

Elasticated topsheet with an elongate slit opening

Growing community of inventors

Kelkheim, Germany

Lars Westerheide