The Procter Gamble Company

Ronald Bosman Visscher

Paul Thomas Weisman

Giovanni Carlucci

Peter Charles Mason, Jr

Jeanne Marie Hughes

Folke Schlueter

Emma Somma

John Lee Hammons

Thomas Ward Osborn, Iii

Jeffrey Tupper Roesgen

Shreedhar Rajpanth Murthy

Brian Francis Gray

Raphael Warren

Jerry Edward Carstens

Joseph Anthony Gatto

Amy Marie Price

Letha Margie Hines

Richard George Coe

George Stephen Reising

Lisa Ann MacKay

Kimberly Ann Buck

June T Brennock

Kenneth B Buell

Nicholas Albert Ahr

Deborah Catherine Schmitz

Michael Edward Carrier

Nona Jane Redwine

Bruce F Perry

Yuka Furutani

Micheal E Carrier

Danny L Strickland

An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent article comprises a first fluid handling zone having a first Transverse Fluid Travel Distance and a second fluid handling zone having a second Transverse Fluid Travel Distance. The first Transverse Fluid Travel Distance is at least about 50% greater than said second Transverse Fluid Travel Distance, which results in an absorbent article that is better able to handle bodily fluids and reduce the risk of accidental leakage of bodily fluids onto a consumer's undergarments.

Absorbent article comprising fluid handling zones

An absorbent article includes a topsheet, an absorbent core, and a backsheet. The absorbent article has a visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator and a functionally-distinguishable portion of the article with one or more channels. The visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator corresponds to the one or more channels, and the functional enhancement indicator is visually perceptible from a body-facing side of the absorbent article but the one or more channels are not visually perceptible.

Absorbent article having a functional enhancement indicator

The absorbent article of the invention has a liquid impervious backsheet and a liquid pervious topsheet joined to the backsheet. The topsheet has an inner surface oriented toward the interior of the absorbent article and an outer surface oriented toward the skin and hair of the wearer when the absorbent article is being worn and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. At least a portion of the topsheet outer surface comprises an effective amount of a lotion coating which is semi-solid or solid at 20 degrees C., the lotion coating comprising:

Absorbent article having a lotioned topsheet

An absorbent article with a body-facing surface, a first end region a second end region, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet is described. The absorbent article can be asymmetric about the transverse centerline, and can have a first functional enhancement indicator visible from the body-facing surface and a second functional enhancement indicator visible from the body-facing surface. The first functional enhancement indicator can provide visually-perceptible indication of the first end region, and the second functional enhancement indicator can provide visually-perceptible indication of a region of fluid entry in the absorbent article.

Absorbent article having functional enhancement indicators

A feminine hygiene article having a body-facing surface, a first end region and a second end region. The feminine hygiene article is for placement in an undergarment having a crotch portion bounded on opposite sides by portions of curved leg openings, the feminine hygiene article comprising at least one functional enhancement indicator visible from said body-facing surface. The feminine hygiene article can be a sanitary napkin, a pantiliner, or an incontinence pad.

The absorbent article of the invention has a liquid impervious backsheet and a liquid pervious topsheet joined to the backsheet. The topsheet has an inner surface oriented toward the interior of the absorbent article and an outer surface oriented toward the skin and hair of the wearer when the absorbent article is being worn and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. At least a portion of the topsheet outer surface comprises an effective amount of a lotion coating which is semi-solid or solid at 20 degrees C., the lotion coating comprising: (i) from about 10 to about 95% of a substantially water free emollient having a plastic or fluid consistency at 20 degrees C. wherein the emollient contains 5% or less water, the emollient comprising a member selected from the group consisting of petroleum-based emollients. fatty acid ester emollients, alkyl ethoxylate emollients, and mixtures thereof; (ii) from about 5 to about 90% of an agent capable of immobilizing the emollient on the outer surface of the topsheet, the immobilizing agent being miscible with the emollient, the immobilizing agent having a melting point of at least about 35 degrees C. wherein the immobilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy fatty acid esters, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, C14-C22 fatty alcohols, C14-C22 fatty acids, C14-C22 fatty alcohol ethoxylates with a degree of ethoxylation of 4 or less, and mixtures thereof.

A method for choosing a feminine hygiene article from an array of feminine hygiene articles. The method comprises providing an array of feminine hygiene articles for placement in an undergarment having a crotch portion bounded on opposite sides by portions of curved leg openings, each the feminine hygiene article of the array having a body-facing surface, the array of feminine hygiene articles comprising at least first and second feminine hygiene articles differing in at least one functional characteristic, the first and second feminine hygiene articles each comprising functional enhancement indicators visibly different from one another on the body-facing surface; observing the functional enhancement indicators; distinguishing among the array of feminine hygiene articles one of the first or second feminine hygiene articles based upon the functional enhancement indicators; and selecting among the array of feminine hygiene articles one of the first or second feminine hygiene articles.

Method of using an absorbent article having a functional enhancement indicator

A feminine hygiene article having a body-facing surface, a first end region and a second end region. The feminine hygiene article is for placement in an undergarment having a crotch portion bounded on opposite sides by portions of curved leg openings, the feminine hygiene article comprising at least one functional enhancement indicator visible from said body-facing surface, the functional enhancement indicator corresponding to at least one functionally-enhanced portion of the feminine hygiene article. The feminine hygiene article can be a sanitary napkin, a pantiliner, or an incontinence pad.

An array of feminine hygiene articles for placement in an undergarment having a crotch portion bounded on opposite sides by portions of curved leg openings. Each feminine hygiene article of the array has a body-facing surface, a first end region and a second end region, the array of feminine hygiene articles comprising at least first and second the feminine hygiene articles differing in at least one functional characteristic. The first and second feminine hygiene articles each comprise a functional enhancement indicator visible from the body-facing surface, the functional enhancement indicator of the first and second feminine hygiene articles being visibly different to distinguish the first feminine hygiene article from the second feminine hygiene article.

Array of absorbent articles having functional enhancement indicators

A method for placing a feminine hygiene article in the crotch portion of an undergarment having a crotch portion bounded on opposite sides by portions of curved leg openings. The method comprising the steps of providing a feminine hygiene article having a body-facing surface and at least one functional enhancement indicator visible from the body-facing surface, the functional enhancement indicator providing a distinct visual emphasis to a portion of the feminine hygiene article; orienting the feminine hygiene article with respect to the crotch portion such that the at least one functional enhancement indicator is oriented toward the front of the undergarment; and, affixing the feminine hygiene article to the crotch portion of the undergarment.

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Glendale, OH, United States of America

Ronald Bosman Visscher