Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Timothy Scot Stilp

Joseph DiPalma

Thomas H Gilman

Valerie Victoria Finch

Laurie Couture-Dorschner

David R King

R John Birtwell

An absorbent article having a cover, a baffle and an absorbent core is disclosed. The absorbent core is constructed of at least three absorbent members vertically arranged with each absorbent member having an increasing wicking capacity along an x and y-axes, relative to the preceding absorbent member. The improved absorbent core exhibits a crush resistance of greater than about 250 grams and having a caliper of less than about 5 mm.

Thin absorbent article having wicking and crush resistant properties

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

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Timothy Scot Stilp