The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 13, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 16, 1998
Hoa La Wilhelm, Appleton, WI (US);
Jennifer Marie Bauerle, Hull, GB;
David Willis Heyn, Neenah, WI (US);
Allen Todd Leak, Neenah, WI (US);
Dale Arthur Peterson, Neenah, WI (US);
Carl Gerard Rippl, Appleton, WI (US);
Diane Michele Underhill, Neenah, WI (US);
Jerome James Workman, Jr, Appleton, WI (US);
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US);
Abstract
An absorbent article (10) has a front waistband portion (14), a back waistband portion (12) and an intermediate portion (16). The article comprises a flexible backsheet member (30), and a liquid permeable topsheet layer (28). An absorbent body structure (32), with a retention portion (48), is sandwiched between the backsheet member (30) and the topsheet layer (28), and a wetness indicator (40) visually shows a presence of liquid in selected areas of the article. The wetness indicator is provided by at least one indicator section of the backsheet member (30) which includes a polymer sheet layer (96). Desirably, The wetness indicator is provided by at least one indicator section of the backsheet member (30) which includes a backsheet laminate material having a fibrous nonwoven web (94) attached to a polymer sheet layer (96). The indicator section of the backsheet member (30) includes a plurality of translucent windows (98) which are arranged in an area pattern and are formed by a selected thermal treatment of the polymer sheet layer (96). In particular arrangements, the translucent windows (98) can be arranged in an area pattern and can be formed by a bonding of the fibrous nonwoven web (94) to the polymer sheet layer (96) in the backsheet laminate material. A layer of contrast material (44) may be attached to the article at an operative location which is interposed between an intended wearer of the article and the indicator section of the backsheet member (30). In particular arrangements, the contrast layer (44) can have a first appearance through the translucent windows (98) when the contrast material is dry, and can have a visually different second appearance through the translucent windows (98) when the contrast material is wetted with water or other aqueous liquid.