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:
Aug. 26, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 06, 2000
Hoa La Wilhelm, Appleton, WI (US);
Alan Francis Schleinz, Appleton, WI (US);
David Louis Zenker, Neenah, WI (US);
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US);
Abstract
An absorbent article ( ) has a longitudinal direction ( ) and a lateral direction ( ). The article includes a backsheet layer ( ), a liquid-permeable topsheet layer ( ), and an absorbent body ( ) sandwiched between the backsheet layer ( ) and topsheet layer ( ). A surge management member ( ) is joined between the topsheet layer ( ) and the absorbent body ( ), and the surge management member ( ) includes at least a first nonwoven fabric layer ( ). In particular aspects, the article ( ) can be bent around a wearer's body contours with a reduced tendency to form a transverse channel crease ( ) along the cross-direction of the surge management member, particularly when the surge member ( ) is curved through the wearer's crotch region. In further aspects, the article ( ) can be bent around a predetermined radius of curvature substantially without forming, within the surge management member ( ), a severe channel crease ( ) that extends over a significant portion of a corresponding lateral width ( ) of the surge management member ( ).