Refastenable absorbent article exhibiting improved body fit

Details Refastenable absorbent article exhibiting improved body fit Refastenable absorbent article exhibiting improved body fit

2000-08-11

2003-01-07

Lewis, Aaron J. (Department: 3761)

Surgery

Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material

Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...

C604S385010, C604S391000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06503239

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a refastenable absorbent article exhibiting improved body fit. More specifically, this invention relates to a refastenable disposable absorbent article sized to have certain ratios between certain sections that improve body fit and reduce the likelihood of fluid leakage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Today, various disposable absorbent articles exist which are designed to absorb and retain body fluid and/or excrement. Examples of such articles include incontinence products such as pants, briefs and undergarments, baby diapers, feminine care menstrual pants, training pants, etc. While most of these articles perform satisfactorily for their intended purpose, some are difficult to remove from the body of the wearer. Many do not have a refastenable mechanism that allows the article to be easily adjusted during use or be easily removed from the wearer's body before the product is permanently discarded while maintaining an underwear like fit. Some of today's commercially available products do not conform well to the human body and this poor fit increases the likelihood of fluid leakage while the product is being worn. Therefore, there remains a need for a refastenable, disposable absorbent article that will provide improved fit to the human body and reduce the likelihood of fluid leakage.
Now, a refastenable absorbent article has been invented which is sized to have predetermined ratios between certain sections so as to improve body fit and reduce the likelihood of fluid leakage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, this invention relates to a refastenable absorbent article having a front portion, a back portion and a crotch portion. The crotch portion connects the front portion to the back portion. The front portion has a central section including first and second side edges. First and second lateral sections are releasably attached to the central section and each lateral section has an outward edge. The front portion also has a first end and a second end. The back portion has first and second side edges and first and second ends. The back portion is divided into a first section and a second section. The first section has a length L
2
measured perpendicularly from the first end of the back portion to a line drawn parallel thereto. Multiple elastic strands extend transversely across the first section from the first side edge to the second side edge. The second section has a length L
3
measured perpendicularly from the second end to the line drawn parallel to the first end whereby a ratio L
2
/L
3
is established which ranges from between about 0.1 to about 2. The absorbent article further includes a liquid permeable liner secured to at least one of said front, back or crotch portions and an absorbent core positioned below the liner. Each of the outward edges of the first and second lateral sections of the front portion are secured to one of the first and second side edges of the back portion to form a pant-like article having a waist opening and a pair of leg openings.
The general object of this invention is to provide a refastenable absorbent article exhibiting improved body fit. A more specific object of this invention is to provide a refastenable disposable absorbent article sized to have certain ratios that improve body fit and reduce the likelihood of fluid leakage.
Another object of this invention is to provide a refastenable absorbent article that is easy to manufacture, is relatively inexpensive and is easy to use.
A further object of this invention is to provide a refastenable absorbent article that provides the wearer with a choice of how to apply and/or remove the absorbent article, i.e. pull the article up around the wearer's torso versus refasten the article around the wearer's torso.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a refastenable absorbent article that can easily be adjusted to conform to a wearer's body.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following description and the accompanying drawings.


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