Patent ID: 11963856
Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. An absorbent article characterized by comprising:
a. a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a depth direction;
b. a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline;
c. a first transverse direction end edge and a second transverse direction end edge;
d. an opposing pair of longitudinal direction side edges extending between and connecting the first transverse direction end edge and the second transverse direction end edge;
e. an anterior region, a posterior region, and a central region between the anterior region and the posterior region;
f. a topsheet layer comprising:
i. a hydrophilic central layer extending in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article and symmetrically straddling the longitudinal centerline, the central layer having a first longitudinal direction side edge and a second longitudinal direction side edge;
ii. a semi-hydrophilic first side layer having a first inner edge and in an overlapping configuration with the central layer such that the first inner edge of the first side layer is positioned closer in the transverse direction to the longitudinal centerline than the first longitudinal direction side edge of the central layer; and
iii. a semi-hydrophilic second side layer having a second inner edge and in an overlapping configuration with the central layer such that the second inner edge of the second side layer is positioned closer in the transverse direction to the longitudinal centerline than the second longitudinal direction side edge of the central layer;
iv. a first region of overlap bordered by the first longitudinal direction side edge of the central layer, the first inner edge of the first side layer, a first portion of the first transverse direction end edge of the absorbent article, and a first portion of the second transverse direction end edge of the absorbent article;
v. a second region of overlap bordered by the second longitudinal direction side edge of the central layer, the second inner edge of the second side layer, a second portion of the first transverse direction end edge of the absorbent article, and a second portion of the second transverse direction end edge of the absorbent article;
vi. a first body facing surface of the first region of overlap has a first area wherein from 10% to 35% of the first area contains a first embossment;
vii. a second body facing surface of the second region of overlap has a second area wherein 10% to 35% of the second area contains a second embossment;

g. a backsheet layer; and
h. an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer and having a first depression located in the depth direction beneath the first embossment and a second depression located in the depth direction beneath the second embossment.