Patent ID: 8343123
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An absorbent article having a width direction and a longitudinal direction that is orthogonal to the width direction, said article comprising: a top sheet that is at least partially liquid permeable; a back sheet that is liquid impermeable; and an absorbent core that has an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction and is disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, the absorbent core including a front portion, a back portion and a central portion between the front portion and the back portion in the longitudinal direction, wherein a dimension of the central portion in the width direction is narrower than that of each of the front portion and the back portion in the width direction, wherein the absorbent core includes a plurality of first bending regions having a bending stiffness less than an average bending stiffness of the absorbent core and less than a bending stiffness of an adjacent region of the absorbent core, and wherein the plurality of first bending regions is arranged substantially symmetrical across a center line equally dividing the absorbent article in the width direction and is arranged only in the front portion and the back portion of the absorbent core, wherein each of the plurality of first bending regions penetrates through the absorbent core from a side of the top sheet to a side of the back sheet, and wherein each of the plurality of first bending regions is free of absorbent material or has a basis weight lower than an average basis weight of the absorbent core.