Patent ID: 6447496
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An absorbent article having a longitudinal center line, a transverse center line being orthogonal to said longitudinal center line, a skin-contactable side and a skin-noncontactable side, said absorbent article comprising:an absorbent laminate and deformation inducing means provided adjacent said skin-noncontactable side so as to convexly deform the absorbent laminate toward said skin-contactable side, said absorbent laminate having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet and a liquid-absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet, said deformation inducing means including a hydrophobic panel member and an elastically stretchable member secured to said panel member parallel to said transverse center line so as to convexly deform said panel member toward said skin-contactable side as said elastically stretchable member elastically contracts, respective regions of said absorbent laminate and said deformation inducing means are convexly deformed to substantially flat states against a contractible force of said elastically stretchable member when a contracting pressure directed from said skin-contactable side toward said skin-noncontactable side is exerted on said article, and said deformation inducing means being disposed beneath said absorbent laminate on an outer surface of said backsheet below the skin-noncontactable side and secured to said backsheet at two or more portions thereof in the proximity of its transversely opposite side edges.