Patent ID: 6394989
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a skin-contactable side and a skin-noncontactable side, said absorbent article comprises:an absorbent laminate and deformation inducing means provided adjacent said skin-noncontactable side so as to convexly deform said absorbent laminate toward said skin-contactable side; said absorbent laminate including a convexly deformable zone which lies on both sides of said longitudinal axis so as to be contoured symmetrically with respect to said longitudinal axis, and deformation assisting means formed on both sides of said convexly deformable zone; said deformation inducing means including a panel member and an elastically stretchable member which has transverse ends thereof secured in a vicinity of said deformation assisting means to said panel member so as to convexly deform said panel member about said longitudinal axis toward said skin-contactable side as said elastically stretchable member elastically contracts, respective regions of said absorbent laminate and said deformation inducing means which have been convexly deformed are deformable to substantially flat states against a contractile force of said elastically stretchable member when a contacting pressure directed from said skin-contactable side toward said skin-noncontactable side is exerted on said article.