Patent ID: 7145054
Filing Date: 2006-12-05
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An absorbent personal care article having a longitudinal direction, a transverse cross-direction, a longitudinal centerline, and a transverse centerline, the article comprising a deformation-control member which has a pair of longitudinally-opposed half-portions positioned on opposite sides of the transverse centerline, a medial section, spaced along an entire length of the longitudinal and transverse centerline and a stiffened region; the article, when in its plan view condition, having a configuration wherein said stiffened region includes a first array of individual, stiffening elements, and at least a second, differently arranged non-intersecting array of individual, stiffening elements; said first array of stiffening elements is located only in a corresponding first, longitudinal half-portion of the deformation-control member and has a first, convergently arranged nose-end, and a first, relatively divergently arranged tail-end; said first nose-end of the first array is positioned toward a central region of the article, said first tail-end of the first array is positioned to diverge toward a first longitudinal end region of the article, at an angle with the nose-end and tail-end of the first array aligned along the longitudinal direction; said first array of stiffening elements is configured to substantially avoid intersecting in said medial section of said deformation-control member; said second array of stiffening elements is located in a corresponding second, longitudinal half-portion of the deformation-control member and has a second, convergently arranged nose-end, and a second, relatively divergently arranged tail-end; said second nose-end of the second array is positioned toward the central region of the article, said second tail-end of the second array is positioned to diverge toward a second longitudinal end region of the article, with the nose-end and tail-end of the second array aligned along the longitudinal direction; the second end region of the article is located longitudinal opposite the first end region of the article; said second array of stiffening elements is configured to substantially avoid intersecting in said medial section of said deformation-control member; and said second array of stiffening elements have a counter-positioned configuration which is in a longitudinally opposed, oppositely aligned arrangement, relative to the first array of stiffening elements.