Patent ID: 6262331
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An absorbent article adapted to be worn adjacent the lower torso of a wearer for receiving and retaining bodily exudates, the absorbent article having a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges, said absorbent article comprising:a. a liquid impervious, backsheet having an outer, garment-facing surface and an inner, body-facing surface;b. an absorbent core having a shape to enable the core to be placed adjacent the body of a wearer and having the capacity of absorbing liquids;c. a flexible, liquid-pervious topsheet overlying the absorbent core, the topsheet including a plurality of spaced discontinuities disposed over at least a portion of the absorbent core, the spaced discontinuities are substantially closed when the topsheet is in an untensioned condition and are open to define a plurality of spaced openings extending through the topsheet when the topsheet is subjected to tension, to enable solid and semi-solid body exudates to pass through the topsheet; andd. a storage element disposed between at least a portion of the topsheet and at least a portion of the absorbent core for receiving the bodily exudates.