Patent ID: 7316673

Claim:
An absorbent product having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the absorbent product comprising: a front portion, a rear portion, a crotch portion located between the rear portion and the front portion, an absorbent element and a liquidtight layer and a stiffening element which contributes to a three-dimensional shape of the product during its use, wherein the stiffening element is in a plane state before use of the product, the stiffening element extends in the longitudinal direction of the product over the crotch portion and at least a part of the front portion so as to define a stiffening element crotch portion and a stiffening element front portion, the stiffening element has a width at the transition between the crotch portion and the front portion thereof which is adapted to a distance between the muscle tendons of the wearer on both sides of the crotch of the wearer in the groin of the latter and which is about 15-45 mm, the stiffening element crotch portion has a crotch length of about 70-120 mm, the side edges of the stiffening element front portion diverge in the direction from the stiffening element crotch portion at least some way in over the front portion of the product, and the side edges of the stiffening element in the front portion of the product, in the direction from the crotch area, form an acute angle with a line in the longitudinal direction of the product, wherein the stiffening element is absorbent and at the same time constitutes the absorbent element, and the stiffening element swells during absorption while on the whole retaining its geometry in the transverse direction of the product; wherein the stiffening element has a stiffness in the dry state of in the order of 1-15 N measured according to ASTM D 4032-82; wherein the stiffening element comprises a dry-formed fibre mat with a density between 0.15 and 0.75 g/cm3 and a weight per unit area of in the order of 100-400 g/cm2; and wherein the product is arranged so as, by virtue of the stiffness selected for the stiffening element and by virtue of the selection of said geometry and dimensions in and around the transition between the crotch portion and the front portion, when the product is positioned in connection with it being put on with the transition between the front portion and the crotch portion between said muscle tendons, to be fixed in between these and in this way the stiffening element and the product can be transformed from plane form to three-dimensional form with the front portion curved upwards in relation to the crotch portion and forming a bowl-like shape at least in an area next to the crotch portion.