Absorbent articles with absorbent pad gapping

Abstract

An absorbent article has an outer cover adapted to stretch upon application of a load by a first amount. A liquid and vapor permeable bodyside liner defines a bodyfacing surface of the article and is generally superposed and coextensive with the outer cover. The bodyside liner is adapted to stretch upon application of the load by a second amount. An absorbent body is located between the bodyside liner and the outer cover and is generally movable with the outer cover upon stretching of the outer cover. The first amount of stretch of the outer cover is greater than the second amount of stretch of the bodyside liner whereby a gap is formed between the bodyside liner and the absorbent body facilitating the flow of air and vapor through the bodyside liner in a loaded condition of the absorbent body. The bodyside liner is relatively more resilient when stretched than the outer cover.

1 . An absorbent article comprising: 
 an outer cover adapted to stretch upon application of a load by a first amount;    a liquid and vapor permeable bodyside liner defining a bodyfacing surface and being generally superposed and coextensive with the outer cover, the bodyside liner being adapted to stretch upon application of the load by a second amount;    an absorbent body located between the bodyside liner and the outer cover and generally movable with the outer cover upon stretching of the outer cover; and    said first amount of stretch of the outer cover being greater than said second amount of stretch of the bodyside liner whereby a gap is formed between the bodyside liner and the absorbent body facilitating the flow of air and vapor through the bodyside liner in a loaded condition of the absorbent body, the bodyside liner being relatively more resilient when stretched than the outer cover.    
     
     
         2 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the absorbent article comprises a garment worn to capture waste from the human body, the garment including an anterior region, a posterior region and a crotch region disposed longitudinally therebetween, said anterior region, posterior region and crotch region being integrally formed and configured when worn to define a central waist opening and a pair of leg openings, the crotch region extending generally laterally between said leg openings.  
     
     
         3 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the bodyside liner is free of fixed connection to the outer cover and absorbent body at least in the crotch region.  
     
     
         4 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the bodyside liner is adapted to stretch in a range from about 30% to about 200% of its original length.  
     
     
         5 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the bodyside liner is adapted to stretch in a range from about 50% to about 150% of its original length.  
     
     
         6 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the bodyside liner is adapted to stretch in a range from about 80% to about 120% of its original length.  
     
     
         7 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the bodyside liner will further stretch at 50% of its maximum extension upon application of a load of at least about 30 g/in.  
     
     
         8 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the bodyside liner will further stretch at 50% of its maximum extension upon application of a load of at least about 50 g/in.  
     
     
         9 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the bodyside liner will further stretch at 50% of its maximum extension upon application of a load of at least about 60 g/in.  
     
     
         10 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the bodyside liner will further stretch at 50% of its maximum extension upon application of a load less than about 150 g/in.  
     
     
         11 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the bodyside liner has a retraction force at 50% of its maximum extension of at least about 9 g/in.  
     
     
         12 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the bodyside liner has an retraction force at 50% of its maximum extension of at least about 15 g/in.  
     
     
         13 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the bodyside liner has an retraction force at 50% of its maximum extension of at least about 18 g/in.  
     
     
         14 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the bodyside liner has an retraction force at 50% of its maximum extension of less than about 120 g/in.  
     
     
         15 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the article is free of material on the side of the bodyside liner opposite the absorbent body and between the bodyside liner and the absorbent body.  
     
     
         16 . An absorbent article as set forth in  claim 1  wherein in an unloaded condition of the bodyside liner and the outer cover the bodyside liner is at least in part in contact with the absorbent body.  
     
     
         17 . An absorbent article comprising: 
 an outer cover adapted to stretch by a first amount upon application of a load;    a liquid and vapor permeable bodyside liner defining a bodyfacing surface and being generally superposed and coextensive with the outer cover, the bodyside liner being adapted to stretch by a second amount upon application of the load, said first amount of stretch of the outer cover being greater than said second amount of stretch of the bodyside liner;    an absorbent body located between the bodyside liner and the outer cover and generally movable with the outer cover upon stretching of the outer cover;    the bodyside liner being free from connection to the absorbent body whereby in a loaded condition of the absorbent body a gap is formed between the bodyside liner and the absorbent body facilitating the flow of air and vapor through the bodyside liner.