Absorbent article having nonwoven lateral zones

Abstract

An absorbent article for collecting bodily fluid having a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent structure. The article may include a central fluid acquisition zone, a first lateral zone situated on one side of the central zone and a second lateral zone situated on the opposite side of the central zone, wherein the first and second lateral zones are formed by a nonwoven material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article for collecting bodily fluid, the absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent structure situated between the topsheet and the backsheet,
 wherein the topsheet comprises:   i) a central fluid acquisition zone,   ii) a first visually discernible lateral zone situated on one side of the central fluid acquisition zone, and   iii) a second visually discernible lateral zone situated on an opposite side of the central fluid acquisition zone,   wherein each of the first and second lateral zones is formed by a nonwoven material comprising a colored pigment,   wherein the central fluid acquisition zone comprises a material that is different than the nonwoven material of the first and second lateral zones, and   wherein the central fluid acquisition zone comprises a printed decoration.   
     
     
         2 . An absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein the central fluid acquisition zone comprises a nonwoven material. 
     
     
         3 . An absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second lateral zones are at least partially situated above the absorbent structure. 
     
     
         4 . An absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein the topsheet is conceptually divided in its length in two halves by a longitudinal centerline and wherein the central fluid acquisition zone substantially encompasses the longitudinal centerline so that the first lateral zone is on one side of the longitudinal centerline and the second lateral zone is on the other side. 
     
     
         5 . An absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein the topsheet is conceptually divided in its width in two halves by a transversal centerline and wherein the fluid acquisition zone substantially encompasses the transversal centerline so that the first lateral zone is on one side of the transversal centerline and the second lateral zone is on the other side. 
     
     
         6 . An absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein the nonwoven material forming the lateral zones has an Opacity Index of a least 50%, measured at 745 nm. 
     
     
         7 . An absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein the nonwoven material is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         8 . An absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein the nonwoven material comprises fibers made of a polymer selected from the group comprising polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamides, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . An absorbent article according to  claim 8  wherein the nonwoven material is made of bicomponent fibers comprising a core of polypropylene and a sheath of polyethylene. 
     
     
         10 . An absorbent article according to  claim 9  wherein the colored pigment is present in the polypropylene core. 
     
     
         11 . An absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second visually discernible lateral zones extend to the periphery of the absorbent article. 
     
     
         12 . An absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein the absorbent structure comprises a gradient core. 
     
     
         13 . An absorbent article for collecting bodily fluid, the absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent structure situated between the topsheet and the backsheet,
 wherein the absorbent article:   i) a first colored area formed through inclusion of a thermoplastic material within the first colored region that includes colored pigment added to the thermoplastic material prior to the thermoplastic material being manufactured into its final form, and   ii) a second colored area formed by printing on material within the second colored area.   
     
     
         14 . An absorbent article according to  claim 13  wherein the material is different from the thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         15 . An absorbent article according to  claim 13  wherein the topsheet comprises each of the first colored region and the second colored region. 
     
     
         16 . An absorbent article according to  claim 13  wherein the first colored region is present in first and second lateral zones situated respectively on one side of a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article. 
     
     
         17 . An absorbent article according to  claim 13  wherein second colored region is present in a central portion of the absorbent article. 
     
     
         18 . An absorbent article according to  claim 13  wherein the topsheet comprises:
 i) a central fluid acquisition zone, 
 ii) a first visually discernible lateral zone situated on one side of the central fluid acquisition zone, and 
 iii) a second visually discernible lateral zone situated on an opposite side of the central fluid acquisition zone, 
 wherein each of the first and second lateral zones is formed by a nonwoven material. 
 
     
     
         19 . An absorbent article for collecting bodily fluid, the absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent structure situated between the topsheet and the backsheet,
 wherein the topsheet comprises:   i) a central fluid acquisition zone,   ii) a first visually discernible lateral zone situated on one side of the central fluid acquisition zone, and   iii) a second visually discernible lateral zone situated on an opposite side of the central fluid acquisition zone,   wherein each of the first and second lateral zones is formed by a nonwoven material,   wherein the central fluid acquisition zone comprises a material that is different than the nonwoven material of the first and second lateral zones, and   wherein the central fluid acquisition zone comprises a printed decoration.   
     
     
         20 . An absorbent article according to  claim 19  wherein the nonwoven material comprises a colored pigment.