Absorbent Article

Abstract

The absorbent article provides a signal viewable from the top surface of the absorbent article. This signal includes a colored portion having a first shade and a second shade.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article, comprising:
 a. a backsheet;   b. a formed film or a combination of formed film and nonwoven topsheet comprising a bottom surface facing towards the backsheet and a viewing surface positioned opposite the bottom surface;   c. an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet; and   d. a colored portion associated with the topsheet and/or a layer beneath the topsheet, the colored portion comprising a first shade and a second shade; and   e. a non-colored portion, wherein a ΔE* between the second shade and the non-colored portion is at least 3.5.   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first shade comprises a mixture of white and non-white color. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the second shade comprises a mixture of white and non-white color. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 3 , wherein the second shade comprises a negative b* value. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first shade comprises a mixture of white and non-white and the second shade comprises a negative b* value. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the colored portion comprises a plurality of layers positioned between the topsheet and absorbent core. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein a ΔE between a first shade and a second shade of the colored portion is between 2 to 19. 
     
     
         8 . An absorbent article, comprising:
 a. a backsheet;   b. a formed film or a combination of formed film and nonwoven topsheet comprising a bottom surface facing towards the backsheet and a viewing surface positioned opposite the bottom surface, the viewing surface comprising three L*, a*, b* measured portions comprising:
 i. a colored first portion that comprises two or more shades; and 
 ii. a colored second portion having a different color than the colored first portion such that ΔE* between second portion and the colored first portion is at least 2; and 
   c. an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet.   
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 8 , wherein a ΔE between the colored first portion and the colored second portion can be between 0.2 to 16. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 8 , wherein a ΔE between a first shade and a second shade of the colored second portion is between 2 to 19. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 8 , wherein a first shade of the colored second portion comprises a mixture of white and non-white color. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 8 , wherein a second shade of the colored second portion comprises a mixture of white and non-white color. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 8 , wherein the colored second portion is comprised by an insert disposed between the topsheet and the absorbent core. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 8 , wherein the colored second portion forms part of the absorbent core. 
     
     
         15 . An absorbent article, comprising:
 a. a formed film or a combination of formed film and nonwoven topsheet having a first surface and an opposing second surface;   b. a backsheet attached to the topsheet;   c. an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet;   d. a viewing surface formed by at least a portion of the topsheet, wherein the viewing surface comprises a first shade of color, a second shade of color, a third shade of color, and a non-colored region, wherein the non-colored region surrounds the first shade, second shade, and the third shade, wherein the first shade is disposed inboard of the second shade, and wherein the third shade acts as a boundary between the first shade and the second shade, wherein a ΔE between the first shade and the second shade is at least 3.5.