Absorbent Pant With Advantageously Channeled Absorbent Core Structure And Bulge-Reducing Features

Abstract

A disposable absorbent pant having a belt structure that encircles the wearer's waist, with front and rear belt portions, and a longitudinally channeled absorbent core structure, is disclosed. The channels are extended so as to underlie at least one of the front and rear belt portions, thereby providing added structural support to restrain the absorbent core and reduce the likelihood of undesirable bulging in the front and/or rear of the pant while it is worn, after the core has absorbed liquid and stiffened longitudinally as a result of the channeled structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a central lateral axis, a central longitudinal axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the central lateral axis; a front region, rear region and crotch region between the front and rear regions;   a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent structure positioned at least partially between the topsheet and backsheet;   the absorbent structure having an absorbent layer comprising a length M, a width N, and opposing transverse edges and longitudinal edges;   wherein the absorbent layer comprises an absorbent material; and   wherein the absorbent material defines:
 at least two longitudinal main channels each extending over a distance L that is at least 15% of the length of the absorbent layer M, and 
 a transverse channel, wherein the transverse channel connects two of the at least two longitudinal main channels, wherein the transverse channel and/or at least one of the longitudinal main channels comprises a temporary portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal main channels each comprise one or more permanent portions. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 2  wherein at least one longitudinal main channel comprises a permanent portion that overlaps the central lateral axis. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein one of the at least two longitudinal main channels is disposed a first side of the central longitudinal axis and another of the at least two longitudinal main channels is disposed on a second side of the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein at least two longitudinal main channels do not extend to the longitudinal edges or transverse edges of the absorbent layer. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the transverse channel does not extend to the longitudinal edges or transverse edges of the absorbent layer. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the at least two longitudinal main channels are curved. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the transverse channel is curved. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the transverse channel is present in the rear region. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein two of the at least two longitudinal main channels are separated in the crotch region by a distance D that is at 10% of the width of the absorbent layer N. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein two of the at least two longitudinal main channels are separated in the crotch region by a distance D of at least 15 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the transverse channel extends a transverse distance of at least 15% or the width of the absorbent layer N. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the absorbent material comprises absorbent polymer particles and cellulose fibers. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the temporary portion reduces in size upon wetting. 
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the absorbent material layer is disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate and wherein in the temporary portion, the first and second substrates are bonded together in an article dry state and wherein the first substrate releases from the second substrate in an article wet state. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  further comprising an acquisition/distribution layer and wherein at least one of the topsheet and the acquisition/distribution layer is generally planar in nature such that the topsheet and the acquisition/distribution layer bridges over the channels. 
     
     
         17 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a) a top sheet;   b) a backsheet;   c) an absorbent structure disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent structure comprising a first substrate, a second substrate, and an absorbent material layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and comprising a combination of absorbent polymer particles and wood pulp fibers;   d) a channel defined in the absorbent material layer that is substantially free of the combination of absorbent polymer particles and wood pulp fibers;   e) wherein the channel comprises at least two permanent portions;   f) wherein the channel comprises a temporary portion; and   g) wherein the temporary portion resides between two of the at least two permanent portions.   
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article of  claim 17  wherein the channel is curved. 
     
     
         19 . The absorbent article of  claim 17  further comprising an acquisition/distribution layer between the topsheet and the absorbent structure. 
     
     
         20 . The absorbent article of  claim 19  wherein at least one of the topsheet and the acquisition/distribution layer is generally planar in nature such that the topsheet and the acquisition/distribution layer bridges over the channel. 
     
     
         21 . The absorbent article of  claim 17  wherein the at least two permanent portions overlap the central lateral axis. 
     
     
         22 . The absorbent article of  claim 17  wherein the temporary portion reduces in size upon wetting. 
     
     
         23 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein in the permanent portion, the first substrate is bonded to the second substrate in both an article dry state and wet state, and in the temporary portion, the first and second substrates are bonded together in the article dry state but the first substrate releases from the second substrate in the article wet state.