Absorbent articles having channels and wetness indicator

Abstract

An absorbent article, such as a diaper or a training pant, having a wearer-facing side and a garment-facing side and a longitudinal axis. The absorbent article comprises a topsheet on the wearer-facing side, a backsheet on the garment-facing side, and an absorbent core between the topsheet and backsheet. The absorbent core comprises a generally longitudinally-extending channel. The absorbent article comprises a wetness indicator at least partially superposed with the channel, as seen from the garment-facing side of the article.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article, having a wearer-facing side and a garment-facing side and a longitudinal axis, the absorbent article comprising:
 a topsheet on the wearer-facing side;   a backsheet on the garment-facing side; and   an absorbent core between the topsheet and backsheet;   the absorbent core comprising a core wrap having a top layer and a bottom layer enclosing an absorbent material, wherein the absorbent core comprises a generally longitudinally-extending channel, and wherein the channel comprises a curvilinear portion;   wherein the absorbent article comprises a wetness indicator having a water soluble dye;   wherein the wetness indicator is at least partially superposed over the channel, as seen from the garment-facing side of the article; and   wherein the wetness indicator is disposed between the backsheet and the absorbent core.   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein the wetness indicator comprises a width that is thinner than or equal to a width of the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the wetness indicator comprises a composition disposed on the backsheet, and wherein the composition becomes visible from the garment-facing side of the article when contacted with urine. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the wetness indicator comprises a single wetness indicator area in the channel where the wetness indicator is present. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the wetness indicator comprises two or more wetness indicator areas. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core does not comprise a channel superposed with the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is an area of the absorbent core substantially free of the absorbent material. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer of the core wrap is bonded to the bottom layer of the core wrap through the channel. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material comprises from 40% to 80% of superabsorbent polymer particles by weight of the absorbent material. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 9 , wherein the absorbent material comprises at least 70% of superabsorbent polymer particles by weight of the absorbent material. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer is different than the bottom layer. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the channel has a width (Wc) of at least 2 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the wetness indicator provides an appearing signal, a disappearing signal, a color change signal or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . An absorbent article, having a wearer-facing side and a garment-facing side and a longitudinal axis, the absorbent article comprising:
 a topsheet on the wearer-facing side;   a backsheet on the garment-facing side; and   an absorbent core between the topsheet and backsheet;   the absorbent core comprising a core wrap having a top layer and a bottom layer enclosing an absorbent material disposed in an absorbent material deposition area, wherein the absorbent core comprises a generally longitudinally-extending channel;   wherein the absorbent article comprises a wetness indicator at least partially superposed with the channel, as seen from the garment-facing side of the article; and wherein the wetness indicator comprises a width that is thinner or equal to a width of the channel.   
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the channel comprises a curvilinear portion. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the channel has a width (Wc) of at least 2 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the wetness indicator provides an appearing signal, a disappearing signal, a color change signal or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the absorbent core does not comprise a channel superposed with the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The absorbent article of  claim 14 , wherein the channel is an area of the absorbent core substantially free of the absorbent material. 
     
     
         20 . An absorbent article, having a wearer-facing side and a garment-facing side and a longitudinal axis, the absorbent article comprising:
 a topsheet on the wearer-facing side;   a backsheet on the garment-facing side; and   an absorbent core between the topsheet and backsheet;   the absorbent core comprising a core wrap having a top layer and a bottom layer enclosing an absorbent material disposed in an absorbent material deposition area, wherein the top layer is different than the bottom layer;   wherein the absorbent core comprises a generally longitudinally-extending channel;   wherein the absorbent article comprises a wetness indicator at least partially superposed with the channel, as seen from the garment-facing side of the article; and   wherein the wetness indicator comprises a width that is thinner or equal to a width of the channel at a given longitudinal position.