US 11,883,268 B2
Front or rear opening closed-sided absorbent articles
Beth Johnson, Appleton, WI (US); Sarah Kleuskens, Neenah, WI (US); James R Niedt, Grand Chute, WI (US); Kyle M Barriger, Neenah, WI (US); Marc A Morin, Jr., Appleton, WI (US); Thomas A Ray, Oshkosh, WI (US); Timothy A. Thorson, Neenah, WI (US); and Victor Stevens, Cape Town (ZA)
Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
Appl. No. 16/330,896
Filed by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
PCT Filed May 23, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/034058
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 6, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/222453, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 6, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/512,925, filed on May 31, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0209392 A1, Jul. 11, 2019
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 13/49 (2006.01); A61F 13/84 (2006.01); A61F 13/496 (2006.01); A61F 13/64 (2006.01); A61F 13/15 (2006.01); A61F 13/58 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 13/49 (2013.01) [A61F 13/496 (2013.01); A61F 13/64 (2013.01); A61F 13/84 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15569 (2013.01); A61F 2013/49063 (2013.01); A61F 2013/49087 (2013.01); A61F 2013/585 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An absorbent article including front region, a crotch region, and a rear region, the article having a first side edge and a second side edge and further comprising:
an absorbent insert comprising an outer cover, a liner, and an absorbent core disposed between the outer cover and the liner;
a first waist panel coupled to the absorbent insert throughout a first attachment region; and
a second waist panel coupled to the absorbent insert throughout a second attachment region, the second waist panel being coupled to the first waist panel proximate the first side edge of the absorbent article and the second side edge of the absorbent article and further comprising a weakened region,
wherein the second attachment region comprises an attachment region top edge, an attachment region bottom edge, attachment region longitudinal side edges, and an overall attachment region area,
wherein the second attachment region further comprises a low-strength attachment zone and a high-strength attachment zone, the high-strength attachment zone being disposed proximate the attachment region bottom edge, and
wherein the low-strength attachment zone has a first peel strength and the high-strength attachment zone has a second peel strength, the second peel strength being greater than the first peel strength.