Articles With Elasticated Topsheets

Abstract

The invention relates to an absorbent, disposable article, preferably a diaper, having a backsheet and a topsheet comprising a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region interposed there between, a longitudinal axis, and an opening, which provides a passageway to a primary void space for receiving bodily exudates therein, positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet; whereby the opening is positioned in at least the crotch region along the longitudinal axis; whereby the topsheet is elasticated; and whereby the article has a shortened article portion, as defined herein, which has a shortened article length L, a stretched shortened article length L s and a contracted shortened article length L c , whereby the article and/or its topsheet has an specific elastic profile and/or a specific ratio of L c to L s . The article preferably has a slit opening with on each side elastic regions, preferably in the shape of an X, as shown in FIG. 1 , and preferably making an angle with the adjacent topsheet and thereby bending away from the void space underneath the topsheet.

1 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a backsheet;   a topsheet connected with the backsheet;   a void space between the topsheet and the backsheet for receiving bodily exudates;   an opening in the topsheet providing access to the void space, the opening having longitudinally extending first and second side edges, and wherein first end portions of the first and second side edges of the opening converge toward each other to define a first end point of the opening, and wherein second end portions of the first and second side edges of the opening converge toward each other to define a second end point of the opening; and   wherein the topsheet includes first and second laterally opposing elasticated regions disposed adjacent respective first and second side edges of the opening, the first and second elasticated regions being substantially parallel to each other and laterally diverging from each other at the first and second end points and wherein the elasticated regions form an X-shape.   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises a slit. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises a shape defined by a rectangular portion disposed between two longitudinally opposing triangular portions. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second elasticated regions comprise first and second elastic bands. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent article is a disposable diaper and further comprises an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , further comprising a shortened article portion having a shortened article length L, a stretched shortened article length L s , and having an elastic profile defined by a two-cycle hysteresis test of:
 0.25L s  by a first load force of less than 0.6 N, 0.55L s  by a first load force of less than 5N, and 0.8L s  by a first load force of less than 10.0N; and   a second unload force at 0.55L s  of greater than 0.4N, and a second unload force at 0.80L s  of greater than 1.4N.   
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 6 , having an elastic profile of:
 0.25L s  by a first load force of less than 0.6 N, 0.55L s  by a first load force of less than 3.5 N, and 0.8L s  by a first load force of less than 7.0N; and   a second unload force at 0.55L s  of greater than 0.4N, and a second unload force at 0.80L s  of greater than 2.0N.   
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , further comprising a shortened article portion having a shortened article length L, a stretched shortened article length L s , the topsheet having a shortened topsheet length Lt, the topsheet having an elastic profile defined by a two-cycle hysteresis test of:
 1.5Lt by a first load force of less than 1.1N, 3.0Lt by a first load force of less than 2.1N, and 4.5Lt by a first load force of less than 3.0N; and   a second unload force at 4.5Lt of greater than 0.9N, a second unload force at 3.0Lt of greater than 0.5N, and a second unload force at 1.5Lt of greater than 0.1N.   
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 8 , the topsheet having an elastic profile of:
 1.5Lt by a first load force of less than 0.6N, 3.0Lt by a first load force of 1.1N, and 4.5Lt by a first load force of less than 1.5N; and   a second unload force at 4.5Lt of greater than 0.9N, a second unload force at 3.0Lt of greater than 0.5N and a second unload force at 1.5Lt of greater than 0.1N.   
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , further comprising a shortened article portion having a shortened article length L, a stretched shortened article length L s , and a contracted shortened article length L c , wherein L c  is less than 0.5L s . 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein L c  is less than 0.35L s . 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , further comprising a shortened article portion having a shortened article length L, a stretched shortened article length L s , and having an elastic profile defined by a two-cycle hysteresis test wherein:
 a ratio of a 1 st  load force at 0.50 L s  to a 2 nd  unload force at 0.50 L s  is less than 20;   a ratio of a 1 st  load force at 0.65 L s  to a 2 nd  unload force at 0.65 L s  is less than 9; and   a ratio of a 1 st  load force at 0.80 L s  to a 2 nd  unload force at 0.80 L s  is less than 4.   
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 12 , having an elastic profile wherein:
 a ratio of a 1 st  load force at 0.50 L s  to a 2 nd  unload force at 0.50 L s  is less than 7;   a ratio of a 1 st  load force at 0.65 L s  to a 2 nd  unload force at 0.65 L s  is less than 6; and   a ratio of a 1 st  load force at 0.80 L s  to a 2 nd  unload force at 0.80 L s  is less than 4.   
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 13 , having an elastic profile wherein:
 a ratio of a 1 st  load force at 0.50 L s  to a 2 nd  unload force at 0.50 L s  is less than 3;   a ratio of a 1 st  load force at 0.65 L s  to a 2 nd  unload force at 0.65 L s  is less than 2; and   a ratio of a 1 st  load force at 0.80 L s  to a 2 nd  unload force at 0.80 L s  is less than 1.5.