Body Adhering Absorbent Aticle

Abstract

An absorbent article for attachment to a wearers skin in the vulva region of the wearers torso includes a shell having a first side and a second side, the first side having a first area and a second area, wherein the first area surrounds a majority of the second area, and wherein the shell comprises a gel, a film, a sheet of a polymeric material, a foam, or a laminate including one or more of these materials. The article also includes an absorbent structure attached to the first side and located entirely within the second area of the shell, the absorbent structure including an absorbent material, wherein the first area of the shell has adhesive properties, and wherein the adhesive properties are adapted to attach the first area directly to the wearer's vulva region.

1 . An absorbent article for attachment to a wearer's skin in the vulva region of the wearers torso, said article comprising:
 a shell having a first side and a second side, the first side having a first area and a second area, wherein the first area surrounds a majority of the second area, wherein the first side is adapted to be the body facing side of the absorbent article and the second side is adapted to be the garment facing side of the absorbent article, and wherein the shell comprises a gel, a film, a sheet of a polymeric material, a foam, or a laminate including one or more of these materials; and   an absorbent structure attached to the first side and located entirely within the second area of the shell, the absorbent structure comprising an absorbent material;
 wherein when applied to the wearer the first area of the shell is configured to contact the wearers skin surrounding the vulva region and the shell is sized and shaped such that the first area is configured to only contact the skin of the wearer proximate to the vulva region, wherein the first area of the shell has adhesive properties, and wherein the adhesive properties are adapted to attach the first area directly to the wearers vulva region. 
   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a gel. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a film. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a sheet of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a foam. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first area of the shell comprises a body adhesive applied thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 6 , wherein the first area is essentially entirely covered by the adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 6 , wherein the body adhesive is a hydrogel. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 6 , wherein the body adhesive is a hydrocolloid. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 6 , wherein the body adhesive is an acrylic-based adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 6 , wherein the body adhesive is a rubber-based adhesive. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 6 , wherein the body adhesive is a block copolymer-based adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive properties are imparted to the first area of the shell by the physical properties of a material used to prepare the shell. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , the shell further comprising a woven or a nonwoven web. 
     
     
         15 . An absorbent article for attachment to a wearers skin in the vulva region of the wearers torso, said article comprising:
 a shell having a first side and a second side, the first side having a first area and a second area, wherein the first area surrounds a majority of the second area, wherein the first side is adapted to be the body facing side of the absorbent article and the second side is adapted to be the garment facing side of the absorbent article, and wherein the shell comprises a sheet of a polymeric material; and   an absorbent structure attached to the first side and located entirely within the second area of the shell, the absorbent structure comprising an absorbent material;
 wherein when applied to the wearer the first area of the shell is configured to contact the wearers skin surrounding the vulva region and the shell is sized and shaped such that the first area is configured to only contact the skin of the wearer proximate to the vulva region, wherein the first area of the shell has adhesive properties, and wherein the adhesive properties are adapted to attach the first area directly to the wearers vulva region. 
   
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 15 , the shell further comprising a woven or a nonwoven web. 
     
     
         17 . An absorbent article for attachment to a wearers skin in the vulva region of the wearers torso, said article comprising:
 a shell having a first side and a second side, the first side having a first area and a second area, wherein the first area surrounds a majority of the second area, wherein the first side is adapted to be the body facing side of the absorbent article and the second side is adapted to be the garment facing side of the absorbent article, and wherein the shell comprises a foam; and   an absorbent structure attached to the first side and located entirely within the second area of the shell, the absorbent structure comprising an absorbent material;
 wherein when applied to the wearer the first area of the shell is configured to contact the wearers skin surrounding the vulva region and the shell is sized and shaped such that the first area is configured to only contact the skin of the wearer proximate to the vulva region, wherein the first area of the shell has adhesive properties, and wherein the adhesive properties are adapted to attach the first area directly to the wearers vulva region. 
   
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article of  claim 17 , the shell further comprising a woven or a nonwoven web. 
     
     
         19 . An absorbent article for attachment to a wearers skin in the vulva region of the wearers torso, said article comprising:
 a shell having a first side and a second side, the first side having a first area and a second area, wherein the first area surrounds a majority of the second area, wherein the first side is adapted to be the body facing side of the absorbent article and the second side is adapted to be the garment facing side of the absorbent article, and wherein the shell comprises a gel; and   an absorbent structure attached to the first side and located entirely within the second area of the shell, the absorbent structure comprising an absorbent material;
 wherein when applied to the wearer the first area of the shell is configured to contact the wearers skin surrounding the vulva region and the shell is sized and shaped such that the first area is configured to only contact the skin of the wearer proximate to the vulva region, wherein the first area of the shell has adhesive properties, and wherein the adhesive properties are adapted to attach the first area directly to the wearers vulva region. 
   
     
     
         20 . The absorbent article of  claim 19 , the shell further comprising a woven or a nonwoven web.