Absorbent article having a functional enhancement indicator

Abstract

An absorbent article includes a topsheet, an absorbent core, and a backsheet. The absorbent article has a visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator and a functionally-distinguishable portion of the article with one or more channels. The visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator corresponds to the one or more channels, and the functional enhancement indicator is visually perceptible from a body-facing side of the absorbent article but the one or more channels are not visually perceptible.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article comprising:
 (a) a topsheet;   (b) an absorbent core; and   (c) a backsheet:   wherein the absorbent article comprises a visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator and a functionally-distinguishable portion of the article comprising one or more channels, wherein the visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator corresponds to the one or more channels and wherein the functional enhancement indicator is visually perceptible from a body-facing side of the absorbent article but the one or more channels are not visually perceptible.   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent article comprises a transverse centerline and a longitudinal centerline, wherein the visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator and the channels are present on both sides of the transverse centerline and are off-center relative to the transverse centerline. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator and the channels are present on both sides of the longitudinal centerline and are symmetric relative to the longitudinal centerline. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent article comprises a transverse centerline and a longitudinal centerline, wherein the visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator and the channels are present on both sides of the transverse centerline and are symmetric relative to the transverse centerline. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 4 , wherein the visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator and the channels are present on both sides of the longitudinal centerline and are symmetric relative to the longitudinal centerline. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator is disposed on the topsheet. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 6 , wherein the visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator is disposed on a body-facing side of the topsheet. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary topsheet. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 8 , wherein the visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator is disposed on the secondary topsheet. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator is disposed on the absorbent core. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator is printed on a surface of the absorbent article that is below the topsheet. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator comprises a composition selected from the group consisting of inks, dyes, paint, colored adhesives, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 1  wherein the visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator has the appearance of having been printed in registration with the one or more channels.