Capacity indicia for absorbent articles

Abstract

Disclosed are indicia for use in conjunction with the core of an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, disposable diaper, or adult incontinence product. The indicia are absorbent or liquid pervious to obviate reduction in the target area for loading of the absorbent core of such product. The indicia provide a means for visually indicating to the wearer incipient failure of the core when the capacity of the core may be exceeded by lateral migration of liquids deposited on the absorbent core. The indicia may be separate or integral relative to the absorbent core.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A disposable absorbent article for absorbing liquids and having a longitudinal centerline and two longitudinal side margins, said article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet;   a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;   a generally planar absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said core having a top surface a bottom surface, and two longitudinal side edges; and   a liquid previous means for visually indicating when liquid has approached the longitudinal side margins of said disposable absorbent article, said means comprising two visually discernible indicia disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet, wherein one indicium is disposed along each said longitudinal side edge of said absorbent core and being in contact with and in liquid communication with the longitudinal side edge of said absorbent core at points located between the top surface and bottom surfac of said absorbent core.   
     
     
       2. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein said indicia have a different elevation relative to said planar absorbent core, said indicia being unfolded, and having a greater thickness than said absorbent core. 
     
     
       3. The absorbent article of claim 2 wherein said indicia are integral with said absorbent core. 
     
     
       4. A disposable diaper for absorbing liquids and having a longitudinal centerline and two longitudinal side margins, said article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet;   a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;   a generally planar absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said core having a top surface, a bottom surface, and two longitudinal side edges; and   a liquid pervious means for visually indicating when liquid has approached the longitudinal side margins of said diaper, said means comprising two visually discernible indicia disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet, wherein one indicium is disposed along each said longitudinal side edge of said absorbent core and being in contact with and in liquid communication with the longitudinal side edge of said absorbent core at points located between the top surface and bottom surface of said absorbent core.   
     
     
       5. A Disposable absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein said indicia are absorbent. 
     
     
       6. A disposable adult incontinence product for absorbing liquids and having a longitudinal centerline and two longitudinal side margins, said article comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet;   a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;   a generally planar absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said core having a top surface, a bottom surface, and two longitudinal side edges; and   a liquid pervious means for visually indicating when liquid has approached the longitudinal side margins of said incontinence product, said means comprising two visually discernible indicia disposed between said top sheet and said backsheet, wherein one indicium is disposed along each said longitudinal side edge of said absorbent core and being in contact with and in liquid communication with the longitudinal side edge of said absorbent core at points located between the top surface and bottom surface of said absorbent core.   
     
     
       7. A disposable absorbent article according to claim 6, wherein said indicia are absorbent.