ABSORBENT ARTICLE CAPABLE OF SELF-SHAPING IN USE

摘要

This invention is a disposable absorbent article (20) which is substantially flat prior to use for wearing adjacent a body discharge area having a longitudinal centerline (0-0) and a lateral centerline (A-A) orthogonal thereto and defining longitudinal and lateral directions respectively. The disposable absorbent article (20) includes a liquid pervious topsheet (24), a backsheet (26) joined to said topsheet (24) and an absorbent core (28) intermdiate the backsheet (26) and the topsheet (24). The absorbent core (28) includes an expanding layer (46) for expanding the article into a tridimensional structure while being worn by a user. The expanding layer (46) is activated by body fluids and has a constant thickness in the dry state prior to use. The expanding layer (46) is capable, upon full activation by body fluids, of expanding into a predetermined profile of non-constant thickness.