DISPOSABLE ABSORBENT ARTICLE HAVING AN EXPANDING TOPSHEET AND BEING 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 top sheet (24), a back sheet (26) joined to said top sheet, and an absorbent core (28) intermediate the back sheet and the top sheet. The absorbent core includes an expanding member (46) for expanding the article into a tridimensional structure while being worn by a user. The expanding member is activated by body fluids. The top sheet (24) is capable of expanding as the absorbent article expands upon activation by body fluids.