Abstract: An absorbent article for wearing about the torso and including a member that supports the movement of urine in an x-y plane to enhance the wearer's awareness that urination has occurred by increasing the wetted area contacting the wearer's skin. The member has a permeable body-facing layer and an impermeable layer disposed in a face-to-face arrangement with the permeable layer and preferably is held in close contact with the wearer's skin during use.

Abstract: A wearable article comprising a dehydration indicator adapted to measure a urine ionic strength correlated to a specific gravity of the wearer's urine and provide a visible signal when the urine ionic strength reaches a value corresponding to a predetermined threshold of the specific gravity. The wearable article may be a disposable absorbent article. The dehydration indicator may also be comprised in an insert for use with a wearable article. The dehydration indicator may provide qualitative or quantitative information about the ionic strength of the wearer's urine.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article including a wetness sensation member and visible highlighting indicating the presence of the wetness sensation member to facilitate an opportunity for the toilet training of the wearer. The wetness sensation member includes a permeable layer and a flow control layer. Urine deposited on the wetness sensation member can penetrate through the permeable body-facing layer in a z direction away from the wearer to the flow control layer. The flow control layer retards the passage of the urine through the wetness sensation member in the z direction while supporting the movement of the urine in an x-y plane to increase the wetted area contacting the wearer's skin and thereby enhance the wearer's awareness that urination has occurred. The visible highlighting is visible when viewing a body-facing surface of the article and may be associatively correlated with an externally visible marking and/or with the concept of toilet training.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article including a wetness sensation member and visible highlighting indicating the presence of the wetness sensation member to facilitate an opportunity for the toilet training of the wearer. The wetness sensation member includes a permeable layer and a flow control layer. Urine deposited on the wetness sensation member can penetrate through the permeable body-facing layer in a z direction away from the wearer to the flow control layer. The flow control layer retards the passage of the urine through the wetness sensation member in the z direction while supporting the movement of the urine in an x-y plane to increase the wetted area contacting the wearer's skin and thereby enhance the wearer's awareness that urination has occurred. The visible highlighting is visible when viewing a body-facing surface of the article and may be associatively correlated with an externally visible marking and/or with the concept of toilet training.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a backsheet having a longitudinal axis, a topsheet attached to the backsheet and having a body-facing surface, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. The article may also include barrier leg cuffs. The article further includes a sensation member, which sensation member may be defined in part by the topsheet or may be separate from the topsheet. The sensation member may be a wetness sensation member, a temperature sensation member, or a combination of the two. A visible highlight(s) may be associated with the sensation member.

Abstract: A wearable article comprising a dehydration indicator adapted to measure a urine ionic strength correlated to a specific gravity of the wearer's urine and provide a visible signal when the urine ionic strength reaches a value corresponding to a predetermined threshold of the specific gravity. The wearable article may be a disposable absorbent article. The dehydration indicator may also be comprised in an insert for use with a wearable article. The dehydration indicator may provide qualitative or quantitative information about the ionic strength of the wearer's urine.

Abstract: A wearable article comprising a dehydration indicator adapted to measure a urine ionic strength correlated to a specific gravity of the wearer's urine and provide a visible signal when the urine ionic strength reaches a value corresponding to a predetermined threshold of the specific gravity. The wearable article may be a disposable absorbent article. The dehydration indicator may also be comprised in an insert for use with a wearable article. The dehydration indicator may provide qualitative or quantitative information about the ionic strength of the wearer's urine.

Abstract: A wearable article including a fever indicator disposed on at least a portion of the article for indicating the body temperature of a wearer. The fever indicator may be used in conjunction with a disposable absorbent article and provides a signal indicating qualitative or quantitative information about the body temperature of the wearer based on the temperature of the wearer's urine.

Abstract: A wearable article comprising a dehydration indicator adapted to measure a urine ionic strength correlated to a specific gravity of the wearer's urine and provide a visible signal when the urine ionic strength reaches a value corresponding to a predetermined threshold of the specific gravity. The wearable article may be a disposable absorbent article. The dehydration indicator may also be comprised in an insert for use with a wearable article. The dehydration indicator may provide qualitative or quantitative information about the ionic strength of the wearer's urine.

Abstract: A wearable article including a fever indicator disposed on at least a portion of the article for indicating the body temperature of a wearer. The fever indicator may be used in conjunction with a disposable absorbent article and provides a signal indicating qualitative or quantitative information about the body temperature of the wearer based on the temperature of the wearer's urine.

Abstract: A spacer for use in a disposable absorbent article. The spacer is symmetric about a longitudinal axis and has two transversely oriented springs generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The transversely oriented springs have different spring rates, so that transverse compression caused by the wearer's thighs may be readily accommodated, yet the spacer remain open to receive fecal material. The spacer may be advantageously used in a disposable absorbent article having a void space between the topsheet and the core, and maintain this void space under the weight of the wearer.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article, such as a baby diaper, a child's training pant, an adult incontinent garment, or the like, having an elasticized chassis which provides laterally oriented contractive forces about the lower torso of the wearer. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the absorbent article will resemble a skirt or, alternatively, a pair of "boxer shorts".

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article having a transverse partition. The transverse partition is upstanding from the topsheet and presents an abrupt discontinuity out of the plane of the disposable absorbent article and obstructs fecal material deposited in the rear portion of the disposable absorbent article from migrating to the front portion of the disposable absorbent article. This obstruction minimizes soiling of the genitalia of the wearer. The disposable absorbent article may have upstanding barrier leg cuffs. The transverse partition may connect the barrier leg cuffs to form an H-shape.

Abstract: A fastening system including a male component and a female component. The male component includes a base having a first fastening surface and an opposed first nonfastening surface. The first fastening surface has a plurality of engaging elements extending, each engaging element having a proximal end adjacent the first fastening surface, a stem extending outwardly from the proximal end and distal end spaced apart from the proximal end by the stem. The female component includes a backing having a second fastening surface and an opposed second nonfastening surface; and a receiving material joined to said second fastening surface. At least a portion of the second fastening surface includes a bonding element such that when the fastening system is in a closed, fastened configuration, at least a portion of the distal end of some of the engaging elements of the male component pass through the receiving material and are joined to the second fastening surface with the bonding element.

Abstract: A female component for a refastenable fastening device having an elastomeric adhesive backing and a multiplicity of fibrous elements extending from the backing. The female fastening component is formed by a method comprising the steps of: providing a first lamina comprising an elastomeric, pressure-sensitive adhesive film having a first adhesive surface and a second adhesive surface opposed to said first adhesive surface, a relaxed orientation and an elongated orientation; stretching said first lamina from said relaxed orientation to said elongated orientation; contacting a second lamina comprising a nonwoven web with said first surface of said first lamina in said elongated orientation, thereby directly joining said second lamina and said first lamina to form a laminate; and relaxing said first lamina such that said second lamina is shirred to form catching regions capable of entangling the hooks of a complementary male fastening component.