03.06.12
Kimberly-Clark researchers have patented an array of gender-specific disposable absorbent articles, the array comprising: a first disposable absorbent article adapted to be worn by males, the article comprising: a chassis comprising a garment-side outer cover, a bodyside liner, and an absorbent core sandwiched between the outer cover and liner, the chassis defining a waist opening front edge, a waist opening back edge, two side edges connecting the waist opening front and back edges, the absorbent core defining an absorbent front edge and an absorbent back edge; and a first pair of containment flaps disposed on the chassis, each flap defining a proximal end and a distal end and each flap having a first flap active length, a first flap active portion longitudinal position, a first flap tension, and a first flap height, each pair of flaps defining a first distal-to-distal spacing and a first proximal-to-proximal spacing; and a second disposable absorbent article adapted to be worn by females, the article comprising: a chassis comprising a garment-side outer cover, a bodyside liner, and an absorbent core sandwiched between the outer cover and liner, the chassis defining a waist opening front edge, a waist opening back edge, two side edges connecting the waist opening front and back edges, the absorbent core defining an absorbent front edge and an absorbent back edge; and a second pair of containment flaps disposed on the chassis, each flap defining a proximal end and a distal end and each flap having a second flap active length, a second flap active portion longitudinal position, a second flap tension, and a second flap height, each pair of flaps defining a second distal-to-distal spacing and a second proximal-to-proximal spacing, wherein the first pair of containment flaps differs from the second pair of containment flaps in at least one structural feature, said structural feature being flap active portion longitudinal position, the first flap active portion longitudinal position being further forward than the second flap active portion longitudinal position.