| abstract |
Disclosed is a shaped absorbent core suitable for absorbing and retaining aqueous body fluids. The absorbent cores comprise a front panel and a back panel. The front and back panels are made from fluid absorbent material, and each has an inner end, an outer end, and two sides. The inner and outer ends of each front and back panel have a length, with the inner end of each being shorter than the outer length of each. The front and back panels may comprise multiple layers of absorbent material. The absorbent cores also comprise a center section made from fluid absorbent material having first and second ends. The first end of the center section is in fluid communication with the front panel by overlapping the front panel intermediate the front inner and outer ends, and the second end is in fluid communication with the back panel by overlapping the back panel intermediate the back inner and outer ends. A method of preparing a shaped absorbent core comprises the steps of providing at least one continuous rectilinear web of first absorbent material having a longitudinal axis and a pair of lateral edges defining a first width. A continuous rectilinear web of second absorbent material having a longitudinal axis and a pair of lateral edges defining a second width wider than the first width of the first absorbent material is formed with opposing generally arcuate notched areas in the lateral edges at spaced intervals along the web of second absorbent material. The web of second absorbent material is severed transversely along a line intersecting the opposed generally arcuate notched areas at spaced intervals to form sections having opposed notched ends The sections are then positioned such that the notched ends are spaced apart and overlap the continuous rectilinear web of first absorbent material, forming layers of absorbent material. Then the layers of absorbent material are severed transversely at a point intermediate the notched ends. |