Absorbent article in the form of pants, such as nappy pants, sanitary pants or incontinence pants

Abstract

An absorbent article in the form of pants includes: an absorbent core having two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges, and a pant part. The pant part includes a covering layer, a front section, a back section and an intermediate crotch section, wherein the front and back sections are connected to one another along two opposing longitudinal lateral edges to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. The absorbent core is arranged at least in the crotch section and connected to the covering layer on the side of the covering layer that is intended to face the wearer. The pant part includes at least one low-opacity area, which has an opacity that is lower than 50%. The article also includes a liquid-tight coloured barrier layer placed between said absorbent core and covering layer.

Claims

1. An absorbent article in the form of pants comprising: a pant part, wherein said pant part comprises a covering layer, a front section, a back section and an intermediate crotch section, wherein the front and back sections are connected to one another along two opposing longitudinal lateral edges to form a waist opening and a pair of leg openings, wherein said pant part comprises at least one low-opacity area, which has an opacity that is lower than or equal to 30%; an absorbent core having two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges, said absorbent core being arranged in at least the crotch section and connected to the covering layer on the side of the covering layer that is intended to face the wearer such that the low-opacity area of said pant part covers at least a portion of the absorbent core; and a liquid-tight coloured barrier layer placed between said absorbent core and covering layer, extension of the barrier layer coinciding on the whole with extension of the absorbent core and at least a portion of the barrier layer is covered by the low-opacity area of said pant part, wherein said barrier layer has a skin-like colour with an L* value of 30.1-67.9, a* value of 5.5-7.0 and b* value of 7.5-20.3 in accordance with the CIE L*a*b* standard method, and wherein the difference between two colours in the colour space CIE L*a*b*, which is characterised by a Delta E-value (ΔE*ab) in a comparison between the low-opacity area/areas of the pant part covering the barrier layer and the low-opacity area/areas of the pant part outside the area of the barrier layer's extension is less than: 4 when said low-opacity area for the pant part has an opacity of 30% 3 when said low-opacity area for the pant part has an opacity of 20-30% 2 when said low-opacity area for the pant part has an opacity of 0-20%, when the absorbent article is placed with the side that is intended to face the wearer against a reference surface having a predetermined colour, in accordance with the CIEL*a*b* standard method, wherein the reference surface is formed of a surface that has the following L*, a*, b* value: L*=67.9 a*=5.5 and b*=16.4 or L*=52.6 a*=7.0 and b*=20.3 or L*=30.1 a*=5.8 and b*=4.5*, and wherein said pant part has a base colour that is different from the skin-like colour of said barrier layer.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the low-opacity area partly constitutes the area of the extension of the barrier layer and the area outside the core's edges, which adjoin around the extension of the core.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the covering layer is formed of an elastic nonwoven.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the covering layer is formed of an elastic laminate consisting of at least one layer and a textile-like layer.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the covering layer is formed of two layers with a plurality of intermediate elastic elements.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 1, the core comprises a surface layer facing towards the wearer.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 6, wherein the surface layer corresponds to the extension of the barrier layer.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 7, wherein the surface layer and the barrier layer are connected to one another, for example, by gluing, sewing, or welding using heat or ultrasound.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the pant part has a base colour that is selected from white, black, red, blue, violet, orange, yellow, green or indigo, as well as any other hue or mix thereof.

10. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the pant part has a graphic pattern.

11. A packaging containing a plurality of absorbent articles, wherein at least one of the plurality of absorbent articles is the absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the packaging has a code for skin tone.

12. The packaging according to claim 11, wherein the code is formed of a colour shade, which corresponds to the colour of the reference skin tone, a colour scale in colour in which the reference skin tone is depicted together with the surrounding skin tones, or it is stated in words which skin tone the article is designed for: for example, a Light skin tone, Yellow/Red skin tone or Dark skin tone, or a drawn figure in the shape of a person having the intended skin tone that the article is intended to match.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a photograph showing a dark-skinned mannequin from the front wearing an article in the form of pants of the prior art

(2) FIG. 2 is a photograph showing a dark-skinned mannequin from the front wearing an article in the form of pants in accordance with an embodiment described here

(3) FIG. 3 is an article in the form of pants, in which the pants are present in a non-assembled state and are seen from the side that faces the wearer during use

(4) FIG. 4 is a section along the line X1 through the article in FIG. 3

(5) FIG. 5 is an article in the form of pants in which the article is present in an assembled state

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIG. 1 shows a photograph showing a dark-skinned mannequin seen from the front wearing an article in the form of pants of the prior art, namely TENA Pants. The pant part includes a covering layer, which is formed of a laminate including two inelastic nonwoven layers in which elastic Spandex threads are placed between these. The two nonwoven layers are sealed to one another with sealing adhesive. The two nonwoven layers are formed of hydrophobic spunbond and have a weight per unit area of 18 and 16 g/m.sup.2 respectively. The two nonwoven layers are white in colour and thus have a base colour that is white in colour. The pant part has an opacity that is 48%, which means that the skin tone of the mannequin is clearly visible through the pant part. The area of the barrier layer that is placed in the area of the absorbent core between the absorbent core and the covering layer also appears clearly. The barrier layer is formed of a white plastic film of polyethylene with the weight per unit area 22 g/m.sup.2 with a measured L*, a*, b* value of L*=94.1, a*=0.02 and b*=1.68. The colour difference in the article between the area of the extension of the barrier layer and at least the closest adjacent area to the barrier layer is substantial. The reason for this is that the barrier layer has a colour that greatly differs from the skin tone of the mannequin.

(7) The pant part includes a core of cellulose fibres and superabsorbent material that is placed in the crotch section and further over the front section and back section of the pant part. The extension of the barrier layer covers the extension of the core.

(8) The article is also provided with a surface layer of nonwoven material, the extension of which coincides with the extension of the barrier layer and they are sealed to one another at their peripheries.

(9) Colour measurements and calculation of the difference in ΔE were carried out on the article in the areas of the low-opacity area of the pant part, which extends over and outside the extension of the barrier layer. The article that is shown in FIG. 1 fitted on a mannequin with dark skin tone was tested against a reference surface that has the following value L*=25.2, a*=0.1 and b*=−0.9. The colour of the reference surface mirrors the colour of the mannequin.

(10) The difference in ΔE was calculated as 28.8.

(11) Visual assessments in normal light conditions carried out indoors indicated that a pant part that has an opacity of 48% should not have a ΔE value greater than 5 between measurements carried out on the pant part outside the extension of the barrier layer and the area over the extension of the barrier layer. A value of ΔE greater than 5 would mean that persons in the vicinity of the wearer can discern the difference in colour shades between the pant part outside the extension of the barrier layer and the area over the extension of the barrier layer. The article thus falls not within the scope of the invention.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a photograph with the same dark-skinned mannequin seen from the front wearing an article that corresponds to that illustrated in FIG. 1, except that the white barrier layer has been exchanged for a coloured barrier layer that is formed of a plastic film of polyethylene with a weight per unit area of 24 g/m.sup.2 and a measured L*, a*, b* value of L*=27.0, a*=0.4, b*=0.5 in accordance with the CIE L*a*b* standard method described. The coloured barrier layer was measured without an overlying covering layer.

(13) A similar colour measurement and calculation were carried out on the article shown in FIG. 2 as described for the article shown in FIG. 1. The same reference surface that was used for the article shown in FIG. 1 was used for the measurement of the article shown in FIG. 2. The colour of the reference surface mirrors the colour of the mannequin.

(14) The article shown in FIG. 2 was measured and calculated to be 3.3 in difference of ΔE in the areas of the low-opacity area of the pant part, which extends over the barrier layer and outside the extension of the barrier layer respectively. It is clearly evident in FIG. 2 how well suited the colour shade of the barrier layer is to a person with a dark skin tone such as that of the mannequin.

(15) Visual assessments in normal light conditions carried out indoors indicated that a pant part that has an opacity of 48% should not have a ΔE value greater than 5 between measurements carried out on the pant part outside the extension of the barrier layer and the area over the extension of the barrier layer. A value of ΔE greater than 5 would mean that persons in the vicinity of the wearer can discern the difference in colour shades between the pant part outside the extension of the barrier layer and the area over the extension of the barrier layer. The article shown in FIG. 2 thus falls within the scope of an embodiment of the invention.

(16) FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the article 1 in the form of pants, in which the pants are present in a non-assembled state. The article 1 lies extended with the upper side corresponding to the side intended to lie against the wearer during use. The article 1 is not restricted to use by adults for the absorption of various bodily secretions, but can also be intended for use by young people or by infants. The article 1 can also be intended as sanitary protection in the form of pants for absorption of menstrual fluid.

(17) The absorbent article 1 has a pant part 4, which includes a covering layer 5 that is formed by a front section 6, a back section 7 and an intermediate crotch section 8. The crotch section 8 has a width that is narrower compared with the width of the front section 6 and back section 7 in order to be better adapted to the crotch area of the wearer. The article has a longitudinal direction Y and a transverse direction X. An absorbent core 3 having two longitudinal edges 14, 14′ and two transverse edges 15, 15′ is arranged mainly in the crotch section 8 and connected to the covering layer 5 on the side of the covering layer 5 that is intended to face the wearer.

(18) The core 3 can advantageously be connected to the covering layer 5 by any form of construction adhesive. Said core 3 has an hourglass-shaped appearance but can also be shaped in different ways. Other shapes of the core can be rectangular, teardrop-shaped, triangular, T-shaped, H-shaped, oval or similar. The core 3 includes absorbent cellulose fibres and superabsorbent material.

(19) The pant part 4 includes a covering layer 5, which is formed here of a laminate including two inelastic nonwoven layers where elastic threads 17 have been placed between them. The elastic threads 17 are laid crosswise in the transverse direction of the article, i.e. on the X-X line of the article. Examples of elastic threads 17 are sold under the LYCRA or SPANDEX trademark.

(20) The two nonwoven layers are formed from hydrophobic spunbond and have a weight per unit area of 18 and 16 g/m.sup.2 respectively.

(21) The two nonwoven layers are connected to one another by construction adhesive by coating the elastic threads 17 between the nonwoven layers using the “V-slot technique”, for example. A suitable construction adhesive is “Adhesive Hotmelt”, for example, from Henkel Adhesives, HB Fuller or Bostik. A suitable elastic adhesive is Dispomelt 723U from Henkel Adhesives, for example. It is naturally possible to join the nonwoven layers in the integral covering layer 5 by a plurality of individual weld points. Ultrasonic welding is a suitable method for the purpose.

(22) The two nonwoven layers are white in colour and thus have a base colour that is white in colour. Examples of other laminates that have an opacity of lower than 50% are described under the heading “Articles included in the laboratory measurements”, articles B-E.

(23) Said pant part 4 in this example embodiment according to FIG. 3 has an opacity that is 48%. The article 1 further includes a liquid-tight coloured barrier layer 12 that is placed between said absorbent core 3 and the covering layer 5. The barrier layer 12 is expediently connected to the covering layer 5 by adhesive. The barrier layer 12 has a colour which corresponds in principle to a predetermined skin tone. Since the pant part 4 has an opacity that is 48% over the area of the extension of the barrier layer 12 and also outside the extension of the barrier layer 12, the wearer's skin will show through the pant part 4 outside the extension of the barrier layer 12 and the coloured barrier layer 12 will show through the pant part 4 in such a way that it creates an illusion that the colour/colour shade of the barrier layer 12 corresponds to the wearer's skin. The colour/colour shade of the individual barrier layer 12, the colour/colour shade that is measured on the barrier layer 12 without the influence of the covering layer 5, has an L* value of 30.1-67.9, an a* value of 5.5-7.0 and a b* value of 7.5-20.3. This span of colour shade of the barrier layer 12 is intended to cover “Light skin tone”, “Yellow/red skin tone” and “Dark skin tone”.

(24) The colour/colour shade selected for the barrier layer 12 thus depends on the skin tone that it is desired that the product is intended for.

(25) The extension of the barrier layer 12 in a plane is slightly greater compared with the absorbent core 3, in order to conceal the core 3 effectively and to contribute to the leakage security. According to the example, the barrier layer 12 has the same outer shape as the absorbent core 3. This is not the most important thing, but the important thing is that the barrier layer 12 covers the whole of the extension of the core 3.

(26) A surface layer 13 that corresponds to the extension of the barrier layer 12 to a large extent is placed on top of the core that faces the wearer during use. The barrier layer 12 and the surface layer 13 have a slightly larger extension in one plane compared with the extension of the core 3, which means that the barrier layer 12 and the surface layer 13 form a projecting edge around all the edges 15, 15′, 14, 14′ of the core. This is seen clearly in FIG. 4. The barrier layer 12 and the surface layer 13 are joined to one another, for example by gluing, sewing, or welding using heat or ultrasound, which means that the core 3 is enclosed between the barrier layer 12 and the surface layer 13.

(27) The surface layer 13 is liquid-permeable and is formed in this case of a spunbonded, 16 g/m.sup.2, hydrophilic material. The invention is not restricted to a specific surface layer, but can be formed of any material known for the purpose, such as a layer of nonwoven material, perforated plastic film, net material, tow (parallel fibres) or the like. The laminate can naturally also include a laminate of two or more layers of the same or different materials.

(28) The article 1 was designed with waist elastic 20 at the front 6 and back 7 edges of the pant part, which form the waist opening 10 of the article, and at the crotch section 8 of the pant part, which forms the leg openings of the article, here called leg elastic 19, to further improve the fit of the article 1 against the wearer's body. The waist elastic 20 is laid crosswise in the transverse direction of the article, i.e. on the X-X line of the article. Examples of elastic threads are sold under the Spandex trademark.

(29) According to FIG. 5, an article is shown in the form of pants, which corresponds to the article in FIGS. 3 and 4, but in an assembled state. Here it emerges clearly how the front section 6 and back section 7 are joined to one another in a seam 9. The seam 9 can be provided by mechanical processing, for example, thermal treatment or another well-known technique for joining materials to one another. Naturally adhesive can also be used to connect the front and back sections to one another. In the figure the waist area 10 also stands out clearly and the leg openings 11, which are formed after the article has been assembled. The covering layer 5 of the article has been provided on the side facing away from the wearer with a graphic pattern 18. The pattern 18 includes a number of small flowers, which have been distributed uniformly over the entire extension of the surface, i.e. the distance between each flower is the same for all flowers in the composed graphic pattern 18. The graphic pattern 18 can naturally include one or just a few sporadically positioned ornaments over the extension of the covering layer 5. The graphic pattern 18 can include one colour or several colours. In this particular embodiment, the graphic pattern 18 does not constitute the greatest area of the pant part 4 extension and is thus not considered to constitute the base colour of the pant part 4.

(30) Description of Method of Opacity Measurement

(31) Opacity

(32) Opacity is measured in accordance with ISO 2471:2008 “Paper and board—Determination of opacity (paper backing)—Diffuse reflectance method”. The method is designed to measure the opacity of paper, but has been found suitable also in this context. The opacity is measured on the pant part 4 in its unstretched state. If the pant part 4 includes different materials, structure or for example an irregular base colour or graphic pattern 18 in different areas, measurements should be carried out over all areas of the pant part 4.

(33) Measuring Equipment

(34) Opacity can be measured using a reflectometer or spectrophotometer. An example of a spectrophotometer is model CM-5 from Konica-Minolta (Japan). A suitable diameter of the recording aperture is 30 mm in diameter. If the surface that is to be measured has a fine pattern 18, it may be necessary to select a recording aperture that is less than 30 mm in diameter.

(35) Sample Preparation

(36) Since the absorbent article 1 is in the form of pants, the sides, of which the front section 6 and back section 7 have been joined in a seam 9, are torn/clipped.

(37) Test Procedure

(38) The pant part with the surface of interest is placed over the recording aperture of the instrument. If the pant part 4 has several areas that appear to have different opacity in their extension, measurements are to be taken on all areas. The measurement can then commence.

(39) Calculation of Opacity Value

(40) The measured opacity value for the pant part 4 is a mean value from 3 measurements in the same area. If the pant part 4 includes different materials, structure or for example an irregular base colour or graphic pattern 18 in different areas, a mean value is derived from 3 measurements for the respective areas.

(41) The results are indicated with an accuracy in whole numbers.

(42) Method Description of Measurement of L* a* and b* Value and ΔE Value Principle

(43) Colour is measured according to a standard procedure from CIE (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage), defined in 1976. The colour space is divided into three axes. L* represents lightness and the axis extends from 0 (black) to 100 (white). The axis a* goes from green to red, where positive values indicate more measured red, and negative values more measured green. The b* axis goes from blue to yellow, where positive values represent more measured yellow and negative values more measured blue. This colour space is well known in industry and is generally referred to as CIE L*a*b* or CIELAB (1976).

(44) Measuring Equipment

(45) Measurements are taken with a spectrophotometer. An example of a suitable apparatus is the “Spectrophotometer CM-5” from Minolta (Japan) with accompanying manual. Light source D65 is used, and the observation angle 10°. The instrument is set to “SCE” (Specular Component Excluded).

(46) A suitable diameter of the recording aperture is 30 mm in diameter. If the surface that is to be measured has a fine pattern, it may be necessary to select a recording aperture that is less than 30 mm in diameter.

(47) In measurements and calculation of the colour difference between article 1 in the area outside and within the area of the extension of the barrier layer 12, three different reference surfaces are used, “Light skin tone”, “Yellow/red skin tone” and “Dark skin tone” from the “PANTONE SkinTone™ Guide-STG-201” colour chart.

(48) “Light skin tone” is represented by the reference skin tone 5Y04 that has the following L*, a*, b* value; L*=67.9 a*=5.5 and b*=16.4.

(49) “Yellow/red skin tone” is represented by the reference skin tone 4Y10 and has the following L*, a*, b* value; L*=52.6 a*=7.0 and b*=20.3.

(50) “Dark skin tone” is represented by the reference skin tone 2R15 and has the following L*, a*, b* value; L*=30.1 a*=5.8 and b*=4.5.

(51) Sample Preparation Before Measurement of the Colour Shade of the Barrier Layer

(52) Since the absorbent article 1 is in the form of pants, the sides, of which the front section 6 and back section 7 have been joined in a seam 9, are torn/clipped. The article 1 is placed down flat against a table, for example, without stretching the article 1. The material/materials that form the pant part 4 is/are carefully removed from the barrier layer 12 to facilitate the laboratory measurement directly against the surface of the barrier layer 12. If it should be shown that the barrier layer 12 has a different structure or for example an irregular base colour or graphic pattern 18 in different areas, measurements should be taken over the surface that takes up the largest area of the barrier layer 12.

(53) If several colours are found in exactly the same proportions on the surface of the barrier layer 12, i.e. no single colour covers a greater area than any other colour, the barrier layer 12 is represented by a mean value. The respective colour fields are each measured, and a mean value is calculated for the three respective axes L*, a* and b*.

(54) Test Procedure when Measuring the Colour Shade of the Barrier Layer.

(55) The recording aperture of the instrument is placed against the barrier layer 12. The measurement can then begin.

(56) Calculation of the Colour Shade of the Barrier Layer

(57) The measured L* a* and b* values for the barrier layer 12 are a mean value from 3 measurements.

(58) The results are indicated accurate to one decimal point.

(59) Sample Preparation Before Measurement of the Colour Difference Between the Article in the Area Outside and within the Area of the Extension of the Barrier Layer.

(60) Since the absorbent article 1, in this embodiment, is nappy pants, the sides, of which the front section 6 and back section 7 are joined in a seam 9, are torn/clipped.

(61) The article 1 is placed down flat against a table, for example, without stretching out the article, with the covering layer 5 facing downwards. The surface of the pant part 4 that extends outside the areas outside the extension of the barrier layer 12 that has an opacity that is lower than 50% is included in the measurement. If the pant part 4 includes areas that extend outside the barrier layer 12 with different opacity values, only the area with the lowest opacity shall be included in the measurement.

(62) Aforesaid surface of the pant part 4 is to be compared with measurements taken on the surface of the pant part 4, the area of which lies directly above the barrier layer 12. If the pant part 4 has a different structure, or irregular base colour or graphic pattern 18 in different areas, for example, measurements should be taken over the surface that takes up the greatest area. In cases where the pant part is finely patterned (has fields with a diameter of less than 30 mm), it is advisable to select a smaller recording aperture on the spectrophotometer. If several colours exist in exactly the same proportions, i.e. no single colour covers a greater area than any other colour, the pant part is represented by a mean value.

(63) The respective colour fields are each measured and a mean value calculated for the three respective axes L*, a* and b*. If the barrier layer 12 has a different structure, or irregular base colour or graphic pattern 18 in different areas, for example, this can affect the outcome of the measured colour shade for the area of the pant part 4 that lies directly above the extension of the barrier layer 12. A similar procedure must then be followed corresponding to that described for the pant part 4 that does not have a regular structure, base colour or graphic pattern 18.

(64) If the barrier layer 12 has a different structure or irregular base colour or graphic pattern 18 in different areas, for example, this can affect the outcome of the measured colour shade for the area of the pant part that lies directly above the extension of the barrier layer 12.

(65) Test Procedure

(66) The surface of the pant part 4 that is of interest is placed on top of the reference surface “Light skin tone”, “Yellow/red skin tone” and “Dark skin tone” in turn with the covering layer 5 facing upwards. The recording aperture of the instrument is placed against the pant part 4. The measurement can then begin.

(67) Measurements are taken in the area of the extension of the barrier layer 12 and outside the extension of the barrier layer 12.

(68) Calculation of the Difference

(69) The measured colours/colour shades for respective areas of the pant part 4 are a mean value from 3 measurements.

(70) The difference between the colour shade in the area of the extension of the barrier layer 12 and outside the extension of the barrier layer 12 is thus calculated according to: a difference between two colours in the colour space CIE L*a*b* being characterised by a Delta E-value (ΔE*ab). The differences between the colours on the three respective axes are squared in this, following which the differences are summed and the root derived from the sum: ΔE*ab=((ΔL*).sup.2+(Δa*).sup.2+(Δb*).sup.2).sup.0.5.

(71) The result is indicated accurate to one decimal point.

(72) Articles that were Included in Various Laboratory Tests

(73) Detailed description of articles A-E. The embodiments A-E represent examples of articles and must not be seen as any restriction on embodiments.

(74) A1) is an article in the form of pants of the prior art, which are shown in FIG. 1, Tena Pants plus. The pant part 4 includes a covering layer 5, which is formed of a laminate including two inelastic nonwoven layers, where elastic Spandex threads 17 are placed between these. The two nonwoven layers are sealed to one another with sealing adhesive.

(75) The two nonwoven layers are formed of hydrophobic spunbond and have a weight per unit area of 18 and 16 g/m.sup.2 respectively. The barrier layer 12 is formed of a white plastic film of polyethylene with a weight per unit area of 22 g/m.sup.2 with a measured L*, a*, b* value of L*=94.1, a*=0.02 and b*=1.68. The pant part 4 includes a core 3 of cellulose fibres and superabsorbent material that is placed in the crotch section 8 and further over the front section 6 and back section 7 of the pant part. The extension of the barrier layer 12 covers the extension of the core 3.

(76) The article is also provided with a surface layer 13 of nonwoven material, the extension of which coincides with the extension of the barrier layer 12 and they are sealed to one another at their peripheries. The surface layer 13 is liquid-permeable and is formed in this case of a spunbonded, 16 g/m.sup.2, hydrophilic material. Since the extension of the surface layer 13 coincides with the extension of the barrier layer 12 and they are sealed to one another at their peripheries, the surface layer 13 does not affect the opacity of the pant part 4.

(77) A2) corresponds to reference article A1) described above except that the white barrier layer 12 has been exchanged for a coloured barrier layer 12 that is formed of a plastic film of polyethylene with a weight per unit area of 24 g/m.sup.2 with a measured L*, a*, b* value of L*=27.0, a*=0.4, b*=0.5 in accordance with the CIE L*a*b* standard method described. The coloured barrier layer 12 is measured without an overlying covering layer 4. This article is illustrated in FIG. 2.

(78) B) Article B corresponds to article A, except that the pant part 4, in this case includes an inelastic nonwoven, which is formed of a spunbond from Union with a weight per unit area of 16 g/m.sup.2. The barrier layer 12 is formed of a coloured sheet which has been picked from said colour chart “PANTONE SkinTone™ Guide-STG-201”. The article has been designed with a number of different colour shades of the barrier layer 12, which are shown clearly in tables III, IV and V.

(79) C) Article C corresponds to article A except that the pant part 4, in this case, includes an inelastic nonwoven with the name S-Tex from Fitesa with a weight per unit area of 20 g/m.sup.2. The barrier layer 12 is formed of a coloured sheet which has been picked from said “PANTONE SkinTone™ Guide-STG-201” colour chart. The article has been designed with a number of different colour shades of the barrier layer 12, which are shown clearly in tables III, IV and V.

(80) D) Article D corresponds to article A, except that the pant part 4, in this case, includes three inelastic nonwovens of spunbond from Union, each with a weight per unit area of 16 g/m.sup.2. The total weight per unit area is 48 g/m.sup.2. The barrier layer 12 is formed of a coloured sheet which has been picked from said colour chart “PANTONE SkinTone™ Guide-STG-201”. The article has been designed with a number of different colour shades of the barrier layer 12, which are shown clearly in tables III, IV and V.

(81) E) Article E corresponds to the description of article A, except that the pant part 4, in this case, includes an inelastic nonwoven in three layers from Fitesa, each with a weight per unit area of 25 g/m.sup.2. The total weight per unit area of the laminate is 75 g/m.sup.2. The barrier layer 12 is formed of a coloured sheet which has been picked from said colour chart “PANTONE SkinTone™ Guide-STG-201”. The article has been designed with a number of different colour shades of the barrier layer 12, which are shown clearly in tables III, IV and V.

(82) All articles described here above are formed of nonwoven, which is naturally white in colour, i.e. they have not been coloured or provided with anything other than titanium dioxide pigment. The articles have been provided with graphic pattern 18 such as that described and illustrated in FIG. 5. The pattern 18 includes a number of small flowers, which have been distributed uniformly over the entire extension of the surface, i.e. the distance between each flower is the same for all flowers in the composed graphic pattern 18. In this example embodiment the graphic pattern 18 does not constitute the largest area of the extension of the pant part 4 and is thus considered not to constitute the base colour of the pant part 4. The base colour of the pant part 4 is formed of the natural whitish colour of the covering layer 5.

(83) Measurement of the Opacity of the Articles A1-E3

(84) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Article Opacity % A1 and A2 48 B 15 C 24 D 36 E 45

(85) In table 1 it can be seen that all pant parts 4 are formed of material that has areas that have an opacity that is lower than 50% and thus they exemplify materials and combinations of materials that are contained within the scope of embodiments of the invention.

(86) Comparing Measurements Taken on A1 and A2

(87) The following articles, A1 and A2 that were shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2 fitted on a mannequin with dark skin tone, were tested against a reference surface that has the following value: L*=25.2, a*=0.1 and b*=−0.9. The colour of the reference surface corresponds to the colour of the mannequin. Measurements were taken of the extension of the pant part 4, which extends outside the barrier layer 12 and within the extension of the barrier layer 12.

(88) The difference in ΔE is calculated between the value obtained outside and over the area of the barrier layer 12 respectively.

(89) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE II Colour shade measured Colour shade measured Difference on covering layer of on covering layer of in ΔE in pant part outside barrier pant part over area of area outside layer extn barrier layer extension and over Article L* a* b* L* a* b* barrier layer A1 66.4 0.0 0.7 94.5 0.0 1.6 28.1 A2 66.4 0.0 0.7 63.1 0.1 0.4 3.3

(90) Said pant part for articles A1 and A2 has an opacity of 48%. Visual assessments in normal light conditions carried out indoors indicated that a pant part that has an opacity of between 40 and 50% should not have a ΔE value greater than 5 between measurements carried out on the pant part 4 outside the extension of the barrier layer 12 and the area over the extension of the barrier layer 12. A value of ΔE greater than 5 would mean that persons in the vicinity of the wearer can discern the difference in colour shades between the pant part 4 outside the extension of the barrier layer 12 and the area over the barrier layer 12. The article A1 is thus experienced as less discreet and nappy-like.

(91) The product A2 was measured and calculated to be 3.3 in difference of ΔE in the area outside and over the barrier layer 12. It is clearly evident in FIG. 2 how well suited the colour shade of the barrier layer 12 is to a person with a dark skin tone such as that of the mannequin.

(92) The difference in ΔE in the area outside and over the barrier layer 12 for article A1 is 28.1. It is clear from FIG. 1 how clearly the white barrier layer 12 is visible through the low-opacity pant part 4 at the same time as the mannequin's skin is visible through the pant part 4 outside the extension of the barrier layer 12.

(93) Comparing Measurements Taken on the Articles B-E

(94) In the tables III, IV and V below, the articles B-E were provided with different barrier layers 12 of different colour shades. The articles were measured against a defined reference surface, which should correspond to the skin tone that it is intended that the article is to be used for. In the tables III, IV and V below, values for what is considered to be an “Accepted difference in ΔE” in the area outside and over the barrier layer 12 are entered, so that the article shall be judged to yield acceptable discretion during use. As stated previously, this value “Accepted difference in ΔE” was produced by visual assessments under normal light conditions indoors. The values of the pant parts 4 of the articles relating to the opacity values are represented in the table.

(95) Table III shows measurements taken on the articles B-E. The articles were designed with some randomly selected barrier layers 12: 5Y04, 1R02, 3Y03, 4Y10 and 2R15 picked from the aforesaid colour chart “PANTONE SkinTone™ Guide-STG-201”. The articles were measured according to the method above against a predetermined reference surface 5Y04, which colour shade mirrors a wearer with a light skin tone.

(96) Table IV shows measurements taken on the articles B-E. The articles were designed with some randomly selected barrier layers 12: 4Y10, 2R10, 3Y09, 5Y04 and 2R15 picked from the aforesaid colour chart “PANTONE SkinTone™ Guide-STG-201”. The articles were measured according to the method above against a predetermined reference surface 4Y10, which colour mirrors a wearer with yellow/red skin tone.

(97) Table V shows measurements taken on the articles B-E. The articles were designed with some randomly selected barrier layers 12: 2R15, 1R14, 4R15, 5Y05 and 4Y10 picked from the aforesaid colour chart “PANTONE SkinTone™ Guide-STG-201”. The articles were measured according to the method above against a predetermined reference surface 2R15, which colour mirrors a wearer with a dark skin tone.

(98) In the tables it is clearly evident that the difference in ΔE in the area outside and over the barrier layer 12 of the article reduces as the opacity of the pant part 4 increases. This means that a barrier layer 12 with a certain colour shade can suit several wearers with a broader skin tone difference when the pant part 4 is formed of a higher opacity value compared with if the pant part 4 has a lower opacity.

(99) Furthermore, it can be seen from Table III, for example, that two articles with the barrier layer 12 5Y04 and 4Y10 fall within the scope of “Accepted difference in ΔE” in the area outside and over the barrier layer 12 when the opacity of the pant part 4 is 15% and when the pant part 4 has 45% there are four articles with the following barrier layer 12 5Y04, 1R02, 3Y03 and 4Y10 that are considered visually acceptable.

(100) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE III Samples B-E measured against reference surface 5Y04 (light skin tone) Accepted difference Colour shade Colour shade of Difference Article Measured in ΔE in area of Light barrier layer in ΔE with opacity of outside and over skin tone (5Y04) observed in area different covering barrier layer observed through through outside and shades layer of Visual covering layer covering layer over of barrier pant part assessment of pant part of pant part barrier layer layer % ΔE L* a* b* L* a* b* ΔE B-5Y04 15 <2 70.5 4.5 11.5 70.5 4.5 11.5 0.0 B-1R02 15 <2 70.5 4.5 11.5 71.8 6.9 9.5 3.4 B-3Y03 15 <2 70.5 4.5 11.5 71.4 5.7 11.1 1.6 B-4Y10 15 <2 70.5 4.5 11.5 60.3 4.5 10.6 10.2 B-2R15 15 <2 70.5 4.5 11.5 49.9 2.1 2.2 22.8 C-5Y04 24 <3 73.2 3.2 7.9 73.2 3.2 7.9 0.0 C-1R02 24 <3 73.2 3.2 7.9 74.4 5.7 6.7 2.7 C-3Y03 24 <3 73.2 3.2 7.9 74.0 4.8 7.8 1.4 C-4Y10 24 <3 73.2 3.2 7.9 65.1 3.2 5.6 8.4 C-2R15 24 <3 73.2 3.2 7.9 57.4 0.6 −1.5 18.5 D-5Y04 36 <4 77.2 2.6 5.7 77.2 2.6 5.7 0.0 D-1R02 36 <4 77.2 2.6 5.7 77.8 3.9 5.0 1.6 D-3Y03 36 <4 77.2 2.6 5.7 77.7 3.4 5.7 0.9 D-4Y10 36 <4 77.2 2.6 5.7 72.4 2 4.1 5.1 D-2R15 36 <4 77.2 2.6 5.7 68.6 0.7 0.7 10.1 E-5Y04 45 <5 80.6 1.9 4.0 80.6 1.9 4.0 0.0 E-1R02 45 <5 80.6 1.9 4.0 81.0 2.8 3.5 1.0 E-3Y03 45 <5 80.6 1.9 4.0 80.9 2.5 4 0.6 E-4Y10 45 <5 80.6 1.9 4.0 77.2 1.4 2.6 3.7 E-2R15 45 <5 80.6 1.9 4.0 74.9 0.4 0.4 6.9

(101) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE IV Samples B-E measured against reference surface 4Y10 (yellow/red skin tone) Accepted difference Colour shade Colour shade Difference Article Measured in ΔE in area of Yellow/red of barrier layer in ΔE with opacity of outside and over skin tone (4Y10) observed in area different covering barrier layer observed through through outside and shades layer of Visual covering layer covering layer over of barrier pant part assessment of pant part of pant part barrier layer layer % ΔE L* a* b* L* a* b* ΔE B-4Y10 15 <2 60.3 4.5 10.6 60.3 4.5 10.6 0.0 B-2R10 15 <2 60.3 4.5 10.6 60.1 9.2 10.2 4.8 B-3Y09 15 <2 60.3 4.5 10.6 62.2 6.6 11.1 2.7 B-5Y04 15 <2 60.3 4.5 10.6 7.1 4.5 11.5 10.2 B-2R15 15 <2 60.3 4.5 10.6 49.9 2.1 2.2 13.6 C-4Y10 24 <3 65.1 3.2 5.6 65.1 3.2 5.6 0.0 C-2R10 24 <3 65.1 3.2 5.6 65.0 7.0 5.4 3.8 C-3Y09 24 <3 65.1 3.2 5.6 66.6 4.7 6.3 2.2 C-5Y04 24 <3 65.1 3.2 5.6 73.2 3.7 7.9 8.4 C-2R15 24 <3 65.1 3.2 5.6 57.4 0.6 −1.5 10.7 D-4Y10 36 <4 72.4 2.0 4.1 72.4 2.0 4.1 0.0 D-2R10 36 <4 72.4 2.0 4.1 72.3 4.1 4.1 2.1 D-3Y09 36 <4 72.4 2.0 4.1 73.1 3.0 4.6 1.3 D-5Y04 36 <4 72.4 2.0 4.1 77.2 2.6 5.7 5.1 D-2R15 36 <4 72.4 2.0 4.1 68.6 0.7 0.7 5.3 E-4Y10 45 <5 77.2 1.4 2.6 77.2 1.4 2.6 0.0 E-2R10 45 <5 77.2 1.4 2.6 77.4 2.7 2.6 1.4 E-3Y09 45 <5 77.2 1.4 2.6 77.9 2.0 3.0 0.9 E-5Y04 45 <5 77.2 1.4 2.6 80.6 1.9 4.0 3.7 E-2R15 45 <5 77.2 1.4 2.6 74.9 0.4 0.4 3.3

(102) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE V Samples B-E measured against reference surface 2R15 (dark skin tone) Accepted difference Colour shade of Difference Article Measured in ΔE in area Dark Colour shade of in ΔE with opacity of outside and over skin tone (2R15) barrier layer in area different covering barrier layer observed through observed through outside and shades layer of Visual covering layer covering layer over of barrier pant part assessment of pant part of pant part barrier layer layer % ΔE L* a* b* L* a* b* ΔE B-2R15 15 <2 49.9 2.1 2.2 49.9 2.1 2.2 0.0 B-1R14 15 <2 49.9 2.1 2.2 51.4 3.4 4.2 2.9 B-4R15 15 <2 49.9 2.1 2.2 49.9 2.4 2.3 0.3 B-5Y05 15 <2 49.9 2.1 2.2 70.5 4.5 11.5 22.8 B-4Y10 15 <2 49.9 2.1 2.2 60.3 4.5 10.6 13.6 C-2R15 24 <3 57.4 0.6 −1.5 57.4 0.6 −1.5 0.0 C-1R14 24 <3 57.4 0.6 −1.5 58.5 1.6 0.0 2.1 C-4R15 24 <3 57.4 0.6 −1.5 57.5 0.8 −1.5 0.2 C-5Y05 24 <3 57.4 0.6 −1.5 73.2 3.7 7.9 18.5 C-4Y10 24 <3 57.4 0.6 −1.5 65.1 3.2 5.6 10.7 D-2R15 36 <4 68.6 0.7 0.7 68.6 0.7 0.7 0.0 D-1R14 36 <4 68.6 0.7 0.7 68.9 1.2 1.4 0.9 D-4R15 36 <4 68.6 0.7 0.7 68.4 0.8 0.7 0.2 D-5Y05 36 <4 68.6 0.7 0.7 77.2 2.6 5.7 10.1 D-4Y10 36 <4 68.6 0.7 0.7 72.4 2.0 4.1 5.3 E-2R15 45 <5 74.9 0.4 0.4 74.9 0.4 0.4 0.0 E-1R14 45 <5 74.9 0.4 0.4 75.4 0.8 0.9 0.7 E-4R15 45 <5 74.9 0.4 0.4 75.0 0.5 0.5 0.2 E-5Y05 45 <5 74.9 0.4 0.4 80.6 1.9 4.0 6.9 E-4Y10 45 <5 74.9 0.4 0.4 77.2 1.4 2.6 3.3