ABSORBENT ARTICLE HAVING LIQUID IMPERVIOUS SHELVES

AN ABSORBENT ARTICLE HAVING LIQUID IMPERVIOUS SHELVES The present invention provides a disposable absorbent article such as an incontinent pad that is both comfortable and suitable for absorbing and containing large volumes of body liquids rapidly without leakage, especially a subsequent gush of liquid. Such an absorbent article comprises a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, a layered expandable absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, at least two resilient shaping members, an acquisition channel, a liquid acquisition zone and at least two liquid impervious shelves. The present invention also relates to an absorbent article provided with an expandable overwrap having an expansion means for allowing the overwrap to expand when the absorbent core swells when wetted. The liquid impervious shelves comprise a multiplicity of shelf layers formed from a portion of the backsheet being folded. The liquid impervious shelves channel the flow of liquids toward the lower layers of the absorbent core and encourage use of the bottom and sides of the layers, thereby providing more efficient use of hydrogel materials. An anti-bunching bead may be placed on each liquid impervious shelf between the shelf layers to provide stability to the absorbent article.