WO2025119482A1

WO2025119482A1 - Detachable insert and outer cover for an absorbent article

Info

Publication number: WO2025119482A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/084765
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henrik CARLÉN; Annika HERMENIUS; Lina AUGUSTSSON
Original assignee: Essity Hygiene and Health AB
Current assignee: Essity Hygiene and Health AB
Priority date: 2023-12-07
Filing date: 2023-12-07
Publication date: 2025-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-07

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an absorbent insert (200) for use with an outer cover (100) for forming an absorbent article (1) adapted to be worn about a wearer's waist. In each of the front section (iSf) of the insert (200) and in the back section (iSb) of the insert (200) comprises a front/back set of two or more cover fastener areas (221, 222; 241, 242) arranged on the inward facing side of the insert (200), wherein one or more of the cover fastener areas (221, 222; 241,242) in the front/back set is/are arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert (200) so as to form a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas (221; 241), the first subset of cover fastener areas (221; 241) comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert (100) to the outer cover, and one or more of the cover fastener areas (221, 222; 241, 242) in the front/back set is/are arranged on the other of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert, so as to form a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas (222; 242), the second subset of cover fastener areas (222; 242) comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and the first surface fastening material is different from the second surface fastening material, and the first surface fastening material is complementary to the second surface fastening material so as to provide detachable mechanical and/or frictional attachment between them. The disclosure further relates to an outer cover for use with such an absorbent insert, and to an absorbent article formed by the outer cover and the absorbent insert.

Description

DETACHABLE INSERT AND OUTER COVER FOR AN ABSORBENT ARTICLE

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a detachable insert for an absorbent article. The present invention further relates to an outer cover for an absorbent article. Also, the present invention relates to a package enclosing a plurality of inserts. Finally, the present invention relates to an absorbent article comprising a detachable insert and an outer cover.

Background

Absorbent articles, in the forms of diapers and incontinence pads, are generally used for babies and incontinent adults for the absorption of bodily exudates, such as blood, urine, sweat and faeces. In particular when looking at products that are classified as heavy incontinence articles for adults, which articles have a relatively high absorption capacity, these products are often used by physically and/or mentally impaired persons. Generally, these heavy incontinence products will be handled by a caregiver to put on and remove from the wearer’s body and bought by care homes, hospitals and/or care giving relatives.

Requirements put on these products may include: being leakproof, being easy to use and change, being comfortable to wear, do not negatively affect the wearer’s skin health, and maintain the wearer’s dignity during changing and wearing.

To meet these requirements, currently used incontinence products are still mostly disposable products, with single-use products being the standard for heavy incontinence. Disposable products are easy to use, since they require very limited handling after use. Both the production and disposal of these products, however, result in a lot of material waste. After use, the products either end up as land fill, or, in particular for adults who are on one or more heavy medications, the absorbent articles may be incinerated.

Currently, most disposable products are made of, or contain a substantial amount of materials that are derived from petroleum, such as polypropylene and/or polyethylene, appearing in the form of cloth-like nonwoven web materials and films. Through the increasing awareness that petroleum has a limited availability and causes various pollution problems both during product manufacturing and products being discarded, there is also an increasing need for more sustainable alternatives. To this end, products have been proposed which comprises an outer chassis and an absorbent insert, wherein one or both of the outer chassis and the absorbent insert is/are reusable. For this type of products, it is of importance to ensure that the absorbent insert is correctly positioned in relation to the wearer, such that the security against leakage and the desired comfort is maintained during use of the product.

Thus, it is an aim to provide an absorbent article that may be a sustainable alternative to current disposable products. Further, it is an aim to provide an absorbent article that may satisfactory fulfil the above- mentioned requirements and/or provide an improvement in relation to current products.

SUMMARY

Definitions:

With “wearer” is meant a person which may be wearing an absorbent article as described herein.

With “user” is meant a person handling the absorbent article as described herein, i.e. preparing an absorbent article for use and/or applying the absorbent article to the wearer. The user may be a wearer or a caregiver to the wearer.

With “liquid permeable” is meant herein a material being liquid permeable as understood in the sense of the art of absorbent articles. As such, the material is not intended to hinder fluids from leaking through the material to any significant degree. Known liquid permeable materials are for example such as being used as topsheet materials in conventional disposable absorbent products. In another example, conventional textile materials such as woven or knitted materials are generally liquid permeable. A liquid permeable material may for example be a textile material being free from any liquid resistant coatings or treatments. A liquid permeable material may for example be a textile material which do not absorb fluid to any significant degree.

With “breathable” is meant herein a material allowing water vapor to escape through the material.

For example, materials which are breathable while still being liquid-impermeable are commonly used in absorbent articles as backsheet materials. Such backsheet materials may be breathable while still preventing liquids from passing through the backsheet material. Such breathable, liquid impermeable materials may for example be porous polymeric films, and laminates from porous polymeric films and nonwovens.

Textile materials which form apertures, such as knitted or woven textile materials, are generally breathable.

The breathability of a material is normally measured by the water vapor transmission rate. For example, a breathable material suitable for absorbent articles may have a water vapor transmission rate of more than 1000 g/m2/24h at 37.8 degrees Celsius according to ASTM; E398.

With “total absorption capacity” is meant herein the total absorption capacity, as measured according to the Rothwell method, ISO 1 1948.

With “use cycle” of an absorbent article is meant herein a series of subsequent steps comprising the application of the absorbent article to a wearer, the wearer wearing the article for a limited period of time (for example during one or a few urinary discharges), and the removal of the absorbent article from the wearer.

With “reusable” is meant herein an item which intended to be used for more than one use cycle. Thus, a reusable item is an item which may be used throughout a repeated number of use cycles. If required, the reusable item may be cleaned, for example washed, or otherwise restored between use cycles.

For example, a reusable item may be designed to be used for at least 50 use cycles, such as at least 100 use cycles, or at least 500 use cycles.

With “single-use” is meant herein an item which is intended to be used for only one use cycle, and then discarded. Thus, an item being configured for single-use is typically disposed after being used by a wearer for a limited period of time (for example during one or a few urinary discharges).

By “washable” it is meant that a washable item may be cleaned by laundering. The item may thus be subjected to an aqueous solution containing detergent without losing its structural features. This aqueous solution may be heated as part of the laundering process, e.g. to 40°C or 60°C.

A washable item, such as an outer cover, should be able to be washed at least a predetermined number of times, without significantly deteriorated features. In particular, a washable outer cover should be able to be washed a predetermined number of times without significant impairment of the fastening members, such as any insert fastener members or of fastening members for fastening the outer cover around the waist of the wearer. Also, the washable outer cover should preferably be able to be washed a predetermined number of times without significant impairment of the elasticity of the leg elastics and/or other materials, such as fabrics, of the outer cover. Finally, the washable outer cover should preferably be able to be washed a predetermined number of times without significant impairment of the colour of the outer cover.

For example, it is preferred herein that a washable item, such as the washable outer cover is able to sustain at least 20 washes in 60°C, and yet more preferred that the washable outer cover is able to sustain at least 50 washes in 60°C.

Also, it is preferred that the washable item, such as the washable outer cover is “machine washable”, i.e. that the washes mentioned in the above may take place in a washing machine.

With “stretchable” is meant herein a material which may be stretched from an original measure and is able to recover to essentially the same measure, when subject to forces during normal use of the article.

With “surface fastening material” is meant herein a material which may be substantially uniformly distributed over the surface of an area, so as provide for substantially uniform fastening by the surface fastening material over the area. Thus, any portion of the area being provided with the surface fastening material will be ready for attachment via the surface fastening material.

In some examples, a surface fastening material may provide for continuous fastening over the surface of the area comprising the surface fastening material. Such a surface fastening material may for example be an adhesive, which may be applied over the area.

In some examples, a surface fastening material may provide for fastening in a plurality of discrete fastening elements, the density of the fastening elements being such that substantially uniform fastening is provided over the area comprising the surface fastening material. For example, a density of such discrete fastening elements may be at least 10 discrete fastening elements per cm2, or more preferred at least 50 discrete fastening elements per cm2.

For example, the plurality of discrete fastening elements may provide for mechanical and/or frictional fastening over the area comprising the surface fastening material. Examples of surface fastening materials comprising discrete fastening elements may be hook materials and/or loop materials for forming hook/hook type or hook/loop type connections.

With a “fastener area comprising a surface fastening material” is meant a surface area over which a surface fastening material is distributed, so as to provide for substantially uniform fastening over the fastener area.

With “detachable” fastening is meant herein that the fastener areas may be used to attach and detach to a surface of another area, such as to attach and detach to a corresponding fastener area, multiple times without substantial impairment of their function. For a fastener area on a disposable product, it may be sufficient that the fastener area provides for a few cycles of attachment/detachment, such as at least 5 cycles or at least 2 cycles. For a fastener area on a reusable product, more cycles of attachment/detachment may be required. For example, for any reusable fastener area, the fastener area may provide for at least 50 cycles of attachment/detachment, such as at least 150 times or at least 300 times.

With “complementary” surface fastening materials is meant herein that two respective surface fastening materials are matching, allowing a detachable fastening, i.e. a detachable bond to be formed therebetween. For example, mechanical and/or frictional detachable attachment may be provided between complementary surface fastening materials. An example of complementary surface fastening materials is a first surface fastening material comprising hooks, e.g. being a hook material and a second surface fastening material comprising loops, e.g. being a loop material.

“Knitting” is a method of constructing a fabric by interlocking a series of loops of one or more yarns. There are two major classes of knitting namely warp and weft knitting.

“Weaving” is a method or process of interlacing two yarns of similar materials so that they cross each other at right angles to produce woven fabric. The warp yarns run lengthwise in the fabric and the filling threads or picks, run from side to side.

Jacquard is a system of weaving or knitting that utilizes a versatile pattern mechanism to produce intricate designs by using punch cards controlling the patterns produced. Jacquard knit may be valid for circular, flatbed, warp or weft knit.

In the context of the present disclosure, a “nonwoven” is a manufactured sheet, web or batt of directionally or randomly orientated fibers, bonded by friction, and/or cohesion and/or adhesion, excluding paper and products which are woven, knitted, tufted, stitch-bonded incorporating binding yarns or filaments, or felted by wet-milling, whether or not additionally needled. The fibers may be of natural or man-made origin and may be staple or continuous filaments or be formed in situ. Commercially available fibers have diameters ranging from less than about 0.001 mm to more than about 0.2 mm and they come in several different forms: short fibers, continuous single fibers, untwisted bundles of continuous filaments, and twisted bundles of continuous filaments. Nonwoven fabrics can be formed by many processes such as meltblowing, spunbonding, solvent spinning, electrospinning, and carding.

The term "nonwoven", mentioned in relation to the different parts of the insert, which in term of their properties are located between the groups of paper and cardboard on the one hand and textiles on the other hand. As regards nonwovens, a large number of extremely varied production processes are used, such as airlaid, wetlaid, spunlaced, spunbond, meltblown techniques etc.

The fibres may be in the form of endless fibres or fibres prefabricated with an endless length, as synthetic fibres produced in situ or in the form of staple fibres. Alternatively, they may be made from natural fibres or from blends of synthetic fibres and natural fibres.

In the context of the present disclosure, a longitudinal length is to be understood as the longest length of a specified part or sub part in the longitudinal direction. Analogously, a transversal width is to be understood as the widest width of a specified part or sub part in the transversal direction.

When referring to the length of a set comprising one or more items (i.e. a length spanned by a set comprising one or more items), it is referred to the maximum longitudinal length including all of the items in the set, i.e. regardless of whether the items are transversally aligned or not.

Similarly, when referring to the width of a set comprising one or more items (i.e. a width spanned by a set comprising one or more items), it is referred to the maximum transversal width including all of the items in the set, i.e. regardless of whether the items are longitudinally aligned or not.

By the term “entirely contained within” is meant herein that an item being “entirely contained within” e.g. a part or portion does not extend beyond, e.g. does not protrude from, the part or portion.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, and unless otherwise explicitly mentioned, lengths, widths and other dimensions of an absorbent hygiene product, an outer cover, or an insert are measured with the item in a flattened-out state on a flat surface with any contracting elastics being deactivated. With “deactivated” is meant that the elastics are not active to contract any parts to which it is attached. To deactivate the elastics, the elastics may for example be cut at one or more locations, or the elastics may be removed. Optionally, in some instances, it may be possible to stretch out the elastics such that the portions to which the elastics are arranged are completely flattened out. The measures obtained in such a stretched-out state may correspond to the measures as obtained if the elastics were deactivated.

When the length of an active part of an elastic element along another portion is to be determined, the start and end point of the active part of the elastic element may initially be marked on the relevant portion. Then, the elastic elements may be deactivated, and the distance between the marked start and end point may be measured on the relevant portion when in a flattened-out state. The active part of the elastic element is the part which, in use, may be active to contract any part to which it is attached. As such, using the procedure in the above, parts of an elastic element which cannot be activated, such as glued down end sections of elastic threads, are disregarded.

As used herein, the term “area” of a portion of a product corresponds to the surface area of a flat surface covered by the portion when the product is placed on the flat surface in a flattened-out state with any elastics removed or deactivated.

To determine the flat area of an item such as the outer cover, which may comprise several joined panels or sections, it may be necessary to cut the item into several flat pieces to determine the area of each piece.

N. B. herein, when it is referred to the area of the outer cover, or the length of the outer cover, or other dimensions of the outer cover, it is referred to the measures as found when any flap members of the outer cover is/are in their use position.

1 . ABSORBENT INSERT

In a first aspect, the disclosure relates to an absorbent insert according to claim 1 .

Thus, there is provided an absorbent insert for use with an outer cover for forming an absorbent article adapted to be worn about a wearer’s waist, the insert being shaped to, in use, cover a wearer’s pubic area and a predefined part of the buttocks, and the insert extending along a longitudinal direction, and along a transversal direction, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein a thickness direction is defined perpendicular to the transversal and longitudinal directions, the thickness direction being an inward direction, towards the wearer, when the absorbent article is worn, and an outward direction, away from the wearer, when the article is worn. The insert has a longitudinal length that extends along the longitudinal direction and the insert is subdivided into a front section, a back section and a crotch section along the longitudinal length. The insert comprises a liquid impermeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, and an absorbent assembly between the backsheet and the topsheet (as seen in the thickness direction), and the insert has an inward facing side comprising the topsheet to be directed towards the wearer, and an outward facing side to be directed towards the outer cover, when the article is in use.

A longitudinal central axis divides the absorbent insert into a first transversal side and a second transversal side.

In the front section of the insert, the insert comprises a front set of two or more cover fastener areas arranged on the inward facing side of the insert. One or more of the cover fastener areas in the front set is/are arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert so as to form a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas, the first subset of cover fastener areas comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and one or more of the cover fastener areas in the front set is/are arranged on the other of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert, so as to form a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas, the second subset of cover fastener areas comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover.

Similarly, in the back section of the insert, the insert comprises a back set of two or more cover fastener areas arranged on the inward facing side of the insert. One or more of the cover fastener areas in the back set is/are arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert so as to form a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas, the first subset of cover fastener areas comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and one or more of the cover fastener areas in the back set is/are arranged on the other of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert, so as to form a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas, the second subset of cover fastener areas comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover.

The first surface fastening material is different from the second surface fastening material, and the first surface fastening material is complementary to the second surface fastening material so as to provide detachable mechanical and/or frictional attachment between them.

The insert has an use state, in which the cover fastener areas of the first subset and of the second subset of the front set, and the cover fastener areas of the first subset and of the second subset of the back set are detachably attachable to an outer cover.

Additionally, the insert has a folded state, wherein the insert is folded generally along the longitudinal axis and, in the front section, the one or more cover fastener areas of the first subset of the front set is/are attached to the one or more cover fastener areas of the second subset of the front set, and, in the back section, the one or more cover fastener areas of the first subset of the back set is/are attached to the one or more cover fastener areas of the second subset of the back set.

In the absorbent article, the leakage protection and absorptive capacity is mainly provided by the absorbent insert, while the reusable outer cover is adapted to hold the insert in its place on the wearer’s lower torso. At least a portion of the inward facing side of the insert will be directly adjacent the wearer’s skin and thus available for receiving bodily exudates from a wearer.

Through the outer cover and insert being detachable from one-another, the reusable outer cover may be used multiple times with fresh inserts.

Thus, it is proposed herein to provide an absorbent insert which, in each of the front section and back section, comprises a set of two or more cover fastener areas on the inward facing side of the insert, thus enabling detachable connection to an outer cover to form an absorbent article via the inward facing side of the insert, as outlined in the above. Each cover fastener area comprises a surface fastening material which provides for detachable attachment of the insert to an outer cover. As set out in the above, the surface fastening material may be a first surface fastening material or a second surface fastening material.

The first and second surface fastening material of the two or more cover fastener areas may each be different from any other areas on the inward facing side of the insert, i.e. the first surface fastening material and the second surface fastening material of the front and back set of cover fastener areas are both different from any other materials on the inward facing side of the insert. For example, the first and second surface fastening materials of the two or more cover fastener areas in the front set and in the back set may be different from the topsheet material and/or a leakage barrier forming material on the inward facing side of the insert. As such, the connection between the outer cover and the insert is controlled as regards for example the location of the connection and/or the strength of the connection formed.

As such, e.g. the position and/or the surface area and/or the type of the first and second surface fastening materials of the two or more cover fastener areas is adapted to the insert fastener areas of the outer cover, so as to provide a suitable detachable connection of the insert to the outer cover. For example, as will be further mentioned in the description of the absorbent article in the below, the insert fastener areas of the outer cover may be adapted so as to provide for a greater attachment force when attached to the cover fastener areas, than to any other areas of the inward facing side of the insert. For example, as mentioned in the description of the absorbent article in the above, the insert fastener areas of the outer cover may be adapted so as to be non-adherend to any areas of the inward facing side of the insert but the cover fastener areas.

The two or more cover fastener areas in the front set and in the back set may be arranged so as not to protrude beyond the extension of the backsheet of the insert. That is to say, that the complete two or more cover fastener areas in each of the front and the back set may be arranged so as to overlap the remainder of the insert, rather than on any extension, flap or the like protruding from the insert per se.

The insert could optionally be configured to be reusable, for example washable.

However, the insert may preferably be configured for single-use. In other words, the insert may preferably be disposable.

General Construction of Absorbent Insert

Topsheet

As stated in the above, the insert comprises a liquid impermeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, and an absorbent assembly provided between the topsheet and the back sheet.

Materials suitable for topsheets are commonly known in the art of disposable absorbent hygiene products, and for the purposes of the present disclosure any material commonly known for use as a topsheet material may be used, including, but not limited to non-woven materials and perforated polymeric films. The topsheet is suitably sufficiently liquid permeable to allow discharged body fluids such as urine to penetrate through the thickness of the topsheet. Also, the topsheet is suitably manufactured from a material which is compliant and soft feeling to the skin of the wearer.

The topsheet may be manufactured from various web materials such as woven and nonwoven webs, perforated films, open cell foams, or combinations or laminates of the above-mentioned materials.

A nonwoven material suitable as a topsheet can be manufactured from synthetic fibres such as polyester or polypropylene, or natural fibres such as cotton fibres. A mix of synthetic and natural fibres may also be used.

The nonwoven materials to be used for the topsheet may for example be made of a spunbond, a spunbond/spunbond composite or a spunbond/meltblown composite, such as a SMS, SSMS, SSMMS, SMMS, nonwoven material of polypropylene or bicomponent fibers of polypropylene and polyethylene, or of a combination of such materials. The topsheet may also have elastic properties.

The topsheet may be hydrophilized in order to improve the tendency for urine to penetrate the topsheet into the underlying structures. Methods for hydrophilizing nonwovens are known and include coating the nonwoven material with a hydrophilic coating, such as by applying a surfactant coating; by applying a hydrophilic monomer composition and a radical polymerization initiator onto the nonwoven followed by initiating a polymerization reaction on the nonwoven; by applying a coating of hydrophilic nanoparticles; or by treating the nonwoven surface with a high energy treatment.

A surfactant coating may be obtained for example by applying a surfactant composition to the non-woven material by any suitable means including spraying, slot coating, kiss roll coating and/or soaking the material in a bath containing the surfactant. The hydrophilization treatment may be performed in-line during assembly of the absorbent hygiene product, or may performed separately and the topsheet may then delivered as ready-to-use rolls to the disposable absorbent hygiene product manufacturing plant.

The topsheet material may have a basis weight of from 8 to 20 g/m2, such as from 12 to 17 g/m2. However, the disclosure is not limited to topsheet materials having this basis weight only.

Backsheet

Materials suitable as backsheets are commonly known in the art of disposable absorbent hygiene products. The backsheet may be substantially impermeable to liquids, such as urine.

The backsheet may be breathable. A breathable back sheet is beneficial for the comfort and skin health of the wearer. As the insert disclosed herein is intended for use with an outer cover as disclosed herein to form an absorbent assembly, use of a breathable backsheet may enable an absorbent assembly to be formed, which assembly exhibits satisfactory breathability. The backsheet may be substantially liquid impermeable and breathable, implying that air and other gases may pass through the backsheet while being substantially impermeable to liquids.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, any material commonly known for use as a backsheet material may be included in the backsheet, including but not limited to polymeric films, for example films of polyethylene, polypropylene or copolymers of polyethylene or polypropylene, hydrophobized nonwoven materials, fluid impermeable foams and fluid impermeable laminates. The backsheet may comprise one or more layers of material. For example, the backsheet may be a laminate of a liquid impermeably polymeric film towards the absorbent assembly and nonwoven towards the garment side, to provide a textile, soft feeling to the outward facing surface of the disposable absorbent hygiene product.

It is also contemplated that the backsheet may be made or otherwise include an entirely or partially elastic material in order to give the product a better fit when in use.

However, with the present insert, it is believed to be advantageous if the backsheet comprises a nonwoven, for example that the backsheet is a laminate of a porous polymeric film and a nonwoven.

Absorbent core

The absorbent assembly can comprise one or more absorbent cores. The cores can be constructed from one or more layers of cellulose fluff pulp. The cellulose fluff pulp can be mixed with fibres or particles of a highly absorbent polymer material, so-called superabsorbent polymers, of the type that chemically binds large quantities of fluid on absorption with the formation of a fluid-holding gel. The absorbent core can also comprise highly absorbent polymer material arranged in a layer inside the absorbent core or connected to the surface or surfaces of the absorbent core. The absorbent core can further include further components for improving the properties of the absorbent core. Examples of such components are binding fibres, various types of fluid-dispersing layers or fibres, dimensionally stabilising components, reinforcing fibres or the like.

Superabsorbent polymers are well-known in the field of absorbent products and are used to help improve the absorbent properties of such products. Superabsorbent polymers are constituted by water-swellable and water-insoluble polymers that are capable of absorbing large quantities of fluid upon formation of a hydrogel, such as capable of absorbing at least 5 times their weight of an aqueous 0.9 % saline solution as measured according to the method NSWP 241 .0.R2. The superabsorbent polymer polymers for use in accordance with the present disclosure may be inorganic or organic crosslinked hydrophilic polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohols, polyethylene oxides, crosslinked starches, guar gum, xanthan gum, crosslinked polyacrylates, and the like. The polymers may be in the form of powders, granules, microparticles, films, foams and fibers, for example. Upon contact with fluids, such super absorbent polymers swell by absorbing the fluids into their structures. In general, super absorbent polymers can quickly absorb fluids insulted into such products, and can retain such fluids to prevent leakage and help provide a dry feel even after fluid insult.

The type of super absorbent polymer used in an absorbent assembly of the embodiments discussed herein may be the same or may vary within the assembly. For example, a super absorbent polymer with a first set of characteristics may be used in the front and back regions of the absorbent assembly, or in a first absorbent core, and a super absorbent polymer with a second set of characteristics may be used in the central region of the absorbent assembly, or in a second absorbent core. The characteristics referred to in this section is for example the centrifuge retention capacity, absorption under load and/or the gel layer permeability.

Thus, the absorbent assembly of the insert as proposed herein may advantageously comprise super absorbent polymers. For example, the absorbent assembly may comprise super absorbent polymers and cellulosic fibers.

For example, the absorbent assembly may comprise a super absorbent polymer concentration of at least 15 weight %, based on the total weight of cellulosic fibers and super absorbent polymer.

The absorbent assembly may comprise a first absorbent layer and a second absorbent layer, the first and second absorbent layers being stacked in between the backsheet and the topsheet.

As such, super absorbent polymers may be present in one or both of the first and second absorbent layers.

Further, the insert may include an acquisition layer applied between the topsheet and the absorbent assembly. Materials suitable as acquisition layers, also referred to in the art as transfer layer, or ADL, are commonly known in the art of disposable absorbent hygiene products, and for the purposes of the present disclosure, any material known to the person skilled in the art as being useful as an acquisition layer may be used. An acquisition layer may for example be in the form of an airlaid layer, a spunlace layer, a high-loft, foam or any other type of material layer which may be used in an absorbent hygiene product to act as a liquid acquisition and absorption layer. The acquisition layer is suitably adapted to quickly receive and temporarily store discharged liquid before it is absorbed by the absorbent core. Such acquisition layer may be composed of for example airlaid nonwoven, spunlace nonwoven, high loft nonwoven or foam materials. An airlaid nonwoven may be produced with fluff, wood pulp, and here the fluff fibres are dispersed into a fast-moving air stream and condensed onto a moving screen by means of pressure and vacuum. The acquisition layer may preferably be of an air-through bonded nonwoven of polyester fibers.

Further Properties of the Insert relating to the Absorbent Assembly

The absorbent assembly may be mainly positioned in the crotch section of the insert and have an absorbent assembly length that spans no more than 70% of the longitudinal length of the insert, such as no more than 85% of the longitudinal length of the insert. Thus, the absorbent assembly does not extend all the way to the front and back edge of the insert, preventing liquid from being stored close to the edges which are positioned inside the flap members of the outer cover. This reduces the risk of soiling of the outer cover, allowing the outer cover being reused without the need of being cleaned.

For example, the cover fastener areas of the front set and of the back set may be confined to the portions of the insert extending longitudinally beyond the absorbent core towards the front edge or back edge, respectively. As such, the attachment of the insert to the outer cover is constant, regardless of whether the insert has absorbed any amount of liquid or not.

The absorbent core may be hour-glass shaped, having a narrowest width in the transverse direction in a longitudinal central position of the crotch section of the insert.

With hour-glass shaped is meant herein that the absorbent core has a narrowest width in the crotch section of the insert, and that a width of the absorbent core towards the front section and towards the back section, respectively, is greater than the narrowest width.

In other alternatives, the absorbent core may have other shapes, such as a rectangular or oval shape.

Optionally, the longitudinal edges of the insert are partially corresponding to the hour-glass shape of the absorbent assembly.

As such, the insert may have a shape with a narrowest width in the transverse direction in the crotch section of the insert.

In other alternatives, the insert may have a rectangular shape.

The insert may have a length along the longitudinal axis being greater than a width along the transversal axis.

For example, the insert may have total absorption capacity of at least 1000 ml, such as from 1000 to 4000 ml. As such, the insert is an insert suitable for use as in an absorbent article being an incontinence article suitable for adult wearers.

In some variants, the absorbent assembly is arranged to be symmetric in view of a central transversal axis of the insert. As such, regardless of the front/back orientation of the insert visavi a wearer, the insert will provide similar absorbent functions.

In some variants, the absorbent assembly is arranged to be non-symmetric in view of a central transversal axis of the insert. As such, depending on the front/back orientation of the insert visavi a wearer, the insert may display different absorbent functions. For example, the absorbent assembly may provide for more absorption capacity in a region between the central transversal axis and the back edge of the insert than in a region between the central transversal axis and the front edge of the insert.

Cover Fastener Areas As set out in the above, in the first aspect of the disclosure there is provided an absorbent insert having an inward facing side comprising the topsheet to be directed towards the wearer, and an outward facing side to be directed towards the outer cover, when the article is in use. In the front section, the insert comprises a front set of two or more cover fastener areas being provided on the inward facing side of the insert. Similarly, in the back section, the insert comprises a back set of two or more cover fastener areas being provided on the inward facing side of the insert. As set out in the introduction, a cover fastener area is an area comprising a surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover.

As such, when the insert is attached to an outer cover, the insert may be held securely in place allowing for the benefits regarding for example comfort and aesthetic effects as outlined in the above in relation to the outer cover. For example, when the insert is attached to an outer cover and worn by a wearer, the cover fastener areas will be covered by the remainder of the insert, and so they will be protected from being torn or plucked from the outside of the absorbent article.

Similarly, the cover fastener areas, and thus the position of the insert, will be less prone to being dislocated by e.g. tearing or friction, resulting from the wearer’s movements.

By the definition in the above, the set of two or more cover fastener areas comprises all cover fastener areas in the front or back section, respectively, which are positioned on the inward facing side of the insert and comprises a surface fastening material for detachably attaching an outer cover.

Possibly, the insert could comprise additional fastener areas for providing detachable attachment between an outer cover and the insert, in addition to the set of cover fastener areas positioned on the inward facing side of the insert. For example, an additional fastener area could be provided on the outward facing side of the insert. However, any such additional fastener areas should preferably be minimised, since the additional attachment may impair the benefits obtained by using the front set and the back set of two or more cover fastener areas positioned on the inward facing side of the insert as proposed herein.

Rather, the front set and the back set of two or more cover fastener areas positioned on the inward facing side of the insert may constitute the only fastener elements in the front and/or back section of the insert being adapted for detachably attaching the insert to an outer cover.

Preferably, the front set and the back set of cover fastener areas constitute the only fastener elements of the insert being adapted for detachably attaching the insert to an outer cover.

Optionally, the insert extends longitudinally between a front edge and a back edge, and the two or more cover fastener areas in the front set are positioned at or adjacent to the respective front edge of the insert, and the two or more cover fastener areas in the back set are positioned at or adjacent to the respective back edge of the insert. Through being located near the front and back edges, the two or more cover fastener areas are easily covered completely by the flap members of the outer cover (as will be described in the below), preventing any contact with the wearer’s skin during use.

When the two or more cover fastener areas in the front set and in the back set are positioned at the respective front or back edge of the insert, advantages in manufacturing may be obtained, for example when the insert comprises two or more cover fastener members which may be cut in line with the front or back edge of the insert in manufacture. For example, a front edge of each of two or more cover fastener members forming the two or more cover fastener areas in the front set may coincide with a front edge of the insert, and a back edge of each of two or more cover fastener members forming the two or more fastener areas in the back set may coincide with a back edge of the insert.

Optionally, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section of the insert, the front and/or back set of two or more cover fastener areas spans a longitudinal length, which is no more than 20 % of the longitudinal length of the insert, such as no more than 10% of the longitudinal length of the insert.

As such, when in use, the insert is attached to an outer cover via a set of two or more cover fastener areas in each of the front section and the back section, the majority of the longitudinal length of the inward facing side of the insert will be available for absorbing bodily fluids, while the front set of two or more cover fastener areas and the back set of two or more cover fastener areas provide for secure attachment of the insert to the outer cover.

Further, in each of the front section and the back section of the insert, a front or back edge portion, respectively, may be defined as the portion of the insert extending from the respective front or back edge and over the longitudinal length spanned by the front or back set of two or more cover fastener areas. As such, when the insert is attached to an outer cover (as will be described in the below), a front or back flap member of the outer cover will suitably be adapted to extend at least partially over the front or back edge portion of the insert, respectively. Each of the front or back flap member may be provided with a set of two or more insert fastener areas, corresponding to the front or back set of two or more cover fastener areas of the insert.

Optionally, the front back edge portion and/or the back edge portion may have an edge portion length being less than 20% of the longitudinal length of the insert, such as less than 10% of the longitudinal length of the insert.

When the front or back set of two or more cover fastener areas extends from the front or back edge of the insert, respectively, the front or back edge portion length is thus equal to the longitudinal length spanned by the two or more cover fastener areas in the front or back set, respectively.

As mentioned in the above, the absorbent assembly may be mainly positioned in the crotch section of the insert. The absorbent assembly has an absorbent assembly length. For example, the absorbent assembly length may span no more than 70% of the longitudinal length of the insert, such as no more than 85% of the longitudinal length of the insert.

Further, in the front section and the back section of the insert, the front or back end, respectively, of the absorbent assembly may be spaced from the front or back edge portion, respectively, by an absorbent spacing length. The absorbent spacing length may for example be at least 3% of the longitudinal length of the insert, such as at least 4% or at least 5% of the longitudinal length of the insert. For example, the absorbent spacing length may be from 3% to 10% of the longitudinal length of the insert, such as from 5% to 10% of the longitudinal length of the insert. (The absorbent spacing length may, but need not, be the same in the front section and the back section of the insert.

Thus, it may be ensured that the swelling of the absorbent assembly when taking up fluids will not interfere with the connection of the insert to the outer cover.

Optionally, a sum of a longitudinal length spanned by the two or more cover fastener areas in the front set and a longitudinal length spanned by the two or more cover fastener areas in the back set is equal to or less than 30% of the longitudinal length of the insert, such as equal to or less than 20% of the longitudinal length of the insert.

As such, when the insert in use is attached to an outer cover via the front and back sets of two or more cover fastener areas, the majority of the longitudinal length of the inward facing side of the insert will be available for absorbing bodily fluids, while the front and back sets of two or more cover fastener areas provide for secure attachment of the insert to the outer cover.

Similarly, a sum of the edge portion length of the front edge portion and the edge portion length of the back edge portion may be equal to or less than 30% of the longitudinal length of the insert, such as equal to or less than 20% of the longitudinal length of the insert.

Optionally, each of the two or more cover fastener areas in the front set and each of the two or more cover fastener areas in the back set has an area being no more than 10 % of the area of the insert, such as no more than 5 % of the area of the insert, or no more than 2% of the area of the insert.

As such, when the insert in use is attached to an outer cover via the front and back sets of two or more cover fastener areas, the majority of the total area of the inward facing side of the insert will be available for absorbing bodily fluids, while the front and back sets of two or more cover fastener areas provides for secure attachment of the insert to the outer cover.

Optionally, a total area of all of cover fastener areas of the insert is no more than 25 % of the area of the insert, such as no more than 10% of the area of the insert.

As such, when the insert in use is attached to an outer cover via the front and back sets of two or more cover fastener areas, the majority of the longitudinal area of the inward facing side of the insert will be available for absorbing bodily fluids, while the sets of two or more cover fastener areas provides for secure attachment of the insert to the outer cover.

Transversal Fastening Width of the Insert

In the front section, the front set of two or more cover fastener areas spans a transversal fastening width, and in the back section, the back set of two or more cover fastener areas spans a transversal fastening width.

In some variants, the transversal fastening width of the front set of two or more cover fastener areas may be the same as the transversal fastening width of the back set of two or more cover fastener areas.

In some variants, the transversal fastening width of the front set of two or more cover fastener areas may be different from the transversal fastening width of the back set of two or more cover fastener areas.

Optionally, in the front set and/or the back set, the transversal fastening width spanned by the front or back set of two or more cover fastener areas is at least 70% of the maximum width (Wi) of the insert in the front or back section, respectively, such as at least 80% or at least 90% of the maximum width. Thus, when the insert is attached to an outer cover via the front and back sets of two or more cover fastener areas, it may be ensured that insert is stretched out over at least the majority of the maximum width of the insert in the front and/or back section, respectively. As such, correct positioning of the insert in relation to a wearer may be ensured.

Subsets of Cover Fastener Areas

As set out in the above, each of the front and back sets of two or more cover fastener areas is divided into a first subset of cover fastener areas comprising the cover fastener areas of the front/back set being positioned on one transversal side of the longitudinal axis, and a second subset of cover fastener areas, comprising the cover fastener areas of the front/back set being positioned on the other transversal side of the longitudinal axis. Thus, each first and second subset of cover fastener areas comprises one or more cover fastener areas.

In at least one, or preferably each, of the front and back set, the first subset and the second subset may advantageously be spaced apart in the transversal direction.

In accordance with the first and second subsets of cover fastener areas being spaced apart, the front/back edge portion of the insert may be free from cover fastener areas over a spacing width as measured transversely between the first subset and the second subset. This contributes to the shaping of the insert when in use, as attached to an outer cover forming an absorbent article applied to a wearer. Notably, the front and/or back section of the insert may be held out over the transversal fastening width, so as to secure the position of the insert visavi the wearer, while allowing for relative movement between the outer cover and the insert over the spacing width. This allows for the insert to shape in relation to the body of the wearer, for example, to assume a slight cup-shape. Moreover, when the insert is free from cover fastener areas over the transversal spacing width, the surface fastening material of the cover fastener areas is provided only where needed, implying that the amount of material on the insert may be reduced.

Preferably, the first and second subsets of cover fastener areas are symmetrically spaced around the longitudinal central axis. For example, the cover fastener areas of the first subset may mirror the cover fastener areas of the second subset, as seen along the longitudinal central axis. Thus preferably a transversal distance with respect to the longitudinal central axis is equal for both the first and second subsets in a respective one of the front section and the back section. This ensures that the insert is attachable to the outer cover in a symmetrical manner and with an evenly distributed holding force.

As explained in the above, the front and back sets of cover fastener areas may each span over a transversal fastening width being close to the maximum width of the insert in the front or back section, respectively, such as over a transversal fastening with being at least 80 % of the maximum width of the insert in the front or back section, respectively. Thus, when combined with the front and back sets of cover fastener areas comprising a first subset and a second subset being spaced by the spacing width, it is understood that the first and second subset may each be positioned adjacent a respective longitudinal side edge of the insert.

The transversal fastening width is naturally to be greater than the transversal spacing width. For example, the transversal fastening width may greater than the transversal spacing width by a distance corresponding to at least 10% of the maximum width of the insert at the respective back or front section.

For example, the transversal spacing width may be at least 50% of the maximum width of the insert at the respective back or front section, such as at least 70% of the maximum width or at least 80 % of the maximum width.

For example, the transversal spacing width may be at least three times the transversal width of each cover fastener area, or at least four times the transversal width of each cover fastener area.

For example, the transversal spacing width may be at least 40% of the transversal fastening width, such as at least 50% or at least 60% of the transversal fastening width. Thus, the location of the connection between the insert and the outer cover may be controlled such that the function of the insert in use is ensured, while at the same time enabling use of cover fastener areas having sufficient size to provide a sufficiently strong connection.

For example, when the absorbent insert comprises a pair of inner side leakage barriers being spaced apart (as will be further described in the below) by a barrier width, the transversal spacing width may be at least the barrier width.

For example, when the absorbent insert comprises a pair of inner side leakage barriers being spaced apart, symmetrically around the longitudinal axis, by a barrier width, and a pair of insert leg elastic members spanning over a maximum leg elastics width, the front and back set of two or more cover fastener areas may each span over a transversal fastening width such that the leg elastics width is greater than the barrier width, and the transversal fastening width is equal to or greater than the maximum leg elastics width. Optionally, when the front and back set each comprises a first and second subset of cover fastener areas, being symmetrically spaced around the longitudinal axis by a spacing width, the spacing width may for example be greater than or equal to the barrier width.

The proposed positioning of the cover fastener areas implies as set out in the above that correct tensioning of the insert leg elastic members is assured when the insert is attached to the outer cover. Further, the proposed positioning also implies that correct tensioning and thus raising up of the side leakage barriers is assured when the insert is attached to the outer cover. Thus, the proposed positioning of the cover fastener areas improves the leak-proof performance of the absorbent article and facilitates the process of positioning the absorbent article on a wearer.

As explained in the above, the insert is preferably to be attached to the outer cover in a state in which it is stretched out flat as seen in a transversal direction, and in the front edge portion and the back edge portion of the insert.

Thus, at least over the respective transversal fastening width, the front edge portion and/or the back edge portion may suitable be free from folds, when the insert is in the use state. For example, the entire the front edge portion and/or the back edge portion may suitable be free from folds when the insert is in the use state.

Accordingly, the front edge portion and/or the back edge portion of the insert comprising for example the topsheet, any leakage barrier forming material, and the backsheet, is free from folds when the insert is in the use state. As such, the front edge portion and/or the back edge portion is adapted to be attached to the outer cover via the set of two or more cover fastener members in an unfolded condition, when the insert is in the use state.

For example, when the respective front and back set of cover fastener members comprises two subsets of cover fastener members spaced by a transversal spacing width, the front edge portion and the back edge portion may each be free from elastic members providing elasticity in a transversal direction of the insert over the transversal spacing width.

For example, at least over the respective transversal fastening width, the front edge portion and the back edge portion may be free from elastic members providing elasticity in a transversal direction of the insert over the transversal spacing width. For example, the entire front edge portion and the back edge portion may be free from elastic members providing elasticity in a transversal direction of the insert.

For example, the insert as a whole may be free from elastic members providing elasticity in a transversal direction of the insert.

By elastic members providing elasticity in a transversal direction of the insert is meant elastic members, such as elastic threads or the like, added to the remainder of the insert e.g. to the assembly of the topsheet, leakage barrier forming material, backsheet, or absorbent assembly, so as to, when activated, contract the remainder of the insert in a transversal direction.

Subsets of Cover Fastener Areas in relation to Cover Fastener Members

For example, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, the first and second subsets of cover fastener areas may be provided by one single cover fastener member. The cover fastener member may thus comprise a sheet-formed base comprising the first surface fastening material forming the first subset of one or more cover fastener areas, and the second surface fastening material forming the second subset of one or more cover fastener areas.

However, preferably, the first subset of one or more cover fastener areas may be provided by a first subset of one or more cover fastener members, and the second subset of one or more cover fastener areas may be provided by a second subset of one or more cover fastener members. Accordingly, the first and second subset of cover fastener members may be transversally spaced by the spacing width. This is advantageous to reduce the amount of material added to the insert.

For example, each of the front and/or back section of the insert may comprise one single first cover fastener member providing the first subset of one or more cover fastener areas, and one single second cover fastener member providing the second subset of one or more cover fastener areas.

For example, each one of the first and second subsets may comprise only one single cover fastener area.

For example, each of the front and/or back section of the insert may comprise one single first cover fastener member on a first transversal side of the longitudinal central axis, the single first cover fastener member comprising one single cover fastener area forming the first subset of the front/back set, and one single second cover fastener member on a second transversal side of the longitudinal transversal axis, the single second cover fastener member comprising one single cover fastener area forming the second subset of the front/back set.

Insert Leg Elastic Members

The insert extends longitudinally between a front edge and a back edge and comprises longitudinal side edges connecting the front edge and the back edge. Further, the insert may comprise a pair of insert leg elastic members extending essentially along the longitudinal direction of the insert. One leg elastic member in the pair is arranged in each transversal side of the insert. Each leg elastic member is positioned transversally between the absorbent assembly and the respective longitudinal side edge of the insert. For each of the front and back section of the insert, a leg elastics width is defined as the maximum transversal width spanned by the insert leg elastic members in the front or back section, respectively. Optionally, the leg elastics width in the front and back section of the insert may be the same, and correspond to a maximum transversal width over the insert leg elastic members. The insert leg elastic members contribute to forming the insert around the user’s body, and to provide sufficient fluid tightness at the leg openings of the absorbent article when attached to a wearer. Further, the insert leg elastic members contribute to providing correct positioning of the insert when the insert is in use. As such, the use of insert leg elastic members may contribute to providing sufficient fluid tightness when the insert is in use as attached to an outer cover, such that the outer cover may be liquid impermeable.

In at least one, preferably each, of the back section and the front section, the transversal fastening width spanned by the two or more cover fastener areas in the back/front set may be no less than the leg elastics width in the back section or front section, respectively.

The transversal fastening width being no less than the leg elastics width implies that the insert leg elastics may be stretched out in a transversal direction when the insert is attached to the outer cover, thus ensuring proper function and positioning of the insert leg elastics.

Optionally, in at least one, preferably each, of the back section and the front section of the insert, the insert may comprise a pair of leg edge portions, each leg edge portion extending longitudinally along a respective insert leg elastic member, and transversally between the insert leg elastic member and a longitudinal side edge of the insert so as to define a maximum transversal leg edge width between the insert leg elastic member and the respective longitudinal side edge, the maximum transversal leg edge width being at least 1 cm, such as at least 2 cm.

For example, the maximum transversal leg edge width may be no more than 4 cm.

Herein, a maximum transversal leg edge width is defined in each of the front section and the back section of the absorbent article. Optionally, the maximum transversal leg edge width may be the same in the front section and in the back section of the absorbent article, and may correspond to a maximum transversal leg edge width of the insert.

The leg edge portions extending transversally between the insert leg elastic members and the longitudinal side edge of the insert provides for additional leakage security of the absorbent article. In use, the leg edge portions are to extend transversally outwards from the insert leg openings as formed at the insert leg elastic members.

When combined with the transversal fastening width spanned by the set of cover fastener areas being no less than the leg elastics width, as set out in the above, the leg edge portions may be at least partially extended in a transversal direction when the insert is attached to the outer cover. As such, the leg edge portions may be automatically folded out to a correct position when the insert is attached to the outer cover. Thus, the set of cover fastener areas contributes to folding out and holding the leg edge portion in a transversally extending state during fastening of the absorbent article to a wearer, and during use thereof. Accordingly, manual manoeuvres otherwise required for folding out the leg edge portion may be dispensed with. This is a benefit in particular for adult wearers, improving the dignity of the wearer in the care situation by avoiding manual manipulation of leg edge portions located at the crotch region of the wearer. For example, the transversal fastening width may span into at least 50% of the transversal width of each leg portion, such as at least 75% of the transversal width of each leg portion, or at least 80% of the transversal width of each leg portion.

Optionally, the insert leg elastic members are sandwiched between an innermost layer of the insert and the backsheet.

The insert leg elastic members extend along a longitudinal insert leg elastics length. The insert leg elastics length may be at least 50% of the total longitudinal length of the insert, such as along at least 75% or at least 85% of the total longitudinal length.

The insert leg elastics length is to be defined as the longitudinal length of the insert along which the leg elastic members are active. I.e. any portions where the leg elastic members are fastened or deadened such that they no longer provide elasticity to the insert is to be disregarded.

(Similarly, the insert leg elastics width as defined in the above is to be measured over the parts of the leg elastic members which are active.)

For example, the insert leg elastics length may extend along at least 60 % of a total longitudinal length of the absorbent core, such as along at least 80%, or at least 90 % of the total longitudinal length of the absorbent core.

Optionally, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section of the insert, the front/back set of two or more cover fastener areas is confined to a longitudinal section of the insert not spanned by the leg elastics length.

As such, the function of the cover fastener areas to ensure extension of the insert leg elastic members in the longitudinal direction may be improved. For example, the set of two or more cover fastener areas may be confined to a longitudinal section of the insert not spanned by the leg elastics length.

As such, when the transversal fastening width is greater than the leg elastics width, and each cover fastener area is positioned longitudinally in a section between the front/back end of the insert leg elastic members and the front/back edge of the insert, the cover fastener areas may, when the insert is in use and attached to an outer cover, ensure stretching in transversal and longitudinal directions of the insert leg elastic members.

Each insert leg elastic member may comprise one or more elastic elements. For example, the elastic elements may comprise one or more elastic threads, elastic film strips or elastic foam strips. The elastic elements may be attached to the insert when in a stretched state so as to provide elasticity to the insert.

With the longitudinal extension of the insert leg elastic members, i.e. the insert leg elastics length is meant herein any extension of the leg elastic members which is active, i.e. along which elasticity is indeed provided by the insert leg elastic member. Accordingly, any portions of elastic elements wherein the elastic is disabled are to be disregarded when determining the extension of the leg elastics. Inner Side Leakage Barriers of the Insert

The inward facing side of the insert may comprise a pair of inner side leakage barriers, extending in the longitudinal direction of the insert.

Inner side leakage barriers are also often referred to as “standing gathers”.

The side leakage barriers may extend generally along, and at a distance from the respective longitudinal side edges of the insert.

The inner side leakage barriers may be adapted to be moveable between a first position, in which the inner side leakage barriers form a flat surface that is parallel to the topsheet, and a second position, in which the inner side leakage barriers are raised up from the liquid-permeable topsheet, over at least 60% of the longitudinal length of the insert, spaced from both a front edge and a back edge of the insert.

A side leakage barrier length may be defined as the longitudinal length over which the side leakage barriers are free to rise over the liquid-permeable top sheet. As mentioned in the above, the side leakage barrier length may be at least 60% of the longitudinal length of the insert. The side leakage barrier length may for example extend over the full extension of the absorbent assembly.

However, so as not to interfere with the connection of the insert to the outer cover, the side leakage barrier length may be arranged so as not extend into the back and/or front edge portion of the insert. For example, the side leakage barrier length may be spaced from the back and/or front edge portion of the insert. For example, the side leakage barrier length may be spaced from the back and/or front edge portion of the insert by at least 5% of the total insert length, such as by at least 7% of the total insert length.

For example, the side leakage barrier length may be less than 80% or the longitudinal length of the insert, such as less than 70%.

Each inner side leakage barrier may comprise an elastic element. For example, the elastic element may be one or more elastic threads.

Each side leakage barrier may comprise a sheet material and an elastic element, such as an elastic thread. For example, each side leakage barrier may comprise more than one elastic thread, such as 2 to 5 elastic threads. The sheet material of each side leakage barrier may comprise two layers of material. The sheet material of each side leakage barrier may be attached to the top sheet. The attachment may be a longitudinal welding line and/or a line of adhesive. The sheet material of each side barrier may comprise a part being attached to the topsheet and a part being non-attached to the topsheet comprising the elastic thread. The elastic thread of the first and second side leakage barrier respectively may be raised above the inward facing surface of the topsheet. The elastic thread of each standing gather may be raised for example at least 20 mm above the inward facing surface of the topsheet, such as from 20 mm to 70 mm, or from 30 mm to 50 mm. The sheet material may be a hydrophobic material. For example, the sheet material may be a hydrophobic nonwoven material, such as a nonwoven material being coated with a hydrophobic coating. Thus, each side leakage barrier may be a hydrophobic side leakage barrier.

Preferably, the insert comprises insert leg elastic members as described in the above and inner side leakage barriers as described in the above. As such, the pair of inner side leakage barriers will be arranged transversally closer to the longitudinal axis than the pair of insert leg elastic members. For example, each one of the pair of inner side leakage barriers may extend along a respective longitudinal side edge portion of the absorbent assembly. As such, the absorbent assembly may have a predetermined transversal width extending beyond the inner side leakage barrier, towards the leg elastic member. The predetermined width extending beyond the inner side leakage barrier, preferably, is less than 30% of the transversal width of the absorbent assembly.

A maximum width between each inner side leakage barrier in the pair of inner side leakage barriers is defined herein as a barrier width. The barrier width is the maximum transversal width as measured between the locations of each side leakage barrier at which the raiseable portions of the leakage barrier is attached to the remainder of the inward facing side of the insert.

Thus, the barrier width may for example be less than the leg elastics width.

The width of the raisable part of each side barrier (the part being non-attached to the topsheet) may be less than half the barrier width - i.e. the side barriers are not intended to completely cover the topsheet between them, when in a folded down state. Instead, the width of the raisable part of each side barrier may be e.g. less than 30% of the barrier width, such as less than 25% of the barrier width. For example, the width of the raisable part of each side barrier may be from 15 to 25% of the barrier width.

An insert comprising a pair of inner side leakage barriers as exemplified in the above and a pair of insert leg elastic members as exemplified in the above will hence provide double barriers against leakage of bodily fluids from the insert when in use. As such, the insert is particularly useful together with an outer cover as described herein. For example, due to the insert being capable of ensuring reliable acquisition and absorption of the bodily fluids, the outer cover may be made liquid permeable, as the function of the outer cover is to provide for correct positioning of the insert to the wearer, rather than to provide for fluid permeability and/or absorption of fluids. As such, the outer cover may be made by liquid permeable materials, such as textile fabrics. This provides for the absorbent assembly formed by the outer cover with an insert attached thereto having a more underwear-like look and feeling. Moreover, increased use of liquid permeable, breathable materials such as textile materials towards the body of the wearer provides for improved skin health.

Use State and Folded State

As set out in the above, according to a first aspect of this disclosure, there is provided an insert in accordance with appended claim 1 . Thus, there is provided an absorbent insert for use with an outer cover for forming an absorbent article adapted to be worn about a wearer’s waist, the insert being shaped to, in use, cover a wearer’s pubic area and a predefined part of the buttocks, and the insert extending along a longitudinal direction, and along a transversal direction, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein a thickness direction is defined perpendicular to the transversal and longitudinal directions, the thickness direction being an inward direction, towards the wearer, when the absorbent article is worn, and an outward direction, away from the wearer, when the article is worn. The insert has a longitudinal length that extends along the longitudinal direction and the insert is subdivided into a front section, a back section and a crotch section along the longitudinal length. The insert comprises a liquid impermeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, and an absorbent assembly between the backsheet and the topsheet, and the insert has an inward facing side comprising the topsheet to be directed towards the wearer, and an outward facing side to be directed towards the outer cover, when the article is in use.

In the front section of the insert, the insert comprises a front set of two or more cover fastener areas arranged on the inward facing side of the insert. One or more of the cover fastener areas in the front set is/are arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert so as to form a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas, the first subset of cover fastener areas comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover. Also, one or more of the cover fastener areas in the front set is/are arranged on the other of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert, so as to form a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas, the second subset of cover fastener areas comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover.

Similarly, in the back section of the insert, the insert comprises a back set of two or more cover fastener areas arranged on the inward facing side of the insert. One or more of the cover fastener areas in the back set is/are arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert so as to form a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas, the first subset of cover fastener areas comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover. Also, one or more of the cover fastener areas in the back set is/are arranged on the other of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert, so as to form a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas, the second subset of cover fastener areas comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover.

The first surface fastening material is different from the second surface fastening material, and the first surface fastening material is complementary to the second surface fastening material so as to provide detachable mechanical and/or frictional attachment between them. The insert has a use state, in which the cover fastener areas of the first subset and of the second subset of the front set, and the cover fastener areas of the first subset and of the second subset of the back set are detachably attachable to an outer cover.

Thus, in the use state, the insert may be held in a position in relation to an outer cover such that the inward facing surface of the insert is available for receiving bodily waste from a wearer. In the use state, the cover fastener areas of the first subsets of the front and back sets, and the cover fastener areas of the second subsets of the front and back sets, are detachably attachable to an outer cover. It may be noted that in the use state, the insert may be in a generally unfolded condition. Thus, the insert, including e.g. the backsheet of the insert, is to be generally flat when attached to the outer cover. When in use, the insert may adapt to the body of the wearer, for example so as to assume a cup shape.

Further, by the first surface fastening material and the second surface fastening material being mechanically and/or frictionally detachably attachable to one another, in each of the front section and the back section of the insert, the cover fastener area(s) of the first subset are detachably attachable to the cover fastener area(s) of the second subset.

Accordingly, the insert has a folded state, wherein the insert is folded generally along the longitudinal axis, and the cover fastener area(s) of the first subset are attached to the cover fastener area(s) of the second subset in each of the front and back sections of the insert. Thus, the insert may assume the folded state after it is removed from attachment to the outer cover, i.e. the folded state is an after-use state of the insert.

Preferably, in the folded state, the insert is folded generally along the longitudinal axis and such that the inward facing side of the insert is to the inside of the fold. As such, after use, the insert may be folded and closed around the soiled inward facing side of the insert, leaving only the outward facing side (backsheet side) of the insert exposed. Thus, the insert in the folded after-use state may be easily and conveniently handled and e.g. discarded by e.g. a wearer or a caregiver.

In some variants, the insert may be configured for multiple use, for example the insert may be a washable insert. In this case the insert may be washed, e.g. machine washed, when in its folded state. By virtue of the cover fastener areas of the first subsets being attached to the cover fastener areas of the second subsets, all cover fastener areas are protected during washing of the insert, inhibiting for example unwanted attachment to other items in the same laundry batch. In some variants, the insert is configured for single use, i.e. an insert intended to be used only once and then discarded, i.e. the insert is disposable. In this case, the insert may be discarded when in its folded state.

Since the front and back sets of two or more cover fastener areas are provided on the inward facing side of the insert, there is provided for particularly easy attachment of the first subset of cover fastener areas to the second subset of cover fastener areas with the insert folded generally along the longitudinal axis and such that the inward facing side of the insert is to the inside of the fold.

Optionally, in accordance with a first type of variants, the front section of the insert, the first transversal side of the insert comprises the first subset of one or more cover fastener areas comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and the second transversal side of the insert comprises the second subset of one or more cover fastener areas comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and, in the back section of the insert, the first transversal side of the insert comprises the first subset of one or more cover fastener areas comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and the second transversal side of the insert comprises the second subset of one or more cover fastener areas comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover.

Thus, the first subset of one or more cover fastener areas in both the front and the back section is preferably located on a first side of the longitudinal central axis and the second subset of one or more cover fastener areas in both the front and the back section is preferably located on a second side of the longitudinal central axis. As a result, the fastening material on the intended left side of the insert is the same in both the front section and the back section and vice versa for the intended right side of the insert.

When having the first surface fastening material on the first side of the longitudinal axis and the second surface fastening material on the second side of the longitudinal axis as described in the above, it may be ensured that the user may only fold the insert along the intended direction generally along the longitudinal axis.

Moreover, when having the first surface fastening material on the first side of the longitudinal axis and the second surface fastening material on the second side of the longitudinal axis as described in the above, in-line manufacture may be facilitated in that sheet-formed material comprising the first/second surface fastening material may be applied on one side of the longitudinal central axis only. The sheet-formed material comprising the first/second surface material may in manufacture be applied so as to extend over an intended cutting line between two consecutive inserts during production, and then cut along the cutting line so as to separate the two consecutive inserts into individual items. Also, when having the first surface fastening material on the first side of the longitudinal axis and the second surface fastening material on the second side of the longitudinal axis as described in the above, it may be ensured that the insert is only attachable to the outer cover in an intended front/back orientation.

Optionally, the absorbent assembly is asymmetrical with respect to a central transversal axis of the insert. When the absorbent assembly is asymmetrical, the insert may for example be provided with a greater absorption capacity in the back portion of the insert than in the front portion. In this case, there may be a further benefit with ensuring that the insert is only attachable to the outer cover in the intended front/back orientation.

For example, each cover fastener area arranged in the first transversal side of the insert may comprise the first surface fastening material and each cover fastener area arranged in the second transversal side of the insert comprises the second surface fastening material.

Optionally, each cover fastener area in the first subset comprises the first surface fastening material and wherein each cover fastener area in the second subset comprises the second surface fastening material. As such, the first surface fastening material may be present in only the first subset of cover fastener areas, and the second surface fastening material may be present only in the second subset of cover fastener areas. This again facilitates manufacture in that the first surface fastening material maybe provided only on a first side of the longitudinal axis, and the second surface fastening material may be provided only on a second side of the longitudinal axis.

In a second type of variants, in the front set, the first subset comprising the first surface fastening material is arranged in the first transversal side of the insert, and the second subset comprising the second fastening material is arranged in the second transversal side of the insert, whereas in the back set, the first subset comprising the first surface fastening material is arranged in the second transversal side of the insert, and the second subset comprising the second fastening material is arranged in the first transversal side of the insert. In such variants, the insert may be foldable to a closed position not only by folding generally along the longitudinal axis of the insert, but also by folding generally along the transversal central axis of the insert. However, as will be explained in the below, it may be preferred to fold generally along the longitudinal axis of the insert, as this direction implies that the ends of the fold are further away from the insult area of the insert, than when the insert is folded along the transversal axis of the insert. The ends of the fold are more susceptible to leakage than other portions of the insert, when in its folded position.

Moreover, the second type of variants, a specific front/back orientation of the insert is not implied by the position of the subsets. Instead, for example when the insert comprises an absorbent assembly being asymmetrical with respect to a central transversal axis of the insert, this variant may allow for a user selecting how to orient the insert in a front/back direction depending on the needs of the wearer. For example, if the absorbent assembly is asymmetrical with respect to a central transversal axis of the insert, and for example provides a greater absorption capacity in the back portion of the insert than in the front portion, the user may select whether to apply the insert to the outer cover such that the greater absorption capacity is to the front of the outer cover or to the back of the outer cover.

For example, in the second type of variants, the front set of two or more cover fastener areas may and back set of two or more cover fastener areas may mirror each other as seen over a transversal central axis of the insert.

In view of the above, the first type of variants provides a fool-proof solution wherein the user easily and intuitively may use the insert as intended, both in the use position, when attached to an outer cover, and in the folded position. The second type of variants instead provides for more versatility, but to the expense of the insert being easy and intuitively to use in a correct manner.

The first fastening material and the second fastening material being different from each other implies that the first fastening material and the second fastening material are structurally different from each other, i.e. the structure providing the mechanical and/or frictional detachable fastening is not identical in the first fastening material and in the second fastening material.

Preferably, the first surface fastening material is not attachable to itself, and the second surface fastening material is not attachable to itself.

The first fastening material and the second fastening material being different from each other, may further imply that the first fastening material and the second fastening material may be visually and/or tactilely distinguishable from one another, further improving the handling and correct positioning of the insert in relation to the outer cover, such as under dimly-lit circumstances.

Further, the first fastening material and the second fastening material may be provided with different distinguishable colours and/or visual indicia so as to further facilitate handling of the insert.

For example, the first surface fastening material may comprise hooks, and the second surface fastening material may comprise loops.

As set out in the above description of cover fastener areas, the cover fastener areas may for example be provided by cover fastener members. For example, a cover fastener member may be a piece of a hook material or of a loop material. A hook/loop material may be a material comprising a sheet-formed base having a surface upon which the hooks/loops are arranged. For example, a cover fastener member may be formed from a piece of hook/loop material cut from a band-shaped hook material or loop material.

Optionally, in least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, the insert comprises two or more cover fastener members, each cover fastener member providing at least one of the two or more cover fastener areas in the front or back set. Optionally, at least one, such as each, of the two or more cover fastener members in the front and/or back set comprises a sheet formed base having a length in the longitudinal direction and a width in the transversal direction, the sheet formed base comprising one or more areas of surface fastening material.

Optionally, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, the one or more cover fastener members on the first side of the longitudinal axis Y comprise a loop material, and the one or more cover fastener members on the second side of the longitudinal axis Y comprise a hook material.

Optionally, the first and second subsets may be spaced around the longitudinal central axis of the insert by a transversal spacing width, as described in the above.

Optionally, the first and second subsets may be symmetrically spaced around the longitudinal central axis by the transversal spacing width. In addition to the advantages as obtained when the insert is in the use position, as described in the above, the symmetrical spacing may ensure that in the folded position the insert is folded along the central longitudinal axis, so as to form a symmetrical fold closed around the inside of the insert.

In the front set and in the back set, the cover fastener areas of the first subset may mirror the cover fastener areas of the second subset, as seen along the longitudinal central axis. In other words, in the folded state the insert is folded along the longitudinal central axis, and each of the cover fastener areas of the first subset meets with a complementary cover fastener area of the second subset.

It will be understood that the present disclosure encompasses all of the features relating to the insert as set out in the above, so as to provide various advantages.

For example, the insert may comprise a pair of insert leg elastic members as described in the above, the leg elastic members extending essentially along the longitudinal direction of the insert, with one leg elastic member of the pair being arranged in each transversal side of the insert, transversally between the absorbent assembly and the longitudinal side edges of the insert. In each one of the front section and the back section of the insert, a leg elastics width is defined as the maximum transversal width over the leg elastic members in the front or back section, respectively. Further, in each one of the back section and the front section, a transversal fastening width spanned by the set of two or more cover fastener areas may be no less than the leg elastics width. In this variant, in addition from the advantages obtained when the insert is attached to an outer cover, in the use state as described in the above, the location of the cover fastener areas in relation to the leg elastic members ensures that the leg elastic members may assist in keeping the insert closed around the inward facing side comprising the soiled topsheet when the insert is in the folded state.

For example, the insert may, in each one of the back section and the front section, comprise a pair of leg edge portions, each leg edge portion extending longitudinally along a respective leg elastic member, and transversally between the leg elastic member and a respective longitudinal side edge of the insert so as to define a maximum transversal leg edge width between the leg elastic member and the respective longitudinal side edge, the maximum transversal leg edge width being at least 1 cm, such as at least 2 cm. Again, in addition to the advantages obtained when the insert is in the use state and attached to the outer cover, the leg edge portions contribute to keeping the insert safely closed around the inward facing side comprising the soiled topsheet when the insert is in the folded state.

For example, the inward facing side of the insert may comprise a pair of inner side leakage barriers, extending in the longitudinal direction of the insert. Again, in addition to the advantages obtained when the insert is in the use state and attached to the outer cover, the inner side leakage barriers contribute to keeping the insert safely closed around the inward facing side comprising the soiled topsheet when the insert is in the folded state.

For example, when, in at least one, preferably each, of the front and back section, a transversal fastening width spanned by the set of two or more cover fastener areas is at least 70% of the maximum width of the insert in the front or back section, respectively, such as at least 80% or at least 90% of the maximum width, it may be ensured that when in the folded state, the majority of the inward facing side of the insert is held inside the part of the fold which is secured by the cover fastener areas of the first subsets being attached to the cover fastener areas of the respective second subsets.

For example, the insert may have a minimum transversal width in the crotch section of the insert and, in at least one, preferably each, of the front and back section, a transversal fastening width spanned by the set of two or more cover fastener areas in the front/back set may be no less than the minimum transversal width, such as no less than 1 10% of the minimum transversal width or no less than 120% of the minimum transversal width. Again, this ensures that a sufficiently large portion of the insert is held inside the part of the fold which is secured by the cover fastener areas when the insert is in the folded state. Thus, it may be ensured that the majority of the transversal width of the insert is secured inside the fold, and thus that the soiled portion of the insert is located inside the fold.

2. OUTER COVER

In a second aspect, the disclosure relates to an outer cover according to claim 27. As such, the disclosure relates to a reusable outer cover for an absorbent article, extending along a longitudinal direction, and along a transversal direction, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Y, and wherein a thickness direction is defined perpendicular to both the longitudinal and transversal directions, the thickness direction being an inward direction towards the wearer, when the article is worn, and an outward direction away from the wearer, when the article is worn. The outer cover has a longitudinal length that extends along the longitudinal direction. The outer cover comprises a garment portion extending along the longitudinal length, the garment portion forming a front section, a back section, and a crotch section of the outer cover, the crotch section being arranged between the front section and the back section along the longitudinal length.

The garment portion is adapted to fit around a wearer’s waist, with the front section being positioned at or close to the wearer’s belly, the back section being positioned against the wearer’s lower back, and the crotch section being positioned over the wearer’s pubic area and a predefined part of the buttocks. The garment portion defines an inward facing side intended to face towards the wearer, and an outward facing side, intended to face away from the wearer, when the outer cover is worn.

In each of the front section and the back section, the outer cover comprises at least one flap member extending from the garment portion. Each flap member has a use position wherein an outward facing inner side of the flap member is facing the inward facing side of the garment portion so as to form a space between the outward facing inner side of the flap member and the inward facing side of the garment portion, which space is open in a longitudinal direction towards the crotch section.

A longitudinal central axis divides the outer cover into a first transversal side and a second transversal side.

In the front section of the outer cover, the outer cover comprises a front set of two or more insert fastener areas arranged on the outward facing inner side of the at least one flap member. One or more of the insert fastener area(s) in the front set is arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the first subset of insert fastener areas comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover. One or more of the insert fastener areas in the front set is arranged on the other one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the second subset of insert fastener areas comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover.

In the back section of the outer cover, the outer cover comprises a back set of two or more insert fastener areas arranged on the outward facing inner side of the at least one flap member. One or more of the insert fastener areas in the back set is arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the first subset of insert fastener areas comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover. One or more of the insert fastener areas in the back set is arranged on the other one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the second subset of insert fastener areas comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover.

When the flap member in the front section of the outer cover is in the use position, and the flap member in the back section of the outer cover is in the use position, an insert is detachably attachable to the outer cover with the insert fastener areas of the first subset and of the second subset of the front set being attached to a respective front edge portion of the insert, and the insert fastener areas of the first subset and of the second subset of the back set being attached to a back edge portion of the insert, while the insert extends inwardly over at least part of the crotch portion of the garment portion.

Further, the outer cover has a non-use position, wherein the one or more insert fastener areas of the first subset of the front set is/are attached to the one or more insert fastener areas of the second subset of the front set, and the one or more insert fastener areas of the first subset of the back set is/are attached to the one or more insert fastener areas of the second subset of the back set.

Properties of the Outer Cover

The outer cover is reusable, i.e. intended to be used for more than one use cycle of an absorbent article. As such, at the start of each use cycle, a new absorbent insert may be attached to the outer cover to form the absorbent article, and after each use cycle, the absorbent insert may be removed from the outer cover and disposed or cleaned. Also, the outer cover may be configured to be cleanable between use cycles. As such, the outer cover may if necessary be cleaned between each use cycle. However, it may be preferred that the outer cover is only cleaned when deemed necessary, i.e. when, after one or more use cycles, the outer cover is deemed to be soiled so as to require cleaning.

To provide for efficient cleaning, the outer cover may be configured to be washable.

For example, the outer cover may be configured to be machine-washable.

For example, the outer cover may be configured for at least 20 wash cycles, such as for at least 20 machine-wash cycles as defined herein.

Optionally, the outer cover may be configured for at least 50 wash cycles, such as for at least 50 machine-wash cycles as defined herein.

Optionally, the outer cover may be configured for at least 20 machine-wash cycles at 60 degrees Celsius, such as at least 50 machine-wash cycles at 60 degrees Celsius. Washing allows for hygienic cleaning of the outer cover, further increasing the reusability of the cover. Being machine washable is preferred, as this makes the product easier for caregivers to clean and reuse.

As mentioned in the above, the outer cover is not primarily intended to collect bodily discharges such as urine or faeces from the wearer. Instead, the absorbent insert, which is to be attached to the outer cover when the absorbent article is in use, is to perform the function of absorbing and collecting bodily discharges from the wearer.

As such, the outer cover may be mainly liquid permeable.

The outer cover being mainly liquid permeable implies that the outer cover is substantially permeable to liquids, such as urine.

As such, at least 50% of a total area of the outer cover may be liquid permeable. For example, at least 70%, or at least 90%, of a total area of the outer cover may be liquid permeable.

That the outer cover may be mainly liquid permeable implies that suitable materials for the outer cover may be selected among liquid permeable materials.

Thus, the outer cover may be made by liquid permeable materials, such as textile fabrics. This provides for the absorbent article resulting by the combination of the outer cover and an absorbent insert having a more underwear-like look and feeling.

The outer cover may be mainly breathable. This is beneficial for the skin health of the wearer.

As such, at least 50% of a total area of the outer cover may be breathable. For example, at least 70% or at least 90 % of a total area of the outer cover may be breathable.

Preferably, the outer cover may be mainly liquid permeable and mainly breathable. As such, the outer cover may be made by liquid permeable, breathable materials such as for example textile materials.

Suitably, the outer cover may be mainly liquid permeable, mainly breathable, and washable as set out in the above. To that end, suitable materials being liquid permeable, breathable, and washable may be selected to form the outer cover. Again, suitable materials may be found among textile materials being liquid permeable, breathable, and washable.

For example, the garment portion of the outer cover may comprise one or more fabric panels forming the front section, the back section, and the crotch section of the garment portion.

As such, the one or more fabric panels may be selected from materials being liquid permeable, breathable, and/or washable.

For example, the one or more fabric panels may comprise a textile fabric. Suitable textile fabrics may be liquid permeable, breathable and/or washable.

For example, the one or more fabric panels may comprise a knitted textile fabric. A knitted textile fabric may be suitable to provide elasticity to the outer cover, as discussed in the below.

For example, the one or more fabric panels may comprise a weft knit textile fabric material, for example as a weft knit single jersey.

For example, the outer cover may comprise a textile fabric, having a basis weight in the range between 150 and 300 gsm, such as between 200 and 250 gsm. For example, the one or more fabric panels may comprise a textile fabric having a basis weight in the range between 150 and 300 gsm, such as between 200 and 250 gsm. Such a fabric could be a knitted textile fabric, such as a weft knit textile fabric, e.g. a weft knit single jersey as set out in the above.

The outer cover may comprise a material that is elastic in at least one direction, preferably in two directions. For example, the one or more fabric panels may comprise a material that is elastic in at least one direction, preferably in two directions. Such a material could be e.g. a knitted fabric as set out in the above.

For example, the outer cover may comprise a textile fabric comprising polyester.

As such, the one or more of the fabric panels of the garment portion may comprise a textile fabric comprising polyester. For example, the majority of the area of the garment portion may comprise a textile fabric comprising polyester, such as at least 60% of the area, or at least 80 % or at least 90 % or the area.

For example, the one or more fabric panels may comprise a textile fabric comprising a mixture of polyester and elastane. For example, the one or more fabric panels may comprise a textile fabric comprising no less than 70% polyester, such as no less than 80 % polyester. For example, one or more fabric panels may comprise a textile fabric comprising 70 to 90 % polyester, and 30 to 10 % elastane. For example, the one or more fabric panels may comprise a fabric comprising 80 % polyester and 20 % elastane.

Polyester materials have been found to have advantageous properties throughout use and washing cycles, for example in relation to shrinking, and to retaining its shape and stretch.

For example, the outer cover may comprise a textile fabric comprising recycled material. As such, one or more of the fabric panel or panels of the garment portion may comprise a textile fabric comprising recycled material. For example, the majority of the area of the garment portion may comprise a textile fabric comprising recycled material, such as at least 60% of the area, or at least 80 % or at least 90 % or the area.

For example, the amount of recycled material in the textile fabric may be at least 20%, such as at least 50%, or at least 70%.

In an example, the garment portion may comprise one single fabric panel forming the front section, the back section and the crotch section of the garment portion. In another example, the garment portion comprises more than one fabric panel, the fabric panels being joined to form the front section, the back section, and the crotch section of the garment portion. Use of more than one fabric panel may provide for further options for controlling the shape of the outer cover and/or other properties, such as elasticity, of the outer cover.

The fabric panels may be joined by any suitable joining members. For example, the joining members could be selected considering the requirements for e.g. washability and/or breathability of the outer cover.

For example, the fabric panels may be joined by adhesive joining members, such as adhesive tape.

For example, the fabric panels may be joined by mechanical joining members such as stiches or seams.

The fabric panels may be permanently joined, i.e. intended to be joined throughout the life cycle of the outer cover.

Optionally, when the garment portion comprises more than one fabric panel, the fabric panels may be made by different fabrics. As such, different properties of different fabrics may be used to impart different functions and/or aesthetics to the garment portion and to the outer cover.

In another option, when the garment portion comprises more than one fabric panel, the fabric panels may be made by the same fabric. As such, the fabric panels will have similar properties, i.e. liquid permeability and/or breathability, and similar behaviour when subject to use, such as washing and wearing. This may be advantageous for the durability of the reusable outer cover. Moreover, using the same fabric material for the fabric panels may provide for efficient use of fabric material during manufacture, reducing fabric material waste.

As mentioned in the above, the absorbency of the absorbent article to be formed by the outer cover, when an absorbent insert is attached thereto, is primarily to be provided by the absorbent insert alone.

For example, the crotch portion of the outer cover may be essentially non-absorbing, implying that the crotch portion is not intended to absorb any bodily discharges to a significant degree.

For example, the garment portion of the outer cover may be essentially non-absorbing, and/or the entire outer cover may be essentially non-absorbing.

With essentially non-absorbing is meant herein that the outer cover is not intended to absorb and retain fluids to a significant degree.

To this end, the one or more fabric panels of the garment portion and/or of the outer cover may consist of one or more materials, each material being essentially non-absorbing.

Portions of the Outer Cover

The garment portion of the outer cover may comprise a main body, forming a transversally central portion of the garment portion, and extending longitudinally from a back end of the outer cover, between the wearer’s legs, and to a front end of the outer cover, when the outer cover is in use. As such, the crotch section of the outer cover, at least a central portion of the front section, and at least a central portion of the back section of the outer cover may be formed by the main body.

In the front and/or back section of the outer cover, the main body may be provided with one or more transversally extending side portions, for providing attachment of the outer cover around the waist of a wearer. For example, a pair of side portions may be arranged in the front section of the outer cover, to be fastened to another pair of side portions arranged in the back section of the outer cover. In other examples, a pair of side portions is arranged in one of the front and back sections of the outer cover, and attached to the other one of the front and back sections of the outer cover. In other examples, the front or back section of the outer cover may be provided with one single or with a pair of side portions being attachable so as to form a closed circumference, i.e. a belt, around the wearer, whereafter the opposite front or back section of the outer cover may be attached to the one or more side portions.

The attachment between the side portions or between a side portion and a front or back section of the outer cover may be made via waist attachment means. For example, the side portions may be provided with waist attachment means for attachment to corresponding waist attachment means provided on another side portion, or on the front or back section of the outer cover, for closing the article around the waist of a wearer.

For example, when a pair of side portions is arranged in one of the front and back sections of the outer cover, the inward facing side of the side portions may be provided with waist attachment means for attachment to corresponding attachment means provided on the outward facing side of the opposite front or back section, respectively, of the outer cover, for closing the article around the waist of a wearer.

In certain examples, the back section of the outer cover may be provided with a pair of side portions, each side portion extending transversally on each side of a main body, and intended to be fastened to the front section of the outer cover. For example, the inward facing side of the side portions may be provided with waist attachment means for attachment to corresponding attachment means provided on the outward facing side of the front section of the outer cover, for closing the article around the waist of a wearer.

Waist Attachment Means of the Outer Cover

Generally, in the front or back section of the outer cover, the inward facing surface of the garment portion may be provided with a pair of waist attachment means to be fastened to a corresponding waist attachment means on the outward facing surface of the garment portion in the opposite back or front section, respectively. For example, in the back section of the outer cover, the inward facing surface of the garment portion may be provided with a pair of waist attachment means to be fastened to a corresponding waist attachment means on the outward facing surface of the garment portion. The waist attachment means may comprise matching attachment areas, for example fastener areas or attachment areas similar to those described in the below in relation to the insert fastener areas of the outer cover, or to the cover fastener areas of the insert. For example, the waist attachment means may comprise corresponding hooks and loops.

Flap Members of the Outer Cover

As described for the second aspect of the disclosure, in each of the front section and the back section, a flap member may be located at a front edge or a back edge, respectively, of the outer cover.

As such, a flap member in the front section may extend longitudinally from a front edge of the outer cover towards the crotch section. Similarly, a flap member in the back section may extend longitudinally from a back edge of the outer cover towards the crotch section.

As such, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, each flap member may for example have a longitudinal length being no more than 20 % of the longitudinal length of the outer cover, such as no more than 15% of the longitudinal length of the outer cover, or no more than 10% of the longitudinal length of the outer cover.

With the longitudinal length of the outer cover is meant the maximum longitudinal length from the front edge to the back edge of the outer cover, as measured via the crotch section of the outer cover. In other words, the longitudinal length is the maximum longitudinal length as seen over the crotch width of the outer cover. As such, portions of the outer cover extending transversally beyond the crotch width may be disregarded when determining the longitudinal length of the outer cover. For example, transversally extending side portions provided to provide fastening of the outer cover around the waist of the wearer may be disregarded. The longitudinal length of the outer cover is to be measured when any flap members of the outer cover are in their use position.

Optionally, each of the front section and the back section comprises at least one flap member, and a sum of the maximum longitudinal lengths of the flap members in the front section and the back section is no more than 30 % of the total longitudinal length of the outer cover, such as no more than 20% of the total longitudinal length of the outer cover.

With the sum of the maximum longitudinal lengths is meant the sum of the maximum longitudinal length of a flap member in the front section, and the maximum longitudinal length of a flap member in the back section.

The flap member being relatively short as compared to the longitudinal length of the outer cover, implies that, when in the use position, the flap member will leave a substantial section of the inward facing side of the outer cover uncovered, as seen from the inward direction of the outer cover. Hence, in use, the insert attached to the outer cover will form the inward facing surface of the absorbent article over this substantial section. Thus, the flap members will leave a substantial section of the inward facing surface of the insert free to receive bodily discharge from the wearer. Further, in the crotch portion of the absorbent article, the inward facing surface of the outer cover (the crotch portion of the outer cover), will be substantially covered by the insert, which protects the outer cover from being soiled.

Joining of flap member to garment portion

As set out in the above, in the front and/or back section of the outer cover, at least one flap member extends from the garment portion.

The at least one flap member may extend from the garment portion via one or more joints and/or one or more folds. In other words, the at least one flap member may be connected to the garment portion via one or more joints and/or one or more folds.

For example, each flap member may be formed by a separate piece of material, such as a fabric panel, being connected to the garment portion via one or more joints, such as seams, welds, adhesive joints or the like. Preferably, the one or more joints may be seams.

In another example, the flap member may be formed by a portion of a piece of material which is also forming a part of the garment portion. For example, a fabric panel may be folded such that on one side of the fold, it forms part of the garment portion, and on the other side of the fold, it forms the flap member.

Also, in some examples, a flap member may extend from the garment portion via one or more folds and one or more joints.

The at least one flap member has a use position wherein an outward facing inner side of the flap member is facing the inward facing side of the garment portion so as to form a space between the outward facing inner side of the flap member and the inward facing side of the garment portion, which space is open in a longitudinal direction towards the crotch section.

To this end, when in a use position, the flap member may comprise a free edge being directed towards the crotch section, which free edge is unattached to the garment portion, so as to allow introduction of a back portion or a front portion of an insert into the space.

The flap member extends from the free edge, in a direction longitudinally towards the front or back end of the outer cover, to a front or back edge, respectively.

For example, the flap member may extend from the garment portion at least along the back or front edge, respectively of the flap member. In other words, the flap member may be connected to the garment portion at least along the back or front edge. As mentioned in the above, the connection may be made via e.g. a fold or one or more joints.

Further, the flap member may comprise transversally spaced side edges, connecting said free edge and said front/back edge of the flap member. The side edges may extend in a generally longitudinal direction along the outer cover.

For example, the flap member may extend from the garment portion at least along one of the transversally spaced side edges of the flap member. In other words, the flap member may be connected to the garment portion at least along one of said transversally spaced side edges. As mentioned in the above, the connection may be made via e.g. one or more folds and/or one or more joints. The free edge of the flap member being directed towards the crotch section of the outer cover may extend between the transversally space side edges of the flap member.

As explained in the above, each flap member has a use position wherein the outward facing inner side of the flap member is facing a space being open in a longitudinal direction towards the crotch section for receiving a respective back edge and/or a front edge of the insert therein.

In some variants, a flap member may have a pre-use position, wherein the flap member does not face or delimit such a space. For example, in a pre-use position, the flap member may be folded such that side of the flap member which is the outward facing side in the use position, i.e. the side of the flap member which carries the insert fastener areas, is facing towards the inward facing direction. For example, the flap member could be in such a pre-use position while an absorbent insert is arranged with its outward facing side towards the inward facing side of the outer cover. Once the insert is correctly positioned in relation to the outer cover, the flap member could be brought to the use position, forming the space receiving the edge of the insert.

For example, a flap member having a pre-use position could be a flap member extending from the garment portion only along a back or front edge, respectively, of the flap member, and not along the transversally spaced side edges.

However, optionally, the flap member is permanently in the use position.

For example, through the flap member extending from the garment portion at both of the transversally spaced side edges, the use position of the flap member may be a default position wherein the flap member is held down towards the garment portion. In use, the front and/or back edge of the insert may be introduced into the space of the flap member between first and second side joints or folds provided at the transversally spaced side edges.

Thus, the set of insert fastener areas on the outward facing side of the flap member is covered, preventing any accidental contact between the surface fastening material of the insert fastener areas and the wearer’s skin.

Moreover, by the flap member being connected to the garment portion at the side edges, it may be ensured that the flap member is held in the use position when the outer cover is worn.

Further, for each flap member, it may be desired that the flap member extends from the garment portion at at least a pair of positions, wherein one position of the pair is located on a first transversal side of a longitudinal centre axis of the garment portion and the other position of the pair is located on a second transversal side of the longitudinal centre axis of the garment portion . (The longitudinal centre axis of the garment portion is a longitudinal centre axis through the crotch portion of said outer cover.)

When the outer cover is worn, the front and back sections thereof will be subject to opposing transversal forces in directions away from a longitudinal centre axis of the outer cover, due to the attachment of the outer cover around the waist of the wearer. Via the flap member being connected to at least one position on each side of the central longitudinal axis, the opposing transversal forces applied to the garment portion may be transferred to the flap member, ensuring that the flap member is stretched in the transversal direction and held close to the body of the wearer.

For example, when, as mentioned in the above, the flap member extends from the garment portion at least along a front/back edge, respectively, of the flap member, the fold or joint forming the connection to the garment portion may extend transversally over the longitudinal centre axis of the outer cover, such that the flap member is connected to at least one position on each side of the longitudinal axis.

For example, when, as mentioned in the above, the flap member extends from the garment portion at least at the two transversally spaced side edges, one side edge may be positioned on one transversal side of the longitudinal centre axis of the outer cover, and the other side edge may be positioned on the other transversal side of the longitudinal centre axis of the outer cover.

As mentioned in the above, in the front and/or back section of the outer cover, the main body may be provided with one or more transversally extending side portions, for providing attachment of the outer cover around the waist of a wearer. For example, the flap member may be arranged to extend from the garment portion such that the transversal forces applied to the transversally extending side portions are transmitted via to the flap member.

When the flap member extends from the garment portion at least at the two transversally spaced side edges, the flap member may be connected to the garment portion along a longitudinal length of each side edge at least being such that the connection spans over the length spanned by the set of insert fastener areas of the flap member. For example, the connection may span over essentially the full longitudinal length of the two transversally spaced side edges.

In an example, the flap member may extend from the garment portion at a back/front edge and at the transversally spaced side edges, such that the space between the inward facing surface of the flap member and the wearer facing side of the garment portion is open in a longitudinal direction towards the crotch section only. As such, the correct positioning of the back edge or front edge of the insert, respectively, in the space will be facilitated. Also, the advantages as set out in the above relating to the permanent use position and to the distribution of forces may be obtained.

As such, the material for the flap member may be selected to be a material being washable, breathable and/or liquid permeable to the same extent as the material of the garment portion of the outer cover, and as explained in the above. As such, the material properties and materials discussed in the above in relation to the outer cover as a whole or to the garment portion are preferable also for the flap members.

For example, each of the flap member(s) may comprise one or more fabric panels, in the same manner as described in the above in relation to the garment portion of the outer cover. For example, the flap member(s) may each comprise one single fabric panel. This may be preferred for ease of manufacture. Preferably, the one or more insert fastener areas may be entirely contained within the one or more flap members, e.g. be entirely contained within the one or more fabric panels of the flap member(s), preventing any direct contact between the fastener areas and the wearer’s skin. For example, the flap member (s) may comprise one or more fabric panels and one or more insert fastener areas being contained within the one or more fabric panels. By “entirely contained” is meant that the one or more insert fastener areas do not extend beyond, e.g. does not protrude from, the one or more flap members/fabric panels.

For example, the insert fastener areas may be provided by insert fastener members attached to the one or more fabric panels, as will be further described in the below.

Similar to the garment portion, the flap member may comprise a textile fabric, preferably a knitted fabric. As such, the flap member may comprise one or more fabric panels having any of the features as set out in the above in relation to the one or more fabric panels of the garment portion.

Advantageously, the garment portion and the flap member may comprise one or more fabric panels, wherein at least some of the fabric panels of the garment portion is of the same material as the fabric panel of the flap member. For example, the garment portion and the flap member may comprise one or more fabric panels, wherein all fabric panels are of the same material.

As outlined in the above, in said at least one, preferably each, of the front and back section of the outer cover, at least one flap member is provided. Accordingly, in some variants, a plurality, such as two or more flap members may be arranged in said at least one, preferably each, of the front and back section of the outer cover. In this case, the one or more insert fastener areas of the set of insert fastener areas may be distributed over the plurality of flap members, such that each of the two or more flap members comprises one or more insert fastener areas, positioned on the respective outward facing sides of the flap members. For example, two or more transversally spaced flap members could be arranged in the front section and/or in the back section of the outer cover.

However, it may be preferred that a single flap member is arranged in the front section of the outer cover, and/or a single flap member is arranged in the back section of the outer cover.

In this case, all of the one or more insert fastener areas of the set will be positioned on the outward facing side of the single flap member.

The single flap member may for example have a transversal width being no less than a minimum transversal width defined by the crotch section of the outer cover. For example, the single flap member may have a transversal width being at least 120% of the minimum transversal width of the outer cover of the outer cover. Optionally, the single flap member may have a transversal width being at least 130% of the minimum crotch width of the outer cover, such as at least 140% of the minimum crotch width of the outer cover.

As such, the single flap member may have a transversal width adapted to be greater than the transversal width of an insert to be used with the outer cover. For example, when the garment portion comprises a main body and transversally extending side portions in the front and/or back section, the single front and/or back flap member may extend over the width of the main body. For example, the single front and/or back flap member may be attached to the garment portion by side joints, where the side joints may for example be formed together with joints attaching the transversally extending side portions to a main body of the garment member.

For example, a single flap member may be joined to the garment portion at a front/back joint, and a pair of side joints. As such, the entire front/back edge of an insert may be introduced in the space formed by the single flap member for attachment of the insert to the outer cover. Thus, simple and correct positioning of the insert may be enabled. Moreover, the single flap member being joined to the garment portion at the front/back joint and the pair of side joints ensures that there are no unnecessary free edges of the flap member, which could be prone to cause chafing.

For example, the front section and the back section of the outer cover may each comprise a set of insert areas and a single flap member comprising the set of inert areas, wherein the total area of the single flap member in the front section and the single flap member in the back section is no more than 40% of the area of the outer cover, such as no more than 30% or no more than 20%.

The single flap member in each of the front section and the back section may each comprise the front or back set of one or more insert fastener areas, as will be described in more detail in the below.

For example, the single flap member may comprise a first and a second subset of insert fastener areas, the first and the seconds subset being transversally spaced.

Insert Fastener Areas of the Outer Cover

As set out in the above, in accordance with the second aspect of the disclosure, in each of the front section and the back section of the outer cover, the outer cover comprises at least one flap member extending from the garment portion. Each flap member has a use position wherein an outward facing inner side of the flap member is facing the inward facing side of the garment portion so as to form a space between the outward facing inner side of the flap member and the inward facing side of the garment portion, which space is open in a longitudinal direction towards the crotch section for receiving a respective back edge portion and/or a front edge portion of the insert therein. Further, in the front section, the outer cover comprises a front set of two or more insert fastener areas arranged on the outward facing inner side of the at least one flap member, and in the back section, the outer cover comprises a back set of two or more insert fastener areas arranged on the outward facing inner side of the at least one flap member. Each insert fastener area in the front set and in the back set comprises a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover or a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover.

Thus, in each of the front section and the back section of the garment portion, a flap member is arranged such that, at least in a use position, the flap member delimits a space being open in a longitudinal direction towards the crotch section for receiving a respective back edge or a front edge of the insert.

As such, in the back section of the outer cover, a back edge portion of an absorbent insert may be positioned in the space i.e. to the outside of the flap member and to the inside of the garment portion. The two or more insert fastener areas of the back set arranged on the outward facing inner side of the flap member may then be attached to the inward facing side of the back edge portion of the insert (preferably via corresponding cover fastener members).

Similarly, in the front section of the outer cover, a front edge portion of an absorbent insert may be positioned in the space i.e. to the outside of the flap member and to the inside of the garment portion. The two or more insert fastener areas of the front set arranged on the outward facing inner side of the front flap member may then be attached to the inward facing side of the front edge portion of the insert (preferably via corresponding cover fastener members).

Thus, the insert is attached to the front section and to the back section of the outer cover, while the absorbent insert extends out of the front and back spaces and over the crotch section of the outer cover, so as to be available for absorbing bodily fluids when the absorbent article is in use.

The two or more insert fastener areas in the front set and in the back set are positioned on the outward facing side of the at least one flap member, facing towards the garment portion. A second side of the flap member, opposite the outward facing inner surface, is hence, in the use position, an inward facing surface facing towards the intended wearer.

The flap member may be a generally planar member, extending in the plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and the transversal axis.

As such, when the outer cover is in use, the front and back sets insert fastener areas positioned on the outward facing side of the front and back flap members, respectively, will be directed away from the wearer, in a direction towards the garment portion of the outer cover. Accordingly, any risk of the wearer experiencing chafing or discomfort from the surface fastening material of the insert fastener areas is significantly reduced - even if the insert should accidentally loosen from the insert fastener areas. Also, that the insert fastener areas are positioned on the outward facing side of the flap member implies that the flap member will be held securely towards the inward facing side of insert when the article is in use. As such, any risk of the flap member becoming unintentionally folded or creased, creating possible discomfort for the wearer, is reduced.

Moreover, with the two or more insert fastener areas being positioned on the flap member, any undesired aesthetical effects on the outer cover, resulting from the insert fastener area(s), (such as for example seams attaching an insert fastener member to outer cover), will appear on the flap member only and not be visible from the outside of the garment portion, when the outer cover is worn. The outward facing surface of the garment portion is intended to be the outward facing surface of the complete absorbent article, and hence it will be directed towards a wearer’s regular garments when the outer cover is in use. Further, that the two or more insert fastener areas is/are positioned on the outward facing surface of the flap member, which surface is spaced from the garment portion, implies that, when the outer cover is in use, the movement of the garment portion is less restricted by the insert fastener area and thus the insert. For example, any area of the garment portion over which the flap member extends will be able to follow the general movement of the garment portion, and so, the outward appearance of the garment portion will be more underwear-like, without visible tension in the garment portion resulting from the attachment of the insert to the outer cover.

Similarly, the insert fastener areas, and thus the position of the insert, will be less prone to being dislocated by e.g. the garment portion being subject to tearing or friction, resulting from the wearer’s movements.

The front and back sets of two or more insert fastener areas positioned on the outward facing inner side of the at least one flap member may be the only insert fastener elements for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover in the front and back section of the outer cover.

Preferably, each of the front section and the back section of the outer cover comprises a front/back set of insert fastener areas positioned on the outward facing inner side of the at least one flap member, wherein the front and back sets of insert fastener areas are the only insert fastener elements for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover, of the outer cover.

The outward facing side of the flap member may face at least a portion of the inward facing surface of the garment portion, i.e. face the area of the wearer facing inward facing surface over which the flap member extends. Thus, the space may be formed between the outward facing side of the flap member and the inward facing surface of the garment portion.

For example, the area of the inward facing surface of the garment portion over which the flap member extends (when in the use position) may be free from insert fastener areas. Optionally, the entire garment portion may be free from insert fastener areas. As such, the only attachment between the outer cover and an insert may be made via the flap members comprising the sets of insert fastener areas, which may be configured for fastening towards the inward facing side of the insert.

Extension of Insert Fastener Areas

In the at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, the front/back set of insert fastener areas may span over a maximum longitudinal length being no more than 20 % of the longitudinal length of the outer cover, such as no more than 15% of the longitudinal length of the outer cover, or no more than 10% of the longitudinal length of the outer cover.

Optionally, the front/back set of two or more insert fastener areas may be confined to a front or back end region of the outer cover, the front or back end region extending longitudinally from a front or back edge of the outer cover and over a maximum longitudinal length being no more than 20 % of the longitudinal length of the outer cover, such as no more than 15% of the longitudinal length of the outer cover, or no more than 10% of the longitudinal length of the outer cover. As such, the attachment of the insert to the outer cover is confined to the front or back end regions of the front or back section of the outer cover. Accordingly, a front or back edge region may be held securely by the outer cover when the article is worn, while a crotch section of the insert may be unattached to the outer cover.

Transversal Fastening Width of the Outer Cover

In each of the front section and the back section of the absorbent article, the front set of two or more insert fastener areas or the back set of two or more insert fastener areas spans over a transversal fastening width.

The crotch section of the outer cover defines a minimum transversal width of the outer cover. Optionally, the front and back set of two or more insert fastener areas spans over a respective transversal fastening width being larger than the minimum transversal width.

As such, the front set of two or more insert fastener areas and the back set of two or more insert fastener areas allow attachment of the insert in a position such that the insert is transversely held out to a sufficient width in the front and back section, respectively, while in at least part of the crotch section, the insert may adapt to a cup shape generally within the minimum transversal width of the outer cover.

For example, the respective transversal fastening width may be no less than 110% of the minimum transversal width, such as no less than 120% of the minimum transversal width (crotch width) of the outer cover.

The outer cover may comprise a pair of leg elastic members, arranged along the leg openings of the garment portion at least in the crotch section thereof.

The leg elastic members may be separated by a maximum leg elastics spacing width. The maximum leg elastics spacing width is the maximum transversal width between the elastically active portions of the leg elastic members.

Similarly, the leg elastic members are separated by a minimum leg elastics spacing width. The minimum leg elastics spacing width is the minimum transversal width between the elastically active portions of the leg elastic members. As such, the minimum leg elastics spacing width is typically located in the crotch section of the garment portion, and the minimum leg elastics spacing width may be close to or equal to the minimum transversal width (crotch width) of the outer cover.

For example, the front set of two or more insert fastener areas and the back set of two or more insert fastener areas may each span over a respective transversal fastening width being less than the maximum leg elastics spacing width. As such, a desired positioning of the leg elastic members of the outer cover transversally outside of an insert attached to the set of two or more insert fastener areas may be ensured.

For example, when, in at least one, preferably each of, the front section and the back section of the outer cover, the front/back set of two or more insert fastener areas spans over a respective transversal fastening width being less than the maximum leg elastics spacing width and larger than the minimum transversal width of the outer cover, correct positioning of the insert in relation to the outer cover when the absorbent article is in use may be promoted.

Thus, as may be understood from the above, the crotch section of the outer cover may advantageously be free from insert fastener areas. Indeed, the outer cover as a whole may be free from insert fastener areas, but for the front set of two or more insert fastener areas in the front section of the outer cover, and the back set of two or more insert fastener areas in the back section of the outer cover.

Subsets of Insert Fastener Areas

In accordance with the second aspect of the disclosure, one or more of the insert fastener areas in the front set is arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the first subset of insert fastener areas comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover, and one or more of the insert fastener areas in the front set is arranged on the other one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the second subset of insert fastener areas comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover.

Also, one or more of the insert fastener areas in the back set is arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the first subset of insert fastener areas comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover, and one or more of the insert fastener areas in the back set is arranged on the other one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the second subset of insert fastener areas comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover.

In each of the front set and the back set, the first and second subsets may be spaced by a transversal spacing width. For example, the transversal spacing width may be equal in the front set and in the back set of insert fastener areas.

As mentioned in the above, the crotch section of the outer cover may define a minimum transversal width (the crotch width). For example, the transversal spacing width in the front set and in the back set may no less than the minimum transversal width. For example, the transversal spacing width in the front set and in the back set may be at least 120% of the minimum transversal width.

As such, the first and second subsets of one or more insert fastener areas in the front set and the back set may ensure that the insert, when attached to the fastener areas, is extending at least over the crotch width of the outer cover. For example, in the front set and/or in the back set, the transversal spacing width may be at least three times the transversal width of each insert fastener area, or at least four times the transversal width of each insert fastener area.

For example, in the front set and/or in the back set the transversal spacing width may be no less than 40% of the transversal fastening width, such as no less than 50% or no less than 60% of the transversal fastening width.

In some variants, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, the outer cover may comprise more than one flap member, such as a pair of flap members. For example, a first flap member of said pair may extend partially or only on the first transversal side of the longitudinal axis, and a second flap member of said pair may extend partially or only on the second transversal side of the longitudinal axis In this case, in the at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, the first subset of insert fastener areas may be arranged on the first flap member of the pair, and the second subset of insert fastener areas may be arranged on the second flap member of the pair.

In other variants, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, the first and second subsets of insert fastener areas in the front or back set, respectively, may be provided on the same flap member, preferably on a single flap member in the front or back section, respectively.

For example, the front section and the back section of the outer cover may each comprise a single flap member: a single front flap member comprising the front set of two or more insert fastener areas, and a single back flap member comprising the back set of two or more insert fastener areas. Each one of the front set and the back set comprises a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas and a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the first and second subsets being spaced, preferably symmetrically spaced, around a longitudinal central axis of the insert by a transversal spacing width. For example, the first subset and the second subset may each comprise one single fastener area.

Moreover, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, the front/back flap member may comprise one or more insert fastener members, each insert fastener member comprising at least one of the two or more insert fastener areas of the front/back set, and being part of the first subset or of the second subset.

In one example, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, the first and second subsets of one or more insert fastener areas may each be provided by one single insert fastener member, attached to the single flap member.

For example, such an insert fastener member may comprise a sheet formed base having a length in the longitudinal direction and a width in the transversal direction, the sheet formed base comprising one or more areas of surface fastening material, i.e. of the first or the second surface fastening material. Preferably, each insert fastener member comprises one single insert fastener area comprising a surface fastening material, i.e. the first or the second surface fastening material. This may be advantageous to reduce the amount of material added to the insert, and/or to reduce any additional stiffness implied by the presence of an insert fastener member on the outer cover.

Use position and non-use position

As mentioned in the above, in a second aspect the present disclosure relates to an outer cover in accordance with appended claim 27.

As such, the disclosure relates to a reusable outer cover for an absorbent article, extending along a longitudinal direction, and along a transversal direction, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and wherein a thickness direction is defined perpendicular to both the longitudinal and transversal directions, the thickness direction being an inward direction towards the wearer, when the article is worn, and an outward direction away from the wearer, when the article is worn.

The outer cover has a longitudinal length that extends along the longitudinal direction. The outer cover comprises a garment portion extending along the longitudinal length, the garment portion forming a front section, a back section, and a crotch section of the outer cover, the crotch section being arranged between the front section and the back section along the longitudinal length.

In the front section of the outer cover, the outer cover comprises a front set of two or more insert fastener areas arranged on the outward facing inner side of the at least one flap member. One or more of the insert fastener areas in the front set is arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the first subset of insert fastener areas comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover. One or more of the insert fastener areas in the front set is arranged on the other one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the second subset of insert fastener areas comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover.

In the back section of the outer cover, the outer cover comprises a back set of two or more insert fastener areas arranged on the outward facing inner side of the at least one flap member. One or more of the insert fastener areas in the back set is arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the first subset of insert fastener areas comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover. One or more of the insert fastener areas in the back set is arranged on the other one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the second subset of insert fastener areas comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover.

When the at least one flap member in the front section of the outer cover is in the use position, and the at least flap member in the back section of the outer cover is in the use position, an insert is detachably attachable to the outer cover with the insert fastener areas of the first subset and of the second subset of the front set being attached to a respective front edge portion of the insert, and the insert fastener areas of the first subset and of the second subset of the back set being attached to a back edge portion of the insert while the insert extends inwardly over at least part of the crotch portion of the garment portion.

When the flap member is in the use position, and when an insert is detachably attached to the outer cover via the sets of two or more insert fastener areas in each of the front section and the back section of the outer cover, as outlined in the above, the outer cover may cover the majority of the insert, as seen from an outward facing side. Thus, the outer cover may form essentially the entire outward facing surface, or garment facing side, of the absorbent article, substantially hiding the insert from view. As a result, the absorbent article has an appearance that is closer to regular underpants when being worn, which will be perceived by wearers are more dignified and comfortable than wearing disposable diapers. Moreover, since the insert fastener areas are arranged on the outward facing inner side of the flap member, the garment portion of the outer cover may protect the insert and provide an additional layer, such that any tearing or friction from the outside, as could result from the movements of the wearer, will initially be taken up by the outer cover. Thus, the insert may stay more securely in place so as to perform its function.

Since the garment portion of the outer cover extends over the crotch portion of the outer cover, any friction or tearing to which the outer cover may be subject when worn, affects the garment portion of the outer cover rather than the absorbent insert attached to the outer cover. Thus, the position of the absorbent insert visavi the wearer may be secured, to the benefit of providing sufficient absorption and hindering leakage.

Furthermore, when no insert is attached to the outer cover, such as during washing of the outer cover after one or more use-cycles thereof, the outer cover may assume a non-use position wherein the complementary first and second subsets of insert fastener areas of the front set are detachably attached to one another, and the complementary first and second subsets of insert fastener areas of the back set are detachably attached to one another. This prevents the insert fastener areas of the outer cover from unintentionally becoming attached to other items and/or to the garment portion of the outer cover itself, thereby protecting both the outer cover and any other items from becoming damaged, for example during washing of the outer cover.

It will be understood, that when the outer cover is in its non-use position, the garment portion of the outer cover is likely to be wrinkled or folded. This is however not a problem, since non-use position is to be assumed only when the outer cover is not in use, e.g. when the outer cover is washed.

In some variants, the outer cover comprises only one single flap member extending from the garment portion in each of the front section and the back section. The front set of two or more insert fastener areas is arranged on the outward facing inner side of the single flap member in the front section. The back set of two or more insert fastener areas is arranged on the outward facing inner side of the single flap member in the back section. In said non-use position, the flap member in the front section of the outer cover is folded generally along the longitudinal axis and the one or more insert fastener areas of the first subset of the front set is/are attached to the one or more insert fastener areas of the second subset of the front set, and the flap member in the back section of the outer cover is folded generally along the longitudinal axis, and the one or more insert fastener areas of the first subset of the back set is/are attached to the one or more insert fastener areas of the second subset of the back set.

Thus, in the non-use position of the outer cover, each flap member may be folded to assume a folded position wherein the complementary first and second subsets of insert fastener areas arranged on the flap member are detachably attached to one another. Moreover, the first surface fastening material of the first subset is complementary to the second surface fastening material of the second subset, making the outer cover suitable for use with an insert according to the first aspect of this disclosure.

Optionally, in accordance with a first type of variants, the front section of the outer cover , the first transversal side of the outer cover comprises the first subset of one or more insert fastener areas comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover, and the second transversal side of the outer cover comprises the second subset of one or more insert fastener areas comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and, in the back section of the outer cover, the first transversal side of the outer cover comprises the first subset of one or more insert fastener areas comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and the second transversal side of the outer cover comprises the second subset of one or more insert fastener areas comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover.

Thus, the first subset of one or more insert fastener areas in both the front and the back section is preferably located on a first side of the longitudinal central axis and the second subset of one or more insert fastener areas in both the front and the back section is preferably located on a second side of the longitudinal central axis. As a result, the fastening material on the intended left side of the outer cover is the same in both the front section and the back section and vice versa for the intended right side of the outer cover.

As explained in the above in relation to the first aspect of the invention, when having the first surface fastening material on the first side of the longitudinal axis and the second surface fastening material on the second side of the longitudinal axis as described in the above, it may be ensured that the insert is only attachable to the outer cover in an intended front/back orientation. This may be desired for example when the insert comprises an absorbent assembly being asymmetrically arranged with respect to a central transversal axis of the insert.

Also, when the outer cover comprises a single flap member in the front section, and a single flap member in the back section, in the first type of variants, the user is prompted to attach the insert fastener areas of the first subset to the insert fastener areas of the second subset on the same flap member, thus ensuring that the user can easily fold the flap member to its folded position.

For example, each insert fastener area arranged in the first transversal side of the outer cover may comprise the first surface fastening material and each insert fastener area arranged in the second transversal side of the outer cover comprises the second surface fastening material.

Optionally, each insert fastener area in the first subset comprises the first surface fastening material and each insert fastener area in the second subset comprises the second surface fastening material. In a second type of variants, in the front set, the first subset comprising the first surface fastening material is arranged in the first transversal side of the outer cover, and the second subset comprising the second fastening material is arranged in the second transversal side of the outer cover, whereas in the back set, the first subset comprising the first surface fastening material is arranged in the second transversal side of the outer cover, and the second subset comprising the second fastening material is arranged in the first transversal side of the outer cover. As described in the above in relation to the first aspect of the disclosure, in the second type of variants, a specific front/back orientation of the insert is not implied by the position of the subsets.

For example, in the second type of variants, the front set of two or more insert fastener areas and back set of two or more insert fastener areas may mirror each other as seen over a transversal central axis of the outer cover.

As set out in the above description of insert fastener areas, the insert fastener areas may for example be provided by inert fastener members. For example, an insert fastener member may be a piece of a hook material or of a loop material. A hook/loop material may be a material comprising a sheet-formed base having a surface upon which the hooks/loops are arranged. For example, an insert fastener member may be formed from a piece of hook/loop material cut from a band-shaped hook material or loop material. Optionally, in least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, the outer cover comprises two or more insert fastener members, each insert fastener member providing at least one of the two or more insert fastener areas in the front or back set.

Optionally, at least one, such as each, of the two or more insert fastener members in the front and/or back set comprises a sheet formed base having a length in the longitudinal direction and a width in the transversal direction, the sheet formed base comprising one or more areas of surface fastening material (i.e. the first surface fastening material or the second surface fastening material)

Optionally, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, the one or more insert fastener members on the first side of the longitudinal axis comprise a loop material, and the one or more insert fastener members on the second side of the longitudinal axis comprise a hook material.

Optionally, the first surface fastening material or the second surface fastening material, preferably the first surface fastening material and the second fastening material, is/are non-adherent to the garment portion. Accordingly, unintentional attachment of the first and/or the second surface fastening material to the garment portion is avoided. Such unintentional attachment may be unpractical when handling the outer cover and could furthermore result in damage of the garment portion and/or loss of functionality of the surface fastening material itself.

Optionally, the first and second subsets may be spaced around the longitudinal central axis of the outer cover by a transversal spacing width, as described in the above.

As such, the outer cover may be free from fastener areas over the transversal spacing width. This implies that the insert may be free from attachment to the outer cover in a central transversal region, which may be beneficial for forming the insert during use. For example, the spaced arrangement may allow the insert to assume a slight cup-shape when seen in the transverse direction, improving the inserts retention capacity. Moreover, when the outer cover is free from insert fastener areas over the transversal spacing width, the surface fastening material of the insert fastener areas is provided only where needed, implying that the amount of material on the outer cover may be reduced.

Optionally, the first and second subset of one or more insert fastener areas are symmetrically spaced around the longitudinal central axis. This ensures that the insert is attachable to the outer cover in a symmetrical manner and with an evenly distributed holding force. Moreover, when the outer cover comprises a single flap member in each of the front and back section, when the flap member is folded for the non-use position, the fold may be made along the longitudinal central axis, which may facilitate the folding.

Optionally, the insert fastener area(s) of the first subset mirror the insert fastener area(s) of the second subset as seen along the longitudinal central axis. As such, it may be ensured that each insert fastener area in the first subset meets a complementary insert fastener area in the second subset. It will be understood that the present disclosure encompasses all of the features relating to the outer cover as set out in the above, so as to provide various advantages.

For example, the crotch section of the outer cover may define a minimum transversal width of the outer cover, and the first and second subsets of insert fastener areas in the front section and/or back section of the outer cover may be spaced by a transversal spacing width, the transversal spacing width being no less than the minimum transversal width.

For example, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section of the outer cover, the set of two or more insert fastener areas spans over a transversal fastening width, which is no less than the minimum transversal width, such as the transversal fastening width is no less than 1 10% of the minimum transversal width, or no less than 120% of the minimum transversal width.

For example, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section and the back section, the flap member is a single flap member, having a flap member width being no less than the minimum transversal width of the outer cover, such as at least 120 % of the minimum transversal width of the outer cover.

3. PACKAGING

In a third aspect, there is provided a packaging in accordance with claim 46. As such, there is provided a packaging comprising a plurality of inserts according to the first aspect as disclosed herein.

The packaging may further comprise an outer cover according to the second aspect as disclosed herein.

4.ABSORBENT ARTICLE

In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure relates to an absorbent article according to claim 48. Thus, there is provided an absorbent article, comprising an outer cover in accordance with the second aspect disclosed herein, and an insert in accordance with the first aspect disclosed herein, the insert being detachably attached to the outer cover by the front and rear sets of two or more cover fastener areas of the insert being detachably attached to the front and rear sets of two or more insert fastener areas of the outer cover.

Preferably, in the front section, the respective first subset and second subset of one or more cover fastener areas of the insert are complementary to the respective first and second subsets of one or more insert fastener areas of the outer cover, and in the back section, the respective first subset and second subset of one or more cover fastener areas of the insert are complementary to the respective first and second subsets of one or more insert fastener areas of the outer cover Thus, when both the outer cover and the insert have their respective front section and back section arranged with the outward facing side of the insert facing the inward facing side of the outer cover, the respective insert fastener areas and cover fastener areas on each side of the longitudinal axis are complementary to one another so as to provide for detachable mechanical and/or frictional attachment. For example, the insert may be provided with a hook material and the outer cover may be provided with a loop material on a first side of the longitudinal axis, while the insert may be provided with a loop material and the outer cover may be provided with a hook material on a second side of the longitudinal axis.

Several variants are encompassed by the various aspects of the invention, as understood by the above description.

Moreover, it will be understood that when referring to a feature that exists in each of the front section or the back section of the article, the feature in the front section need not be identical to the feature in the back section. For example, a width of a member in the front section need not be identical to a width of a member in the back section, even if both widths are to fulfil the same general requirement.

In the above first, second, third and fourth aspect the disclosure, an absorbent insert, an outer cover and an absorbent article comprising an insert and an outer cover are encompassed wherein the desired detachable attachment between the insert and the outer cover is made via the inward facing side of the insert and the outward facing inner side of the flap member of the outer cover.

In an alternative first, second, third and fourth aspect, i.e. in an alternative disclosure, an absorbent insert, an outer cover, and an absorbent article comprising an insert and an outer cover are envisaged wherein the desired detachable attachment between the insert and the outer cover is made via the outward facing side of the insert and the inward facing side of the outer cover, i.e. via the inward facing side of the garment portion of the outer cover.

A longitudinal central axis divides the absorbent insert into a first transversal side and a second transversal side. In the front section of the insert, the insert comprises a front set of two or more cover fastener areas arranged on the outward facing side of the insert. One or more of the cover fastener areas in the front set is/are arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert so as to form a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas, the first subset of cover fastener areas comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and one or more of the cover fastener areas in the front set is/are arranged on the other of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert, so as to form a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas, the second subset of cover fastener areas comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover.

Similarly, in the back section of the insert, the insert comprises a back set of two or more cover fastener areas arranged on the outward facing side of the insert. One or more of the cover fastener areas in the back set is/are arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert so as to form a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas, the first subset of cover fastener areas comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and one or more of the cover fastener areas in the back set is/are arranged on the other of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert, so as to form a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas, the second subset of cover fastener areas comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover.

The insert has a use state, in which the cover fastener areas of the first subset and of the second subset of the front set, and the cover fastener areas of the first subset and of the second subset of the back set are detachably attachable to an outer cover.

In this alternative disclosure, in the folded state, the insert may be folded generally along the longitudinal axis with the inward facing side of the insert located to the inside of the fold, and the outward facing side of the insert forming the outside of the folded insert. This folded state may be assumed for example by a first folding step followed by a second folding step. In the first folding step, the front and back edge portions of the insert, i.e. the portions of the insert comprising the front and back sets of cover fastener areas, may be folded along a generally transversal fold line and towards the inward facing side of the insert. After this first folding step, the front and back sets of cover fastener areas may thus face e.g. a user of the article, as will the majority of the inward facing side of the insert, which will be soiled after use of the insert. In a second folding step, the insert may be folded along the longitudinal axis and such that the majority of the inward facing side of the insert is positioned inside the fold, whereas in the front section, the one or more cover fastener areas of the first subset of the front set (located on the folded front edge portion) is/are attached to the one or more cover fastener areas of the second subset of the front set, and, in the back section, the one or more cover fastener areas of the first subset of the back set (located on the folded back edge portion) is/are attached to the one or more cover fastener areas of the second subset of the back set.

It will be readily understood how the first aspect of this alternative disclosure may be combined with the features and advantages as described in the above in relation to the present disclosure.

In particular, the first aspect of the alternative disclosure may be combined with any one of the features in accordance with the appended claims 2 to 26.

Similarly, in an alternative second aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a reusable outer cover for an absorbent article, extending along a longitudinal direction, and along a transversal direction, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and wherein a thickness direction is defined perpendicular to both the longitudinal and transversal directions, the thickness direction being an inward direction towards the wearer, when the article is worn, and an outward direction away from the wearer, when the article is worn.

In each of the front section and the back section, the outer cover comprises at least one flap member extending from the garment portion. Each flap member has a use position wherein an outward facing inner side of the flap member is facing the inward facing side of the garment portion so as to form a space between the outward facing inner side of the flap member and the inward facing side of the garment portion, which space is open in a longitudinal direction towards the crotch section. A longitudinal central axis divides the outer cover into a first transversal side and a second transversal side.

In the front section of the outer cover, the outer cover comprises a front set of two or more insert fastener areas arranged on the inward facing side of the garment portion. One or more of the insert fastener areas in the front set is arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the first subset of insert fastener areas comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover. One or more of the insert fastener areas in the front set is arranged on the other one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the second subset of insert fastener areas comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover.

In the back section of the outer cover, the outer cover comprises a back set of two or more insert fastener areas arranged on the inward facing side of the garment portion. One or more of the insert fastener areas in the back set is arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the first subset of insert fastener areas comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover. One or more of the insert fastener areas in the back set is arranged on the other one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover so as to form a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas, the second subset of insert fastener areas comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert to the outer cover.

When the at least one flap member in the front section of the outer cover is in the use position, and the at least one flap member in the back section of the outer cover is in the use position, an insert is detachably attachable to the outer cover with the insert fastener areas of the first subset and of the second subset of the front set being attached to a respective front edge portion of the insert, and the insert fastener areas of the first subset and of the second subset of the back set being attached to a back edge portion of the insert while the insert extends inwardly over at least part of the crotch portion of the garment portion.

Further, the outer cover has a non-use position, wherein the one or more insert fastener areas of the first subset of the front set is/are attached to the one or more insert fastener areas of the second subset of the front set, and the one or more insert fastener areas of the first subset of the back set is/are attached to the one or more insert fastener areas of the second subset of the back set. Thus, in accordance with the second aspect of the alternative disclosure, in the non-use position, the garment portion is folded generally along the longitudinal axis.

The person skilled in the art may readily appreciate how the outer cover of the alternative disclosure may be combined with the features and advantages as described in the above in relation to the present disclosure. Herein, the flap members serve the purpose of covering the insert fastener members when no insert is attached to the outer cover, and also to cover the outermost front and rear edge of the insert when an insert is attached to the outer cover.

In particular, the outer cover of the alternative disclosure may be combined with the features of any one of the appended claims 29 to 45.

Thus, the absorbent insert of the first aspect of the alternative disclosure is detachably attachable to the reusable outer cover of the second aspect of the alternative disclosure, so as to form an absorbent article according to a third aspect of the alternative disclosure. Also, in accordance with a fourth aspect of the alternative disclosure there is provided a packaging comprising one or more inserts according to the first aspect of the alternative disclosure, optionally further comprising an outer cover according to the second aspect of the alternative disclosure.

In the following, variants of the different aspects (absorbent article, outer cover, insert, and packaging) of the disclosure will be described with reference to exemplary embodiments and to the drawings. It is to be understood that the drawings are schematical and that the items depicted are not necessarily drawn to scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Variants of an absorbent article, outer cover, and insert will be described by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an absorbent article comprising an embodiment of an insert and an embodiment of an outer cover according to the first and second aspects of the disclosure;

Fig. 2a shows the insert of the absorbent article in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 2b shows a section through the line A-A, i.e. through the transversal axis X, of the insert in Fig. 2a;

Fig. 2c shows a section through the line B-B of the insert in Fig. 2a;

Figs. 3a shows the outer cover of the absorbent article depicted in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3b shows the outer cover of Fig. 3a with the flap members shown as removed from the remainder of the outer cover;

Figs. 4a to 4d depict the use-cycle of an absorbent article similar to that depicted in Fig. 1 , respectively showing a package containing at least an insert, the attachment of an insert into an outer cover, the absorbent article being worn by a wearer and the removal and disposal of an insert and cleaning of the outer cover. In the drawings, for reasons of simplicity, reference numbers of some features (e.g. widths or lengths) are noted for only one of a front and back section of an absorbent article, an outer cover, or an insert, respectively. However, it is to be noted that similar measures may be applied to the other one of the front and back sections. It is further to be noted that even if a feature is denoted with the same reference number in the front section and in the back section, dimensions such as widths and lengths of such features may differ between the front and the back section.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIANTS

Fig. 1 shows an absorbent article 1 , having reusable outer cover 100 and insert 200 being detachably attached to the outer cover 100. The outer cover 100 and insert 200, are respectively shown independently from one another in more detail in Figs. 3a-3b and 2a-2c. The absorbent article 1 exhibits a longitudinal direction X and transverse direction Y and has a thickness direction Z, which, when the article is worn, defines an inward direction Zi towards the wearer’s skin and an outward direction Z_o away from the wearer’s skin. Although in the depicted embodiment, both the outer cover 100 and the insert 200 are substantially symmetrical around a longitudinal central axis Y, alternative embodiments thereof may be non-symmetrical.

As depicted in Fig. 1 , in the absorbent article 1 , the insert 200 is detachably attached to the outer cover 100, such that the insert 200 at least partially covers the inward facing side of the outer cover 100, and the outward facing side of the outer cover 100 forms an outermost surface of the absorbent article 1 . Thus, an innermost surface of the outer cover 100 faces an outermost surface of the insert 200, such that for the opposite surfaces holds that, during use, an outward facing surface of the outer cover 100 is intended to face away from the wearer and the inward facing surface of the insert 200 contacts the wearer’s skin. In the depicted absorbent article 1 , a substantial part of both the innermost surface of the outer cover 100 and the innermost surface of the insert 200 are visible, together forming the innermost surface of the absorbent article that contacts the wearer’s skin during use.

The absorbent article 1 has a front section aSf, a back section aSb, and a crotch section aSc provided there between along the longitudinal central axis Y, together spanning a total longitudinal length aL measured along the longitudinal central axis Y, from a front edge of the absorbent article 1 to a back edge of the absorbent article 1 , via the crotch section Sc. As such, the total longitudinal length aL is the maximum longitudinal length of the absorbent article 1 as measured over a minimum width of the crotch section aSc of the absorbent article 1 .

Similarly, the outer cover 100 has a front section oSf, a back section oSb, and a crotch section oSc provided therebetween along the longitudinal central axis Ya (see Fig. 3a). The total longitudinal length oL of the outer cover 100 is the maximum length from a front edge 101 of the outer cover 100 to a back edge 102 of the outer cover, as measured over a minimum width of the crotch section oSc of the outer cover 100. Accordingly, portions of the outer cover 100 extending transversally beyond the minimum width of the crotch section oSc of the outer cover are disregarded when determining the longitudinal length oLc of the outer cover 100. The longitudinal length aL of the absorbent article 1 may correspond approximately to the longitudinal length oL of the outer cover 100. However, it is to be understood that the presence of the absorbent insert 200 attached to the outer cover 100 in the absorbent article may imply that the outer cover is e.g. wrinkled or slightly contracted in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the longitudinal length aL of the absorbent article 1 may be less than the longitudinal length oL of the outer cover 100.

The crotch width aWc of the absorbent article 1 is the minimum width of the crotch section aSc of the absorbent article 1 , i.e. the minimum width of the portion of the absorbent article intended to be positioned between the leg openings formed by the absorbent article when in use. In the absorbent article, this may thus be the minimum width of the crotch section of either one or both of the insert 200 and the outer cover 100. Similarly, the crotch width oWc of the outer cover 100 is the minimum width of the crotch section oSc of the outer cover 100.

Outer cover - general

Fig. 3a illustrates the outer cover 100 of Fig. 1 as such, i.e. without any insert 200 attached. As seen in Fig. 3a, the crotch section oSc of the outer cover 100 interconnects the front and back sections oSf, oSb, of the outer cover 100.

In the back section oSb, the outer cover 100 may, comprise first and second side portions 110, 111 for enabling attachment of the outer cover 100 around the waist of a wearer. In the illustrated variant, only the back section oSb is provided with first and second side portions, adapted to be fastened to the front section oSf of the outer cover 100. However, in other variants, the front section oSf may be provided with side portions, and/or the front section oSf and the back section oSb may be provided with side portions. However, the illustrated variant with the back section oSb having first and second side portions 100, 111 is believed to be advantageous for facilitating use by a caregiver and enhancing comfort for the wearer.

The side portions 110, 111 in the back section oSb may, as in the illustrated variant, extend, substantially symmetrical, from the back edge 102 and outward in transverse direction x. The side portions 110, 111 are each provided with attachment means 115, 116 on the inward facing side, at a respective distal end thereof. The attachment means 115, 116 are adapted to detachably attach to matching attachment means 117 on the outward facing side of the front section oSf of the outer cover 100. The attachment means 115, 116 and matching attachment means may for example consist of hook and loop surfaces.

In the illustrated variant, a total transversal width between a distal edge of each of the side portions 110, 111 is larger than a total transversal width of the front edge 101 of the outer cover 100, such that the side portions can be reached around to attach to the front section Sf of the outer cover 100 for forming the pant-like structure. The closure in the front allows for a wearer lying down when being changed by a caregiver. The total transversal width spanned by the side portions 110, 111 and the total transversal width of the front edge 101 are chosen to fit a predetermined waist size of a person and the absorbent article 100 may be made available for a number of size ranges.

It will be obvious to the skilled person that the same effects can be achieved with side portions 110, 111 that are not symmetrically extending from the back edge 102, but instead have a first transversal width of one side portion be different from a second transversal width of another side portion.

The outer cover 100 is configured to be washable, preferably machine-washable, as discussed in the Summary section of this application.

The outer cover 100 comprises a garment portion 150, that forms the main structure, i.e. the front, back and crotch sections of the outer cover. Further, the garment portion 150 forms the side portions 110, 111 , of the outer cover 100. For example, and as in the illustrated embodiment, the garment portion 150 may comprise a main body 109, forming a transversally central portion of the garment portion 150, and extending longitudinally from the back edge 102 of the outer cover, via the crotch portion oSc and to the front edge 101 of the outer cover. As such, the crotch section oSc of the outer cover, at least a central portion of the front section oSf of the outer cover, and at least a central portion of the back section of the outer cover oSb may be formed by the main body 109. In the front and/or back section of the outer cover, the main body of the garment portion 150 may be provided with the one or more transversally extending side portions 110, 111.

As also discussed in the Summary section of this application, the garment portion 150 may be made from a breathable, liquid permeable material, such as a textile material, enabling the garment portion 150 to look and feel similar to regular underwear. The garment portion may comprise one or more panels, that together form at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of the surface area of the outer cover 100. Suitable materials for the garment portion 150 may comprise or consist of one or more of cotton, viscose, polyamide and polyester. Use of polyester materials is preferred when the outer cover needs to be washable, since such materials are known to retain their original size and shape better. To ensure a snug fit, independent of exact body-shape and throughout a wearer’s movements, the garment portion 150 preferably is made of stretchable material, having elastic properties in the longitudinal direction Y and/or the transverse direction X. Hereto, the material may be either a woven or knitted textile, with knitted textiles being preferred due to having better elastic properties.

As such, the garment portion 150 may be made by one or more fabric panels. For example, one fabric panel may form each of the main portion 109 and the side portions 110, 111.

To ensure the outer cover 100 staying in place in the crotch section oSc when the absorbent article 1 is worn, outer leg elastic members 151 , 152 may, as in the illustrated embodiment, be provided at the outer edges of the crotch section oSc of the outer cover 100, for securing the outer cover in place around the legs of a wearer. Through the garment portion 150 of the outer cover 100 being made from a liquid permeable material, these outer leg elastic members 151 , 152 do not provide fluid tightness and thus act not as fluid barriers. The outer leg elastic members 151 , 152 may be elastic wire, cord, strip, thread, etc, that is attached to the edges of the garment portion 150 in the crotch section oSc or interposed in between layers of material that form the edges of the garment portion 150, by sewing, gluing, thermal welding, etc.

The outer cover 100 is made from a breathable, liquid permeable material that provides the absorbent article with an undergarment shape, allowing the article being worn by a wearer similar to underpants whilst enabling easy changing of the wearer by a care-taker. This particular material used resembles regular underpants more closely than the backsheet material of diapers normally forming the outermost surface thereof, making this particular absorbent article more comfortable to wear and giving the wearer an increased feeling of dignity. Thus the outer cover 100 holds the insert in place, while the insert 200 provides the absorbent article 1 with leakage security and the absorptive capacity for retaining liquid and fecal material, i.e. the outer cover 100 has no fluid barriers.

Insert - general

Figs. 2a-2c illustrate a variant of an insert 200. It will occur to the skilled person that, since the outer cover 100 is reusable, it may be teamed with various different inserts, that may have features that look or are different from the ones depicted in Figs 2a-2c. Some non-limiting, possible variations are already indicated in this description. The depicted insert 200 has a liquid- permeable topsheet 205, a liquid-impermeable backsheet 206, an absorbent assembly 230. The insert 200 may, as the depicted variant, comprise inner side leakage barriers 220, 221 . The insert 200 may, as the depicted variant, comprise insert leg elastic members 210, 211 . The insert 200 comprises a front set of cover fastener areas 221 , 222 arranged in the front section iSf of the insert, and a back set of cover fastener areas 241 , 242 arranged in the back section iSb of the insert.

The insert 200 is extends along a longitudinal direction Y and a transverse direction X. The topsheet 205 forms part of the innermost surface of the insert 200 facing in an inward direction Zi and which is intended to be directed towards the wearer when the absorbent article is worn. The backsheet 206 is forming at least part of the outermost surface of the insert 200, facing in an outward direction Zo. The absorbent assembly 230 is enclosed between the topsheet 205 and the backsheet 206. The backsheet may cover the entire surface area of the insert 200, that is, the backsheet forms the outermost surface of the insert 200. Thus, the width iW and the length iL of the insert 200 maybe equal to the width and length of the backsheet.

The liquid-permeable topsheet 205 can consist of any material that is suitable for the purpose. Examples of commonly encountered liquid-permeable topsheet materials are nonwoven materials, perforated plastic films, meshes made of plastic or textile, and liquid-permeable foam layers. Liquid-permeable covering materials which consist of continuous thin fibers that extend predominantly in the longitudinal or transverse direction of the article are also encountered. Laminates consisting of two or more of the above-mentioned possible covering materials are also commonly encountered, as are coverings consisting of different materials in different parts of the surface.

The liquid-impermeable backsheet 206 may extend beyond the absorbent assembly 230 around the periphery of the entire absorbent assembly 230. The backsheet can consist of a range of different materials. The backsheet may consist of a thin and liquid-impermeable plastic film, although it is also possible to use other types of liquid-impermeable material such as nonwoven materials that have been made liquid-impermeable, for example by means of plastic coating, liquid-tight foam layers, liquid-tight adhesive or similar. The backsheet can also consist of a liquid- impermeable, vapor-permeable material, i.e. a liquid impermeable and breathable material.

The innermost layer of the insert 100 comprising the liquid-permeable topsheet 205 is attached to the backsheet 206 outside the absorbent assembly 230 along the entire periphery of the absorbent assembly 230. The innermost layer comprising the liquid-permeable topsheet 205 and the backsheet may be attached to one another by a number of different means. Examples of means of attachment include gluing, thermal fusion, ultrasonic welding or the like.

The absorbent assembly 230 may, as depicted, have a length and width that are smaller than the innermost layer comprising the topsheet 205 and the backsheet 206, thus being present in a central region of the insert 200 where liquid and feces exit the body of the wearer. This results in a less bulky, more comfortable design, thereby being preferred. However, it will occur to the skilled person that alternative sizes, shapes and configurations of the absorbent assembly 230 may also be suitable for use in an absorbent article as presented herein. As illustrated in Fig. 2a, the absorbent assembly 230 may have a longitudinal length iLc.

For example, and as illustrated in the drawings, the absorbent assembly 230 may have an hourglass-shape, which is intended to be situated at the narrowest area between the wearer’s thighs when being worn. The longitudinal side edges 203, 204 of the innermost layer comprising the topsheet 205 and of the backsheet 206 also correspond to this hour-glass shape. This results in the insert being more formfitting and thus more comfortable to wear than if it were to have a rectangular shape.

The absorbent assembly 230 may, as in the illustrated variant (Figs 2a - 2c) comprise a first layer 231 and a second layer 232. Further, the absorbent assembly may comprise a receiving layer 233. The receiving layer 233 is positioned directly below the topsheet 205 and is adapted to rapidly receive quite large quantities of liquid and to retain this liquid temporarily, in order subsequently to release the temporarily stored liquid to other parts of the absorbent assembly 230. Alternative configurations of the absorbent assembly 230 may be envisaged and both the second layer 232 and the receiving layer 233 may be considered optional, independent from one another. The absorbent assembly as such may be constructed similarly to known absorbent assemblies and as such can be constructed from one or more layers of cellulose fluff pulp. The cellulose fluff pulp can be mixed for this purpose with fibers or particles of a high-absorbency polymer material, known as superabsorbents, of the kind which, in conjunction with absorption, chemically bonds large quantities of liquid to form a liquid-containing gel. The absorbent assembly 230 can also contain high-absorbency polymer material arranged in a layer inside the absorption body or in conjunction with the surface or surfaces of the absorption body. Additional components to improve the characteristics of the absorbent assembly 230 can also be present in the absorbent assembly 230. Examples of such components include binding fibers, different types of liquid-distributing layers or fibers, form-stabilizing components, reinforcing fibers or the like. The absorbent assembly 230 can naturally also consist of other types of absorption material, such as absorbent nonwoven material, absorbent foam, textile materials, peat or mixtures of different kinds of absorption material.

As central transversal axis X as illustrated in Fig. 2a divides the insert 200 into a front half and a back half.

In some variants, the insert 200 may be symmetric as seen over the central transversal axis X. Thus, the absorbent assembly 230 may be symmetric as seen over the central transversal axis X of the insert 200. In this case, the insert 200 may provide for essentially the same absorbing function in the front half and in the back half of the insert 200.

In some variants, the insert 200 may be asymmetric as seen over the central transversal axis X. Thus, the absorbent assembly 230 may be asymmetric as seen over the central transversal axis X of the insert 200. In this case, the insert 200 may provide for different absorbing function in the front half and in the back half of the insert 200.

Insert leg elastic members

As depicted in Figs. 2a to 2c, the insert 200 may comprise insert leg elastic members 210, 211 . The insert leg elastic members 210, 211 are arranged in between the longitudinal outer edges of the absorbent assembly 230 and the longitudinal outer edges 203, 204 of the insert 200 on both sides of the insert 200, running essentially in the longitudinal direction of the insert 200. As depicted in Fig. 2a, the insert leg elastic members 210, 211 may be partially curved. For example, the insert leg elastic members may be partially curved so as to follow the shape of the absorbent assembly 230, when the absorbent assembly is hour-glass shaped. A maximum transversal width over the insert leg elastic members 210, 211 is defined as the leg elastics width iWI. As illustrated in the Figures, the transversal width over the insert leg elastic members 210, 211 is the width measured in a transversal direction including both insert leg elastic members 210, 211 in the pair of insert leg elastic members 210, 211 . The transversal width over the insert leg elastic members 210, 211 may, as in the illustrated embodiment, vary along the length of the insert leg elastic members 210, 211. The maximum transversal width over the leg elastic members 210, 211 in each of the front section iSf or back section iSb of the insert is the maximum transversal width which may be found along the length of the insert leg elastic members 210, 211 in the front or back section iSf, iSb, respectively.

The insert leg elastic members 210, 211 are included in the insert 200 for preventing liquid and faeces from leaking out past the longitudinal edges of the insert, ensuring a close fit around the legs of a wearer. Thus, the inner leg elastic members 210, 211 contribute to the insert 200 being leakproof when used to form the absorbent article 1 , which allows the entire outer cover 100 to be made of liquid-permeable material. Each of the insert leg elastic members 210, 211 may consist of one or more elastic elements, such as elastic threads, that have been applied in their stretched state between the innermost layer comprising the liquid-permeable topsheet 205 and the backsheet. The pair of insert leg elastics members 210, 211 have a longitudinal leg elastics length il_l, which may extend along at least 60% of the length of the insert. For example, the leg elastics length may be approximately coinciding with the length iLc of the absorbent assembly 230. The elastic members 210, 211 may be attached to the backsheet and the topsheet 205 by gluing, ultrasonic welding or the like.

As illustrated in Fig. 2a, in each of the front section iSf and the back section iSb of the insert 100, the insert 100 has a maximum width iW, and the leg elastics width iWI being the maximum transversal width between the leg elastic members 210, 211 is smaller than the maximum width Wi of the insert and larger than a transversal maximum width of the absorbent assembly 230.

A leg edge portion 212, 213 is defined between each insert leg elastic member 210, 211 and the adjacent side edge 203, 204 of the insert 200, in each of the front and back sections iSf, iSb of the insert 200. The leg edge portions 212, 213, may have a maximum width along the respective insert leg elastic member 210, 211 being at least 1 cm, such as at least 2 cm. The leg edge portions 212, 214 provide additional fluid leakage protection as well as increased comfort to the wearer.

Insert inner side leakage barriers

In order further to prevent liquid or faeces from leaking out via the side edges of the insert 200, the insert 200 may be provided with a pair of inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 on the inner surface, as depicted in Figs. 2a and 2b.

One inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 is arranged on either side of the central longitudinal axis Y and the inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 extend essentially in the longitudinal direction of the insert 200. The inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 comprise raisable parts which, when the insert is in use, raise in an inward direction from the topsheet 205, so as to form barriers against side leakage. The raisable parts of the inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 extend at least over a part of the crotch section iSc of the insert 200.

A maximum transversal barrier width iWg is measured between the attached edges 260b, 261 b of the raisable parts of the pair of inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 . The maximum transversal barrier width iWg may be smaller than a maximum transversal width iWI over the insert leg elastic members 210, 211 , if present. As in the illustrated variant, the maximum transversal barrier width iWg may be larger than a minimum transversal width of the absorbent assembly 230. In some variants, the maximum transversal barrier width iWg may optionally be larger than a maximum transversal width of the absorbent assembly 230. The respective inner side leakage barrier 260; 261 may be executed from a separate material strip, which exhibits two essentially parallel longitudinal edges. The material strip may be double-folded, in conjunction with which the parallel longitudinal edges are arranged adjacent to one another. At least a longitudinal edge of each material strip is attached to the innermost layer comprising the topsheet 205 and constitutes the attached edge 260b, 261 b of the respective inner side leakage barrier 260, 261 . As in the illustrated variant, a portion of the material strip may extend over the inside of the insert 200 all the way from the attached edge 260b, 261 to the adjacent longitudinal side edge 203, 204. The folded edge of the material strip constitutes the free edge of the inner side leakage barrier 260; 261 . The inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 are folded down over the innermost layer, i.e. over the topsheet 205, during manufacturing and storage, and have a raised configuration during use, in which at least in the crotch section iSc of the insert, the free edge is lifted up from the innermost layer comprising the topsheet 205.

In the depicted insert 200, the longitudinal front and back ends of the material strips are attached to the innermost layer comprising the topsheet 205 on the front edge 201 and the back edge 202 of the insert 200. Thus, the longitudinal front and back ends are not raisable.

The inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 further comprise elastic elements 260a, 261a attached to the inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 in a pre-tensioned state. The elastic elements 260a, 261 a are conveniently arranged adjacent to the free edges of the inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 , for example inside the folds of the material strips as in the illustrated variant. When the pretensioned elastic elements 260a, 261 a are released, they contract together with the free edges of the inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 , thereby causing the inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 to be brought into a raised configuration remote from the liquid-permeable topsheet 205. For example, the inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 may be brought into a raised position at least in crotch part of the insert corresponding to at least 60% of the longitudinal length of the insert, the crotch part being spaced from both the front end 201 and the back end 202 of the insert.

As depicted in Fig. 3a, the inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 form raisable parts where the inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 may be brought to the raised configuration over a majority of the longitudinal length of the insert 200. As depicted in Fig. 3b, the inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 may be attached to the topsheet 205 in attached regions adjacent the front end and the back end, respectively of the insert. In the attached regions, the material strip forming each inner side leakage barrier 260, 261 is attached to the topsheet, e.g. via a weld or an adhesive, such that, in the attached regions, the inner side leakage barriers are not raisable. For example, the inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 may be attached to the inward facing side of the insert 200 in the front edge portion 20T and/or in the rear edge portion 202’ of the insert.

Alternatively, the longitudinal ends of the material strips may be unattached to the innermost layer, such that the free edges of the material strips forming the inner side leakage barriers 220, 221 are free to raise up from the innermost layer upon bending of the insert into the use position, eventually without the help from pre-tensioned elastic elements. To reliably and comfortably hold the insert 200 in the outer cover 100, forming the absorbent article 1 , the insert 200 and outer cover 100 are detachably attachable to one another.

Cover fastener areas of insert

Hereto, as illustrated in Figs 2a and 2c, the insert 200 comprises a back set of cover fastener areas 241 , 242 in the back section iSb and a front set of cover fastener areas 221 , 222 in the front section iSf.

Each cover fastener area 221 , 222, 241 , 242 comprises a surface fastening material for providing detachable attachment of the insert to the outer cover. As will be described in more detail in the below, all of the cover fastener areas 221 , 222, 241 , 242 in the same front or back set need not comprise the same surface fastening material. Instead, in accordance with the present disclosure, and as will be described more in the below, the cover fastener areas in the same front or back set comprise different surface fastening materials, i.e. a first surface fastening material and a second surface fastening material.

In the illustrated variant, the back set of cover fastener areas in the back section iSb and the front set of cover fastener areas in the front section iSf each comprises two transversally spaced cover fastener areas 241 , 242; 221 , 222. However, other variants are possible, such that at least one of the sets of cover fastener areas comprising more than two cover fastener areas, for example four cover fastener areas.

Regardless of the amount of cover fastener areas comprised in a set, a transversal fastening width iWf may be defined as the transversal width spanned by the set of two or more cover fastener areas.

In the illustrated variant, each one of the cover fastener areas in the front set, and each one of the cover fastener areas in the back set is arranged at the same longitudinal location. Each one of the cover fastener areas moreover have the same length i Al as seen in the longitudinal direction.

However, other variants are possible, wherein for example at least one cover fastener area in a front/back set is arranged at a different longitudinal location than another cover fastener area in the front/back set. Still, the set of two or more cover fastener areas spans a longitudinal length iAI along the longitudinal axis L. However, it may be preferred that each one of the front set and the back set of cover fastener areas is symmetrical as seen over the longitudinal central axis Y.

A front edge portion 201 ’ is defined as the portion of the insert 200 extending from the front edge 201 of the insert 200 and over the longitudinal length iAI spanned by the front set of two or more cover fastener areas 221 , 222 in the front section iSf, and a back edge portion 202’ is defined as the portion of the insert 200 extending from the back edge 202 of the insert 200 and over the longitudinal length iAI spanned by the back set of two or more cover fastener areas 241 , 242 in the back section iSb. Each one of the front edge portion 201 ’ and/or the back edge portion 202’ may extend over an edge portion length being for example less than 20% of the longitudinal length of the insert, such as less than 10% of the longitudinal length of the insert.

As such, it may be ensured a large portion of the inward facing surface of the insert 200 remains available for directly contacting the wearer’s genital area and thus limiting the risk of soiling of the outer cover 100. As exemplified in the illustrated embodiment, in the longitudinal direction Y, each of the cover fastener areas 221 , 222, 241 , 242 in the set may be positioned at, i.e. be directly adjacent, the front edge 201 or the back edge 202, respectively. This is an advantage in manufacturing, as one piece of a fastener member material may be arranged over two subsequent inserts when formed on a continuous insert material line. In this instance, one cutting operation will separate the piece of fastener member material into two at the same time as the continuous insert material line is cut into separate inserts. In this case, the longitudinal length iAI spanned by the set of cover fastener areas will correspond to the longitudinal length of the respective edge portion 201 ’, 202’ of the insert 200. For example, each set of two or more cover fastener areas 221 , 222; 241 , 242 may span a longitudinal length iAI being less than 20% of the longitudinal length of the insert, such as less than 10% of the longitudinal length of the insert.

In the transverse direction X, each set of cover fastener areas 221 , 222; 241 , 242 in the front and back section iSf, iSb, respectively, extends over a transversal fastening width iWf. As exemplified in the drawings, the transversal fastening width iWf may be no less than, and preferably greater than, the leg elastics width iWI.

This particular positioning allows for the insert to be sufficiently tensioned when the absorbent article 1 is put on a wearer, ensuring reliable functioning of the insert leg elastic members 210, 21 1 .

The insert leg elastic members 210, 21 1 extend along a longitudinal insert leg elastics length iLI. The front edge portion 201 ’ and the back edge portion 202’ may advantageously be arranged so as not to overlap with the longitudinal insert leg elastics length iLI. In other words, each set of two or more cover fastener areas is confined to a front edge portion 201 ’ or a back edge portion 202’ not spanned by the leg elastics length iLI.

The transversal fastening width iWf may, as in the illustrated embodiment, extend over at least part of the leg edge portions 212, 213 of the insert, so as to ensure that the leg portions are automatically folded outward when the insert is attached to an outer cover. For example, the transversal fastening width may span into at least 50% of the transversal width of each leg portion, or at least 80% of the transversal width of each leg portion.

As in the illustrated example, in the back section iSb, the back set of two or more cover fastener areas comprises a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas 241 being arranged on a first transversal side of the longitudinal axis Y, and a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas 242 being arranged on a second transversal side of the longitudinal axis Y. Similarly, in the front section iSf, the front set of two or more cover fastener areas comprises a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas 221 being arranged on a first transversal side of the longitudinal axis Y, and a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas 222 being arranged on a second transversal side of the longitudinal axis Y.

In the back section iSb, the first subset of one or more cover fastener areas 241 is spaced from the second subset of one or more cover fastener areas 242 by a transversal spacing width iWs. Similarly, in the front section iSf, the first subset of one or more cover fastener areas 221 is spaced from the second subset of one or more cover fastener areas 222 by a transversal spacing width iWs. As such, in the front section iSf as well as in the back section iSb, the insert 200 is free from cover fastener areas over a spacing width iWs as measured between the subsets in the front or back section, respectively.

This contributes to the correct shaping of the insert in use, since the insert is to be unattached to the outer cover over the transversal spacing width. Moreover, by providing cover fastener areas substantially only at the locations which are most critical to ensure the correct positioning of the insert in the outer cover, correct assembly of the insert and an outer cover may be facilitated.

The transversal spacing width iWs may for example be at least 70 % of the transversal fastening width iWf. In the illustrated embodiment, each first or second subset of one or more cover fastener areas comprises one single cover fastener area. As such, the first and second subsets of one or more cover fastener areas in each of the front and back set together form a pair comprising two cover fastener areas (one cover fastener area in each subset) being spaced by the spacing width iWs.

As illustrated in the examples of the Figures, the cover fastener areas 221 , 222, 241 , 242 may be provided on the inward facing of the insert 200, each at a respective corner of the insert 200, for detachably attaching the insert 200 to the outer cover 100. The cover fastener areas 221 , 222, 241 , 242 are located outside the crotch section iSc, thereby preventing any overlap of the attachment to the outer cover 100 with the crotch section oSc and thus reducing the risk of soiling of the outer cover. The cover fastener areas 221 , 222, 241 , 242 together may cover less than 5% of the total surface area of the innermost layer comprising the topsheet 205. This is found to be sufficient for reliably attaching the insert inside the outer cover 100, thus using more material would result in unnecessary waste. Moreover, this implies that a relatively small portion of the innermost layer of the insert is occupied by the cover fastener areas 221 , 222, 241 , 242, and hence a relatively large portion of the innermost layer of the insert may be available for receiving bodily exudates when the absorbent article 1 is in use.

Use State and Folded State of the Insert

In accordance with the present disclosure, the variant of an insert 200 depicted in Figs. 2a to 2c comprises, in the front section iSf of the insert 200, a front set of two or more cover fastener areas 221 , 222 arranged on the inward facing side of the insert 200. One or more of the cover fastener areas 221 , 222 is/are arranged on a first transversal side of the longitudinal central axis Y so as to form a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas 221 , and one or more of the cover fastener areas 221 , 222 is/are arranged on a second transversal side of the longitudinal central axis Y so as to form a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas 222. The first subset of cover fastener areas 221 comprises a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to 200 to the outer cover, and the second subset of cover fastener areas 222 comprises a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert 200 to the outer cover.

Similarly, in the back section iSb of the insert 200, a back set of two or more cover fastener areas 241 , 242 is arranged on the inward facing side of the insert 200. One or more of the cover fastener areas 241 , 242 is/are arranged on a first transversal side of the longitudinal central axis Y so as to form a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas 241 , and one or more of the cover fastener areas 241 , 242 is/are arranged on a second transversal side of the longitudinal central axis Y so as to form a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas 242. The first subset of cover fastener areas 241 comprises the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to 200 to the outer cover, and the second subset of cover fastener areas 242 comprises the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert 200 to the outer cover.

Accordingly, and as described in the above, the insert has a use state, in which the cover fastener areas 221 , 222, 241 , 242 of the first and second subsets of each of the front set and the back set are detachably attachable to an outer cover 100. In the use state, the insert 200 is in a generally unfolded condition as depicted in Fig. 2a, albeit of course when the absorbent article 1 is in use, the insert 200 may conform to the wearer and form e.g. a cup-shape.

Further, as depicted in the variant of Figs 2a to 2c, in each of the front section iSf and the back section iSb of the insert 200, the cover fastener area(s) of the first subset 221 , 241 comprises at least a first surface fastening material, and the cover fastener area(s) of the second subset 222, 242 comprises at least a second surface fastening material, the first surface fastening material being different from the second surface fastening material, and the first surface fastening material being complementary to the second surface fastening material so as to provide detachable mechanical and/or frictional attachment between them.

Thus, the insert has a folded state, wherein the insert is folded generally along the longitudinal axis Y and the cover fastener area(s) of the first subset 221 , 241 are attached to the cover fastener area(s) of the second subset 222, 242.

Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 4d, showing a use cycle of the absorbent article, after use a soiled insert 200 may be detached from the outer cover 200, folded along a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis Y, and the cover fastener areas of the first subsets 221 , 241 may be attached to the cover fastener areas of the second subsets 222, 242. Accordingly, in the folded state, the insert 200 is provided as a closed pocket with the soiled inward facing side of the insert inside the fold, and the backward facing side comprising the backsheet to the outside. Thus, in the folded state, the closed fold of the insert may contain any urine or faeces remaining on the inward facing side of the insert and also remove the soiled inward facing side per se from exposure, so as to facilitate handling of the insert after use.

As in the illustrated variant, the first and second subsets may be spaced, preferably symmetrically spaced, around the longitudinal central axis Y of the insert by a transversal spacing width iWs. Moreover, as in the illustrated variant, the cover fastener areas of the first subset 221 , 241 mirror the cover fastener areas 222, 242 of the second subset as seen along the longitudinal central axis Y. Thus, in the folded state, the insert 100 may be folded along the longitudinal axis Y and with each cover fastener area 221 , 241 in the first subset meeting a corresponding cover fastener area 222, 242 of the second subset.

As mentioned in the above, each of the cover fastener areas 221 , 222, 241 , 242 comprises the first surface fastening material or the second surface fastening material. For example, the first surface fastening material and the second surface material may each be a surface fastening material comprising a plurality of discrete elements for providing frictional and/or mechanical attachment, wherein the discrete elements of the first surface fastening material are complementary to the discrete elements of the second surface fastening material. A well-known type of such complementary surface fastening materials is loop material and hook material, for example such that are commonly known as Velcro©.

In with a first type of variants, and as illustrated in the drawings, in the front section iSf of the insert, the first transversal side of the insert 200 comprises the first subset of one or more cover fastener areas 221 comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and the second transversal side of the insert comprises the second subset 222 of one or more cover fastener areas comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and, in the back section iSb of the insert, the first transversal side of the insert comprises the first subset of one or more cover fastener areas 241 comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and the second transversal side of the insert comprises the second subset of one or more cover fastener areas 242 comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover.

Thus, the first subsets 221 , 241 of one or more cover fastener areas in both the front and the back section is located on a first side of the longitudinal central axis and the second subsets 222, 242 of one or more cover fastener areas in both the front and the back section is located on a second side of the longitudinal central axis. As a result, the fastening material on the intended left side of the insert is the same in both the front section and the back section and vice versa for the intended right side of the insert. As mentioned in the summary section, this type of variants may present advantages when it comes to user friendliness, manufacture, and control of the front/back orientation of the insert. Optionally, in this first type of variants, the absorbent assembly may be asymmetrical with respect to a central transversal axis of the insert.

However, as also mentioned in the Summary, a second type of variant is also feasible, wherein the first subsets 221 of one or more cover fastener areas in the front section is located on the same side of the longitudinal central axis as the second subsets 242 of one or more cover fastener areas in the back section, and vice versa.

In the illustrated variant, the first fastening material of cover fastener areas in the first subsets 221 , 241 comprises hooks, and the second fastening material of cover fastener areas in the second subsets 222, 242 comprises loops. (N.B: the illustration is schematical and does not reflect an intended density of hooks/loops over the cover fastener areas.)

Further, as in the illustrated variant, the insert may be provided with cover fastener members 221 a, 241 a, 222a, 242a providing the cover fastener areas 221 , 241 , 222, 242. For example, one cover fastener member 221 a, 241 a, 222a, 242a may provide one first or second subset of cover fastener areas 221 ,241 , 222, 242.

As described in the above, the insert may comprise a pair of insert leg elastic members 210, 21 1 and/or a pair of leg edge portions 212, 213, and/or a pair of inner side leakage barriers 260, 261 .

Each of these features contributes (in addition to the advantages obtained when the insert is in the use state and attached to the outer cover) to keeping the insert safely closed around the inward facing side comprising the soiled topsheet when the insert is in the folded state. This is in particular the case when the transversal fastening width iWf spanned by the set of two or more cover fastener areas 221 , 222, 241 , 242 in each of the front section and the back section of the insert is greater than the leg elastics width and/or the barrier width, respectively.

Each first or second subset of cover fastener areas may, as in the illustrated variant, comprise only one single cover fastener area.

In the absorbent article 1 (for example as depicted in Fig. 1 ), the cover fastener areas 221 , 222, 241 , 242 are attached to the outer cover 100 in front and back flap members 120, 140.

Flap Member of Outer Cover

Returning to the description of the outer cover, as seen in Fig. 1 and 3a, in each one of the front section oSf and the back section oSb of the outer cover 100, a flap member 120, 140 is arranged so as to extend from the garment portion 150. The outward facing side of the flap members, in a use position, is facing a space which is open in a longitudinal direction Y towards the crotch section Sc for receiving the respective back edge portion 202’ or a front edge portion 201 ’ of the insert 200 therein, while the insert 200 extends over at least part of the crotch section Sc of the absorbent article 1 . The inward facing side of the insert 200 is to be attached to the outer cover 100 via the front and back flap members 120, 140.

In the outer cover 100, the front and back flap members 120, 140 may be made from the same material as the garment portion 150. In particular, a single sheet of material may form at least one layer of the front and back flap members 120, 140, and the garment portion 150.

In the illustrated variant, a single flap member 120, 140 is arranged in each of the back and front section oSb, oSf.

In some variants, the flap member 120, 140 may extend from the garment portion 150 via e.g. a fold. For example, the flap member 120, 140 may comprise a fabric panel also forming at least part of the main portion 109 of the garment portion 150.

In other variants, as in the illustrated variant, the flap member 120, 140 may be attached to the garment portion 150 by a joint, such as e.g. seams or stitches. For example, the flap member may comprise a fabric panel being attached to the garment portion.

As in the illustrated variant, the flap member 120, 140 may extend from the front edge 101 or back edge 102, respectively, of the outer cover 100.

For example, the flap member 120, 140 may be joined (either via a fold or via joint members such as e.g. seams or stitches) to the garment portion 150 along at least one of a back or front edge, respectively, and/or a pair of side edges.

In the depicted configuration shown in Fig. 3a, the front and back flap members 120, 140 each extend transversally between a pair of side joints 148, 149; 128, 129, joining an inward facing surface of the garment portion 150 of the outer cover 100 with the flap member. Thus, the side joints join the side edges of the respective front and back flap members 120, 140 to the garment portion 150 such that the flap members are automatically in a closed position that forms the use position. However, to make details on the inside flap member more easily visible, the sides are unattached in the outer cover 100 as depicted in Fig. 3b, such that both the front and back flap members 120, 140 are shown in an open position, making the insides thereof, consisting of a body facing and a garment facing side, visible.

Through the presence of the joints 148, 149, 128, 129, the front and back flap members 120, 140 are held towards the use position, thereby protecting a wearer’s skin from contacting any insert attachment means inside the flap members. Further, the presence of the joints 148, 149, 128, 129 ensures that transversal forces to the outer cover as introduced when the outer cover is closed around the waist of a wearer are transmitted to the flap member. Accordingly, the flap member 120, 140 may be stretched out in a transversal direction.

In other variants of an outer cover, the flap member or flap members may be connected to the garment portion 150 via e.g. only side joints or only a rear joint or fold. When the flap member 120, 130 extends in a transversal direction X between a first and a second side joint 128, 129; 148, 149 joining the flap member to the garment portion 150, the space being open in a longitudinal direction towards the crotch section has a space width oWt as defined between the first and second side joints 128, 129; 148, 149. The space width oWt of each respective flap member 120, 140, is equal to or larger than the width of the respective front or back edge 201 , 202 of the insert 200. The space width oWt of the back flap member 140 may be substantially equal to the space width of the front flap member 120. In the depicted outer cover 200, the front flap member 120 has a space width substantially equal to the width of the front section. In the back section Sb, the space width of the flap member 140 is such that the first and second sides are attached to a respective edge of the first and second side portions 110, 111 that is nearest to the longitudinal central axis Y. Advantageously, this configuration allows the joints 148, 149 of the back flap member 140 being attached at or with the seam that attaches one or more material layers of the first and second side portions 110, 111 to the garment portion 150. Flat seams may be used, to further reduce the risk of skin chafing for the wearer.

Insert fastener areas of the outer cover

For example, as in the illustrated variant, for detachably fastening the insert 200 to the outer cover 100, in each of the front section Sf and the back section Sb, the outer cover may comprise a flap member, wherein each flap member is provided with a set of two or more insert fastener areas 121 , 122; 141 , 142 on an outer surface, i.e. a surface that is facing the space formed by the respective flap member when in the use position. In the depicted outer cover, in the front section oSf, the front flap member 120 is provided with a set comprising two insert fastener areas 121 , 122 on an outward facing inner side 120a of the flap member 120. Similarly, in the back section Sb, the back flap member 140 is provided with a set comprising two insert fastener areas 141 , 142 on an outward facing inner side 140a of the flap member. A longitudinal length of each of the insert fastener areas 121 , 122, 141 , 142 is smaller than a longitudinal length of a respective front or back flap member 120, 140 in closed position, i.e. a longitudinal length of an outward facing inner side 120a, 140a of the flap members 120, 140.

Thus, as in the illustrated embodiment, each insert fastener area 121 , 122, 141 , 142 may be provided by a corresponding insert fastener member 121 a, 122a, 141 a, 142a, as shown in Fig. 3b. As such, each flap member 120, 140 comprises a fabric panel to which the insert fastener members 121 a, 122a; 141 a, 142a providing the insert fastener areas are attached.

Preferably, and as in the illustrated version, the insert fastener members of the flap member are completely confined within the area of the fabric panel.

As in the illustrated embodiment, the flap member 120, 140 may have a maximum longitudinal length oLt being less than 20% of the longitudinal length of the outer cover. For example, a sum of the maximum longitudinal lengths of the front flap member 120 and the back flap member 140 may bel ss than 30% of the longitudinal length of the outer cover. Thus, the attachment of the insert to the outer cover takes up only a minority of the length of the outer cover. The outward facing inner side 120a, 140a of each flap member 120, 140 comprises a set of two or more insert fastener areas 121 , 122; 141 , 142, each insert fastener area comprising a surface fastening material for providing detachable attachment to the insert.

Each set of insert fastener areas spans a transversal fastening width oWf. The transversal fastening width oWf may preferably be no less than a minimum transversal width oWc of the outer cover, i.e. no less than the crotch width oWc of the outer cover. As such, the transversal fastening width oWf will be no less than a minimum leg elastics spacing width as measured between the leg elastics 151 , 152 of the outer cover 100.

The transversal fastening width oWf may preferably be less than a maximum leg elastics spacing width oWI as measured between the leg elastics 151 , 152 of the outer cover.

As such, it may be ensured that, when an insert 200 is attached to the outer cover 100, the leg elastics 152, 152 of the outer cover assists in providing a correct position for the insert visavi the wearer.

Moreover, it may be ensured that the outer cover, when used, provides the required tension in tranversal direction to the insert 200 attached thereto, so as to stretch any insert leg elastic members 210, 21 1 and any inner side barriers 260, 261 to their correct position.

For example, and as in the illustrated variant, each of the front set and the back set of insert fastener areas may comprise a first subset of insert fastener areas 121 ; 141 and a second subset of insert fastener areas 122; 142, the first and seconds subsets being transversally spaced by a transversal spacing width oWs. To further ensure correct positioning and shaping of the insert visavi the outer cover, the transversal fastener spacing width oWs may be no less than the minimum transversal width oWc of the outer cover.

Use Position and Folded Flap Position of the Outer Cover

As described in the above, and as depicted in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3a, in each of the front section oSf and back section oSb of the outer cover 100, the flap member 120, 140 has a use position wherein an outward facing inner side 120a, 140a of the flap member 120,140 is facing the inward facing side of the garment portion 150 so as to form a space between the outward facing inner side 120a, 140a of the flap member 120, 140 and the inward facing side of the garment portion 150, which space is open in a longitudinal direction towards the crotch section oSc.

In the front section oSf, the outer cover comprises a front set of two or more insert fastener areas 121 , 122 arranged on the outward facing inner side 120a of the (front) flap member 120. Similarly, in the back section oSb, the outer cover comprises a back set of two or more insert fastener areas 141 , 142 arranged on the outward facing inner side 140a of the (back) flap member 140.

Accordingly, when the flap member 120 in the front section oSf of the outer cover is in the use position, and the flap member 140 in the back section oSb of the outer cover is in the use position, the inward facing side of an insert 200 is detachably attachable to the outer cover 100 with the front set of two or more insert fastener areas 121 , 122 being attachable to a front edge portion 201 ’ or the insert 200, and the back set of two or more insert fastener areas 141 , 142 being attachable to a rear edge portion 202’ of the insert, while the insert extends inwardly over at least part of the crotch portion oSc of the garment portion 150.

Further, in accordance with the present disclosure, in the front section oSf, one or more of the insert fastener areas 121 , 122 in the front set is arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover 100 so as to form a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas 121 , the first subset of insert fastener areas 121 comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert 200 to the outer cover 100, and one or more of the insert fastener areas 121 , 122 in the front set is arranged on the other one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover 100 so as to form a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas 122, the second subset of insert fastener areas 122 comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert 200 to the outer cover 100. Similarly, in the back section oSb one or more of the insert fastener areas 141 , 142 in the back set is arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover 100 so as to form a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas 141 , the first subset of insert fastener areas 141 comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert 200 to the outer cover 100, and one or more of the insert fastener areas 141 , 142 in the back set is arranged on the other one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover 100 so as to form a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas 142, the second subset of insert fastener areas 142 comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert 200 to the outer cover 100.

The first surface fastening material is different to the second surface fastening material, and the first surface fastening material is complementary to the second surface fastening material so as to provide detachable mechanical and/or frictional attachment between them. Accordingly, the outer cover has a non-use position, wherein, in the front section oSf, the (front) flap member 120 is folded generally along the longitudinal axis Y and the insert fastener area(s) of the first subset 121 are attached to the insert fastener area(s) 122 of the second subset, and, in the back section oSb, the (back) flap member 130 is folded generally along the longitudinal axis Y and the insert fastener area(s) of the first subset 141 are attached to the insert fastener area(s) 142 of the second subset.

As illustrated in Fig. 4d showing a use cycle of an absorbent article, once a soiled insert 200 is detached from the outer cover 100, a user may fold the flap members 120, 140 along a direction parallel to the transversal axis Y such that the insert fastener members 121 , 141 of the first subsets attach to the insert fastener members 122, 142 of the second subsets.

As in the illustrated variant, in the front and back sets, the first and second subsets may be spaced, preferably symmetrically spaced, around the longitudinal central axis Y of the outer cover by a transversal spacing width oWs. Moreover, as in the illustrated variant, the insert fastener areas of the first subset 121 , 141 mirror the insert fastener areas 122, 142 of the second subset as seen along the longitudinal central axis Y. Thus, in the folded state, the flap members 120, 140 may be folded along the longitudinal axis Y and with each insert fastener area 121 , 141 in the first subset meeting a corresponding insert fastener area 122, 142 of the second subset.

As mentioned in the above, each of the insert fastener areas 121 , 122, 141 , 142 comprises a first surface fastening material or a second surface fastening material. For example, and as illustrated herein, the first surface fastening material provides frictional and/or mechanical detachable attachment to the second surface fastening material. For example, the first surface fastening material and the second surface material may each be a surface fastening material comprising a plurality of discrete elements for providing frictional and/or mechanical attachment, wherein the discrete elements of the first surface fastening material are complementary to the discrete elements of the second surface fastening material. A well-known type of such complementary surface fastening materials is loop material and hook material, together also commonly known as Velcro©.

As in the illustrated variant, each insert fastener area 121 ; 141 in the first subset may comprise the first surface fastening material and each insert fastener area 122; 142 in the second subset comprises the second surface fastening material.

As in the illustrated variant, optionally in a first type of variants, in the front section oSf the first transversal side of the outer cover 100 comprises the first subset of one or more insert fastener areas 121 comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert 200 to the outer cover 100, and the second transversal side of the outer cover 100 comprises the second subset of one or more insert fastener areas 122 comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert 200 to the outer cover 100, and in the back section oSb of the outer cover 100, the first transversal side of the outer cover 100 comprises the first subset of one or more insert fastener areas 141 comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert 200 to the outer cover 100, and the second transversal side of the outer cover 100 comprises the second subset of one or more insert fastener areas 142 comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert 200 to the outer cover 100.

However, as outlined in the Summary section, other types of variants are feasible.

In the illustrated variant, the first fastening material of the insert fastener areas in the first subsets 121 , 141 comprises loops, and the second fastening material of the insert fastener areas in the second subsets 122, 142 comprises hooks. (N.B: the illustration is schematical and does not reflect an intended density of hooks/loops over the insert fastener areas.)

Further, as in the illustrated variant, the insert may be provided with insert fastener members 121 a, 141 a, 122a, 142a providing the insert fastener areas 121 , 141 , 122, 142. For example, one single insert fastener member 121 a, 141 a, 122a, 142a may provide one first or second subset of insert fastener areas 121 ,141 , 122, 142.

Each first or second subset of insert fastener areas may, as in the illustrated variant, comprise only one single insert fastener area.

Advantageously, the first surface fastening material and the second surface fastening material are non-adherent to the garment portion 150.

In the illustrated variant, each subset of insert fastener areas comprises one single insert fastener area.

Absorbent article

It will be understood that the set of attachment areas 21 , 22; 41 , 42 in the depicted variant of the absorbent article 1 is formed by the insert fastener areas 121 , 122; 141 , 142 being attached to the cover fastener areas 221 , 222; 241 , 242 with, in each respective front or back section, the first subset of the insert fastener areas being attached to the first subset of the cover fastener areas, and the second subset of the insert fastener areas being attached to the second subset of the cover fastener areas. Thus, the first fastening material of the first subset of cover fastener areas 221 , 241 , is complementary to the first fastening material of the first subset of insert fastener areas 121 , 141 and the second fastening material of the second subset of cover fastener areas 222, 242 is complementary to the second fastening material of the second subset of insert fastener areas 122, 142.

Preferably, the dimensions of the outer cover 100 and the insert 200 are such that, when the insert is normally attached in the outer cover, the front and back flap members 120, 140 do not overlap with the absorbent assembly 230.

For example, each flap member 120, 140 may have a longitudinal flap length oLt being such that, in the use position, when the insert 200 is attached to the outer cover 100, the flap member 120,

140 extend(s) over less than 20% of the insert longitudinal length il_, preferably over less than 10% of the insert longitudinal length iL.

For example, the total area of the front and back flap members 120, 140 may cover less than 80 %, preferably less than 85%, of a total insert area. The front and back flap members 120, 140 may be sized such that less than 15% of the total insert area is covered during use, preferably less than 10%.

Fastener areas

For example, and as in the illustrated variant, each insert fastener area 121 , 122, 141 , 142 may be provided by an insert fastener member 121 a, 122a, 141 a, 142a, the first subset thereof 121 a,

141 a comprising a fastening material being a hook material and the second subset thereof 122a, 142a comprising a fastening material being a loop material. Each insert fastener member may be attached on the outward facing inner side 120a, 140a of the respective front and back flap members 120, 140 of the outer cover.

In the insert, each cover fastener area 221 , 222, 242, 242 may be provided by a cover fastener member 221 ,. 222a, 241 a, 242a, the first subset thereof 221 a, 241 a comprising a fastening material being a loop material and the second subset thereof 222a, 242a comprising a fastening material being a hook material. Each cover fastener member may be attached on the inward facing side of the insert.

In the use position, the flap members 120, 140 fully cover the cover fastener areas 221 , 222, 241 , 242 of the insert 200, thereby also preventing any contact between the wearer’s skin and the attachment material. Since such material is often relatively rough, compared to topsheet material and the materials used for the garment portion 150 of the outer cover 100, the covering thereof reduces the risk of chafing.

Although the depicted embodiment shows hook and loop fasteners being used, alternative surface fastening materials may also be suitable and may be used instead of some or all of the insert fastener areas and cover fastener areas. Such alternative surface fastening materials provide substantially uniform fastening over a predetermined surface area, rather than point connections, such as buttons, snaps, rivets, etc, thereby minimizing the risk of chafing to the skin associated with these point connections.

In order to ensure that the outer cover is washable, the surface fastening materials provided thereon should be both reusable and washable.

A further advantage to using fastener areas comprising a surface fastening material, including the depicted hook and loop members, is that the fastening is provided over a surface area, which provides more placement tolerance when attaching the insert to the outer cover. As a result, the attaching of the insert to the outer cover is easier, since it requires less precision, and therefore faster than when point connections are being used.

Figs. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D depict the use-cycle of an absorbent article 1 similar to the article depicted in Fig. 1 , respectively showing a package 300 containing at least an insert 200, the attachment of an insert 200 into an outer cover 100, the absorbent article being worn by a wearer and the removal and disposal of an insert 200 and cleaning of the outer cover 1 .

The package in Fig. 4A may be available containing a predetermined amount of inserts and/or one or more outer covers. In Fig. 4B is shown that first the insert 200 is detachably attached inside the corresponding flap members of the outer cover 100. Attachment is performed as described in the above. Next, the absorbent article is put on a wearer, as depicted in Fig. 4C. For the particular embodiment of the outer cover 100, side portions 110, 111 are arranged on the back end part of the article and attached to the front end part of the article, on the outward facing surface of the outer cover 100, when the article is put on a wearer. Preferably, the outer cover 100 is provided with complementary attachment means 117, 118 (e.g. landing zones) (See Fig. 4c and Fig. 3a) at the front end part, on the surface facing away from the wearer, as depicted. The complementary attachment means 1 17, 1 18 are adapted for receiving the attachment means 1 15, 1 16 (See Fig. 4c and Fig. 3a) provided on the first and second side portions 1 10, 1 1 1 to ensure good detachable attachment without potentially causing damage to the main material forming the outward facing surface of the outer cover 100.

After use, the entire absorbent article 1 is removed from the wearer by detaching the first and second side portions. Thereafter, the insert may be separated from the outer cover as depicted in Fig. 4D.

Once detached from the outer cover 100, the insert 100 may be folded generally along the longitudinal axis Y, and the cover fastener areas of the first subsets 121 , 141 in the front section iSf and the back section iSb of the insert may be attached to the respective cover fastener areas of the second subsets 122, 142 in the front section iSf and in the back section iSb, such that the insert 100 assumes its folded state.

In the present embodiment, the insert 200 is a disposable insert. Thus the insert 100 may be folded to its folded state, securing any bodily extrudates within the compartment formed by the folded insert 100, and thrown away.

Also in variants where the insert 200 is instead a reusable insert, such as a washable insert, the folded state may be used to secure remaining urine or faeces within the compartment formed, for later disposal. However, in this case, the folded state may also be advantageous during washing of the insert, since in the folded state the cover fastener areas are all protected by virtue of being attached to each other. It may be noted that although a folded state where the inward facing side of the insert is positioned inside the fold may be advantageous, it is possible (although a bit more cumbersome) to fold the insert such that the inward facing side of the insert is exposed and the outward facing side of the insert is inside the fold, and attaching the cover fastener areas of the first subset to the cover fastener areas of the second subset. This option might be preferred depending on the washing requirements of the insert.

The outer cover 100 is washable, such that it may be washed with the flap member of the outer cover 100 being in its folded state to protect the insert fastener areas, as depicted.

In a following use-cycle, the same outer cover 100 is then used with a new, another, insert 200.

It will be understood that the described use-cycle may be the same for many variants of the absorbent articles, independent from the particular shape of the outer cover and the insert. Furthermore, it will be understood that the use-cycle will be substantially the same for variants of absorbent articles according to the present description where the outer cover is reusable, apart from the insert being washed prior to being re-used in the following use-cycle, rather than discarded.

The present invention has been described with reference to a number of explanatory embodiments as shown in the figures. Obvious modifications and alternative implementations of some parts or elements will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the foregoing detailed description. In particular, it will be obvious to the skilled person that various alternatives explicitly mentioned in the detailed description may be implemented independently from other explicitly mentioned alternatives that are not explicitly described as being related thereto. The invention is intended to be construed as encompassing all such modifications and alternative implementations to the extent that they fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1 . An absorbent insert (200) for use with an outer cover (100) for forming an absorbent article (1) adapted to be worn about a wearer’s waist, the insert (200) being shaped to, in use, cover a wearer’s pubic area and a predefined part of the buttocks, and the insert extending along a longitudinal direction (Y), and along a transversal direction (X), which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (Y), wherein a thickness direction (Z) is defined perpendicular to the transversal and longitudinal directions (X, Y), the thickness direction (Z) being an inward direction (Zi), towards the wearer, when the absorbent article is worn, and an outward direction (Z_o), away from the wearer, when the article is worn, wherein the insert has a longitudinal length (iL) that extends along the longitudinal direction (Y) and the insert is subdivided into a front section (iSf), a back section (iSb) and a crotch section (iSc) arranged between the front section (iSf) and the back section (iSb) along the longitudinal length (iL), the insert (200) comprises a liquid impermeable backsheet (206), a liquid permeable topsheet (205), and an absorbent assembly (230) between the backsheet (106) and the topsheet (205), and the insert (200) has an inward facing side (203) comprising the topsheet (205) to be directed towards the wearer, and an outward facing side (204) to be directed towards the outer cover (100), when the article is in use, wherein a longitudinal central axis (Y) divides the absorbent insert (200) into a first transversal side and a second transversal side, and in the front section (iSf) of the insert (200), the insert (200) comprises a front set of two or more cover fastener areas (221 , 222) arranged on the inward facing side of the insert (200), wherein one or more of the cover fastener areas (221 , 222) in the front set is/are arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert (200 so as to form a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas (221 ), the first subset of cover fastener areas (221 ) comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert (100) to the outer cover, and one or more of the cover fastener areas (221 , 222) in the front set is/are arranged on the other of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert, so as to form a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas (222), the second subset of cover fastener areas (222) comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, and in the back section (iSb) of the insert (200), the insert (200) comprises a back set of two or more cover fastener areas (241 , 242) arranged on the inward facing side of the insert (200), wherein one or more of the cover fastener areas (241 , 242) in the back set is/are arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert (200) so as to form a first subset of one or more cover fastener areas (241 ), the first subset of cover fastener areas (241 ) comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert (200) to the outer cover, and one or more of the cover fastener areas (241 , 242) in the back set is/are arranged on the other of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the insert, so as to form a second subset of one or more cover fastener areas (242), the second subset of cover fastener areas (242) comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert to the outer cover, wherein the first surface fastening material is different from the second surface fastening material, and the first surface fastening material is complementary to the second surface fastening material so as to provide detachable mechanical and/or frictional attachment between them, whereby the insert has an use state, in which the cover fastener areas (221 , 222) of the first subset and of the second subset of the front set, and the cover fastener areas (241 , 242) of the first subset and of the second subset of the back set are detachably attachable to an outer cover, and the insert has a folded state, wherein the insert is folded generally along the longitudinal axis (Y) and, in the front section (iSf), the one or more cover fastener areas (221 ) of the first subset of the front set is/are attached to the one or more cover fastener area (222) of the second subset of the front set, and, in the back section (bSf), the one or more cover fastener areas (241 ) of the first subset of the back set is/are attached to the one or more cover fastener areas (242) of the second subset of the back set.

2. The absorbent insert (200) according to claim 1 , wherein, in the front section (iSf) of the insert (200), the first transversal side of the insert (200) comprises the first subset of one or more cover fastener areas (221 ) comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert (200) to the outer cover (200), and the second transversal side of the insert (200) comprises the second subset of one or more cover fastener areas (222) comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert (200) to the outer cover (100), and in the back section (iSb) of the insert (200) the first transversal side of the insert (200) comprises the first subset of one or more cover fastener areas (241 ) comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert (200) to the outer cover (100), and the second transversal side of the insert (200) comprises the second subset of one or more cover fastener areas (242) comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching the insert (200) to the outer cover (100).

3. The absorbent insert (200) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each cover fastener area (221 ;

241 ) arranged in the first transversal side of the insert (200) comprises the first surface fastening material and wherein each cover fastener area (222, 242) arranged in the second transversal side of the insert (200) comprises the second surface fastening material.

4. The absorbent insert according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first surface fastening material comprises hooks and the second surface fastening material comprises loops.

5.. The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in each of the front section (iSf) and the back section (iSb), the first and second subsets (221 , 222; 241 ,

242) are spaced, preferably symmetrically spaced, around the longitudinal central axis (Y) of the insert by a transversal spacing width (iWs).

6. The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in each of the front section (iSf) and the back section (iSb), the one or more cover fastener areas of the first subset mirror(s) the one or more cover fastener areas of the second subset as seen with respect to the longitudinal central axis (Y).

7. The insert according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (200) extends longitudinally between a front edge (201 ) and a back edge (202), and comprises longitudinal side edges (203, 204) connecting the front edge and the back edge, and the insert comprises a pair of insert leg elastic members (210, 21 1 ) extending essentially along the longitudinal direction (Y) of the insert, one leg elastic member (210, 21 1 ) of the pair being arranged on each side of the insert, transversally between the absorbent assembly (230) and the longitudinal side edges (203, 204) of the insert, wherein, in each one of the front section (iSf) and the back section (iSb) of the insert (200), a leg elastics width (iWI) is defined as the maximum transversal width over the leg elastic members (210, 21 1 ) in the front or back section (iSf, iSb), respectively, and preferably wherein, in each of the back section (iSb) and the front section (iSf), a transversal fastening width (iWf) spanned by the front/back set of two or more cover fastener areas (221 , 222; 241 , 242) is no less than the leg elastics width (iWI).

8. The insert according to claim 7, wherein in each of the back section (iSb) and the front section (iSf), the insert (200) comprises a pair of leg edge portions (212, 213), each leg edge portion extending longitudinally along a respective leg elastic member (210, 21 1 ), and transversally between the leg elastic member and a respective longitudinal side edge (203, 204) of the insert so as to define a maximum transversal leg edge width (iWlp) between the leg elastic member (210, 21 1 ) and the respective longitudinal side edge (203, 204), the maximum transversal leg edge width (iWlp) being at least 1 cm, such as at least 2 cm.

9. The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the claims 7 to 8, wherein an insert leg elastics length (ILI) is defined as the longitudinal length of the insert (200) along which the insert leg elastic members (210, 21 1 ) are active, the insert leg elastics length (ILI) being at least 50% of a total longitudinal length (IL) of the insert, such as at least 75%, or at least 85%, of the total longitudinal length (IL) of the insert.

10. The absorbent insert according to any one of the claims 7 to 9, wherein, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section (iSf) and the back section (iSb) of the insert (200), the front and/or back set of two or more cover fastener areas (240, 241 , 242, 243) is confined to a longitudinal section of the insert not spanned by the leg elastics length (ILI) of the pair of insert leg elastic members (210, 21 1 ).

1 1 . The absorbent insert according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inward facing side of the insert (200) comprises a pair of inner side leakage barriers (260, 261 ), extending in the longitudinal direction (Y) of the insert, preferably each one of the pair of inner side leakage barriers (260, 261 ) extending along a respective longitudinal side edge portion of the absorbent assembly (230).

12. The absorbent insert (200) according to claim 1 1 , wherein the inner side leakage barriers (260, 261 ) are adapted to be moveable between a first position, in which the inner side leakage barriers (260, 261 ) form a flat surface that is parallel to the topsheet (205), and a second position, in which the inner side leakage barriers (260, 261 ) are raised up from the liquid-permeable topsheet (205), over at least 60% of the longitudinal length (IL) of the insert (200), spaced from both a front edge (201 ) and a back edge (202) of the insert.

13. The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the claims 1 1 and 12, wherein each inner side leakage barrier (260, 261 ) comprises an elastic element (260a, 261 a).

14. The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (200) extends longitudinally between a front edge (201 ) and a back edge (202), and wherein, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section (iSf) and the back section (iSb) of the insert (200), the set of two or more cover fastener areas (221 , 222; 241 , 242) is positioned at or adjacent to the respective front or back edge (201 , 202) of the insert (200).

15. The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in least one, preferably each, of the front section (iSf) and the back section (iSb), the insert (200) comprises two or more cover fastener members (221 a, 222a; 241 a, 242a), each cover fastener member (221 a, 222a; 241 a, 242a) providing at least one of the two or more cover fastener areas (221 , 222; 241 , 242) in the front/back set.

16. The absorbent insert (200) according to claim 15, wherein at least one, such as each, of the two or more cover fastener members (221 a, 222a, 241 a, 242a) comprises a sheet formed base having a length in the longitudinal direction (Y) and a width in the transversal direction (X), the sheet formed base comprising one or more areas of surface fastening material.

17. The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of claims 15 - 16, wherein, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section (iSf) and the back section (iSb), the one or more cover fastener members (221 a; 241 a; 241 a; 242a) on the first side of the longitudinal axis (Y) comprise a loop material, and the one or more cover fastener members on the second side of the longitudinal axis (Y) (222a; 242a; 221 a; 241 a) comprise a hook material.

18. The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section (iSf) and the back section (iSb) of the insert (200), the set of two or more cover fastener areas (221 , 222; 241 , 242) spans a longitudinal length (IAI), which is no more than 20 % of the longitudinal length (iL) of the insert, such as no more than 10% of the longitudinal length of the insert.

19. The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a sum of a longitudinal length (iAI) spanned by any two or more cover fastener areas (221 , 222; 241 , 242) in the front section (iSf) and a longitudinal length (iAI) spanned by any one of more cover fastener areas (242, 243) in the back section (iSb) of the insert is no more than 30% of the longitudinal length (iL) of the insert, such as no more than 20% of the longitudinal length of the insert.

20. The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section (Sf) and the back section (Sb) of the insert (200), each of the two or more cover fastener areas (221 , 222; 241 , 242) in the set has an area (iAI x Aw) being no more than 10 % of the area of the insert, such as no more than 5 % of the area of the insert, or no more than 2% of the area of the insert.

21 . The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a total area of all of the two or more cover fastener areas (221 , 222; 241 , 242) of the insert (200) is no more than 25 % of the area of the insert, such as no more than 10% of the area of the insert.

22. The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in at least one, preferably each, of the front and back section (iSf, iSb), a transversal fastening width (iWf) spanned by the set of two or more cover fastener areas (221 , 222; 241 , 242) is at least 70% of the maximum width (Wi) of the insert in the front or back section, respectively, such as at least 80% or at least 90% of the maximum width (Wi).

23. The absorbent insert (200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (200) has a minimum transversal width (iWc) in the crotch section (iSc) of the insert (200) and, in the at least one, preferably each, of the front and back section (iSf, iSb), a transversal fastening width (iWf) spanned by the set of two or more cover fastener areas (221 , 222; 241 , 242) is no less than the minimum transversal width (iWc), such as no less than 1 10% of the minimum transversal width (iWc) or no less than 120% of the minimum transversal width (iWc).

24 The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the set of two or more cover fastener areas spans over a transversal fastening width (iWf), and the transversal spacing width (iWs) is at least 40 % of the transversal fastening width (iWf), such as at least 50% or at least 60% of the transversal fastening width (iWf).

25. The absorbent insert (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, having a total absorption capacity of at least 1000 ml, such as from 1000 to 4000 ml.

26. The insert according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert is configured for single-use.

27. A reusable outer cover (100) for an absorbent article (1 ), extending along a longitudinal direction (Y), and along a transversal direction (X), which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (Y), and wherein a thickness direction (Z) is defined perpendicular to both the longitudinal and transversal directions (X, Y), the thickness direction being an inward direction (Zi) towards the wearer, when the article is worn, and an outward direction (Z_o) away from the wearer, when the article is worn, the outer cover (100) having a longitudinal length (oL) that extends along the longitudinal direction (Y), the outer cover (100) comprising a garment portion (150) extending along the longitudinal length (oL), the garment portion (150) forming a front section (oSf), a back section (oSb), and a crotch section (oSc) of the outer cover (100), the crotch section (oSc) being arranged between the front section and the back section along the longitudinal length (oL), and the garment portion (150) being adapted to fit around a wearer’s waist, with the front section (oSf) being positioned at or close to the wearer’s belly, the back section (oSb) being positioned against the wearer’s lower back, and the crotch section (oSc) being positioned over the wearer’s pubic area and a predefined part of the buttocks, the garment portion (150) defines an inward facing side intended to face towards the wearer, and an outward facing side, intended to face away from the wearer, when the outer cover (100) is worn, wherein, in each, of the front section (oSf) and the back section (oSb), the outer cover (100) comprises at least one flap member (120,140) extending from the garment portion (150), each flap member (120, 140) having a use position wherein an outward facing inner side (120a, 140a) of the flap member (120,140) is facing the inward facing side of the garment portion (150) so as to form a space between the outward facing inner side (120a, 140a) of the flap member (120, 140) and the inward facing side of the garment portion (150), which space is open in a longitudinal direction towards the crotch section (Sc), wherein a longitudinal central axis (Y2) divides the outer cover (100) into a first transversal side and a second transversal side, and in the front section (oSf) of the outer cover (100), the outer cover (100) comprises a front set of two or more insert fastener areas (121 , 122) arranged on the outward facing inner side (120a) of the at least one flap member (120), and wherein one or more of the insert fastener areas (121 , 122) in the front set is/are arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover (100) so as to form a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas (121 ), the first subset of insert fastener areas (121 ) comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert (200) to the outer cover (100), and one or more of the insert fastener areas (121 , 122) in the front set is/are arranged on the other one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover (100) so as to form a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas (122), the second subset of insert fastener areas (122) comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert (200) to the outer cover (100), and in the back section (oSb) of the outer cover (100), the outer cover (100) comprises a back set of two or more insert fastener areas (141 , 142) arranged on the outward facing inner side (140a) of the at least one flap member (140), and wherein one or more of the insert fastener areas (141 , 142) in the back set is/are arranged on one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover (100) so as to form a first subset of one or more insert fastener areas (141 ), the first subset of insert fastener areas (141 ) comprising a first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert (200) to the outer cover (100), and one or more of the insert fastener areas (141 , 142) in the back set is/are arranged on the other one of the first transversal side and the second transversal side of the outer cover (100) so as to form a second subset of one or more insert fastener areas (142), the second subset of insert fastener areas (142) comprising a second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert (200) to the outer cover (100), and wherein, the first surface fastening material is different from the second surface fastening material, and the first surface fastening material is complementary to the second surface fastening material so as to provide detachable mechanical and/or frictional attachment between them, wherein, when the flap member (120) in the front section (oSf) of the outer cover is in the use position, and the flap member (140) in the back section (oSb) of the outer cover is in the use position, an insert (200) is detachably attachable to the outer cover (100) with the insert fastener areas (121 , 122) of the first subset and of the second subset of the front set being attached to a respective front edge portion (201 ’) of the insert, and the insert fastener areas (141 , 142) of the first subset and of the second subset of the back set being attached to a back edge portion (202’)of the insert while the insert extends inwardly over at least part of the crotch portion (oSc) of the garment portion (150), and the outer cover has non-use position, wherein the one or more insert fastener areas of the first subset (121 ) of the front set is/are attached to the one or more insert fastener areas (122) of the second subset of the front set, and the one or more insert fastener area(s) of the first subset (141 ) of the back set is/are attached to the one or more insert fastener area(s) of the second subset (142) of the back set.

28. The outer cover (100) according to claim 27, where the outer cover (100) comprises one single flap member (120,140) extending from the garment portion (150) in each of the front section (oSf) and the back section (oSb), the front set of two or more insert fastener areas (121 , 122) is arranged on the outward facing inner side (120a) of the single flap member (120) in the front section (oSf), and the back set of two or more insert fastener areas (141 , 142) is arranged on the outward facing inner side (140a) of the single flap member (140) in the back section (oSb), wherein, in said non-use position, the flap member (120) in the front section (oSf) of the outer cover is folded generally along the longitudinal axis (oY) and the one or more insert fastener areas of the first subset (121 ) of the front set is/are attached to the one or more insert fastener areas (122) of the second subset of the front set, and the flap member (140) in the back section (oSb) of the outer cover is folded generally along the longitudinal axis (oY), and the one or more insert fastener areas of the first subset (141 ) of the back set is/are attached to the one or more insert fastener areas (142) of the second subset of the back set.

29. The outer cover (100) according to claim 27 or 28, wherein, in the front section (oSf) of the outer cover (100), the first transversal side of the outer cover (100) comprises the first subset of one or more insert fastener areas (121 ) comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert (200) to the outer cover (100), and the second transversal side of the outer cover (100) comprises the second subset of one or more insert fastener areas (122) comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert (200) to the outer cover (100), and in the back section (oSb) of the outer cover (100), the first transversal side of the outer cover (100) comprises the first subset of one or more insert fastener areas (141 ) comprising the first surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert (200) to the outer cover (100), and the second transversal side of the outer cover (100) comprises the second subset of one or more insert fastener areas (142) comprising the second surface fastening material for detachably attaching an insert (200) to the outer cover (100).

30. The reusable outer cover (100) according to any one of the claims 27 to 29, wherein, in the front section (oSf) and in the back section (oSb) of the outer cover, each insert fastener area (121 ; 141 ) arranged on the first transversal side of the outer cover (100) comprises the first surface fastening material, and each insert fastener area (122; 142) arranged on the second transversal side of the outer cover (100) comprises the second surface fastening material.

31 . The reusable outer cover according to any one of the claims 27 to 30, wherein the first surface fastening material comprises loops and the second surface fastening material comprises hooks.

32. The reusable outer cover (100) according to any one of claims 27-31 , wherein the first surface fastening material and the second surface fastening material are non-adherent to the garment portion (150).

33. The reusable outer cover (100) according to any one of the claims 27 to 32, wherein, in the front section (oSf) and in the back section (oSb) of the outer cover, the first and second subsets of the front/back section set of two or more insert fastener areas (121 , 122; 141 , 142) are spaced, preferably symmetrically spaced around the longitudinal central axis (Y), by a transversal spacing width (iWs).

34. The reusable outer cover according to any one of the claims claim 27 to 33, wherein, in each of the front section (oSf) and the back section (oSb),the one or more insert fastener areas (121 , 141 ) of the first subset mirror the one or more insert fastener area(s) (122, 142) of the second subset as seen with respect to the longitudinal central axis (Y).

35. The outer cover (100) according to any one of claims 27 - 34, wherein the crotch section (oSc) of the outer cover defines a minimum transversal width (oWc) of the outer cover, and wherein the set of two or more insert fastener areas (121 , 122; 141 , 142) in the front section and/or back section of the outer cover are spaced by a transversal spacing width (oWs), the transversal spacing width being no less than the minimum transversal width (oWc).

36. The outer cover (100) according to claim 35, wherein, in the at least one, preferably each, of the front section (oSf) and the back section (oSb) of the outer cover, the set of two or more insert fastener areas (121 , 122; 141 , 142) spans over a transversal fastening width (oWf), which is no less than the minimum transversal width (oWc), such as the transveral fastening width (oWf) is no less than 1 10% of the minimum tranversal width (oWc), or no less than 120% of the minimum transversal width (oWc).

37. The outer cover (100) according to any one of the claims 27 to 36, wherein, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section (oSf) and the back section (oSb), the outer cover (100) comprises one or more insert fastener members (121 a, 122a; 141 a, 142a), each insert fastener member (121 a, 122a; 141 a, 142a) providing at least one of the two or more insert fastener areas (121 , 122; 141 , 142) of the set, and being part of the first subset of second subset

38. The outer cover (100) according to claim 37, wherein, in the at least one, preferably each, of the front section (oSf) and the back section (oSb), at least one, such as all, of the one or more insert fastener members (121 a; 122a; 141 a; 142a) comprises a sheet formed base having a length in the longitudinal direction (Y) and a width in the transversal direction (X), the sheet formed base comprising one or more areas of surface fastening material.

39. The outer cover (100) according to any one of claims 37 to 38, wherein the insert fastener members of first subset comprises a hook material (121 a, 142a) and the insert fastener members of the second subset (122a, 142a) comprises a loop material.

40. The outer cover (100) according to any one of the claims 27 to 39, wherein the outer cover comprises a pair of leg elastic members (151 ;152), arranged along the leg openings of the garment portion (150) at least in the crotch section (oS_c) thereof, and wherein a maximum leg elastics spacing width (oWL) is the maximum transversal distance between the leg elastic members (151 ; 152) in the outer cover, and wherein, in at least one, preferably each, of the front section (oSf) and the back section (oSb) of the outer cover, the transversal fastening width (oWf) is less than the maximum leg elastics spacing width (oWL).

41 . The outer cover (100) according to any one of the claims 27 to 40 wherein at least 50%, such as at least 70% or at least 90 % of a total area of the outer cover is liquid permeable.

42. The outer cover (100) according to any one of the claims 27 to 41 , wherein at least 50%, such as at least 70% or at least 90 % of a total area of the outer cover is breathable.

43. The outer cover (100) according to any one of the claims 27 to 42, wherein the outer cover is configured to be washable, preferably machine-washable, and wherein the outer cover is preferably configured for at least 20 wash cycles.

44. The outer cover (100) according to any one the claims 27 to 43, wherein the garment portion (150) comprises one or more fabric panels, wherein preferably at least one, such as each, of the one or more fabric panels comprise(s) a textile fabric, the textile fabric preferably being a knitted fabric.

45. The outer cover (100) according to any one of the claims 27 to 44, wherein the outer cover is essentially non-absorbing.

46. A packaging (300) comprising one or more inserts (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 26.

47. The packaging (300) according to claim 46, further comprising an outer cover (100) according to any one of claims 27 to 45.

48. An absorbent article, comprising an outer cover (100) in accordance with any one of the claims 27 to 45, and an insert (200) in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 26, wherein each of the front and back sections (iSf, iSb) of the insert (200) is detachably attached to the front and back section (oSf, oSb), respectively, of the outer cover (100), with the first subsets of cover fastener areas (221 , 241 ) of the insert (200) detachably attached to the first subsets of insert fastener areas (121 , 141 ) of the outer cover (100), and the second subsets of cover fastener areas (222, 242) of the insert (200) detachably attached to the second subsets of insert fastener areas (122, 142) of the outer cover (200).

49. The absorbent article according to claim 48, wherein the respective first subsets and second subsets of cover fastener areas (221 , 222; 241 , 242) of the insert (200) are complementary to the respective first subsets and second subsets of insert fastener areas (121 , 122; 141 , 142) of the outer cover (100) so as to provide detachable mechanical and/or frictional attachment between them.