Franz Aschenbrenner, Kastl, Germany; Priscilla Eng Choo Goh, Singapore; Xueen George Hao, Beijing, China; DooHong Kim, Singapore; SangWook Lee, Singapore; Lin Miao, Beijing, China; Meijia Ng, Singapore; YeinSze Ong, Singapore; and Chunlei Pu, Beijing, China.
Assigned to Kimberly-Clark, Inc., Neenah, WI.

Filed: 12/30/11
Issued: 5/15/18

An absorbent article that generally extends in a plane defined by a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, wherein the article comprises: a base pad that contains a baffle and an absorbent core; a topsheet that overlies the base pad so that the absorbent core is positioned between the topsheet and the baffle, wherein the topsheet extends in the longitudinal direction to define a distal end and an opposing proximal end, wherein the topsheet is joined to the base pad in a manner such that at least a portion of the proximal end remains generally unbonded thereto, wherein the length of the topsheet is approximately the same as the length of the baffle, and wherein a cut is made in the topsheet to form a separate portion that defines the proximal end; and a fluid-shrinkable member that extends in the longitudinal direction so that at least a portion of the fluid-shrinkable member is located adjacent to the proximal end of the topsheet.