Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-15
2001-02-27
Ruhl, Dennis (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
C604S387000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193703
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1 Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an absorbent article and method for protecting a user by absorbing or containing body fluids including menstrual fluids and/or other body exudates. More specifically, this invention relates to an absorbent article and method having side leakage protection and novel means and method for positioning and fastening the absorbent article to an undergarment.
2. Background of the Invention
Currently, wide varieties of products for the absorption of human body fluids are available in the form of feminine pads, sanitary napkins, panty shields, panty liners, and incontinence devices. Absorbent products for providing feminine care sanitary protection are designed to absorb body fluids, including menses, and come in different functional designs. Sanitary napkins and feminine pads externally worn about the pudendal area are absorbent pads designed primarily for menstrual flow. Panty liners or panty shields are thin sanitary napkin products worn about the pudendal area for light menstrual flow. Absorbent products for providing incontinence protection are designed to absorb body fluids, including urine.
These absorbent products generally have an absorbent positioned between a liquid-permeable body-side cover and a liquid-impermeable garment-facing baffle. These absorbent products include a top layer of the liquid-permeable body-side cover, a middle layer of the absorbent, and a bottom layer of the liquid-impermeable garment-facing baffle. A pressure sensitive adhesive generally is secured to the baffle. The pressure sensitive adhesive is used to attach the product to an inner crotch portion of an undergarment.
INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION
While absorbent products are commercially available and used widely today, a problem of leakage still persists, in that body fluids leak out at the sides of the absorbent products. Such side leakage can stain the undergarment and even the outer garments of a wearer, and accordingly such side leakage is a serious concern of the absorbent product user.
Side flaps, tabs, wings, and other side constructions, which extend from the sides of a feminine care pad, herein after are referred to as “side flaps.” Side flaps have been designed to fold onto opposite side flaps or to wrap around the undergarment to provide protection from side leakage. While side flaps available today have some success in absorbing side leakage, such side flaps have certain drawbacks.
Side flaps available today are costly to manufacture as they require non-conforming shapes creating excessive trim waste.
Side flaps available today also are awkward to use. Such side flaps require careful placement within the crotch portion of the wearer's undergarment, and even then are not generally comfortable to the wearer. Side flaps typically do not maintain their position when the protective adhesive peel strip is removed from the garment-facing side of the side flaps. Many times, the side flaps then become adhered to the garment side of the baffle, or they become inadvertently and undesirably adhered or stuck to another inappropriate surface. The user then must manipulate the side flap sticking to the baffle or other inappropriate surfaces, so as to guide and position the side flaps into proper positioning prior to use. The inadvertent sticking of the side flap to the baffle or other inappropriate surfaces many times makes the article unusable. Releasing the absorbent article product from the undergarment also can be difficult and inconvenient.
Another drawback of side flaps available today has been found when the wearer has only a light menstrual flow and does not need the side flaps. In these situations, many customers prefer not to use the side flaps during light menstrual flow because of their many drawbacks.
Many absorbent products available commercially today generally are designed to be attached to an adjacent undergarment, and they should be designed to be held stationary during use. Absorbent products, such as sanitary napkins, overnight pads, panty liners, incontinent garments, and even some underarm shields, are attached to an adjacent garment or undergarment for positioning and support. Pressure sensitive adhesives typically provide the means and method for affixing the absorbent product to an adjacent garment or undergarment. The pressure sensitive adhesive normally is applied to the garment-facing surface of the absorbent product and is covered temporarily by a releasable peel strip until the absorbent product is placed into use.
Pressure sensitive adhesive as applied to the garment-facing surface of the absorbent product is widely used in commercially available products today, but certain drawbacks have been found to persist. The cost of the adhesive and the cost of the releasable peel strip increase the overall cost of the absorbent product. Also, special equipment and extra steps are required during the manufacturing of absorbent products to apply the pressure sensitive adhesive and then to center and apply the releasable peel strip over the adhesive. The adhesive also can be a nuisance when it sticks to the inner surface of an undergarment, and when it leaves a tacky residue after the absorbent product is removed. The tacky residue is uncomfortable to the wearer, and the build up of the tacky residue produces a stain and eventually may ruin the undergarment. Further drawbacks are found in that it is difficult to reposition the absorbent product in the undergarment, e.g., in the manner of repositioning side flaps, after the adhesive has been attached to an inappropriate surface of the undergarment or other inappropriate surface.
Accordingly, there is a need for an absorbent article and method which provide side leakage protection, which prevent staining of undergarments and outer garments, and which provide a lower cost to produce the absorbent article, with lower manufacturing costs and lower material production. costs. An absorbent article and method also are needed which provide accurate positioning and convenient placement of the absorbent article onto the undergarment. An absorbent article and method also are needed which provide the user with a sense of comfort during use over a variety of situations, including in one aspect, when full absorbency is not needed, yet without sacrificing the full benefits of full leakage protection, convenience of positioning and application, and wearer comfort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention provides an absorbent article and method for protecting an undergarment from side leakage and for guiding the absorbent article into position for proper placement on the undergarment. An absorbent configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman and a liquid-impermeable baffle are provided with a pair of garment-attachment adjustable scroll members for receiving an arcuately shaped crotch portion of an undergarment. Arcuately shaped curled folds on a lateral side surface of the liquid-impermeable baffle form the adjustable scroll members. In one aspect, a liquid impervious backing surface is provided on each adjustable scroll member which does not readily wick fluid so that the fluid is immobilized in a local area. In one aspect, the arcuately shaped curled folds are formed by a polyethylene/polypropylene bi-component web material.
The article and method of the present invention include providing an absorbent designed to be attached to a crotch portion of an undergarment and having a body-side surface and an opposite garment-facing surface. A liquid-impermeable baffle is positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the garment-facing surface of the absorbent, and a liquid-permeable cover is positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the body-side surface of the absorbent. The cover and baffle cooperate to enclose the absorbent and form a pad having a pair of longitudinally oriented side edges and a pair of distally spaced ends. A garment-adhesive strip is secured to the garment-facing surface of the pad and is positioned along a longitudinal axis o
Connelly Thomas J.
Glantz Douglas G.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Parker Thomas M.
Ruhl Dennis
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