Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-15
2001-08-21
Ruhl, Dennis (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
C604S385030, C604S387000, C604S389000, C604S397000, C604S401000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06277105
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stain protection article and method for protecting a user's garments from body fluids including menstrual fluids and/or other body exudates. More specifically, this invention relates to a stain protection article and method for protecting a user's undergarment from side leakage of menstrual fluids around a feminine care absorbent pad.
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 protection are designed to absorb body fluids, including menses, and come in different functional designs. Sanitary napkins and feminine care 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 typically 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 typically is secured to the baffle. The pressure sensitive adhesive is used to attach the absorbent product to an inner crotch portion of a user's undergarment.
INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION
While feminine care absorbent products are commercially available and used widely today, a problem of leakage still persists. Menstrual fluids leak out around the sides of the feminine care absorbent products. Such side leakage stains a user's undergarments and outer garments.
Women today are drawn to use garments, including undergarments and outer garments, which are made from quality fabrics and construction. Staining by menstrual fluids generally ruins these garments made from quality fabrics having quality construction.
Accordingly, side leakage of menstrual fluids around the sides of a feminine care absorbent product is a serious concern of the feminine care absorbent product user.
Side flaps, tabs, wings, and other side constructions added onto the feminine care absorbent product have some success in absorbing the side leakage of menstrual fluids, but do not always absorb or contain all of the menstrual fluids, especially during periods of heavy flow. Side leakage, even with side flaps in place, sometimes is inevitable and almost always results in stains in a user's undergarments. However, even when the side flaps are effective in protecting the user's undergarments, an outer garment many times becomes stained.
Accordingly, there is a need for a stain protection article and method which provide protection against side leakage around the sides of a feminine care absorbent product. A stain protection article and method also are needed which prevent staining of undergarments and outer garments. A stain protection article and method also are needed which provide the user with a sense of comfort during use when full absorbency and full leakage protection are needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention provides a stain resistant strips article and method for protecting an undergarment from side leakage around a feminine care absorbent article, including a first stain resistant strip having a first strip stain protection sheet member and a first strip stain protection comfort cuff member aligned along the length of the first strip stain protection sheet member, wherein the first strip stain protection comfort cuff member is shaped to accommodate the inside leg of a user. A second stain resistant strip has a second strip stain protection sheet member and a second strip stain protection comfort cuff member aligned along the length of the second strip stain protection sheet member, wherein the second strip stain protection comfort cuff member is shaped to accommodate the inside leg of a user. A garment-attachment adhesive is provided for attaching the first strip stain protection sheet member and the second strip stain protection sheet member to a crotch portion of an undergarment. The first strip stain protection comfort cuff member and the strip stain protection comfort cuff member are composed of an elastic barrier adhesive (EBA) material.
The stain resistant strips article and method of the present invention further include providing a feminine care absorbent article completely separate from the first stain resistant strip and the second stain resistant strip and further include holding the feminine care absorbent article prior to use in a combination package formed from the first stain resistant strip and the second stain resistant strip.
In one aspect, the first stain resistant strip and the second stain resistant strip have arcuate shaped ends. In one aspect, the garment-attachment adhesive is positioned on a periphery of the first strip stain protection sheet member and on a periphery of the second strip stain protection sheet member for attaching to the crotch portion of an undergarment. In one embodiment, the first stain resistant strip and the second stain resistant strip have arcuate shaped ends.
A general object of the present invention is to provide a stain protection article and method which prevent staining of a user's undergarment.
Another general object of the present invention is to provide a stain protection article and method which prevent staining of outer garments.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a stain protection article and method which protect against side leakage around the sides of a feminine care absorbent product.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a stain protection article in a combination package with a feminine care absorbent product.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a stain protection article in a combination package with a feminine care absorbent product having packaging manufacturing cost advantages.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a stain protection article in a combination package with a feminine care absorbent product having cost of material packaging advantages.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a stain protection article in a combination package with a feminine care absorbent product which uses less packaging material.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an accurate and convenient placement and a secure positioning of the stain protection article of the present invention.
A more specific object of this invention is to provide a stain protection article and method which provide the user with a sense of comfort during use when full absorbency and full leakage protection are needed.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
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Connelly Thomas J.
Glantz Douglas G.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Parker Thomas M.
Ruhl Dennis
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