Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-13
2001-09-11
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
06287288
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and incontinent pads. More particularly, the present invention relates to sanitary napkins that are extensible or, more preferably stretchable, especially in the longitudinal direction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, pantiliners, and incontinent pads are designed to absorb and retain liquid and other discharges from the human body and to prevent body and clothing soiling. Sanitary napkins are a type of absorbent article worn by women that is normally positioned between the wearer's legs, adjacent to the perineal area of the body.
Typically, most of the disposable absorbent articles of the types mentioned above are made of materials that will not stretch. That is, the materials (and the article itself) will not stretch under the forces that the absorbent article is normally subjected to when worn.
The inability of the absorbent articles to stretch causes such articles to have a number of serious drawbacks. One of the most serious is that they are not as comfortable for the wearer as they could be. The wearer should ideally be able to notice a difference between an absorbent article that stretches to conform to the wearer's body and with the wearer's movements and an absorbent article that fails to stretch. Conventional sanitary napkins will also fail to move with the wearer's undergarments, causing the sanitary napkins to shift. Providing the sanitary napkin with stretch properties will permit the napkin to better conform to the wearer's undergarment and stay in place.
Several patent publications disclose absorbent articles having various components that are capable of stretching. Such efforts are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,701,567 issued to Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,493 issued to Olsson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,382 issued to Easley, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,150, issued to Schwartz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,816 issued to Sabee, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,949 issued to Kozak, U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,464 issued to Korpman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,357 issued to Hall, U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,991 issued to Pieniak, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,070 issued to Holtman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,570 issued to Jackson, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,760 issued to Morman, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,066 issued to Korpman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,134 issued to Fahrenkrug, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,258 issued to Fahrenkrug, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,122 issued to Morman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,324 issued to Dube, U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,480 issued to Gossens, et al., and European Patent Application 0 450 541 A2 published in the name of Morris, et al.
The publications listed above may disclose providing absorbent articles with one or more stretchable components. The present invention, however, is directed to absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, that in a number of embodiments are comprised entirely of components capable of stretching to accommodate the movements of the wearer and the wearer's undergarments. The present application also is directed to a vast number of embodiments for utilizing stretch properties to improve the fit of the absorbent article.
It is an object of this invention to provide an absorbent article, particularly a relatively thin absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, that is capable of extending, or more preferably, stretching.
It is a particular object of this invention to provide such an absorbent article that is capable of extending (and preferably stretching) in the longitudinal direction when the article is worn for improved comfort and fit.
These and other objects of the present invention will be more readily apparent when considered in reference to the following description and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin. The sanitary napkin of the present invention is capable of extending.
The sanitary napkin, however, may be extensible in length (i.e., in the longitudinal direction) and/or width (i.e., in the transverse direction), and/or in other directions. The sanitary napkin is preferably also elastically extensible.
The sanitary napkin of the present invention, in one embodiment comprises an extensible liquid pervious topsheet, an extensible liquid impervious backsheet, and an extensible absorbent core. The absorbent core is positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet and backsheet are joined together around the periphery of the sanitary napkin. The sanitary napkin also comprises a fastener for attaching the sanitary napkin to the crotch region of the wearer's panties. The fastener is capable of permitting at least portions of the sanitary napkin to extend in the longitudinal direction.
A number of different types of structures suitable for the above components of the sanitary napkin are disclosed. A number of alternative embodiments for the overall structure of the sanitary napkin are also disclosed.
In several alternative embodiments, the sanitary napkin is comprised of some extensible components and some inextensible components. For instance, the sanitary napkin may have an extensible topsheet and backsheet and an inextensible absorbent core that is slung between the extensible topsheet and backsheet. In a variation of such an embodiment, the sanitary napkin may have an inextensible topsheet as well.
Several other alternative sanitary napkin embodiments have stretch attachment means for fastening to the wearer's panties.
In other alternative embodiments, the sanitary napkin is provided with a pull-out tab that allows the user to lengthen the sanitary napkin.
In an other alternative embodiment, the sanitary napkin is provided with a cinch that the user may pull upward to adjust contact with her body.
In another alternative embodiment, the sanitary napkin has a center region that deflects upward when the sanitary napkin is stretched.
In still other alternative embodiments, the sanitary napkin has a “pop-up” center.
Other sanitary napkin embodiments have regions of differential stretch that allow the sanitary napkin to assume particular configurations during use.
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patent: 4687478 (1
Chappell Charles W.
Charrier Jacqueline W.
Hines Letha M.
Lavash Bruce W.
Mayer Katherine L.
Bamber Jeffrey V.
Fitzpatrick Matthew P.
Ruhl Dennis
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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