Surgery – Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material – Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-03
2003-03-04
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3765)
Surgery
Means and methods for collecting body fluids or waste material
Absorbent pad for external or internal application and...
C604S389000, C604S393000, C604S385030, C604S385040
Reexamination Certificate
active
06527757
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to an absorbent article and method for protecting a user by absorbing or containing body fluids including menstrual fluids or other body exudates. In one aspect, 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
Many different absorbent 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. Feminine care sanitary protection absorbent products 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. Incontinence protection absorbent products absorb body fluids including urine.
Absorbent products for the absorption of human body fluids have an absorbent positioned between a liquid-permeable body-side cover and a liquid-impermeable garment-facing baffle. These absorbent products for the absorption of human body fluids 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 is secured to the baffle and used to attach the product to an inner crotch portion of an undergarment.
INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION
In absorbent products for the absorption of human body fluids 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 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, are referred to as “side flaps.” Side flaps have been designed to fold onto opposite side flaps or 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 comfortable to the wearer. Side flaps 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 sticking 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 many times 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.
Absorbent products attached to an adjacent undergarment should 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 provide the means and method for affixing the absorbent product to an adjacent garment or undergarment. The pressure sensitive adhesive 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.
In pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the garment-facing surface of the absorbent product today, certain drawbacks have been found to persist. The cost of the adhesive and the releasable peel strip increase the overall cost of the absorbent product. Also, special equipment and extra steps are required during the manufacturing of adsorbent 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, 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.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article capable of absorbing and containing menstrual fluids and/or other body exudates.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article and method for protecting the undergarment of a wearer from side leakage.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article and method for guiding the absorbent article into proper placement onto the undergarment of a wearer.
Another object of this invention is to provide an absorbent article and method for holding the absorbent article in proper position on the undergarment of a wearer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary napkin or panty liner or panty shield having manufacturing cost advantages.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sanitary napkin or panty liner or panty shield having cost of material advantages.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary napkin or panty liner or panty shield which uses less material.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article which is more convenient to use.
It is an object of the present Invention to provide an absorbent article which is more comfortable to wear.
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.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention provides an absorbent article and method incorporating, in one embodiment, stiffening means in arcuately shaped pleats on a bottom lateral side surface of a liquid-impermeable baffle, forming stiffened nesting ridges for protecting an undergarment from side leakage and for guiding the absorbent article into position for proper placement on the undergarment.
In one embodiment, the present invention
Chapman Jeanette
Connelly Thomas J.
Glantz Douglas G.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Parker Thomas M.
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