Compact folded absorbent article

• US 20070078425A1
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Woltman, Garry, Pateras, Carrie, Heck, Angela, Schroeder, Karyn, Ruman, Marcille
• Granted Patent: US 8,162,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/385.201
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/00 Surgical drapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5514 each item packaged single

Abstract

A personal care article (20) has a longitudinal-direction (22), a relatively shorter, lateral cross-direction (24), a first end-section (72), a second end-section (72a), and an intermediate-section (76) which is contiguous with and interposed between the first end-section (72) and the second end-section (72a). The article includes a liquid permeable topsheet layer (26), and a backsheet layer (28) which is operatively connected to the topsheet layer (26). At least a portion of the first end-section (72) has been folded along or otherwise includes a first end-fold-region (58) which is substantially convex along a topsheet-side of the article (20). Additionally, the first end-fold-region (58) is substantially concave along a backsheet-side of the article. At least a portion of the second end-section (72a) has been folded along or otherwise includes a second end-fold-region (62) which is substantially convex along the topsheet-side of the article (20).

Claims

1. A personal care article having a longitudinal-direction;

a relatively shorter lateral cross-direction;

a first end-section;

a second end-section; and

an intermediate-section which is interposed between said first end-section and said second end-section;

said article comprising;

a liquid permeable topsheet layer; and

a backsheet layer which is operatively connected to the topsheet layer;

wherein

at least a portion of said first end-section includes a first end-fold-region which is substantially convex along a topsheet-side of the article,

at least a portion of said second end-section Includes a second end-fold-region which is substantially convex along the topsheet-side of the article; and

the article further includes a garment-attachment mechanism operatively connected to a garment-side of the backsheet layer.

2. A personal care article as recited in claim 1, wherein the article further includes

a first, laterally extending, supplemental-fold-region, which is positioned between the first end-fold-region and a laterally extending centerline of the article;

and

a second, laterally extending, supplemental-fold-region, which is positioned between the second end-fold-region and the laterally extending centerline of the article.

3. A personal care article as recited in claim 1, wherein

the first supplemental-fold-region is substantially convex along a backsheet side of the article and substantially concave along a topsheet side of the article;

and

the second supplemental-fold-region is substantially convex along a backsheet-side of the article and substantially concave along a topsheet-side of the article.

4. A personal care article as recited in claim 3, wherein the article further includes a middle-fold-region, which is proximate a laterally extending centerline of the article.

5. A personal care article as recited in claim 4, wherein the middle-fold-region is substantially convex along a backsheet side of the article and substantially concave along a topsheet side of the article,

6. A personal care article as recited in claim 4, wherein the middle-fold-region is substantially concave along a backsheet side of the article and substantially convex along a topsheet side of the article.

7. A personal care article having a longitudinal-direction;

a relatively shorter lateral cross-direction, a first end-section;

a second end-section; and

an intermediate-section which is interposed between said first end-section and said second end-section;

said article comprising;

a liquid permeable topsheet layer; and

a backsheet layer operatively connected to the topsheet layer;

wherein

the article has been folded about a first, laterally extending supplemental-fold-line positioned along a portion of the first end-section which is proximally adjacent the intermediate-section of the article, the first supplemental-fold-line operatively arranged to provide a folded-over first end-section which is positioned onto the intermediate-section;

the article has been folded about a second, laterally extending supplemental-fold-line positioned along a portion of the second end-section which is proximally adjacent the intermediate-section of the article, the second supplemental-fold-line operatively arranged to provide a folded-over second end-section which is positioned onto the folded-over first end-section, thereby providing a preliminary-folded article;

the preliminary-folded article has been folded along a third, laterally extending, composite fold-line, thereby providing a composite-folded article; and

the article further includes a garment-attachment mechanism operatively connected to a garment-side of the backsheet layer.

8. A personal care article as recited in claim 7, wherein

the first, laterally extending supplemental-fold-line is spaced from a first terminal end edge of the article by a first spacing distance that is approximately one-third of an overall, longitudinal length of the article;

and

the second, laterally extending supplemental-fold-line is spaced from a longitudinally-opposed, second terminal end edge of the article by a second spacing distance that is approximately one-third of the overall, longitudinal length of the article.

9. A personal care article as recited in claim 7, wherein

said first end-section has been folded about a first supplemental-fold-line to provide a first supplemental-fold-region which is substantially convex along a backsheet-side of the article;

said second end-section has been folded along a second supplemental-fold-line to provide a second supplemental-fold-region which is substantially convex along a backsheet-side of the article; and

the preliminary-folded article has been folded along said third, laterally extending, composite fold-line to provide a composite fold region which is substantially convex along the backsheet-side of the intermediate section of the article.

11. A personal care article as recited in claim 7, wherein the first and second end sections of the article are operatively sandwiched between folded-over sections of the intermediate-section of the article.

12. A personal care article as recited in claim 7, wherein the article has been folded along a third, laterally extending, composite fold-line which is operatively arranged to approximately bisect the preliminary-folded article.

13. A personal care article as recited in claim 7, further including an absorbent body operatively held between the topsheet layer and backsheet layer.

14. A personal care article as recited in claim 7, wherein a first, topsheet portion in the folded-over first end-section has been positioned onto an intermediate topsheet portion in the intermediate-section of the article.

15. A personal care article as recited in claim 7, wherein a second, topsheet portion in the folded-over second end-section has been positioned onto a first, backsheet portion in the folded-over first end-section.

16. A personal care article as recited in claim 7, wherein the article has been folded along the third, composite fold-line in a configuration which positions an intermediate backsheet portion in the intermediate-section of the article along an outward-facing, substantially convex side of the composite fold-region.

17. A personal care article as recited in claim 7, wherein the first fold-line and the second fold-line have been configured to approximately trisect a longitudinal length of the article.

18. A personal care article as recited in claim 7, wherein the composite-folded article has included a girth which is less than about 15 cm.

19. A personal care article as recited in claim 7, wherein the composite-folded article has included a composite-folded girth which is less than about 15 cm and a composite-folded length which is less than about 10 cm.

10. A personal care article having a longitudinal-direction;

a relatively shorter lateral cross-direction, a first end-section;

a second end-section; and

an intermediate-section which is interposed between said first end-section and said second end-section;

said article comprising;

a liquid permeable topsheet layer; and

a backsheet layer operatively connected to the topsheet layer;

wherein

the article has been folded about a first, laterally extending supplemental-fold-line positioned along a portion of the first end-section which is proximally adjacent the intermediate-section of the article, the first supplemental-fold-line operatively arranged to provide a folded-over first end-section which is positioned onto the intermediate-section;

the article has been folded about a second, laterally extending supplemental-fold-line positioned along a portion of the second end-section which is proximally adjacent the intermediate-section of the article, the second supplemental-fold-line operatively arranged to provide a folded-over second-end-section which is positioned onto the folded-over first end-section, thereby providing a preliminary-folded article;

the preliminary-folded article has been folded along a third, laterally extending, composite fold-line, thereby providing a composite-folded article;

the article further includes a pair of laterally extending and laterally opposed wing portions;

said first end-section has been folded along the first supplemental-fold-line to provide a first supplemental-fold-region which is substantially convex along a topsheet-side of the article;

said second end-section has been folded along the second fold-line to provide a second supplemental-fold-region which is substantially convex along a topsheet-side of the article;

the wing portions have been arranged in a storage position which is adjacent a selected outer surface of the article;

the preliminary-folded article has been folded along said third, laterally extending, composite fold-line to provide a composite fold region which is substantially convex along the backsheet-side of the of the intermediate section of the article; and

which not more than one laterally-extending fold-line or fold-region has been positioned to extend through each individual wing portion.