Three-dimensional shaped feminine pad with narrow, absorbent center and winged edges

• US 4,701,177 A
• Filed: 01/13/1986
• Issued: 10/20/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Inventors: Milner, James D., Fahrenkrug, Anne M., Ellis, Louise C., Basten, Julie T.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vinyard, Sherri E.
• Application Number:
  US06/818,438
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.1, 604/385.2, 604/366, 604/370, 604/379
• US Class Current: 604/385.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47218 with a raised crotch region, e.g. hump
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4752 the means being an upstanding barrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4753 the barrier being not integral with the topsheet or backsheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4755 the means being a flat barrier on or inside the absorbent article, e.g. backsheet wrapped around the edges
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/515 characterised by the interconnection of the topsheet and the backsheet

Abstract

The invention is generally accomplished by providing an elongated, curved, better-fitting absorbent pad for absorption of bodily excretions comprising a liquid-impermeable backing member, an absorbent inner member and a liquid-permeable body-side member. The absorbent member is shaped generally in a manner that provides a narrower middle portion of absorbent material. The middle portion also in the preferred embodiment is somewhat thicker than the absorbent portions at the ends of the pad. The pad is provided with upstanding side portions in the middle of each long edge in the area where the absorbent is narrower. The pad further is curved so as to generally conform to the pudendum.

Claims

1. An elongated catamenial or mold incontinence pad curved to the body shape having relatively long sides and narrowed ends for absorption of bodily excretions comprising a liquid-impermeable backing member having generally parallel longitudinal sides, an hour glass shape absorbent inner member and a liquid-permeable body-side member, wherein said absorbent generally has a narrow center portion shape, said backing member extends beyond said absorbent and has side edges forming flaps in the areas where the narrower portion of the absorbent does not overlay said backing, said flaps being gathered thereby raising said flap to form a wall on each side of the narrower portion of said absorbent wherein the distance between said walls is about the width of the widest part of said absorbent, wherein said absorbent is 1.75-3 times thicker in the middle of said pad than at the ends, wherein elastic is coextensive with the flap and wherein said flaps extend upward from about the middle of the vertical height of the thickest portion of said absorbent.

2. The pad of claim 1 wherein said backing is adhered to said liner in the area adjacent said absorbent.

3. The pad of claim 1 wherein the gathering of said flaps is by elastic.

4. The pad of claim 3 wherein said absorbent in the center of said pad extends up to about the height of said walls.

5. The pad of claim 1 wherein said impermeable layer is a composite of a fibrous web and a polymer film.

6. The pad of claim 2 wherein said liner and said impermeable backing extend beyond the area where they are adhered to form a soft fringe at the ends of said pad.

7. The pad of claim 1 wherein said absorbent has an hourglass shape.

8. The pad of claim 1 wherein said absorbent has a dog-bone shape.

9. The pad of claim 1 comprising a feminine pad.

10. The pad of claim 1 comprising an incontinent pad.

11. The pad of claim 1 wherein said body-side member is generally coextensive with said backing member in the flap area.

12. The pad of claim 3 wherein said elasticized side edges are generally parallel.

13. The pad of claim 1 wherein said absorbent extends above said walls.

14. The pad of claim 3 wherein said elastic is at the outer edge of said wall.

15. The pad of claim 1 wherein the ends of said pad are generally planar.

16. The pad of claim 1 wherein said narrow center portion is between about 1 and about 3 inches wide.

17. The pad of claim 1 wherein said pad is between abut 8 and about 91/2 inches long.