Thin sanitary napkin having a central absorbent zone and a method of forming the napkin
First Claim
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1. A sanitary napkin having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
- a) a liquid-impermeable cover;
b) a liquid-impermeable baffle;
c) an absorbent positioned between said cover and said baffle, said absorbent having a longitudinally-extending central absorbent zone aligned along the longitudinal axis of said napkin, said central absorbent zone having a width of less than 2 inches and being capable of absorbing at least 20 grams of body fluid; and
d) a peripheral zone aligned adjacent to said absorbent zone, said peripheral zone including said cover, said baffle and a tissue therebetween, said peripheral zone having a different stiffness than said central absorbent zone and the difference in stiffness value is greater than about 150 mg. when measured by subtracting a maximum machine direction Gurley stiffness value of said peripheral zone from a minimum machine direction Gurley stiffness value of said absorbent zone, the difference in stiffness between said absorbent zone and said peripheral zone substantially preventing bunching of said napkin when said napkin is subjected to lateral stresses, and said napkin having a caliper of less than about 5 millimeters.
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Abstract
A thin sanitary napkin is disclosed along with its method of manufacture. The napkin has a liquid-impermeable baffle and an absorbent retained on the baffle. The absorbent has a longitudinally-extending central absorbent zone with a width of less than about 2 inches. The central zone is capable of absorbing at least 20 grams of body fluid which is discharged from the vaginal cavity and deposited onto the napkin. The central zone also has a greater stiffness than adjacent portions of the napkin so as to resist twisting and bunching during use. The sanitary napkin further has a caliper of less than about 5 millimeters.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A sanitary napkin having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
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a) a liquid-impermeable cover; b) a liquid-impermeable baffle; c) an absorbent positioned between said cover and said baffle, said absorbent having a longitudinally-extending central absorbent zone aligned along the longitudinal axis of said napkin, said central absorbent zone having a width of less than 2 inches and being capable of absorbing at least 20 grams of body fluid; and d) a peripheral zone aligned adjacent to said absorbent zone, said peripheral zone including said cover, said baffle and a tissue therebetween, said peripheral zone having a different stiffness than said central absorbent zone and the difference in stiffness value is greater than about 150 mg. when measured by subtracting a maximum machine direction Gurley stiffness value of said peripheral zone from a minimum machine direction Gurley stiffness value of said absorbent zone, the difference in stiffness between said absorbent zone and said peripheral zone substantially preventing bunching of said napkin when said napkin is subjected to lateral stresses, and said napkin having a caliper of less than about 5 millimeters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A sanitary napkin having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
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a) a liquid-permeable cover; b) a liquid-impermeable baffle; c) an absorbent positioned between said cover and said baffle, said absorbent having a longitudinally-extending central absorbent zone aligned along the longitudinal axis of said napkin, said central absorbent zone having a width of between about 0.5 and 2 inches and extending approximately the entire length of said napkin, said central absorbent zone capable of absorbing at least 20 grams of the body fluid, said central absorbent zone having a machine direction Gurley stiffness to transverse direction Gurley stiffness ratio of greater than 1.5;
1, said stiffness ratio substantially preventing bunching of said napkin when said napkin is subjected to lateral stresses, and said napkin having a caliper of less than about 4 millimeters. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification