Sanitary napkin having components capable of separation in use

• US 5,674,214 A
• Filed: 11/09/1995
• Issued: 10/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Brennock, June Turkanis, Carrier, Michael Edward, Reising, George Stephen, Osborn, Thomas Ward III, Hines, Letha Margie, Coe, Richard George, Visscher, Ronald Bosman
• Primary Examiner(s): ZUTTARELLI, ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US08/556,240
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.1, 604/378, 604/358
• US Class Current: 604/385.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47227 for interlabial use
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47263 with activating means, e.g. elastic, heat or chemical activatable means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47272 with a longitudinal raised end, e.g. cup-shaped gluteal groove for edge leakage prevention A61F13/494
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/511 Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/514 Backsheet, i.e. the impermeable cover or layer furthest from the skin A61F13/15211, A61F13/15252 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51478 being a laminate, e.g. multi-layered or with several layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5148 having an impervious inner layer and a cloth-like outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/515 characterised by the interconnection of the topsheet and the backsheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/539 characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5605 specially adapted for sanitary napkins or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15365 Dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49065 being joined by a transverse line
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49066 being joined by an area of low stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49074 hourglass; dog bone-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51066 for rendering the surface hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51092 characterized by the dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51472 for reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530007 being made from pulp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530481 having superabsorbent materials, i.e. highly absorbent polymer gel materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530547 positioned in a separate layer or layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53445 : from several sheets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53773 : with a deformable spacing structure

Abstract

A disposable absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, is disclosed that has components which may separate in the Z-direction with relation to other components of the article when the absorbent article is worn. The sanitary napkin of the present invention comprises a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a liquid pervious spacing structure for moving the topsheet away from the core. The spacing structure is generally positioned between the topsheet and the core. The spacing structure has a longitudinal centerline, and opposed lateral sides which may move inwardly toward the longitudinal centerline when the spacing is compressed from the sides. This results in at least a portion of the spacing structure moving the topsheet apart from the absorbent core. In an alternative embodiment, the sanitary napkin of the present invention also has an absorbent core which separates from the backsheet of the sanitary napkin.

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a principal longitudinal centerline, said absorbent article comprising:

a liquid pervious topsheet;

a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;

an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;

a liquid pervious spacing structure for moving said topsheet away from said core, said spacing structure comprising a sheet that is folded to form a tube, said spacing structure being positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent core and having an uncompressed configuration, a compressed configuration, a longitudinal centerline, a transverse centerline, and comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, and opposed lateral sides, wherein;

said upper portion is positioned between said topsheet and said lower portion, and at least parts of said upper portion overlay parts of said lower portion when said spacing structure is in its uncompressed configuration,

said lower portion is adjacent said core when said spacing structure is in its uncompressed configuration, and at least a section of said lower portion is connected to at least part of said core to define an attached section of said lower portion, and

when said spacing structure is compressed from the sides, said opposed lateral sides may move inwardly toward said longitudinal centerline, resulting in at least some of said upper portion moving said topsheet away from said absorbent core.

2. An absorbent article having a principal longitudinal centerline, said absorbent article comprising:

a liquid pervious topsheet;

a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;

an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core at least partially comprising a liquid pervious spacing structure for moving at least part of said topsheet away from at least part of said backsheet, said spacing structure being positioned subjacent said topsheet and having an uncompressed configuration, a compressed configuration, a longitudinal centerline, a transverse centerline, and comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, and opposed lateral sides, wherein;

said upper portion is positioned between said topsheet and said lower portion, and at least parts of said upper portion overlay parts of said lower portion when said spacing structure is in its uncompressed configuration,

said lower portion is closer to said backsheet than said upper portion when said spacing structure is in its uncompressed configuration, and at least a section of said lower portion is adjacent to an underlying component, and

when said spacing structure is compressed from the sides, said opposed lateral sides may move inwardly toward said longitudinal centerline, resulting in at least some of said upper portion moving said topsheet away from said underlying component.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2 wherein said spacing structure comprises a folded sheet.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3 wherein said sheet is folded about at least one longitudinal axis.

5. The absorbent article of claim 4 wherein said sheet has at least two longitudinal folds.

6. The absorbent article of claim 4 wherein said spacing structure has two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges, wherein said sheet has at least two longitudinal folds and said longitudinal folds are near the longitudinal edges of the spacing structure.

7. The absorbent article of claim 6 wherein said sheet is folded into the configuration of the letter "C".

8. The absorbent article of claim 6 wherein said folded sheet is a flattened tube.

9. An absorbent article having a principal longitudinal centerline, said absorbent article comprising:

a liquid pervious topsheet;

a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;

an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;

a liquid pervious spacing structure for moving said topsheet away from said core, said spacing structure comprising a folded sheet that has two longitudinal edges, two transverse edges, and at least two longitudinal folds, and said longitudinal folds are near the longitudinal edges of the spacing structure, said spacing structure being positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent core, and having an uncompressed configuration, a compressed configuration, a longitudinal centerline, a transverse centerline, and comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, and opposed lateral sides, wherein;

said upper portion is positioned between said topsheet and said lower portion, and at least parts of said upper portion overlay parts of said lower portion when said spacing structure is in its uncompressed configuration,

said lower portion is adjacent said core when said spacing structure is in its uncompressed configuration, and at least a section of said lower portion is connected to at least part of said core to define an attached section of said lower portion, and

when said spacing structure is compressed from the sides, said opposed lateral sides may move inwardly toward said longitudinal centerline, resulting in at least some of said upper portion moving said topsheet away from said absorbent core.

10. The absorbent article of claim 9 wherein the longitudinal edges of said sheet are folded over one side of said sheet to overlap each other.

11. The absorbent article of claim 9 wherein said spacing structure is comprised of more than one piece of material.

12. The absorbent article of claim 9 further comprising at least one pervious layer positioned between said topsheet and said spacing structure so that said upper portion is adjacent a pervious layer, and when said spacing structure is compressed from the sides, at least some of said upper portion moves said pervious layer and said topsheet apart from said absorbent core.

13. The absorbent article of claim 9 wherein said sheet is folded into the configuration of the letter "C".

14. The absorbent article of claim 9 wherein said folded sheet is a flattened tube.

15. The absorbent article of claims 9, 13, or 14, wherein said attached section of said lower portion of said spacing structure is connected to said core by a spacing structure securement means that is generally oriented in the longitudinal direction.

16. The absorbent article of claim 15 wherein said spacing structure securement means comprises an adhesive.

17. The absorbent article of claim 15 wherein said spacing structure securement means comprises at least one longitudinally oriented region of adhesive that is in the region of the principal longitudinal centerline of said sanitary napkin.

18. A sanitary napkins according to claim 15.

19. The sanitary napkin of claim 18 wherein said spacing structure is also absorbent.