Absorbent padding for undergarments

• US 5,683,374 A
• Filed: 04/23/1996
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Ono, Yoshio, Fujioka, Yoshihisa, Yamamoto, Masamitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): O YONG, KI
• Application Number:
  US08/636,346
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 604/378, 604/385.1, 604/379, 604/380, 604/382, 604/383, 604/385.2, 604/358
• US Class Current: 604/385.29
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5323 having absorbent material located in discrete regions, e.g. pockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/533 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53436 having an undulated or corrugated cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24694 Parallel corrugations

Abstract

A liquid absorbent pad includes an elastically stretchable basic sheet upon which an absorbent core is periodically bonded. The absorbent core is bonded while the basic sheet is stretched. The absorbent core includes a structure which encourages the formation of corrugations therein when the basic sheet is released. The corrugations enable the flow of material in the troughs of the corrugations, and thereby reduce soilage of the upper surface of the absorbent core by fetal matter. The liquid absorbent pad is suitable for undergarment use in which the basic sheet includes a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. In one embodiment, the structure which encourages the formation of corrugations includes gaps between adjacent strips of absorbent material. In another embodiment, the structure is periodic regions of reduced density or rigidity. In a further embodiment, the structure includes periodic longitudinal indentations alternating on opposite sides of the absorbent pad.

Claims

1. A liquid absorbent undergarment comprising:

a basic sheet made from an elastically stretchable material, said basic sheet having an inner surface, a front body and a rear body;

said basic sheet including a waist opening and a pair of leg openings;

an absorbent pad intermittently bonded to said inner surface across said front and said rear bodies;

said absorbent pad including a liquid absorbent core between a top sheet and a back sheet;

said liquid absorbent core including a plurality of substantially parallel portions;

a first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions transversely spaced from one another thereby forming gaps between each adjacent pair of said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions;

a second set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions forming regions between each adjacent pair of said first set of said plurality of said substantially parallel portions;

said second set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions being lower in rigidity than said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions; and

said absorbent pad including a plurality of transversely alternate troughs and crests each extending along said regions of low rigidity between each adjacent pairs of said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions.

2. The undergarment according to claim 1, wherein said troughs and crests are formed upon the contraction of said basic sheet after said absorbent pad has been bonded to said basic sheet while said basic sheet is tensioned transversely to said plurality of substantially parallel portions.

3. The undergarment according to claim 1, wherein:

said second set of said plurality of parallel portions includes a first plurality of substantially parallel grooves on a first surface of said liquid absorbent core;

said second set of said plurality of parallel portions further includes a second plurality of substantially parallel grooves disposed on an opposite second surface of said liquid absorbent core; and

said second plurality of grooves are disposed substantially parallel to and alternating with said first plurality of grooves.

4. The undergarment according to claim 3, wherein said substantially parallel grooves are compressed into said liquid absorbent core.

5. A liquid absorbent undergarment, comprising:

a first element;

said first element being an absorbent pad;

said absorbent pad including a liquid absorbent core between a top sheet and a back sheet;

said liquid absorbent-core including a plurality of substantially parallel portions;

a first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions transversely spaced from one another thereby forming gaps between each adjacent pair of said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions;

a second set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions forming regions between each adjacent pair of said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions;

said second set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions being lower in rigidity than said first set of said plurality of said substantially parallel portions

a second element;

said second element being stretchable;

said second element being conformable to a shape wearable as an undergarment;

said first element being fastened to said second element at a plurality of places while said second element is stretched, wherein said first element is inclined to form peaks and troughs along said regions of low rigidity between each adjacent pair of said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions.

6. The undergarment according to claim 5, wherein said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions further include a plurality of liquid-absorbent core strips transversely spaced substantially parallel to each other.

7. The undergarment according to claim 5, wherein:

said second set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions includes a first plurality of substantially parallel grooves on a first surface of said liquid absorbent core;

said second set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions further includes a second plurality of substantially parallel grooves disposed on an opposite second surface of said liquid absorbent core; and

said second plurality of grooves are disposed substantially parallel to and alternating with said first plurality of grooves.

8. The undergarment according to claim 7, wherein said substantially parallel grooves are compressed into said liquid absorbent core.