Method of making an absorbent interlabial device with a central groove

• US 5,964,689 A
• Filed: 11/20/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Osborn, Thomas Ward III, McFall, Ronald Ray, Brown, Pamela Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENSEN, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US08/975,131
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.1, 493/379, 493/374, 493/393, 493/387, 493/386, 493/937, 493/938, 493/960
• US Class Current: 493/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15211 soluble or disintegratable in liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15699 Forming webs by bringing together several webs, e.g. by laminating or folding several webs, with or without additional treatment of the webs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/2085 Catamenial tampons
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47209 having only interlabial part, i.e. with no extralabial parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/82 with means for attaching to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/20 containing organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/26 Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/34 Oils, fats, waxes or natural resins A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/48 Surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 493/96 Toilet article

Abstract

A method of making an absorbent interlabial device that is worn interlabially by female wearers for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both, is disclosed. The absorbent interlabial device of the present invention preferably includes at least an central absorbent portion (or core) surrounded by a liquid pervious topsheet. The topsheet is folded laterally inward over the central absorbent portion and downward to form a central groove on the top surface of the interlabial device. The central groove faces toward the vestibule of the wearer upon insertion into the interlabial space. The central groove improves the comfort associated with the wearing of the interlabial device, and allows the device to more rapidly acquire fluids, particularly viscous fluids. The device is more easily manufactured than previous interlabial devices using current web handling techniqures.

Claims

1. A method of making an absorbent interlabial device comprising the steps of:

a) providing a strip of liquid impervious backsheet material;

b) securing a segment of flexible extension material on top of said strip of backsheet material;

c) laying a segment of liquid pervious topsheet material on top of said flexible extension material;

d) laying a segment of secondary topsheet material on top of said topsheet material;

e) laying a segment of central absorbent material on top of said secondary topsheet material;

f) folding the edges of said topsheet, secondary topsheet and central absorbent material as a unit inwardly and downwardly to define a central groove;

g) securing the folded material to form an absorbent interlabial device having an upwardly oriented central groove; and

h) securing said flexible extension material to said folded material to form an absorbent interlabial device having a flexible extensions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein steps g) and h) are performed in one operation.

3. A method of making an absorbent interlabial device comprising the steps of:

a) providing a layer of topsheet material having transverse edges and longitudinal edges;

b) laying a segment of central absorbent material on top of said topsheet material, said segment of central absorbent material having transverse edges and longitudinal edges;

c) folding said transverse edges of said topsheet material and said central absorbent material as a unit in a first folding operation about two spaced apart, longitudinally oriented folding axes to form a "C"-folded structure;

d) folding said "C"-folded structure in a second folding operation about a longitudinally oriented folding axis, said second folding operation defining an absorbent interlabial device with an upwardly oriented central groove; and

e) securing said absorbent interlabial device in said folded configuration.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein subsequent to step e) said longitudinal ends of said topsheet material are sealed to form an absorbent interlabial structure having sealed ends.

5. A method of making an absorbent interlabial device comprising the steps of:

a) providing a piece of liquid impervious backsheet material;

b) laying a piece of liquid pervious topsheet material on top of said backsheet material;

c) laying a piece of central absorbent material on top of said topsheet material;

d) folding the edges of both the topsheet material and central absorbent material as a unit inwardly and downwardly to define a central groove; and

e) securing the folded material to form an absorbent interlabial device having a backsheet and an upwardly oriented central groove.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of laying a segment of secondary topsheet material on top of said topsheet material, wherein said secondary topsheet laying step is performed between steps b) and c), and wherein said secondary topsheet material is also folded in said folding step d).

7. A method of making an absorbent interlabial device comprising the steps of:

a) providing a piece of flexible extension material;

b) laying a piece of liquid pervious topsheet material on top of said flexible extension material;

c) laying a piece of central absorbent material on top of said topsheet material;

d) folding the edges of both said topsheet material and said central absorbent material as a unit inwardly and downwardly to define a central groove; and

e) securing the folded material and said flexible extension material to form an absorbent interlabial device having flexible extensions and an upwardly oriented central groove.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of laying a segment of secondary topsheet material on top of said topsheet material, wherein said secondary topsheet laying step is performed between steps b) and c), and wherein said secondary topsheet material is also folded in said folding step d).