Generally thin, flexible, sanitary napkin with central absorbent hump

• US 6,042,575 A
• Filed: 07/26/1996
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Osborn, Thomas Ward III, Schmitz, Deborah Catherine
• Primary Examiner(s): Clarke, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US08/686,879
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 604/373, 604/384, 604/385.1, 604/387
• US Class Current: 604/387
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15203 Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency chemical aspects A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15707 Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47209 having only interlabial part, i.e. with no extralabial parts
• 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 13/474 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/476 characterised by encircling the crotch region of the undergarment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49 Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/491 specially adapted for gender distinct urine discharge pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51 characterised by the outer layers wicking or transfer layers A61F13/537
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/513 characterised by its function or properties, e.g. stretchability, breathability, rewet, visual effect; having areas of different permeability
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51464 being stretchable or elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51466 providing stretchability without the use of elastic material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5148 having an impervious inner layer and a cloth-like outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/534 having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence; homogeneous cores with tissue wrapping A61F13/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53409 having a folded core
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/535 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes A61F13/5323, A61F13/537 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5611 using fastening strips, e.g. adhesive, on the undergarment-facing side
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/58 Adhesive tab fastener elements A61F13/5611, A61F13/5616, A61F13/66 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/62 : Mechanical fastening means, A61F13/5611, A61F13/5616, A61F13/581, A61F13/66 take precedence; Fabric strip fastener elements, e.g. hook and loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15292 : Resistance, i.e. modulus or strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/153 : in dry conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15308 : in wet conditions, i.e. wet strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15357 : Stiffness, e.g. Taber rigidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15365 : Dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15382 : Reduced thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15406 : Basis weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4512 : folded in special shape during use A61F13/534, A61F13/551, A61F13/56, A61F13/15747 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4543 : with a special transverse section A61F13/534 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4562 : cup-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49023 : being textured, e.g. corrugated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49031 : being elastic in longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49044 : being stretchable non-elastic panels, A61F13/4902 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49046 : at the crotch
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49057 : being stretchable in both longitudinal and transversal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49063 : the diaper having decoupled components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/4908 : concave
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5055 : Possibility of doubling or putting in new pieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51409 : being a film
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51411 : being impervious to fluids but not for air or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51441 : being a fibrous material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5147 : the outer layer being adhesive itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530007 : being made from pulp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530036 : being made in chemically-modified cellulosic material, e.g. Rayon
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530058 : with specific method of producing wood pulp fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530109 : with chemithermomechanical pulp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530131 : being made in fibre but being not pulp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53016 : having special shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530167 : being crimped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530335 : being in peat moss
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530343 : being natural fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53035 : of cotton
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530445 : by defining a target or acquisition or vulnerability zone
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530459 : being curled
• 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 2013/5307 : characterized by the quantity or ratio of superabsorbent material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530802 : characterized by the foam or sponge other than superabsorbent A61F2013/530649 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530875 : having holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530934 : having a density gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53445 : from several sheets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53721 : with capillary means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53726 : on the top layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5386 : by the fibre orientation in the z plane or vertical direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53908 : with adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53916 : with epicyclical pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53925 : with intermittent pattern, e.g. spots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5395 : with thermoplastic agent, i.e. softened by heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53966 : by needling, sewing, blow-needling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53975 : by Hydraulic entanglement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/5688 : inclined at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/582 : with one strip on one place
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/586 : on lateral flaps
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/253 : with a non-circular cross section; Spinnerette packs therefor D01D5/38 takes precedence

Abstract

A generally thin, flexible sanitary napkin capable of handling medium to high menstrual flows which has a central absorbent hump is disclosed. The hump comprises a longitudinally-oriented elongated medial absorbent hump that projects from the body surface of the sanitary napkin. The sanitary napkin preferably has surrounding absorbent regions outboard of the hump with a caliper of less than or equal to about 5 millimeters. The sanitary napkin preferably has a caliper at the point of maximum amplitude of the hump that is greater than twice the caliper of the surrounding regions. The hump preferably has a caliper of at least about 0.15 inch (about 3.5-4 millimeters). The longitudinal central region of the sanitary napkin preferably has a flexure-resistance that is greater than that of the surrounding regions.

Claims

1. An extensible sanitary napkin having a principal longitudinal centerline, a principal transverse centerline, a body surface, a garment surface, a longitudinal central region disposed along the length of at least a portion of said principal longitudinal centerline, and longitudinal side regions that lie transversely outboard of said longitudinal central region, said longitudinal side regions having a caliper of less than or equal to about 5 millimeters, said sanitary napkin comprising:

an extensible liquid pervious topsheet;

an extensible liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;

an absorbent material positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet; and

a longitudinal medial hump on said body surface in said longitudinal central region of said sanitary napkin, said hump having a point of maximum amplitude and a caliper measured at its point of maximum amplitude that is greater than about 3 millimeters and at least about 2.0 times the caliper of said portions of said longitudinal side regions.

2. The extensible sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said hump is at least partially formed by a hump-forming element.

3. The extensible sanitary napkin of claim 2 wherein said hump-forming element is also extensible.

4. The extensible sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein the caliper at said point of maximum amplitude is between about 4 mm. and about 15 mm.

5. The sanitary napkin of claim 4 wherein said portions of said surrounding regions have a caliper of less than or equal to about 4 mm.

6. An extensible sanitary napkin having a principal longitudinal centerline, a principal transverse centerline, a body surface, a garment surface, a longitudinal central region disposed along the length of at least a portion of said principal longitudinal centerline, surrounding absorbent regions located outboard of said longitudinal central region, at least some portions of said surrounding regions having a caliper of less than or equal to about 5 millimeters, said sanitary napkin comprising:

an extensible liquid pervious topsheet;

an extensible liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;

an absorbent material positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet; and

a longitudinal medial hump on said body surface in said longitudinal central region of said sanitary napkin, said hump having a point of maximum amplitude and a caliper measured at its point of maximum amplitude that is greater than about 3 millimeters and at least about 2.0 times the caliper of said portions of said surrounding regions

wherein said longitudinal central region has a flexure-resistance that is greater than the flexure-resistance of said portions of said surrounding regions, and the flexure-resistance of said longitudinal central region is up to about 1,000 grams, and the flexure-resistance of said portions of said surrounding regions is less than or equal to about 700 grams.

7. The extensible sanitary napkin of claim 6 wherein the caliper at said point of maximum amplitude is between about 4 mm and about 15 mm.

8. The sanitary napkin of claim 7 wherein said portions of said surrounding regions have a caliper of less than or equal to about 4 mm.

9. A sanitary napkin having a principal longitudinal centerline, a transverse centerline, a body surface, a garment surface, a longitudinal central region disposed along the length of at least a portion of said principal longitudinal centerline, and surrounding regions at least laterally outboard of said longitudinal central region, said sanitary napkin comprising:

a liquid pervious topsheet;

a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;

an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;

a longitudinal medial hump on said body surface in said longitudinal central region of said sanitary napkin;

said core being joined to said backsheet along at least two longitudinal junctures, the remainder of said core, including at least one end edge being unattached to said backsheet so that said unattached portion of said core may move apart and separate from said backsheet.

10. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 further comprising a means for controlling the separation of said core from said backsheet.