Sanitary napkin with absorbent tab

• US 7,056,312 B1
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Regina L. Metcalf
• Original Assignee: Regina L. Metcalf
• Inventors: Metcalf, Regina L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephens, Jacqueline F.
• Application Number:
  US10/463,477
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.01, 604/385.17, 604/385.101, 604/378, 604/385.13, 604/385.04, 604/385.28
• US Class Current: 604/385.101
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4752 the means being an upstanding barrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4758 the means preventing fluid flow in a longitudinal direction

Abstract

A new and improved sanitary napkin that prevents backflow of menstrual fluids from the napkin during use. The sanitary napkin includes a napkin body having an absorbent tab that extends from the absorbent surface of the napkin body. In use, the absorbent tab blocks and absorbs menstrual fluid and prevents the fluid from running off the back edge or end of the napkin body.

Claims

1. A sanitary napkin comprising:

a napkin body having a front end, a rear end and a center point between said front end and said rear end and having an upper liquid pervious layer; and

an absorbent tab attached to said upper liquid pervious layer of said napkin body between said center point and said rear end, said absorbent tab having an absorbent surface disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to said napkin body.

2. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said absorbent tab comprises cotton.

3. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said absorbent tab comprises at least one liquid-absorbent layer and at least one liquid-impervious layer.

4. The sanitary napkin of claim 3 wherein said at least one liquid-absorbent layer of said absorbent tab comprises cotton.

5. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said absorbent tab comprises a front tab layer and a rear tab layer.

6. The sanitary napkin of claim 5 wherein at least one of said front tab layer and said rear tab layer of said absorbent tab comprises cotton.

7. The sanitary napkin of claim 5 wherein said front tab layer comprises a liquid-absorbing layer and said rear tab layer comprises a liquid-impervious layer.

8. The sanitary napkin of claim 7 wherein said front tab layer of said absorbent tab comprises cotton.

9. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said absorbent tab is closer to said rear end than to said center point.

10. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said absorbent tab comprises cotton.

11. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said absorbent tab comprises a front tab layer and a rear tab layer.

12. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said absorbent tab comprises at least one liquid-absorbent layer and at least one liquid-impervious layer.

13. A sanitary napkin comprising:

a napkin body having a front end, a rear end and a center point between said front end and said rear end and having an upper liquid pervious layer; and

an absorbent tab attached to said upper liquid pervious layer of said napkin body about halfway between said center point and said rear end, said absorbent tab having an absorbent surface disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to said napkin body and a rear surface spaced-apart from said napkin body.

14. The sanitary napkin of claim 13 wherein said absorbent tab comprises at least one liquid-absorbent layer and at least one liquid-impervious layer.

15. The sanitary napkin of claim 13 wherein said absorbent tab comprises cotton.

16. The sanitary napkin of claim 13 wherein said absorbent tab comprises a front tab layer and a rear tab layer, with at least said front tab layer comprising a liquid-absorbent material.

17. A sanitary napkin comprising:

a napkin body having a front end, a rear end and a center point between said front end and said rear end and having an upper liquid pervious layer; and

a generally planar, multi-layered absorbent tab attached to said upper liquid pervious layer of said napkin body about halfway between said center point and said rear end, said absorbent tab having an absorbent surface disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to said napkin body and a rear surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to said napkin body.

18. The sanitary napkin of claim 17 wherein said absorbent tab comprises cotton.

19. The sanitary napkin of claim 17 wherein said absorbent tab comprises a front tab layer and a rear tab layer.

20. The sanitary napkin of claim 19 wherein said front tab layer comprises a liquid-absorbent material and said rear tab layer comprises a liquid-impervious layer.

21. A sanitary napkin comprising:

a napkin body having lateral edges, a front end, a rear end and a center point between said front end and said rear end and having an upper liquid pervious layer; and

a generally planar, multi-layered absorbent tab attached to said upper liquid pervious layer of said napkin body about halfway between said center point and said rear end and about equidistant between said lateral edges, said absorbent tab having an absorbent surface disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to said napkin body and a rear surface raised and disposed at an acute angle with respect to said napkin body.

22. The sanitary napkin of claim 21 wherein said absorbent tab comprises a front tab layer and a rear tab layer.

23. The sanitary napkin of claim 22 wherein said front tab layer comprises a liquid-absorbent material and said rear tab layer comprises a liquid-impervious material.

24. A sanitary napkin comprising:

a napkin body having a front end and a rear end, said napkin body divisible by a longitudinal center line and a transverse center line intersecting at a center point and having an upper liquid pervious layer; and

an absorbent tab attached to said upper liquid pervious layer of said napkin body about halfway between said center point and said rear end and substantially centered on said longitudinal center line, said absorbent tab disposed in a plane generally parallel to said transverse center line, said absorbent tab having a front attachment edge attached to said upper liquid pervious layer of said napkin body and a rear edge raised with respect to said napkin body;

an absorbent surface disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to said napkin body; and

a rear surface raised and disposed at an acute angle with respect to said napkin body.

25. The sanitary napkin of claim 24 wherein said absorbent tab comprises a front tab layer and a rear tab layer.

26. The sanitary napkin of claim 25 wherein said front tab layer comprises a liquid-absorbent material and said rear tab layer comprises a liquid-impervious material.