Dual-use pantiliner

• US 7,278,988 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Aschenbrenner, Franz, Molas, Horacio Jorge, Gerlach, Holger, Hufnagel, Melanie
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichle; Karin M.
• Application Number:
  US09/957,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,210 Days
• Field of Search: 604327-332, 604346-349, 604365-366, 604/309, 604379-380, 604/385.01, 60438503-38505, 604/385.101, 604/385.14, 604/385.17, 604/385.19, 604/386, 604/387, 604393-396, 604/385.201, 604354-355
• US Class Current: 604/385.201
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4704 having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47254 with a tanga shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/474 adjustable

Abstract

A pantiliner has a periphery and at least one fold line. The fold line allows the pantiliner to be adjusted in size by folding the pantiliner along the fold line(s). The product is thus convertible and may be used with conventional “hourglass” shaped panties or folded along the fold lines to fit thong panties.

Claims

1. A convertible pantiliner including a liner, a baffle and an absorbent core therebetween, said pantiliner further comprising at least one embossed fold line defining a central area and two he side areas, said central area having two longitudinal ends, with a first longitudinal end being wider than said second longitudinal end, and wherein said pantiliner may be adjusted in size, depending on panty size, by folding said pantiliner along said at least one embossed fold line so as to allow said periphery side areas to be positioned under a panty prior to, and while said pantiliner is in use, and wherein said at least one embossed fold line does not penetrate said baffle.

2. The pantiliner of claim 1 wherein said at least one embossed fold line is a line of embossing produced at a temperature of between about 40 and 80°

C.

3. The pantiliner of claim 1 wherein said absorbent core is selected from the group consisting of spunbond webs, meltblown webs, bonded-carded webs, airlaid webs, and laminates and composites thereof.

4. The pantiliner of claim 1 wherein said side areas are thinner than said central area.

5. The pantiliner of claim 1 wherein said at least one fold line includes two fold lines.

6. The pantiliner of claim 1 wherein said at least one fold line includes four fold lines.

7. The pantiliner of claim 1 wherein said at least one fold line includes six fold lines.

8. The pantiliner of claim 1 wherein said at least one fold line includes eight fold lines.

9. The pantiliner of claim 1 wherein said at least one fold line includes ten fold lines.

10. A convertible pantiliner comprising a liquid permeable liner, a liquid impervious baffle, and an absorbent core positioned therebetween, said absorbent core comprising more than 70 weight percent pulp hydroentangled with spunbond polypropylene fibers, said pantiliner further comprising a periphery and at least one embossed fold line which does not penetrate said baffle, wherein said pantiliner may be adjusted in size, depending on panty size, by folding said pantiliner along said at least one embossed fold line, so as to allow said periphery to be positioned under a panty thereby creating a pantiliner on a panty including a first longitudinal end that is wider than a second longitudinal end.

11. The pantiliner of claim 10 wherein said baffle is breathable.

12. The pantiliner of claim 10 wherein said core has a basis weight between 50 and 200 gsm.

13. The pantiliner of claim 10 further comprising a treatment on said liquid permeable liner.

14. The pantiliner of claim 10 wherein said at least one fold line includes two fold lines.

15. The pantiliner of claim 10 wherein said at least one fold line includes fourfold lines.

16. The pantiliner of claim 10 wherein said at least one fold line includes six fold lines.

17. The pantiliner of claim 10 wherein said at least one fold line includes eight fold lines.

18. The pantiliner of claim 10 wherein said at least one fold line includes ten fold lines.