Interlabial pad

• US 7,549,980 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2003
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Noda, Yuki, Mizutani, Satoshi, Yamaki, Koichi, Sakai, Akane, Tokumoto, Megumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva; Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAND, MELANIE JO
• Application Number:
  US10/705,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20040147897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,052 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.201, 604/385.17
• US Class Current: 604/385.17
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15211 soluble or disintegratable in liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15252 compostable or biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15577 Apparatus or processes for manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4702 having a reinforcing member
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4704 having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/47209 having only interlabial part, i.e. with no extralabial parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/474 adjustable
• 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 13/535 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 13/55165 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/82 with means for attaching to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/8405 Additives, e.g. for odour, disinfectant or pH control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/001 Packages or dispensers for bandages, cotton balls, drapes, dressings, gauze, gowns, sheets, sponges, swabsticks or towels A61F15/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15235 by its solubility in water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15357 Stiffness, e.g. Taber rigidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53445 from several sheets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8497 having decorations or indicia means

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interlabial pad that is worn by female wearers, placed in intimate contact and supported between the labia, which provides an interlabial pad that causes no discomfort to the female wearer in the body motions of the wearer. The interlabial pad of the present invention is characterized by having bending elements which allows the interlabial pad to follow the changes in form flexibly even when a force is exerted on the interlabial pad by the wearer'"'"'s body motion.

Claims

1. An interlabial pad with a size, weight, and flexibility capable of being held between labia by a part or the whole portion of the interlabial pad naturally therebetween, having a first axis that is substantially parallel to an anteroposterior axis of a wearer, and a second axis which is included in a horizontal plane when the wearer is standing and perpendicular to the first axis, comprising:

an absorbent body for absorbing body fluid, the absorbent body having a shape selected from the group consisting of elliptical-planar shapes, gourd-planar shapes and tear drop-planar shapes, the absorbent body having a plurality of bending elements each including a slit formed on a surface of the absorbent body, the bending elements each being provided in a prescribed position of the absorbent body with a lower bending strength compared to positions other than the prescribed position, wherein the absorbent body is formed into a sheet-like member having a thickness of 3 to 5 mm and comprising at least one of pulp, chemical pulp, rayon, acetate, natural cotton, super absorbent polymer, fibrous super absorbent polymer, and synthetic fiber;

a plurality of first bending element pieces, each first bending element piece extending for a first prescribed length in a direction that is substantially parallel with the first axis, and the plurality of first bending element pieces including;

i) first bending element pieces having the slit positioned along the center line of the absorbent body in parallel with the first axis,

(ii) first bending element pieces having the slit arranged to reach a first peripheral edge of the absorbent body, and

(iii) first bending element pieces having the slit positioned between the center line of the absorbent body and a second peripheral edge of the absorbent body;

a plurality of second bending element pieces, each second bending element piece extending for a second prescribed length that is substantially parallel with the second axis, and the plurality of second bending element pieces including;

i) second bending element pieces having the slit positioned to cross the center line of the absorbent body,

(ii) second bending element pieces having the slit arranged to reach the second peripheral edge of the absorbent body, and

(iii) second bending element pieces having the slit positioned between the center line of the absorbent body and the second peripheral edge of the absorbent body;

a third bending element piece having an extended slit and positioned near the center line of the absorbent body and extending toward the peripheral edges of the absorbent body from the second axis at a specified angle; and

a covering material having a body side face facing a body side and an opposite side face facing away from the body side, the covering material enclosing the absorbent body while maintaining an effect of the bending elements, the covering material defining a main form of the interlabial pad, wherein a surface of the covering material is not provided with slits,

wherein each of a plurality of first crossover points is formed from one of the plurality of first bending element pieces having the slit positioned along the center line and one of the plurality of second bending element pieces positioned to cross the center line, and each of a plurality of second crossover points is formed from one of the plurality of first bending element pieces having the slit positioned between the center line and the second peripheral edge and one of the plurality of second bending element pieces having the slit positioned between the center line of the absorbent body and the second peripheral edge of the absorbent body, and

wherein the absorbent body is folded in two along the centerline being at the first crossover points to form a long protrusion part so that portions of the opposite side face are positioned to face each other and extension parts extend laterally from the long protrusion part at the second crossover points, and

wherein the opposite side surface to a body of the interlabial pad comprises a mini sheet piece which is provided over one side part to another side part, wherein both side parts are substantially parallel to the first axis of the interlabial pad; and

a finger insert hole is formed between the mini sheet piece and the opposite side surface to the body.

2. The interlabial pad according to claim 1, wherein each slit has a length of 3 to 30 mm and a breadth no greater than 5 mm, and a distance between each parallel adjacent slit is 3 to 20 mm.

3. The interlabial pad according to claim 1, wherein:

the ones of the plurality of bending elements that are formed from each of a first bending element piece and a second bending element piece are arranged in a line that is symmetrical with respect to the center line of the interlabial pad, which lies along the first axis of the interlabial pad.

4. The interlabial pad according to claim 1, wherein each of the bending elements includes a low density portion.

5. The interlabial pad according to claim 1, wherein the interlabial pad is a pad for an incontinence of urine.

6. The interlabial pad according to claim 1, wherein the interlabial pad is a pad for absorbing vaginal discharge.

9. The interlabial pad according to claim 1, wherein the first bending element pieces having the slit positioned between the center line of the absorbent body and the first peripheral edge of the absorbent body are positioned at a boundary between an extension part of the interlabial pad and a long protrusion part of the interlabial pad.

7. A method of adjusting a form flexibility used for an interlabial pad with a size, weight, flexibility capable of being held between labia by a part or the whole portion of the interlabial pad being naturally inserted therebetween, the interlabial pad having a first axis that is substantially parallel to an anteroposterior axis of a wearer, and a second axis which is included in a horizontal plane when the wearer is standing and is perpendicular to the first axis, the interlabial pad comprising:

an absorbent body for absorbing body fluid and a coating material for enclosing said absorbent body, the absorbent body defining a main form of the interlabial pad; and

a plurality of bending elements each including a slit formed on a surface of the absorbent body with a prescribed length and a depth of approximately 3 to 5 mm and comprising at least one of pulp, chemical pulp, rayon, acetate, natural cotton, super absorbent polymer, fibrous super absorbent polymer, and synthetic fiber, the bending elements each being provided in a prescribed position of the absorbent body with a lower bending strength compared to positions of the absorbent body other than the prescribed position, in order to make the interlabial pad easy to bend into at least one of a U-shape or an S-shape, and

a covering material having a body side face facing a body side and an opposite side face facing away from the body side, the covering material enclosing the absorbent body while maintaining an effect of the bending elements, the covering material defining a main form of the interlabial pad, wherein a surface of the covering material is not provided with slits, the opposite side surface to a body of the interlabial pad comprises a mini sheet piece which is provided over one side part to another side part, wherein both side parts are substantially parallel to the first axis of the interlabial pad; and

a finger insert hole is formed between the mini sheet piece and the opposite side surface to the body;

wherein each of the plurality of bending elements is formed from a first bending element piece, a second bending element piece in which the slit is extended in both of the first bending element piece and the second bending element piece, and a third bending element having and extended slit and positioned near the center line of the absorbent body, wherein

the first bending element piece extends in a substantially parallel direction to the first axis,

the second bending element piece extends in a substantially parallel direction to the second axis,

the third bending element extending toward the peripheral edges of the absorbent body from the second axis at a specified angle

the first bending element piece and the second bending element piece for at least one of the plurality of bending elements cross each other near a center line substantially parallel to the first axis of the interlabial pad, and

the first bending element piece and the second bending element piece for at least another one of the plurality of bending elements cross each other between the center line and a peripheral edge of the absorbent body,

the method comprising the step of;

adjusting the form flexibility of the interlabial pad by a bending element application method using the plurality of bending elements.

8. The method of adjusting a form flexibility according to claim 7, wherein the adjustment method further comprises the step of changing one or more of the form, number, positioning area, and arrangement of one or more of the bending elements.