Interlabial pad

• US 8,192,416 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
• Inventors: Mizutani, Satoshi, Yamaki, Koichi, Noda, Yuki, Tokumoto, Megumi, Sakai, Akane
• Primary Examiner(s): HAND, MELANIE JO
• Application Number:
  US12/488,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 604/385.17, 604/385.201
• 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 having a first axis that is substantially parallel to an anteroposterior axis of a wearer along which the interlabial pad is configured to be folded, and a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis, comprising:

an absorbent body for absorbing body fluids, having a plurality of slits formed therein and configured for reducing bending strength or fold resistance;

a surface side sheet and a rear surface side sheet, bonded together so as to surround ends of the interlabial pad and to enclose the absorbent body;

a sheet piece member provided on an inside of the interlabial pad along the first axis so that the surface side sheet faces outwardly, the sheet piece member having a size smaller than the rear surface side sheet that is bonded to outer edge portions of the surrounding ends of the rear surface side sheet away from the first axis;

a space extending along the first axis and provided between the sheet piece member and the rear surface side sheet along the first axis in the interlabial pad,

wherein at least one of the absorbent body, surface side sheet, rear surface side sheet and sheet piece member is biodegradable, water dispersible, or water soluble,

wherein the surface side sheet includes a water permeable sheet made of a nonwoven fabric having a range of fiber length of 1 to 15 mm or a biodegradable resin made by a hydrolysis process,

wherein the absorbent body includes a nonwoven fabric sheet obtained through a needling processing,

wherein at least one of the rear surface side sheet and sheet piece member includes a water impermeable sheet formed by water impermeable processing; and

wherein the plurality of slits includes;

a first slit positioned along a center line of the absorbent body parallel to the first axis;

a second slit arranged to reach a first peripheral edge of the absorbent body and substantially parallel with the first axis;

a third slit positioned between the center line of the absorbent body and a second peripheral edge of the absorbent body and substantially parallel with the first axis;

a fourth slit positioned to cross the center line of the absorbent body parallel to the second axis;

a fifth slit arranged to reach the second peripheral edge of the absorbent body and substantially parallel with the second axis; and

a sixth slit positioned between the center line of the absorbent body and the second peripheral edge of the absorbent body and substantially parallel to the second axis,

wherein the absorbent body has a plurality of crossover points formed from the first slit and the fourth slit and formed from the third slit and the sixth slit.

2. An interlabial pad according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of slits further includes a seventh slit positioned near the center line of the absorbent body and extends in a direction towards the second peripheral edges of the absorbent body from the second axis at a specified angle.

3. An interlabial pad according to claim 2, wherein the absorbent body includes high polymer absorbing material comprising carboxymethylcellulose fiber or carboxyethylcellulose fiber.

4. An interlabial pad according to claim 2, wherein the rear surface side sheet includes a PVA (polyvinylalcohol) film applied with water-repellent processing on at least one side thereof.

5. An interlabial pad according to claim 2, wherein the rear surface side sheet includes a PVA (polyvinylalcohol) film mixed with silicone.

6. An interlabial pad according to claim 2, wherein the rear surface side sheet includes a laminated film member selected from the group consisting of PVA film, a starch film, a film of biodegradable resin and a tissue.

7. An interlabial pad according to claim 2, wherein the sheet piece member includes at least one of a spun bond nonwoven fabric and a melt blown nonwoven fabric.

8. An interlabial pad according to claim 2, wherein the sheet piece member includes at least one of a film and a nonwoven fabric, made from water-soluble materials.

9. An interlabial pad according to claim 2, wherein the sheet piece member is formed by a mechanical corrugate processing.

10. An interlabial pad having a first axis that is substantially parallel to an anteroposterior axis of a wearer along which the interlabial pad is configured to be folded, and a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis, comprising:

an absorbent body for absorbing body fluids, having a plurality of slits formed therein and configured for reducing bending strength or fold resistance;

a surface side sheet and a rear surface side sheet, bonded together so as to surround ends of the interlabial pad and to enclose the absorbent body;

a sheet piece member provided on an inside of the interlabial pad along the first axis so that the surface side sheet faces outwardly, the sheet piece member having a size smaller than the rear surface side sheet that is bonded to outer edge portions of the surrounding ends of the rear surface side sheet away from the first axis;

a space extending along the first axis and provided between the sheet piece member and the rear surface side sheet along the first axis in the interlabial pad,

wherein at least one of the absorbent body, surface side sheet, rear surface side sheet and sheet piece member is biodegradable, water dispersible, or water soluble,

wherein the surface side sheet includes a water permeable sheet made of a nonwoven fabric having a range of fiber length of 1 to 15 mm or a biodegradable resin made by a hydrolysis process,

wherein the absorbent body includes a nonwoven fabric sheet obtained through a needling processing,

wherein at least one of the rear surface side sheet and sheet piece member includes a water impermeable sheet formed by water impermeable processing; and

wherein the plurality of slits includes;

a first slit positioned along a center line of the absorbent body parallel to the first axis;

a second slit arranged to reach a first peripheral edge of the absorbent body and substantially parallel with the first axis;

a third slit positioned between the center line of the absorbent body and a second peripheral edge of the absorbent body and substantially parallel with the first axis;

a fourth slit positioned to cross the center line of the absorbent body parallel to the second axis;

a fifth slit arranged to reach the second peripheral edge of the absorbent body and substantially parallel with the second axis; and

a sixth slit positioned between the center line of the absorbent body and the second peripheral edge of the absorbent body and substantially parallel to the second axis,

wherein the absorbent body has a plurality of crossover points formed from the first slit and the fourth slit and formed from the third slit and the sixth slit; and

wherein the sheet piece member is formed by a mechanical corrugate processing.

11. An interlabial pad according to claim 10, wherein the absorbent body includes high polymer absorbing material comprising carboxymethylcellulose fiber or carboxyethylcellulose fiber.

12. An interlabial pad according to claim 10, wherein the rear surface side sheet includes a PVA (polyvinylalcohol) film applied with water-repellent processing on at least one side thereof.

13. An interlabial pad according to claim 10, wherein the rear surface side sheet includes a PVA (polyvinylalcohol) film mixed with silicone.

14. An interlabial pad according to claim 10, wherein the rear surface side sheet includes a laminated film member selected from the group consisting of PVA film, a starch film, a film of biodegradable resin and a tissue.

15. An interlabial pad according to claim 10, wherein the sheet piece member includes at least one of a spun bond nonwoven fabric and a melt blown nonwoven fabric.

16. An interlabial pad according to claim 10, wherein the sheet piece member includes at least one of a film and a nonwoven fabric, made from water-soluble materials.