Sanitary napkins capable of taking complex three-dimensional shape in use

• US 9,579,238 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Noel, John Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): PHILIPS, BRADLEY H
• Application Number:
  US14/212,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20150257943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 604/358, 604378-380
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4704 having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/472 specially adapted for female use A61F13/474, A61F13/475, A61F13/476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/474 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51113 comprising an additive, e.g. lotion or odour control A61F13/51108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51394 creating a visual effect, e.g. having a printed or coloured topsheet, printed or coloured sub-layer but being visible from the topsheet, other than embossing for purposes of bonding, wicking, acquisition, leakage-prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53 characterised by the absorbing medium A61F13/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/536 having discontinuous areas of compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/8405 Additives, e.g. for odour, disinfectant or pH control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51117 the lotion having skin care properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530875 having holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8455 being lubricants

Abstract

A catamenial device. The device comprises a topsheet having a body facing surface, a backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core comprises three zones differing in stiffness, at least one of the zones comprising laterally-oriented portions where material from the core has been removed, the portions defining slots.

Claims

1. A catamenial device having a front end and a back end, said device comprising:

(a) a topsheet having a body facing surface;

(b) a backsheet joined to said topsheet; and

(c) an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet;

wherein said absorbent core has a perimeter, a longitudinal centerline, and a transverse centerline;

wherein said catamenial device further comprises a visible pattern comprising at least one circle and at least two or more slots that are visible when viewing the topsheet;

wherein said visible pattern comprising at least one circle and at least two or more slots share an imaginary line connecting an edge of one or more slots with an edge of one or more circles, wherein the two or more slots are parallel to each other, and wherein the imaginary line connecting an edge of one or more slots with an edge of one or more circles forms a portion of a perimeter of the visible pattern wherein the slots are not embossed and wherein the slots are distinct and run substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline.

2. The catamenial device of claim 1, wherein the visible pattern comprises three or more slots between the perimeter and the transverse centerline.

3. The catamenial device of claim 1, wherein the visible pattern is tapered towards the front end.

4. The catamenial device of claim 1, wherein the at least one slot communicate flexibility.

5. The catamenial device of claim 1, wherein the circles are located in a loading zone.

6. The catamenial device of claim 1, wherein the back end of the catamenial device can form an inverted V.

7. The catamenial device of claim 1, wherein the visual pattern circles are located in front of at least one slot.

8. The catamenial device of claim 1, wherein said absorbent core comprises a foam.

9. The catamenial device of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core comprises of a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone, and wherein at least two of said absorbent core first zone, second zone, and third zone differ in stiffness.

10. The catamenial device of claim 1, wherein said topsheet further comprises a lotion applied thereto.

11. The catamenial device of claim 1, wherein said absorbent core tapers towards the front end of the catamenial device.

12. A catamenial device having a front end and a back end, said device comprising:

(a) a topsheet having a body facing surface;

(b) a backsheet joined to said topsheet; and

(c) an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet;

wherein said absorbent core has a perimeter, a longitudinal centerline, and a transverse centerline;

wherein said catamenial device further comprises a visible pattern of circles and slots within the absorbent core perimeter;

wherein the visible pattern is visible when viewing the topsheet;

wherein said visible pattern of circles and slots share an imaginary straight line connecting an edge of the slots with an edge of a plurality of circles, wherein the slots are parallel to each other, and wherein the imaginary line connecting an edge of the slots with an edge of one or more circles forms a portion of a perimeter of the visible pattern wherein the slots are not embossed and wherein the slots are distinct and run substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline.

13. The catamenial device of claim 12, wherein said absorbent core tapers towards the front end of the catamenial device.

14. The catamenial device of claim 12, wherein the visible pattern comprises three or more slots between the perimeter and the transverse centerline.

15. The catamenial device of claim 12, wherein the visible pattern is tapered towards the front end.

16. The catamenial device of claim 12, wherein the slots communicate flexibility.

17. The catamenial device of claim 12, wherein the back end of the catamenial device can form an inverted V.

18. The catamenial device of claim 12, wherein the visual pattern circles are located in front of at least one slot.

19. The catamenial device of claim 12, wherein said absorbent core tapers towards the front end of the catamenial device.

20. A catamenial device, said device comprising:

(a) a topsheet having a body facing surface;

(b) a backsheet joined to said topsheet; and

(d) an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet;

wherein said absorbent core has a perimeter, a longitudinal centerline, and a transverse centerline;

wherein said catamenial device further comprises a visible pattern comprising one or more circles and one or more slots within the absorbent core perimeter;

wherein the one or more slots and one or more circles share an imaginary straight line connecting an edge of the one or more slots with an edge of one or more circles;

wherein the visible pattern and the absorbent core converge towards the longitudinal centerline; and

wherein the imaginary line connecting the edge of the one or more slots with and edge of one or more circles forms a portion of a perimeter of the visible pattern wherein the one or more slots are not embossed and wherein the one or more slots are distinct and run substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline.