EP0335252A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Absorbent article
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
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Filing: 1989-03-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to a disposable absorbent article, and particularly a sanitary napkin, having a flexure-resistant deformation element, the deformation element having a body facing surface which has a convex upward configuration when the sanitary napkin is worn. Primarily without relying on lateral compressive forces of the wearer's labia, the deformation element of the present invention relies on the lateral compressive forces of the wearer's thighs in order to form or maintain a convex upward configuration when the sanitary napkin is worn. In a preferred embodiment, the deformation element has a flexure means, and particularly a longitudinally extending flexure hinge, for inducing the body facing surface of the deformation element to have a convex upward configuration when the sanitary napkin is worn. In an alternatively preferred embodiment, the deformation element has a central region having a "W" shaped cross-section wherein the body facing surface of the deformation element having the convex upward configuration is located in the central region, generally symmetrically between the longitudinal side edges of the napkin. In another alternatively preferred embodiment, the deformation element has a cup-shaped front region and a back region having a convex upward configured body facing surface. The deformation element may be a moldable substance such as a foam, it may be reformable and/or it may be resilient.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Barclay Buell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:44
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/45; A61F13/47; A61F13/472; A61F13/47218; A61F13/47227; A61F13/15203; A61F13/475; A61F13/4751; A61F13/4756; A61F13/4758; A61F13/51; A61F13/511; A61F2013/51059; A61F2013/51066; A61F2013/51078; A61F13/514; A61F13/51401; A61F2013/51409; A61F13/51474; A61F2013/51486; A61F2013/51488; A61F2013/51492; A61F13/53; A61F2013/530131; A61F2013/530437; A61F2013/530481; A61F2013/530868; A61F2013/530927; A61F2013/530934
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
A disposable absorbent article, comprising a deformation element, said deformation element being flexure-resistant, said deformation element having a body facing surface, at least a portion of said body facing surface having a convex upward configuration when said article is subjected to lateral compressive forces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
A disposable absorbent article, comprising a deformation element, said deformation element being flexure-resistant, said deformation element having a body facing surface, at least a portion of said body facing surface having a convex upward configuration when said article is subjected to lateral compressive forces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A disposable absorbent article, comprising a deformation element, said deformation element being flexure-resistant, said deformation element having a body facing surface, at least a portion of said body facing surface having a convex upward configuration, said body facing surface maintaining said convex upward configuration when said article is subjected to lateral compressive forces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A disposable absorbent article, comprising a deformation element, said deformation element being flexure-resistant, said deformation element having a body facing surface, at least a portion of said body facing surface having a convex upward configuration, said body facing surface maintaining said convex upward configuration when said article is subjected to lateral compressive forces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, wherein said deformation element has a flexure means for inducing said body facing surface of said deformation element to have said convex upward configuration when said article is subjected to said lateral compressive forces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said article has a central region, said central region being disposed beneath the pudendal region of a wearer when said article is worn, said central region having a length which corresponds to the length of the pudendal region between the anterior commissure and the posterior commissure, said portion of said body facing surface having said convex upward configuration being at least partially within said central region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 4, further comprising longitudinal side edges, wherein said portion of said body facing surface having said convex upward configuration is generally symmetrically located between said longitudinal side edges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the portion of said deformation element disposed beneath said portion of said body facing surface having said convex upward configuration has a convex upward cross-section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said flexure means is a flexure hinge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said flexure hinge extends at least partially generally longitudinally.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said flexure hinge is formed by a geometric discontinuity in said deformation element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said flexure hinge is formed by changes in the material properties of said element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said deformation element is reformable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said deformation element is resilient.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said deformation element has walls, said walls having a pudendal facing surface and a base, said pudendal facing surface of said walls at said base of said walls being adjacent to said portion of said body facing surface of said deformation element having said convex upward configuration in said central region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said pudendal facing surface of said walls in conjunction with said portion of said body facing surface of said deformation element having said convex upward configuration combine to present a generally "W"-shaped configuration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said deformation element has a front region, said front region being adjacent to and forward of said central region, said front region being generally cupped-shape when said article is subjected to said lateral compressive forces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said deformation element has a back region, said back region being adjacent to and backward of said central region, said back region having a body facing surface and a ridge, said body facing surface having a convex upward configuration, said ridge being configured so as to fit the gluteal groove of a wearer when said article is worn.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said deformation element comprises a moldable substance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said deformation element comprises a thermomoldable substance.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 18, wherein said thermomoldable substance is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polybutylene, polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate, thermobondable cellulose, latex or silicone elastomerics.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 4, further comprising an absorbent means, said absorbent means being associated with said deformation element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 20, wherein said absorbent means has a first major surface and a second major surface, said absorbent means being superimposed on said deformation element such that said second major surface of said absorbent means is adjacent said body facing surface of said deformation element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
59 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 20, wherein said absorbent means has a first major surface and a second major surface, said deformation element further has a bottom surface, said deformation element being superimposed on said absorbent means such that said bottom surface of said deformation element is adjacent said first major surface of said absorbent means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
50 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 20, wherein said absorbent means comprises an absorbent core and a liquid permeable topsheet, said topsheet being the layer of said article nearest the pudendal region of a wearer when said article is worn, said topsheet being associated with said deformation element.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 22, further comprising a liquid impermeable barrier sheet and wherein said absorbent means comprises a liquid permeable topsheet and an absorbent core having a first major surface and a second major surface, said topsheet overlaying said body facing surface of said deformation element, said deformation element being superimposed on said first major surface of said absorbent core, said barrier sheet underlaying said second major surface of said absorbent core, said topsheet being associated with said backsheet.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
62 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 20, wherein said absorbent means comprises a liquid permeable topsheet and an absorbent core having a first major surface and a second major surface, said topsheet overlaying said first major surface of said absorbent core, said deformation element being disposed within said absorbent core between said first major surface and said second major surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 18, wherein said deformation element is absorbent and at least a portion of said body facing surface having said convex upward configuration is liquid permeable.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
56 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 4, further comprising a body surface, said body surface achieving intimate contact with the external surfaces of the pudendal region of a wearer when said article is worn, thereby causing said portion of said body facing surface of said deformation element having said convex upward configuration to deform.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 27, wherein said deformation is an outward bulge.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said article is intended to reside completely outside of the wearer's vestibule.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said deformation element has a flexure-resistance of at least about 100.0 grams.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said deformation element has a flexure-resistance of at least about 200.0 grams.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said deformation element has a flexure-resistance of at least about 350.0 grams.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The disposable absorbent article as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said deformation element has a flexure-resistance of at least about 500.0 grams.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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