Patent US3561447A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3561447A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flushable sanitary napkin
Assignee: Fiber Technology Corp
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Filing: 1969-03-13
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Granted: 1971-02-09
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Expires: 1989-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A bonded nonwoven fabric suitable for use as a flushable cover for a disposable diaper or a sanitary napkin is produced by bonding a thin web of textile-length fibers with a fugitive binder comprising a mixture of a soft acrylic binder and a polyvinyl alcohol. Such a fabric has sufficient tensile strength to function usefully as a cover whether dry or damp, but then, after use, may be readily disposed of by flushing since it disintegrates into a thin fibrous slurry when agitated in water.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R Alexander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L15/00; A61L15/16; A61L15/42; A61L15/62; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/15203; A61F13/15211; A61L15/22; A61L15/225; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/608
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A nonwoven fabric suitable for use as a covering for a disposable diaper or sanitary napkin: having sufficient strength when damp to maintain its integrity as a fabric; but capable of disintegrating into substantially individual nonunified fibers when gently agitated with an excess of water; which comprises a web of textile-length fibers unified by a bonding medium which comprises between 35 percent and 65 percent of a soft acrylic polymeric binder; and between 65 percent and 35 percent of polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A nonwoven fabric suitable for use as a covering for a disposable diaper or sanitary napkin: having sufficient strength when damp to maintain its integrity as a fabric; but capable of disintegrating into substantially individual nonunified fibers when gently agitated with an excess of water; which comprises a web of textile-length fibers unified by a bonding medium which comprises between 35 percent and 65 percent of a soft acrylic polymeric binder; and between 65 percent and 35 percent of polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The product according to claim 1 in which the polyvinyl alcohol is plasticized by a water-soluble aliphatic glycol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The product according to claim 1 in which the bonding agent is applied in the form of discrete, spaced-apart areas extending transversely across the fibrous web.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The product according to claim 3 in which the areas of bonding agent cover not more than 50 percent of the surface area of the fabric.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The product according to claim 1 in which the textile-length fibers are predominately of the order of approximately 1 inch in length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The product according to claim 1 in which the soft acrylic bonding agent is a polymer copolymer of acrylonitrile and an acrylic ester of no more than eight carbon atoms in the ester group.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
A wholly-flushable sanitary napkin comprising a flushable absorbent core and a nonwoven cover in intimate contact therewith: said cover having sufficient strength when damp to maintain its integrity as a fabric and to contain the contents of the absorbent core; but capable of disintegrating into substantially individual nonunified fibers when gently agitated with an excess of water; said cover comprising a web of textile-length fibers unified by a bonding medium which comprises between 35 percent and 65 percent of a soft acrylic polymeric binder; and between 65 percent and 35 percent of polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A wholly-flushable sanitary napkin comprising a flushable absorbent core and a nonwoven cover in intimate contact therewith: said cover having sufficient strength when damp to maintain its integrity as a fabric and to contain the contents of the absorbent core; but capable of disintegrating into substantially individual nonunified fibers when gently agitated with an excess of water; said cover comprising a web of textile-length fibers unified by a bonding medium which comprises between 35 percent and 65 percent of a soft acrylic polymeric binder; and between 65 percent and 35 percent of polyvinyl alcohol.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-08 | 1974-08-10 | 1975-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-08 | 1978-08-10 | 1979-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-08-10 | 1983-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |