Patent US4490147A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4490147A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Absorbent sanitary napkin
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1982-07-19
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Granted: 1984-12-25
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Expires: 2002-07-19
Abstract
Abstract The sanitary napkin includes a base layer 21 of absorbent sheet material, an elongated dry, swellable sponge 27 extending along and supported by the base layer of sheet material, and a cover layer 22 of absorbent sheet material joined at its edge portions to the edge portions of the base layer and covering the sponge. Elongate pads 24, 25 and 26 are arranged parallel to one another and held in a bundle with the sponge 27 by the base layer and cover layer of sheet material.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry L. Pierce
- 👤 June S. Pierce
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/45; A61F13/47; A61F13/472; A61F13/47218; A61F13/53; A61F13/531; A61F13/532; A61F13/5323; A61F13/534; A61F13/539; A61F13/56; A61F13/58; A61F13/64; A61F2013/15008; A61F2013/15048; A61F13/49; A61F2013/49084; A61F2013/49085; A61F2013/530481; A61F2013/530802; A61F2013/530992; A61F2013/53445; A61F2013/5395; A61F2013/582
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
A sanitary napkin comprising a plurality of elongate absorbent pads arranged parallel to one another and in a bundle generally triangular in cross-section with a first layer of pads arranged in side-by-side relationship, a pad overlying the pads of the first layer of pads at a position over the adjacent surfaces of the pads in the first layer and forming a second layer of pad material, an elongated swellable sponge positioned between said first layer of pads and said second layer of pad material, a liquid-pervious material surrounding all of said pads for holding the pads in an uncompressed bundled relationship with the pads movable longitudinally with respect to one another, a sheet of liquid-impervious material substantially covering the bottom portion of the first layer of pads, and a layer of adhesive material disposed on the bottom portion of said napkin for securing said napkin to an undergarment, as a result of the napkin not being compressed said napkin being characterized by being bendable along its length with portions of some of the pads movable longitudinally with respect to others of the pads as the napkin is bent along its length whereby the napkin is placed in external contact with the female human body with the second layer of pad material in aligned contact with the labia and with the first layer of pads holding the second layer of pad material in contact with the labia and bending the napkin along its length as necessary to conform to the curvature of the external surfaces of the anatomy adjacent the labia.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
260 words
A sanitary napkin comprising a plurality of elongate absorbent pads arranged parallel to one another and in a bundle generally triangular in cross-section with a first layer of pads arranged in side-by-side relationship, a pad overlying the pads of the first layer of pads at a position over the adjacent surfaces of the pads in the first layer and forming a second layer of pad material, an elongated swellable sponge positioned between said first layer of pads and said second layer of pad material, a liquid-pervious material surrounding all of said pads for holding the pads in an uncompressed bundled relationship with the pads movable longitudinally with respect to one another, a sheet of liquid-impervious material substantially covering the bottom portion of the first layer of pads, and a layer of adhesive material disposed on the bottom portion of said napkin for securing said napkin to an undergarment, as a result of the napkin not being compressed said napkin being characterized by being bendable along its length with portions of some of the pads movable longitudinally with respect to others of the pads as the napkin is bent along its length whereby the napkin is placed in external contact with the female human body with the second layer of pad material in aligned contact with the labia and with the first layer of pads holding the second layer of pad material in contact with the labia and bending the napkin along its length as necessary to conform to the curvature of the external surfaces of the anatomy adjacent the labia.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 1 and wherein each of said absorbent pads are approximately of circular shape across their lengths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 1 and wherein the ends of some of the pads at the ends of the napkin are staggered with respect to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
186 words
A sanitary napkin comprising a plurality of elongate absorbent pads arranged parallel to one another in an elongated uncompressed bundle, at least one of said pads being positioned centrally in said bundle and characterized by having been formed of compressed swellable sponge material, and a wrapper of a liquid-pervious material surrounding all of said pads and closed at its ends about said pads for maintaining the pads in a bundle, and as a result of the napkin not being compressed portions of said pads are movable with respect to one another along the lengths of the pads and the napkin is bendable along its length when placed in external contact with the female human body with the centrally positioned pad of sponge material aligned with and placed adjacent the labia and with the napkin curved along its length as necessary to conform to the curvature of the external surfaces of the anatomy, and when the sponge is contacted with menstral fluids issued from the wearer the sponge tends to become softer and tends to swell into a shape that conforms to the anatomy of the wearer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
186 words
A sanitary napkin comprising a plurality of elongate absorbent pads arranged parallel to one another in an elongated uncompressed bundle, at least one of said pads being positioned centrally in said bundle and characterized by having been formed of compressed swellable sponge material, and a wrapper of a liquid-pervious material surrounding all of said pads and closed at its ends about said pads for maintaining the pads in a bundle, and as a result of the napkin not being compressed portions of said pads are movable with respect to one another along the lengths of the pads and the napkin is bendable along its length when placed in external contact with the female human body with the centrally positioned pad of sponge material aligned with and placed adjacent the labia and with the napkin curved along its length as necessary to conform to the curvature of the external surfaces of the anatomy, and when the sponge is contacted with menstral fluids issued from the wearer the sponge tends to become softer and tends to swell into a shape that conforms to the anatomy of the wearer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 4 and wherein the pad of sponge material is dry and scored across its length at intervals along its length whereby the pad of sponge material is bendable along its length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
166 words
A sanitary napkin comprising a pair of elongate absorbent pads arranged in side-by-side relationship, an elongate compressed swellable sponge extending along the adjacent surfaces of the absorbent pads, a wrapper of liquid-pervious material surrounding said pads and sponge for maintaining said pads and sponge in a bundle, said sponge being supported by said absorbent pads and forming a ridge extending along the napkin, said pads and said sponge being movable with respect to one another along their lengths and the napkin being bendable along its length when placed in external contact with the human body with the sponge aligned with and placed adjacent the labia and with the pads holding the sponge adjacent the labia and the napkin curved along its length as necessary to conform to the curvature of the external surfaces of the the anatomy, whereby, when menstral fluids of the wearer contact the sponge, the sponge becomes softer and tends to swell to a shape that conforms to the anatomy of the wearer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
166 words
A sanitary napkin comprising a pair of elongate absorbent pads arranged in side-by-side relationship, an elongate compressed swellable sponge extending along the adjacent surfaces of the absorbent pads, a wrapper of liquid-pervious material surrounding said pads and sponge for maintaining said pads and sponge in a bundle, said sponge being supported by said absorbent pads and forming a ridge extending along the napkin, said pads and said sponge being movable with respect to one another along their lengths and the napkin being bendable along its length when placed in external contact with the human body with the sponge aligned with and placed adjacent the labia and with the pads holding the sponge adjacent the labia and the napkin curved along its length as necessary to conform to the curvature of the external surfaces of the the anatomy, whereby, when menstral fluids of the wearer contact the sponge, the sponge becomes softer and tends to swell to a shape that conforms to the anatomy of the wearer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 6 and wherein said sponge is shaped at itervals along its length to enhance its bendability along its length.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 6 and wherein said sponge is a bio-compatible, polymeric, elastomeric, lint-free, uniformly swellable hydrophilic sponge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 6 and wherein said sponge is approximately circular in cross-section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 6 and wherein said sponge is approximately rectangular in cross-section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 6 and wherein said sponge is approximately semi-circular in cross-section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
180 words
A sanitary napkin comprising an elongated generally flat base layer of absorbent sheet material, an elongate dry swellable sponge extending along and protruding away from said base layer of sheet material and supported by said base layer of sheet material, a cover layer of absorbent sheet material joined at its edge portions to the edge portions of said base layer of sheet material and covering said sponge, said sponge being narrower than the base layer of sheet material and forming in the napkin an elongate ridge that protrudes from the base layer, said sponge being bio-compatible, polymeric, elastomeric, lint-free and uniformly swellable, and characterized by an absorption capacity for liquids in excess of twenty times the weight of the sponge, whereby when the napkin is placed with the sponge adjacent the labia of the wearer the sponge tends to fit the anatomy of the wearer and when the sponge is contacted with menstral fluids issued from the wearer it tends to become softer and to swell to a shape that conforms to the shape of the anatomy of the wearer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
180 words
A sanitary napkin comprising an elongated generally flat base layer of absorbent sheet material, an elongate dry swellable sponge extending along and protruding away from said base layer of sheet material and supported by said base layer of sheet material, a cover layer of absorbent sheet material joined at its edge portions to the edge portions of said base layer of sheet material and covering said sponge, said sponge being narrower than the base layer of sheet material and forming in the napkin an elongate ridge that protrudes from the base layer, said sponge being bio-compatible, polymeric, elastomeric, lint-free and uniformly swellable, and characterized by an absorption capacity for liquids in excess of twenty times the weight of the sponge, whereby when the napkin is placed with the sponge adjacent the labia of the wearer the sponge tends to fit the anatomy of the wearer and when the sponge is contacted with menstral fluids issued from the wearer it tends to become softer and to swell to a shape that conforms to the shape of the anatomy of the wearer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 12 and wherein said sponge is substantially semicircular in cross-section and is shaped across its length at intervals along its length to enhance its bendability.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 12 and wherein said sponge is substantially circular in cross-section and is shaped across its length at intervals along its length to enhance its bendability.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 12 and wherein said sponge is scored across its length to enhance its bendability.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
197 words
A sanitary napkin comprising at least three elongate absorbent pads arranged parallel to one another in an elongated uncompressed triangular bundle, a first layer of said pads comprising two pads arranged in side-by-side relationship and the third pad positioned in a second layer overlying the adjacent surfaces of the pads in the first layer of pads, the pad in the second layer of pads being characterized by having been formed of compressed swellable sponge material, and a wrapper of a liquid-pervious material surrounding all of said pads and closed at its ends about said pads for maintaining the pads in a bundle, and as a result of the napkin not being compressed portions of said pads are movable with respect to one another along the lengths of the pads and the napkin is bendable along its length when placed in external contact with the female human body with the pad in the second layer of pads aligned with and placed adjacent the labia and with the other pads holding the one pad adjacent the labia and with the napkin curved along its length as necessary to conform to the curvature of the external surfaces of the anatomy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
197 words
A sanitary napkin comprising at least three elongate absorbent pads arranged parallel to one another in an elongated uncompressed triangular bundle, a first layer of said pads comprising two pads arranged in side-by-side relationship and the third pad positioned in a second layer overlying the adjacent surfaces of the pads in the first layer of pads, the pad in the second layer of pads being characterized by having been formed of compressed swellable sponge material, and a wrapper of a liquid-pervious material surrounding all of said pads and closed at its ends about said pads for maintaining the pads in a bundle, and as a result of the napkin not being compressed portions of said pads are movable with respect to one another along the lengths of the pads and the napkin is bendable along its length when placed in external contact with the female human body with the pad in the second layer of pads aligned with and placed adjacent the labia and with the other pads holding the one pad adjacent the labia and with the napkin curved along its length as necessary to conform to the curvature of the external surfaces of the anatomy.
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) | 1987-12-25 | 1988-06-25 | 1988-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-12-25 | 1992-06-25 | 1992-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-12-25 | 1996-06-25 | 1996-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |