US4917697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sanitary napkins having flaps and stress relief means
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
•
Filing: 1988-03-31
•
Granted: 1990-04-17
•
Expires: 2008-03-31
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with the present invention, a sanitary napkin having flaps and a stress relief means for relieving the stresses that develop in the flaps when the flaps are folded down along the edges of the wearer's panties in the crotch, is provided. The flaps are associated with an absorbent means along a line of juncture. The stress relief means can be provided along the line of juncture or in the flaps. Two preferred stress relief means are a notch and a slit.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas W. Osborn, III
- 👤 Letha M. Hines
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/45; A61F13/47; A61F13/472; A61F13/47236; A61F13/476; A61F13/53; A61F13/51; A61F2013/51059; A61F2013/51066; A61F13/514; A61F13/51401; A61F2013/51409; A61F13/56; A61F13/58; A61F2013/586
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A sanitary napkin, comprising: an absorbent means; a flap associated with said absorbent means along a line of juncture and extending laterally outward from said absorbent means to a distal edge; and a first stress relief means for relief of stresses, said first stress relief means comprising a slit or a notch and being located along said line of juncture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A sanitary napkin, comprising: an absorbent means; a flap associated with said absorbent means along a line of juncture and extending laterally outward from said absorbent means to a distal edge; and a first stress relief means for relief of stresses, said first stress relief means comprising a slit or a notch and being located along said line of juncture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
A sanitary napkin having a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline, said sanitary napkin comprising: an absorbent means: a flap associated with said absorbent means along a line of juncture and extending laterally outward from said absorbent means to a distal edge; and a first stress relief means for relief of stresses, said first stress relief means comprising a slit or a notch and being located in said flap remote from said line of juncture and said lateral centerline and intermediate said line of juncture and said lateral centerline.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
A sanitary napkin having a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline, said sanitary napkin comprising: an absorbent means: a flap associated with said absorbent means along a line of juncture and extending laterally outward from said absorbent means to a distal edge; and a first stress relief means for relief of stresses, said first stress relief means comprising a slit or a notch and being located in said flap remote from said line of juncture and said lateral centerline and intermediate said line of juncture and said lateral centerline.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sanitary napkin as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said flap has a first stress relief means on each side of said flap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sanitary napkin as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first stress relief means has a leading edge having an angle of from about 0° to about 145° from longitudinal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sanitary napkin as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first stress relief means has a depth of from about 2.0 to about 20.0 millimeters from longitudinal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sanitary napkin as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first stress relief means has a leading edge having an angle of from about 20° to about 40° from longitudinal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sanitary napkin as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first stress relief means has a depth of from about 3.0 to about 12.0 millimeters from longitudinal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
A sanitary napkin, comprising: an absorbent means; a flap associated with said absorbent means along a line of juncture and extending laterally outward from said absorbent means to a distal edge; a first stress relief means for relief of stresses, said first stress relief means comprising a slit or a notch and being located along said line of juncture; and a second stress relief means in said flap for relief of stresses which dvelop when said flap is folded down along the edges of a wearer's undergarments, said second stress relief means comprising a slit or a notch and being remote from said line of juncture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
A sanitary napkin, comprising: an absorbent means; a flap associated with said absorbent means along a line of juncture and extending laterally outward from said absorbent means to a distal edge; a first stress relief means for relief of stresses, said first stress relief means comprising a slit or a notch and being located along said line of juncture; and a second stress relief means in said flap for relief of stresses which dvelop when said flap is folded down along the edges of a wearer's undergarments, said second stress relief means comprising a slit or a notch and being remote from said line of juncture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sanitary napkin as claimed in claim 8, wherein said flap has a lateral centerline and said second stress relief means is located along said lateral centerline of said flap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB249924A
Cited
DE1491234A1
Cited
US3397697A
Cited
US4285343A
Cited
US4327732A
Cited
DE3319421A1
Cited
US4589876A
Cited
US4589876B1
Cited
US4687478A
Cited
US4605404A
Cited
US4608047A
Cited
US4701178A
Cited
US4759754A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-16 | 1993-10-16 | 1994-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-16 | 1997-10-16 | 1998-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-16 | 2001-10-16 | 2002-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |