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US5087254A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Absorbent products having integral transverse retaining tab and pocket

Assignee: Kenvue Brands LLC
•
Filing: 1990-07-06
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Granted: 1992-02-11
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Expires: 2010-07-06
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Abstract

Abstract Absorbent products, such as sanitary napkins are provided which include pocket means disposed on an undergarment-facing side of a central absorbent element. The products further include tab means extending laterally from one of the longitudinally extending sides of the absorbent element for a distance greater than about a width of the absorbent element and sized to be partially inserted into the pocket means after being wrapped around the crotch area of the undergarment for aiding in securing the sanitary napkin to an undergarment.

Inventors

  • 👤 Martha Davis
  • 👤 Daniel Formosa
  • 👤 Jeannie Gerth
  • 👤 Patricia A. Moore
  • 👤 Stephen Russak
  • 👤 Tamara Thomsen
  • 👤 Tucker Viemeister

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 13:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/56; A61F13/5605; A61F13/5616; B; B05; B05D; B05D7/00; B05D7/50; B05D7/52; B05D7/53; B05D7/532; C; C09; C09D; C09D5/00; C09D5/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 95 words
A sanitary napkin comprising: (a) a central absorbent element having longitudinally extending sides, transverse ends, a body-facing side and an undergarment-facing side; (b) pocket means disposed on said undergarment-facing side of said central absorbent element; and (c) tab means extending laterally from one of said longitudinally extending sides of said central absorbent element for a distance greater than about a width of said absorbent element and sized to be partially inserted into said pocket means after being wrapped around a crotch area of an undergarment for aiding in securing said sanitary napkin to said undergarment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 95 words
A sanitary napkin comprising: (a) a central absorbent element having longitudinally extending sides, transverse ends, a body-facing side and an undergarment-facing side; (b) pocket means disposed on said undergarment-facing side of said central absorbent element; and (c) tab means extending laterally from one of said longitudinally extending sides of said central absorbent element for a distance greater than about a width of said absorbent element and sized to be partially inserted into said pocket means after being wrapped around a crotch area of an undergarment for aiding in securing said sanitary napkin to said undergarment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said undergarment-facing side of said central absorbent element comprises a body fluid impervious surface, said body fluid impervious surface defining at least a portion of said pocket means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 2 wherein said pocket means comprises a thermoplastic sheet affixed to said body fluid impervious surface of said undergarment-facing side of said absorbent element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 3 wherein at least two opposing portions of said thermoplastic sheet are adhesively affixed to said body fluid impervious surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 4 wherein said affixed thermoplastic sheet and said body fluid impervious surface define a containment area for securely receiving and retaining said tab means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 3 wherein said thermoplastic sheet defines a portion of said tab means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 6 wherein said tab means comprises a tab member extending laterally from an end portion of said thermoplastic sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 7 wherein said tab member comprises a semi-rigid portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 8 wherein said semi-rigid portion of said tab member comprises a layer of semi-rigid material adhesively affixed to said tab member, said tab member further comprising a tapered extension of said thermoplastic sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said semi-rigid portion is scored in at least a first direction for improving the flexibility and for increasing the frictional resistance of said semi-rigid portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 10 wherein said semi-rigid portion is also scored in a second direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said central absorbent element comprises a calendered peat moss board.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 20 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 12 wherein said board comprises a portion which has been subjected to a creping process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 103 words
A sanitary napkin comprising: a central absorbent element having longitudinally extending sides, transverse ends, a body-facing side and an undergarment-facing side, said undergarment-facing side comprising a body fluid impervious surface; a thermoplastic sheet affixed to said body fluid impervious surface and forming a pocket therewith; said thermoplastic sheet extending a distance greater than about a width of said central absorbent element and comprising a semi-rigid, tapered, tab member; whereby said thermoplastic sheet is capable of being wrapped around an undergarment and said tab member is capable of being at least partially inserted into said pocket for securing said sanitary napkin to said undergarment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 103 words
A sanitary napkin comprising: a central absorbent element having longitudinally extending sides, transverse ends, a body-facing side and an undergarment-facing side, said undergarment-facing side comprising a body fluid impervious surface; a thermoplastic sheet affixed to said body fluid impervious surface and forming a pocket therewith; said thermoplastic sheet extending a distance greater than about a width of said central absorbent element and comprising a semi-rigid, tapered, tab member; whereby said thermoplastic sheet is capable of being wrapped around an undergarment and said tab member is capable of being at least partially inserted into said pocket for securing said sanitary napkin to said undergarment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 33 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 14 wherein said tab member comprises resistance means for at least increasing the frictional resistance of said tab member when said tab member is inserted into said pocket.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 113 words
A method of applying a sanitary napkin to an undergarment comprising: (a) providing a sanitary napkin comprising a central absorbent element having longitudinal extending sides, transverse ends, a body-facing side and undergarment-facing side, pocket means disposed on said undergarment-facing side, and tab means extending laterally from one of said longitudinally extending sides of said absorbent element for a distance greater than about a width of said absorbent element; (b) disposing said sanitary napkin onto an inner crotch portion of said undergarment; (c) wrapping said tab means around said crotch portion of said undergarment; and (d) inserting a portion of said tab means into said pocket for securing said sanitary napkin to said undergarment.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 113 words
A method of applying a sanitary napkin to an undergarment comprising: (a) providing a sanitary napkin comprising a central absorbent element having longitudinal extending sides, transverse ends, a body-facing side and undergarment-facing side, pocket means disposed on said undergarment-facing side, and tab means extending laterally from one of said longitudinally extending sides of said absorbent element for a distance greater than about a width of said absorbent element; (b) disposing said sanitary napkin onto an inner crotch portion of said undergarment; (c) wrapping said tab means around said crotch portion of said undergarment; and (d) inserting a portion of said tab means into said pocket for securing said sanitary napkin to said undergarment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said undergarment-facing side of said central absorbent element comprises a body fluid impervious surface, said body fluid impervious surface defining at least a portion of said pocket means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said pocket means comprises a thermoplastic sheet affixed to said undergarment-facing side of said central absorbent element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said sheet of thermoplastic material defines a portion of said tab means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said thermoplastic sheet is adhesively affixed to said body fluid impervious surface.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4936839A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-02-10 1995-08-12 1996-02-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-02-10 1999-08-12 2000-02-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-02-10 2003-08-12 2004-02-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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