US5125918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sanitary napkin having an attachment system comprising biased hinges
Assignee: Personal Products Co
•
Filing: 1988-04-14
•
Granted: 1992-06-30
•
Expires: 2008-04-14
Abstract
Abstract Sanitary napkins are disclosed which include side-protecting flaps having specially designed hinge means for disposing at least one of the flaps in a pre-folded, flexible position. The flap or flaps of the preferred embodiments may be wrapped around a crotch portion of an undergarment without additional attachment adhesive.
Inventors
- 👤 Wassim Seidy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/45; A61F13/47; A61F13/476; A61F13/56; A61F13/5605; A61F13/5616
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A sanitary napkin comprising: (a) an absorbent element having longitudinally extending sides, transverse ends, a body-facing side and an undergarment facing side; and (b) flaps extending laterally from each of said longitudinal sides of said absorbent element, said flaps having proximal and distal portions in relation to said longitudinal sides of said absorbent element disposing said distal portion of said flap in acute angular relation with said undergarment facing side of said absorbent element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A sanitary napkin comprising: (a) an absorbent element having longitudinally extending sides, transverse ends, a body-facing side and an undergarment facing side; and (b) flaps extending laterally from each of said longitudinal sides of said absorbent element, said flaps having proximal and distal portions in relation to said longitudinal sides of said absorbent element disposing said distal portion of said flap in acute angular relation with said undergarment facing side of said absorbent element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein both of said flaps comprise hinge means for disposing said flaps in angular relation with said undergarment facing side of said absorbent element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said flap is disposed to form an angle sufficiently acute to wrap around a side of a crotch portion of an undergarment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 3 wherein said angle is less than about 90°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 3 wherein said angle is less than about 45°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 3 wherein said angle is less than about 30°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 3 wherein said angle is less than about 15°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 4 wherein said hinge means comprises a resilient polymeric material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 8 wherein said resilient polymeric material comprises a thermoplastic fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said resilient polymeric material comprises hollow polyester fibers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sanitary napkin of claim 8 wherein said resilient polymeric material is heat cured and compressed and resiliently set to form said angle.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of applying a sanitary napkin to an undergarment, comprising: (a) providing a sanitary napkin having an absorbent element having longitudinally extending sides, transverse ends, a body-facing side and an undergarment facing side, said napkin further including flaps extending laterally from each of said longitudinal sides of said absorbent element, said flaps having proximal and distal portions in relation to said longitudinal sides of said absorbent element, said flaps comprising resilient hinge means disposed between at least one of said longitudinally extending sides of said absorbent element and the distal portion of one of said flaps, said resilient hinge means disposing the distal portions of each of said flaps in angular relation with said undergarment facing side of said absorbent element; (b) disposing said undergarment facing side of said sanitary napkin onto said undergarment; and (c) folding said flaps over a crotch portion of said undergarment whereby said flaps are laterally extended prior to allowing them to fold over an outside portion of said undergarment.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of applying a sanitary napkin to an undergarment, comprising: (a) providing a sanitary napkin having an absorbent element having longitudinally extending sides, transverse ends, a body-facing side and an undergarment facing side, said napkin further including flaps extending laterally from each of said longitudinal sides of said absorbent element, said flaps having proximal and distal portions in relation to said longitudinal sides of said absorbent element, said flaps comprising resilient hinge means disposed between at least one of said longitudinally extending sides of said absorbent element and the distal portion of one of said flaps, said resilient hinge means disposing the distal portions of each of said flaps in angular relation with said undergarment facing side of said absorbent element; (b) disposing said undergarment facing side of said sanitary napkin onto said undergarment; and (c) folding said flaps over a crotch portion of said undergarment whereby said flaps are laterally extended prior to allowing them to fold over an outside portion of said undergarment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said providing step provides flaps disposed to form an angle with said undergarment facing side of said absorbent element of less than about 45°.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said providing step provides flaps disposed to form an angle with said undergarment facing side of said absorbent element of less than about 15°.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said providing step provides a hinge means comprising a heat treated thermoplastic.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-30 | 1995-12-30 | 1996-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-30 | 1999-12-30 | 2000-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-30 | 2003-12-30 | 2004-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |