MXPA02007798A

MXPA02007798A - Absorbent article having removal disposal aid.

Info

Publication number: MXPA02007798A
Application number: MXPA02007798A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Charles Chappell
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Co
Priority date: 2000-02-14
Filing date: 2001-02-12
Publication date: 2002-10-17
Also published as: AU2001236960A1; WO2001060300A1

Abstract

An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, for securing to either a wearer s body or undergarment is provided. An adhesive is secured to either the body facing surface or the garment facing surface to hold the absorbent article in intimate contact with the wearer s body or undergarment, respectively, during use. The absorbent article further includes a pocket secured to the baffle disposed toward the garment facing surface for assisting removal of the absorbent article from the wearer s body or undergarment. The pocket has a fixed portion and a medial open portion which may be grasped or a portion of the wearer s hand may be inserted thereinto to facilitate removal of the absorbent article from the wearer s body or undergarment. The open portion of the pocket provides a means for hygienically disposing of the sanitary napkin by folding the sanitary napkin in half across the transverse axis and rolling the open portion of the pocket over the transverse ends to retain sanitary napkin in a folded condition.

Description

ABSORBENT ARTICLE THAT HAS HELP FOR REMOVAL / DISCHARGE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to disposable absorbent articles for the absorption and containment of body fluids such as menstrual fluid, urine, other body exudates and more particularly, to a combined aid for removing and discarding to conveniently disengage the disposable absorbent article from either the wearer's body or the wearer's undergarment and hygienically contain the absorbent article to provide convenient disposal of the absorbent article after use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Disposable absorbent articles for the absorption and containment of urine, menstruation and other body exudates are generally known in the art. Such disposable articles have found particular utility in the fields of hygiene for incontinence of adults and of women, of children, and of infants. In the area of women's care, such disposable absorbent articles have been marketed in two basic types, tampon and sanitary napkin. For the purposes described herein, sanitary napkins include delegated absorbent devices such as panty liners and interlabial devices, which may have an absorbency of only a few grams, to the larger night and maxi pad designed for absorb a greater amount of bodily fluids. The current sanitary napkins are unitary, preformed and pre-folded and can be individually packed for discreet hygienic purposes. Its construction is generally composed of a fluid-permeable body-side cover; a waterproof liquid, a deflector facing the garment, and an absorber placed between the cover and the baffle. The sanitary towel may also include an adhesive placed on either the garment facing surface of the baffle to secure the sanitary napkin in the crotch region of the wearer's inner crotch or the face-to-body surface of the wearer's cover. side to the body permeable to the liquid to secure the sanitary towel to the crotch region of the body of the user.

After the sanitary napkin is dirty, it is removed and discarded. Removing a sanitary napkin from either the wearer's underwear or the wearer's body usually involves removing the sanitary napkin from the crotch region of the undergarment or the crotch region of the wearer, respectively. However, if the sanitary napkin that has adhesive on either the surface facing the body or the surface facing the inner garment has been adhered to the wearer of the sanitary napkin, removing the sanitary napkin may pull the pubic hair and the tissue of the woman therefore causing, in many cases, an extrem amount of discomfort.

A sanitary napkin is described in the patent application of the United States of America serial number 08 / 167,597 ("the application '597"), filed on December 14, 1999, the full description of which is incorporated herein by reference and made part of it. The sanitary towel of the '597 application uses a body adhesive to secure the sanitary towel to the wearer's body. To remove this sanitary napkin, the wearer usually grabs an exposed edge of the sanitary napkin and pulls it down. Depending on the location of the adhesive, grabbing a pillar can be difficult. A further drawback is that the sanitary napkin adhesive may have bodily fluids, such as menstruation or other fluids, that cover the surface of the sanitary napkin. Desirably, the user wants to avoid contacting the body excretions to avoid soiling her hands and possibly her clothes. Touching the adhesive may also contaminate that part of the adhesive, decreasing its adhesive strength to retain the sanitary towel against the wearer's body, if the sanitary napkin will be reapplied.

Disposal of a soiled product also presents its own unique problems. Sanitary towels generally have a baffle or bottom sheet impervious to fluid that prevents waste by merely rinsing the soiled product in a toilet. Generally, towel users are faced with the task of discarding the toall used in open paper baskets, often resorting to wrapping the dirty towel in tissue before disposal.

Therefore, there is a need for a method of comfortably and hygienically removing such an absorbent article from a wearer's body or an undergarment of the wearer without fouling the person or their clothing. There is also a need for a sanitary towel that can be sealed in a compact size for disposal.

SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention relates to an absorbent article adapted to be secured to either the wearer's body or the wearer's undergarment. The absorbent article is also capable of being bent self-sealing for disposal. The absorbent article has a fluid-permeable cover with a face-to-face surface and a liquid impermeable baffle with a surface facing the garment. Placed between the face-to-body surface and the surface facing the garment is an absorbent material. An adhesive is secured to either the surface facing the body to hold the absorbent article in intimate contact with the wearer during use or to the surface facing the garment to hold the absorbent article against the wearer's undergarment. The absorbent article also includes a bag device having a fixed part secured to the deflector and an open part adapted to assist in decoupling or removing the absorbent article from the wearer's body or the wearer's undergarment, when it is desired to remove it. The pocket device is used by the wearer by grasping and / or inserting at least a part of one or more fingers in the open part to pull the absorbent article away from the wearer's body of the wearer's undergarment.

The present invention also provides a method for disposing of the sanitary napkin comprising the steps of folding the sanitary napkin along its transverse center line axis so that the hand-to-hand side of the towel is bent on its own and folding or winding the open part of the bag device over the transverse ends of the sanitary napkin to retain the sanitary towel in a folded condition. This effectively encloses the dirty part of the sanitary napkin and prevents dripping of absorbed body fluid. Moreover, the soiled sanitary towel can now be easily handled and discarded hygienically without needing to wrap the dirty towel in tissue.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a removal aid for conveniently decoupling an absorbent article adhesively secured either to the wearer's body or to a wearer's undergarment. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an aid for the removal of the absorbent article that allows the user to remove it with one hand.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sanitary napkin which is adhesively secured to either the wearer's body or the undergarment of the wearer, and which incorporates a decoupling device positioned on the baffle to protect the wearer from contact with body fluids when the sanitary towel is removed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sanitary towel having its own disposal means.

These and other objects of the invention may be more readily apparent when considering the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention resides in the novel combination, arrangement of the parts and methods as described substantially here and are more particularly defined by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES Figure 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of an absorbent article which can be secured to the wearer's body during use.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the absorbent article of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 taken along line 3-3.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of a first variation of the first embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how the bag means can be used to hygienically discard a soiled product.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a second variation of the first embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a top view of a second embodiment of an absorbent article which can be secured to the wearer's undergarment.

Figure 8 is a bottom view of the absorbent article of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 7 taken along the line 9-9.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a first variation of the second embodiment of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how the bag means can be used to hygienically discard a soiled product.

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a second variation of the first embodiment of Figure 7.

Figure 13 is a side elevational view showing the absorbent article folded in half.

Figure 14 is a side elevational view of an absorbent article folded in the middle wherein the device of the bag is being turned upside down to contain the absorbent article.

Figure 15 is a side elevational view showing the absorbent article contained in the device d of the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED INCORPORATIONS The present invention generally relates to a disposable absorbent article which is secured to and is the wearer's body, by means of a body-sensitive adhesive on the body-facing surface of the absorbent article, or to an undergarment of the wearer, by d means an adhesive on the face of the garment of the absorbent article. For convenience of description only, the invention may be described as a catamenial device, for example a sanitary napkin, but is not limited thereto. It is to be understood that the invention may be adapted for use in other absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence devices, adhesive bandages and the like which incorporate some means for adhesively adhering the absorbent article to either one of a less a part of the wearer's body or at least a part of the wearer's undergarment.

For ease of understanding, when referring to the figures, the same number designates the same or a substantially identical part in different incorporations views. Referring to Figures 1-6 and 7-12, the first and second embodiments, respectively, are shown of a sanitary napkin 10. Widely, sanitary napkin 10 includes a body facing surface, permeable to liquid 12; a surface facing the garment, impermeable to liquid 14; an absorbent core 16 placed between the face facing the body 12 and the surface facing the garment 14; and either a body adhesive 18 secured to the body facing surface 12 for adhering the sanitary napkin 10 to the wearer's body during use or adhesive 18b secured to the face facing the garment 1 to adhere the sanitary napkin 10 to a user's undergarment during use. The examples of sanitary napkins, which are basically constructed, are described in the patent application of the United States of America No. 08 / 475,324, filed July 30, 1995, and intitula "ABSORBENT ARTICLE WHICH HAS AN EFFICIENT, SLIM ABSORBING NUCLEUS", and the United States patent application of America series No. 08 / 716,875, filed on October 1, 1996, and entitled "ABSORBENT ARTICLE THAT HAS A LAYER TRANSFER CELLULOSIS ", the complete description of each patent application is incorporated herein by reference made part of it.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, a bag device 20 is placed towards the garment facing surface 14 of the sanitary napkin 10 to provide an easy way to comfortably uncouple the sanitary towel 10 from the wearer's body and to hygienically dispose of the sanitary napkin 10. used product. The sanitary napkin 10 may also include a strip of skin, not shown, that covers the adhesive 18a or 18b to prevent the adhesive 18a or 18b from becoming contaminated and / or prematurely adhering to an unintended surface. Suitable materials for use as a strip of peel are well known commercially available from a number of sources.

As illustrated, the sanitary napkin 10 has a race track shape, but is not limited to the same It may also be an hourglass, oval shape or any other configuration that may allow the sanitary napkin 1 to be in intimate contact with the wearer. As used herein the term "sanitary napkin" refers to an article which is used by women adjacent to the pudenda region and which is intended to absorb and contain various exudates which are discharged from the body such as blood, menstruation, and urine, and which intends to be discarded when it gets dirty, not wash it and not use it again. The interlabial devices which reside partially within and partially external to the female user's vestibule are also within the scope of this invention.

Referring to Figures 1-3 and 7-9, the body facing surface 12 is generally integral with a surface of a cover 22 and the surface facing the garment 14 is generally integral with and associated with a surface of a baffle 24. The cover 22 and baffle 24 can have a length dimension and a width extending in an adjoining relationship beyond a bank 26 of the absorbent core 16. The cover 22 and the baffle 2 can be sealed together to define a perimeter 28 of the sanitary napkin 10. The portion of the absorbent edge 26 to perimeter 28 is defined herein as the peripheral seal 30. The absorbent core 16 is therefore enclosed between the cover 22 and the baffle 24. The cover 22 and the baffle 2 can be sealed together using any appropriate means that will not leave an uncomfortable, hard residue that can annoy the user. As used herein, the term "sealed" encompasses the configurations by which the cover 22 is directly attached to the baffle 24 and the configurations by which the cover 22 is indirectly attached to the baffle 24 by securing the cover 22 to an intermediate member, which are in turn fixed to baffle 24. The methods for securing the cover 22 and baffle 24 are well known to those skilled in the art and include the use of hot melt adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, tape double-sided, the sonic union and the hot seal.

The cover 22 is designed to contact the user's body and therefore must be easily penetrated by the bodily fluids. The cover 22 should also be non-irritating to the wearer's skin, preferably it will not be able to absorb an appreciable amount of fluid that is discharged onto its surface. The cover 22 can be constructed of a synthetic, natural non-woven fabric. Suitable materials include carded and bonded fabrics of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or other heat-stable fibers. Other polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene copolymers linear low density polyethylene, the finely perforated film fabrics and network material, also work well. Materials composed of a polymer and a non-woven fabric material are particularly preferred. A further cover material is a polypropylene spunbond fabric. The fabric may contain about 1% up to about 6% titanium dioxide pigment to give it a clean, white appearance. A material bonded by uniform spinning is desirable because it has sufficient strength in the longitudinal direction, even after being punched. To resist being torn or pulled apart during use. The most preferred polypropylene fabrics have a weight of about 18 and 40 grams per square meter. An optimum weight is between about 30 and about 40 grams per square meter.

To assist in the penetration of the liquid through the tissue, the cover 22 can also be treated with a surfactant to improve its hydrophilic characteristics. The surfactant may include internally applied topical or materiale additions such as polysiloxanes.

The deflector 24 acts as a barrier between the absorbed body fluids contained in the absorbent core 16 and the person using the sanitary pad 10. Thus, the deflector 24 is non-absorbent and the liquids are impermeable. The baffle 24 should be soft compliant since a part of the baffle 24 could reside adjacent to the wearer's thigh region. As it is used here, the term "complacent" refers to materials which can easily conform to the externally generated form and contours of human anatomy. In a preferred embodiment, the baffle 24 can allow the passage of steam air out of the sanitary napkin 10, even though it blocks and passage of the fluids of the absorbent core 16. A good baffle material is a micro-grained polymeric film, such as a polyethylene or polypropylene that has a thickness in the range from about 0.012 millimeters to about 1.0 millimeters. The bicomponent films can also be used as well as the non-woven and woven fabrics which have been treated to render them impermeable to the liquid.

The absorbent core 16 is in liquid communication with the face-to-body surface 12 and is positioned between the face-to-body surface 12 on the surface facing the garment 14. The term "liquid communication" means that the body fluid that soils the The surface facing the body 12 may, substantially, be absorbed by the absorbent core 16. Referring again to FIGS. 2 8, the cover 22 and the baffle 24 in combination close the absorbent core 16, substantially defining the edge or periphery of the core. absorbent 26. The materials used in the absorbent core 16 are designed to absorb body exudate, which includes menstrual fluids, blood, urine, etc. Appropriate materials include wood pulp fluff, rayon, cotton and blown polymer. Fusion, such as polyester, polypropylene or coform E coform is a combination formed with melt blown polymer air, such as such as polypropylene, and basic absorbent fibers, such as cellulose. A preferred material is wood lime, because it is low in cost, relatively easy to form and has good absorbency. The absorbent core 1 may be a composite of a hydrophilic material which may be formed from various synthetic or natural fibers, from fibers of wood pulp, cotton or regenerated cellulose fibers, or tissue laid with air or a mixture of pulp or Other fibers The absorbent core 16 can be made from other well-known materials used in the absorbent articles, which include multiple layers of cellulose wadding, d rayon fibers, cellulose sponge, hydrophilic synthetic sponge such as polyurethane, and the like . The capacity of the absorbent core 16 can be varied depending on the previst use of the final product.

The sanitary napkin 10 may also include other layers, such as a drainage layer, one or more layers of tissue and may contain superabsorbent in combination with one or more other absorbent materials described above, none of which is shown in the figures. Such layers and materials are commercially available from various sources and are well known to those with an ability in the art. construction of disposable absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, diapers and incontinence devices.

The adhesive 18a is placed on the surface facing the body 12 to contact the wearer and hold the sanitary towel 10 during use. As shown in Figure 1, the adhesive 18a is adhered to the car body surface 12 of the cover 22.

The adhesive 18a is placed on the surface facing the garment 14 to contact the wearer's undergarment which it holds on the sanitary napkin 10 during use. As shown in Figure 8, the adhesive 18b is adhered to the garment facing surface 14 of the deflector 24.

The adhesive 18a or the adhesive 18b may lie on about 5 percent to about 9 percent of the surface facing the body 12 or the garment facing surface 14, respectively. Preferably, the adhesive 18a or the adhesive 18b lies from about 5 percent to about 75 percent of the surface facing the body 12 or of the surface facing the garment 14, respectively. More preferably, the adhesive 18a or the adhesive 18b lie about from about percent to about 35 percent of the surface facing the garment 14, respectively. More preferably, the adhesive 18a or the adhesive 18b lie about from about percent to about 20 percent of the surface facing the body 12 or of the face facing the garment 14 respectively. Suitable adhesive materials are described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 331,072 filed October 28, 1994, the entire description of which is hereby incorporated by reference and made part thereof. .

In an alternate configuration, not shown, the baffle 24 can overwrap a portion of the cover 22 along the absorbent edge 26 so that a portion of the body facing surface 12 can be composed of the fluid-permeable cover 22 and a part may be composed of the fluid impermeable baffle 24. In this configuration the adhesive 18 may reside in the cover 22, in the deflector 24 or both.

Referring to Figures 2-5 and 8-11, the bag device 20 is positioned adjacent the garment facing surface 14 of the baffle 24. The bag device 20 can be formed by securing a piece spaced to the appropriate size of the bag. Alternatively, the bag device 20 can be formed by bending it in the baffle 24 and sealing thereon an excess part of material used to form the baffle 24. Desirably, the material extends from a transverse extremity 40 or 42 of the sanitary napkin 10 and is bent in the baffle 24. A part of the material can then be fixed to the baffle 24 to form the pouch device 20. Any material not used to form the bolster device 20 and the which can extend beyond the perimeter 28 can then be removed when the sanitary napkin 10 is formed by die cutting during its production.

Referring to Figures 1-2 and 7-8, the sanitary towel 10 can be divided into substantially equal portions along the transverse line YY in a first section 32 and a second section 34. Each section 32 and 34 is substantially to the size and have substantially equal surface areas placed towards the surface than facing the garment 14. The bag device 20 has a fixed part 36 secured to the baffle 24 on or in the perimeter 2 of the sanitary napkin 10. As noted in Figures 2 8, the fixed part 36 generally follows the perimeter 28 of the sanitary pad 10 of the section 32 and 34 in which it is fixed. The bag device 20 is sized and configured to cover more than about 25 percent of the surface area, preferably, the bag device 20 covers more than about 50 percent of the surface area, more preferably, the device. bag 20 covers more than about 80 percent of the surface area.

Referring to Figures 3, 4, 9, and 10, the bag device 20 also has an open portion 38 which is adapted to assist the wearer in removing the sanitary towel 10 from her body or her undergarment. The open part 38 of the bag device 20 is sufficient for the user to at least partially insert one or more of his fingers into the open part 38. Desirably, the open part 38 extends from the edge 26 of the absorbent core 16 to the opposite edge 26 of the absorbent core 16, for example extending the width of the absorbent core 16. The open part 38 of the bag device 20 provides a means by which The sanitary towel 10 can be comfortably hygienically removed from the wearer's body or from the wearer's undergarment. The user can remove undoing the sanitary napkin 10 from her body or from her inside by grabbing the open part 38 and / or partially inserting in the open part a portion of her hand and pulling it directionally away from her body or her undergarment. . The bag device 20 also allows the sanitary towel 10 to be hygienically handled even when using the toilet during the disposal thereof.

The bag device 20 can be made from any material that can be attached to the baffle 2 using any appropriate means that can not leave an uncomfortable, hard residue that can be bothersome to the wearer. The material should have a modulus greater than the peel strength of the adhesive 18a or 18b to prevent the material from tearing during removal. Suitable materials include bonded carded fabrics of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or other heat-stable fibers, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Desirably, the material used is the same as or similar to the material used in the formation of the baffle 24. If the baffle 24 is constructed of a breathable film material it is also desirable to construct the bag device 20 of a material capable of breathing. compatible breathing to avoid partially denying the advantage of using a breathable film.

Referring to Figures 4 and 10, the bag device 20 may further incorporate one or more expanding means 44 to allow the open part 3 to expand and / or stretch in at least one direction to accommodate the insertion of several fingers. in the bag. Examples of expanding media include folds, folds using an elastomeric material to form at least a portion of bag device 20. expanding medium 4 increases the volume of open part 38 by more d around 5 percent. The elastomeric material should be elastomeric in at least one direction and may have elasticity in both longitudinal and transverse directions, relative to the sanitary napkin 10. An elastomeric material may be constructed of a laminate of polyethylene film having elastic strands incorporated between the elastomeric material. the laminated material. The ability to expand of the material is additional utility in the waste method described herein by allowing the open part 38 of the bag device 20 to be easily bent over the transverse ends 40 and 42.

Referring to Figures 2-5 and 8-11, in the method of the invention, the sanitary napkin 10 is folded around the transverse axis YY so that the surface facing the body 12 of the cover 22 is bent over itself, allowing it to the transverse ends 40 and 42 and be substantially aligned. The open part 38 of bag device 20 is then rolled, bent or pulled over the ends 40 and 42 to hold the ends 40 and 4 together. Figures 5 and 11 show this wrapping. Therefore, the dirty side of the towel may be enclosed in the folded and retained pad as shown. This will eliminate the need to wrap the used towel 10.

Referring to Figures 13-15, a method for using the bag device 20 of the present invention to contain a sanitary towel 10 used can now be described. After removal of the wearer's body, the sanitary towel 10 is folded around the transverse axis Y and so that the face facing surface 12 of the cover 2 is bent over itself. Therefore, the longitudinal ends 40 and 42 are substantially aligned. The part of the open edge 27 of the bag 21 and baffle material 24 defines the first cavity 38. By folding the sheet of the bag material 21 over the longitudinal ends 40 and 42, the first cavity 38 can be inverted to create a second cavity 38. inverted cavity 29. The part of the open edge 27 of the bag device 20 is therefore rolled, folded or pulled on the longitudinal ends 40 and 42 to maintain the ends 40 and 42 together. Figures 5 and 9 and Figures 11 and 15 show the ends 40 and 42 contained in the second cavity 29. Therefore, on dirty side 12 of the toall may be enclosed in the second inverted cavity 29 of bag device 20 and retained as shown. This will eliminate the need to wrap the sanitary napkin 1 used in tissue to dispose of it.Figures 13-15 further illustrate the inversion of the first cavity 38 of the bag device 20 and the creation of the second inverted cavity 29. Figure 13 shows the elevated side of the sanitary napkin 10 folded along the axis YY immediately before of the inversion of the first cavity 38 and the creation of the second cavity 29. Figure 1 shows the sanitary napkin 10 after the first cavity 38 has been completely inverted and the second cavity 29 has been formed on the longitudinal ends together bent 40 and 42. Figure 14 is an intermediate embodiment and shows the transformation of Figure 13 to Figure 14. As shown in Figure 14, while the bag device 20 is being inverted, the part of the open edge 27 is raised away from the baffle 24, and the second cavity 2 begins to be formed even when the first cavity 38 is inverted. The arrows 50 in Figure 14 show the direction of movement of the bag device 20 during the inversion of the first cavity 38 and the creation of the second cavity 29.

The above detailed description has been for the purpose of illustration, hereinafter the preferred embodiment of the invention. Therefore, a number of modifications and changes can be made if departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the invention should not be limited by the specific terms employed, but only by the claims.

Claims

1. An absorbent article adapted to be adhesively secured to the undergarment of the wearer, said absorbent article comprising: a fluid-permeable cover having a face-to-body surface; a waterproof baffle that has a surface facing the garment; an absorbent core positioned between said cover and said deflector; adhesive means for securing said absorbent article to the wearer's undergarment, said adhesive means being fixed to said surface facing the garment; a bag device having a fixed part secured to said baffle and an open part adapted to assist in the removal of said absorbent article.

2. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said cover and said baffle extend beyond a bank of said absorbent core to form a perimeter of said absorbent article and said fixed part is secured to said deflector at said baffle. perimeter.

3. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said cover and said baffle extend beyond a bank of said absorbent core to form a perimeter of said absorbent article and said fixed part is secured to the inward deflector of said perimeter.

4. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it also comprises a transverse axis that divides said absorbent article into a first section and a second section of the surface areas which are substantially equal, said bag device is insured to one of said first and second sections and wherein said bag device covers more than about 20 percent of said surface area of one of said first and second sections.

5. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that said bag device covers more than about 50 percent d said surface area of one of said first and second sections.

6. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that said bag device covers more than about 80 percent d said surface area of one of said first and second sections.

7. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that said first section and said second section each includes a transverse extremity, said absorbent article being ready for disposal after being substantially folded along said transverse axis for that said cover be folded on itself and said open part of said bag device be bent over said transverse ends to retain said absorbent article in a folded condition.

8. The absorbent article as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said open part of said bag device is expandable.

9. A sanitary napkin adapted for this adhesively secured to the undergarment of a wearer, said sanitary napkin comprises: a fluid-permeable cover having a face-to-body surface; 'a liquid impermeable baffle having a surface facing the garment; an absorbent core between said cover and said baffle, wherein said cover and said baffle extend beyond one edge of said absorbent core to form a perimeter of said sanitary napkin; adhesive means for securing said sanitary napkin to a user's undergarment, said adhesive means being fixed to said surface facing the body; Y a bag device having a fixed part secured to said baffle from any of and into said perimeter and an open part adapted to assist in the removal of said absorbent article.

10. The sanitary napkin as claimed in clause 9, characterized in that it has a transverse axis that divides the sanitary napkin into a first section and a second section of substantially equal surface area e wherein said sack device is secured to one of said sanitary napkins. sections and said bag device covers more than about 20 percent of said one section of surface area.

11. The sanitary napkin as claimed in clause 10, characterized in that said bag means cover more than 50 percent of said surface area d said first and second sections.

12. The sanitary napkin as claimed in clause 9, characterized in that said bag device includes a means for expanding said open part.

13. The sanitary napkin as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that said expanding means is any one of a fold, a fold and an elastomeric material.

14. The sanitary napkin as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that said expanding means increase a volume of said open part by more than about 5 percent.

15. The sanitary napkin as claimed in clause 14, characterized in that said expanding means increase said volume by more than about 5 percent.

16. The sanitary napkin as claimed in clause 10, characterized in that each of said first and second sections has a transverse end ta that said sanitary napkin is substantially folded along said transverse axis and said open portion of said means of bags are bent over said transverse ends to retain said sanitary napkin in a folded condition before disposal thereof.

17. A sanitary napkin adapted to be adhesively secured to the undergarment of a wearer, said sanitary napkin comprising: a fluid-permeable cover having a face-to-body surface; a waterproof baffle that has a surface facing the garment; an absorbent core positioned between said cover and said baffle wherein said cover and baffle extend beyond one edge of said absorbent core to form a perimeter of said sanitary napkin; adhesive means for securing said absorbent article to the wearer's undergarment, said adhesive means being fixed to said surface facing the body; Y a bag device having a fixed part said deflector any of in and in said said perimeter and an open part adapted to assist in the removal of said absorbent article, said sanitary towel has a transverse axis that divides said sanitary napkin into a first Section A A second section of surface areas which are substantially equal, said bag device is secured to one of said first and second sections and covers more than about 50 percent of said surface area of one of said first and second sections. .

18. The sanitary napkin as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that said bag device includes a means for expanding said open part thereby increasing a volume of said open part po by more than about 5 percent.

19. The sanitary napkin as claimed in clause 18, characterized in that said expanding means are any of a fold, a fold, and elastomeric material.

20. The sanitary napkin as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said expanding means are expandable in at least one direction.

21. The sanitary napkin as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that each of said first and second sections has a transverse axis and a sanitary napkin is substantially bent along said transverse axis and said open part of said sanding means. The bag is bent over said transverse ends to retain said sanitary napkin in a folded condition before disposal thereof.

22. A method for hygienically sealing a sanitary napkin for disposal, wherein said sanitary napkin has a transverse axis and two transverse ends and is adapted to be secured to the undergarment of a wearer, said method comprising the steps of: providing said sanitary napkin with a cover having a body facing surface, or baffle, an absorbent core between said cover and baffle, an adhesive secured to a face surface of the garment, and a bag device, said device the bag has a fixed part secured to said baffle and an open part adapted to assist in the removal of the sanitary towel; folding said sanitary napkin around said transverse axis by which said cover is bent over itself and said transverse ends are substantially aligned with one another; Y any said folded open part of said bag means on said transverse end to stop said sanitary napkin in a folded condition before disposal thereof.