GB2267830A

GB2267830A - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: GB2267830A
Application number: GB9311832A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mayumi Kuwahara; Hiromi Takita; Minoru Nakanishi
Original assignee: Kao Corp
Current assignee: Kao Corp
Priority date: 1992-06-18
Filing date: 1993-06-08
Publication date: 1993-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-08
Also published as: JP2569646Y2; GB9311832D0; GB2267830B; JPH0611724U

Abstract

The absorbent article, which is adapted to be adhesively connected to the crotch portion of a pair of underpants or the like, comprises a liquid permeable topsheet (2), a liquid impermeable outersheet (3) and a liquid retentive absorbent core (4) and further comprises a pair of fixing elements (5) provided on respective longitudinal side edges located forwardly of the transverse centre line and extending laterally outwardly therefrom. A first adhesive portion (6) is formed on the rear surface of each of the fixing elements (5) and a second adhesive portion (7) is formed on the central portion of the surface of the outersheet (3). Release portions, which may constitute a single release area (8), associated with the three adhesive portions (6, 7) are provided on the outersheet (3) such that when the article is folded into four it is retained in its folded configuration by the removable adhesive connection of the adhesive portions (6, 7) with the associated release portions. <IMAGE>

Description

ABSORBENT ARTICLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [Field of the Invention] This invention relates to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, an incontinent person's pad, or a menstruation disposing pad which is designed to be put on a wearer's narrow crotch portion together with an underwear (hereinafter represented by "shorts"), and more particularly to an absorbent article having a high anti-leakage property.

[Description of the Prior Art] A conventional absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin basically comprises a liquid permeable topsheet material, a liquid impermeable anti-leakage material, and a liquid retentive absorbent core interposed therebetween. In recent years, new materials such as an absorbent polymer and the like were developed as the absorbent core material, and these new materials were introduced, in addition to the introduction of the conventional fluff pulp or absorbent paper, to the absorbent article in order to improve its absorption. Another attempt to improve the absorption of the absorbent article was the use of a liquid perme able sheet consisting of a hydrophobic sheet with apertures formed therein by various means to improve its liquid permeability, in addition to the use of the conventional non-woven fabric as a fiber aggregate.

However, the absorbent article to which the new material was introduced and which therefore have individual component parts of excellent performance, still has the problem that side leakage often occurs in actual use. For example, in the case of the sanitary napkin, blood leakage sidewardly to the shorts from its edge portion by some reasons. This is apparently inconvenient as a sanitary napkin, and it is difficult to say that the original performance of the absorbent article is fully exhibited. There are supposedly three main reasons for side leakage in the sanitary napkin which occurs irrespective of original performance of each component part.

(1) When the wearer places the sanitary napkin onto the shorts, the placing position is displaced either rightwardly or leftwardly with respect to the crotch portion of the shorts, and there exists a part of the crotch portion that is not originally covered with the sanitary napkin.

(2) Even if the wearer fixedly places the sanitary napkin onto a generally central part of the shorts (that is, the sanitary napkin is not displaced rightwardly nor leftwardly with respect to the crotch portion of the shorts), the longitudinal opposite end portions of the sanitary napkin are folded inwardly and superimposed on the central portion to form a rolled-up condition due to the wearer's movement, etc., and therefore an edge portion of the crotch portion originally covered with the sanitary napkin is exposed by the rolled-up.

(3) When the wearer moves frequently and actively, only the usual fixing means such as adhesive which the sanitary napkin generally has, is not good enough to fully fix the sanitary napkin to the crotch portion of the shorts, and as a result, the sanitary napkin is displaced from a predetermined position to expose the crotch portion of the shorts.

The leakage caused by the above three reasons (1) to (3) is also remarkably affected by shorts which the wearer puts on. For example, in the case where the size, particularly, the width of the crotch portion is wide compared with the width of the napkin, or its fitness relative to the wearer's body is bad and loosened, leakage tends to occur comparatively easily.

To obviate these problems, there have been made many proposals as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Early Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. Sho 60-75058, Hei 1-111002, and Hei 2-13455), in which an absorbent article is provided with a pair of flexible flaps (fixing elements) extending width-wise outwardly respectively from central portions of longitudinal opposite sides thereof. In this absorbent article, the crotch portion of the shorts is fixedly sandwiched by and between the flaps to stabilize the absorbent article in the shorts, thereby improving the anti-leakage property.

For example, a sanitary napkin disclosed in Japanese Early Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Sho 60-75058 has flexible flaps formed of a liquid permeable topsheet material and a liquid impermeable antileakage material extending from side portions of an absorbent core at central positions of vertical opposite sides of the absorbent article. For use of it, the flaps are pulled out from opposite side edges of shorts and fixedly attached to an external side of the shorts by fixedly fastening means provided to rear surfaces of the flaps in order to stabilize the sanitary napkin, thereby improving the anti-leakage property.

However, since the flaps are usually located at longitudinal centers of the opposite side portions and release paper is provided to the flaps as well as the fixedly fastening means mounted on the rear surfaces of the flaps, the above-mentioned sanitary napkins with the flaps have the following problems.

(1) It is troublesome to peel off the release paper at the time when the sanitary napkin is placed on the crotch portion of the shorts. Moreover, since attention is paid to the job for peeling off the release paper, the sanitary napkin cannot be placed on the optimum position. The result is that the napkin is placed on the shorts in its irregularly twisted condition, thus creating a cause of leakage.

(2) Since the conventional flaps are located at the center of the crotch portion and placed on the narrowest part of the crotch portion of the shorts, the absorbent core of the shorts is one-sided forwardly of its wearer and as a result, the effect of anti-leakage is lowered at a rear part of the shorts.

(3) The release paper is provided to a rear surface of the napkin over an entire area thereof, and cost is high relative to the expected effects.

(4) As for the folded style, since the sanitary napkin is folded into three parts because of the positional relation of the flaps, etc., it lacks compactness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article which is easy to be placed on an underwear such as shorts irrespective of the shape of the underwear and fitness to its wearer's body and free from incorrect placement, and in which an original wearing condition (i.e., initial condition at the time it is just put on) can be maintained stably and therefore leakage (particularly, rear leakage and side leakage) can be prevented effectively, and which is easy to handle because the release paper is no more required.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article which is compact in its folded style and therefore easy to carry with.

The inventors of the present invention have studied hard, from various angles, on absorbent articles which particularly have such characteristics that they can be easily placed on an underwear such as shorts, and are free from incorrect placement, and are effective in prevention of side leakage as well as rear leakage. As a result, they have found that the above objects can be achieved by providing a specific fixing means relative to the underwear to a suitable location of the absorbent article.

The present invention has been accomplished by the above finding. According to the present invention, there is provided an absorbent article comprising a liquid permeable topsheet material, a liquid impermeable anti-leakage material, and a liquid retentive absorbent core interposed therebetween, and having a substantially longitudinally elongated configuration, and designed to be put on a crotch portion of a wear thereof, the absorbent article further comprising: a pair of fixing elements provided to longitudinal opposite side edge portions located forwardly in the crotch portion in the absorbent article and extending width-wise outwardly therefrom; and a pair of first adhesive portions and a second adhesive portion, each of the first adhesive portions being formed on a rear surface of each of the fixing elements, the second adhesive portion being formed on a central portion of a surface of the anti-leakage material located backwardly in the crotch portion in the absorbent article; a release portion provided to the anti-leakage material surface on which the first adhesive portions are superimposed when the fixing elements are folded toward the anti-leakage material along the longitudinal side edge portions respectively, and the release portion being detachably connected to the first adhesive portions; another release portion provided to the antileakage material surface on which the second adhesive portion is superimposed when the absorbent article is longitudinally folded into four, and the release portion being detachably connected to the second adhesive portion.

According to the absorbent article of the present invention, the absorbent article, in its original condition folded into four, is expanded in such a manner that the topsheet material is spread, then the fixing elements are spread in a width direction of the absorbent article and applied on an inner surface of the crotch portion of the underwear, and then the second adhesive portion is fixed to a rear part of the crotch portion of the underwear without being disturbed by a release paper, etc. Thereafter, the spreading fixing elements are folded back to their original condition, and the first adhesive portions are attached to an external surface of the crotch portion such that the opposite front side edge portions of the crotch portion are wrapped with the fixing elements, thereby fixing the absorbent article to the underwear. Accordingly, when the underwear is put on in that condition, the liquid permeable portion is located at a bodily liquid discharge portion and therefore, the fixing elements are not turned up even if the wearer moves actively after he puts on the underwear, and the fixing elements with the first adhesive portions normally attached to the crotch portion enwrap the crotch portion. As a result, the absorbent core is not onesided forwardly, and it is not displaced backwardly, either, owing to the provision of the second adhesive portion. Therefore, the absorbent article can be stably maintained in its original wearing condition.

For carriage, the absorbent article is folded into four so as to be maintained in its compact style.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly cutaway, of a sanitary napkin according to a first embodiment of the present invention in which the napkin is fully expanded; Fig. 2 is a plan view, in which wings (fixing elements) of Fig. 1 are folded; Fig. 3 is a perspective view, in which the sanitary napkin of Fig. 1 is folded into two layers; Fig. 4 is a perspective view, in which the sanitary napkin of Fig. 1 is folded into four layers ready to be carried; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a sanitary napkin according to a second embodiment of the present invention in which the napkin is fully expanded; Fig. 6 is a plan view, in which wings (fixing elements) of Fig. 5 are folded; Fig. 7 is a perspective view, in.which the sanitary napkin of Fig. 5 is folded into two layers; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view, in which the sanitary napkin of Fig. 5 is folded into four layers ready to be carried.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive illustrate a sanitary napkin as a first embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention, and Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive illustrate a sanitary napkin as a second embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, an absorbent article according to the present invention comprises a liquid permeable topsheet material (topsheet), a liquid impermeable anti-wear material (anti-wear sheet) 3, and a liquid retentive absorbent core 4 interposed therebetween, and has a substantially longitudinally elongated configuration, and designed to be put on a crotch portion of a wearer thereof. The absorbent article of the present invention is the same in this respect as the prior art.

In the absorbent article of the present invention, a pair of fixing elements 5 and 5 are provided to longitudinal opposite side edge portions la located forwardly of the crotch portion in the absorbent article 1 and extending width-wise outwardly therefrom.

First adhesive portions 6 and 6 are formed on a rear surface of each of the fixing elements 5 and 5, and a second adhesive portion 7 is formed on a central portion of a surface of the anti-leakage material 3 located backwardly of the crotch portions in the absorbent article 1. A release portion 8 is provided to the anti-leakage material 3 surface on which the first adhesive portions 6 and 6 are superimposed when the pair of fixing elements 5 and 5 are folded toward the anti-leakage material 3 along the longitudinal side edge portions la respectively, and is capable of being detachably connected to the first adhesive portions 6 and 6. A release portion 8 is provided to the antileakage material 3 surface on which the second adhesive portion 7 is superimposed when the absorbent article 1 is longitudinally folded into four, and capable of being detachably connected to the second adhesive portion 7. In this embodiment, the two release portions 8, 8 are united.

The sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, in the sanitary napkin 1, the sanitary napkin 1 having the pair of fixing elements 5 and 5 folded toward the anti-leakage material 3 along the longitudinal side edge portions la and detachably superimposed on the first adhesive portion 6 is folded into two layers toward the topsheet material 2 at a longitudinally central portion thereof, and thereafter thus doublefolded sanitary napkin 1 is further folded such that the second adhesive portion 7 and the release portion 8 are detachably superimposed one upon the other, thereby forming four layers in total. In this way, the sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment can be made compact in a folded style.

Specifically, one portion of the topsheet 2 and the anti-leakage sheet 3 are defined respectively as generally trapezoidal shapes extending width-wise outwardly from the longitudinal opposite front side edge portions of the sanitary napkin 1. The extending portions are defined as wing-type fixing elements 5 and 5 which are integral with the sanitary napkin 1 body.

The pair of fixing elements 5 and 5 are one-sided forwardly at the longitudinal opposite side edge portions la of the sanitary napkin 1.

The first adhesive portions 6 and 6 are provided to an upper surface (or rear surface) of the antileakage sheet 3 of the respective fixing elements 5 and 5. The second adhesive portion 7 is provided to the anti-leakage sheet 3 surface at a rear part of the sanitary napkin 1. The release portion 8 is provided to the anti-leakage sheet 3 surface at the front and central portions of the sanitary napkin 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the release portion 8 is connected to the first adhesive portions 6 of the fixing elements 5 when the fixing elements 5 are folded or collapsed toward the anti-leakage sheet 3. Similarly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the release portion 8 is connected to the second adhesive portion 7 on the anti-leakage sheet 3 surface when the sanitary napkin 1 is folded into four.

This release portion 8 may be finished to a surface detachably connected to the first adhesive portions and the second adhesive portion 7. The release portion 8 is not particularly limited as long as it exhibits the similar effects as the release paper.

Next, a mode of the use of the sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, the folding procedure of the sanitary napkin 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. The pair of fixing elements 5 and 5 are folded toward the anti-leakage sheet 3, and the first adhesive portions 6 are temporarily attached to the release portion 8 (Fig. 2). Then, the sanitary napkin 1 is folded in the width direction at its center with the topsheet 2 inner side (Fig. 3). Subsequently, the sanitary napkin 1 is folded into four such that the second adhesive portion 7 and the release portion 8 are temporarily attached to each other. During the procedure for folding the napkin 1 into four, the fixing elements 6 are formed forwardly of the sanitary napkin 1 and therefore not inconvenient for the folding operation. Furthermore, since the second adhesive portion 7 and the release portion 8 on the anti-leakage sheet 3 surface are located in suitable position, the adhesive portions 6 and 7 need not the release paper.

For using the sanitary napkin 1, the napkin 1 folded into four as shown in Fig. 4 is expanded (Fig.

2) while peeling off the second adhesive portion 7, such that the topsheet would be spread, and then the pair of fixing elements 5 and 5 are peeled off. In the condition where there is no need for peeling off a release paper, the sanitary napkin 1 is placed on an inner surface of the crotch portion of an underwear, and the second adhesive portion 7 is fixed to a rear part of the crotch portion of the underwear. Thereafter, the spreading fixing elements 5 and 5 are folded back to their original condition, and the first adhesive portions 6 are attached to an external surface of the crotch portion 7. By doing this, the opposite side edge portions la at a front part of the crotch portion are wrapped with the fixing elements 5 and 5, and as a result, the absorbent article is positively fixed to the underwear.

Accordingly, the wearing operation becomes easy and incorrect placing is reduced. After the underwear is put on, the liquid permeable portion of the sanitary napkin 1 is correctly located at the bodily fluid discharge portion, and therefore the fixing elements 5 and 5 are not turned up even if the wearer moves actively, and the absorbent core 4, etc. are not displaced forwardly, either. Moreover, the absorbent core 4 is not displaced backwardly owing to the provision of the second adhesive portion 7, and the sanitary napkin 1 can be stably maintained in its original condition. For easy carriage, the sanitary napkin 1 is folded into four and kept in that compact style.

According to the first embodiment, since the first and second adhesive portions 6 and 7 are detachably connectable, it is not necessary to interpose a release paper therebetween. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by saving the expensive release paper, and there can be obtained the sanitary napkin 1 which is economical.

A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 8. A sanitary napkin 10 according to this second embodiment has a generally same construction as the first embodiment. Identical parts with those of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive are denoted by identical numerals in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points.

As shown in Fig. 5, in the sanitary napkin 10 of this second embodiment, an anti-leakage material 3 surface on which the second adhesive portion 7 is superim posed is located forwardly of the anti-leakage material 3 surface on which the first adhesive portion 6 is superimposed.

Accordingly, as shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, in the sanitary napkin 10 according to the second embodiment, the sanitary napkin 10 having the pair of fixing elements 5 folded toward the anti-leakage material 3 along the longitudinal side edge portions 10a and detachably superimposed on the first adhesive portion 6 is folded into two layers toward the topsheet material 2 such that longitudinal opposite end portions 11,11 thereof meets to each other at a longitudinally central portion thereof, and thereafter such double folded sanitary napkin 10 is further folded at the portion where the longitudinal opposite end portions 11, 11 meet such that the second adhesive portion 7 and the release portion 8 are detachably superimposed one upon the other, thereby forming four layers in total.

As shown in Fig. 5, in the sanitary napkin 10 according to the second embodiment, the release portion 8 is formed on only a front part of the anti-leakage sheet 3.

With this construction, the pair of fixing elements 5 and 5 are folded toward the anti-leakage sheet 3, the first adhesive portions 6 are temporarily at tached to the release portion 8, and the sanitary napkin 10 is folded in the width direction such that the opposite end portions 11, 11 thereof meet to each other and with the top-sheet 2 inner side (Fig. 7).

Then, the sanitary napkin 10 is folded into four such that the second adhesive portion 7 and the release portion 8 located forwardly of the anti-leakage sheet 3 are temporarily attached to each other. Accordingly, as in the first embodiment, during the procedure for folding the sanitary napkin 10 into four, the fixing elements 5 are not disturbing. Moreover, the adhesive portions 6 and 7 do not require any release paper.

The sanitary napkin 10 of the second embodiment exhibits the same effects as the first embodiment when in use.

The absorbent article according to the present invention is easy to be placed on an underwear such as shorts irrespective of the shape of the underwear and fitness to its wearer's body and free from incorrect placement, and an original wearing condition (i.e., initial condition at the time it is just put on) can be maintained stably and therefore leakage (particularly, rear leakage and side leakage) can be prevented effectively. Moreover, it is easy to handle because the release paper is no more required.

Furthermore, the absorbent article is compact in its folded style and therefore easy to carry with.

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising a liquid permeable topsheet material, a liquid impermeable anti-leakage material, and a liquid retentive absorbent core interposed therebetween, and having a substantially longitudinally elongated configuration, and designed to be put on a crotch portion of a wear thereof, said absorbent article further comprising: a pair of fixing elements provided to longitudinal opposite side edge portions located forwardly in said crotch portion in said absorbent article and extending width-wise outwardly therefrom; and a pair of first adhesive portions and a second adhesive portion, each of said first adhesive portions being formed on a rear surface of each of said fixing elements, said second adhesive portion being formed on a central portion of a surface of said anti-leakage material located backwardly in said crotch portion in said absorbent article; a release portion provided to said anti-leakage material surface on which said first adhesive portions are superimposed when said fixing elements are folded toward said anti-leakage material along said longitudinal side edge portions respectively, and said release portion being detachably connected to said first adhe sive portions; another release portion provided to said antileakage material surface on which said second adhesive portion is superimposed when said absorbent article is longitudinally folded into four, and said release portion being detachably connected to said second adhesive portion.

2. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 1, in which said anti-leakage material surface on which said second adhesive portion is superimposed is part of said anti-leakage material surface located between said anti-leakage material surface on which said first adhesive portion is superimposed and said second adhesive portion.

3. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 1, in which said anti-leakage material surface on which said second adhesive portion is superimposed is part of said anti-leakage material surface located forwardly in said anti-leakage material surface on which said first adhesive portion is superimposed.

4. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 1, in which said absorbent article having said pair of fixing elements folded toward said anti-leakage material along said longitudinal side edge portions and detachably superimposed on said first adhesive portion is folded into two layers toward said topsheet material at a longitudinally central portion thereof, and thereafter thus double-folded absorbent article is further folded such that said second adhesive portion and said release portion are detachably superimposed one upon the other, thereby forming four layers in total.

5. An absorbent article as claimed in claim 1, in which said absorbent article having said pair of fixing elements folded toward said anti-leakage material along said longitudinal side edge portions and detachably superimposed on said first adhesive portion is folded into two layers toward said topsheet material such that longitudinal opposite end portions thereof meet to each other at a longitudinally central portion thereof, and thereafter such double-folded absorbent article is further folded at the portion where said longitudinal opposite end portions meet such that said second adhesive portion and said release portion are detachably superimposed one upon the other, thereby forming four layers in total.

6. An absorbent article substantially as specifically herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

7. An elongate absorbent sanitary article comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable outersheet and a liquid retentive absorbent core interposed therebetween, a fixing wing being provided on each of the longitudinal side edges of the article which projects laterally therefrom and is offset forwardly from the transverse centre line of the article, a first adhesive area being provided on the rear surface of each fixing wing and a second adhesive area being provided on the surface of the outersheet at a position offset rearwardly from the transverse centre line of the article, release areas corresponding to the adhesive areas being provided on the surface of the outersheet, the fixing wings being folded inwardly with the first adhesive areas removably adhesively connected to the associated release areas and the article being folded into at least two transverse to its length with the second adhesive area being removably adhesively connected to its associated release area.