GB2269996A

GB2269996A - Spoon-shaped sanitary napkin

Info

Publication number: GB2269996A
Application number: GB9218236A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shu-Li Lee
Original assignee: YANG CHIH HSIEN
Current assignee: YANG CHIH HSIEN
Priority date: 1992-08-27
Filing date: 1992-08-27
Publication date: 1994-03-02
Also published as: CN2172102Y; GB9218236D0; FR2701841A3; DE9212686U1

Abstract

A spoon-shaped sanitary napkin (10) comprises a rectangular front portion (12) to cover the symphysis pubis of a wearer and an expanded elliptical rear portion (14) to cover and support the inner concave portion of the whole coccyx (36). The elliptical portion (14) has a ridge (34) formed substantially at the center thereof and thinning toward the periphery of the ellipse to form a continuous variation in thickness. The ridge portion (34) serves as a support to the pelvis structure of the wearer to release the flank pain, low back pain and coccydinia occurring after the wearer gives birth to a baby. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: SPOON-SHAPED SANITARY NAPKIN FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a sanitary napkin and in particular to a spoon-shaped sanitary napkIn for using at night or during a puerperal period.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional sanitary napkins generally comprise three overlapping layers, namely a permeable surface layer, a liquid absorbent core layer and an impermeable backing layer. The sanitary napkins are formed by sewing along or otherwise securing edges of the layers to form a shirring conforming to the crotch of a wearer so as to prevent the absorbed liquid from seeping out of the crotch. Some examples of prior art sanitary napkins are US patent numbers 4,536,181, 4,676786, Re. 33,351 and 4,723,953 and international publication number WO 90/14814. These prior art disclosures teach improvements in sanitary napkins. However, none of the sanitary napkins of these disclosures are designed in accordance with the ergonomics, namely they do not take into consideration the support of the wearer's body when the wearer lies or sits down.

Further, the prior art does not completely suit the needs for a woman in puerperium. For a woman in puerperium, the change of hormone and the loosing of the symphysis pubis causes pains over the sacrococcygeal articulation and the coccydinia behind pelvis. This is clearly stated in some text books, such as "During the puerperium, the laxity of the ligaments persists for several weeks, as does the increased lumbar lordosis. .. Minimizing postnatal backache requires attention to ergonomics, especially the design, positioning height of baby's baths, cots and perambulators, in order to reduce the amount of bending and strain imposed upon the mother's lumber spine." in page 383 of PRINCIPLES OF OBSTETRICS written by Bryan M.Hibbard and published by Butterworth International Editions, England, "Hormonal influence, postural changes and latent defects in the spine all predispose to prenatal backache. In one study (Mantle et al., 1977) it was found that 48% pregnant women had back pain and 15% suffered severe pain." in page 20 of the abovereferenced text, "Fracture of the coccyx sometimes occurs during the course of delivery. There is severe pain initially and the noise of the fracture occurring can be distressing... Coccydinia may persist after a fracture of the coccyx and also occurs during pregnancy without fracture. The change in posture and increased weight may reveal or exacerbate the condition, which is treated by suitable seating..." in page 387 of the above-referenced text.

The ergonomic requirements for a woman in puerperium are heretofore not taken into account in the design and manufacture of sanitary napkins. It is therefore desirable to provide a sanitary napkins which in addition to the absorption of body liquid discharged from the wearer, serves as a support to the pelvis structure of the wearer to release the flank pain, low back pain and coccydinia occurring after the wearer gives birth to a baby.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore iSi an object of the present invention to provide a sanitary napkin which comprises a rectangular front portion and an expanded elliptical rear portion connected together to form a spoon shape wherein a ridge is substantially formed at the center of the ellipse and thinning toward the periphery of the ellipse to provide a support to the lower back of a wearer so as to release the strain on the sacrococcygeal region of the wearer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a spoon-shaped sanitary napkin which comprises a rectangular front portion and an expanded elliptical rear portion to provide a major absorbing means in the most concentrated area of the menses and/or lochia, namely the inner concave portion of the sacrococcygeal region when a wearer is in menstruation period or puerperium to prevent the menses and/or lochia, which flow toward crotch and reaching sacral region when the wear is sitting or lying down, from leaking out sideways so as to provide a more effective absorption and preservation of the menses and/or lochia.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a spoon-shaped sanitary napkin which comprises a rectangular front portion and an expanded elliptical rear portion to facilitate the assessment of the menses and/or lochia of a wearer regarding the amount, color and property thereof after the wearer gives birth and thus normality of the bleeding of the wearer can be evaluated conveniently.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spoon-shaped sanitary having an expanded elliptical rear portion wherein the center thereof is much thicker than the periphery thereof and the thickness varies continuously from the thick center toward the thin periphery to provide a support to the inner concave portion of the sacrococcygeal region so that when a wearer sits down or is recumbent, the weight of the abdominal or gluteal region does not strain the hanging coccyx.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spoon-shaped sanitary napkin which when worn closely and tightly comply with a wearer's body to provide a compact contact therebetween for the relief of pain.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, there is provided a spoon-shaped sanitary napkin comprising a rectangular front portion to cover the symphysis pubis of a wearer and an expanded elliptical rear portion to cover and support the inner concave portion of the whole coccyx. The elliptical portion has a ridge formed substantially at the center thereof and thinning toward the periphery of the ellipse to form a continuous variation in thickness. The ridge portion serves as a support to the pelvis structure of the wearer to release the flank pain, low back pain and coccydinia occurring after the wearer gives birth to a baby.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan view of a spoon-shaped sanitary napkin in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the spoon-shaped sanitary napkin shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the spoon-shaped sanitary napkin shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line Il-Il of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view with part thereof being broken to show the inside structure of the spoon-shaped sanitary napkin of the present invention; ; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the securing of the spoon-shaped sanitary napkin of the present invention to an undergarment; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the position where the spoon-shaped sanitary napkin of the present invention supports the coccyx of a wearer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, wherein a spoon-shaped sanitary napkin in accordance with the present invention, generally designated with the reference numeral 10, is shown, the spoon-shaped sanitary napkin 10 comprises a rectangular front portion 12 and an expanded elliptical rear portion 14 connected together to form a spoon shape.

Further referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the sanitary napkin 10 comprises a permeable top sheet 16 and an impermeable back sheet 18 connected together along the periphery with an absorbent core 22 disposed therein. An absorbent tissue layer 24 or 26 may be interposed between the absorbent core 22 and the top sheet 16 or the bottom sheet 18 to enclose the absorbent core 22 which is made of an absorbent material, such as cotton. This structure and arrangement are generally the same as the conventional sanitary napkins and thus no detailed description is needed herein.

To secure the sanitary napkin 10 to an undergarment 28 (see Fig. 7), a plurality of pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes 30 are secured to the back sheet 18 to provide an adhesive securing means. This is also known to those skilled in the art and will not be further described.

With particular reference to Figs. 5 and 6, a lump of cavernous tissue 32 having a substantially elliptical plan view shape is disposed at the center of the elliptical rear portion 14 within the absorbent core 22 so as to provide a ridge 34 substantially at the center of the elliptical rear portion 14. The ridge 34 has a thickness much greater than that of the front rectangular portion 12 and is thinning toward the periphery 20 of the ellipse 14 so as to form a continuous junction with the front portion 12.

The dimension and size of the spoon-shaped sanitary napkin 10 are designed to have the ridge 34 to match and fill the inner concave portion of the sacrococcygeal region of a wearer (see Fig. 8). With such an arrangement, the ridge 34 provides an adequate support and protection to the sacrococcygeal region of the wearer during bleeding phase of a menstrual puerperium period.

It is understood that the absorbent core 22 will provide the function of absorption of body liquid discharged from the wearer as the conventional sanitary napkins while the ridge portion 34 of the present invention further provides a function of supporting and protecting the wearer's sacrococcygeal region. The cavernous tissue 32 which forms the ridge 34 also serves absorption means for preserving therein the body liquid discharged from the wearer.

With particular reference to Fig. 8, in using such a spoon-shaped sanitary napkin of the present invention 10, the rectangular front portion 12 covers the symphysis pubis of the wearer and extends rearward to have the elliptical rear portion 14 cover and support the inner concave portion of the whole coccyx 36. The wearer may slightly adjust the location of the sanitary napkin 10 to have the ridge portion 34 properly support the coccyx 36.

It is apparent that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than that has been specifically described hereinbefore.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A sanitary napkin comprising a permeable top sheet and an impermeable back sheet connected together along a periphery thereof with an absorbent core disposed therebetween, said sanitary napkin having a rectangular front portion to cover the symphysis pubis of a wearer and an expanded elliptical rear portion to cover and support the inner concave portion of the whole coccyx of the wearer, said elliptical portion having a center with a ridge formed thereon, said ridge being thicker than said rectangular front portion and thinning toward the periphery of the ellipse to form a support to the coccyx of the wearer.

2. A sanitary napkin as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising a lump of cavernous tissue which has a substantially elliptical plan view shape disposed at the center of the elliptical rear portion within said absorbent core so as to form said ridge at the center of the elliptical rear portion.

3. A sanitary napkin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lump of cavernous tissue also serves as an absorption means for preserving body liquid discharged from the wearer.

4. A sanitary napkin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a first absorbent tissue layer interposed between said absorbent core and said top sheet and a second absorbent tissue layer interposed between said absorbent core and said bottom sheet to enclose said absorbent core.

5. A sanitary napkin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ridge has a thickness large enough to tightly match with and protect the inner concave portion of the sacrococcygeal region of the wearer.

6. A sanitary napkin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.