MXPA96004816A - Absorbent article that has fins and typesalternos of extensiondiferenc capacity zones - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sanitary napkin for use in an undergarment having a crotch region with a pair of side edges, said sanitary napkin having a main longitudinal center line and a main transverse center line, said sanitary napkin comprising: a portion of main body having two separate longitudinal edges and two separate transverse edges, a first end region, a second end region, and a central region disposed between the first end region and the second end region, said first end region and said second end region each extending outwardly along the main longitudinal center line from the central region said main body portion comprising a liquid pervious top sheet, a liquid impermeable back sheet attached to said top sheet , and an absorbent core placed between said sheet its a pair of fins for folding around the lateral edges of a crotch region of a wearer's undergarment, said fins being associated with the main body portion, with a flap extending laterally outwardly each longitudinal edge of said portion of main body in at least the central region, said fins having a transverse center line of fin which intercepts the main longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article, a proximal edge, a distant edge, and points along the transverse center line of fin, wherein said sanitary napkin is provided with a pick-up portion positioned between the main longitudinal center line and the distant edge of at least one of said fins, a restriction located in a region that contains and encloses the main longitudinal center line to limit the collected portion of that unfolds in the area of the main transverse central line, while allowing the split pick-up portion at those sites disposed longitudinally away from the transverse fin centerline, and an area of differential extension capacity comprising at least a portion of said at least one fin which is longitudinally spaced away from the line transverse fin center, said zone of differential extension capacity comprising the material having a greater range of outward extensibility than the point on the fins located along the transverse central line of the fin.

Description

ABSORBENT ARTICLE HAVING ALTERNATE FINS AND TYPES OF DIFFERENTIAL EXTENSION CAPACITY ZONES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to articles "Absorbents such as sanitary napkins for women, incontinence devices in adults and the like.

Still more particularly, the present invention concerns absorbent articles having fins and zones of differential extension capacity to alleviate tensions that develop in the fins when the fins are folded down and under an intimate garment of the wearer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Absorbent articles are widely known in a wide variety and many styles, configured for the absorption of bodily fluids such as menstruation, urine and feces, of course. Absorbent articles, particularly sanitary napkins, having wings or fins, are described in the literature and are available in the market. Generally, the flaps extend laterally from central absorbent means and are intended to be folded around the edges of the wearer's panties in the crotch region. In this way, the fins are disposed between the edges of the wearer's panties in the crotch region and the wearer's hips. Commonly, the fins are provided with attachment means for attaching the fins to the underside of the wearer's panties. The fins serve at least two purposes. First, the fins imply that exudates that would otherwise stain the edges of the wearer's panties do so. Second, the fins help to stabilize the towel preventing it from moving out of place, especially when the fins are fixed to the underside of the panties. Sanitary pads having fins of various types are described in United States Patent 4,687,478, entitled "Flanged Sanitary Towel", which was granted to Van Tilburg on August 18, 1987; U.S. Patent 4,608,047, entitled "Means of Union for Sanitary Towel", which was granted to Mattingly on August 26, 1986; U.S. Patent 4,589,876, entitled "Sanitary Towel", which was granted to Van Tilburg on May 20, 1986; U.S. Patent 4,285,343, entitled "Sanitary Towel", which was granted to McNair on August 25, 1981; U.S. Patent 3,397,697, entitled "Disposable Sanitary Protector for Intimate Garments," which was issued to Rickard on August 20, 1968; and U.S. Patent 2,787,271, entitled "Sanitary Towel", which was granted to Clark on April 2, 1957. Although sanitary napkins having fins are commonly seen as providing better protection against staining as compared to sanitary napkins. without fins, finned towels commonly experience problems that prevent them from being effective optimally. These problems are usually the result of stresses exerted on such fins when sanitary napkins are used. When the fins are folded down along the edges of the wearer's panties, tensions are created in the fins. Tensions are especially high along the crease line at the edges of the wearer's panties where the flaps are folded from the body side of the panty to the underside of the panty. These tensions are caused by adjusting a fin around the curved profile of a panty crotch. These tensions are magnified when a user is sitting or lying down because the edges of the panties are pulled out against the fins, thus increasing the forces against this fold line. When the stresses become too high, the fins can detach from the pants and a certain portion of the aforementioned benefits of the fins can be lost. further, even if the tensions are not sufficient to detach the fins, they may still be sufficient to cause the fins to bulge longitudinally inwards. This effectively reduces the size of the fins and the area of the wearer's undergarments that are capable of covering the fins. In this way, there is a commercial need for a way to eliminate or at least reduce the tensions that develop in the fins when they are folded, in order to prevent them from separating from the wearer's panties and losing the ability to cover an area. given the panties. Various variations of the types of fins described above have been presented in an attempt to solve several problems. U.S. Patent 4,900,320, issued to McCoy on February 13, 1990, describes a sanitary napkin having fins fixed at points inward of the longitudinal edge of the towel. U.S. Patent 4,911,701, issued to Mavinkurve on March 27, 1990, discloses a sanitary napkin having elastic means for providing a more convex shape to the body-facing portion of the central absorbent means and to allow free placement of adhesive from the fins of the towel. U.S. Patent 4,940,462, issued to Salerno on July 10, 1990, describes a sanitary towel with longitudinally expandable fins. A sanitary napkin having fins with strain relief means in the form of a notch or a slit is described in U.S. Patent 4,917,697, which was issued to Osborn, III, on April 17, 1990. Although the latter Sanitary towel works quite well, has continued the search for sanitary napkins having fins improved. The stresses described above may also unduly limit the size of the fins used with an absorbent article since the stresses are typically greater in products having large fins (i.e., fins having a relatively large longitudinal dimension). In this way there is also a need for improved strain relief means to relieve tensions that develop in the fins, which do not limit the size of the fins that can be used. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, having fins and zones of differential extension capacity to alleviate tensions that develop in the fins when folded down along the lengths of the wings. crotch edges of the wearer's undergarments and attached to the underside of the undergarments. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article having fins and zones of differential extension capacity that allows to use larger fins in the absorbent article than those of the above products. These and other objects of the present invention will be more readily apparent when considered with reference to the following description and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, having fins and zones of differential extension capacity is provided to alleviate tensions that develop in the fins when the fins are folded down along the lengths of the fins. edges of the wearer's panties in the crotch. The sanitary napkin has a main longitudinal center line and a main transverse center line. The sanitary napkin comprises a main body portion and a pair of vanes associated with the main body portion. The main body portion of the sanitary napkin comprises a liquid-permeable topsheet, a backsheet or liquid-impermeable backsheet, attached to the topsheet, an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The main body portion has two spaced longitudinal edges and two spaced transverse edges.

The fins extend laterally outward from the main body portion. The fins are associated with the main body portion at a junction along the longitudinal edges of the main body portion. The fins are divided into a front half and a rear half by means of a transverse center line of fin. The absorbent article has two corner regions located adjacent to the area of the ends of the joints. A corner region is located adjacent to the joint area in each direction away from the main transverse center line. The sanitary napkin comprises zones of differential extension capacity that allow the end regions to extend transversely outward to a greater extent than the portions of the sanitary napkin located along the transverse centerline of the vane. The zones of differential extension capacity provide means for relieving stresses in the fins of the sanitary napkin when the sanitary napkin is placed in the wearer's undergarments. A non-limiting number of types of zones of differential extension capacity is described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of sanitary napkin of the present invention. Figure IA is a side view, in cross section, taken along the line 1A-1A of Figure 1 through the corner region of one of the fins of the sanitary napkin. Figure IB is a cross-sectional side view taken along line IB-IB of Figure 1 through the central portion of one of the fins. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the crotch portion of a woman's panties. Figure 3 is the same perspective view of the women's pantyhose shown in Figure 2 with the sanitary napkin embodiment of Figure 1 being placed therein for use. Figure 4 is a top plan view of a sanitary napkin embodiment of the present invention having fins with ring-rolled or "precorrugated" zones of differential extension capacity. Figure 5 is a simplified top view of a sanitary napkin having ring-rolled areas, angled, of differential extension capacity. Figure 6 is a simplified top plan view of a fin of a sanitary napkin having ring-rolled areas of differential extension capacity in a radial pattern.

Figure 7 is a simplified top plan view of a fin of a sanitary napkin having a further zone of extension capacity that is in the region of the transverse center line of the fin. Figures 8 and 9 are simplified plan views of fins of a sanitary napkin having zones of differential extension capacity in patterns that allow for multidirectional extension capability. The figure 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly of a sanitary napkin from the components they provide with the ring-rolled corner regions. Figure 11 is a simplified top plan view of a fin of a sanitary napkin having two types of zones of differential extension capacity covering a slit in the fin. Figure 12A and 12B are simplified top plan views of a fin of a sanitary napkin having a section bent therein, in which, Figure 12A shows the folded section in a folded configuration and Figure 12B shows the folded section in unfolded configuration. Figure 13 is a simplified top plan view of a finned sanitary napkin, in which each has a different type of section folded thereon. Figure 14 is a simplified top plan view of a sanitary napkin with fins having an internal fold. Figure 15 is a fragmented, simplified, cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 of Figure 14. Figure 16 is a fragmented, simplified, cross-sectional view taken along the line. 16-16 of Figure 14. Figure 17 is a view of the same portion of the sanitary napkin shown in Figure 15, with the flap ripped off in the corner region to extend the same. Figure 18 is a plan view of a fin that is provided with a curved proximal edge. Figure 19 is a plan view showing the stretching of the proximal edge of the flap shown in Figure 18 in order to apply it to the main body portion of a sanitary napkin. Figure 20 is a simplified side edge view of a portion of the main body portion of a sanitary napkin, to which is attached the flap shown in Figure 19, showing the creases in the flaps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The present invention relates to absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, incontinence devices in adults, panty-protectors and the like which are provided with side flaps. More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent articles having fins and zones of differential extension capacity to alleviate tensions that develop in the fins when folded down along the crotch edges of the undergarments of the user. The term "absorbent article," as used herein, refers to articles that absorb and contain body exudates. More specifically, the term refers to articles that are placed against or in proximity to the user's body to absorb and contain various exudates discharged from the body. The term "absorbent article" is intended to include sanitary napkins, linings for panties and incontinence pads (and other articles used in the crotch region of a garment). The term "disposable" refers to articles that are intended to be discarded after a single use and are preferably recycled, composted or otherwise disposed of in an environmentally compatible manner. (That is, they are not intended to be washed or otherwise restored or reused as an absorbent article.) In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the absorbent article is a sanitary napkin designated as 20. The term "sanitary napkin", as used herein, it refers to an article that is used by women in a location adjacent to the pudendal region that is intended to absorb and contain the various exudates that are discharged from the body (e.g., blood, menstion and urine) . However, the present invention is not limited to the particular types or configurations of absorbent articles shown in the drawings. A preferred embodiment of a sanitary napkin 20 of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, sanitary napkin 20 basically comprises absorbent means represented by the central absorbent pad (or "main body portion"). ") And two fins 24. (In the discussion that follows, unless otherwise indicated, the sanitary napkin described herein will have two fins.While it is not necessary for the towel to have two fins, two fins are preferred over Also, although it is not necessary for the fins to be mirror images of each other, preferably they are, in this way, the description of one fin will be a description of the other and, for clarity, the discussion of the fin can be omitted. the second flap.) The sanitary napkin 20 has two center lines, a main longitudinal center line 1 and a main transverse center line t. The term "longitudinal", as used herein, refers to a line, axis or direction in the plane of the sanitary napkin 20 that is generally aligned with (eg, approximately parallel to) a vertical plane that bisects a user standing on left and right halves of the body when sanitary napkin 20 is used. The terms "transverse" or "lateral", as used herein, are interchangeable and refer to a line, axis or direction lying within the of the sanitary napkin 20 which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The sanitary napkin 20 comprises an upper sheet 40, a back or back sheet 42, an absorbent core 44. At least a portion of the topsheet 40, the backsheet 42 and the absorbent core 44 comprises the main body portion 22. The basic components of the main body portion 22 of the sanitary napkin 20, and the assembly thereof, may comprise any of those that are known in the art. Some particularly preferred sanitary napkins are described in greater detail in U.S. Patent 4, 917,697 issued to Osborn, United States Patent 5,009,653 issued to Osborn, and United States Patent 5,281,208 issued to Thompson et al. The main body portion 22 is the portion of the sanitary napkin 20 that contains absorbent means, such as the absorbent core 44. The main body portion 22 has a liquid-permeable surface that contacts the body (shown in the figure). A by the top sheet 40) and an opposite surface, impervious to liquids (shown in Figure IA by the back sheet 42). It should be understood that the illustrated embodiment is only one possible, but preferred, embodiment. Other possible embodiments include one in which an absorbent core 44 is essentially completely wrapped with the top sheet before being placed on a backsheet. The main body portion 22 may also comprise an absorbent core that possesses sufficient integrity to stand alone and is permeable to liquids on one surface while the other surface has been treated to render it impervious to liquids. The main body portion 22 may be relatively thick or relatively thin. The main body portion 22 can also be relatively narrow. A narrow main body portion 22 can be effective because the overall configuration and use of the sanitary napkin 20 results in the main body portion 22 being held in proximity to the body. Such proximity of the main body portion 22 places it precisely where it should be: very close to the body in the vaginal opening. The main body portion 22 can then absorb the vast majority of the menstrual fluid (menstruation) before it has a chance to flow along the sides of the main body portion 22. A thin portion of the main body may also be desirable because to which the user is typically comfortable. The fins 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A comprise separate pieces of material that are attached to the main body portion 22. In alternative embodiments, such as those shown in U.S. Patent 4,917,697, issued to Osborn, flaps 24 may be integral with the main body portion 22. In such a case, the topsheet 40 may form a surface of both flaps 24 and the main body portion 22, and the backsheet 42 may form the other surface thereof. . In addition, the absorbent material of the sanitary napkin 20 may extend towards the vanes 24 to form an absorbent core of vanes, as described in greater detail in U.S. Patent 4,917,697. The fins 24 are each associated with the main body portion 22 along a joint. This is typically a longitudinally oriented (or "longitudinal") juncture, such as junction lines 30. As used herein, the terms "junction" (or "junction line") refer to the regions from which the flaps 24 extend or join the main body portion 22. These regions may be any of several curved or straight lines, but are not limited to lines. In this way, these regions may comprise tabs, strips, intermittent lines and the like. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the junction line 30 is a relatively straight line. It is not necessary for the fins 24 to extend from (or be attached along) the longitudinal edges 22a of the main body portion. The fins 24 may be attached inwardly (or inboard) from the longitudinal edges 22a toward the longitudinal center line. The fins 24, therefore, can each be attached to the main body portion 22 along the main longitudinal centerline 1, or along the longitudinal edges 22a of the main body portion 22, or anywhere between the main longitudinal centerline 1 and the longitudinal edges 22a of the main body portion 22. The vanes 24, of course, will generally be on opposite sides of the main longitudinal centerline 1. The vanes 24 have a proximal edge 32 adjacent to the junction line. A distant edge (or "free end") 34 is remote from the junction line 30. The desired characteristics of the fins 24 of the sanitary napkin 20 are described in greater detail in U.S. Patent 4,589,876 entitled "Sanitary Napkin". , which was issued to Van Tilburg on May 20, 1986, United States Patent 4,687,478 entitled "Shaped Sanitary Napkin With Flaps", which was issued to Van Tilburg on August 18, 1987, and in the original patent applications presented directed to absorbent articles having fins and zones of differential extension capacity discussed below. As shown in Figure 1, each flap 24 is divided into a front half 26 and a rear half 28 by a transverse centerline of fin t1. The transverse centerline of fin t1 may coincide with the main transverse centerline t of the sanitary napkin, but this is not required at all. The transverse central line of fin tt extends through the main longitudinal center line 1 to divide the sanitary napkin into four quarters A, B, C and D. The rooms A, B, C and D comprise a first portion or zone ( such as A1, B1, C. and D.,) adjacent to at least a portion of the main longitudinal center line 1 and the transverse center line of fin t.,. A second portion or area (A- ,, B2, C2, and D2) is outward from and is complementary to the first portion. (The terms "outward" or "outboard," as used herein, generally mean spacing in a direction away from these center lines.) The term "complementary", as used herein, means that the first and second portions form a whole room.) The sanitary towel 20 has at least one zone of differential extension capacity (or "extension capacity zone", or simply "zone") 50. Preferably, as shown in FIG. Figure 1, the sanitary napkin 20 has four zones of differential extension capacity 50, one in each quarter of the sanitary napkin 20. The zones of differential extension capacity 50 relieve tensions that develop in the vanes 24 when folded around of a crotch of panties. As the zones of differential extension capacity 50 relieve stresses in the fins, they can be referred to herein as a type of "stress relieving means". The term "differential extension capacity zone", as used herein, refers to a portion of the sanitary napkin 20 that is capable of extending to a different extent (preferably a greater magnitude) than the surrounding portions of the sanitary napkin. Sanitary towel 20. These "surrounding portions" of the sanitary napkin comprise the first portions of the rooms. The zones of differential extension capacity 50, in this manner, comprise the second portions of each quarter. The differential extension capacity zones 50 are more specifically located in the corner regions 52 of the sanitary napkin 20. (Thus, the second portions A2, B2, C2 and D2 of the rooms preferably comprise the corner regions 52. of the sanitary napkin 20.) The sanitary napkin 20 preferably has four corner regions 52 (two for each flap, and one in each quarter). The term "corner regions" 52, as used herein, refers to portions of the sanitary napkin 20 that are generally located along or adjacent to a portion of the longitudinal joint of each flap 24. The regions of corner 52 of each fin 24 are located in two areas in the end regions 30a and 30b of each junction 30. A corner region 52 is located adjacent longitudinal junction 30 in front half 26 of fin 24. The other it is adjacent to the longitudinal joint 30 in the rear half 28 of the flap 24. The esuine regions 52 are preferably at least partially longitudinally disposed away from the transverse centerline of fin t1 in each direction. (Thus, the corner regions 52 may be described as being "longitudinally" longitudinally of the transverse centerline of fin t1 or of the central portion 27 of the fins.) In the most preferred case, the zones of differential extension capacity may be described in FIG. they are located along a portion of the crease line where the flaps 24 are folded around the crotch of the wearer's panties. The fold line will typically be located along or adjacent to the longitudinal joint 30 of each flap 24. As the terms "portions", "zones" and "regions", as used herein, refer to general areas , the differential extension capacity zones 50 and the corner regions 52, in this way, are not limited by points lying precisely on the junction lines 30. Typically, they will include both those points lying on the junction lines 30 as well as the surrounding areas of the sanitary napkin 20 (including the fold lines mentioned above). Thus, the longitudinal joints typically serve as good approximations for locating the zones of differential extension capacity 50. The corner regions 52 are designated as such because they typically include the "corners" formed along the periphery 23 of the sanitary napkin 20. The "corners" occur where the edges 35 of the flaps 24 intersect the longitudinal side edges 22a of the main body portion 22 when the sanitary napkin 20 is shown in a plan view. It is not necessary that there is an acute angle formed at the intersection of these edges, or lines of demarcation to designate them, however. (Another way of describing the corner regions 52 is with reference to U.S. Patent 4,917,697, issued to Osborn, III, et al. The corner regions 52 described herein typically comprise at least those areas shown as having slits or holes. notches in the Osborn patent et al. (For simplicity, these areas may be referred to as "notch regions.") However, the corner regions 52 in the present invention preferably encompass a larger area than the slits or notches shown. in the Osborn patent.) The portions of the fins 24 in the corner regions 52 of the sanitary napkin 20 can be referred to as the "corner regions of the fins" or the "fin corner regions"). These may be designated separately as 52 ', although they are still considered to comprise the corner regions 52, by themselves. The zones of differential extension capacity 50 are preferably extensible mainly in a greater magnitude generally outwardly in the transverse direction. This is generally in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 1. As used herein, "generally in the transverse direction" means that the extension capacity has a transverse component. However, not all of the extension needs to be exactly parallel to the main transverse centerline of the sanitary napkin. The preferred extension capacity is oriented more in the transverse direction than in the longitudinal direction. In addition, it is also possible for the alternate types of differential extension capacity zones described herein that are provided, having an extension capacity component in any other direction, or in more than one direction. The zone or zones of differential extension capacity 50 may comprise any structure capable of extending a greater amount in the transverse direction than the surrounding portions of the sanitary napkin. The differential extension capacity referred to herein, however, must be non-elastic. That is, it must be achieved without the use of separate pieces, cords or elastic materials to contract one or more portions of the sanitary napkin. The areas of differential extension capacity must also be achieved without leaving uncovered slots or shorts in portions of the sanitary napkin that cover the wearer's undergarments. This will have the advantage that the exudates will not be able to move through the slits or notches to dirty the user's undergarments. Suitable structures for the zones of differential extension capacity 50 include, but are not limited to, areas of material that are tensioned, corrugated, "ring-rolled", folded, bent or mechanically joined along a curved joint. These structures (although sometimes only shown as being part of the fins 24), may comprise portions of the main body portion 22, portions of the fins 24, or both. They can be integral parts of these components of the sanitary napkin, or separate elements, such as pieces of material attached to the sanitary napkin. Absorbent articles that are provided with a number of types of zones of differential extension capacity are described in the originally filed patent applications directed to absorbent articles having fins and zones of differential extension capacity, United States allowed patent application. Serial No. 08 / 073,256 entitled "Absorbent Article Having Flaps and Zones of Differential Extensibility" presented on June 4, 1993, in the name of Lavash and others; US Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 042,840 entitled "Method of Making Absorbent Article Having Flaps and Zones of Differential Extensibility" filed on April 5, 1993; and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 109,017 entitled "Absorbent Article Having Inwardly-Folded Pleated Flaps" filed on August 18, 1993, in the name of Niihara et al. (which are all combined in the Publication of PCT WO 93/06805 published April 15, 1993) (the patent numbers to be inserted for serial numbers when assigned). The present application is directed to several alternate variations of said absorbent articles. Figures 1 and 1A show the fasteners, such as adhesive attachment means, the central pad adhesive 54 and the flap adhesive 56, which are adapted to secure the sanitary towel 20 to the crotch region of an undergarment. The central pad adhesive 54 provides adhesive attachment means for securing the main body portion 22 in the crotch portion of a panty. The outer surface of the fin 24, adjacent the distant edge 34 of the fin, is preferably coated with a fin adhesive 56. The fin adhesive 56 is used to help keep the fin 24 in position after it is wrapped around it. of the edge of the crotch portion of the pantyhose, as described below. The flaps 24 can be held in position by joining the flaps 24 to the undergarment, or to the opposite flap. Suitable adhesive fasteners are described in greater detail in U.S. Patent 4,917,697. The fasteners used with the present invention are not limited to adhesive bonding means. Any type of fastener used in the material can be used for this purpose. For example, the sanitary napkin 20 can be secured to the wearer's undergarments by means of mechanical fasteners and other type of fasteners such as the fastener described in United States Patent 4,946,527, entitled "Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Bracket". Method of Doing It ", granted to Battrell on August 7, 1990. However, for simplicity, fasteners will be described in terms of adhesive bonding means. The adhesive attachment means are respectively covered by removable, removable liners, the central pad removable liner and the detachable flap liner, both designated 58. The pressure sensitive adhesives must be covered with peel-off liners 58 to prevent the adhesives from becoming adhesive. Stick to foreign surfaces before use. Suitable release liners are described in U.S. Patent 4,917,697. In particularly preferred embodiments, the central pad adhesive 54 may be covered by a release liner such as that described in U.S. Patent No. 4,556,146 issued to S anson, which also serves as an individual package for the sanitary napkin. The sanitary napkin of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with regard to the function thereof in the wearer's undergarment. Figure 2 is a sketch of the crotch portion 14 of an undergarment 11 of the type commonly worn by many women and well known as a pantyhose. A panty 11 comprises a front section 10, a back section 12, and a crotch portion 14 joining the front and back sections. The crotch portion 14 comprises two side edges 16 and a central crotch portion 18. The sanitary napkin 20 of the present invention is utilized by removing the release liner 58 and placing the sanitary napkin 20 in a pantyhose 11 as shown in Figure 4. The center of the main body portion 22 is placed in the crotch portion 14 of the pantyhose with one end of the portion of main body 22 extending toward the front section 10 of the panty and the other end towards the rear section 12. The backsheet 42 is placed in contact with the inner surface of the central crotch portion 18 of the pantyhose. The central pad adhesive 54 keeps the main body portion 22 in position. The distal portions of the fins 24 are folded around the lateral edges 16 of the panty. The fin adhesives secure the fins 24 to the underside of the pant. When the flaps 24 are folded down around the edge 16 of the crotch portion 14 of the panty, tensions develop in the fins, particularly in the corner regions 52 'thereof. These tensions are amplified when the fins 24 are folded under the pantyhose and attached to the underside of the pantyhose. The tensions are further amplified when the panty is raised to its position and the elastics at the edges 16 of the panty strap force the folded portion of the fins toward the extreme top portion of the wearer's crotch and hips. The tensions are more highly concentrated along the fold 19, where the flap 24 changes from being arranged on the body side of the panty to being arranged on the underside of the panty. In other words, the tensions are concentrated at the edge 16 of the crotch portion 14 of the panty 11. The tensions at the fins 24 generally follow the arc formed by the edges 16 of the crotch portion 14. These stresses can cause the corner regions 52 'of the fins 24 bulge longitudinally inwards. This reduces the area of the wearer's undergarments that are capable of covering the fins. If the stresses are sufficiently great, the fins 24 can be detached from the panther and the fins 24 will be less than optimally effective. In order to eliminate, or at least reduce, these stresses, the sanitary towel 20 is provided with zones of differential extension capacity 50. The zones of differential extension capacity 50 preferably reduce the stresses along the fold or bend 19 in such that the flaps 24 remain attached to the underside of the pantyhose and do not lose their ability to cover a given area of the wearer's undergarments. Figures 1A and 1A show a sanitary napkin having a representative type of zones of differential extension capacity 50. The type of zones of differential extension capacity shown in Figures 1 and 1A is described as being "representative" of the various types of Differential extension capacity zones described herein, because it is a relatively simple version of the concept that can be used for illustration purposes. The characteristics of the type of zones of differential extension capacity 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A (also as several other types of differential extension capacity) are described in greater detail in the aforementioned patent applications allowed from the United States of America. Serial No. 08 / 042,840, 08 / 073,256, and 08 / 109,017. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, the zones of differential extension capacity 50 comprise portions of the sanitary napkin 20 having a clearance provided therein. These portions of the sanitary napkin 20 comprise at least the flap corner regions 52 '. The clearance is provided to the sanitary napkin 20 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A by pre-stretching (or "pre-straining") the corner regions of the vanes 52 '. This can be achieved by heating and then stretching the fin corner regions generally in the transverse direction. This heating and stretching increase the size of the fin corner regions 52 '. In this way, when the sanitary napkin is placed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A with the wings 24 extended, there is excess material in the wing corner regions 52 '. This excess material allows the flaps 24 to be folded around the crotch of the wearer's panties without creating stresses in the corner regions 52. In addition to the pre-straining, a number of alternate ways of providing areas of capacity Differential extension are described in more detail below in conjunction with the embodiments shown in the remaining figures of drawings. Figures 4 and 4A show a sanitary towel having another type of zones of differential extension capacity. The sanitary napkin shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A has fins with corner regions 52 that have been provided with differential extension capability by ring (or "pre-corrugated") these corner regions. Various processes for ring-rolled materials are described in U.S. Patent 4, 107,364 issued to Sisson on August 15, 1978, U.S. Patent 4,834,741 issued to Sabee on May 30, 1989, U.S. Patent 5,143,679 issued to Gerald M. Weber et al. On September 1, 1992 , U.S. Patent 5,156,793 issued to Kenneth B. Buell et al. on October 20, 1992, and U.S. Patent 5,16,897 issued to Gerald M. Weber et al. on December 1, 1992. The Figures 4 and 4A show that the ring rolling (or precorrugado) can be applied in such a way that the fold lines 60 in the corrugations are oriented generally in the longitudinal direction. The phrase "generally in the longitudinal direction" (and similar phrases), as used herein, means more oriented in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. Accordingly, the fold lines 60 can be angled away from the main longitudinal center line L. This will also provide the extension capacity in the desired transverse direction. In other embodiments, ring rolling can be applied in such a way that some of the fold lines 60 in the corrugations are also generally oriented in the transverse direction (i.e., they are oriented more in the transverse direction than in the longitudinal direction ). In variations of the embodiments of the present invention (such as the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 4A), the amount of extension capacity provided may be varied throughout the different portions of the zones of differential extension capacity. For example, the number or amplitude of the corrugations formed by ring rolling can be varied in such a way that either or both of these features are larger in addition to the transverse center line of the fin. This will allow the sanitary napkin to be provided with differential extension capacity characteristics that more closely assume the configuration needed to wrap a crotch of the pantyhose. Figure 5 shows an example of a sanitary napkin having fins provided with ring-rolled corrugations, having fold lines 60 that are angled away from the main longitudinal center line L. Bending lines 60 can form any angle with the center line longitudinal line, between more than 0 ° and less than 90 °. The fold lines 60 preferably form an angle of between about 40 ° to 45 ° from the main longitudinal center line L. It has been found that when the line of fold 60 runs fully in the longitudinal direction, the fins 24 tend to be weak and loose, since their tendency to bend around the longitudinally oriented axis will be increased.With ring rolling of the fins at an angle, the lines are eliminated of bending parallel to the main body portion 22, and the fins 24 are less flimsy, said fins can, in fact, act to strengthen the To structure and make it more rigid than the corrugations of a cardboard box, even being flexible enough to easily wrap the panty. The fins shown in Figure 5 can also be used to allow extension in a direction that is substantially in a transverse direction, but which is more perpendicular to the pant elastic. This can create a more efficient structure in which less than the full extension capacity is needed to adjust the curvature of the pant. Figure 6 shows a flap 24 having a structure that is a variant of the embodiment shown in Figure 5. The embodiment shown in Figure 6 has a ring rolling pattern with radial fold lines 60. The orientation of the lines of fold 60 differ in that the fold lines on each side of the transverse center line ti of the fin radiated outwards from a simple point. This has the advantage of providing a greater extension capacity at the distant edge 34 of the fin where it is most needed. Figure 7 shows a modality in which the fin is provided with an additional zone of extension capacity that is shown as being in the legion region of the transverse centerline ti of the fin. This embodiment provides additional extension capacity (which may have a longitudinal component) along the transverse center line ti of the fin. The zone of extension capacity shown in Figure 7 can be located alternately anywhere along the distant edge of the fin. In still other modalities, it is possible that the fins have additional multiple zones of extension capacity. Figures 8 and 9 show two possible modalities in which the fin of a sanitary napkin is provided with zones of differential extension capacity allowing the multidirectional extension capacity. Figure 8 is an example of a ring rolling pattern that is provided with corrugations having fold lines 60 running in more than one direction. Figure 9 is an example of a sanitary napkin fin having fins that are provided with zones of differential extension capacity comprising corrugated ridges arranged in a spike pattern. The fins shown in Figures 4 to 9 can be made by running the fin material through a set of rollers with serrated teeth, or using plates with serrated teeth. In any case, the teeth are preferably slightly misaligned from a perfectly aligned meshed arrangement to provide a product with better appearance, with regions of higher extension capacity and regions of lower extension capacity within the zones of differential extension capacity. . In addition, zones of differential extension capacity can also be provided by the development of the "SELFing" process described in United States Patent Application Serial Numbers 08 / 124,180 entitled "Absorbent Articles Having Panty Covering Components Comprising Extensible Web Materials Ehich Exhibit Elastic Like Behavior "presented by Michele A. Mansfield, and others on September 17, 1993, and 08/203,456 entitled" Absorbent Article With Multiple Zones Structural Elastic-Like Film Web Extensible Waist Feature "presented by Donald C. Roe, and others, on February 24, 1994, in the portions of the absorbent article, which can provide properties similar to the elastic in those portions without the need to join separate elastic materials to the absorbent article.

The embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 9 can be manufactured or assembled in several different ways. The zones of differential extension capacity can be imparted to the sanitary napkin 20 after the sanitary napkin is completely assembled, where the vanes 24 have previously been joined to the main body portion 22. Alternatively, the zones can be applied of differential extension capacity to one or more separate components comprising the fins 24 and this component (or components) may therefore be attached to the main body portion 22 to complete the formation of the sanitary napkin 20. Figure 10 , for example, shows that in an alternate embodiment, one or more of the components of the sanitary napkin (such as the topsheet 40 and the backsheet 42) can be rolled by ring (or is provided with other types of capacity zones). differential extension) before these components are assembled to form the main body portion 22 of the sanitary tolling 20. In the embodiment shown in Figure 10, ca one of the upper sheet 40 and the rear sheet 42 comprise a portion of the integral fin structures 24. The topsheet 40 and the backsheet 42 are ring-rolled with a ring rolling pattern that is angled relative to the main longitudinal centerline in regions that will comprise the corner regions of the vanes 24. The absorbent core 44 it is then placed between the topsheet 40 and the backsheet 42, and the components of the sanitary napkin are secured together in any well-known manner. Preferably, in the assembly of this embodiment, the upper sheet 40 and the rear sheet 42 are secured to each other in the zones of differential extension capacity, but are not secured to the absorbent core 44 in the areas of differential extension capacity. The advantages of assembling the sanitary napkin in such a manner is that it removes one of the present limitations when the vanes 24 are integral with the main body portion 22 of the sanitary napkin. One of the difficulties with the construction of the integral fin (particularly the ring-rolled fins) is that in order to adjust a wide scale of sizes and shapes of panties and have sufficient extension capacity, it is preferable that the extension areas differential originating inward (and below) the desired position of the longitudinal side edges of the absorbent core. In the embodiment shown in Figure 10, this is achieved by leaving the ring-rolled section of the top sheet and / or loose back sheet of the absorbent core in such a manner as to make it possible to extend the areas of differential extension capacity in these areas in which it is not taught. Figure 11 shows another modality of alternating sanitary napkin in which the corner regions of the fins 24 are provided with notches 74. The notches 74 are bridged by a material 76 that provides the fins 24 with differential extension capability. The material covering the notches can be an extensible material, or a non-extensible material that has little firmness and that is joined in such a way that it expands the notches. The advantage of such a method is that it provides differential extension capacity without the potential problems associated with liquid runoff through the notches. Figures 12A and 12B show fins 24 of another alternate sanitary towel embodiment having a fold therein to provide an extra material for bending around the wearer's panties. Figure 12A shows flap 24 in a bent configuration and Figure 12B shows flap 24 in a split configuration. The fold lines forming the bent portions of the fin 24 can generally be oriented in the longitudinal direction as described in US Patent Applications serial numbers 08/042., 840, 08 / 073,256 and 08 / 109,017. Alternatively, at least some of the fold lines may be oriented generally in the transverse direction as shown in Figures 12A and 12B, or (as shown in Figure 13) at some angle between the longitudinal and cross. The fins 24 shown in Figures 12A and 12B can be made by grooving or notching the fin, and joining a bent piece of material thereto, or by folding the material comprising the fin around one or more patterns, and then joining the fin. flap material to the main body portion 22 of the sanitary napkin 20. The embodiment shown in Figures 12A and 12B may also be provided with a fastener such as a flap adhesive fastener 56 that is disposed between the bent sections of the flap. the fin. The folded sections of the flap, either a flap adhesive and a complementarily peelable surface, or more preferably, as shown in Figures 12A and 12B, are a cohesive peelable adhesive in each of the bent sections. Figure 13 shows another modality of sanitary napkin having fins with folded sections. Figure 13 shows that the fins can be provided with more than one bent section (i.e., multiple fold sections). Preferably, as shown in Figure 13, one or more of these multiple fold sections are located on opposite sides of the transverse center line ti of the fin. Also, Figure 13 shows that the fold line in the bent sections (and, consequently, the folds) can form several angles with the main longitudinal center line L. These angles may be less than 90 °, of about 90 ° or more than 90 ° (in relation to the closest end of the sanitary napkin) in various possible modalities. Figures 14 to 17 show other sanitary napkin embodiments that are provided with a folded (or internally restricted) internal construction. In this embodiment, as shown in the cross section of Figures 15 and 16, instead of having folds in the fins, each of the topsheet 40 and the backsheet 42 have longitudinal side margins that are bent inwardly, away of the outer surfaces of the sanitary napkin. The proximal edge 32 of the fins 24 is attached to the folded portions of the longitudinal side margin of the topsheet 40, the backsheet 42 or both. The fins are joined in such a way that the points of attachment 80 are located near the longitudinal side edges 22a of the main body portion 22, in the central portion 27, in the fins 24 that at the longitudinally spaced points away from the line transverse center of the flap, such that the folded sections of the upper sheet and the backsheet attached thereto can be removed and extended generally in the transverse direction as shown in Figure 17. Figures 18 to 20 show another alternate embodiment in which the fins 24 have a curved proximal edge 32 (preferably concave). Figure 19 shows that the distant edge 32 of this flap 24 is preferably elongated at least partially straight and preferably completely straight. This can be done using a conventional process to apply elastic yarns to an absorbent article. Then, the distant edge 32 is secured to the main body portion of a sanitary napkin. This straightness creates areas of extension 50 in the corner regions of the fins 24 and, as shown in Figure 20, one or more folds 90 in the fins when the fin 24 is viewed from the side edge. When the various alternate embodiments are observed, it should be understood that the aspects provided in the absorbent articles described herein are not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings. These aspects can be combined or modified in any desired way. Likewise, the techniques described with reference to the assembly of various embodiments may also be used to make various other embodiments of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in terms of a sanitary napkin, the fins and zones of differential spreading capability described herein may, as noted above, be provided in another type of absorbent articles such as panty liners and incontinent products. . Suitable absorbent articles in the form of panty liners are described in U.S. Patent 4,738,676, entitled "Panty Lining", issued to Osborn on April 19, 1988. Suitable absorbent articles, at least some of which are in the form of incontinence products in adults are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,300,054 issued to Barry R. Feist et al., and U.S. Patent 5,304,151 issued to John R. Noel et al. In this manner, the present invention provides a sanitary napkin having fins and zones of differential extension capacity to provide improved strain relief means to relieve tensions that develop in the wings when they are folded downward and under an undergarment. of the user. The descriptions of all patents, patent applications (and any patents granted based thereon, as well as any corresponding published foreign patent applications), and the publications mentioned in this description are incorporated herein by reference. However, it is not expressly admitted that any of the documents incorporated by reference herein teach or describe the present invention. Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (18)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. An absorbent article having a main longitudinal center line and a main transverse center line, said absorbent article comprising: a main body portion having a pair of longitudinal edges, said main body portion comprising a liquid-permeable upper sheet, liquid-impermeable backsheet attached to said top sheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said top sheet and said back sheet; and a pair of fins, each of the fins being attached to said main body portion and extending laterally outwardly beyond the longitudinal edges of said main body portion, said fins having a proximal edge a distant edge, wherein they provide said fins with corrugated sections having fold lines extending outwardly to at least a portion of the distant edges of said fins and said lines of doubles being placed in a radial pattern.

2. An absorbent article having a main longitudinal center line and a main transverse center line, said absorbent article comprising: a main body portion having a pair of longitudinal edges, said main body portion comprising a liquid-permeable upper sheet , a liquid impermeable backsheet attached to said top sheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said top sheet and said back sheet; and a pair of fins, each of the fins being attached to said main body portion and laterally extending outwardly beyond the longitudinal edges of said main body portion, said fins being divided into a front half and a rear half by a transverse center line of fin, said fins having a proximal edge and a distant edge, wherein said fins are provided with at least one zone of differential extension capacity that is more extensible in both longitudinal and transverse directions than the adjacent portions of said fins.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 2, further characterized in that each of said fins have two zones of differential extension capacity, one located in the front half and the other located in the rear half of each fin.

The absorbent article according to claim 3, characterized in that said fins further comprise at least one additional zone of extension capacity extending outward toward the distant edge of said fins that is disposed between said two capacity zones of differential extension.

The absorbent article according to claim 4, further characterized in that said additional zone of extension capacity is located in the region of said transverse fin midline.

6. An absorbent article having a main longitudinal center line and a main transverse center line oriented in a transverse direction, said absorbent article comprising: a main body portion having a pair of longitudinal edges, said main body portion comprising a sheet liquid pervious top, a liquid impermeable backsheet attached to said top sheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said top sheet and said back sheet; and a pair of fins, each fin being attached to said main body portion and extending laterally outwardly beyond the longitudinal edges of said main body portion, said fins having a proximal edge and a distant edge the distant edges of said fins they are provided with at least one notch, and said notch is covered with a cover material which is capable of expanding in at least the transverse direction.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 6, further characterized in that said cover material has a laziness in it.

The absorbent article according to claim 6, further characterized in that said cover material has a fold in it.

The absorbent article according to claim 6, further characterized in that said cover material comprises an extensible material.

10. An absorbent article having a main longitudinal center line and a main transverse center line oriented in a transverse direction, said absorbent article comprising: a main body portion having a pair of longitudinal edges, said main body portion comprising a sheet liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet bonded to said top sheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said top sheet and said back sheet; and a pair of fins, each of the fins being attached to said main body portion and extending laterally outwardly beyond the longitudinal edges of said main body portion, and having a transverse centerline of fin, wherein said fin is provided with a bent portion that is formed by a bend in said fin comprising at least one fold line that is generally oriented in the transverse direction such that said fin is capable of at least some expansion in the direction transversal

11. The absorbent article according to claim 10, further characterized in that said folded portion comprises at least a second fold line wherein said second fold line is oriented at an angle toward the transverse center line of the fin.

12. The absorbent article according to claim 10, further characterized in that said bent portion is formed by at least two fold lines that are oriented at an angle with respect to the transverse fin midline.

13. The absorbent article according to claim 11, further characterized in that said fold lines that are oriented at an angle with respect to the transverse fin centerline, are at an angle that is located in a portion of said fin that is outside said transverse fin centerline.

14. The absorbent article according to claim 10, 11, 12 or 13, further characterized in that said fins comprise at least one folded portion on each side of said transverse fin midline.

15. The absorbent article according to claim 14, further characterized in that said fin comprises non-extensible material.

16. An absorbent article having two surfaces comprising a side facing the body and a side facing the garment, a main longitudinal center line, and a main transverse center line, said absorbent article comprising: a main body portion that has a pair of longitudinal edges, said main body portion comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet bonded to said top sheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said top sheet and said back sheet, wherein said topsheet and backsheet have longitudinal side margins and at least a portion of said longitudinal side margins of said topsheet and backsheet are bent inwards away from the surfaces of said absorbent article to define sections bend of said longitudinal side margins; and a pair of fins, each of the fins being attached to said main body portion and extending laterally outwardly beyond the longitudinal edges of said main body portion, said fins having a proximal edge, a distant edge and a line transverse central fin, wherein said fins are attached to said bent sections of said longitudinal lateral margins of at least one of said upper sheet or back sheet in attachment points that are located closer to the longitudinal side edges of said portion of main body, in the region of the transverse centerline of fin that at points spaced longitudinally away from said transverse centerline of fin such that the portions of the fins spaced away from said transverse centerline of fin and the bent sections of the fin. upper sheet and back sheet attached to this, can be removed and extended generally in the direction t ransversal that the portions of said fins joined in said transverse fin central line.

17. A method for making an absorbent article having fins and zones of differential extension capacity, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core wherein at least one of said topsheet and backsheet comprises a component having a pair of laterally extending fins; b) forming zones of differential extension capacity in said component having said fins; c) placing said absorbent core between said top sheet and said back sheet, and d) attaching said top sheet to said back sheet.

18. A method for making an absorbent article having fins and zones of differential extension capacity, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a main body portion for an absorbent article comprising a top sheet, a back sheet attached to said top sheet and an absorbent core positioned between said top sheet and the back sheet; b) providing a pair of fins having a curved proximal edge and a distant edge; c) applying tension to said distant edge of said fins to at least partially straighten said distant edges; d) securing the distal edges of said fins to said main body portion while said distal edges are under tension. EXTRACT an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin is provided, having flaps and zones capacity differential expansion to relieve stresses that develop in the flaps when they are folded down along the edges of the crotch of the garment intimate of the user.