TH33957A - Absorbent products with form fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (02/04/41) This invention provides a protective product for feminine hygiene absorbents, such as sanitary pads, which has a contouring element at its tip which, when used, enhances the product's ability to conform closely to the body, providing transverse adhesion and preventing leakage from the edges. The contouring element consists of a rigid body and a non-rigid area adjacent to the rigid body, which together flex, conform, and shape. The rigid body, such as channels or raised areas, which are rigid, dense, or reinforced, flexes along its axis of bending and resists bending and compression perpendicular to that axis. The non-rigid area, which is non-rigid, bulges outward to conform and shape to the body. The center area of the sanitary pad may, optionally, contain a rigid body, such as an absorbent layer, an insert made of sphagnum moss, and raised channels. The rigid bodies of the center area are spaced apart. From the rigidity of the end of the absorbent product, a cuff may be selected, or an inner layer of wings may be selected, which such cuff or wings work in synergistic effect with the contouring element of this invention to provide full and preserved coverage and conformity to the body. This is true for the cuff and especially for the wings, and most specifically for the wings attached to the inner edges of the longitudinal margin of the absorbent. Such wings provide a unified inner seam without eliminating the strike zone, which is intended to hold body fluids. This invention provides a feminine hygiene absorbent product, such as a sanitary pad, with a contouring element at its end which, when used, enhances the product's ability to conform closely to the body, providing transverse adhesion and preventing fluid leakage from the edges. The contouring element consists of a rigid body and non-rigid areas adjacent to the rigid body that together flex, compress, and conform to the shape. The rigid body, such as channels or raised areas, which are rigid, dense, or reinforced, flexes along its bending axis and resists bending and compression. Perpendicular to the axis, the non-stressed area is relatively flat, not rigidly bulging outwards to conform and fit the body. The central area of the sanitary pad may consist of a rigid element, such as a special absorbent material, an insert composed of sphagnum moss, and raised channels. The rigid element of the central area is spaced apart from the rigid element of the ends. The absorbent product may be selected with a cuff or with inner wings. The cuff or wings work in synergy with the conforming element of this invention to provide full and preserved coverage and body contouring. This is true for the cuff and especially for the wings, and most specifically for the wings attached to the inside of the longitudinal edge of the absorbent. These wings provide a seamless integration of the inner layer without eliminating the strike zone, which is designed to hold body fluids in place.

Claims (74)

1. An absorbent product used by women for feminine hygiene, consisting of a body-facing layer that allows fluid to pass through, a non-permeable layer facing clothing, an absorbent structure in between that which defines the absorbent material with opposing longitudinal edges that define its width, a central longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal edges, opposing transverse edges that define its length, a central area with the first and second opposing apart ends that define its length sufficient to cover the female genitalia when used, the first end extending from the first opposing apart end of the central area and modified to cover at least part of the female pubic ridge when used, the second end extending from the second opposing apart end of the central area and modified to cover at least part of the female groin when used, and at least one conforming body consisting of at least one end containing a rigid area attached to the opposing apart end of the central area and attached to the rigid body. The rigid body is located inward of the transverse and longitudinal edges of the absorbent. A rigid, transverse extension through the extremities, generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the absorbent, and occupying at least 50% of the absorbent's central volume, where the absorbent should be flexible in non-rigid areas and have transverse anti-clumping rigidity. 2. Absorbent products as per claim 1, whereby the absorbent products are sanitary pads, liners, underwear, or products to prevent ejaculation. 3. The adsorbent product under claim 1, which is rigid, consists of at least one of the following: convex channels, dense projections over the body-facing layer, bands of additional reinforcing material over at least one body-facing layer, areas containing resin of the adsorbent structure, areas containing molten material of the adsorbent structure, or a combination of these. 4. An adsorbent product pursuant to claim clause 3, in which raised channels are injected into the adsorbent structure. 5. An adsorbent product pursuant to claim paragraph 3, in which raised channels are compressed into the inward-facing, permeable layer and an underlying adsorbent structure. 6. The absorbent product under claim 3, in which the raised channels are pressed upward into the layer facing the garment and the absorbent structure on top. 7. The absorbent product under claim 3, in which raised channels are compressed downward into the body-facing layer of the absorbent structure and the layer facing the underlying clothing. 8. Absorbent product as per claim 7, which has raised channels protruding outwards from the layer facing the garment. 9. The absorbent product under claim 3, in which raised channels are pressed upward into the garment-facing layer of the absorbent structure and the body-facing layer on top. 10. The absorbent product as per claim 9, which has channels protruding outwards from the body-facing layer. 11. An absorbent product under claim 3 that has at least one raised channel pressed downward into the layer facing the body and the underlying absorbent structure, and at least one raised channel pressed upward into the layer facing the garment and the above absorbent structure. 12. An absorbent product as per claim 1, with a length of approximately between 4 and 13 inches, a width of approximately between 1.5 and 4 inches, and a thickness of approximately between 0.05 and one inch. 13. The absorbent product as per claim 1, which is rigid and stands approximately between 0.125 inches and 2.5 inches into the edge of the end area. 14. The adsorbent product under claim 1, which is rigid, consists of transverse elements located transversely through the ends, and in addition, at least one generally perpendicular element, which is generally perpendicular to the transverse elements and generally parallel to the medial longitudinal axis of the adsorbent product and closer to the longitudinal edges than to the medial longitudinal axis. 15. The absorbent product under claim 1, which is rigid, is continuous, discontinuous, straight, curved, or a combination of all of the above. 16. The adsorbent product according to claim 1, which is generally rectangular in shape as shown above, and whose longitudinal edges are generally parallel to and equidistant from one another. 17. An absorbent product under claim 1, in which at least part of the central region has a width that is smaller than the transverse width of at least one of the end regions. 18. An absorbent product as per claim 1, which also has at least one garment tab attached to one of the longitudinal edges of the absorbent. 19. The absorbent product as per claim 1, which in addition has at least one garment tab attached to the inside of one longitudinal edge of the absorbent. 20. An absorbent product as per claim 1, which in addition has at least one cup attached to one of the longitudinal edges of the absorbent. 21. The absorbent product under claim 1, which also includes at least one cuff attached to one edge of the longitudinal border of the absorbent and at least one tab attached to the garment attached to the inside of one edge of the longitudinal border of the absorbent. 22. An absorbent product as per claim 1, which has a thicker absorbent structure in the center than at the ends. 23. An adsorbent product under claim 1 whose adsorbent structure consists of an adsorbent core. 24. An adsorbent product under claim 1 whose adsorbent structure consists of a transfer layer and an adsorbent core. 25. An absorbent product pursuant to claim 23 or claim 24, in which the material comprising the absorbent core is selected from a group consisting of wood pulp, tissue, synthetic fibers treated to make them hydrophilic, hydrophobic synthetic fibers, in a mixture of hydrophilic fibers, sphagnum moss, superadsorbent particles, superadsorbent fibers and the above combined. 26. An absorbent product used by women for feminine hygiene, consisting of a body-facing layer that allows fluid to pass through, a non-permeable layer facing clothing, an absorbent structure in between that which defines the absorbent material with opposing longitudinal edges that define its width, a central longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal edges, opposing transverse edges that define its length, a central area with the first and second opposing apart ends that define its length sufficient to cover the female genitalia when used, the first end extending from the first opposing apart end of the central area and modified to cover at least part of the female pubic ridge when used, the second end extending from the second opposing apart end of the central area and modified to cover at least part of the female groin when used, and at least one conforming body consisting of at least one end consisting of a rigid area attached to the opposing end of the central area and attached to the rigid body. The rigid body is located inward of the transverse and longitudinal edges of the absorbent. Stiffnesses extending transversely through the extremities are generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the absorbent and occupy at least 50% of the width of the absorbent centrally, and at least one stiffness in the central region equidistant from at least one stiffness where the absorbent should bend in the non-rigid areas, and the transverse anti-clumping stiffness, and which helps the absorbent's ability to resist longitudinal bending. 27. Absorbent products under claim 26, which are sanitary pads, liners, underwear, or anti-ejaculatory products. 28. The adsorbent product under claim 26, which is rigid and consists of at least one of the following: convex channels, dense projection areas over the body-facing layer, additional reinforcing strips of material over at least the body-facing layer, resin-containing areas of the adsorbent structure, molten areas of the adsorbent structure, or a combination thereof. 29. An adsorbent product pursuant to claim clause 28, in which raised channels are injected into the adsorbent structure. 30. An absorbent product pursuant to claim patent 28 in which raised channels are compressed into the inward-facing, permeable layer and an underlying absorbent structure. 31. The absorbent product under claim 28, in which raised channels are pressed upward into the layer facing the garment and the absorbent structure is located on top. 32. The absorbent product under claim 28, in which raised channels are compressed inward into the body-facing layer of the absorbent structure and the layer facing the underlying clothing. 33. Absorbent product as per claim 32, which has raised channels protruding from the layer facing the garment. 34. Absorbent product as per claim 28, in which raised channels are pressed upward into the garment-facing layer of the absorbent structure and the body-facing layer on top. 35. An absorbent product as per claim 34, which has channels protruding outwards from the body-facing layer. 36. An absorbent product under claim 28 that has at least one convex channel pressed downward into the layer facing the body and the underlying absorbent structure, and at least one convex channel pressed upward into the layer facing the garment and the above absorbent structure. 37. An absorbent product pursuant to claim clause 26, with a length of approximately between 4 and 13 inches, a width of approximately between 1.5 and 4 inches, and a thickness of approximately between 0.05 and one inch. 38. The absorbent product under claim 26, which is rigid and stands approximately between 0.125 inches and 2.5 inches into the edge of the end area. 39. The absorbent product under claim 26, which is rigid, consists of transverse elements located transversely through the ends, and in addition, at least one generally perpendicular element, which is generally perpendicular to the transverse elements and generally parallel to the medial longitudinal axis of the absorbent product and closer to the longitudinal edges than to the medial longitudinal axis. 40. The absorbent product under claim 26, where the rigidity is continuous, discontinuous, straight, curved, or a combination thereof. 41. The absorbent product according to claim 26 is generally rectangular in shape, as shown above, and whose longitudinal edges are generally parallel to and equidistant from one another. 42. An absorbent product pursuant to claim clause 26, in which at least the width of the central region is smaller than the transverse width of at least one of the distal regions. 43. The absorbent product as per claim 26, which in addition has at least one garment tab attached to one of the longitudinal edges of the absorbent. 44. The absorbent product as per claim 26, which in addition has at least one garment tab attached to the inside of one longitudinal edge of the absorbent. 45. An absorbent product as per claim 26, which in addition has at least one cup attached to one of the longitudinal edges of the absorbent. 46. The absorbent product under claim 26, in addition to which there is at least one cuff attached to one edge of the longitudinal margin of the absorbent and at least one tab attached to the garment attached to the inside of one edge of the longitudinal margin of the absorbent. 47. An absorbent product pursuant to claim paragraph 26, which has a thicker absorbent structure in the center than at the ends. 48. An adsorbent product pursuant to claim clause 26, whose adsorbent structure consists of an adsorbent core. 49. An adsorbent product pursuant to claim clause 26, whose adsorbent structure consists of a transfer layer and an adsorbent core. 50. An absorbent product pursuant to claim Article 48 or claim 49, in which the material comprising the absorbent core is selected from a group consisting of wood pulp, tissue, synthetic fibers treated to make them hydrophilic, hydrophobic synthetic fibers, in a mixture of hydrophilic fibers, sphagnum moss, superabsorbent particles, superabsorbent fibers and the above combined. 51. An absorbent product under claim 26, which is rigid and contains at least one convex channel, an increased thickness of absorbent material, a rigid insert, a semi-rigid insert, or a combination thereof. 52. The absorbent product under claim 51, where the raised channels are longitudinal channels located between the central longitudinal axis and the longitudinal edges. 53. The absorbent product under claim 52, which is a straight longitudinal channel. 54. The absorbent product under claim 52 has a longitudinal channel that curves outward from the longitudinal axis. 55. The absorbent product under claim 52, which has a longitudinal channel that curves inward toward the longitudinal axis. 56. An adsorbent product pursuant to claim 51, in which a semi-solid material composed of sphagnum moss is incorporated. 57. An absorbent product under claim 51, the semi-rigid insert being a plastic sheet. 58. An adsorbent product pursuant to claim clause 26 in which the distance of the stiffener to the longitudinal channel is greater than the distance of the stiffener to any transverse or longitudinal channels adjacent to the stiffener. 59. An absorbent product used by women for feminine hygiene, consisting of a body-facing layer that allows fluid to pass through, a non-permeable layer facing clothing, an absorbent structure in between that which defines the absorbent material with opposing longitudinal edges that define its width, a central longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal edges, opposing transverse edges that define its length, a central area with the first and second opposing apart ends that define its length sufficient to cover the female genitalia when used, the first end extending from the first opposing apart end of the central area and modified to cover at least part of the female pubic ridge when used, the second end extending from the second opposing apart end of the central area and modified to cover at least part of the female groin when used, and at least one conforming body consisting of at least one end consisting of a rigid area attached to the opposing apart end of the central area and attached to the rigid body. The rigid body is located inward of the transverse and longitudinal edges of the absorbent. A rigid area extending transversely through the extremities, generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the absorbent, and occupying at least 50% of the absorbent's central area, where the non-rigid area, when used, causes the absorbent to bend, and the rigid area, when used on the transverse aggregation side, and where the conforming area contains at least one axis perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, and the bending resistance of the absorbent along at least one axis is no greater than that of the absence of the conforming area. 60. Absorbent products under claim 59, whereby the absorbent products are sanitary pads, liners, underwear, or anti-ejaculatory products. 61. An adsorbent product pursuant to claim 59, in which the increased bending resistance of the adsorbent parallel to the medial longitudinal axis is at least 20%. 62. The adsorbent product under claim 59, which is rigid and consists of at least one of the following: convex channels, dense projection areas over the body-facing layer, additional reinforcing strips of material over at least the body-facing layer, resin-containing areas of the adsorbent structure, molten areas of the adsorbent structure, or a combination thereof. 63. An adsorbent product pursuant to claim 62 in which raised channels are injected into the adsorbent structure. 64. An adsorbent product pursuant to claim paragraph 62, in which raised channels are compressed into the inward-facing, permeable layer and an underlying adsorbent structure. 65. The absorbent product under claim 62, in which raised channels are pressed upward into the layer facing the garment and the absorbent structure is located on top. 66. The absorbent product under claim 62, in which raised channels are compressed inward into the body-facing layer of the absorbent structure and the layer facing the underlying clothing. 67. The absorbent product as per claim 67, which has raised channels protruding from the layer facing the garment. 68. The absorbent product under claim 68, in which raised channels are pressed upward into the garment-facing layer of the absorbent structure and the body-facing layer on top. 69. An absorbent product as per claim 69, which has channels protruding outwards from the body-facing layer. 70. An absorbent product under claim 62 that has at least one raised channel pressed downward into the layer facing the body and the underlying absorbent structure, and at least one raised channel pressed upward into the layer facing the garment and the above absorbent structure. 71. An absorbent product pursuant to claim clause 59, with a length of approximately between 4 and 13 inches, a width of approximately between 1.5 and 4 inches, and a thickness of approximately between 0.05 and one inch. 72. The absorbent product as per claim 59, which is rigid and stands approximately between 0.125 inches and 2.5 inches into the edge of the end area. 73. The absorbent product under claim 59, which is rigid, consists of transverse elements located transversely through the ends, and in addition, at least one generally perpendicular element, which is generally perpendicular to the transverse elements and generally parallel to the medial longitudinal axis of the absorbent product and closer to the longitudinal edges than to the medial longitudinal axis. 74. An absorbent product under claim 59 whose rigidity is continuous, discontinuous, straight, curved, or a combination thereof. (Clause 74, page 13, figure 24)