GB2119656A

GB2119656A - Sanitary napkins

Info

Publication number: GB2119656A
Application number: GB08312830A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Jon Roeder
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Corp
Current assignee: Kimberly Clark Corp
Priority date: 1982-05-10
Filing date: 1983-05-10
Publication date: 1983-11-23
Also published as: AU1397283A; GB8312830D0; ZA832789B; FR2526309A1; DE3316462A1

Abstract

A sanitary napkin (10, 11) having lines of garment attachment adhesive positioned so as to prevent contact between the lines when the napkin is distorted during use. In this respect the lines of the adhesive pattern are, in general, inset at least 1.02 cms (0.4 inches) from each longitudinal edge of the napkin (10, 11) and, in particular, the parallel lines of the adhesive pattern are spaced at least 1.91 cms (0.75 inches) from each other. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sanitary napkin This invention relates to sanitary napkins and particularly to an improved adhesive pattern for tabless sanitary napkins.

Since their introduction, sanitary napkins with adhesive attachment means, i.e., the so-called tabless sanitary napkins have proven to be a dominant force in the marketplace. Previous to the introduction of sanitary napkins having adhesive attachment means, napkins were constructed with long extensions at either ends called tabs. These tabs were attached to separate belts. The tabless sanitary napkins, due to obvious advantages of convenience and comfort, have almost universally supplanted these belted napkins.

Whilst this shift in consumer preference has taken place in little more than a decade, there has been continuing effort directed towards developing a superior adhesive pattern which would provide secure attachment to undergarments and ease of release without either tearing the napkin or leaving substantial adhesive residue in the undergarment itself.

The most widely used and accepted pattern is that described in U.S. Patent 3,672,371 which provides for at least two centrally disposed narrow, parallel spaced lines of garment attachment adhesive. This pattern has been substantially, universally accepted and while the art is replete with attempts to design alternative configurations, the majority of the sanitary napkins currently sold in the United States utilize this configuration.

As discussed in U.S. Patent No. 3672371, a sanitary napkin during use is subjected to shear stresses and other forces such as rotational torque applied to the napkin during movement by the wearer. It has been recognized, in fact, that the napkin will, during wear, actually become unattached and then reattach itself.

It has also been recognized that the napkin is subjected to side crushing forces which tend to permanently distort the napkin along each longitudinal edge. This crushing of the napkin can in some case not only dislodge the napkin from its adhesive mooring, but can also distort the back surface of the napkin in such a manner as to provide for the contact of the centrally disposed adhesive lines with each other and therefor prevent the napkin from reattachment to the undergarment of the wearer.

Other known configurations for adhesive pattern positioning are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patents 3,575,175; 3,888,255, 3,897,783, and 3,973,567 and set out in the prior art figures of U.S. Patent No.3,672,371.

According to the present invention there is provided a sanitary napkin comprising an absorbent batt adapted to be in absorbent contact with the wearer, a fluid impermeable baffle positioned to be between the absorbent batt and a garment of a wearer in use and attached to said batt and an adhesive pattern positioned on the garment facing side of said napkin for adhesive attachment of the napkin to the garment, said pattern including a plurality of spaced lines positioned to prevent line-to-line contact when the napkin is distorted during use with at least two of said lines parallel to each other, said lines being inset at least 1.02 cms (0.4 inches) from each longitudinal edge of said napkin and being spaced at least 1.91 cms (o.75 inches) from each other.

The adhesive pattern preferably features at least one line disposed on the central longitudinal axis of the sanitary napkin. The positioning of the adhesive line in the centre and also of the parallel lines are such that there would be substantially no overlap if the central line was moved to a position along the same axis of either of the parallel lines.

The distance between the parallel lines is at least 1.91 cms (.75 inches). These configurational features prevent the attachment of the parallel lines, longitudinally disposed from each other, during use.

Two embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view partially in crosssection of one embodiment of a sanitary napkin in accordance with the invention; and FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a second embodiment of the adhesive pattern for a sanitary napkin in accordance with the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a sanitary napkin having an absorbent layer 11 in a fluid impermeable baffle 10 is provided with an adhesive pattern consisting of parallel spaced lines 12 and 13 positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sanitary napkin and also centrally with respect to the ends of the napkin. Lines 14 and 1 5 in this embodiment are positioned along the longitudinal axis of the napkin and provide added positional stability. As shown in FIG. 1 there is a slight overlap in the longitudinal positioning of the parallel lines 12 and 13 and the centrally positioned line segments 14 and 15. While theoretically it would appear that attachment of the parallel and the centre line is possible it is extremely unlikely due to the configuration of the bottom of the napkin after deformation.This configuration results in the centre of the napkin being in a plane different than the portion of the napkin represented by adhesive lines 12 and 13.

An alternative embodiment is depicted in FIG. 2. In this case two sets of parallel lines 1 6,17 and 1 8, 1 9 are positioned substantially at either end of a centrally disposed line 20.

In each embodiment the lines are inset at least 1.02 cms (0.4 inches) from each longitudinal edge of the napkin and the parallel lines of the adhesive pattern are spaced at least 1.91 cms (0.75 inches) from each other.

It is preferred that the lines be between 3.81 cms (1.5 inches) and 7.62 cms (3.0 inches) in length. There is no reason, of course, why each of the lines in a particular pattern should be the same length, although, obviously, the lengths of the lines in a particular parallel set should be equal.

For each of description, the word "lines" has been used to describe each part of the adhesive pattern although it is apparent that these lines can be discontinuous, consisting of, for example, closely spaced dots or the lines themselves may have a different geometrical shape for decorative purposes. For the purposes of describing these embodiments the term "lines" has been used to define patterns having longitudinal length substantially greater than transverse length with regard to position on the napkin.

The sanitary napkins described above have only an absorbent batt and a fiuid#impervious baffle. It is to be understood that the batt can be wrapped with a fluid permeable wrap and that the wrap itself may overlap either around the bottom of the baffle or between the baffle and the absorbent batt. Where the wrap overlaps on the bottom, i.e., garment facing side of the baffle, the adhesive lines will be positioned on the wrap and, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,672,371 may actually be used to seal the overlap portion.

Claims

1. A sanitary napkin comprising an absorbent batt adapted to be in absorbent contact with the wearer, a fluid impermeable baffle positioned to be between the absorbent batt and a garment of a wearer in use and attached to said batt and an adhesive pattern positioned on the garment facing side of said napkin for adhesive attachment of the napkin to the garment, said pattern including a plurality of spaced lines positioned to prevent lineto-line contact when the napkin is distorted during use with at least two of said lines parallel to each other, said lines being inset at least 1.02 cms (0.4 inches) from each longitudinal edge of said napkin and being spaced at least 1.91 cms (0.75 inches) from each other.

2. A sanitary napkin according to Claim 1 wherein each line is between 3.81 cms (1.5 inches) and 7.62 cms (3.0 inches) long.

3. A sanitary napkin according to Claim 1 wherein said lines consist of closely spaced, discontinuous parts.

4. A sanitary napkin according to Claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the pattern consists of two lines substantially positioned on the central longitudinal axis of the napkin and two substantially parallel lines positioned on either side of said central axis, the major proportion of the length of said parallel lines being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the napkin.

5. A sanitary napkin according to Claim 1,2 or 3 wherein said pattern consists of one line positioned substantially along the central longitudinal axis of said napkin and two sets of parallel spaced lines positioned substantially beyond either end of said central line and being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said napkin.

6. A sanitary napkin as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.