SE518195C2 - An absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, a diaper, an incontinence cover or a panty cover - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an absorbent articles such as a sanitary napkin, an incontinence guard, a diaper, or a panty-liner, which articles has a substantially elongated shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and exhibits two side edges (9, 10), a front edge (11) and a rear edge (12), a front portion (6) and a rear portion (7), and a central portion (8) situated between the front portion (6) and the rear portion (7). The articles furthermore comprises a liquid-pervious cover layer (2) and a liquid-impervious cover layer (3) and an absorbent body (4), and a hump (26) extending in the longitundinal direction and having two longitudinally extending sides, which article furthermore comprises elastic members (19). The articles is characterised in that the hump (26) comprises a formation element (27) and that the elastic members (19) are arranged along either longitudinally extending side of the hump, wherein the formation element (27) and the elastic members (19) cooperate in shaping the hump (26).

Description

20 25 30 518 195 ---- ~ - n. n. A period uses panties that are of poor quality from the beginning or that are of poor quality because they are old and worn. If neither the absorbent article nor the panties are able to maintain a good abutment against the user's body, there is a great risk that menstrual fluid will leak past both the absorbent article and the panties.

EP 985396-A2 discloses an absorbent article having two longitudinally extending, elasticized means which provide a cup-shaped product by bending the entire absorbent article. The article further comprises a longitudinal upper absorbent core, located in the middle portion of the article, and a lower absorbent core which is wider than the upper absorbent core. The two elasticized means run through the entire article on either side of the upper absorbent core and curve longitudinally downwards the absorbent core convexly. The product has a substantially curved shape in that it is determined to provide improved body contact in the central region of the product, which thereby reduces the risk of longitudinal direction and for both lateral leakage and a faster transfer of menstrual fluids from the upper absorbent core to the lower absorbent core. Although the longitudinal upper absorbent core provides improved body contact with the body, a problem with the construction of the said type is that the upper absorbent core becomes curved downwardly convex in the middle portion of the article, which may reduce body contact in the genital area where fluid depletion occurs. Another problem is that the upper absorbent core is separated from the lower absorbent core, which can result in the upper absorbent core and / or the lower absorbent core sliding too much laterally, thereby causing a poor fit and / or poorly absorbent behavior.

It is also known with absorbent articles comprising an elevation which is part of the absorbent core as a separate component of the core.

The elevation may be made of a separate material with specific features, 10 15 20 25 30. -. n. 518 195 placed in or on the absorbent core, or the absorbent core may be made of an additional amount of material, thereby forming the ridge as part of the absorbent core.

A problem with this construction is that the absorbent core is difficult to maintain in its desired shape, which means that the ridge must be manufactured in a special way in order to assume the correct shape during use. For example, if the elevation is too soft, it deforms and can be flattened, thereby losing its intended function, and if the elevation is too hard, the sanitary napkin may become uncomfortable.

From WO 99/25282 an absorbent article is also known in which an elastic member is arranged in the article and gives the article a cup-shaped part at one end portion and a ridge-like height at the other end portion. The elastic member may be arranged in a loop in the front portion, which has a cup-shaped part, and where the elastic member in a loop contributes to giving the front portion its cup shape. The elastic member may also be provided as a continuous thread or strip running throughout the article, and to further improve the anatomical fit to the user's body for an article having a ridge-like height extending over both the center and back of the article, the ridge-like height in the rear part has a steeper slope towards the center line of the article than the ridge-like height in the middle section has, as seen from one of the long sides of the article. The cup shape of the front portion will surround the venus mountain during use and the ridge-like height of the rear portion will fit into the gap between the user's buttocks. Although the ridge-like height extending over both the center portion and the back portion of the article provides improved body contact in the center portion and back portion of the article, a problem with a construction of the type mentioned is that the elastic member bends the entire absorbent body. If the absorbent body is too soft, the elastic member bends the article too much, which can result in a poor fit, and if the absorbent body is too tight. n. - u. 518 195 the body is too stiff, the middle part can become bulky and uncomfortable for the user. A bulky or wrinkled height may not be high and / or thin enough to provide sufficient protection against leakage of body fluids between the user's buttocks when the user is lying on his back. Another problem is that the ridge-like height consists of the thick and relatively rigid absorbent body, which gives the ridge-like height a triangular shape, which makes the ridge-like height relatively wide and thus difficult to adjust between the user's buttocks.

While prior art absorbent articles provide relatively good leakage protection and a relatively good fit, there is still a need for an absorbent article which further increases comfort by being small and flexible and which also further reduces the risk of leakage of body fluids through improved contact between the article. and the user's body, in particular in the genital area, ie an article that has an anatomically correct shape in the wet area, and that the article is still easy and cheap to manufacture. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article which meets these requirements.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to remedy the above-mentioned problems and to make available an absorbent article which provides a good fit to the user's body and which has an anatomically correct shape in the wet area, and which article is convenient to use and which reduces the leakage of body fluids.

The absorbent article may be a sanitary napkin, an incontinence guard, a diaper or a panty liner, which article has a substantially elongate shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and has two side edges, a front edge and a back edge. The absorbent article also has a front portion and a back portion, and a center portion located between the front portion and the rear portion. The article further has a liquid-permeable cover layer and a liquid-tight cover layer and an absorbent body, and an elevation extending in the longitudinal direction with two longitudinally extending sides. The absorbent article also includes elastic members. characterized in that the invention comprises the elevation forming element which extends in the longitudinal direction and which has two sides extending in the longitudinal direction, and that the elastic members are arranged along either side extending in the longitudinal direction of the forming element, the forming element and the elastic members cooperating in the formation of the elevation. The forming element is advantageously placed between the liquid-tight cover layer and the absorbent body and the elastic members extending on either side of the forming element exert a lateral force on the forming element, which thereby curves the forming element convexly upwards, raising the upper layers to the shape of the longitudinal elevation in the middle part of the article. In an embodiment of the invention, the rear part of the absorbent body comprises a layer which is divided into a first leg and a second leg with a space between the legs where an angle ot is defined between the first and the second leg, and that also the elastic member is placed between the first leg and the second leg, extending substantially in the longitudinal direction. The elastic members running in the rear portion bend the rear portion into a slightly parabolic shape and deform parts of the absorbent article lying between the first leg and the second leg, thus forming a ridge-like height between the first leg and the second leg.

Further descriptions of the invention will be presented in the following text.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 15 shows a top view of an absorbent article according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of a cross section of the absorbent article of Figure 1 taken along a line II-II in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a rear view of a cross-section of the absorbent article of Figures 1 and 2 taken along a line III-III in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a rear view of a cross section of the absorbent article in Figures 1-3 taken along a line IV-IV in Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a top view of an absorbent article according to a second embodiment of the invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The absorbent article according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 and will be described in the following. The embodiments presented are not to be construed as limiting the invention, but only as descriptions to facilitate understanding of the invention.

The absorbent article 1 comprises a liquid-permeable cover layer 2 arranged on the side of the absorbent article 1 which in use is intended to face the user, a liquid-tight cover layer 3 arranged on the side of the absorbent article 1 which in use is intended to face away from the user, and an absorbent body 4 enclosed between the two cover layers 2, 3.

The absorbent article 1 is substantially hourglass shaped and thus has a front part 6, intended to be directed forwards on the user during use, a rear part 7, intended to be directed backwards on the user during use, and an intermediate, narrower middle part 8, intended to be applied in the user's groin area. In addition, the absorbent article 1 has two concavely curved side edges 9, 10, a convexly curved leading edge 11, and a similarly convexly curved trailing edge 12.

The division into segments of the absorbent article into a front portion 6, a back portion 7 and a middle portion 8, is not to be understood as meaning that there are sharp lines between the various portions 6-8, but is primarily intended to facilitate the description of the absorbent article with reference to the differences present between the various portions 6-8 depending on how they are intended to be placed relative to the user's body. Thus, the transition between the various portions 6-8 does not occur at fixed transverse lines, but rather within the transition areas located at a distance of about one third of the length of the absorbent article from the leading edge 11 and trailing edge 12, respectively, of the absorbent article. longer products, the ratio between the middle part and the front part can be two to five, which can also apply to the ratio between the middle part and the rear part.

In this way, the middle portion 8 forms the part of the absorbent article which, in use, is intended to receive and absorb the main part of the liquid which during use is delivered to the absorbent article.

The two cover layers 2, 3 are interconnected outside the absorbent body 4 and form a projecting edge 5 around the entire periphery of the absorbent article. The bonding of the cover layers can take place in any suitable way, such as by gluing, sewing or welding either by heat or by ultrasound.

The absorbent article 1 according to the invention is formed with a front portion 6 which is wider than the middle portion 8, and with a middle portion 8 which is narrower than both the front portion and the rear portion. In order to obtain an absorbent article which has a good fit and which feels comfortable for the user, it is necessary for the napkin to have a design which, to a very high extent, is adapted to the user's anatomy. It is thus of particular importance that the width of the first absorbent layer 17, at least in the front part of the middle portion 8, does not exceed about 40 mm. One reason why the front portion 6 is wider than the middle portion 8 is that the wider front portion 6 together with the narrower middle portion 8 forms around the user's body and to some extent "hooks" the absorbent article against the user's legs, thus enabling the absorbent article to stay in place against the user's body. The wider front portion 6 is preferably in a slightly oval shape. One reason for this is that the oval-shaped front portion 6, when used, is bent inwards while a cup-shaped bowl is formed, i.e. the upward bending of the front portion 6, relative to the middle portion 8, does not take place along a sharp fold line, but the curvature is instead continuous in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article. In this way, the front portion 6 forms a softly rounded bowl, which adapts very well to the user's anatomy. In addition, the oval shape of the front portion 6 also provides a large absorption area / volume for the absorbent body 4.

The absorbent article 1 further has two longitudinal side edges 9, 10, a transverse concave curved leading edge 11 and a transversely convex curved trailing edge 12. The absorbent article is designed in such a way that in the front part of the middle portion 8 there is a first cross-sectional line 24 extending in the transverse direction of the absorbent article, which intersects the side edges 9, 10 of the absorbent article. whereby the front portion 6 has a maximum width which exceeds the width of the central portion 8 at the first cross-sectional line 24. The maximum width of the front portion 6 is suitably at least twice the width of the central portion 8 at the first cross-sectional line 24. The inclination of the side edges 9 at the front portion 6 is defined by an angle ß between each respective side edge 9, 10 and a l longitudinal line parallel to the center line 23, whereby ß is between 30 ° and 90 ° and whereby the width of the central portion 8 of the first absorbent layer 30 at the first cross-sectional line 24 is between 15 and 45 °. mm and preferably between 20 and 40 mm. All the above data are stated to be valid for the entire absorbent article, but this only applies if the outer edge of the absorbent article closely follows the outer edge of the first absorbent layer 17.

The absorbent article according to the invention has a longitudinal elevation 26, with two longitudinally extending sides, which is created in the middle portion 8 of the article by using a forming element 27, with two longitudinally extending sides, which is located below the absorbent body 4, together with two elastic members 19. The two elastic members 19 run together through the rear portion 7 and are divided into two separate elastic members 19 before the forming element 27 and placed on either side of the forming element 27, after which forming element 27 the two elastic members 19 are joined in at least a dot. The elastic members 19 can advantageously be crossed both before and after the forming element 27. The forming element 27 is designed in such a way that the two elastic members 19 load the forming element 27 with lateral forces, something which thereby curves the forming element 27 convexly upwards, which raises the above layers , ie the absorbent body 4 and the liquid-permeable cover layer 2, to the shape of the longitudinal ridge 26 in the middle portion 8 of the article. they are attached to the absorbent article, preferably attached to the liquid-tight cover layer 3 in the forming element 27. The elastic members may be located in, or in close contact with either side of, and / or against any of the layers which make up the absorbent article, depending on the features desired of the absorbent article, but from an attachment and manufacturing point of view, they are advantageously attached to the liquid-tight layer. The longitudinal elevation 26 advantageously has an oval shape in the direction from the front portion 6 to the rear portion 7, as seen from above (figure 10 15 20 25 30 518 195 ~ «Q ann ~ ~ -. No 10 1), and a shape which can is described as a parallelepiped with rounded corners, as seen from the side (Figure 2), and a triangle with rounded corners, as seen from behind (Figure 3). The longitudinal elevation 26 thus tapers towards the rear portion 7 of the absorbent article.

The formation of the longitudinal elevation in the middle portion increases the contact between the user's genital area and the absorbent article, which thereby reduces the risk of leakage outside the napkin. The elastic members support the formation of the longitudinal elevation even during use, which thereby reduces the risk of an incorrectly reshaped sanitary napkin in the middle portion, thereby forming an absorbent article which has the correct shape in the wet area.

Depending on the desired features of the elevation, the shape of the forming element may be in a shape other than that described above, for example oval or rectangular as seen either from behind or from the side.

Wadding, foam, crosslinked cellulosic fibers, or a mixture of the said fibers, may advantageously primarily constitute the forming element 27, which preferably has the ability to spring back in both dry and wet conditions.

Examples of other useful materials are fluff pulp, unbound webs or formed materials in layers which are rolled to form the forming element 27.

A further feature of the forming element 27 is that it may consist of a resilient material, an absorbent material or a non-absorbent material. The forming element may also have a longitudinal bending indication line along the center line, in order to more easily obtain the desired shape of a triangle with rounded corners, as seen from behind (Figure 3).

The width of the ridge is smaller than the width of the absorbent body (4) and the length of the ridge is 20-120 mm and the height of the ridge is a maximum of 50 mm, preferably 5-20 mm. The absorbent body 4 may advantageously comprise different layers of different types of absorbent material. Figure 1 shows an absorbent body 4 comprising two different layers of absorbent material, a first absorbent layer 17 and a second absorbent layer 18. The first absorbent layer 17 is arranged between the liquid-tight cover layer 3 and the second absorbent layer 18, and the second absorbent layer the layer 18 is arranged between the first absorbent layer 17 and the liquid-permeable cover layer 2. The second absorbent layer 18 is advantageously a "fast" material which transports liquids well and the first absorbent layer 17 has a good ability to store liquids.

According to the described embodiment of the invention, the first absorbent layer 17 is stiffer than the second absorbent layer 18. However, the material of the first absorbent layer 17 need not be stiffer than the second absorbent layer 18 per se, i.e. the first absorbent layer 17 may be made in such a way that it becomes stiffer than the second absorbent layer 18, for example by glue-laminating several layers of the same or different materials or other suitable manufacturing alternative. The first absorbent layer 17 serves as a forming portion, whereby the area of the first absorbent layer 17 which lies substantially within the area of the back portion 7 is divided into a first leg 15 and a second leg 16 from a point near a second cross-sectional line 25. second cross-sectional line 25 extends in the transverse direction of the absorbent article, intersecting the side edges 9, 10 of the absorbent article. The legs 15, 16 form an angle ot at the point where the legs are divided. The angle ot between the legs 15, 16 is between 10 ° -120 °, preferably 15 ° -40 °, and the length of the legs is between 20-350 mm, preferably 50-150 mm. The second cross-sectional line 25 is located in the fictitious area where the rear portion 7 meets the middle portion 8.

The elastic members 19 are positioned between the first leg 15 and the second leg 16 as continuous threads or a band extending substantially along the center line 23, from a point near where the center line 23 meets the projecting edge. 5 on the trailing edge 12 to a point beyond the point where the absorbent body (4) is divided into two legs 15, 16 and before the point where the longitudinal elevation begins. The elastic members 19 are advantageously attached to the liquid-tight cover layer 3, either completely or partially. The two legs 15, 16 consist of the stiffer first absorbent layer 17 and are covered by the second absorbent layer 18. The part where the elastic members 19 run in the back portion 7 consists of the less rigid second absorbent layer 18. The two absorbent layers 17, 18, the liquid-permeable cover layer 2 and the liquid-tight cover layer 3 are enclosed therefrom. , from a point 1 near where the center line 23 meets the trailing edge 12 to a point beyond the point where the absorbent body (4) is divided into two legs 15, 16.

The elastic members 19 bend the rear portion 7 to a slightly parabolic shape, which further improves the anatomical fit against the user's body. When the elastic members 19 bend the back portion 7, the second absorbent layer 18 and the liquid-permeable cover layer 2 will be slightly deformed in such a way that it gives rise to the formation of a ridge-like height 20 between the first leg 15 and the second leg 16.

Since the second absorbent layer 18 is less rigid than the first absorbent layer 17, the rigid legs 15, 16 will contract and they will not deform to any great extent in the lateral direction, which increases the deformation of the less rigid second absorbent layer 18 and the liquid-permeable cover layer 2, to thereby give rise to a well-defined high and relatively narrow ridge-like height 20 in the rear portion 7 of the absorbent article 1. The lack of lateral deformation of the legs 15, 16 also gives rise to a unique shape on the ridge-like height 20, where the ridge-like height 20 starts from the inside edges of the relatively flat legs 10, 15 20, seen from the cross section of the rear view in Figure 4. The ridge-like height 20 rises from the inside edges of the legs 15, 16 in a steep slope upwards towards the center line 23. The ridge-like height, together with the relatively flat legs 15, 16, can be described as being something in the form of a cross section of a "Magician's hat" with a cone-shaped upper part that stands on a flat brim, which can be clearly seen in figure 4. Since the legs 15, 16 are relatively flat in the lateral direction, the ridge-like height 20 becomes narrow and high. The ridge-like height 20 will therefore be fine-tuned in the gap between the user's buttocks and will effectively stop and absorb all body fluid flowing between the buttocks, particularly beneficial for a user lying on his back. The relatively flat legs 15, 16 of the absorbent article 20 will serve as a barrier against the user's buttocks and thereby prevent more of the absorbent article 1 from deforming and sliding in between the user's buttocks. The shape of the ridge-like height 20 in the rear portion 7 has a steep slope towards the center line 23 of the article 1, as seen from one of the long sides of the article. The inclination towards the center line 23 improves the anatomical fit against the body of the user for an article with a ridge-like height, which extends over its rear part.

As is clear from the above description and Figures 1-4, the ridge-like height 20 merges into the narrow part of the longitudinal ridge 26, thereby combining all the advantages of the above-mentioned longitudinal ridge 26 and the ridge-like height 20, respectively.

An important feature of the described embodiment of the invention is that the area between the legs 15, 16 of the absorbent article 1 is less rigid than the areas surrounding that area, i.e. the legs 15, 16. The absorbent article 1 can be manufactured in a number of different ways depending on the use and / or the user requirements. To change the features of the sanitary napkin, it is possible to work with a number of parameters, for example the tension in the elastic members 19, where and how the elastic members 19 are attached, the angle or between the legs 15, 16 and the relative difference in stiffness between 15 20 25 30 ø ø n - au 518 195 14 the area located between the legs and the area surrounding that area. All the mentioned parameters give rise to a number of similar heights according to the present invention, but with different heights, lengths, widths, slopes and angles, all depending on the desired feature. Regardless of how the parameters change, however, the shape of the absorbent core together with the elastic members 19 and the relative difference in stiffness between the area between the legs 15, 16 and the areas surrounding that area give rise to the narrow similar height 20 with the unique shape of a "Magician's hat" according to the embodiment, as shown in Figure 4. It is more important that the similar height is narrow than it is high, due to the fact that the most important area to adjust the similar height in is the area between a user's buttocks, in close connection to the user's vaginal area.

The similar height can be described as having an upper portion which forms an upper part of the similar height and that the width of the similar height 20 is 0.1-20 mm, preferably 1-8 mm, at the upper part of the similar height (20), and that the length of the similar height is at least 10 mm.

The width of the similar height 20 at the upper part corresponds to the dimension of the elastic members and the dimension of the absorbent layer covering the elastic member, i.e. the second absorbent layer in the described embodiment.

The material of the liquid-permeable cover layer 2 may be, for example, a perforated plastic film, a plastic mesh fabric or a textile material, a fiber batt, a nonwoven material or a laminate of, for example, a perforated plastic film and a nonwoven layer. The laminate may be made of any material suitable for the chosen purpose. The plastic material is normally thermoplastic, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The term "nonwoven fabric" refers to a nonwoven fibrous web. Suitable nonwoven materials may consist of natural fibers, such as cellulose or cotton, or synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene,. - - f. 518 195 15 polyester, polyurethane, nylon or regenerated cellulose. Of course, it is also possible to use nonwoven materials made from fiber blends.

The liquid-permeable cover layer 2 is intended to receive and direct the liquid into the absorbent body 4. In addition, the cover layer 2 should be both soft and comfortable against the user's body and capable of preventing so-called rewetting, i.e. that absorbed body secretion presses back against the user's skin. For convenience and to avoid skin irritation, it is important that the surface of the portion of the absorbent article which is in contact with the user's skin be kept as dry as possible during use.

In addition, a dry surface of the absorbent article is perceived as cooler and more comfortable during use by the user, and is both from a purely visual point of view, and when handling the absorbent article when it is to be changed, more attractive than a sunny, wet surface. However, in order to avoid irritation of the mucous membranes of the genital parts, the parts of the absorbent article which are in contact with the mucous membranes may preferably be slightly moist, for example parts of the ridge-like height 20. The parts of the absorbent article which are in contact with the mucous membranes may consist of a hydrophilic material, either partially or completely.

It is not necessary for all embodiments of the invention that the liquid-permeable cover layer 2 de facto constitutes a separate material layer.

The liquid-permeable cover layer may, for example, form an integral part of an absorbent body. Thus, it is conceivable that if the liquid-permeable cover layer is omitted, the absorbent body should comprise an absorbent foam layer or other absorbent material which is sufficiently coherent not to disintegrate during use. In addition, an absorbent nonwoven material can be used, which material can be an absorbent and at the same time constitute a component in a body liquid-permeable cover layer. 10 15 20 25 30 - | n - e »518 195 16 The liquid-tight cover layer 3 consists of a liquid-tight material. Thin, liquid-tight plastic films are suitable for that purpose. However, it is also possible to use materials which are originally liquid-permeable but which have been provided with a coating of plastic, resin, or other liquid-tight materials. In this way, leakage of liquid from the underside of the absorbent article is prevented. Accordingly, the liquid-tight cover layer 3 may consist of any material which is skin-friendly and which meets the criterion of liquid tightness. Examples of materials that are suitable as barrier layers are plastic films, nonwoven materials and various types of laminate. Useful plastic films are, for example, those consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene or polyester. Alternatively, the liquid-tight cover layer 3 may consist of a laminate of a liquid-tight plastic layer facing the absorbent body and a nonwoven layer facing the wearer's underwear. Such a construction provides a leak-proof barrier layer with a textile feel.

Like the liquid-permeable cover layer 2, it is not necessary for the liquid-tight cover layer 3 to consist of a separate layer. Accordingly, it is conceivable that the liquid-tight cover layer 3 forms an integral part of an absorbent material, for example an absorbent foam layer with a liquid-tight surface.

The absorbent body 4 can advantageously consist mainly of cellulosic pulp. The fluff may be present in the form of coils, bales or layers which are torn or wet-shaped and converted in a fluff state into a pulp mat, with or without the admixture of so-called superabsorbents which are polymers with an ability to absorb several times their own weight in water or body secretions. Examples of other useful materials are various types of natural fibers such as cotton fibers, peat or the like. Of course, it is also possible to use absorbent synthetic fibers or mixtures of natural fibers and synthetic fibers. The absorbent material may further include additional components, such as liquid dispensing means or binders such as e.g. thermoplastic fibers which have been heat treated. a. . .- 518 195 17 to bond short fibers and particles together into a cohesive unit.

It is also possible to use different types of absorbent foam material in the absorbent body 4.

Figure 4 shows the legs 15, 16, consisting of the first absorbent layer 17, lying below the second absorbent layer 18, each leg forming a projecting part towards the liquid-tight cover layer 3, with a relatively flat, lateral, liquid-permeable cover layer surface 2 in the area . This is due to the manufacturing process used to make the article. Another choice of manufacturing process could give rise to protruding parts, formed by 16 and 18 against the liquid-permeable cover layer 2, with a relatively flat, lateral, liquid-tight legs 15, the second absorbent layer cover layer surface 3 in the area, i.e. the opposite of what is shown in Figure 4 in terms of the areas that include the legs.

Regarding the materials of the absorbent article, an example is taken from the sampling of the present invention and will be presented in the following text. The material of the first absorbent layer 17 suitably consists of a single layer of "High Density Air Laid (HDA)" of domestic manufacture with a stiffness of about 5.4 Newtons. The second absorbent layer 18 suitably consists of a single layer of "100g Low Density Air Laid (LDA) "with a stiffness of about 1.15 Newtons. The stiffness is measured according to the" ClRCULAR BEND PROCEDURE "described in EP-AO 336 578, which publication is hereby incorporated by reference. This described method is a modification of" ASTM D 4032-82 ”and involves simultaneous deformation of a material in several directions, one of the surfaces of the sample becomes concave and the opposite surface becomes convex. The method thus gives a force value which is a measure of the bending resistance or the average stiffness in all directions. In this exemplary embodiment, the relative difference in stiffness between the second absorbent layer 18 and the first absorbent layer 17 gives a ratio of 1.15 / 5.4, which is the same as about 21%. This is to be considered as an illustration only and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. A change in material will of course give other results, which can be advantageously used in some cases, for example the fact that the second absorbent layer 18 covers the first absorbent layer 17 also in the back portion, increases the difference in relative stiffness between the area between the legs 15, 16 and the area constituting the legs 15, 16.

The elastic members 19 are biased before being attached to the absorbent article 1, with a force of between 0.05-0.4 Newtons, preferably between 0.1-0.3 Newtons.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 5, where the elastic members 19 are placed only in the middle portion 8 on either side of the forming element 27 to achieve the same function as described above with respect to the formation of the elevation 26. The elastic members 19 can run together , both in front of and behind the forming element 27, a short distance in the longitudinal direction and can advantageously be crossed both in front of and behind the forming element 27. In the second embodiment the sanitary napkin has an oval shape and is absent from the legs 15, 16 described above. Figures 2 and 3 are still exemplary of the center portion of the second embodiment. The width of the first absorbent layer 17 in the front part of the middle portion 8 can exceed about 40 mm both in this embodiment and for absorbent articles with different shapes than the first described embodiment.

In yet another embodiment of the invention (not shown) the elastic members 19 may be replaced by a continuous elastic thread or band running through the entire absorbent article 1 for the purpose of bending also the front portion and the middle portion in a parabolic shape, which increases both the fit towards the body of the user as it increases the "hooking" of the front portion 6 towards the legs of the user, which increases the ability of the absorbent article to remain in place during use. The elastic thread or band is divided into 10 15 20 25 30 ~ a ». p. 518 195 19 the same way as the elastic members 19 to achieve the same function as described above with respect to the formation of the elevation.

Depending on how the elastic members 19, or their substitutes, are attached to the absorbent article 1 and stretched in different parts of the absorbent article 1, the elastic members 19 can deform different parts of the central portion and thereby create, for example, an extension of the ridge-like height 20 in the rear portion 7 into the middle portion. This is to further improve the anatomical fit against the user's body for an article with an axis-like height, which extends over both a part of the middle part of the article and over its rear part. The ridge-like height in the end portion preferably has a steeper slope towards the center line of the article than the ridge-like height in the middle portion has, seen from one of the long sides of the article. To increase the ridge-like height in the middle portion, the absorbent core 4 can be divided either completely or partially.

The invention is not to be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein, instead a number of further variants and modifications are conceivable within the scope of the claims. The invention includes, for example, all types of absorbent articles that are sized to be substantially adapted to the groin area of a user. In addition, all conceivable combinations of the described embodiments are intended to be included in the invention.

The elastic members may comprise more than one elastic member, which together serve the same purpose as the two individual elastic members described in the above embodiments.

The absorbent article may also include an elastic member which extends longitudinally through the entire article and which is divided into at least two semicircular portions in the front portion, which divided semicircular elastic portions give the article a cup-shaped portion at the absorbent article 10. . »- .- 518 195 20 front part, a longitudinal elevation in the middle part and a ridge-like height in at least the rear part.

The elastic member may also be arranged in a loop in the front portion, which may or may not be cup-shaped at an earlier stage, and the arrangement of the elastic member in a loop contributes to giving the front portion its cup shape.

The absorbent article may also include side elastics extending in the longitudinal direction, either partially or throughout the article.

In addition, all conceivable types of mixtures and combinations of material layers can be used.

The absorbent may be provided with fastening means on both the liquid-tight layer and the wings.

The absorbent article does not have to have a projecting edge, nor does it need to have wings. The invention can thus be used on a number of different shapes, for example on an oval shape or rectangular shape.

Claims (16)

10 15 20 25 30 u o. u -n 518 195 21 CLAIMS An absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, an incontinence guard, a diaper or a panty liner, the article having a substantially elongate shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and having two side edges (9, 10), a front edge (11) and a rear edge (12), a front portion (6) and a rear portion (7), and a middle portion (8) located between the front portion (6) and the rear portion (7), cover layer (2) and a liquid-tight cover layer (3) and an absorbent body (4), and a ridge (26) extending in the longitudinal direction with which article further comprises a liquid-permeable two longitudinally extending sides, which article further comprises (19). comprises a forming element (27) extending in the longitudinal elastic member characterized in that the elevation (26) direction and having two longitudinally extending sides, and that the elastic members (19) are arranged along either in the longitudinal direction themselves. extending side of the forming element (27), the forming element (27) and the elastic members (19) cooperating in the formation of the ridge (26). Absorbent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the forming element (27) is placed between the liquid-tight cover layer (3) and the absorbent body (4). Absorbent article according to claim 2, characterized in that the elastic members (19) extending on either side of the forming element (27) exert a lateral force on the forming element (27), which thereby curves the forming element (27) convexly upwards, which raises the overlying layers (2, 4) to the shape of the longitudinal ridge (26) in the middle portion (8) of the article. Absorbent article according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the back portion (7) of the absorbent body (4) comprises a layer (17) divided into a first leg (15) and a second leg. 20 25 30 - »~. now 518 195 22 (16) with a gap between the legs (15, 16) where an angle α is defined between the first leg (15) and the second leg (16), and that the elastic member (19) is also placed between the first leg (15) and the second leg (16), said elastic member (19) extending substantially in the longitudinal direction. Absorbent article according to claim 4, characterized in that the elastic members (19) extending also in the back portion (7) bend the back portion (7) in a somewhat parabolic shape, deforming parts of the absorbent article lying between the first the leg (15) and the second leg (16), thereby forming a ridge-like height (20) between the first leg (15) and the second leg (16). Absorbent article according to claim 5, characterized in that the elastic members (19) run together, substantially along a center line (23) of the absorbent article, from a point near where the center line (23) meets the trailing edge (12). ), to a point near the forming element (27). Absorbent article according to claim 5, characterized in that the elastic members (19) run substantially along the center line (23) through the entire absorbent article, except for the part where the elastic members (19) are divided and arranged along either of the forming element. (27) longitudinally extending sides. Absorbent article according to claim 7, characterized in that the elastic members (19) are divided into at least two elastic parts in the front portion (6) - article claims 4-8, characterized in that the elastic members (19) can be placed in Absorbent according to any one of or between any of the layers which make up the absorbent article 1. 10 15 20 25 518 195 23 Absorbent article claims 4-9, characterized in that the angle α is between 10 ° -120 °, preferably 15 ° - 40 °. according to any of Absorbent claims 4-10, characterized in that the length of the legs (15, 16) is 20-350 mm, article according to one of preferably 50-150 mm. Absorbent article according to any one of claims 4-11, characterized in that the length of the ridge-like height is at least 10 mm. Absorbent article according to any one of claims 4-12, characterized in that the ridge-like height has an upper portion which forms an upper part of the ridge-like height and that the width of the ridge-like height (20) is 0.1-20. mm, preferably 1-8 mm, at the upper portion of the ridge-like height (20). requirement, 14. Absorbent articles previously characterized in that the width of the ridge is less than the width of any of the absorbent body (4). Absorbent article preceding claim, characterized in that the length of the ridge (26) is 20-120 mm. according to any of Absorbent article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height of the ridge (26) is a maximum of 50 according to mm, preferably 5-20 mm.