Patent ID: 6375645
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An individually packaged absorbent article comprising:(a) an absorbent article extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a main body portion having a pair of longitudinal side edges, a pair of end edges, a garment surface, and a body surface, wherein the garment surface of the main body portion may be placed in a wearer's undergarment, and the absorbent article comprises a pair of first flaps joined to the main body portion and extending laterally outward beyond the longitudinal side edges of the main body portion and a pair of second flaps joined to the main body portion apart from the first flaps in the longitudinal direction and extending laterally outward beyond the longitudinal side edges of the main body portion, wherein the garment surface of each of the first and second flaps comprises a first flap fastener and a second flap fastener respectively, and the first and second flaps are folded over the body surface of the main body portion to expose the flap fasteners, (b) a wrapper for the absorbent article, the wrapper comprising a main wrapper sheet, a flap fastener cover and a second flap fastener cover, wherein (c) the main wrapper sheet comprises a pair of longitudinal side portions, a pair of end portions, an inner surface facing the main body portion and an outer surface, the main wrapper sheet is positioned adjacent to the garment surface of the main body portion, the main wrapper sheet and the main body portion of the absorbent article comprise two transverse axes and three regions divided by the two axes, wherein the three regions comprise a first region into which a majority of the first flaps extends, a second region into which a majority of the second flaps extends and a third region, and the two transverse axes comprise the first axis extending laterally between the first region and the second region and the second axis extending laterally between the first region and the third region, (d) the first flap fastener cover comprises a pair of longitudinal side portions, a pair of end portions, a releasable surface facing the first flap fasteners, an opposing surface, wherein a majority of the first flap fastener cover extends in the first region at least when the absorbent article is folded at the first transverse axis, and the first flap fastener cover is releasably affixed to the first flap fasteners, (e) the second flap fastener cover comprises a pair of longitudinal side portions, a pair of end portions, a releasable surface facing the second flap fasteners, an opposing surface, wherein a majority of the second flap fastener cover extends in the second region at least when the absorbent article is folded at the second transverse axis, and the second flap fastener cover is releasably affixed to the second flap fasteners, (f) the second flap fastener cover is joined to the first flap fastener cover at least at a point in a region between the second flap fasteners and the first transverse axis, and (g) the end portion of the first flap fastener cover is joined to the end portion of the main wrapper sheet of the second region.