Patent ID: 6168582
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
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 a longitudinal side edge 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 a longitudinal side edge 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 and a first flap fastener cover, wherein (c) the main wrapper sheet comprising 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, wherein the main wrapper sheet and the main body portion of the absorbent article comprises at least two transverse axes and at least 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, (d) the first flap fastener cover is joined to at least a part of the main wrapper sheet of the third region, wherein (e) the main wrapper sheet and the main body portion of the absorbent article are folded as a unit about one axis of the two axes so that the majority of the first flaps faces the main body portion of the third region, and the first flap fastener cover is releasably affixed to the first flap fasteners, and (f) the main wrapper sheet and the main body portion of the absorbent article are folded as a unit about the other axis of the two axes so that the majority of the second flaps faces the outer surface of the main wrapper sheet, and the second flap fasteners of the second flaps are releasably affixed to the outer surface of the main wrapper sheet.