Patent ID: 6312418
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
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 and a 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 flap fastener cover comprises a pair of longitudinal side portions, a pair of end portions, a releasable surface facing the flap fasteners of the first and second flaps, an opposing surface, a first portion, and a second portion, wherein a majority of the first portion extends in the first region and a majority of the second portion extends in the second region when the absorbent article is folded at the transverse axes, and the flap fastener cover is releasably affixed to the flap fasteners of the first and second flaps,(e) the end portion of the first portion of the flap fastener cover is joined to the end portion of the main wrapper sheet of the second region.