Patent ID: 7695462
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An individual package structure having an absorbent article folded and packaged in a wrapper, the absorbent article having two longitudinal side portions and comprising an absorbent body having two longitudinal side portions and a pair of flaps extending laterally outward from the longitudinal side portions of the absorbent body, the absorbent body having a topsheet that provides a skin facing side, a backsheet that provides a garment facing side, and an absorbent core between the skin facing side and the garment facing side, wherein the absorbent article has the flaps folded over the skin facing side thereof along respective two first fold lines, is folded along at least one second fold line perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body, and the absorbent article has a plurality of embossed patterns on and/or near the first fold lines, wherein the embossed patterns comprise at least two linear pattern units each having a larger component in the first fold line direction than in a direction perpendicular to the first fold line direction, and wherein the linear pattern units of the embossed patterns do not intersect or connect with each other, the linear pattern units are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the longitudinally extending fold line on both sides of the longitudinally extending fold line, and the embossed patterns are non-straight lines, wherein the linear pattern units of the embossed patterns are not aligned on the same level with each other in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article but are arranged out of position to each other in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article; wherein the embossed pattern is formed by embossing a side sheet disposed on said longitudinal side portions of said skin facing side of said absorbent body, said side sheet having a two-layered structure by folding back on said skin facing side in the width direction of said absorbent article; wherein said side sheet is arranged so as to extend outwardly and inwardly over a longitudinal side portion of said topsheet and said embossed pattern is formed at a position overlapped with said longitudinal side portions of said topsheet; and wherein a region of said absorbent article which is located outer to said topsheet in the widthwise direction of said absorbent article is made of an outboard extension of said backsheet and an outboard extension of said side sheet.