Form retentive absorbent pads

Abstract: Form retentive absorbent pads are disclosed which comprise fluid absorbent material (102) and at least one bendable element (132) which can be deformed by the user and which will retain its shape during use. The preferred embodiments, the bendable element (132) provides at least a degree of conformation in the critical central area of the pad (100), most preferably at least in the longitudinal (y axis) direction. Conformablility created in this area allows the user of the pad (100) to mold the pad to the body to maximize comfort and fluid absorption. Preferred embodiments include bendable elements (132) which form winglets (128, 130) which are bent around the edges of the undergarment (10) to hold the pad (100) in place during use.

Description: Background of the Invention This invention relates to a feminine absorbent product comprising an elongate pad having a body-facing side and an undergarment side and defining longitudinal edges, said pad comprising fluid-absorbent material; and bendable means attached to said pad, said bendable means can be bent by user. An absorbent product of said type is known from EP-A-0 337 438. EP-A-0 337 438 discloses sanitary napkins having side-protecting flaps with hinge means for disposing at least one of the flaps in a pre-folded, flexible position. These flaps may be used to secure the sanitary napkin around a crotch portion of an undergarment without additional attachment adhesive. EP-A-0 331 018 relates to a sanitary napkin which includes at least one flap having a portion that may be expanded longitudinally by permitting the flap to expand when folded over a side of an undergarment. By doing this, the flap is enabled to fold outwardly to the back of the undergarment and conform to the contour along the curved line of the crotch. This is quite different to the present invention which provides at least one bendable means which can be bent prior to use so as to impart a desired curvature to the body-facing surface of the product at least along its longitudinal axis wherein the bendable means then maintains the preformed structure after the pre-bending stresses are released. Absorbent pads find many common uses, such as in the containment of bodily fluids. The ability of an absorbent pad to maintain close contact with a fluid-bearing surface is thus a key determinant of its efficacy in this regard. Diapers, bandages, and feminine hygiene products such as panty shields and sanitary napkins provide examples of absorbent pads employed in the containment of bodily fluids. In addition, these and other types of absorbent pads are often designed for contact with highly-contoured surfaces such as those found on the human body. Given the great variation in shape between different portions of the human anatomy and the further, often pronounced, variation between different individuals with respect to even the same body region, the importance attached to the ability of such products to assume and maintain a variety of shapes becomes apparent. Equally important in the containment of emanating fluids is the ability of an absorbent pad to maintain close proximity with the fluid-bearing surface. For example, it is known in the art that reasonably good placement can be obtained by affixing the napkin to the woman's undergarment, typically through the use of adhesives. Unfortunately, however, such attachment means are often subject to failure and, moreover, contribute nothing to the napkin's retention of a conformation closely approximating the unique and characteristic contours of the woman's physique. It is accordingly an object of this invention to produce absorbent pads which may be individually conformed by the user to establish improved fit and comfort. It is a further object of this invention to produce absorbent pads at low cost. It is another object of this invention to produce absorbent pads which can be disposed to assume a wide variety of body hugging conformations. It is yet another object of this invention to produce absorbent pads able to maintain such conformations. It is still another object of this invention to produce such absorbent pacs having means of maintaining close proximity with contoured, fluid-bearing surfaces. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a solution for the above-mentioned objects by the features as disclosed in claim 1. The form retentive absorbent pads of this invention comprise fluid absorbent material and at least one bendable element which can be deformed by the user and which will retain its shape during use. The absorbent pads of this invention have a body-facing side and an undergarment-facing side. The bendable element comprises a strap extending transversely across the center of the pad. The strap is shaped such that the portion contiguous with the undergarment-facing side of the pad is in a "double-concave" configuration. The strap ends which protrude from each longitudinal edge of the pad, or "winglets", are shaped in convex configuration. These winglets are designed to be bent around the edges of the crotch portion of an undergarment. As seen from the above, the bendable element(s) of the preferred embodiments may be affixed to an outer surface of the fluid absorbent material, in which case they are preferably adapted to further provide a degree of attachment to the undergarment, or may be embedded within the fluid absorbent material of the pad, in which case they serve only the function of providing the desired conformability. Brief Description of the Drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective representation of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating its insertion into an undergarment. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 showing the engagement of the pad with the central, crotch area of the undergarment; upper portions of the undergarment has been omitted from the figure. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 1, taken as indicated by the lines and arrow 3-3 in Figure 2, showing the engagement of the undergarment by the pad. Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1, showing its shape prior to engagement with the crotch portion of the undergarment. Figure 5 is a bottom plan views of an embodiment of Figure 1, showing the pad with the bendable elements bent into shape to retain the pad in place during use. Description of the Preferred Embodiments The pads of the present invention provide superior fit and conformability to body shape through the utilization of at least one bendable element disposed in the central region of the pad. In particular, absorbent feminine products are provided which comprise an elongate pad having a body facing side and an undergarment facing side, and defining longitudinal edges, said pad comprising fluid absorbent material. These products further comprise bendable means attached to said pad which can be bent by user for changing the shape of the pad when so bent, at least along the longitudinal axis of the pad. As seen in Figure 1, pads such as pad 100, are designed to be placed in the interior crotch region of an undergarment, such as undergarment 10. Figure 1 shows the insertion of the embodiment of the pad of the present invention into its worn position in the undergarment. This embodiment generally comprises an elongated body, designated generally 102, which is typically somewhat narrower in its central region than at its ends. The pad may comprise additional conventional adhesive strips 110 to assist in attaching the pad to the undergarment, to prevent its rotation in place. In its simplest form, the pad comprises a cover 133 which envelopes a central absorbent 134 (shown in Figure 3). The embodiment of Figure 1 further comprises a central double concave strap, designated generally 120, which terminates at both ends in convex winglets which are bendable around the edges of the crotch portion of the undergarment. The shape of the strap is best seen in Figure 4, wherein the concave edges 122 and 124 are illustrated as extending across the undergarment facing surface of the pad, to define a bendable strap 132 which has its greatest width at the edges of the pad, at which location the bases of the bendable winglets are formed. The winglets 128 and 130 are themselves convex, thus providing for the greatest overlap in their central regions when bent into place, while ensuring that no sharp edges will be created which could cause discomfort to the user. The strap 132 is generally disposed on the garment facing side of the pad, although it is within the scope of the present invention to cover all or at least a portion of the bendable element with a cover, if so defined in the claims. In any event, the bendable element should be disposed on the garment facing side of the bulk of the absorbent material which comprises the pad. The bendable elements may be adhered by heat sealing, application of hot melt adhesives. emulsions or they may be layered between the barrier and absorbent layers. Figures 2, 3 and 5 illustrate the positioning of the pad in use. In Figure 2 and 5, the arrows A and B illustrate the bending of the winglets into place to retain the pad around the edges of the undergarment. As seen from the texturing in Figure 5, the bendable element is covered with a cover 135, such as a cover of thin non-woven material or plastic, as illustrated, to provide a non-irritating surface in the body contacting edges. As seen particularly in Figures 2 and 5, the bendable element is also bendable in the longitudinal (y) direction as well as in the transverse (x) direction. Since the strap is adhered to the body of the pad across its entire surface, the pad will change its shape in response to the bending of the bendable element. Once the winglets are bent around the edges of the undergarment, therefore, it is possible to bend the resulting "assembly" into any of a variety of shapes to conform it to the shape which is desired by the user. In the simplest embodiment, the cover 135 envelopes the central absorbent 134. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a variety of absorbent, or layers of absorbent, may be used in a pad of this type. Examples of such absorbent include conventional pulp or peat materials, as well as more modern absorbent, such as superabsorbent powders. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the principal requirements of such materials are that they efficiently absorb fluid and be amenable to the affixing or embedding of form retentive shaped bodies. The materials useful for creating the bendable element of the products of this invention include any material capable of being bent and remaining in said bent position. Such materials include metal foils, waxes, impregnated nonwovens, laminated foils and foils sandwiched between polymer films. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced with a wide variety of bendable elements and absorbent and covering materials. Such elements may comprise any material which may be readily manipulated into a desired conformation and which tends to retain that conformation. Malleable metals, such as aluminum. tin, or copper, alloys thereof, and plastics, as hereinbefore mentioned, provide good examples of such materials; it is preferred that a malleable metal, such as aluminum, or an alloy thereof be employed in the practice of the present invention. The bendable elements of the present invention may be fabricated from such materials by various means, such as extrusion, cutting, and stamping, as well known to those of skill in the art. Preferred shapes for such materials are given in FIGS. 4, and 5. Alternatively, attachment means can comprise a thermodeformable material such as a wax on the surface of the form retentive absorbent pad; said material would adhere to a second shaped body such as undergarment in the presence of body heat. The bendable elements of the present invention can be attached to the body of the pad by various means. Such means include conventional adhesives, sewing, and/or stapling. It is preferred that the shaped body be affixed to fluid absorbent material by a water insoluble adhesive. The present invention will be further understood by reference to the drawings and to the example(s) given above, all of which are given for illustrative purposes only and are not limitative.

Claims: An absorbent feminine hygiene product comprising: an elongate pad (100) having a body facing side and an undergarment facing side, and defining longitudinal edges, said pad (100) comprising fluid absorbent material; and bendable means attached to said pad (100) wherein said bendable means comprises a material selected from the group consisting of malleable metal foils, waxes, impregnated nonwovens, laminated foils, and foils sandwiched between polymer films, said bendable means can be bent by a user for changing and maintaining the shape of the pad (100) when so bent, at least along the longitudinal axis (y) of the pad (100), wherein said bendable means comprises a strap (132) of bendable material extending transversely (x) across a central portion of said pad (100), wherein the shape of said strap (132) is double concave in the direction (x) transverse of the pad (100), said bendable means further comprises a plurality of winglets (128, 130) extending beyond the transverse edges of said pad (100), said winglets being bendable around the edges of an undergarment (10) to hold said product in place in the undergarment (10) during use, wherein said winglets (128, 130) are shaped such that they are generally convex in relation to the pad (100). The product of claim 1 further comprising a cove (135) for said pad (100), said cover extending over at least the bent longitudinal edges of said bendable means. The product of claim 1 further comprising adhesive means for attaching the bendable means to said pad.

Inventors: DAVIS MARTHA, FORMOSA DANIEL, GERTH JEANNIE, MOORE PATRICIA A, RUSSAK STEPHEN, THOMSEN TAMARA, VIEMEISTER TUCKER, DAVIS, MARTHA, FORMOSA, DANIEL, GERTH, JEANNIE, MOORE, PATRICIA A., RUSSAK, STEPHEN, THOMSEN, TAMARA, VIEMEISTER, TUCKER
Applicants: MCNEIL PPC INC, MCNEIL-PPC, INC.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A61F13
IPC codes: A61F13