Abstract:
A new and improved sanitary napkin that prevents backflow of menstrual fluids from the napkin during use. The sanitary napkin includes a napkin body having an absorbent tab that extends from the absorbent surface of the napkin body. In use, the absorbent tab blocks and absorbs menstrual fluid and prevents the fluid from running off the back edge or end of the napkin body.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to sanitary napkins used to absorb and retain menstrual fluids. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sanitary napkin having an absorbent tab that prevents backflow of menstrual fluids from the napkin during use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A variety of sanitary napkins are known in the art for absorbing menstrual fluids during a female wearer&#39;s menstrual period to prevent soiling of the wearer&#39;s undergarment and/or overgarment. Sanitary napkins are typically constructed as multi-layered sheets of laminated absorbent material and are worn between the wearer&#39;s undergarment and genital area on the outside of the body. Sanitary napkins typically both absorb the menstrual flow and block flow of the menstrual fluids onto the wearer&#39;s clothing. 
     One of the drawbacks of typical conventional sanitary napkins is that the napkins fail to adequately prevent backflow of menstrual fluids from the rear edge of the napkin as the napkin is used by a wearer, particularly when the wearer sits on a surface. This frequently results in soiling of the wearer&#39;s undergarment and/or overgarment. 
     Various sanitary napkins or absorbent articles are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,241,714; 6,296,628; 6,348,047; 6,475,199; 6,471,682; 6,465,711; and 6,508,795. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to a new and improved sanitary napkin that prevents backflow of menstrual fluids from the napkin during use. The sanitary napkin includes a napkin body having an absorbent tab that extends from the absorbent surface of the napkin body. In use, the absorbent tab blocks and absorbs menstrual fluid and prevents the fluid from running off the back edge or end of the napkin body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the sanitary napkin with absorbent tab of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the sanitary napkin with absorbent tab; and 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view, taken along section lines  3 — 3  in  FIG. 1 , of the absorbent tab element of the sanitary napkin with absorbent tab. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1–3  of the drawing, an illustrative embodiment of the sanitary napkin with absorbent tab, hereinafter napkin, of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . The napkin  1  includes an elongated napkin body  2  which as shown in  FIG. 3  may be constructed of an upper layer  16 , one or more middle layers  17  and a bottom layer  18 . At least one of the upper layer  16 , the middle layer or layers  17  and the bottom layer  18  is typically cotton or other material or laminate which is capable of absorbing and retaining moisture, and one or more of the layers may be a barrier layer including a liquid-impervious material such as plastic. The upper layer  16  has an upper, absorbent surface  3  which, in use, faces the vaginal opening (not shown) of a wearer. The absorbent surface  3  typically has multiple creases  34 . 
     The napkin body  2  typically has a generally elongated configuration, as shown, and includes a front end  8  spaced from a rear end  10 . The front end  8  and rear end  10  may each have a generally curved or arcuate configuration, as shown. An absorbent front wall  9  and an absorbent rear wall  11 , each extending beyond the plane of the absorbent surface  3 , may define the front end  8  and the rear end  10 , respectively, of the napkin body  2 . Absorbent side walls  6  that are typically continuous with the front end wall  9  and the rear end wall  11  may extend beyond the plane of the absorbent surface  3  and define lateral edges  4  of the napkin body  2 . A “wing” or lateral tab  5  may extend from each lateral edge  4  of the napkin body  2  for folding under and engaging the undergarment (not shown) of the wearer to secure the napkin body  2  onto the undergarment, typically in conventional fashion. 
     It is understood that the foregoing description of the napkin body  2  represents only one example of a sanitary napkin which is suitable for purposes of the present invention, and the napkin body  2  may have characteristics and features which depart from those heretofore described. For example, an adhesive (not shown) may be provided on the bottom layer  18  of the napkin body  2 , alone or in combination with the lateral tabs  5 , to facilitate attachment of the napkin body  2  to the undergarment of a wearer. Other techniques known by those skilled in the art may be used to secure the napkin body  2  onto the wearer&#39;s undergarments. Furthermore, the napkin body  2  may have any suitable moisture-absorbing, retaining and/or barrier construction that varies from the upper layer  16 , the middle layer or layers  17  and the bottom layer  18  construction heretofore described with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the napkin body  2  may be divided into four quadrants of equal size by an imaginary longitudinal center line  28  and an imaginary transverse center line  30  which intersect each other at a center point  32 . The longitudinal center line  28  divides the napkin body  2  into left and right halves of substantially equal size, whereas the transverse center line  30  divides the napkin body  2  into front and rear halves of substantially equal size. An absorbent tab  20  extends from the absorbent surface  3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the absorbent tab  20  typically has a generally planar configuration and may have a laminated bi-layered construction with a front tab layer  20   a  and a rear tab layer  20   b . Alternatively, the absorbent tab  20  may be non-planar and have a single-layered construction or a multi-layered construction with any desired number of layers. The front tab layer  20   a  is typically an absorbent material or laminate such as cotton, for example, and the rear tab layer  20   b  is typically a barrier material such as plastic, for example, which is substantially impervious to liquids. However, the absorbent tab  20  may have any number of absorbent layers or absorbent and barrier layers arranged in any desired sequence. The width of the absorbent tab  20  is disposed generally perpendicular to flow of menstrual fluids toward the rear end  10  of the napkin body  2 , in use of the napkin  1  as hereinafter described. The front tab layer  20   a  has an absorbent surface  21  that faces the front end  8  of the napkin body  2 . The absorbent tab  20  further includes a front or bottom attachment edge  22  which is attached to the absorbent surface  3  typically by stitching  26 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , and a typically elliptical raised edge  23  which defines the perimeter of the absorbent tab  20 . Rather than being stitched to the absorbent surface  3 , the absorbent tab  20  may alternatively be formed in one piece with the upper layer  16 , with the middle layer or layers  17  or with the bottom layer  18  of the napkin body  2 , or may be attached to the napkin body  2  according to other techniques known by those skilled in the art. In addition, the raised edge  23  of the absorbent tab  20  may define a generally rectangular or any other desired shape. 
     In a typical embodiment, the absorbent tab  20  is attached to or extends from or beyond the absorbent surface  3  at a location which is from about halfway between the center point  32  and the rearmost portion  10   a  of the rear end  10  to typically about 25% of the total distance between the center point  32  and the rearmost portion  10   a  closer to the rearmost portion  10   a  than to the center point  32 . Preferably, the absorbent tab  20  is about halfway between the center point  32  and the rearmost portion  10   a  of the rear end  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The width of the attachment edge  22  of the absorbent tab  20  is typically about 1–2 inches, and the attachment edge  22  extends parallel to the transverse center line  30  and transverse to the longitudinal center line  28 . Accordingly, the attachment edge  22  extends from typically about ½ inch to about 1 inch on each side of the longitudinal center line  28 . 
     In use, the napkin body  2  of the napkin  1  is secured to the undergarment (not shown) of a female wearer and the undergarment is donned by the wearer with the absorbent surface  3  of the napkin body  2  facing the wearer&#39;s vaginal opening (not shown). The absorbent tab  20  is located to the rear of the vaginal opening. As the napkin body  2  absorbs menstrual fluid from the vaginal opening, some of the menstrual fluid tends to flow rearwardly on the absorbent surface  3  and toward the absorbent tab  20 , particularly when the wearer is in a sitting position. Accordingly, the menstrual fluid contacts the absorbent surface  21  of the absorbent tab  20 , which absorbs and retains the fluid. The rear tab layer  20   b  is typically impervious to the menstrual fluid and acts as a barrier to block flow of the fluid through the absorbent tab  20  and toward the rear end  10  of the napkin body  2 . Thus, the absorbent tab  20  prevents the menstrual fluid from running off the rear end  10  of the napkin body  2  and soiling the undergarment and/or overgarment of the wearer, particularly when the wearer is in a sitting position. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.