Opinion ID: 769232
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: A disposable woman's protective menstrual panty for holding a feminine napkin comprising:

Text: 4 a relatively thick layer of disposable absorbent material; and 5 a depression means in said relatively thick layer of disposable absorbent material, said depression means including a substantially thinner layer of disposable absorbent material operably disposed longitudially [sic] in the crotch area of said panty and extending at least partially upward thereof in both front and rear areas, said depression means being dimensioned for receiving said feminine napkin therein for positioning same during use. 6 '381 patent, col. 17, l. 65 to col. 18, l. 9. Figures 1 and 2 of the '381 patent, which have been modified for clarity, depict the preferred embodiment of the claimed invention in the following manner: 7 [Tabular or Graphical Material Omitted] 8 As illustrated by the figures, panty 21 is divided into body portion 22, waist portion 23, crotch portion 24, and leg portions 25. See id. at col. 5, ll. 58-60. Body portion 22 is itself divided at division line 28 into top portion 26 and bottom portion 27. See id. at col. 5, ll. 60-62. Top portion 26 is preferably made of lightweight open mesh-type material or fabric, and the outer surface of bottom portion 27 may be made of the same or different material, e.g., a woven, hydrophobic material. See id. at col. 5, l. 62 to col. 6, l. 27. The inner surface of bottom portion 27, however, is composed of a highly absorbent, thick layer 51. See id. at col. 6, ll. 37-43. Crotch portion 24 of lower portion 27 contains an elongated, oval-shaped depression 43 that is bounded on both sides by thick layer 51 (specifically labeled 44 in the crotch region) and contains a relatively thin layer of absorbent material at its base. See id. at col. 7, ll. 40-65. The depression functions to receive and to hold a commercially available feminine napkin or pad. See id. at col. 8, ll. 48-60.