Patent Application
20100318056
The present invention relates generally to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, a panty liner, or an incontinent garment, and more particularly to a combination pad and panty shield with a with raised channel for full coverage protection.
Absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty-liners, and incontinence pads are devices that are typically worn in the crotch region of an undergarment. These devices are designed to absorb and retain liquid and other discharges from the human body and to prevent body and clothing soiling. Sanitary napkins are a type of absorbent article worn by women in a pair of panties that are normally positioned between the wearer's legs, adjacent to the perineal area of the body. Sanitary napkins both with and without side flaps (or wings) are disclosed in the literature and are available in the marketplace.
Generally when sanitary napkins are provided with flaps, the flaps extend laterally from a central absorbent means and are intended to be folded around the edges of the wearer's panties in the crotch region. Thus, the flaps are disposed between the edges of the wearer's panties in the crotch region and the wearer's thighs. Commonly, the flaps are provided with an attachment means for either affixing the flaps to the underside of the wearer's panties or to the opposing flap. The flaps are particularly effective for preventing exudates from soiling the edges of the wearer's panties.
Functionally, sanitary napkins, catamenial pads and feminine pads are designed to absorb a greater quantity of body fluid and are made to he worn for longer periods of time than smaller external products such as panty-liners and panty shields.
In order to adequately perform their function, such absorbent articles should be positioned and retained close to the crotch region of the human body. The closer an absorbent article is held to or against the body, the better it is able to intercept discharged body fluid with less chance of leakage. It is therefore desirable to manufacture an absorbent article which contains a structure that will enable it to be securely held against the crotch region of the human body and to move with the body as the torso and thighs are manipulated and moved.
One of the main problems with monthly menstrual discharge is the embarrassing leaks or stained underwear that often occur. Due to the ineffective design of conventional sanitary pads, many women find themselves wearing panty liners in addition to their sanitary pad or wrapping a wadding tissue into their undergarments as a means of attempting to prevent leaks and stains from occurring. Not only is the use of a wadding tissue problematic, especially when the woman shifts positions, this extra padding can feel bulky and uncomfortable.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide combination pad and panty shield with a raised channel for full protection during a heavy menstrual cycle.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide combination pad and panty shield with a raised channel that is comfortable to wear.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a combination pad and panty shield with a raised channel that attaches to an undergarment.
It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide a combination pad and panty shield with a raised channel that will conveniently eliminate any leaks of menstrual fluid that can occur when a woman shifts from one position to another after a lengthy period of time.
According to the present invention, there is disclosed a new design for a disposable sanitary pad and panty shield in one with a raised channel for the ultimate full coverage protection for any women that flows heavily during her menstruation or just want that extra protection during her monthly menstrual cycle. This design can be used for day wear or as an overnight pad. Because women come in all shapes and sizes, it will be available in several sizes such as large and small.
Further according to the present invention, there is disclosed a personal disposable sanitary device for women to protect their undergarment from menstrual discharge. The protective article includes a thin absorbent cotton sheet formed as a semi-thin pad which is very absorbent and will have its own panty shields that extend from the back and front of the main pad and which will adhere to the wearer's undergarment. It will have side shields that will wrap around the longitudinal edge of the crotch area of the undergarment, and a built in raised soft channel made in the center of the main pad that extends to the back panty shield that will fit like a thong to absorb trapped fluid as the wearer moves from the position from sitting to standing. The very top sheet of the article is covered with a dry weave material so that the new protective article will feel dry to the wearer. The bottom of the article can be lined with a protective plastic that will have adhesive to keep the article in place and from shifting from the wearer's undergarment during use. These features promote confidence in a pad protection throughout the day or night.
Further, according to the present invention, the combination pad and panty shield with a raised channel is designed with multiple layers. The bottom layer is constructed from a plastic material that features a conventional adhesive backing, which is used to secure the product to the undergarment and to provide a leak-proof barrier. Wrap around side tabs prevent the pad from shifting. These side tabs will also feature the adhesive. A thin cotton sheet is placed on top of the plastic backing, in the center of the unit, providing absorbency and adding structure to the rest of the design. Next, the raised cotton channel, constructed similar to a tampon and measuring approximately ¼″ in diameter, is placed to fit securely and comfortably within the crotch of the wearer. The raised channel will soak up menstrual fluid and act like a channel to direct the fluid onto the main pad and panty shields. It will extend to the rear of the unit and fit between the buttocks to absorb any escaped menstrual fluid. This rear area will be free to move from side to side to ensure a proper fit. The main pad is placed over the previous layers. It is approximately the same size and thickness of a conventional overnight sanitary pad. The top layer of the product is the traditional dry weave material that will keep the user feeling dry and clean. This covers the entire unit, creating a panty liner at the front and rear of the absorbent article with raised channel. While exact dimensions can be determined upon manufacture, the absorbent article with raised channel could be offered in two sizes, with the large size measuring a total of 14″ long and tapering from 8″ wide in the rear to 6″ wide at the front of the product. The smaller sized absorbent article with raised channel can be 8″ long and tapers from 5″ wide at the rear to 4″ wide at the front of the article.
According to the present invention, there is disclosed a combination absorbent pad and panty shield with raised channel designed to be secured to an undergarment having a crotch region with a pair of side edges. The combination pad and panty shield comprise a liquid permeable cover; a liquid-impermeable baffle having a center section and opposite end sections that form a front end and a back end of the panty shield; an absorbent disposed in the central section of the baffle and enclosed by the cover to form an absorbent pad; first and second flaps mounted to opposite sides of the baffle and sized to depend downwardly and inwardly around the crotch portion of the undergarment; and a raised projection which projects upward from the liquid permeable cover and forms a ridge that extends along a centerline X-X that extends along the length of the combination pad and panty shield and substantially bisects the width of the combination pad and panty shield.
Further according to the present invention, the raised projection is an elongated, cylindrical strip of material between the absorbent and the liquid permeable cover that extends from one end of the absorbent closest to the front end of the panty shield and towards the back end of the panty shield so that a length of the cylindrical strip of material extending out on the back end of the panty shield is not covered by the absorbent.
Still further according to the present invention, the cylindrical strip of material is an absorbent material.
Yet further according to the present invention, the cylindrical strip of material is disposed between the absorbent and a layer of absorbent material disposed against the inner facing surface of the baffle.
Also according to the present invention, the layer of absorbent material disposed against the inner facing surface of the baffle is enclosed between the absorbent and the baffle.
According to the present invention, the liquid permeable cover and the liquid-impermeable baffle form a raised oval shaped side extending around the perimeter of the liquid permeable cover.
Further according to the present invention, there are attachment means for securing the pair of flaps to the undergarment. The attachment means can be an adhesive located on both the first and second flaps. The attachment means can be a patch of adhesive located on the inner surface of the first flap and the outer surface of the second flap.
Still further according to the present invention, an adhesive to the outer facing surface of the baffle adapted to adhering to the wearer's body facing portion of their undergarment.
The structure, operation, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures (Figures). The figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Certain elements in some of the figures may be omitted, or illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. The cross-sectional views may be in the form of “slices”, or “near-sighted” cross-sectional views, omitting certain background lines which would otherwise be visible in a “true” cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity.
In the drawings accompanying the description that follows, often both reference numerals and legends (labels, text descriptions) will be used to identify elements. If legends are provided, they are intended merely as an aid to the reader, and should not in any way be interpreted as limiting.
In the description that follows, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will he appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention. Well-known processing steps are generally not described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obfuscating the description of the present invention.
In the description that follows, exemplary dimensions may be presented for an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The dimensions should not be interpreted as limiting. They are included to provide a sense of proportion. Generally speaking, it is the relationship between various elements, where they are located, their contrasting compositions, and sometimes their relative sizes that is of significance.
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The combination pad and panty shield with a raised channel pad 10 also has a garment facing surface 48 aligned opposite to the body facing surface 44. The garment facing surface 48 is designed to face the inner crotch portion of an undergarment.
In
The combination pad and panty shield with a raised channel pad 10 also contains a pair of flaps 56 and 58 which have sufficient size to extend around at least a portion of the crotch of an undergarment. Preferably, the flaps 56 and 58 will overlap and be attached to one another. Alternatively, the flaps 56 and 58 can be attached or secured to the outer surface of the crotch portion of an undergarment. Each of the flaps, 56 and 58, respectively, has a proximal edge, 60 and 62, respectively, and a distal edge, 64 and 66, respectively. Each of the proximal edges 60 and 62 are affixed to the vertically oriented outer surface 46. Each of the distal edges 64 and 66 extend downward and inward around the crotch portion of an undergarment. It is important to note that the flaps 56 and 58 are not designed to extend upward into the groins of the user since the raised longitudinally-extending sides 46 will serve that function. Instead the pair of flaps 56 and 58 depend downwardly and inwardly around the crotch portion of an adjacent undergarment so as to prevent staining of the undergarment by any body fluid that may leak off of the absorbent article 10. The pair of flaps 56 and 58 can be made into any desired size and shape. Preferably, provided that they have a width along the transverse central axis Y-Y sufficient to overlap when they wrap around the undergarment. For best results, the flaps 56 and 58 should be centrally located on the combination pad and panty shield with a raised channel pad 10 such that they bifurcate the central transverse axis Y-Y.
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The cylindrical strip 82 will be of an absorbent material, such as cotton, to form a soft and absorbent layer that will draw in menstrual fluid in a manner similar to a tampon and it will act like a channel to direct the menstrual fluid onto the main pad 42. The flow of the menstrual fluid is caused by the female anatomy when the raised channel 80, along with the main pad 30 is fitted softly and comfortably adjacent to the crotch of the wearer. The rear portion 82a of the raised cylindrical strip 82 extends in the back panty shield 35 and will fit softly and comfortably between the wearer's buttocks to absorb escaped menstrual fluid and act like a channel to draw the menstrual fluid back into the main pad 30.
In the embodiment of the combination pad and panty shield with a raised channel 10, as shown in
It should be noted that during use, the combination pad and panty shield with a raised channel 10 can be centered along the vertical central axis z-z of the body, as is shown in
To better appreciate the construction of the improved, panty shield 10, an exemplary step by step, description follows.
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The cylindrical strip 82 can have a length of about 12 inches to about 14 inches and a diameter of about ½ to about 1 inch. The strip 82 will form a soft and absorbent layer that will draw in menstrual fluid, in a manner similar to a tampon, and will act as a channel to direct the fluid onto the main pad 42. This action is done by the female anatomy when the raised cotton channel 80, along with the main pad 42, are fitted softly and comfortably in the crotch area of the wearer. The raised channel 82a, in the back of the article 10, will fit softy and comfortably between the wearer's buttocks to absorb escaped menstrual fluid and act like a channel to draw the menstrual fluid into the absorbent 42. In the finished product, the raised channel 82a will be free to move about from side to side for a sure fit. The raised channel 82b above the main pad 42 will channel the menstrual fluid into the absorbent 42 to keep the user's undergarment clean and dry.
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The dry weave material on the side shields 56 and 58, will help keep the longitudinal edge of tile wearer's panties clean and dry. In the completed article, the front and back panty shields 33 and 35 are very noticeable. The front panty shield 33 extends from the upstanding ridge 32 to the front edge 34 of the article 10. The back panty shield 35 extends from the upstanding ridge 32 to the rear edge 36 of the article 10. The front and back panty shields 33 and 35 can be secured and removed from the wearer's front and back part of their underwear by the adhesive 84.
The front panty shield 33 is about 6 inches wide and about 1 inch in length from the main pad 40 to the front edge 34. The back panty shield 35 is about 8 inches across and 2½ inches in length from the main pad 40 to the rear edge 36.
Regarding the use of combination pad and panty shield with raised channel 10, its unique shape will remove any confusion as to how to secure the article to the user's underwear. The smallest end 33 is placed on the front on the user's undergarment, the larger end 35 is pressed on the back part of the wearer's undergarment. Then, the side shields 56 and 58 are folded under the longitudinal edge of the user's underwear so that the absorbent 40 is appropriately placed for full coverage protection.
It is also understood, of course, that while the form of the invention herein shown and described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is not intended to illustrate all possible forms thereof. It will also be understood that the words used are words of description rather than limitation, and that various changes maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than solely by the examples given.
