(19) TZZ_¥¥ _T (11) EP 1 332 745 B1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION (45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.: of the grant of the patent: A61F 13/472 (2006.01) A61F 13/15 (2006.01) 06.07.2016 Bulletin 2016/27 A61F 13/56 (2006.01) (21) Application number: 03001778.4 (22) Date of filing: 28.01.2003 (54) Thong sanitary napkin with self folding flaps Damenbinde für Tangaslip mit selbstfaltenden Seitenflügeln Serviette hygiénique à utiliser avec une culotte du type string pourvue de volets auto-pliables (84) Designated Contracting States: • Ribeiro Carvalho, Antonio Carlos AT DE GB IT Taibate, SP (BR) • Fajolli, Marcia (30) Priority: 31.01.2002 US 62699 Sao Jose Dos Campos, Sao Pablo 12242-031 (BR) • Guimaraes Guaragna, Flavia (43) Date of publication of application: Pindamonhagaba, SP (BR) 06.08.2003 Bulletin 2003/32 (74) Representative: Metten, Karl-Heinz et al (73) Proprietor: McNeil-PPC, Inc. Boehmert & Boehmert Skillman, NJ 08558 (US) Anwaltspartnerschaft mbB Patentanwälte Rechtsanwälte (72) Inventors: Pettenkoferstrasse 20-22 • Killeen, Kristy M. 80336 München (DE) Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 (US) • Mavinkurve, Pramod S. (56) References cited: Princeton, NJ 08540 (US) EP-A- 0 511 905 EP-A- 1 016 393 • Cettina, Melinda G. WO-A-96/38110 DE-U- 20 002 192 Robbinsville, NJ 08691 (US) DE-U- 20 114 825 DE-U- 29 911 806 US-A- 5 713 886 US-A1- 2002 128 622 Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). EP 1 332 745 B1 Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 1 332 745 B1 2 Description [0007] In accordance with the present invention, there has bee provided a sanitary napkin adapted to be worn FIELD OF THE INVENTION in a thong undergarment. The sanitary napkin has a body faceable surface and a garment faceable surface and [0001] The present invention relates to disposable ab- 5 comprises a central absorbent pad, the central absorbent sorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins that are adapt- pad having a liquid pervious cover layer, a liquid imper- ed to be worn in a thong undergarment. The sanitary vious barrier layer and an absorbent core between the napkin is provided with a pair of side flaps along each cover layer and barrier layer. The sanitary napkin has a longitudinal side edge of the napkin and two preferential longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a pair of op- bending axes, each axis being inward from and adjacent 10 posite longitudinal side edges, a first distal end having a to a respective longitudinal side edge and extending ob- relatively narrow width and adapted to be worn in a pos- liquely with respect to the longitudinal centerline, the axes terior portion of the thong undergarment in use and an converging towards the longitudinal centerline in the first opposite second distal end having a relatively wider width distal end of the central absorbent pad. and adapted to be worn in an anterior portion of the thong 15 undergarment in use and a pair of flaps extending later- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ally outward from each longitudinal side edge along a respective line of juncture, including; [0002] Sanitary napkins having side flaps are dis- a first flap being substantially adjacent the lateral center- closed in the literature and are generally available in the line, the first flap being adapted to fold over a crotch por- marketplace. Generally, the flaps extend laterally from 20 tion of the thong undergarment in use along a first pref- the side edges of a central absorbent structure and are erential bending axis and to contact the garment faceable intended to drape over the edges of the wearer’s panties surface of the thong undergarment, and inthe crotchregion. Thus, theflaps are disposedbetween a second flap being intermediate the first flap and the the edges of the wearer’s panties in the crotch region first distal end, the second flap being adapted to fold over and the wearer’s thighs. Commonly, the flaps are provid- 25 the posterior portion of the thong undergarment in use ed with an attachment means for affixing the flaps to the along a second preferential bending axis and to contact underside of the wearer’s panties. the garment faceable surface of the thong undergarment; [0003] The flaps serve at least two purposes. First, the the first flap being separated from the second flap by a flapsprevent exudatesfrom so ilingthe edgesof the wear- flange portion, the flange portion having a lateral dimen- er’s panties and second, the flaps, when affixed to the 30 sion that is insufficient to allow the flange portion to be underside of the panties, help stabilize the napkin in the folded over an edge of the thong undergarment or to con- undergarment and prevent it shifting out of place. tact the garment faceable surface thereof in use, wherein [0004] Sanitary napkins having flaps are disclosed in the first preferential bending axis is substantially collinear U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,478, entitled "Shaped Sanitary Nap- with the second preferential bending axis within the kin With Flaps", to Van Tilburg on Aug. 18, 1987, U.S. 35 flange portion. Pat. No. 4,608,047, entitled "Sanitary Napkin Attachment [0008] These and otherobjects of thepresent invention Means", to Mattingly on Aug. 26, 1986, U.S. Pat. No. will be more readily apparent when considered in refer- 4,589,876, entitled "Sanitary Napkin", to Van Tilburg on ence to the following description and when taken in con- May 20, 1986, U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,343, entitled "Sanitary junction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be un- Napkin", to McNair on Aug. 25, 1981, U.S. Pat. No.40 derstood, however, that the drawings are provided for 3,397,697, entitled "Disposable Sanitary Shield For Un- purposes of illustration only and not as a definition of the dergarments", to Rickard on Aug. 20, 1968, U.S. Pat. No. boundaries of the invention, for which reference should 2.787,271. entitled "Sanitary Napkin", to Clark on Apr. 2, be made to the appending claims. 1957 andU.S. Pat.No. 4,900,320, entitled "Sanitary Nap- kin With Undergarment Gathering Flaps, to McCoy on 45 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Feb. 13, 1990, DE-20002192U and WO 9638110. [0005] While sanitary napkins having flaps are com- [0009] monly viewed as providing better protection against soil- ing as compared to sanitary napkins without flaps, these FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a sanitary napkin napkins commonly experience a problem that keeps50 according to the present invention; them from being optimally effective. FIGURE 2 is a side cut away view of the sanitary SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION napkin of FIGURE 1 taken through lines 2-2; [0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide 55 FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of a sanitary napkin a sanitary napkin having flaps that is adaptable for use according to the present invention. in a variety of styles of women’s undergarments, includ- ing briefs, bikinis, thongs, and the like. 2 3 EP 1 332 745 B1 4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION crimping, or heat-sealing. Seam 39 is illustrated extend- ing completely around the periphery of sanitary napkin [0010] The present invention relates to sanitary nap- 20; this is a suitable embodiment for ease of construction. kins adapted to be worn in a crotch portion of a wearer’s However, other means of uniting the various elements thong undergarment in use. The napkin comprises a cen- 5 can be used. As shown in FIGURE 2, central absorbent tral absorbent pad having a liquid pervious cover layer, pad 12 comprises absorbent core 16, topsheet 14 and a liquid impervious barrier layer and an absorbent core backsheet 18, wherein backsheet 18 is disposed on a between the cover layer and barrier layer. The sanitary side of absorbent core 16 that is opposite that of topsheet napkin has a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, 14. a pair of opposite longitudinal side edges, a first distal 10 [0013] Topsheet 14 is liquid permeable and, when san- end having a relatively narrow width and adapted to be itary napkin 10 is in use, is in close proximity to the skin worn in a posterior portion of the thong undergarment in of the user. Topsheet 14 is compliant, soft feeling, and use and an opposite second distal end having a relatively non-irritating to the user’s skin. It can be made from any wider width and adapted to be worn in an anterior portion of the materials conventional for this type of use. Non- of the thong undergarment in use. A pair of flaps extends 15 limiting examples of suitable materials that can be used laterally outward from each longitudinal side edge along as topsheet 14 are woven and nonwoven fabrics formed a respective line of juncture. A first flap, being located from polyester, polypropylene, nylon, and/or rayon fibers substantially adjacent the lateral centerline, is adapted or the topsheet may be an apertured thermo-plastic film. to fold over a side edge of a crotch portion of the thong Apertured formed films are preferred for topsheet 14 be- undergarment in use along a first preferential bending 20 cause they are pervious to liquids and yet non-absorbent.