Anatomically-contoured sanitary napkin

Abstract

An anatomically-contoured sanitary napkin whose shape blends in with female anatomy and which is adapted to be secured to the wearer without a supporting belt. The napkin is constituted by a backing formed of an impermeable film having a spoon-bowl shaped well therein whose opposite ends merge into flat, tapered extensions for connecting the napkin to body patches. Received within the well is a pad of absorptive material which conforms to the shape thereof. Marginally secured to the periphery of the well and to the extensions, is a porous facing sheet or lining.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to catamenial devices, and in particular to an anatomically-contoured sanitary napkin that is adhesively secured to the wearer, thereby dispensing with the need for supporting belts.

In women, the menstrual discharge occurs from the vaginal opening, and is commonly repeated with fair regularity every four weeks from the time of menarche to menopause. Two types of commercially available catamenial devices are currently in use for the purpose of absorbing the secretions accompanying menses; namely, the tampon and the sanitary napkin. While tampons in some respects appear to offer marked advantages over sanitary napkins, their use is inadvisable in certain circumstances.

The tampon is a plug of cotton or other absorbent material, insertable in the vaginal opening. The sanitary napkin is not inserted, but is harnessed to the body. In conventional designs, the napkin is held in place by means of a supporting belt to which opposing ends of the napkin are secured.

Sanitary napkins of the type heretofore available are essentially wrapped, rectangular strips of absorbent material. These exhibit a number of serious drawbacks, for they in no way conform to the contours of the region covered thereby, and they therefore chafe along the sides. While the requirements of a sanitary napkin dictate bulk in its absorbent zone, in existing designs this bulk is carried over to the ends, where it serves no useful function.

Conventional sanitary napkins are therefore generally uncomfortable and unsightly. Moreover, the supporting belt, which takes the form of an elastic strap adapted to encircle the torso of the wearer, is inclined to twist and curl, particularly after repeated washings, and to become rope-like. The belt also cuts into the body and reveals tell-tale lines through clothing.

Because the tampon is hidden and does not disclose the fact that the wearer is menstruating, it is stylistically preferable to the sanitary napkin, whose presence is difficult to conceal when worn under modern dress. Although the tampon has distinct practical and aesthetic advantages and is preferred by fastidious women, its use is interdicted in a number of situations.

For example, the tampon is not acceptable after childbirth, nor can it be used in post-surgical periods or when pathological conditions exist. Also, when menstrual flow is very heavy, as is often the case at the outset of menstruation, the tampon has an insufficient capacity to absorb secretions, and a sanitary napkin is necessary to supplement or supplant the tampon.

Hence many women have no choice but to wear sanitary napkins and to suffer the drawbacks occasioned by their use. In addition to the objectionable features previously mentioned, standard sanitary napkins have a further disadvantage by reason of the fact that they fail to effectively isolate the absorbed fluid from the atmosphere, as a consequence of which a reaction occurs giving rise to unpleasant odors that are difficult to mask even when the napkin incorporates deodorants.

Thus while the sanitary napkin may be preferable in many respects to the tampon, the practical and aesthetic disadvantages of existing designs are displeasing, so that many women make use of tampons even though their requirements would be better served by sanitary napkins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is the main object of this invention to provide an improved sanitary napkin which is contoured to conform to the female anatomy, and which dispenses with the need for a supporting belt.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a sanitary napkin whose substantial bulk is concentrated at the region of discharge, whereby the napkin has a large absorptive capacity, the napkin tapering from this region toward the sides and ends, whereby when applied to the body of the wearer, the napkin conforms anatomically to the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide adhesive patches for supporting a sanitary napkin without the need for an elastic belt, which patches are adapted to be linked to the ends by die-cut grippers.

Also an object of the invention is to provide a sanitary napkin which functions effectively and which may be mass-produced at low cost.

Among the significant features of the invention are the following:-

A. Because the napkin conforms anatomically to the body of the wearer, it may be worn comfortably and without chafing.

B. Because the bulk of the napkin is concentrated in the region of discharge of the wearer, and is otherwise flat, it may be effectively concealed by the wearer's clothing.

C. Because the napkin is formed with an impermeable backing film, there is no objectionable bleed-through, nor is the discharge absorbed by the napkin exposed to the atmosphere, thereby avoiding unpleasant odors.

D. Because no belt is required, cutting, abrasion and tell-tale characteristics are obviated.

Briefly stated, these objects are accomplished in a sanitary napkin having a backing web made of impermeable thermoplastic film material which is formed to define a central, spoon-bowl shaped well whose long oval axis ends extend and are tapered to fit a gripper without folding or bunching. Received within the spoon-bowl shaped well is a similarly-contoured pad of highly absorbent material, the pad being held therein by a porous facing sheet of sterile material, which is marginally laminated by heat-sealing or otherwise secured to the backing web. Also provided are a pair of adhesive patches having die-cut grippers cut out thereon to receive the ends of the napkin, the patches being attachable to the body of the wearer.

The resultant napkin has no thickness at the sides of the crotch. The entire discharge-receiving area fits the anatomy of the wearer, with no bulk anywhere but at the point of discharge. The receiving area is sealed off from the air and cannot diffuse odor. Smaller than existing sanitary napkins, of precise shape, smoothly contoured, dainty, it functions as a full-size napkin; and has no area that can cause chafing.

OUTLINE OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sanitary napkin and patch assembly in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates how the napkin is placed on the body of the wearer by an adhesive patch, as seen from the front;

FIG. 3 illustrates how the napkin is placed, as seen from the rear;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the napkin, without the attaching patches;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the napkin;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by line 6--6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view of the exposed side of the adhesive patch; and

FIG. 8 is a view of the skin side of the same patch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a sanitary napkin in accordance with the invention. The napkin, as shown in FIG. 1, is constituted by an ovate form absorption zone, generally designated by numeral 10, whose oval perimeter course, designated 11, 12, 13, 14 (FIG. 4) is tapered to flat, from the heavy central area of zone 10. From the long axis of the oval perimeter 11, 13, extended flat, taper-cut ends 15 and 16. When properly placed on the body of the wearer, end 15 is linked to the gripper section 15A of an adhesive patch worn in front, while end 16 is similarly linked to gripper section 16A of an identical adhesive patch worn in back.

The napkin as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, is backed up by a web of non-woven, impermeable fabric with thermoplastic properties, which in practice may be vinyl, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, Mylar sheeting, a combination of cellulose and man-made fibers, or any other suitable material which may be thermally formed or vacuum-molded to assume the desired configuration. The backing web is treated to define a spoon-bowl shaped shell or well 17, in the absorption zone 10, as well as the taper-cut ends 15 and 16. The well 17 is provided with flat marginal lips 12A and 12B on either side thereof.

Received within well 17 is a similarly-shaped absorptive pad 20, which may be formed of non-woven cellulosic material or any other highly absorptive, sterile material currently in use in existing sanitary mapkins. Overlying the well and heat-sealed or otherwise bonded to the flat marginal lips 12A and 14A, as well as to the taper-cut extended ends 15 and 16, is a porous sheet 21 which is preferably of soft sterile cotton gauze, or soft, sterile non-woven material, serving to hold the absorbent pad in place.

Thus, as seen in the longitudinal section in FIG. 5, the napkin's bulk is greatest in the center of the absorption zone 10, from which its thickness progressively diminishes toward the flat oval perimeter course 11, 12, 13 and 14. The symmetrical and tapered form of the napkin causes it to conform anatomically to the body of the wearer, with no bulk to chafe the thighs. The impermeable backing web of the napkin affords a fluid seal so that the discharge absorbed by the pad in well 17, is held therein. Side overflow from bulky napkins is obviated by the direct contact with the body, of the lip at the sides, holding in the contents of the tapered well. This last inhibits discharge contact with air, avoiding the malodorous characteristics of napkins as they exist to-day.

The napkin is held in place by two identical adhesive gripper patches, (FIGS. 7 and 8). One is adhered to the body at a point just above the pubic area, as shown in FIG. 2, and the second patch is adhered to the body at a point corresponding to the lowest point of the sacrum above the cleavage of the buttocks, as shown in FIG. 3. These points encompass bony body structure given to dimensional stability, so that the patches are not disturbed with the flexing of the body. There can be no tugging or pulling-out of position of the patch and the napkin, if placed as directed.

In practice, the adhesive material is of the type used in high-quality, plastic, surgical adhesive bandages, non-irritating to the skin, readily peeled therefrom, and yet tenacious when in place, maintaining secure attachment until deliberately removed.

In FIG. 7, the exposed side of the patch formed of plastic-film non-irritating surgical adhesive tape 15A, has a decorative pattern printed thereon (15G), and is overlayed on a satiny sheet of flexible, plastic material, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, or any plastic approved by the FDA for use in prolonged body contact in the section generally designated 15A (FIGS. 7 and 8). The adhesive side 15F of the upper section 15U of FIG. 8, is covered with a protective sheet of removable glazed paper which is peeled off only before applying the patch. This assembly of surgical adhesive, overlayed with FDA-approved plastic and glazed paper, is die-cut into the napkin gripper conformation designated 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15E and 15F, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The napkin ends 15 and 16 are passed through the serrated slots 15B, folded down, then brought up between the upright of the T-slot, to 15C. Flaps 15D and 15E define the flexible T-slot facilitating the admission of the napkin end and holding it flat in place. The teeth in slot 15B grip the napkin end when a pulling force is applied thereto, to prevent the end from being disengaged from the gripper.

In practice, the patch may be perforated to permit the escape of moisture from the skin of the wearer. Although the napkin is preferably employed in conjunction with the patches shown, it may also be used, if so desired, with existing sanitary belts.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of sanitary napkin in accordance with the invention, it will be appreciated that many changes and modifications may be made therein without, however, departing from the essential spirit of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A disposable anatomically conforming sanitary napkin comprising:

A. a backing formed of impermeable film, said backing being constituted by a spoon-bowl shaped well provided with flat marginal lips and whose opposite ends merge into flat, tapered extensions for connecting said napkin to body patches,

B. a pad of absorptive material received within said well and conforming to the shape thereof,

C. a porous facing marginally secured to the lips of said well and to said tapered extensions to hold said pad in said well, and

D. a pair of adhesive patches attachable to front and rear points on the body of the wearer, said patches being provided with grippers for adjustable linkage to said extensions.

2. A napkin as set forth in claim 1, wherein said film is formed of a thermoplastic material.

3. A napkin as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pad is formed of non-woven cellulosic material.

4. A napkin as set forth in claim 1, wherein said facing is formed of cotton gauze.