U.S. patent number 3,699,966 [Application Number 05/043,699] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-24 for sanitary napkin.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Etablissements Ruby S.A.. Invention is credited to Robert Chapuis.
United States Patent |
3,699,966 |
Chapuis |
October 24, 1972 |
SANITARY NAPKIN
Abstract
Sanitary napkin comprises alternate layers of hydrophilic and
hydrophobic material, with the edges of the hydrophilic material
folded inward to define a channel extending through the middle of
one side of the napkin.
Inventors: |
Chapuis; Robert (Grenoble,
FR) |
Assignee: |
Etablissements Ruby S.A.
(Voiron-en-Chartreuse, FR)
|
Family
ID: |
9035473 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/043,699 |
Filed: |
June 5, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
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Jun 10, 1969 [FR] |
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6919163 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/377;
604/378 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
13/53418 (20130101); A61F 2013/53445 (20130101); A61F
13/53704 (20130101); A61F 2013/530131 (20130101); A61F
13/537 (20130101); A61F 13/534 (20130101); A61F
2013/51441 (20130101); A61F 2013/51443 (20130101); A61F
13/53409 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
13/15 (20060101); A61f 013/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/290,296 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
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664,988 |
|
Sep 1938 |
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DD |
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809,352 |
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Apr 1969 |
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CA |
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832,709 |
|
Apr 1960 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Rosenbaum; Charles F.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Sanitary napkin comprising a channel along the middle of one of
its surfaces characterized by the fact that it comprises a first
relatively small layer of hydrophobic material, a first larger
layer of hydrophilic material, a second relatively small layer of
hydrophobic material, and a second larger layer of hydrophilic
material, the edges of the layers of hydrophilic material being
folded toward each other away from the first layer of hydrophobic
material and the edges of the resulting product being again folded
toward each other to form said channel.
2. Napkin as claimed in claim 1 in which said layers are made of
cotton.
3. Napkin as claimed in claim 1 in which said second relatively
small layer is made of semi-permeable cellulose and the remaining
layers are made of cotton.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved sanitary napkin. Known
sanitary napkins consist of an absorbent material, generally
hydrophilic cotton or cellulose fibers.
The present invention relates to a napkin having novel structural
characteristics which make it possible for it to function in an
improved manner and absorb a greater quantity of liquid for a given
weight of absorbent material.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a sanitary
napkin having a channel extending along the middle of one of its
major surfaces, characterized by the fact that it comprises at
least one layer of absorbent material, preferably of hydrophilic
cotton, positioned on a smaller layer of hydrophobic cotton. The
two longitudinal edges of the layer of absorbent material are
folded inward over this layer of absorbent material at least once
to form a channel.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the sanitary napkin is
made from a first layer of hydrophilic cotton positioned on a
second, smaller layer of hydrophobic cotton, the lateral edges of
the layer of hydrophilic cotton being folded toward each other over
the surface of the layer of hydrophilic cotton remote from the
layer of hydrophobic cotton. The edges of the composite layer made
in this manner are then again folded toward each other so as to
leave on the outside of the napkin a layer of hydrophobic cotton
while forming a longitudinal channel in the other surface of the
napkin. This produced several passages for liquid, which passages
are formed between the folds and lead toward the channel.
In an improved embodiment of the invention a first, relatively
small, layer of hydrophobic cotton, a first and larger layer of
hydrophilic cotton a second, relatively small layer of hydrophobic
cotton, and a second and larger layer of hydrophilic cotton are
superimposed, after which all the edges of the layers of
hydrophilic cotton are folded inward and away from the first layer
of hydrophobic cotton. Then the edges of the composite napkin are
themselves folded inward so as to produce the channel.
In another method of carrying out the invention a sanitary napkin
is made from a base of cotton and cellulose pulp by successively
stacking on each other a relatively small layer of hydrophobic
cotton, a larger layer of hydrophilic cotton, a relatively small
sheet of semi-impermeable cellulose, and a relatively small layer
of cellulose pulp, after which the edges of the hydrophilic layer
of cotton are folded back on the layer of cellulose pulp and the
sides of the resulting composite napkin are then folded toward each
other, leaving the layer of hydrophobic cotton outside.
The sanitary napkins according to the invention are especially
useful, partly because of their absorbent qualities, and partly
because of the comfort with which they may be used.
The sanitary napkins according to the invention may, in a known
manner, be kept inside a textile net.
Traction on the end of the net when the napkin is being put in
place has a favorable effect which tends to close the channel. This
effect compensates for the influence of the longitudinal curvature
which is imparted to the napkin when it is being put in place, and
which has a tendency to open the channel.
Moreover, the alternation in the napkin of hydrophilic and
hydrophobic or semi-impermeable layers in the lower central part
makes it possible to obtain a better diffusion and a better
absorption of the liquid, which has a substantial effect on the
comfort derived from the use of these napkins.
The napkins according to the invention have the advantage of having
a greater absorbing power than napkins of equal weight heretofore
known. They provide an excellent distribution of liquid over the
entire napkin. They assure good retention and excellent behavior
with respect to lateral flow, which constitutes the principle
disadvantage of napkins heretofore known.
In order that the invention may be better understood, several
embodiments of the invention will now be described purely by way of
illustration and example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, on which:
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are sectional views showing three steps in the
manufacture of a napkin according to the invention;
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are cross sectional views showing three steps in
the manufacture of another embodiment of the invention; and
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show three steps in the manufacture of a third
embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 1-3 show the steps in the manufacture of one embodiment of
the napkin according to the invention. In this method, one starts
with a relatively small layer of hydrophobic cotton 6 on which a
relatively large layer of hydrophilic cotton 7 is positioned.
The edges 7a and 7b of the layer of hydrophilic cotton are then
folded inward away from the layer of hydrophobic cotton. Then the
edges of the resulting product shown on FIG. 2 are again folded
upwardly and inwardly. This makes it possible to obtain a napkin
according to the invention of the type shown in FIG. 3.
It will be seen that this napkin comprises a channel 2 which is
formed by a double folding of the layer of hydrophilic cotton 7,
whereas the layer of hydrophobic cotton 6 surrounds the lower and
side parts of the napkin.
It will be appreciated that such a configuration of the napkin
makes it possible to distribute the liquid very well and increase
the absorptive capacity of the napkin.
FIGS. 4-6 show an improved embodiment of the invention illustrated
in FIGS. 1-3. In this case, a first relatively small layer 6 of
hydrophobic cotton, a first and larger layer 7 of hydrophilic
cotton, a second, smaller layer 8 of hydrophobic cotton and a
second and larger layer 9 of hydrophilic cotton are superposed. The
edges 7a, 7b, 9a and 9b of the layers of hydrophilic cotton are
then folded in away from the layers 6 and 8 of hydrophobic
cotton.
In order to produce a napkin according to the invention the edges
of the resulting product as shown in FIG. 5, are then again folded
inward, so as to produce the configuration shown in FIG. 6. In this
embodiment of the napkin according to the invention it will first
be noted that the channel 2 adjoins several folds formed by the
cotton layers, thus facilitating distribution of the liquid.
Moreover, when the liquid tends to run down, it first encounters
the layer 8 of hydrophobic cotton which provides substantial
resistance to its passage, then in the case of a particularly
abundant flow of liquid which passes through the layer of
hydrophobic cotton, it accumulates in the absorbent layer of
hydrophilic cotton 7, the outer layer 6 of hydrophobic cotton then
insuring that the napkin is completely fluidtight.
FIGS. 7-9 show a third embodiment of the napkin according to the
invention, made of cotton fibers and cellulose pulp.
A relatively small layer 6 of hydrophobic cotton and a larger layer
7 of hydrophilic cotton support a sheet of semi-impermeable
cellulose 10 and a layer of cellulose pulp 11.
The sheet of semi-impermeable cellulose has characteristics
analogous to those of a layer of hydrophobic cotton, that is to
say, it substantially resists the passage of liquids.
The edges 7a and 7b of the layer of hydrophilic cotton 7 are then
folded in over the layer 11 of cellulosic pulp.
It then suffices to again fold the two longitudinal edges of the
resulting product shown in FIG. 8 in order to obtain a napkin
according to the invention, which is shown in FIG. 9. In this case
as well the channel according to the invention permits excellent
distribution of the liquid between the folds of its various
components, with the sheet of cellulose 10 and the layer 6 of
hydrophobic cotton forming two successive obstacles to the passage
of liquid.
The napkins according to the invention, as hereinbefore described,
have proven very efficacious.
It will of course be appreciated that the embodiments which have
been described have been given purely by way of illustration and
example, and may be modified as to detail without thereby departing
from the basic principles of the invention.
* * * * *