US 5,683,374 AGranted

Absorbent padding for undergarments

AssigneeUni-Charm Corporation

InventorsMasamitsu Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Fujioka, Yoshio Ono

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Abstract

A liquid absorbent pad includes an elastically stretchable basic sheet upon which an absorbent core is periodically bonded. The absorbent core is bonded while the basic sheet is stretched. The absorbent core includes a structure which encourages the formation of corrugations therein when the basic sheet is released. The corrugations enable the flow of material in the troughs of the corrugations, and thereby reduce soilage of the upper surface of the absorbent core by fetal matter. The liquid absorbent pad is suitable for undergarment use in which the basic sheet includes a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. In one embodiment, the structure which encourages the formation of corrugations includes gaps between adjacent strips of absorbent material. In another embodiment, the structure is periodic regions of reduced density or rigidity. In a further embodiment, the structure includes periodic longitudinal indentations alternating on opposite sides of the absorbent pad.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A liquid absorbent undergarment comprising:

a basic sheet made from an elastically stretchable material, said basic sheet having an inner surface, a front body and a rear body;
said basic sheet including a waist opening and a pair of leg openings;
an absorbent pad intermittently bonded to said inner surface across said front and said rear bodies;
said absorbent pad including a liquid absorbent core between a top sheet and a back sheet;
said liquid absorbent core including a plurality of substantially parallel portions;
a first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions transversely spaced from one another thereby forming gaps between each adjacent pair of said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions;
a second set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions forming regions between each adjacent pair of said first set of said plurality of said substantially parallel portions;
said second set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions being lower in rigidity than said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions;
and
said absorbent pad including a plurality of transversely alternate troughs and crests each extending along said regions of low rigidity between each adjacent pairs of said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions.

7 more elements

A liquid absorbent undergarment, comprising:

a first element;
said first element being an absorbent pad;
said absorbent pad including a liquid absorbent core between a top sheet and a back sheet;
said liquid absorbent-core including a plurality of substantially parallel portions;
a first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions transversely spaced from one another thereby forming gaps between each adjacent pair of said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions;
a second set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions forming regions between each adjacent pair of said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions;
said second set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions being lower in rigidity than said first set of said plurality of said substantially parallel portions
a second element;
said second element being stretchable;
said second element being conformable to a shape wearable as an undergarment;
said first element being fastened to said second element at a plurality of places while said second element is stretched, wherein said first element is inclined to form peaks and troughs along said regions of low rigidity between each adjacent pair of said first set of said plurality of substantially parallel portions.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/636,346Filed 23 Apr 1996 · division
Priority: 8 Jun 1995
Granted: 4 Nov 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A61F 13/533
Inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad: having discontinuous areas of compression
A61F 13/5323
Inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad: having absorbent material located in discrete regions, e.g. pockets
A61F 13/53436
Having a folded core: having an undulated or corrugated cross-section
Y10T 428/24694
Aligned or parallel nonplanarities: parallel corrugations