# US 7,481,801 B2 · System comprising thong-shaped holder and absorbent article > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,481,801 B2 - Document ID: US7481801B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/135,025 - Filed: 2005-05-23 - Published: 2006-11-23 - Granted: 2009-01-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-05-23 - Assignees: Rusl, LLC - Inventors: Jerry Edward Carstens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7481801B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/15203: {Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency (chemical aspects A61L15/00)} - A61F 13/505: with separable parts, e.g. combination of disposable and reusable parts (A61F13/20 {, A61F13/49003} take precedence) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A system comprising a thong-shaped holder for holding an absorbent article in close bodily contact in the pudendal region of the wearer. The holder comprises a front region, a crotch region having a specified Crotch Holding Force, and a rear region. The crotch region of the holder typically is elastically extensible in both the longitudinal and lateral directions. The holder provides an upward holding force against the absorbent article in the crotch region to hold the article in close bodily contact. A method for holding such an article in close bodily contact by wearing the holder is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a) a thong-shaped holder for holding an absorbent article in close bodily contact in the pudendal region, said holder having a longitudinal centerline defining a longitudinal direction and a lateral centerline defining a lateral direction, said holder comprising: 1) a front region; 2) a crotch region attached to the front region, said crotch region comprising elastic knit material suitable for use in an undergarment, said crotch region having high stretch in both the lateral and longitudinal directions as measured by having a Crotch Holding Force CHF-4.0 of greater than 0.1 kgf and a Crotch Holding Force CHF-5.5 of less than 1.0 kgf; and 3) a rear region attached to the front and crotch regions and cooperating with the front region to provide an adjustable waistband; and b) an absorbent article capable of being held in close bodily contact in the pudendal region by said thong-shaped holder, said absorbent article comprising a liquid pervious side and a liquid impervious side opposite the liquid pervious side, wherein the liquid pervious side and the liquid impervious side are arranged to form a unitary structure, said absorbent article having a caliper of less than about 5.0 millimeters and an absorbent capacity of less than about 10.0 grams of fluid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1 wherein the absorbent article has an absorbent capacity of less than about 3.0 grams of fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1 wherein the absorbent article has a caliper of less than about 3.0 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1 wherein the absorbent article comprises a primary absorbent core that has a thong shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1 wherein the absorbent article comprises wings. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1 wherein the absorbent article comprises wings having a length at least about 75% of the length of the absorbent article. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1 wherein the crotch region of the holder has a Crotch Holding Force CHF-5.5 of less than 0.8 kgf. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1 wherein the crotch region of the holder comprises side elastics having an Elastic Holding Force EHF-4.5 of less than 0.8 kgf. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A system according to claim 8 wherein the crotch region of the holder has a Crotch Holding Force CHF-5.5 of less than 0.8 kgf. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A system according to claim 7 wherein the absorbent article comprises a primary absorbent core that has a thong shape and wings having a length at least about 75% of the length of the absorbent article. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A system according to claim 10 wherein the absorbent article has an absorbent capacity of less than about 3.0 grams of fluid and has a caliper of less than about 3.0 mm. ### Claim 12 A system comprising: a) a thong-shaped holder for holding an absorbent article in close bodily contact in the pudendal region, said holder having a longitudinal centerline defining a longitudinal direction and a lateral centerline defining a lateral direction, said holder comprising: 1) a front region; 2) a crotch region attached to the front region, said crotch region comprising elastic knit material suitable for use in an undergarment, said crotch region having high stretch in both the lateral and longitudinal directions as measured by having a Crotch Holding Force CHF-4.0 of greater than 0.1 kgf and a Crotch Holding Force CHF-2.0 of less than 1.0 kgf; 3) a rear region attached to the front and crotch regions and cooperating with the front region to provide an adjustable waistband; and 4) side elastics in the crotch region, said side elastics having an Elastic Holding Force EHF-4.5 of less than 0.8 kgf; and b) an absorbent article capable of being held in close bodily contact in the pudendal region by said thong-shaped holder, said absorbent article comprising a liquid pervious side and a liquid impervious side opposite the liquid pervious side, wherein the liquid pervious side and the liquid impervious side are arranged to form a unitary structure, said absorbent article having a caliper of less than about 5.0 millimeters and an absorbent capacity of less than about 10.0 grams of fluid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A system according to claim 12 wherein the absorbent article has an absorbent capacity of less than about 3.0 grams of fluid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A system according to claim 12 wherein the absorbent article has a caliper of less than about 3.0 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A system according to claim 12 wherein the absorbent article comprises a primary absorbent core that has a thong shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A system according to claim 12 wherein the absorbent article comprises wings. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A system according to claim 12 wherein the absorbent article comprises wings having a length at least about 75% of the length of the absorbent article. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) A system according to claim 12 wherein the crotch region of the holder has a Crotch Holding Force CHF-4.0 of less than 1.0 kgf. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) A system according to claim 12 wherein the side elastics in the crotch region of the holder have an Elastic Holding Force EHF-4.5 of less than 0.5 kgf. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A system according to claim 19 wherein the crotch region of the holder has a Crotch Holding Force CHF-4.0 of less than 1.0 kgf. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A system according to claim 20 wherein the absorbent article comprises a primary absorbent core that has a thong shape and wings having a length at least about 75% of the length of the absorbent article. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A system according to claim 21 wherein the absorbent article has an absorbent capacity of less than about 3.0 grams of fluid and has a caliper of less than about 3.0 mm.