# US 8,540,690 B2 · Absorbent article > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,690 B2 - Document ID: US8540690B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/262,320 - Filed: 2009-09-18 - Published: 2012-01-26 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-03-31 - Assignees: Unicharm Corporation - Applicants: Takashi Nomoto; Akiyasu Nagata - Inventors: Takashi Nomoto; Akiyasu Nagata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540690B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/4753: {the barrier being not integral with the topsheet or backsheet} - A61F 13/476: characterised by encircling the crotch region of the undergarment, e.g. with flaps - A61F 13/5514: {each item packaged single} - A61F 13/5616: {using flaps, e.g. adhesive, for attachment to the undergarment (leakage prevention means encirculing the crotch portion A61F13/476)} - 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 sanitary napkin comprises an absorbing body. The absorbing body includes a fluid-permeable top sheet, a fluid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorber arranged between the top sheet and the back sheet. The napkin comprises a cover sheet for covering the surface of the top sheet. A circumferential edge region of the cover sheet is joined to the absorbing body. A plurality of flaps for fixing the absorbing body to underwear are sectionalized by a sectionalizing line in the central region of the cover sheet. At the time of use, the flaps are folded in the folding regions and are expanded so as to be fixed to the underwear. The flaps include a front flat and a rear flap that expand in the back-and-forth direction, and a left flap and a right flap that expand in the right-and-left direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article comprising an absorbing body, the absorbing body including a fluid-permeable top sheet, a fluid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorber arranged between the top sheet and the back sheet, and a sticking portion being provided on the back sheet, wherein the absorbent article further comprises a cover sheet for covering substantially the entire surface of the top sheet, wherein a circumferential edge region of the cover sheet is joined to the absorbing body, and, in a central region of the cover sheet, a plurality of flaps, including at least one front or rear flap and one right and one left flap, for fixing the absorbing body to clothing are sectionalized by a sectionalizing line which is constituted by weakened lines or cut lines, wherein the weakened lines or cut lines have a configuration that defines the at least one front or rear flap and includes an apex and a weakened line or cut line that intersects the apex so as to define the right and left flaps, wherein, at the time of use, the plurality of flaps are folded in folding regions and are expanded so as to be fixed to the clothing, wherein the at least one front flap and rear flap that is folded in the folding regions along front or rear edges of the absorbing body and expanded in a back-and-forth direction so as to be fixed to an inner surface of the clothing, and the left and right flaps that are folded in the folding regions along left and right side edges of the absorbing body and are expanded in a right-and-left direction so as to be fixed to an outer surface of the clothing, wherein fixing portions for fixing the plurality of flaps to the clothing are attached to the plurality of flaps, and wherein the absorbing body is fixed to the clothing by the fixing portions on the flaps and sticking portion on the back sheet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the sectionalizing line is so formed as to curve an end of the at least one front or rear flap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein flap regions surrounding the fixing portions have a rigidity larger than the rigidity of remaining flap regions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the fixing portions for fixing the flaps to the clothing are attached to the plurality of flaps being separated away from the sectionalizing lines. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the cover sheet is fluid-impermeable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein flap regions surrounding the fixing portions have a rigidity larger than the rigidity of remaining flap regions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The absorbent article according to claim 6, wherein the fixing portions for fixing the flaps to the clothing are attached to the plurality of flaps being separated away from the sectionalizing lines. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The absorbent article according to claim 6, wherein the cover sheet is fluid-impermeable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portions for fixing the flaps to the clothing are attached to the plurality of flaps being separated away from the sectionalizing lines. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The absorbent article according to claim 9, wherein the cover sheet is fluid-impermeable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the cover sheet is fluid-impermeable.