Abstract: A sanitary napkin that has a three dimensionally-shaped tube of absorbent material and method of making the same is disclosed. The sanitary napkin comprises: a base pad having a body-facing side, a garment-facing side, and a longitudinal centerline. A tube of absorbent material extends outward from the body-facing side of the base pad and is aligned along the longitudinal centerline of the base pad. In one embodiment, the tube of absorbent material comprises an absorbent material and a cover at least partially wrapping the absorbent material. In this embodiment, the absorbent material is penetrated by autogenous bonds that join one portion of the cover to an opposing portion of the cover. The bonds are selectively placed to provide the tube of absorbent material with a distinct three-dimensional shape.

Abstract: An anatomically shaped disposable absorbent article having a front end portion and a rear end portion and a periphery, and comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a multiplayer backsheet joined to said topsheet and an absorbent core intermediate the backsheet and the topsheet. The anatomically shaped disposable absorbent article has lobes provided by the topsheet and the backsheet extending beyond the absorbent core and has a reduced tendency to form folds in the lobes during the use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent article such as sanitary napkins and panty liners comprising a topsheet, absorbent core, and backsheet which are breathable by the incorporation of a breathable backsheet and have a reduced tendency to exhibit garment wet through. The backsheet comprises at least one air permeable layer such as an apertured formed film or fibrous layer which is applied and preferably coated with a non-soluble, liquid swellabe material, such as polyvinyl alcohol. Upon contact with fluid discharge, the material swells and closes the apertures of the layer, thereby reducing air permeability and preventing the passage of liquid through the layer and thus through the backsheet onto the garment of the wearer of the article.

Abstract: A breathable disposable absorbent articles of layered construction, each layer having a garment facing surface, and a wearer facing surface. The breathable disposable absorbent article comprises at least a first backsheet layer and a second backsheet layer. At least one of the breathable layers of the backsheet comprises a resilient, three-dimensional web, which consists of a liquid impervious polymeric film having apertures. The apertures form capillaries, which are not perpendicular to the plane of the film but are disposed at an angle of less than 90° measured from the plane of the film.

Abstract: A method of making a slitted or particulate absorbent material for an absorbent article such as sanitary napkins, diapers, incontinence devices, and the like is disclosed. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method as described above which can be carried out in situ on another component of the absorbent article in a manufacturing process without cutting the other component. In one embodiment, the absorbent material is placed between two carrier webs, and a force is applied to the composite of the absorbent material and the carrier webs. The force breaks the absorbent material, but only deforms the carrier webs to provide a self-contained web of particulate material between two carrier webs. Absorbent structures formed by this method are also disclosed. In one embodiment, the absorbent structure comprises a composite web of discrete elements of absorbent material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to activated carbon free absorbent articles comprising an improved odor control system. The odor control system comprises the combination of silica and zeolite.

Abstract: A catamenial tampon in the form of a soft, conformable, hollow bag which is disclosed. The tampon is capable of being inserted digitally or through the use of a unique applicator. The tampon preferably comprises a removal string, which can be attached to the inside or outside surface of the tampon. In one embodiment, the removal string is attached to the inside surface of the tampon, adjacent to the head of the tampon to facilitate inversion of the tampon upon removal. The tampon may have a cross-section in which two of its sides are pleated, allowing the sides of the tampon to expand laterally. The tampon may be provided with a plurality of pleats disposed around its cross-section that are capable of opening in any desired direction. The outside surface of the tampon may be smooth, or it can be textured. In a textured embodiment, the tampon may have an outside surface which comprises microfibrils or other texturing elements extending outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: Absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, adult incontinence devices, and the like, which have flaps are disclosed. The absorbent articles have a deformed hinge that is located between at least a portion of the main body portion of the absorbent article and the flaps, and zones of extensibility for relieving the stresses that develop in the flaps when the flaps are folded down and under a wearer's undergarment.

Abstract: An absorbent interlabial device worn by female wearers for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both, is disclosed. The absorbent interlabial device has at least one body-contacting surface which comprises a substance that contacts the wearer's body for assisting the interlabial device in staying in place in the desired position in the interlabial space. The substance can be either adhesive or non-adhesive. In embodiments in which the substance is non-adhesive, it may have no initial tack so that it will not stick to the wrong portions of the wearer's body when the device is placed between the labia. Non-adhesive substances include moisture-activated substances which become viscous and develop a tack when contacted by relatively small amounts of moisture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, catamenials or adult incontinence inserts which are used in combination with undergarments. The absorbent articles according to the present invention have a minimum length of 255 mm, i.e., they are relatively long absorbent articles, and they are provided with a fastening adhesive to attach them to the undergarment during use. In particular, the present invention relates to such absorbent articles which are made from several layers which are joined to each other by integrating adhesive connections. The fastening adhesive is provided with an asymmetry in respect to the longitudinal direction and at least one of the integrating adhesive connections is at least co-extensive with fastening adhesive.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin that has a three dimensionally-shaped tube of absorbent material and method of making the same is disclosed. The sanitary napkin comprises: a base pad having a body-facing side, a garment-facing side, and a longitudinal centerline. A tube of absorbent material extends outward from the body-facing side of the base pad and is aligned along the longitudinal centerline of the base pad. In one embodiment, the tube of absorbent material comprises an absorbent material and a cover at least partially wrapping the absorbent material. In this embodiment, the absorbent material is penetrated by autogenous bonds that join one portion of the cover to an opposing portion of the cover. The bonds are selectively placed to provide the tube of absorbent material with a distinct three-dimensional shape.

Abstract: An expandable bag catamenial tampon and spreading tampon applicators for such a tampon are disclosed. The catamenial tampon is in the form of a soft, conformable, hollow bag. The applicator is capable of inserting the tampon into the vaginal tract and spreading the tampon open within the vaginal cavity. The applicator has an applicator element with a leading end and a trailing end. The bag-like tampon is placed over the leading end of the applicator when the tampon is in a flaccid initial configuration which defines an initial width, and the applicator is used to spread the tampon to a greater deployed width. In one embodiment, the applicator comprises tube having an interior and a flexible material which has one end that is formed into a flexible and expandable loop. The flexible loop is slidably mounted within the tube. The flexible loop is contained inside the tube until it is desired to deploy the tampon.

Abstract: An applicator for a catamenial tampon which is capable of inserting a tampon into the vaginal tract and spreading the tampon open within the vaginal cavity is disclosed. In one embodiment, the applicator comprises tube having an interior and a flexible material which has one end that is formed into a flexible and expandable loop. The flexible loop is slidably mounted within the tube. The flexible loop is contained inside the tube until it is desired to deploy the tampon. When it is desired to deploy the tampon, the flexible loop with the tampon thereon is pushed out the expulsion end of the tube. The flexible loop expands laterally and spreads the tampon open within the vaginal cavity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to garments that have close body fit. The garment of the present invention comprises an elasticized waistband, a front panel having first and second sections, a rear panel having first and second sections, a crotch region disposed between and joining the front panel to the rear panel and a pair of elasticized leg openings. The first section of the front panel has a greater resistance to streching in the lateral direction than the second section of the front panel. The first section of the rear panel has a greater resistance to stretching in the lateral direction than the second section of the rear panel. The crotch region is provided with a longitudinal stretch control member that is disposed along the longitudinal centerline of the undergarment. The longitudinal stretch control member limits the stretch of the crotch region in the longitudinal direction causing the crotch region to conform to a weare's skin surface.