Abstract: A sanitary napkin is provided containing a perfume composition and means for inhibiting migration of components of the perfume composition. Means comprise providing within the napkin at least one elongated narrow strip element. The strip element carries the perfume composition and extends generally longitudinally within the napkin. Preferably, the strip element is a cellulosic string.

Abstract: A thin absorbent product for adhesive attachment to a wearer's garment is provided with means for resisting deformation when worn or applied. Such means comprise providing on the garment facing major surface of the absorbent pad of such product, a densified, compacted, porous, absorbent, fibrous layer having a particulate hydrocolloid material distributed therein. Said densified layer provides the product with planar crush resistance.

Abstract: An insoluble etherified cellulose graft copolymer is provided comprising etherified cellulose which is soluble in water in the absence of grafting and is chosen from the group consisting of the alkali metal salts of carboxyalkyl cellulose, sulfoalkyl cellulose and phosphonoalkyl cellulose. The etherified cellulose has grafted onto its cellulose backbone side chains of polymer moieties in sufficient quantities to render the grafted etherified cellulose insoluble. The products of this invention are used alone or mixed with other absorbent materials such as unmodified cellulose, in the manufacture of absorbent napkins, tampons, sponges and the like.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in a absorbent product for absorbing and retaining body fluids of the kind having a body facing side and a garment facing side and comprising an elongated, planar absorbent pad. The pad is enveloped in a generally rectangular menstrual fluid pervious wrapper with the longitudinal edges of the wrapper overlapping on the garment facing side of the product. A generally rectangular menstrual fluid impervious barrier sheet is sandwiched between the wrapper and the pad. The barrier sheet overlies the garment facing side of the pad and at least the longitudinal side edges of the pad. At least two menstrual fluid barrier seal lines are provided extending longitudinally with the product and sealing the longitudinal edge portions of the barrier sheet to the cover. The seals will prevent menstrual fluid from transferring, either by wicking or by seeping, across the seal line, thereby insuring that the garment facing side of the napkin is free of menstrual fluid.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin is provided having a pressure-sensitive adhesive element on the surface thereof for adhering to the crotch portion of the undergarment. The adhesive element is further provided with a protective releasable layer having adhered thereto microcapsules containing a deodorant material. Upon peeling the protective releasable layer from the adhesive element, the deodorant material is released in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A tampon-applicator assembly of reduced length is provided comprising a generally cylindrical absorbent tampon having a proximal end and a distal end and a tampon bore within the tampon extending from said distal end toward the proximal end. A retainer is affixed to the distal end and has a bore therethrough coaxial with the tampon bore. A plunger is provided and adapted to be stored within the bore prior to use and to be reciprocated out of the tampon bore when the tampon is to be inserted. Screw threads or longitudinal splines are provided for the plunger to bear against the retainer. The retainer bears against the tampon when insertion pressure is applied. After insertion, the plunger and the retainer are removable.

Abstract: A selected powdery form of a graft copolymer containing hydrophilic chains provides a highly moisture-absorbent media which is suitable for use in absorbent bodies, particularly those used for absorbing body exudates such as catamenial devices, diapers, wound dressings, surgical sponges, incontinence pads and the like. The powdered form of said copolymers is useful alone or in combination with other absorbent materials in making up the absorbent bodies.

Abstract: A thermoplastic, water-dispersible, biodegradable composition of matter which is resistant to fungal attack prior to dispersal, and containers and the like made therefrom. The composition comprises hydroxyalkyl cellulose, starch, and a member selected from the group consisting of sorbic acid and its alkali metal salts as the anti-fungal agent. Only a member of this group is found to be an effective anti-fungal agent in the composition of the invention.

Abstract: Microbial growth is inhibited in a medium susceptible to such growth by treatment with an effective amount of an insoluble dialdehyde polysaccharide which is sufficient to maintain an insoluble aldehyde content in the medium of at least about 0.1 weight percent. The insoluble dialdehyde polysaccharide does not exert a systematic effect on the medium. Suitable dialdehyde polysaccharides for this purpose are insoluble dialdehyde starch, dialdehyde cellulose, and the like.

Abstract: An absorbent nether garment liner is provided which comprises an absorbent layer having a first and second major surface and exhibiting an elongation under tensile stress which is recoverable and such stress is relaxed. A body fluid impervious layer overlies and is adhered to the first major surface of the absorbent layer, said body fluid impervious layer exhibiting less recoverable elongation than the absorbent layer. The absorbent layer is adhered to the impervious layer while the former is under tension and hence, elongated. Accordingly, the absorbent nether garment liner will assume a non-planar arcuate shape.

Abstract: A protective absorbent liner for nether garments is provided comprising an elongated absorbent body having the body contacting major surface and a garment contacting major surface. Pressure sensitive adhesive element means are disposed longitudinally and centrally upon the garment contacting surface and extend from end to end thereof. The removable release strip overlies the entire length of the pressure sensitive adhesive element. At least one extreme end portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive element is provided with a pattern of raised and depressed areas whereby the resistance to peeling of both the release strip prior to use and the nether garment after use is lower in the end portion than in the central portion of the adhesive element.

Abstract: Alkali metal and ammonium salts of crosslinked phosphonoalkyl cellulose are described which have a phosphorous content of from about 1.5% to about 4.0% by weight and a degree of crosslinking sufficient to make the modified cellulose salts essentially insoluble in aqueous media. These crosslinked phosphonoalkyl cellulose salts have significantly increased fluid absorption capacities as compared to unmodified cellulose and may be incorporated alone or in combination with other absorbent materials into catamenial tampons, sanitary napkins, diapers, and like absorbent devices.

Abstract: An absorbent product is provided with side leakage control means. The product comprises an absorbent element having first and second major surfaces and is provided with means for retarding premature failure by side leakage, these means comprising a narrow longitudinally extending zone along each of the side edges of the product but spaced away from each of the side edges. The zone is impregnated with a hydrophobic material from major surface to major surface and the extreme longitudinal portions of the absorbent element along the longitudinal edges are free of such impregnation.

Abstract: A barrier film is provided for a product used for retaining body fluids. The barrier film comprises a cationic polyurethane having an ionic charge density sufficient to render the film dispersible in aqueous solutions of relatively low ionic strength yet resistant to body fluids.

Abstract: A binder for nonwoven fabrics is provided comprising a cationic polyurethane having an ionic charge density sufficient to render the fabric dispersible in aqueous solutions of relatively low ionic strength yet resistant to body fluids. The water-dispersible nonwoven fabrics comprise one or more layers of substantially uniformly laid fibers bound with the cationic polyurethane; exhibit good tensile strength in the presence of body fluids such as urine, blood and menstrual fluid; and can be incorporated in body fluid-retaining products such as sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, surgical dressings and the like. Binders containing condensation residues of a polyisocyanate with an aliphatic polyester polyol are biodegradable.

Abstract: Means are provided in an absorbent product, such as a catamenial tampon, for greatly reducing the tendency for fibrous particles to break loose from the body of the product during use, this condition being referred to as "sloughing". The means comprise a pad of absorbent material having printed on at least one surface thereof a non-occlusive pattern of adhesive binder. The pad, when used for a catamenial tampon, is turned upon itself into a generally cylindrical shape which may be compressed into the final tampon.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin having an adhesive element thereon for attaching to a undergarment is provided with means for both protecting the napkin and the adhesive element prior to use and for disposing of the napkin after use. The means comprise providing the napkin with a wrapper sheet of flexible material overlying one major surface, and the sides of the napkin and at least partially overlapping on the second major surface of the napkin. The sheet is releasably adhered to and held in place by the adhesive element.

Abstract: An absorbent body is provided for use in such products as catamenial napkins and tampons, diapers, wound dressings and the like, which body incorporates hydrophilic, wet resilient, swellable, cellulosic fibers produced by a single reaction treatment of cellulose. The cellulose fibers are treated with an agent which renders the fibers hydrophilic while simultaneously crosslinking them with a crosslinking radical having the structure: ##EQU1## where X is chosen from the group consisting of H or COOY: Y is chosen from the group consisting of Na, K, Li, Ce or H; and k, m and n are integers ranging from 0 to 4.

Abstract: A thermoplastic, water-dispersible, biodegradable composition of matter which is resistant to fungal attack prior to dispersal, and containers and the like made therefrom. The composition comprises hydroxyalkyl cellulose, starch, and a member selected from the group consisting of sorbic acid and its alkali metal salts as the anti-fungal agent. Only a member of this group is found to be an effective anti-fungal agent in the composition of the invention.

Abstract: A biodegradable barrier film is provided which is useful as a barrier layer in absorbent pads such as sanitary napkins and diapers. The film comprises a matrix of a non-biodegradable film-forming material which is resistant to solubility in water having a biodegradable material homogeneously dispersed therein, the biodegradable material being present in said film in an amount from about 40 to about 60 weight percent based on the total weight of said biodegradable and said non-biodegradable film-forming material in said film.