Abstract: A sanitary napkin has a strip that extends rearwardly to reside in the intergluteal crevice. The pad is sized and configured to fit snugly against the wearer's body without penetrating the vaginal orifice. The strip provides improved body contact thus providing similar protection with a smaller pad and a discretion benefit to the user. The invention provides various alternative mechanisms for varying the length of the strip by the user.

Abstract: A thin, flexible sanitary napkin comprising an absorbent means having a compression resistance greater than about 110 kg/cm3, a flexural resistance of less than about 400 grams a test capacity of at least about 5.0 grams and a total capacity of at least about 10 grams.

Abstract: Absorbent articles having a central absorbent element that is adapted to be worn in a crotch portion of a wearer's undergarment are provided with a pair of flaps, one flap extending laterally from each respective longitudinal side of the central absorbent element. The flaps are flexible and adapted to be folded over the edges of a wearer's undergarment. A central portion of the flap is formed from a flexible, elastic material having an elastic modulus and an adjacent corner region of the flap is formed from a substantially non-extensible, non-elastic flexible material.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin has a strip that extends rearwardly to reside in the intergluteal crevice. The pad fits snugly against the body without penetrating. Because the strip provides improved body contact, similar protection is achieved with a smaller pad, thus providing a discretion benefit to the wearer.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin has a strip that extends rearwardly to reside in the intergluteal crevice. The pad fits snugly against the body without penetrating. Because the strip provides improved body contact, similar protection is achieved with a smaller pad, thus providing a discretion benefit to the wearer.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin having a front flap that adhesively attaches to the user's undergarment and a tail strip that extends rearwardly to reside in the user's intergluteal crevice. The pad thus fits more snugly against the body of the user. Further, because the strip provides improved body contact, similar protection is achieved with a smaller pad, thus providing a discretion.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin has a strip that extends rearwardly to reside in the intergluteal crevice. The pad is sized and configured to fit snugly against the wearer's body without penetrating the vaginal orifice. The strip provides improved body contact thus providing similar protection with a smaller pad and a discretion benefit to the user. The invention provides various alternative mechanisms for varying the length of the strip by the user.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin having a front flap that adhesively attaches to the user's undergarment and a tail strip that extends rearwardly to reside in the user's intergluteal crevice. The pad thus fits more snugly against the body of the user.

Abstract: A sanitary napkin with laterally projecting positioning tabs. The adhesive securement system of the sanitary napkin includes three adhesive zones in a spaced apart relationship, namely one zone on the main body of the sanitary napkin and one zone on the undergarment facing surface of each positioning tab. A quick-remove peelable protective layer covers the adhesive zones when the sanitary napkin is not in use. The protective layer includes a primary release strip extending longitudinally on the sanitary napkin to cover the adhesive zone on the main body and a transverse secondary release strip overlaying the adhesive zones on the positioning tabs. This arrangement allows removal of entire protective layer in a single peel-off stroke. The invention also relates to a method and apparatus for folding a positioning tab of the sanitary napkin over its main body during a packaging operation that inserts the sanitary napkin in a disposable pouch.