SANITARY TOWEL
United States Patent 3570493
A sanitary towel having a member which extends in the longitudinal direction thereof is elastically deformable particularly in the transverse direction of the towel, and is of such width that in the position of use of the towel it is elastically deformed to thereby urge the side edges of the portion of the towel situated between the thighs of the wearer into side leakage avoiding sealing engagement with adjacent leg portions irrespective of any variation in the relative positions thereof. The edges of the towel are curved upward in a prestressed position and are retained in that position by means of a strip of material that extends between the edges of the towel and is of a material that weakens upon contact with liquid, so that the strip ruptures after the towel is in place.
US Patent References:
Article for absorbing body exudates
Merse - March 1968 - 3371667
Sanitary napkin
Johnson - March 1968 - 3371668
ABSORBENT PAD
Burgeni - February 1970 - 3494362
Article for absorbing body exudates
Merse - March 1968 - 3371667
Sanitary napkin
Johnson - March 1968 - 3371668
ABSORBENT PAD
Burgeni - February 1970 - 3494362
Application Number:
04/786196
Publication Date:
03/16/1971
Filing Date:
12/23/1968
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Molnlycke AB (Gothenburg, SW)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
604/375, 604/369, 604/372
International Classes:
A61F13/15; A61F13/16
Field of Search:
128/290
Primary Examiner:
Rosenbaum, Charles F.
Claims:
I claim
1. In a sanitary towel comprising an elastically deformable member extending lengthwise of the towel for sealing the edges of the towel against the body of the user, and a body of material absorptive to liquid on said elastically deformable member; the improvement comprising a layer of material that weakens upon contact with liquid and that extends between and retains the edges of the towel closer together than when the elastically deformable member is unstressed, so that upon contact with liquid, said layer ruptures and the elastically deformable member applies the edges of the towel against the body of the user.
2. A towel as claimed in claim 1, said elastically deformable member comprising a slab of elastically deformable material.
3. A towel as claimed in claim 1, said elastically deformable member comprising a number of flexible ribs spaced apart lengthwise of the towel and held together by at least one longitudinally extending rib integral therewith.
1. In a sanitary towel comprising an elastically deformable member extending lengthwise of the towel for sealing the edges of the towel against the body of the user, and a body of material absorptive to liquid on said elastically deformable member; the improvement comprising a layer of material that weakens upon contact with liquid and that extends between and retains the edges of the towel closer together than when the elastically deformable member is unstressed, so that upon contact with liquid, said layer ruptures and the elastically deformable member applies the edges of the towel against the body of the user.
2. A towel as claimed in claim 1, said elastically deformable member comprising a slab of elastically deformable material.
3. A towel as claimed in claim 1, said elastically deformable member comprising a number of flexible ribs spaced apart lengthwise of the towel and held together by at least one longitudinally extending rib integral therewith.
Description:
The present invention is concerned with sanitary towels. In conventional sanitary towels the absorption material of the towel is normally enclosed in a separate casing or sheath to form an absorption body.
One prerequisite of sanitary towels is that said towels when placed in position seal to the highest possible extent against the insides of the thighs of the wearer to avoid so-called side leakage.
The object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary towel which realizes the aforesaid requirement in a simple and effective manner. This is achieved by a sanitary towel according to the invention which is characterized in that it includes a member which extends in the longitudinal direction of said towel and which is elastically deformable, particularly in the transverse direction of the towel and which is of such width that in the position of use of the towel said member can be elastically deformed to thereby urge the side edges of the towel situated between the thighs of the wearer into sealing engagement against the adjacent leg portions irrespective of any variation in the relative position thereof.
The elastic member can be formed in a plurality of ways within the scope of the invention. In a preferred embodiment the member comprises a slab of foam plastic or similar material on which the absorption body is positioned. Instead of the elastic slab, or in combination therewith, a resilient insert can be arranged within or on the absorption body. Alternatively, a portion of the casing of the absorption body can be made of foam plastic or similar elastic material, possibly having for instance a layer of fibrous material positioned on the inside thereof to impart the desired softness to the towel. To facilitate positioning of the towel said towel can be prestressed and retained in the stressed position by means of a strip of liquid-soluble material. When the strip of material is moistened by the liquid emanating from the user it ruptures allowing the side edge portion of the towel to spread into sealing engagement with adjacent portions of the body.
A number of suitable embodiments of the towel according to the invention are shown in cross section in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a sanitary towel according to the invention provided with an elastic member incorporated in the absorption body, FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view in perspective of the elastic member shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows the towel with upwardly curved side edges and placed in position between two portions of the body, FIG. 4 shows another embodiment in which the absorption body lies on a slab of elastic material, FIG. 5 shows the towel in FIG. 4 in the position of use, FIG. 6 shows a towel which is held prestressed in the position of use by means of a liquid-soluble material strip, and FIG. 7 shows the towel of FIG. 6 subsequent to rupture of the retaining material strip.
In the FIGS. there is shown a cross section of an absorption body 1 which consists, in a known manner, of a casing of net material, gauze, nonwoven or the like material encasing a liquid-absorbing substance such as dry defibered cellulose. The under surface of the absorption body may be covered with an outer layer of plastic. The absorption body is suitably completely or partially enclosed by an outer layer of cellular plastic material, rayon fibre, synthetic fibre or nonwoven material to impart a soft surface to the towel.
FIG. 2 shows an elastic, flexible member in the form of a ladder-shaped member presenting cross ribs 2, and longitudinally extending ribs 3. The flexible member is made of a resilient plastic material and is inserted in the absorption body 1, suitably in the proximity of its bottom side.
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of the towel clamped between the insides of two body portions 4,5 indicated by morse lines. The side edge portions of the towel are curved upwards and as a result of the flexible members 2,3 the side edges of said towel are urged into sealing abutment with the body portions 4,5. The manner in which the towel endeavors to conform to the actual width between the aforementioned body portions has been indicated graphically with arrows 6.
FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section of an absorption body which lies on a slab 7 of foam plastic, foam rubber, acryl fibre or some other similar resilient elastic material. The absorption body and the material slab can be arranged within a net hose 8 which is used to suspend the towel.
The under surface of the absorption body is suitably fixed at its center portion to the slab by gluing 9 or heat sealing, for instance.
FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section of the towel in FIG. 4 in the position of use where the towel functions in the same manner as that described with reference to FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 illustrates a cross section of essentially the same towel as that illustrated in FIG. 4 except that the towel in FIG. 6 is biassed in its position of use. A strip 10 of liquid-soluble material such as cellular plastic extends between the upwardly curved edges of the material slab and is secured thereto by adhesive or heat sealing.
FIG. 7 illustrates a cross section of the towel in FIG. 6 subsequent to said towel being placed in position and subsequent to the strip of liquid-soluble material being ruptured to form two portions 10a,10b as a result of the liquid emanating from the wearer of the towel. The side edge portions of the material slab 7 abut sealingly with the adjacent body portions 4,5 and adapt themselves to the different distances therebetween.
One prerequisite of sanitary towels is that said towels when placed in position seal to the highest possible extent against the insides of the thighs of the wearer to avoid so-called side leakage.
The object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary towel which realizes the aforesaid requirement in a simple and effective manner. This is achieved by a sanitary towel according to the invention which is characterized in that it includes a member which extends in the longitudinal direction of said towel and which is elastically deformable, particularly in the transverse direction of the towel and which is of such width that in the position of use of the towel said member can be elastically deformed to thereby urge the side edges of the towel situated between the thighs of the wearer into sealing engagement against the adjacent leg portions irrespective of any variation in the relative position thereof.
The elastic member can be formed in a plurality of ways within the scope of the invention. In a preferred embodiment the member comprises a slab of foam plastic or similar material on which the absorption body is positioned. Instead of the elastic slab, or in combination therewith, a resilient insert can be arranged within or on the absorption body. Alternatively, a portion of the casing of the absorption body can be made of foam plastic or similar elastic material, possibly having for instance a layer of fibrous material positioned on the inside thereof to impart the desired softness to the towel. To facilitate positioning of the towel said towel can be prestressed and retained in the stressed position by means of a strip of liquid-soluble material. When the strip of material is moistened by the liquid emanating from the user it ruptures allowing the side edge portion of the towel to spread into sealing engagement with adjacent portions of the body.
A number of suitable embodiments of the towel according to the invention are shown in cross section in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a sanitary towel according to the invention provided with an elastic member incorporated in the absorption body, FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view in perspective of the elastic member shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows the towel with upwardly curved side edges and placed in position between two portions of the body, FIG. 4 shows another embodiment in which the absorption body lies on a slab of elastic material, FIG. 5 shows the towel in FIG. 4 in the position of use, FIG. 6 shows a towel which is held prestressed in the position of use by means of a liquid-soluble material strip, and FIG. 7 shows the towel of FIG. 6 subsequent to rupture of the retaining material strip.
In the FIGS. there is shown a cross section of an absorption body 1 which consists, in a known manner, of a casing of net material, gauze, nonwoven or the like material encasing a liquid-absorbing substance such as dry defibered cellulose. The under surface of the absorption body may be covered with an outer layer of plastic. The absorption body is suitably completely or partially enclosed by an outer layer of cellular plastic material, rayon fibre, synthetic fibre or nonwoven material to impart a soft surface to the towel.
FIG. 2 shows an elastic, flexible member in the form of a ladder-shaped member presenting cross ribs 2, and longitudinally extending ribs 3. The flexible member is made of a resilient plastic material and is inserted in the absorption body 1, suitably in the proximity of its bottom side.
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of the towel clamped between the insides of two body portions 4,5 indicated by morse lines. The side edge portions of the towel are curved upwards and as a result of the flexible members 2,3 the side edges of said towel are urged into sealing abutment with the body portions 4,5. The manner in which the towel endeavors to conform to the actual width between the aforementioned body portions has been indicated graphically with arrows 6.
FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section of an absorption body which lies on a slab 7 of foam plastic, foam rubber, acryl fibre or some other similar resilient elastic material. The absorption body and the material slab can be arranged within a net hose 8 which is used to suspend the towel.
The under surface of the absorption body is suitably fixed at its center portion to the slab by gluing 9 or heat sealing, for instance.
FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section of the towel in FIG. 4 in the position of use where the towel functions in the same manner as that described with reference to FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 illustrates a cross section of essentially the same towel as that illustrated in FIG. 4 except that the towel in FIG. 6 is biassed in its position of use. A strip 10 of liquid-soluble material such as cellular plastic extends between the upwardly curved edges of the material slab and is secured thereto by adhesive or heat sealing.
FIG. 7 illustrates a cross section of the towel in FIG. 6 subsequent to said towel being placed in position and subsequent to the strip of liquid-soluble material being ruptured to form two portions 10a,10b as a result of the liquid emanating from the wearer of the towel. The side edge portions of the material slab 7 abut sealingly with the adjacent body portions 4,5 and adapt themselves to the different distances therebetween.