Packaged body adhering absorbent article

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9820892-B2
Application number	US-201414245479-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2014
Priority date	Aug 3, 2007
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A packaged feminine care absorbent article has an absorbent article with an absorbent structure and a shell. The absorbent structure is configured for disposition adjacent a female wearer's vaginal region. The shell is configured for supporting the absorbent structure at the vaginal region. The shell has a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface. The body-facing surface has an adhesive thereon for adhering the shell directly to the wearer. The absorbent structure is attached directly to the garment-facing surface. The absorbent article is configurable between a packaged configuration and a use configuration. The absorbent structure is folded longitudinally about at least one transverse fold line and transversely about at least one longitudinal fold line in the packaged configuration. A portion of the shell overlies a portion of the absorbent structure in the packaged configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A packaged feminine care absorbent article comprising:
an absorbent article comprising an absorbent structure and a shell, the absorbent structure being configured for disposition adjacent a female wearer's vaginal region such that the absorbent structure is vertically outside the female wearer's labia majora such that the absorbent structure does not enter the female wearer's labia majora during use to absorb bodily fluids discharged by the wearer, the shell being configured for supporting the absorbent structure at said vaginal region, the shell having a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface, the body-facing surface having an adhesive thereon for adhering the shell directly to the wearer, said absorbent article being configurable between a packaged configuration and a use configuration, the absorbent structure having a three-dimensional shape other than a relatively flat shape in the use configuration; and
a wrapper for enclosing the absorbent article in the packaged configuration, the wrapper comprising a releasable peel sheet for covering at least a portion of the adhesive on the body-facing surface of the shell in the packaged configuration of the absorbent article, wherein the wrapper and the releasable peel sheet are formed as a single-piece.

2. The packaged feminine care absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein the adhesive covers only a portion of the body-facing surface of the shell.

3. The packaged feminine care absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the wrapper is enclosed along with the absorbent article within another portion of the wrapper.

4. The packaged feminine care absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wrapper includes a generally rectangular sheet.

5. The packaged feminine care absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein the absorbent article is folded longitudinally about a plurality of transverse fold lines in the packaged configuration.

6. The packaged feminine care absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein the absorbent article is rolled in the packaged configuration.

7. The packaged feminine care absorbent article as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wrapper fully encloses the absorbent article.

8. The packaged feminine care absorbent article as set forth in claim 7 wherein the wrapper includes a closure.

9. A packaged feminine care absorbent article comprising:
an absorbent article comprising an absorbent structure and a shell, the absorbent structure being configured for disposition adjacent a female wearer's vaginal region such that the absorbent structure is vertically outside the female wearer's labia majora such that the absorbent structure does not enter the female wearer's labia majora during use to absorb bodily fluids discharged by the wearer, the shell being configured for supporting the absorbent structure at said vaginal region, the shell having a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface, the body-facing surface having an adhesive thereon for adhering the shell directly to the wearer, said absorbent article being configurable between a packaged configuration and a use configuration, a portion of the shell overlying a portion of the absorbent structure in the packaged configuration, the absorbent structure having a three-dimensional shape other than a relatively flat shape in the use configuration; and
a wrapper for enclosing the absorbent article in the packaged configuration, the wrapper comprising a releasable peel sheet for covering at least a portion of the adhesive on the body-facing surface of the shell in the packaged configuration of the absorbent article, wherein the wrapper and the releasable peel sheet are formed as a single-piece.

10. The packaged feminine care absorbent article as set forth in claim 9 wherein the absorbent structure is folded transversely about at least one longitudinal fold line in the packaged configuration.

11. The packaged feminine care absorbent article set forth in claim 9 wherein the adhesive on the body-facing surface covers at least two portions of the body-facing surface, the adhesive covering one portion coming into contact with the adhesive covering another portion of the body-facing surface when the absorbent article is in the packaged configuration.

12. The packaged feminine care absorbent article as set forth in claim 9 wherein the absorbent structure is folded generally in half longitudinally in the packaged configuration.

13. The packaged feminine care absorbent article as set forth in claim 12 wherein the absorbent structure is also folded generally in half transversely in the packaged configuration.

14. The packaged feminine care absorbent article as set forth in claim 9 wherein the adhesive covers only a portion of the body-facing surface of the shell.

15. The packaged feminine care absorbent article as set forth in claim 9 wherein at least a portion of the wrapper is enclosed along with the absorbent article within another portion of the wrapper.

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Dennis Melissa Jean
• Lutzow Thomas
• Foelsche Gerhard
• Hagan Luke
• Boyaval Margaux
• Loyd Adrienne Rae

Classifications

• A61F13/82

  with means for attaching to the body · CPC title

• A61F13/5519

  packages containing more than one kind of item, e.g. tampon and napkin, or diaper and an exchangeable insert · CPC title

• A61F13/5514

  each item packaged single · CPC title

• A61F13/55135

  before use · CPC title

• A61F13/5513

  packaging of feminine sanitary napkins · CPC title