Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Kristi J. Bryant · Michelle M. Sroda ·
Assignee(s)	Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Dority & Manning ·
Primary Examiner	Tatyana Zalukaeva ·
Assistant Examiner	Paula L. Craig ·
Application Number	US10742605
Filing date	12/19/2003
Issue date	08/01/2006
Prior Publication Data	US20050137565 - 06/23/2005
Predicted expiration date	06/05/2024
Patent term adjustment	169
U.S. Classifications	604/391  · 604/385.05  ·
International Classifications	A61F1315  · A61F1320  ·
Kind Code	B2

Patent Family

Abstract

An absorbent article, such as a feminine care product, includes a liquid permeable top cover, a generally liquid impermeable baffle, and an absorbent structure disposed between the top cover and outer cover. The garment facing side of the baffle includes hook material as a primary attachment mechanism between the baffle and the undergarment. The top cover is a hook compatible material that is releasably attachable to the hook material such that the article can be rolled into a tube-like configuration wherein the hook material is releasably engaged with the hook compatible material for maintaining the article in a rolled configuration. A protective backing sheet is disposed between the top cover and the garment facing side of the baffle in the rolled configuration of the article. The backing sheet has at least one dimension that is less than a corresponding dimension of the article such that a limited portion of the top cover material is releasably engaged by the hook material for maintaining the article in the rolled configuration.

Independent Claims | See all claims (41)

1. 1. A rolled absorbent article for placement in the crotch region of an undergarment, comprising: a generally liquid permeable top cover; a generally liquid impermeable baffle having a garment facing side; an absorbent structure disposed between said top cover and said baffle; said garment facing side of said baffle comprising hook material defined in a pattern on the surface thereof, said hook material providing a primary attachment mechanism between said baffle and the undergarment; said top cover comprising a hook compatible material that is releasably attachable to said hook material on said garment facing side of said baffle; said article rolled into a tube-like configuration; and a protective backing sheet disposed between said top cover and said garment facing side of said baffle in said rolled configuration of said article, said backing sheet having at least one dimension that is less than a corresponding dimension of said article such that a limited portion of said top cover hook compatible material is releasably engaged by said hook material for maintaining said article in said rolled configuration.
2. 27. An absorbent article for placement in the crotch region of an undergarment, comprising: a generally liquid permeable top cover; a generally liquid impermeable and vapor permeable baffle having a garment facing side; an absorbent structure disposed between said top cover and said baffle; said garment facing side of said baffle comprising a hook material in a pattern such that said hook material provides a sole attachment mechanism between said baffle and the undergarment; said top cover comprising a hook compatible material that is releasably attachable to said hook material on said garment facing side of said baffle; and a hook compatible protective backing sheet releasably attached to said garment facing side of said baffle, said protective backing sheet having at least one dimension that is less than a corresponding dimension of said baffle such that at least a portion of said hook material is exposed along at least one edge of said garment facing side of said baffle.
3. 35. A method for packaging absorbent articles intended for placement in the crotch region of an undergarment, the absorbent article having a baffle with hook material provided on a garment facing side thereof, and a top cover formed of a hook compatible material, said method comprising placing a protective backing sheet against one of the top cover and garment facing side of the baffle and rolling the article into a tube-like configuration; the protective backing sheet having a size and configuration such that at least a portion of the hook material releasably engages with a portion of the top cover to maintain the article in the rolled tube-like configuration.