Roberts, John David; Mancel, Claude Paul;

Sanitary napkin having barrier means

A sanitary napkin (210) is provided with a barrier means (107) to provide a barrier against lateral migration of body fluids. The barrier means (107) can be provided on a sanitary napkin (210) which has no wings and comprises in this core a distal edge (278, 278') which is located within the perimeter of the absorbent core (212) during use of the sanitary napkin. The barrier means (107) can also be provided on a sanitary napkin (210) having wings (224, 224') and can be formed of a unitary part of the napkin's topsheet (214) or can be formed by a separate strip of material.

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We claim:

1. A sanitary napkin of the type for placement in an undergarment, the sanitary napkin comprising:

(a) a central absorbent pad having a pair of longitudinal edges, a body contacting surface, a central region, and a pair of ends, said central absorbent pad comprising:

a liquid pervious topsheet;

a liquid impervious backsheet joined with said topsheet; and

an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;

(b) a flap extending outwardly from each longitudinal edge of said central absorbent pad in said central region, each said flap being joined with said central absorbent pad and being sized and configured to allow each of said flaps to be positioned around the edge of an undergarment at a flexible axis so as to form a wall, in use; and

(c) barrier means for restricting liquid migration in the general direction of the lateral sides, each said barrier means comprising:

(i) a barrier element having

a proximal edge joined to said flap, and

a free edge spaced from said proximal edge and being free from securement to at least a portion of said flap and said central absorbent pad; and

(ii) spacing means joined adjacent said free edge for spacing said free edge upwardly about said proximal edge and away from said body contacting surface of said central absorbent pad so as to form a second wall providing a barrier to the lateral flow of body fluids, in use.

2. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said spacing means comprises a spacing elastic member secured to said barrier element in an elastically contractible condition to gather or contract said barrier element adjacent said free edge.

3. The sanitary napkin of claim 2 wherein each said barrier element is liquid impermeable.

4. The sanitary napkin of claim 3 additionally comprising a central pad adhesive means positioned on said backsheet and a flap adhesive means positioned on each of said flaps for securing the sanitary napkin to a wearer's undergarment.

5. The sanitary napkin of claim 4 wherein said free edges of said barrier element are maintained inboard of said proximal edge by an adhesive means for obviating inversion of said barrier elements.

6. The sanitary napkin of claim 5 wherein said topsheet of said central absorbent pad extends to said flaps and forms a portion of a topsheet for said flaps.

7. The sanitary napkin of claim 2 additionally comprising a central pad adhesive means positioned on said backsheet and a flap adhesive means positioned on each of said flaps for securing the sanitary napkin to a wearer's undergarment.

8. The sanitary napkin of claim 2 wherein said topsheet of said central absorbent pad extends to said flaps and forms a portion of a topsheet for said flaps.

9. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein each said barrier element is liquid impermeable.

10. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 additionally comprising a central pad adhesive means positioned on said backsheet and a flap adhesive means positioned on each of said flaps for securing the sanitary napkin to a wearer's undergarment.

11. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said topsheet of said central absorbent pad extends to said flaps and forms a portion of a topsheet for said flaps.

12. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 additionally comprising a central pad adhesive means positioned on said backsheet and a flap adhesive means positioned on each of said flaps for securing the sanitary napkin to a wearer's undergarment.

13. The sanitary napkin of claim 12 wherein said spacing means comprises a spacing elastic member secured to said barrier element in an elastically contractible condition to gather or contract said barrier element adjacent said free edge.

14. The sanitary napkin of claim 12 wherein said topsheet of said central absorbent pad extends to said flaps and forms a portion of a topsheet for said flaps.

15. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said flaps additionally comprise a second axis of flexibility within the flap so that the flap is extremely flexible over essentially the whole of its extent.

16. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said flaps are formed independently from said central absorbent pad and joined to said central absorbent pad.

17. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said topsheet of said central absorbent pad extends to said flaps and forms a portion of a topsheet for said flaps.

18. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said free edges of said barrier element are maintained inboard of said proximal edge by an adhesive means for obviating inversion of said barrier elements.