Sanitary Napkin

The present invention relates to a sanitary napkin. It is a chief object of the invention to provide a sanitary napkin which can be used in a safe way, without being completely soaked. It is a further object of the invention to provide a sanitary napkin of a correct shape which has a very great absorptive capacity and which is made in one piece to simplify manufacture. A still further object is to provide a sanitary napkin that is virtually leak-proof.

To attain similar objects different solutions have been priorly proposed. Thus, reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,662,527 to W. G. Jacks patented Dec. 15, 1953 and 3,183,909 to W. G. Roehr patented May 18, 1965, as well as to Swiss patent specification No. 204,076 patented Apr. 15, l959.

The improved sanitary napkin according to the invention is made of a single blank of a soft absorbent material and is formed with a longitudinally extending hump-shaped projection having softly rounded edges. The hump projection is formed partly by the both end portions of the blank having been turned up so as to have in cross section an L-shape, partly by the middle portion of the blank being folded into a U-shape having its open portion facing away from the hump projection. The U-shape is disposed between the L-shapes whereby there are defined two spaced slits longitudinally of the sanitary napkin between the three crests or ridges afforded by the hump projection. The two outer crests are higher than the middle one. The material is of double thickness in the both L-shapes by reason of the folding.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, reference being had to the drawing, in which

FIG. 1 is a transverse cross section view taken at the middle of the sanitary napkin;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the napkin;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the napkin;

FIG. 4 is a plan view from below with the protective coating of the adhesive areas removed.

The sanitary napkin is denoted 1 in FIG. 1. The hump destined for absorption is denoted 2, having two spaced slits 3 therein.

The hump 2 is made up by folding opposite lateral portions of a napkin blank twice over, so as to form an L in cross section, and further by folding the middle portion of the blank into a U-shape having its opening facing away from the hump. The U-shaped portion is disposed between both L-shapes and extends concurrently therewith, separated from the latter by two spaced slits 3 formed in folding. Thus, the hump will have three crests or ridges of which the two outer ones are somewhat higher than the middle one.

In the position of use of the sanitary napkin the slits will become spaced farther apart whereby their softly rounded edge positions will surround the vaginal opening and will prevent soaking of the skin.

As will be evident from FIGS. 1 and 2 the sanitary napkin has a flat deck 6 with soft margins. As further seen from FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 the hump 2 at its forward and at portions merges into the flat deck. At the bottom face of the latter two adhesive pads 4 have been mounted and are held by forward and rear joints 5 of the napkin. The adhesive surfaces 4 are preferably provided with a protective coating. Before use, this protective coating is peeled off, and the napkin is made to adhere by light pressure to tight-fitting drawers.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown and described, its scope of protection being defined only by the annexed claims.