MXPA99001515A - Low motion zone securement for absorbent articles - Google Patents

Abstract

System for securing an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin (29) or the like, to an undergarment which provides enhanced stability of the article in use and enhanced comfort for the wearer. The absorbent article includes two pairs of end wings (37), each pair being located substantially at the ends of the article and with the wings extending outwardly from the opposite side edges, and means (38) for fastening each end wing to the undergarment. The fastening means (38) extend transversely across the backing sheet along each of the ends and outwardly onto the wings. The wings (37) are sized and shaped such that, under in-use conditions, the distal ends (33) of the wings are at least even with, and preferably longitudinally beyond, the ends of the absorbent article.

Description

ASSURANCE OF THE LOW MOVEMENT AREA FOR ABSORBENT ITEMS CROSS REFERENCE REGARDING THE RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation in part of the application Serial No. 08 / 698,527, filed on August 15, 1996.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an assurance system for securing an absorbent article such as a diaper, sanitary napkin, panty liner, incontinence pad or the like, to a garment or undergarment. More particularly, the present invention relates to such an assurance system that provides the increased stability of the absorbent article under the conditions of use, and in turn, increased comfort for the user.

BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Well-known, of course, are all the manners and varieties of absorbent articles configured for the absorption of bodily fluids. The types of current absorbent articles include sanitary napkins, pantiliners, disposable diapers, and incontinence articles. The absorbent articles are subjected to a wide variety of forces under the conditions of use, such as those imposed by the different postures and movements of the user. These forces are exerted on the absorbent articles in all their extent to varying degrees, but are concentrated particularly in the region between the user's legs. In this region, the legs of the user impart lateral compressive forces on the absorbent article, located between them, and the movements of the user's legs exert torsional and shear forces on an article during the different movements such as walking, running, etc. . Absorbent articles in the field of feminine protection such as sanitary napkins and pantiliners are particularly susceptible to these forces, due to their comparatively small size in relation to other absorbent articles and their location essentially within this "high movement" zone. In addition, many feminine protection products are secured to the wearer's clothing or underwear by means of fixation such as adhesives, foldable flaps or the like, which are also located within this region. Under conditions of use, the forces exerted by the wearer's legs tend to cause distortion of the clothing or of the undergarment away from its normal shape. This in turn often induces the absorbent article to bulge or wrap, leading to discomfort for the wearer and movement of the absorbent article away from the desired location or relative orientation with respect to the wearer's body. These separations from the desired location and orientation, in turn, increases the likelihood that the absorbent article will not provide the desired protection for the wearer's clothing or underwear. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a fastening means for the absorbent articles, which provides increased assurance to clothing or undergarments. It would further be desirable to provide this fastening means for the absorbent articles that provides increased strength to a wide range of use and comfort forces of increased use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an absorbent article having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a fluid pervious upper sheet, a fluid impermeable back sheet and an absorbent core between the upper sheet and the back sheet. The absorbent article includes two oppo side edges that extend longitudinally and two oppo ends that extend transversely.

According to the present invention, the absorbent article further includes a securing means for securing the absorbent article undergarment during use, comprising two pairs of end wings, each pair of end wings being located substantially concurrently with the ends, with one end wing extending outwardly from each side edge, and fastening means to secure the end wings to an undergarment during use. The fastening means extend substantially continuously and transversely through the backsheet along each of the ends and outwardly on the end wings. The securing means according to the present invention are particularly useful when the absorbent article takes the form of a sanitary napkin.

This absorbent article can additionally employ a pair of fins extending outward from the intermediate side edges between the end wings for additional supplemental securing, in addition to the end wings. These fins are preferably substantially free of adhesive to prevent the placement of adhesive products in the crotch area of the absorbent article.

In a preferred embodiment, the fastening means preferably comprises a band of pressure-sensitive adhesives extending transversely across the backsheet along the ends of the absorbent article and outwardly on the end wings. In use, the extreme wings are folded around the lateral edges of the undergarment and the adhesive strips are secured both to the side facing the wearer of the undergarment in the central region and to the underside or side facing the garment of the undergarment where the extreme wings are folded around the lateral edges of the undergarment. The end wings are dimensioned and shaped such that under the conditions of use, the distal ends of the end wings are located at least precisely and preferably longitudinally outwardly beyond the ends of the absorbent article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Although the description concludes with the claims pointing out in a particular manner, and claiming differently from the present invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description in combination with the accompanying drawings, in which reference numbers similar items identify similar elements, and wherein: Figure 1 is a top plan view of an absorbent article according to the present invention in the form of a sanitary napkin; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sanitary napkin of Figure 1, taken along section line 2-2; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the crotch portion of a representative undergarment; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the undergarment of Figure 3 with the absorbent article of the present invention that is placed thereon with the extreme wings deployed and secured to the undergarment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As used herein, the term "absorbent article" refers to devices that absorb and contain exudates from the body, and more specifically, refers to devices that are placed against or close to the user's body to absorb and contain different exudates discharged from the body. The term "disposable" is used herein to describe absorbent articles that are not intended to be washed or otherwise restored or reused as an absorbent article (ie, they are intended to be discarded after a single use, and preferably, to be recycled, composted or otherwise arranged in an environmentally compatible manner). A "unitary" absorbent article refers to absorbent articles that are formed of separate parts joined together to form a coordinated entity, such that they do not require separate manipulated parts such as a separate bra and pads. A currently preferred embodiment of a unitary disposable absorbent article of the present invention is the catamenial pad, sanitary napkin 20 as shown in Figure 1. As used herein, the term "sanitary napkin" refers to an absorbent article. which is used by women adjacent to the pudendal region, generally external to the genitourinary region, and which is intended to absorb and contain menstrual fluids and other vaginal discharges from the wearer's body (eg, blood, menstruation, and urine) . Interlabial devices that reside partially within and partially outside the wearer's vestibule are also within the scope of the present invention. As used here, the term "pudendal", refers to the externally visible female genital organs. However, it should be understood that the present invention is also applicable to other catamenial pads or pads for feminine hygiene such as panty-protectors or other absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence briefs, and the like. Figure 1 is a plan view of the sanitary napkin 20 of the present invention in its flattened state with the part of the sanitary napkin 20 facing towards or in contact with the user, facing the viewer. As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the sanitary napkin 20 preferably comprises an upper sheet 28, a fluid impermeable back sheet 30 bonded to the upper sheet 28, and an absorbent core 32 positioned between the upper sheet 28 and the back sheet 30. The sanitary napkin 20 has two surfaces, a contact surface with the body or surface facing the body 20a and a garment facing surface 20b. The sanitary towel 20 is shown in Figure 1, as seen from its surface facing the body 20a. The surface facing the body 20a is intended to be used adjacent to the wearer's body, while the garment facing surface 20b is on the opposite side and is intended to be placed adjacent to the undergarments or clothing of the wearer. user when using the sanitary napkin 20. The sanitary napkin 20 has two centerlines, a longitudinal centerline "L", and a transverse centerline "T". The term "longitudinal", as used herein, refers to a line, axis or direction in the plane of the sanitary napkin 20 that is generally aligned with (e.g. approximately parallel to) a vertical plane that divides a wearer standing in halves of left and right body when sanitary napkin 20 is used. The terms "transverse" or "lateral", as used herein, are interchangeable, and refer to a line, or axis or direction that is located within the plane of the sanitary napkin 20, which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Figure 1 also shows that the sanitary napkin 20 has a periphery 26, which is defined by the outer edges of the sanitary napkin 20, and which the longitudinal edges (or "lateral edges"), are designated 22 and the extreme edges. (or "extreme") are designated 24. Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the sanitary napkin 20 in which the topsheet 28 and the backsheet 30 have length and width dimensions generally greater than those of the absorbent core 32. upper sheet 28 and rear sheet 30 extend beyond the edges of absorbent core 32 to thereby form not only part of the periphery but also side flaps 36. Sanitary pad 20 preferably includes optional side flaps or "wings 36 that are folded around the crotch portion of the wearer's panties.

The side flaps 36 can serve a number of purposes, including, but not limited to, protecting the wearer's panties against staining and keeping the sanitary pad secured to the wearer's panties. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sanitary napkin 20 taken along the line of section 2-2 of Figure 1. As can be seen in Figure 2, the sanitary napkin 20 preferably includes an adhesive fastening means. 38 to fix the sanitary towel 20 to the wearer's undergarment. Removable release liners 39 protect the adhesive fastener means 38 to prevent the adhesive from sticking to a different surface of the desired portion of the undergarment prior to being used or experiencing contamination and degradation. The sanitary napkin 20 may be of any thickness, including relatively thick or relatively thin. The modality of the sanitary napkin 20 shown in Figures 1 and 2 are intended to be an example of a relatively thin sanitary napkin. However, it should be understood that when these figures are seen that the number of layers of the material shown tends to cause the sanitary napkin to appear much thicker than it actually is. A "thin 20" sanitary napkin preferably has a caliper of less than about 3 mm. The thin sanitary towel 20 shown should also be relatively flexible, so that it is comfortable for the wearer. Preferably, the sanitary napkin is extensible or stretchable. Examples of extendable or stretchable sanitary napkins are disclosed in the commonly assigned, co-pending (granted) U.S. Patent Applications Nos. 08 / 472,156, filed June 7, 1995 to the names of Osborn et al., Entitled "Absorbent Articles. Stretchable ", and Serial No. 08 / 503,895 filed July 18, 1995 in the name of Osborn et al., and entitled" Extendable Absorbent Articles, "the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The longitudinal or lateral edges 22 may optionally also include gathers or folds (not shown) in the regions between the fins 36 and the end wings 37 to increase the ability of the absorbent article to assume a cup-shaped orientation and conform more fully with the user's anatomy. In accordance with the present invention, the sanitary napkin 20 is held in place by a securing means or attachment means as depicted in Figures 1 and 2. More particularly, the sanitary napkin is placed on the undergarment or pant of the wearer and secured thereto by a securing means that includes a fastening means such as the adhesive 38 for adhering or joining the sanitary napkin 20 to the undergarment. The adhesive 38 provides a means for securing the sanitary napkin 20 in the "low movement zone" of the pantyhose outside the crotch region. In this way, a part of the outer surface of the backsheet 30 is coated with adhesive strips in the regions illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, as the central region 31 adjacent to and substantially concurrently with the ends 24 and outwardly are the elements identified as "end wings 37 in a preferably narrow band having a width preferably substantially equal to the width of the end wings .. Any adhesive or glue used in the techniques for these purposes can be used for the adhesive herein, preferred are pressure sensitive adhesives.

Suitable adhesives are manufactured by H.B. Fuller Company, of St. Paul Minnesota, under the designation 2238. Suitable adhesive fasteners are also described in U.S. Patent 4,917,697. Before the sanitary napkin is placed in use, the pressure sensitive adhesive 38 is typically covered with a removable release liner 39 in order to prevent the adhesive from drying or adhering to a different surface of the crotch portion of the sanitary napkin. the panties before use. Suitable release liners are also described in the above referenced United States Patent 4,917,697. Any of the commercially available release liners commonly used for these purposes can be used herein. A non-limiting example of a suitable release liner is BL30MG-A Silox 4P / 0, which is manufactured by Akrosil Corporation of Menasha, Wl. The sanitary napkin 20 of the present invention is used by removing the release liner 39 and subsequently placing the sanitary napkin 20 in a pantyhose, such that the adhesive 38 is in contact with the pantyhose. The adhesive 38 holds the sanitary napkin in its position within the panther during use. It may be used alternatively if mechanical fastening means are desired to link the surface of the undergarment, particularly those of the type that link the typically fibrous surfaces of the undergarment. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, according to the present invention the fixing means 38 are oriented transversely across the ends 24 of the sanitary napkin 20 and extend substantially continuously laterally outwardly beyond the edges. of the absorbent core 32 and beyond the longitudinal edges 22 also on the end wings 37. These end wings 37, both to be located outside the crotch region of the panty and to provide a significant transverse adhesive space, provide increased stability and safety of the sanitary napkin in relation to the panties or the undergarment. Adhesive fixing means 38 also serve to prevent the ends of the sanitary napkin from twisting upwardly away from the undergarment during use because they are located substantially concurrently with the ends 24 of the sanitary napkin 20, and extending inwardly therefrom. . Similarly, the adhesive attachment means 38 preferably extend substantially outwardly along the end wings 37 from the central region 31 to a substantially adjacent location, but in fact completely concurrent with the distal ends. of the extreme wings 37 to prevent the distal ends from twisting upwards away from the undergarment during use. The backsheet is preferably substantially free of the fastener (adhesives) in the region between the bands extending across the ends and over the end wings, such that some degree of relative movement between the center or crotch region of the legs is allowed. clothing or undergarment and the central region of the sanitary napkin. An additional benefit is the reduction in the likelihood of the adhesive coming into contact with sensitive anatomical regions. According to the present invention, the end wings 37 extend sufficiently outwardly beyond the longitudinal edges 22 of the absorbent article 20 to be able to wrap around the leg openings of the wearer's clothing or undergarment, thus providing stability and additional security of that portion of the adhesive fastening means 38, which is adhered to the internal surface of the undergarment. Not only do they extend the extreme wings sufficiently outwardly to capture the edges of the leg openings but due to the presence of the adhesive fastening means on the distant ends of the extreme wings, the extreme wings will link and join the internal surface of the undergarment such that near the far ends both surfaces of the undergarment are linked by and secured to the extreme wings of the sanitary napkin. Moreover, the end flaps are secured directly to the undergarment under the middle adhesive fastener instead of being secured to themselves or to other portions of the sanitary napkin, thereby ensuring that the relative motion between the undergarment and the end flaps is avoided effectively. The end flaps 37, in a condition of pre-use as shown in Figure 1, preferably extend laterally outward from the longitudinal edges 22 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the absorbent article (ie, substantially parallel to transverse axis). However, if desired, the end wings 37 can be placed at a different angle than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Due to the fact that most clothing or typical undergarments have openings angled leg to provide a wide pledge increased since it increases the distance from the central crotch region, the folding of the end flaps 37 around the angled edge of the inner leg opening results in the distal ends 33 of the end wings 37 assuming a diverse angular relationship to the central region 31 of the adhesive attachment means 38 (as shown in Figure 4) even when the end wings are substantially oriented to way perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (as shown in Figure 1). This orientation of the extreme wings when secured to the undergarment provides increased assurance of the sanitary napkin under a wide range of conditions found during use. The end wings are dimensioned and adapted in such a manner under the conditions of use as shown in Figure 4. The distal ends 33 are located at least in an equal manner with and preferably longitudinally outwardly beyond the ends of the housing. sanitary towel. This orientation allows the end wings to exert a tensioning force on the sanitary napkin in the longitudinal direction to provide increased stability and adjustment. This resulting configuration is a function of three elementary variables of the extreme wing design. The length of the wings beyond the peripheral edges of the sanitary napkin, the angle of the wings relative to the longitudinal centerline of the sanitary napkin, and the longitudinal location of the end wings relative to the ends of the sanitary napkin . The end wings can be formed as separate structural elements and secured by any suitable means to the lateral edges of the absorbent article adjacent to the ends. However, the extreme wings of preference are unitarily formed from the materials of the upper sheet and the back sheet as lateral extensions thereof. For ease of manufacture and increased comfort for the wearer, preferably the end wings have substantially rounded outer edges to be generally lobe-shaped. Although the end wings may be of any suitable size and shape, or aesthetics as well as for functional reasons, a generally symmetrical arrangement is currently preferred wherein each pair of end wings comprises two end wings of substantially similar shape and size with respect to the longitudinal axis. Furthermore, under some circumstances it may be desirable to provide an asymmetric arrangement of the end wings with respect to the longitudinal axis, or to provide end wings that differ in size or shape from one pair to another. However, again for aesthetics as well as for functional reasons, it is currently preferred that the end wings be provided in the form of two pairs of end wings of substantially similar size and shape having a symmetrical orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the absorbent article. . It is further preferred for convenience of use but not essential that the absorbent article (including the shape and location of the end wings) exhibit symmetry with respect to the transverse axis. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sanitary napkin 20 also has two wings 36, each of which are adjacent to and generally extending from the lateral edge of the intermediate absorbent core to the end wings. The fins 36 are configured to fold over the edges of the wearer's panties of the crotch region in such a way that the fins are disposed between the edges of the panties and the thighs of the wearer. The fins 36 serve at least two purposes. First, the flaps 36 help to avoid staining of the wearer's body and of the panties by the menstrual fluid, preferably forming a double-walled barrier along the edges of the panty. Second, the fins 36 may optionally be provided with fastening means (such as adhesives), on their garment facing surface, such that the fins can fold back under the panty and join the side facing towards the garment. garment of the panties. However, preferably these fins are substantially free of adhesive and are instead self-deviating to capture the crotch portion of the pantyhose between them, as described in greater detail in published PCT application WO 94/08419, published on February 2. of 1995, in the name of Weinberger and others as inventors and the published PCT Application WO 94/02096, published on February 3, 1994, naming Lavash and others as inventors, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference . In this way, the fins 36 help to maintain the sanitary napkin 20 appropriately placed in the pantyhose, reinforcing the securing provided by the end wings 37. By being substantially free of adhesive, some relative movement is allowed between the central region or crotch of clothing or undergarment and the central region of the sanitary napkin. An additional benefit is the reduction in the likelihood that the adhesive will come into contact with sensitive anatomical regions. The fins 36 can be constructed of different materials including materials similar to the topsheet, the backsheet, tissue or combinations of these materials. In addition, the flaps 36 may be a separate element attached to the main body of the towel or may comprise extensions of the upper sheet and the back sheet, (ie, unitary). A number of sanitary napkins having suitable or adaptable fins for use with the sanitary napkins of the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,687,478 issued to Van Tilburg on August 18, 1987.; U.S. Patent 4,589,876 issued to Van Tilburg on May 20, 1986; and U.S. Patent 4,608,047 issued to Mattingly on August 26, 1986. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. Figure 3 is an illustration of the crotch portion 14 and a typical representative undergarment 11 of the type commonly worn by many women and well known as a pantyhose. A panty 11 comprises a front section 10, a back section 12, and a crotch portion 14 joining the front and back sections. : later The crotch portion 14 comprises two lateral edges 16 and the portion of • central crotch 18. The sanitary napkin 20 of the present invention can be used by removing the removable liners 39 from the adhesive fasteners 38 and not placing the sanitary napkin 20 in the pantyhose 11 as shown in Figure 4. The central portion of the backsheet 30 of the sanitary napkin 20 is placed in the crotch portion 14 of the panty with one end 24 of the sanitary napkin 20 extending toward the front section 10 of the panty and the other end 24 extending toward the rear section 12. The centrally located fins 36 are deployed around the lateral edges 16 of the pantyhose. The distal ends 33 of the end wings 37 are folded around the lateral edges 16 of the pantyhose on either side of the fins 36, and the adhesive fasteners 38 are secured to both of the side facing the wearer of the pantyhose in the region. central 31 and I lower side of the pantyhose in its regions, which extend outward on the extreme wings 37. The pantyhose is then pulled up towards the position on the lower torso of the wearer. • Absorbent core 32 can be any absorbent medium that is capable of absorbing and retaining liquids (e.g., menstruation and / or urine). As shown in Figure 1, the absorbent core 32 has a surface facing the body, and a surface facing the garment, side edges and end edges. The absorbent core 32 can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes (e.g., rectangular, oval, hourglass, dog bone, asymmetric, etc.), and from a wide variety of liquid absorbing materials commonly used in sanitary napkins and other absorbent articles, such as crushed wood pulp, which is generally referred to as an air filter. Examples of other suitable absorbent materials include accreted cellulose wadding; blown polymers in the molten state, including coform; chemically hardened, modified or cross-linked cellulosic fibers; synthetic fibers such as pleated polyester fibers, peat moss, tissue, including tissue wraps and tissue laminates; absorbent foams; absorbent sponges; superabsorbent polymers; gelling absorbent materials; or any equivalent material or combinations of materials, or mixtures thereof. The configuration and construction of the absorbent core can also be varied (for example, the absorbent core 32 can have zones of variable gauge (for example profiled to be thicker in the center), hydrophilic gradients, superabsorbent gradients, or lower density acquisition zones. and lower average basis weight, or may comprise one or more layers or structures). The total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core 39 must, however, be compatible with the design load and intended use of the sanitary napkin 20. In addition, the size and absorbent capacity of the absorbent core may be varied to encompass different uses such as incontinence pads, pantiliners, regular sanitary napkins, or night sanitary napkins. In addition, the absorbent core 32 may be composed of certain materials or configurations to provide flexibility, if desired. Exemplary absorbent structures for use as the absorbent core 32 of the present invention are described in U.S. Patent 4,950,264 issued to Osborn on August 21, 1990; U.S. Patent 4,610,678 issued to Weisman on September 9, 1986; United States patent 4,834,735 issued to Alemany et al. On May 30, 198); and the patent application of: United States No. 0 198 683, published October 22, 1986 in the name of The Procter & Gamble Company. Each of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. The backsheet 30 and the topsheet 28 are placed adjacent to the garment facing surface of the body facing surface respectively, of the absorbent core 32 and are preferably bonded thereto and to each other by attachment means (not shown), such as those well known in the art. For example, the backsheet 30 and / or the topsheet 28 can be secured to the absorbent core 32 or to each other By a uniform, continuous adhesive layer, a layer of patterned adhesive or an array of lines, spirals or spots of adhesive separated. Adhesives that have been found to be satisfactory are manufactured by H. B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, under the designation HL-1258 and by Findlay of Minneapolis, Minnesota, under the designation H-2031. The attachment means will preferably comprise an open pattern network of filaments of adhesives as disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,573,986 issued to Minetola et al. On March 4, 1986, and which is incorporated herein by reference. An exemplary joining means of an open-filament pattern network comprises several adhesive filament lines twisted in a spiral pattern as illustrated by the apparatus and the method shown in United States Patent 3,911,173 issued to Sprague, Jr. , on October 7, 1975; U.S. Patent 4,785,996 issued to Werenicz on November 22, 1978; and U.S. Patent 4,842,666 issued to Werenicz on June 27, 1989. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the attachment or attachment means may comprise heat bonds, pressure joints, ultrasonic joints, mechanical dynamic joints or any other suitable attachment or attachment means or combinations of these fixation means as are known in the art. The backsheet 30 has a surface facing the body and a surface facing the garment. The backsheet 30 is impervious to liquids (e.g., menses and urine) and is preferably manufactured from a thin plastic film, although other flexible liquid impervious materials may also be used. As used herein, the term "flexible" refers to materials that are deformable and that will easily conform to the outline and general shape of the human body. The backsheet 30 prevents the exudates absorbed and contained within the absorbent core 32 from wetting the articles that come into contact with the sanitary napkin 20 such as pants, pajamas and undergarments. The backsheet 30 may thus comprise a woven or non-woven material, polymeric films such as polyethylene or polypropylene thermoplastic films, or composite materials such as a film-coated nonwoven material. Preferably, the backsheet is a polyethylene film having a thickness of about 0.012 mm to about 0.051 mm. Exemplary polyethylene films are manufactured by Clopay Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio, under the designation P18-1401 and by Tredegar Film Products of Terre Haute, Indiana under the designation XP-9818. The backsheet is preferably embossed and / or finished without gloss to provide a more fabric-like appearance. In addition, the backsheet 30 can allow the vapors of the absorbent core 32 (ie, breathable) to escape, while still preventing the exudates from passing through the backsheet 30. The topsheet 28 is deformable in soft feel and does not irritant to the user's skin, in addition, the upper sheet 28 is permeable to liquid allowing liquids (for example, menstruation and urine), easily penetrate through its thickness. Suitable top sheets can be manufactured from a wide range of materials such as woven and nonwoven materials; polymeric materials such as thermoplastic films formed with openings, plastic films with openings, hydroformed thermoplastic films; porous foams; cross-linked foams; cross-linked thermoplastic films and thermoplastic films. Suitable woven and nonwoven materials may be composed of natural fibers (eg, wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (eg, polymeric fibers such as polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene fibers), or a combination thereof. natural and synthetic fibers. Preferred top sheets comprise a film formed with openings. Films formed with openings are preferred because they are permeable to exudates and still non-absorbent, and have a reduced tendency to allow liquids to flow back through and rewet the user's skin. In this way, the surface of the formed film that is in contact with the body remains dry, thus reducing the staining of the body and creating a more comfortable feeling for the user. Suitable formed films are described in U.S. Patent 3,929,135, issued to Thompson on December 30, 1975; U.S. Patent 4,324,246 issued to Mullane et al. on April 13, 1982; U.S. Patent 4,342,314 issued to Radel and others on August 3, 1982; U.S. Patent 4,463,045 issued to Ahr et al. on July 31, 1984; U.S. Patent 4,637,819 issued to Ouellette et al. on January 20, 1987, and U.S. Patent 5,006,394 issued to Baird on April 9, 1991. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. Other suitable shaped films include the hydroformed films such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,629,643, issued December 16, 1986 to Curro et al. And in the U.S. patent.

United States 4,609,518 issued on September 2, 1986 to Curro, mamas of which are hereby also incorporated herein by reference. Preferred forms of hydroformed films would include those having micro-apertures formed therein. The top sheet can optionally be composed of a multi-layer polymer film, which exhibits an opaque appearance. This multi-layer film includes a first outer layer composed substantially of a polymeric material and a central polymeric layer containing filler substantially continuously bonded to one side of the first outer layer. The core layer containing filler may include from about 20 to 60% by weight filler relative to the filler containing layer, which are substantially uniformly dispersed therein. A filler such as titanium dioxide or carbonate can be used to give the top sheet an opaque, whitish appearance. The core layer containing filler has a thickness of about 30 to about 70% of the total thickness of the multilayer film. A second outer layer substantially composed of a polymeric material, has a side substantially continuously joined to the second side of the core layer containing filler. The total multilayer film preferably has at least 20% by weight filler relative to the total multilayer film. A suitable example of such a multilayer top sheet is found in the commonly assigned U.S. patent 5,261,899 issued November 16, 1993 to Visscher and Perry, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Preferred polymeric materials for the outer layers and for the core layer containing the filler include polyolefins, particularly polyethylenes, polypropylenes and copolymers having at least one oliefinic constituent. Other materials such as polyesters, nylon, copolymers thereof and combinations of any of the foregoing may also be suitable. The topsheet may alternatively comprise a non-woven web permeable to the fluid preferably formed of a synthetic fibrous material, such as polypropylene, polyester or polyethylene, natural fibers such as wood, cotton or rayon, or combinations of natural and synthetic fibers, as well as various materials of paper, tissue, fibrous materials similar to paper. The non-woven webs can be perforated by techniques known in the art, such as needle-piercing, hydroentangling, etc. The top sheet and the back sheet are joined together in the area of the fins and the end wings by any of the different joining methods known in the art. Suitable methods include adhesive bonding such as a continuous uniform adhesive layer, a patterned adhesive layer or an array of lines, spirals or * separate adhesive spots, or other methods such as heat bonds, pressure joints, ultrasonic joints, mechanical dynamic joints or any other suitable joining means or combinations of these joining means as are known in the art. A currently preferred binding method comprises heat sealing the marginal edges of the topsheet and the backsheet by methods well known in the art as long as they are suitable for these purposes. This method of joining provides an adequate bond between the materials, which has sufficient integrity to survive the various assembly and configuration processes and still does not over-harden the fins or the extreme wings. Particularly when the thermal bonding method is used, it is preferred that the materials used for the top sheet and the backsheet are thermally similar (ie, have similar melting temperatures and melting properties). According to the present invention, it is preferred that at least the surface facing the body of the top sheet be hydrophilic to help transfer the liquid through the top sheet faster than if the body surface were not hydrophilic to decrease the likelihood that menstrual fluid will flow out of the upper sheet instead of being driven and absorbed by the absorbent core. Alternatively, the top sheet can be hydrophobic, at least to a degree. In a preferred embodiment, the topsheet is made hydrophilic by treatment with a surfactant such as described in the aforementioned patent of the United States 4,950,254 issued to Osborn, incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, a surfactant may be incorporated into the polymeric materials of the topsheet as described in the above referenced published PCT application No. WO 93/09741, entitled "Absorbent article having a non-film cover sheet. woven and with opening ", published on March 27, 1993, naming Aziz and others as inventors, incorporated herein by reference. Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, attempts are made to protect all these changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention in the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. - An absorbent article, preferably a sanitary napkin, having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a fluid-permeable upper sheet, a fluid-impermeable back sheet, an absorbent core between the top sheet and the back sheet , two lateral edges extending longitudinally, opposite, and two transversely extending ends opposite, and an securing means for securing the absorbent article to an undergarment during use, characterized in that the securing means comprises: (a) two pairs of extreme wings, each pair of end wings being located substantially with the ends with one end wing extending outward from each of the lateral edges, and preferably being unitarily formed from the top sheet and the back sheet, having the end wings preferably outer edges substantially rounded; and (b) fastening means for securing the end wings to an undergarment during use, said fastening means preferably comprising a band of adhesive, more preferably • pressure sensitive adhesive extending the fastening means substantially continuously and transversely through the backsheet along each of said ends and outwardly on said end wings.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, further characterized in that the absorbent article further includes a pair of fins, preferably formed unitarily from the upper sheet and the rear sheet, extending outwardly from said edges. laterals intermediate the end wings, the fins preferably being substantially free of adhesive and preferably being centrally located.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 2, further characterized in that the end wings have distant ends remotely located from the lateral edges, and characterized in that the adhesive extends outwardly to a location substantially adjacent to the distal ends of the adhesive. the extreme wings.

4. The absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that each pair of the ends comprises two end wings of substantially similar sizes and shapes.

5. The absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 4, further characterized in that the end wings of a pair of the end wings are substantially similar in shape and size to the end wings of the other pair of the end wings.

6. The absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 5, further characterized in that said end wings have distant ends located away from the lateral edges, and wherein the end wings are dimensioned and adapted such that, under conditions of use, said distal ends are located at least evenly with the ends of said absorbent article.

7. The absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 6, further characterized in that said end wings have the distant ends located away from the lateral edges, and wherein the end wings are dimensioned and adapted to link to both surfaces of the undergarment in the vicinity of the far ends.

8. - The absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 7, further characterized in that said pairs of end wings, each comprising two end wings symmetrically located with respect to the longitudinal axis.

9. The absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 8, further characterized in that the fastening means comprises a band extending transversely through the backsheet, along each of said ends and toward outside on said end wings, the backsheet being substantially free of said fastening means between said bands.

10. The absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 9, further characterized in that the end wings extend generally outward from said side edges in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.