US3230956A - Sanitary napkins - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 25, 1966 A. s. KARGUL SANITARY NAPKINS Filed Aug. 22, 1963 INVENTOR ALOYSIUS S. KARGUL Vuunon) ATTORNEY United States Patent "ice 3,230,956 SANHTARY NAPKRNS Aloysius S. Kargul, 24 Williams Sh, .iewett City, Conn. Filed Aug. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 3%,836 1 Claim. (Ci. 12829t)) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sanitary napkins and the principal object of the invention is to faciiitate convenient wrapping of such napkins so that they may be quickly and easily disposed of after use.

This object is attained by providing the napkin with a moisture resistant cover which in a folded form is attached to the outer surface of the napkin, but which may be readily unfolded and extended around the napkin to constitute a wrapper therefor after the napkin has been used and is to be discarded.

As such, the invention eliminates the need of using conventional wrapping material which often is not readily available. Moreover, the cover of the invention is so arranged that it may be easily unfolded and wrapped around the napkin without touching the soiled pad portion of the napk'm by the fingers.

The cover-equipped napkin is unobtrusive, light in weight, comfortable to wear, and adaptable to economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a sanitary napkin equipped with the cover of the invention, the cover being in its folded position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view thereof with one side portion of the cover being partially unfolded and one end portion of the napkin being turned under the central pad portion;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sanitary napkin with the cover completely encompassing the pad;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in FIG- URE 1.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the general reference numeral designates a conventional sanitary napkin having the usual central pad portion 11 and a pair of flexible end portions 12, the pad portion 11 having an outer surface 13 and an inner surface 14, the later being next to the body when the napkin is worn.

The cover of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 15 and is formed from suitable moisture resistant material such as plastic, or the like, which is preferably non-transparent.

The cover 15 includes a central portion 16 which is secured to the outer surface 13 of the pad portion 11, and pleated side portions 17 which are zig-zag folded upon the central portion 15, so that in its folded form, the entire cover is disposed within the area of the outer surface 13 of the pad portion. Rupturable means are provided for retaining the cover in its folded form, these means comprising a tear strip 18 which connects together the free edges of the pleated side portions 17. The ends of the pleated side portions 17 of the cover are permanently secured to the pad portion 11, as by adhesive, stitching, or the like, indicated at 19.

3,239,956 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 After the napkin has been used and is to be discarded, the tear strip 18 is torn away and the pleated side portions 17 of the cover are spread out or unfolded as exemplified in FIGURE 2, while the cover remains permanently secured to the napkin by the securing means 19 at the ends of the cover portions 17. The end portions 12 of the napkin are turned under or folded against the inner surface 14 of the pad portion 11 and the spread out or unfolded side portions of the cover are wrapped around the napkin so that the latter becomes completely enveloped by the cover, as shown in FIGURE 3, for sanitary disposal. It is to be noted that while the side portions of the cover are being spread out or unfolded and wrapped around the napkin, the securing means 19 at the ends of the cover will be drawn toward each other, thus correspondingly shortening the length of the pad portion 11 or causing the same to be longitudinally curved to some extent. Such deformation of the napkin permits the cover to be wrapped therearound, including around the ends of the pad portion 11 beyond the securing means 19, so that the napkin is completely enveloped.

It may be also noted that the unfolding of the cover and wrapping thereof around the napkin may be quickly and easily performed without touching the soiled napkin by the fingers, since the cover itself affords convenient means for handling the napkin during the wrapping procedure.

Apart from its primary purpose of providing a wrapper for the napkin after use, the cover may also be used during periods of heavy menstrual flow, at which time the cover may be partially unfolded while the napkin is worn to prevent soiling of clothing.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

The combination of a sanitary napkin having a central pad portion with inner and outer surfaces and a pair of flexible end portions adapted to be folded against the inner surface of said pad portion after the napkin has been used, and a cover of moisture resistant material attached to the outer surface of said pad portion, said cover having a folded form whereby it is normally disposed within the area of said outer surface of the pad portion, but being unfoldable and extensible around the pad portion and the end portions folded thereagainst to constitute a wrapper for the napkin, said cover including a central portion secured to the outer surface of said pad portion, pleated side portions zig-zag folded on said central portion, and rupturable means connecting free edges of said side portions together whereby to retain the cover in its folded form.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,024,788 3/1962 Lane 128-290 3,035,578 5/1962 Elmore 1282901 FOREIGN PATENTS 868,299 5/ 1961 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

C. F. ROSENBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

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