US2566325A - Sanitary products - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 4, 1951 H, GANZ SANITARY PRODUCTS Filed March l, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /3 on Yf/os lNvEN-roR Mew/wf 654ML'.

ATTORNEY Sept. 4, 1951 H, GANZ 2,566,325

SANITARY PRODUCTS Filed March l, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR MSA/@Y GAA/z.

ATTORNEY.

Patented sept. 4, 1951 sammy rnonnc'rs Henry Gans, West Englewood, N. J., assigner to Personal Products Corporation, a corporation ofNewJerley annahm Marea i, 194s, serial No. 'laces 1o Claim. v(cl. 12s-zw' This invention relates to catamenial pads and is concerned primarily with of the disposv able variety.'

Conventional catamenial pads, more popularly called sanitary napkins, consist of oblongpads of absorbent material. In the prior art these would either flt loosely, permitting lateral escape of excessive discharges, or would nt relatively tightly, causing chang and other difficulties due to their dense packing, between'the thighs, occasionally making walking diillcult for the wearer. Moreover, the structure of sanitary napkins of the prior art included no means of confining the fluid discharges within certain parts of the napkin. The fluid would travel erratically. depending upon the amount of ilow and fit of the napkin, and would coagulate and dry all over the surfaces of the napkin and frequently in marginal regions thereof, thus causing stil! and rough edges that would rub against the adjacent anatomy, causing intense discomfort, and occasionally chailng and pain.

In the prior art, attempts to direct the flow of the discharge on the napkin were confined to the interior parts of the napkin. Devices designed to eil'ect this produced little effect as far as direction of ow on the surface of the napkin was concerned and, accordingly, users noticed little improvement in napkins with so-called directed flow over ordinary napkins. Attempts were also made to conform the cut of the napkin to the area from which the discharge emanated. This, however, was apt to produce more discomfort, resulting in a pluglike, stiff pad having rough edges pressing against intensely sensitive areas.

'I'he principal object of the invention is to provide an improved catamenial pad which obviates the disadvantages of prior devices of this character.

A further object of the invention 1s the provision of a catamenlal pad wherein any uterine discharges are retained within a central area of the pad. preventing spread of such discharges to the edges thereof. Still further objects are the provision of a catamenlal pad which conforms readily to the shape of the body and which does not interfere with normal motions of the body, and of a pad which can be made by mass production methods and applied readily, using known application -methods and devices. Other objects will appear from the following description of the invention which is concerned mainly with a sanitary napkin of conventional shape, having a stiffened center that is compressed 'in outline to conform with the outline of the vuivular regions that it contacts, softened conforming side portions and having means to increase absorption of liquid in said center.

For a more complete understanding of the invention. reference is made to the drawings constituting part of this specification wherein:

Fig. 1 is a partial view in perspective showing the application of a sanitary napkin to the body;

Fig. 2 is a partial, vertical cross section, on an enlarged scale through the body. taken at right angles to the front and back along the center line of the napkin held in pomtion in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view in section taken on the line 3 3;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modiiled form of the napkin;

Fig. 5 is a front view looking at the side of the napkin that is used away from the body, broken away to show a fragment of semirepellent perforated web; v

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the napkin shown in Fig. 5, again broken away partially to show the semirepellent perforated web, which in itself is shown more clearly in Fig. 9;-

Fig. 'I is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the pad taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 6, but illustrating a modified form of the pad wherein a non-woven fabric is used as the outer wrapper;

Fig. 9 is a face view of the semirepellent perforated web usable in any of the modifications;

Fig. 10 is a face-view similar to Fig. 5 of a modied pad wherein a non-woven cloth is used as a covering, some parts being broken away;

Fig. l1 is an edge view of Fig. 10, parts being broken away;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic, vertical, sectional view taken -along the same plane as Fig. 13 along line II-II ofFlg. 10; y

Fig. -13 is a diagrammatic, vertical, sectional view taken on the line I3-i 3 of Fig. 10 showing the narrow end of the embossing with some o! the pad folded under on itself;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Figs. 7 and 8 showing still another modied form of the pad.

Fig. l5 is a partial view of the reverse or body side of pad illustrating limitation of the flow by the triangular compression.

In accordance with the invention. an oblong catamenial pad Il is compressed along a substantially closed line. By substantially closed line is meant a line which forms a substantially closed gure inthe geometric sense, thatis, the line, starting at a given point, encloses an -area of the- 3 pad and returns substantially to its starting point. In the preferred form of the invention, part of this line is based on the letter V (see forinstance Pigs. 3, 5, and '1) to outline a substantially triangular shape Il, preferably, conforming in essence to the sector of a circle. 'I his triangular shape Il exceeds in its greatest length the length of the vulvular discharge region and occupies,

obviates one of the greatest disadvantages of4 prior art napkins. As the fluid is conned within a denite area, there is no spread to border regions of the pad. As pointed out earlier, settling, gelation and drying of discharge in the border regions of the pads because of the resultant rough edges, would cause bodily irritation, intense discomfort, chang and pain in the normal use of the napkin. The stiiening effected by the compressed part of the pad provides a napkin that folds in the shape of a natural trough wherein only soft, dry border sections press against irritable parts (see Figs. l-4). In commercial production the compression die is lusually applied from one side or protrudes more deeply into one side than into the other giving deepest compression on that side. We note that best regulated ilow and better conforming of the napkin to the body is attained if the more deeply compressed side of the pad is kept away from the The above-outlined broad concept of the invention may be applied to a wide variety of specie types of napkins. In order to illustrateA the application of the invention to such napkins more clearly, several of these types of napkin will be discussed more in detail hereafter. In Figs. 5-'1 a napkin Il is shown that has an absorbent center pad section I2 composed of loose absorbent fibers such as, for instance alpha-cellulose, or of absorbent matted for woven layer sections. To increase absorptive capacity, the absorbent pad may have on the side to be applied next to the body an absorbent strip Il, e. g. one composed of highly abmrbent paper and on the opposite side, and, if desired, also on the edges, a repellent strip I I, e. g. of paper having a glazed surface, a repellent treatment, for instance with silicones, or a relatively high amount of The entire sandwich is preferably wrapped in a layer of semirepellent material Ii (best shown in Fig. 9), e. g. paper having only a slight amount of rosin size, which is made pervious by pin points I6 or other minute openings or means rendering it pervious where maximum absorption by the napkin is desired. An obvious function of the pin points vIt is the control of the ilow through the napkin and particularly into the absorbent center pad section I2. For example, the pin point openings permit prewettin'g of the absorbent center pad before the main body of the fluid penetrates the repellent strip and accordingly facilitate uid penetration into the absorbent pad andregulate the rate of flow. To aid in the attachment of the napkin to conventional belts,

clasps or other wearing acssories, the napkin formed as described above may be wrappedloosely into an outside wrapper of gauze or other material Il. This gauze layer is preferably wetted or weakened otherwise beforeA the compression step to assist in the penetration and folding action of the compressing knife. I

After compression in the manner indicated, a napkin ofthe type illustrated conforms readily to the body without discomfort, is able to absorb a large amount of fluid discharge without exudation at the margins of the napkin and without hardening of marginal portions, and indeed performs in all respects to satisfaction.

In one embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 8 the gauze wrapping I1 of the sanitary pad is replaced by a layer of soft, non-woven cloth Il formed by arranging any suitable textile fibers (e. g. cotton or rayon) in a thin web and uniting orY bonding them with adhesive (e. g. based on polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate or other polymers), usually at intervals. This product has all the soft and desirable qualities of gauze but conforms more readily to the compression and holds the compression line much better throughout the life of the napkin. In all other respects the embodilnent illustrated in Fig. 8 is identical with the embodiments illustrated and described previously and similar numerals refer to similar components of the napkin throughout Fig. 8 and subsequent figures.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 10-13, the semirepellent layer lia is pervious, e. g. by perforations forming a narrow area I9 next to the body that is penetrated readily by flow. This narrow area. is preferably near the center of the triangular embossing where anatomically most flow is to be expected in use. The napkin made according to this modification performs satisfactorily in all respects and shows even better ow absorption than the napkins described above.

Still another modification is illustrated in Fig. 14. 'In this modification, which is in other respects similar to the modification illustrated in Figs. 10-11, layers of absorbent pulpv powder Ita and I2b are confined to the regions near the surface yof the napkin. and farther inside the napkin there are layers I9 and I9a that are less absorbent together with layers 2li, 2la and 2lc of repellent paper. A construction of this type provides excellent absorption and retention of fluid discharges without requiring too large an amount of the more expensive absorbent ller materials.

In any and all of the modifications of the napkin the spread and absorption of the fluid discharge F may be controlled by compression to result in the type of absorption pattern illustrated in Fig. 15. If s'uch embossing is used, the center of the napkin, due to the compression, becomes bridged, preventing acutting and chang action. Compression of the fiber layers, whether they are in pulp or in matted or woven form, provides definite channel guides to prevent absorption of yication and/or the appended claims are comprehended within the scope and spirit of this invention. These various embodiments of the invention were described for purposes of illustration rather than limitation. All variations and vmodliications of the invention are understood as being included within the scope thereof.

The invention claimed is:

l. A sanitary4 napkin comprising an absorbent pad, divided by a closed line of compression adapted to resist spread of liquid across it, into a stiffened center portion adapted to absorb liquid and into softened conforming side portions protected against spread of liquid by said line of compression.

2. A sanitary napkin comprising an oblong absorbent pad, divided by a substantially closed line of compression, substantially in the shape of a longitudinal letter V spread over most of the body portion of said pad, and adapted to resist spread of liquid across it, into a stiffened center portion adapted to absorb liquid and into softened conforming side portions protected against spread of liquid by said line of compression.

3. A sanitary napkin comprising an absorbent pad, divided by a substantially closed line of compression, substantially in the shape of a longitudinal letter V, and adapted to resist spread of liquid across it, into a stiil'ened center portion adapted to absorb liquid and into softened conforming side portions protected against spread of liquid by said line of compression.

4. A sanitary napkin comprising an absorbent pad, divided by a substantially closed line of compression, substantially in the shape of a longitudinalletter V, adapted to resist spread of liquid across it, and deeper on one face oi' the napkin than on the other, into a stifened center portion adapted to absorb liquid and into softened conforming portions protected against spread of liquid by said line of compression, said center portion and said side portions being adapted to form in use a trough for the reception of fluid discharges.

5. A sanitary napkin comprising an absorbent pad, divided by a closed line of compression adapted to resist spread of liquid across it, into a stiilened center portion adapted to absorb liquid and into softened conforming side portions protected against spread of liquid by said line of compression, said napkin having a cover comprising a web of soit non-woven cloth comprising textile fibers united at intervals by adhesive bonds and adapted to retain said line of compression on the surface of said napkin.

6. A sanitary napkin comprising an absorbent pad, divided by a substantially closed line of compression, substantially in the shape of a longitudinal letter V, adapted to resist spread of liquid across it, and deeper on one face oi' the napkin than on the other, into a stiifened center portion adapted to absorb liquid and into softened conforming portions protected against spread of liquid by said line of compression, said center portion and said side portions in use adapted to form a trough for the reception of fluid discharges, and said napkin having a cover comprising a web of soft non-woven cloth comprising textile flbers united at intervals by adhesive bonds and adapted to retain said line of compression on the surface of said napkin.

7. A sanitary napkin comprising an absorbent pad, divided by a substantially closed line of 6 compression, substantially in the shape of a longitudinal letter V and adapted to resist spread of liquid-across it, into a stiifened center portion adapted to absorb liquid and into softened conforming side portions protected against spread of liquid by said line of compression, said pad having B. least part of its side surfaces, and a semirepellent layer covering the remaining surfaces and having a pervious area situated centrally so as to increase absorption of liquid discharges at limited areas, said napkin having a cover comprislng a web of soft non-woven cloth comprising textile fibers united at intervals by adhesive bonds and adapted to retain said line of compression on the surface oi said napkin.

8. A sanitary napkin comprising an absorbent pad having a repellent covering on one surface and at least part of its side surfaces, a semirepellent layer covering the remaining surfaces and having a rgroup of pin point openings situated centrally so as to increase absorption of liquid discharges at limited areas, and porous, highly absorbent ber layers below said pin point op'enings, in contact with said semi-,repellent layer and with said pin point openings, whereby prewetting of said fiber layersA is facilitated prior to full penetration of the semi-repellent layer by fluid and ow of iiuid into said napkin is regulated.

9'. vA sanitary napkin comprising an absorbent pad, divided by a substantially closed line of compression, substantially in the shape of a longitudinal letter v and adapted to resist spread of liquid across it, intov a stiifened center portion adapted to absorb liquid and into softened conforming side portions protected against spread of liquid by said line of` compression, said pad having a repellent covering on one surface and at least part of its side surfaces and a semirepellent layer covering the remaining surfaces and having a pervious area situated centrally so as to increase absorption of Aliquid discharges at limited areas.

10. A sanitary napkin comprising an absorbent pad, divided by a substantially closed line of compression, substantially in the shape of a longitudinal letter V and adapted to resist spread of liquid across it, into a stiifened center portion adapted to absorb liquid and into softened conforming side portions protected against spread of liquid by said line of compression, said pad. having a repellent covering on one surface and at least part of its side surfaces, and a semirepellent layer covering the remaining surfaces and having a group of minute perforations situated centrally so as to increase absorption of liquid discharges at limited areas and porous highly absorbent fiber layers below said perforations.

HENRY GANZ.

BEFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,024,976 Mathey et al. Dec. 17, 1935 2,069,092 Jackson Jan. 26, 1937 2,294,899 Fourness et al Sept. 8, 1942 2,464,640 Fourness Mar. 15, 1949 epellent covering on one surface and at eminem of @mmm Patent No. 2,566,325

HENRY Gumz` Septembf 4, 1951 4 It is hereby certified that error appears in the, printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction` as follows:

Column 1, line 7, after fit insert mtnher; column 3, line 51, for matted for read matted or;

and that the seid'Lettere'Pat-,ent should be read las corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record'of the case in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 11th day o? December, A. D. 1951.

IMJ"

Y THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant 00m/@ism ofPatentc.

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