Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Wordwide, Inc.

Janet Jessie Larsen

Valerie Victoria Finch

Tammy Jo Balzar

James Dell Milner

Pamela Jean DeShaney

Rebecca Lyn Dilnik

Kim LaRae Resheski-Wedepohl

Mary Watt Goggans

An individually wrapped absorbent article, such as a catamenial device, is disclosed. The absorbent article has first and second ends, first and second longitudinal sides and first and second major surfaces. The second major surface has a garment attachment adhesive secured thereto. The absorbent article is enclosed by a wrapper having first and second ends, first and second longitudinal sides and first and second major surfaces. The first major surface of the wrapper is releasably affixed to the garment attachment adhesive such that the first end of the absorbent article at a minimum is flush with the first end of the wrapper. When so attached, the second end of the wrapper will extend beyond the second end of the absorbent article and the first and second sides of the wrapper will extend laterally outward from the first and second sides of the absorbent article, respectively. An attachment device is secured to the second major surface of the wrapper approximate the first end. The wrapper and the absorbent article are folded together about two fold axes such that the first major surface of the wrapper contacts the attachment device and is releaseably secured thereto to form a package. The package has first and second side edges aligned approximately parallel to the first and second longitudinal sides of the absorbent article, respectively. A first seal and a second seal secure the first and second side edges together. The package further contains at least one line of perforations formed in the wrapper adjacent to and inward from one of the first and second seals. The line of perforations provide an easy open feature for the package.

Individually wrapped absorbent article which uses a minimum amount of wrapper material

This invention relates to an individually wrapped absorbent article. The absorbent article has first and second ends, first and second sides, and first and second major surfaces. The second major surface of the absorbent article has a garment attachment adhesive secured thereto. A release strip is removably secured to the garment attachment adhesive to prevent premature contamination of the garment attachment adhesive before the absorbent article is secured to an undergarment. The absorbent article is wrapped in a wrapper having first and second ends, first and second sides, and first and second major surfaces. A first major surface of the wrapper is positioned adjacent to the release strip with the first and second ends of the wrapper extending beyond the first and second ends, respectively, of the absorbent article. In addition, the first and second sides of the wrapper extend beyond the first and second sides, respectively, of the absorbent article. An attachment device is secured to the second major surface of the wrapper approximate the first ends thereof. The wrapper and absorbent article are then folded together about two fold axes such that the first major surface of the wrapper contacts the attachment device and is releasably secured thereto to form a package. The package has first and second side edges aligned approximately parallel to the first and second sides of the absorbent article. The first and second side edges of the package are bonded together by first and second seals, respectively, and at least one line of perforations is formed in the wrapper which provides an easy open feature for the package. Alternatively, the package can contain two lines of perforations which are aligned adjacent to the first and second seals which allow the wrapper to be torn open into three separate and distinct sections.

Individually wrapped absorbent article

An individually packaged absorbent article, such as a catamenial device, is disclosed. The absorbent article has an outer periphery with first and second ends and first and second longitudinal sides. The absorbent article further has first and second major surfaces, with the second major surface having an garment attachment adhesive secured thereto. The absorbent article is enclosed by a wrapper having first and second ends, first and second longitudinal sides, and first and second major surfaces. The first major surface of the wrapper is releasably affixed to the garment attachment adhesive such that the first and second ends of the wrapper and the first and second longitudinal sides of the wrapper extend beyond the outer periphery of the absorbent article. An attachment device, such as a line of an adhesive or one or more dots of adhesive, is secured to the second major surface of the wrapper and is located closer to the first end than to the second end. The wrapper and the article are folded together as a unit about two fold axes such that the first major surface of the wrapper contacts the attachment device and is releasably secured thereto to form a package. The package has first and second side edges aligned adjacent to the first and second sides of the absorbent article, respectively. Formed approximately at the first and second side edges of the package are first and second seals, respectively. The first and second seals secure the side edges of the package. Located adjacent to and inward of the first and second seals are first and second lines of perforations, respectively. The first and second lines of perforations provide an easy open feature for the package.

Individually packaged absorbent article

Disclosed is an absorbent article having an absorbent core. The absorbent core includes a primary absorbent member and a secondary absorbent member. The primary absorbent member has a fluid distribution rate, expressed as the ratio of a stain area in the primary absorbent member to a stain area in the secondary absorbent member, along a X-Y direction greater than about 1.8 times faster than the secondary absorbent member. The fluid distribution rate is expressed as a ratio of a stain area in the primary absorbent member to a stain area in the secondary absorbent member five minutes after a given volume of test fluid insults the absorbent core. The secondary absorbent member has a substantial portion thereof composed of a non-absorbent polymeric composition. The secondary absorbent member is superposed over a portion of the primary absorbent member. In a preferred embodiment, the secondary absorbent member has an aperture or orifice having an open surface area greater than about 20% of the secondary absorbent member surface area.

Absorbent article having a thin, efficient absorbent core

An absorbent article is provided having a central longitudinal axis and barriers positioned on opposing sides of the central axis. The absorbent article further includes an adhesive secured superposed over about 5% to about 100% of the bodyfacing surfaces of the barrier elements. The adhesive has a rheological property tan .delta. of less than about 0.01 at a frequency of about 0.1 radians per second and a tan .delta. of less than about 0.1 at a frequency of about 1000 radians per second.

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Neenah, WI, United States of America

Janet Jessie Larsen