The Procter Gamble Company

Ron R McFall

Pamela Jean Brown

Wilfried Maria Kollner

Lee M Hines

Thomas W Osborn

The present invention relates to absorbent devices such as sanitary napkins, pantiliners, interlabial devices, and incontinence devices. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to an improved absorbent device that is insertable into the interlabial space of a female wearer for catamenial purposes (including menses and mid-cycle discharges), incontinence protection (including urine), or both. The absorbent interlabial device has at least on body-contacting surface and a backsheet having an integral protrusion formed therein of sufficient dimensions to aid in insertion into the interlabial space. An apparatus for forming the integral protrusion in the backsheet is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a female forming member having an opening therein, and a compression member having and opening therethough in operative aligned relationship with the opening of the female forming member. A male forming member having a male forming protrusion operatively disposed in aligned relationship with the opening of the female forming member and compression member, and moveable therethough can be urged through the openings. A method of making an integral protrusion in a backsheet is disclosed. The backsheet is compressed between the female forming member and the compression member. The backsheet has an uncompressed region coincident the aligned openings of the female forming member and the compression member. A male forming protrusion is urged through the aligned openings, thereby contacting and straining the backsheet material coincident said first and second openings to form a strain induced plastically deformed protrusion in the backsheet.

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West Chester, OH, United States of America

Ron R McFall