CA2239464C - Absorbent articles having panty covering components that naturally wrap the sides of panties - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and incontinence pads. More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, that have longitudinal side edge components (52) that naturally wrap the sides (22) of a wearer's panties which provide an alternative to conventional side flaps. The side edge components are extensible, and may be attached inboard of the longitudinal edges of the main body of the article, or be decoupled from the main body, or comprise part of the impervious backsheet of the main body.

Description

ABSORBENT ARTICLES HAVING
PANTY COVERING COMPONENTS THAT
NATURALLY WRAP THE SIDES OF PANTIES
The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and incontinence pads. More particularly, the present invention relates to sanitary napkins that have longitudinal side edge components that naturally wrap the sides of a wearer's panties which provide an alternative to conventional side flaps.
Absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, pantiliners,-and incontinence pads are devices that are typically worn in the crotch region of an undergarnent. These devices are designed to absorb and retain liquid and other discharges from the human body and to prevent body and clothing soiling. Sanitary napkins are a type of absorbent article worn by women in a pair of panties that is normally positioned between the wearer's legs, adjacent to the perineal area of the body. Sanitary napkins both with and without side flaps (or wings) are disclosed in the literature and are available in the marketplace. Soee particularly preferred sanitary napkins that do not require flaps are described in U.S.

Patents 4,950,264 and 5,009,653 issued to Osborn on August 21, 1990 and April 23, 1991, respectively.
Generally when sanitary napkins are provided with flaps, the flaps extend laterally from a central absorbent means and ire intended to be folded around the edges of the wearer's panties in the crotch region. Thus, the flaps are disposed between the edges of the wearer's panties in the crotch region and the wearer's thighs. Commonly, the flaps are provided with an attachment means for either affixing the flaps to the underside of the vearer's panties or to the opposing flap. The flaps are particularly effective for preventing exudates froo soiling the edges of the wearer's panties. __ Sanitary napkins having flaps of various types are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,687,478, entitled 'Shaped Sanitary Napkin Nith Flaps', which issued to Van Tilburg on August 18, 1987; U.S.
Patent 4,608,047, entitled 'Sanitary Napkin Attachment Neans', which issued to Mattingly on August 26, 1986; U.S. Patent 4,589,876, entitled 'Sanitary Napkin', which issued to Van Tilburg on flay 20, 1986 and its Reexa~ination Patent No. B1 4,589,876, Certificate of Reexamination issued Aprl1 Z7, 1993; U.S. Patent 4,285,343, entitled 'Sanitary Napkin', which issued to McNair on August 25, 1981; U.S. Patent 3,397,697, entitled 'Disposable Sanitary Shield for Undergarnents', which issued to Rickard on August 20, 1968; and, U.S. Patent 2,787,271, entitled 'Sanitary Napkin', which issued to Clark on April 2, 1957.
lihile sanitary napkins having flaps are commonly viewed as providing better protection against soiling as compared to sanitary napkins without flaps, some women find applying sanitary napkins having flaps to be inconvenient for various reasons. For instance, some women find it to be difficult to attach the flaps to the underside of the crotch of their panties. This can be due to factors such as the tendency for the adhesive fasteners on the flaps to stick to themselves or to other parts of the sanitary napkin. As a result, some women still prefer a sanitary napkin without flaps, and some women who generally prefer a sanitary napkin rith flaps, occasionally (such as during periods of light flow) prefer a sanitary napkin rithout flaps. Therefore, there is a need for a sanitary napkin rhich provides an alternative to sanitary napkins having conventional side flaps rhile still providing the protection of side flaps.
In addition, both sanitary napkins rith and rithout flaps are subject to the problem that the rearer's undergarnents move rith the rearer's ~oveuents during rear. These stresses gay cause the sanitary napkin to shift frog its desired position in the wearer's undergarment. !lost sanitary napkins, however, provide no mechanism for adjusting to these raveaents. This puts stresses on the sanitary napkin and the flaps. The failure to provide the.
sanitary napkin rith a mechanism to adjust to the difference betreen the ~ovewent of the rearer's undergarments and the rearer's body gay also cause the sanitary napkin to be not as comfortable as it could be than if it stretched and conforned with the rearer's Movements and to the wearer's undergaraents.
Several variations of sanitary napkins having conventional fl aps that attempt to so! ve sore, but not al 1 of these probl e~s are disclosed in the patent literature. For example, U.S. Patent 4,911,701 issued to llavinkurve discloses a sanitary napkin having elastic strands for providing a greater convex shape to the body-facing portion of the central absorbent and for enabling adhesive-free placewent of the flaps of a winged napkin embodiment into a pair of panties. The sanitary napkin described in this patent, horever, still appears to require the user to Manipulate the flaps (by first flipping the flaps upward and then placing the flaps in her panties and flipping the flaps back dorn) since the flaps appear to be pre-disposed to be in a dornward folded condition. The havinkurve patent also requires that individual elastic strands be attached in a contracted condition to the central absorbent portion of the napkin and/or to its rings or flaps. The napkins described in the Navinkurve patent can, therefore, be difficult and expensive to Manufacture. The WO 94/02096 PCT/US93/0695~

Havinkurve patent also does not disclose any mechanism to account for differences in movement and extensibility of the central absorbent of the napkin and the wearer's panties.
U.S. Patent 4,940,462 issued to Salerno discloses a sanitary napkin with longitudinally expandable flaps. The flaps are designed to fold over the exterior of the wearer's panty and then to expand to conform with the contour of the panties. The Salerno patent, however (in Colu~n 5), appears to require conventional adhesive fasteners to retain the flaps in place on the underside of the wearer's panties. Further, the sanitary napkin shown in the Salerno patent suffers from several drawbacks due to the fact that the longitudinally expandable flaps extend directly outward fran the longitudinal sides of the absorbent eie~ent. T4e __ expandable flaps in Salerno ire attached directly to an.
inextensible body. This limits the~extensibility of the portions of the Salerno flaps that are located adjacent to the absorbent eleoent. In order for the Salerno flaps to extend an awount sufficient to crap around the panty elastics, the flaps have to have a relatively wide transverse dimension. This is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the Salerno reference. The extra flap Material can extend too far outward beyond the panty elastics to create a sloppy border that hangs out of the wearer's panties.
Another drawback to the flap construction shorn ~in both the havinkurve and Salerno references is that the att~cha~ent of the expandable flaps directly to the longitudinal sides of the absorbent element leads to the problda that any compression of the absorbent elesent will cause the flaps to retract transversely inward. Any bunching of the absorbent element in the sanitary napkins shown in these references, such as that caused by compression by the wearer's legs, causes the flaps to lose their ability to cover a given area of the wearer's panties. The Salerno patent, like the havinkurve patent, also does not disclose any mechanism to account for differences in oovea~ent and extensibility of the central portion of the napkin and the wearer's panties.

Thus, a need exists for an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, that is provided with an alternative to conventional flaps. In particular, a need exists for a sanitary napkin having an alternative to conventional flaps which provides the protection from soiling of conventional flaps and which can conveniently and efficiently solve the problems caused when attempting to attach conventional flaps to the underside of the wearer's panties and of the failure of the sanitary napkins having conventional flaps to stretch to conform to the wearer's body and the wearer's panties. A need also exists for a sanitary napkin that has a mechanism to adjust to the difference between the movement of the wearer's panties and the wearer's body.
It is, therefore, an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, that is able to provide coverage to the wearer's panties to reduce side soiling (i.e., staining of the edges of the panty crotch) without the use of conventional flaps.
It is another object of an aspect of the present invention to provide an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin that automatically wraps around the sides of the wearer's panties by the simple action of the wearer pulling up her panties.
It is still another object of an aspect of the present invention to provide an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, that is able to wrap around the sides of the wearer's panties and stay without providing flaps having panty fasteners thereon, and without attaching separate elastic strands to the sanitary napkin.
It is another object of an aspect of the present invention to provide an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin that has a mechanism for attachment of the sanitary napkin to the wearer's panties that stretches to conform to the wearer's body and the wearer's panties, and responds to the wearer's movements to allow better conformation between the sanitary napkin and the wearer's body and between the sanitary napkin and the wearer's panties.
It is yet another object of an aspect of the present invention to provide an absorbent article, particularly a relatively thin absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, that is capable of extending, or more preferably, stretching when the article is worn for improved comfort and fit.
These and other objects of aspects of the present invention will be more rapidly apparent when considered in reference to the following description and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention provides an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin. The sanitary napkin of the present invention has an undergarment covering component (or "panty" covering component") that provides coverage to the wearer's panties to reduce side soiling (i.e., staining of the edges of the panty crotch) without the use of conventional flaps.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there is an absorbent article having a longitudinal dimension extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse dimension extending in a transverse direction, a longitudinal centerline, and a transverse centerline, the absorbent article comprises:
a main body portion comprising an absorbent core, the main body portion having a body-facing side, a garment-facing side, and a pair of longitudinal side edges;

6a an undergarment covering component, the undergarment covering component being joined to the garment-facing side of the main body portion by a decoupling component, the decoupling component joining to the main body portion at a pair of junctures being unattached between the junctures to define an unattached region of the main Body portion that can move apart from the undergarment covering component, the undergarment covering component comprising a pair of side wrapping elements that extend laterally outward beyond the longitudinal side edges of the main body portion a distance of less than one-half the width of the main body portion to distal edges, wherein at least a portion of the undergarment covering component is extensible generally in the longitudinal direction between the affixation points and the distal edges of the side wrapping elements.
The sanit:ry napkin coe~rises a sain body portion coaprising a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid is~ervious hacksheet joined to the topsheet; and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The underganrent covering cooponent (or panty covering cooponent) is joined to the Rain body portion.
The undergan~ent covering cosponent is wider than the crotch region of the undergarrent. The undergarsent covering coeiponent has a pair of short, flexible (and in tope embodiments, drapable) longitudinal side portions (or 'side wrapping ele~oents') that extend beyond the crotch edge portions of the wearer's undergan~ent. The side wrapping eleoents have a high fold retention. The underganoent covering cos~onent comprises at least soiae extensible portions that ire provided with a low return force or no return force (force that tends to cause the extensible portions to retract after they have been extended). Preferably, the extensible portions comprise at least a portion of the undergarment covering component which is located between the affixation points where the undergarment covering component is joined to the vain body portion and the distal edges of the side wrapping elements. The fact that the extensible portions are provided with a low return force and the side wrapping elea~ents have a high fold retention allows the side yapping eleaents of the undergaraent covering coaponent to automatically fold around the crotch edge portions of the wearer's undergaraent toward the underside of the undergaraent and to remain so folded when the absorbent article is placed in an undergarment and the undergarment is pulled up adjacent the wearer's body.
__.
The extensible portions of the undergara~ent covering component nay comprise any t~rpe of extensible structure, including materials that have an inherent extensibility and oaterials that are gathered, pleated, or othewise forned into extensible __ structures. These portions can be extensible 1n the longitudinal direction, the transverse direction, or both. The undergarnent covering component can cooprise a laminate of one or core nonwoven materials and an elastoaieric file. In one alternative version of this laeinate eabodiment, the elastomeric filw can be present 1n all but the four regions of the laminate where the periphery of the underganient covering elewent intersects with the edges of the wearer's panty crotch. In other embodiments, the undergarnent covering cooponent can be extensible only in these four regions and inextensible everywhere else.
A non-li~iting nuiaber of additional variations of the undergarment covering coeponent are described herein. For instance, the undergarment covering component can cooprise the backsheet of the sanitary napkin. In still other embodioents, the sanitary napkin can comprise an undergaroent covering coe~onent which is a separate eleoent that is attached to the gain body portion of the sanitary napkin at spaced apart attachment zones.
The undergarnent covering coAponent is unattached to the gain body portion between the- attachment zones to provide unattached portions of the undergarment covering component in the central region of the main body portion. The unattached portions of the undergarment covering component are capable of separating from the main body portion so that the main body portion of the sanitary napkin can stay in contact with the wearer's body and the undergarment covering component can stay attached to the wearer's panties even when the panties pull away froo the wearer's body during wear.
In variations of this latter embodiment, the undergarment covering component can be joined to the main body portion of the sanitary napkin by material- that has slick built into it by providing flaccid material, pleated material, extensible oaterial-,-or the like between the main body portion and the underganaent covering coa~ponent. Numerous other variations are possible. For example, the sanitary napkin of the present invention gay comprise a main body portion that has its longitudinal side Margins folded inward underneath the main body portion of the sanitary napkin and the longitudinal side margins attached to an extensible panty covering component that extends outward beyond the longitudinal side margins of the gain body portion. In still another embodiment, the sanitary napkin comprises an extensible gain body portion (including an extensible topsheet that is attached to an extensible backsheet which extends beyond the longitudinal edges of the absorbent core).
The sanitary napkin of the present invention provides an alternative to sanitary napkins having conventional side flaps for several reasons. The underganient covering component does not extend far enough outward beyond the side edges of the wearer's panties to cause any inconvenience to the wearer. The undergarment covering component requires no action on the part of the wearer to fold the side wrapping elements under her panties or to attach the same to her panties. The underganient covering component stays 1n place well enough to cover the sides edges of the wearer's panties without affixing it to the outside surface of the panties.
~,RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the specification concludes with cla ms particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject utter which is regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood free the following description which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the sanitary napkin of the present invention. ' --FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view taken along line 2-2 of the sanitary napkin shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the sanitary napkin shown in FIG. 1 shown before use.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the sanitary napkin shown in FIG. 1 (taken frog an angle similar to that of FIG. 3) in an in-use configuration.
FIG. 5 is an end view of the sanitary napkin shown in FIG. 1 in an in-use configuration.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view showing the extensibility of the main body portion of the sanitary napkin shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a table which shows preferred relationships between the magnitude of stretching forces applied to the sanitary napkin and the amount the sanitary napkin stretches in response to such forces .

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an absorbent core that is provided with slits in the central region of the same.
FIGS. 9 and 9A are simplified end views of a known sanitary napkin having longitudinally extensible flaps. Fig. 9A, and the other figures designated with a letter 'A', are end views shown after the absorbent element has been compressed. (These figures have been shown without the flaps wrapped around the crotch of an undergarment for simplicity.]
FIGS. 10 through 15C are end views of several basic embodiments that show various features of the sanitary napkin of the present invention.
__ FIG. 16 is a simplified schematic side view of the procedure used to measure resistance to edge compression of the side wrapping elements.
FIGS. 17-20 are plan views of sanitary napkins having several alternative configurations of the attachment mechanism used to loin the panty covering component to the gain body portion of the sanitary napkin.
FIG. 21 is a bottan plan view of a panty covering component having hook-like aechanical fasteners distributed radially on portions thereof, as shown in place in a section of a panty crotch.
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a portion of a panty with the sanitary napkin of the present invention in place therein.
FIG. 23 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the panty covering component of the present invention.
FIG. 24 is a top plan view of a sanitary napkin having a panty covering component that is generally inextensible with the exception of zones in the corners of the panty covering. co~onent.

FIG. 25 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sanitary napkin having its longitudinal side margins folded underneath its main body portion and attached to a panty covering component.
FIG. 26 is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a sanitary napkin comprised of extensible components in which the backsheet is an extensible Material that extends outward beyond the topsheet and absorbent core to serve as the panty covering component.
FIG. 27 is a graph showing the 'set' of an extensible material after going through several cycles of elongation.
FIG. 28 is a graph that shows the edge compression of an __._ extensible material.
1. general Characteristics of th Ahenri~snt ~rtirt~
The overall characteristics of the absorbent article of the present invention will be discussed first.
FIGS. 1-5 show a preferred eaibodiaient of a disposable absorbent article of the present invention 20. The present invention relates to absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins.
lore particularly, the present invention relates to sanitary napkins that have a gain body portion 21 (or 'basic sanitary napkin' or 'base sanitary napkin') that cooprises the portions of the sanitary napkin without the underganaent covering component, and an undergaraent covering component ('garment covering component', or 'panty covering component'] 100 that preferably stretches with the rearer's panties and automatically craps the sides of the wearer's panties when the wearer places the sanitary napkin in her panties and pulls her panties up.

The term 'absorbent article', as used herein, refers to articles which absorb and contain body exudates. !lore specifically, the term refers to articles which are placed against or in proximity to the body of the wearer to absorb and contain the various exudates discharged from the body. The term 'absorbent article' is intended to include sanitary napkins, pantiliners, and incontinence pads (and other articles norn in the crotch region of a ganient). The term 'disposable' refers to articles which are intended to be discarded after a single use and preferably recycled, composted, ar other~rise disposed _of in an environmentally compatible manner. (That is, they ire not intended to be laundered or otherwise restored or reused as an absorbent article.) In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the absorbent article is a sanitary napkin designated 20. .
_ -The term 'sanitary napkin', as used herein, refers to an article which is horn by females adjacent to the pudenda! region that is intended to absorb and contain the various exudates which are discharged from the body (e.g., blood, menses, and urine). It should be understood, however, that the present invention is also applicable to other feminine hygiene or catamenial pads such as panty liners, or other absorbent articles such as incontinence pads, and the like.
The sanitary napkin 20 has tno surfaces, a liquid pervious body-contacting surface or 'body surface' 20A and a liquid impervious garment surface 208. The sanitary napkin 20 is shown - in FI6. 1 as viewed from its body surface 20A. The body surface 20A is intended to be morn adjacent to the body of the nearer.
The garnent surface 20B of the sanitary napkin 20 (shown in FI6.
2) is on the opposite side and is intended to be placed adjacent to the hearer's undergarments nhen the sanitary napkin 20 is worn.
The sanitary napkin 20 has tno 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 wo vaio2~ rcrmsv3~os9s~

aligned with (e. g., approximately parallel to) a vertical plane which bisects a standing wearer into left and right body halves when the sanitary napkin 20 is worn. The terms 'transverse" or "lateral" used herein, are interchangeable, and refer to a line, axis or direction which lies within the plane of the sanitary ' napkin 20 that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
FIG. l shows that the main body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin 20 has two Spaced apart longitudinal edgos 22, two spaced apart transverse or end edges (or 'ends") 24, and four corners 27, which together fanir the periphery 26 of the main body portion of the sanitary napkin 20. The slain body portion also has two end regions, which are designated first end region 28 and second end region 30. R central region 32 is disposed between the end.
regions 28 and 30. The end regions 28 and 90 extend outwardly fraai the edges of the central region 32 about 1/8 to about 1/3 of the length of the main body portion. A detailed description of the central region 32 and the two end regions 28 and 34 is contained in U.S. Pstent 4,690,680 issued to Hlggins on September I, 1987.
The sanlt~try napkin 20 (or main body portion thereof) can be of any thickness, including relatively thici~, relativ~rly thin, or even very thin. The embodiaisnt of the sanitary napkin 20 shown in Figures 1-3 of the drawings is intended to be an example of a relatively thin sanitary napkin, preferably an "ultra-thin"
sanitary napkin. It should be understood, however, when viewing these figures the number of layers of material shown cause the sanitsry napkin 2t1 to appear such thicker than it actually 1s. An 'ultra-thin' sanitary napkin 20 as described 1n U.S. Patents 4,950,26 and 5,009,653 issued to Osbarn preferably has a caliper of less than about 3 milli~asters. The thin sanitary napkin 20 shown should also be preferably relatively flexible, so that it is comfortable far the nearer. , WO 94f!!?.09b PCT/US93/06957 F1G. 2 sho~rs the individual cooponents of the main body portion 2l of the sanitary napkin 20 of the present invention.
The main body portion 20 shown in FIG. 2 generally camprlses at least three primary components. These include a liquid pervious topshest 38, a ~iqutd impervious backsheet (or 'barrier means') ~0, and an absorbent core 42 positioned between the topsheet 35 and the backshest 40. There ors occasions, however, when one or more of these campopents, such as the backshest, can ba replaced by a component that serves as part of the undergarment covering component described below. The main body port34n 2l of thø
sanitary napkin 20 can be comprised of a~ostiy conventional coaroanents, and as a result, be generally inextensible. In preferred e~nbodi~nents, however, gain body portion of the sapitary napkin is one of those described in U.S. Patent Application Serial Nas. 07/91S,i33 and 07/915,25 both filed July 23, 1992, fn the name of Osborn, et al. (PCT Publication woe. 110 93/0I785 and 93/01786 both pulrliahed February ~, 1993), which is comprised of one or more extensible components. flare preferably, the main body portion 21 is coatprised of all extensible co~aponents, and the sanitary napkin has an overall extensibility.
Th$ sapitary napkin 20 of the present invention also comprises a panty covering can~ponsnt 100. The panty covering component I40 caimprises a pair of side wrapping elements 52 that extend laterally outward beyond the longitudinal side edges 22 of the main body portion 2i a distance of less than one-half the width of the main body portion to the distal edges 53 of thB side wrapping elwients 52. At least portions of the panty covering component 100 are extensible. The extensible portions of the panty covering component 140 should generally be located between the paints where the panty covering component is attached to the gain body portion, Q, and the distal edges 53 of the side wrapping elements 52. The sills wrapping elements 5Z are the portions of the panty covering component loo that watt aatomatlcally fold around the crotch edge portions of the wearer's panties toward the underside of the panties .when the sanitary WO 9410?~(!96 PCT/US93/OG957 1h napkin is placed in the wearer's panties and the panties are pulled up ad,iacent the wearer's body.
The extensibility of the main body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin ZO is shown in a simplified fashion in Glg. b. The term 'extensible', as used hereto, refers to articles that can increase in at least one of their dimensions in the x-y plane. The x-y plans is a plane generslly parallel to the faces of the sanitary napkin Z0. The vain body portion Z= of the sanitary napkin 2A
shown in Figure 6 is preferably extensible piath tn length and width. The vain body portion Zi of the sanitary napkin Z0, in other enibodiaents however, ~r only be extensible in acne of these directions. Preferably, the main body portion of the sanitary napkin ZA is extensible at least in the longitudinal direction.
The main body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin 2A gay in soy preferred saibodi~ents, in addition to being extensible, also be strstchsbls. 'The term 'stretchable", as used herein, refers to articles that are extensible when stretching forces are applied to the srticle and offer so~ae reslstince to stretching. More preferably still, the main body portion 21 of the sanltary napkin 20 gay be elastically stretchable. The terms 'elastically stretchable' or "elastically extensible' are intended to be synonomous. Thoxe terns, as used herein, coon that when the stretching forces are removed, the vain body portion will tend to return toward its unextended or unstratchad (or "original' dieensians). The vain body portion 21 need not return all the ray to its unstretched disansions, however. it eay, as shown in Figure b, return to relaxed di~aensions (such as LM and WR) between its unstretched dimensions and extended (or stretched di~aensions) L$ and lig. Making the main body portion 21 elastically stretchable will reduce the undesirable tendency of the main body portion to gather longitudinally inward (i.e., bunch longitudinally) when forces which tend to stretch the sanitary napkin era removed. This is particularly true when the wearer's panties contract.

wo ~arazo~ ~crms93iob9s~
is The main body portion of the sanitary napkin is preferably extensible in the amounts described 1n PCY Publication Nos. ~t0 93/01785 and ii0 83/01786. To summarize the same, the main body portion is preferably capable of extending between about 5x and less than about 54x., more preferably between about lOx and about fox, and most preferably between about 25x and about ~DaG under the forces associated with wearing the sanitary napkin in : pair of panties. Preferably, the main body porCion is capable of such extension under farces of between about 50 - la0 grapes and sboNt 1,000 - 1,500 grams, care preferably under farces of between about 250 graa~s and about 80p grams. Fig. 7 is a table which sets forth some additional ranges of farces for the extensibility of preferred absorbent articles. It is to be understood that all of the limits and ranges specified herein include ell narrower ranges, lioits, and amounts that are within the specified limits and ranges. As shown in Fig. 7, the iaain body portion of the sanitary napkin can also be provided with a "force wall' to prevent elongation pest a certain aeount without substaetial increases in the anar~nt of force applied to the main body portion.
If the panty covering coa~ponent is provided with an extensible portion that is fastened to the Inside of the wearer's panty crotch, then the psnty covering component is preferably also provided with a force wall to facilitate reawval of the sanitary napkin froa~ the wearer's panties.
The extensible portions of the panty covering con~panent preferably are extensible in similar amounts, and in response to similar farce:, as the portions of the sanitary napkin comprising the main body portion. However, any inherent elasticity in the extensible portion: of the panty covering component (that is, any tendency of the extensible portions to return tn their original dimension) is generally relatively low. ?he extensible portions ors also preferably extensible without being elsstlci~ed or elsaticated (where separate elastic bands are stretched and attached to the panty covering component in an extensible condition). These extensible portions of the panty covering coa~onsnt have a relatively high 'set' (coippared to the values I~
shown in Fig- 7) and a low return force so they will wrap around the edges of the wearer's panties without tending to come unwrapped froth the same.
z. a sues hiv of the Same.
The individual comp4nents which may be suitable for the various e~bodilsents of the sanitary napkin ~0 of tht prssant invention will now be looked at in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1-3.
A. Ih~~
the tapshest 38 comprises a first 11~1d pervious coepanent_ ithen the sanitary napkin ZA is in use, the topshset 38 is ill close proximity to the skin of the user. The topshset 38 is preferaaly as coapliant, soft feeling, and non-irritati~ t4 the user's skin as possible. The topsheet 38 should further exhibit good strikethrough and a reduced tendency to rewret, penaitting bodily discharges to rapidly penetrate 1t and flow toward the care ~2, but not allor~in9 such discharges to flow back through the topsheet 38 to the skin of the wearer.
The topsheet 3S has two sides (or faces or surfaces), including a bady-facing side 38A and a gZrlllent-facing side (or care-facing side) 388. The body-fac111g side 38A of the tapsheet 38 generally fonas at least a portion of the body-contacting surface ('body surface') 20A of the sanitary napkin 2d. The topshset 38 has taro longitudinal edges 38G and trro end edges 380.
(A sisall ar numbering system app! ies to the other components of the sanitary napkin. That is, the side of the component facing the wearer's poly can be designated by the number of the component and a reference letter "A'. The side facing the riearer's undergarments can be designated by the nua~ber of the component and wo a~ozo9b pcrms9~~OS9~

the letter 't3". The side and end edges can be designated by the number of the component and the reference letters 'C' and 'p', respectively.
A suitable tapsheet 3R may be manufactured from a wide range of ~naterlals including, put not limite4 to woven and nonwaven materials, apertured formed theraroplastic films, apertured plastic films, hydra-fanned films, porous fo~uas, reticulated fawns, reticulated' thermoplastic filers, and thermoplastic scriss.
Suitable woven and nonwoven ~aaterials can be comprised of natursi fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), synthetic or ~aodified natural fibers (e. g., polymeric fibers, such as polyester, polypropylene tfibers, and polyethylene, or polyvinylalcahal, starch base resins, polyurethanes, cellulose esters, nylon. and rayon fibers) or from a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. (then the topshaet 38 coeprises a nonwoven web, the web may be spunbonded, carded, wet-laid, areitblown, hydraentangled, combinations of the above, an the like.
Apertured files are generally preferred far the topshest 3s because they era pervious to liquids end, if properly apertured, have a reduced tendency to allow liquids to pass back through end rennet the rtearer's skin. Suitable apsrtured films are described in U.S. Patent 3,9x9,135 issued to Thompsan on pecember 30, 1975, tl.S. Patent 4,324,425 issued to ~iullsne et al. an April 13, 1982, u.5_ Patent x,3~2,314 issued to Radel et s1. on August 3, 1982, U.S. Patent ~,'93,0~5 issued to Ahr, et al. an July 31, 1981, and U.S. Patent 5,005,394 issued to Raird an April 9, 1991. A
particularly suitable topshset 38 is made in accordance with U.S.
Patent 4,3~2,31~ issued to Radel and U.S. Patent 4,4b3,0~IS issued to Ahr, et al. A tapsheet 38 made of model X-3x65 an model P15S2 apertured formed filw Bald by Tredegar Corporation of Terre Haute, Indiana has been found t4 cork well.
The topaheet 38 can be made extensible by performlng a mechanical operation, such as pleating, carru~ating, an ring rolling an the topsheet ~aaterial to provide folds 1n the tapsheet WO 94/p?.096 PCT/i.IS93/116957 that are able to Open when the topsheet is stretched_ Such a process can be performed on many of the tapsheet materials described above. In one preferred embo4iment of the present invention, the topsheet 38 is made in accordance with tJ.S. Patent t,Cb3,045 and ring roiled to provide it with a degree of extensibility. Ss~ch a tapshset is described in u.S. Patent application Serial Na. 07/936,195 entitled 'Polymeric Web Having Deformed Sections Which Provide A Substantially Increased Elasticity To The ileb~, filed in the name of John J. Curro, et al.
on August 25, 1992.
Suitable processes far ring rolling or 'pre-corrugating" are described in ll.S. Patent 4,1A7,3b4 issued to Sisson on August 1S, 197$, U.S. Patent 4,834,761 issued to Sabee on flay 34, 1989 and in co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Serial Ho.
07/i62,536 filed by &srald !1. Weber at al. on February 28, Ig9I, U.S. Patent Application Serial Mo. 07/6b2,537 filed by Kenneth 6.
Buel1 et al. an February 28, 1991, and U.S. Patent Applicstian Serial No. 07/662,543 filed by Gerald 11. Weber et at, on February 28, 1951 (collectively referred to herein as the "Ring Rolling' patent applicationsj.
Tile fold lines in the corrugations of z ring rolled tapshest should run in the transverse direction so the topsheet is longitudinally extensible. In other embodia~snts, the fold lines could run in the tongitudin~l direction, both directions, ~nd~4r other directions. The topsheet 38 will be extensible in directions perpendicular to the fold lines.
In a preferred s~nbodi~asnt, the topsheet 38 is rendered hydrophilic so that liquids will transfer through the topsheet 3$
faster. This will diminish the likelihood that body exudates will flow off the tapsheet rather then being drarm through the topsheet and being absorbed by the absorbent core. The topsheet can be rendered hydrophilic by treating it with surfactants. Suitable n~ethads of applying surfactants arc described in il.S. Patents 4,950,254 and 5,009,653 issued to Osborn.

Wp ,~/PGZ'li3S~3/116957 In addition, in preferred embodiments, the inner surface 388 of copsheet 38 is secured in contacting relation with an , underlying absorbent laarer. This contacting relationship results in liqutd penetrating topsheet 38 faster. The topsheet 3$ ~aay be kept in a contacting relationship with an underlying layer by bonding the topsheet to the underlying layer. However, it is not absolutely necessary to band the face of the topsheet 3a to the face of the undortying layer. Ths topshest 38 can be waintained in contact with an underlying absorbent csnaponent by applying adhesives between the topshest and the underlying component, by entangling the fibers of the underlying layer with the topshset, by fusing the topsheet 38 to an underlying absorbent layer by a pluralisy of discrete individual fusion bonds, or by any weans known in the art.
p. the Abso beet o a The absorbent care 42 is positioned between the topshest 38 and the backsheat ~O. The absorbent core 12 provides the weans for absorbing senses and other body fluids.
The absorbent core 42 need net have an absorbent capacity wuch greater than the total sawunt of fluid anticipated to be absorbed. The absorbent cars 42 is generally compressible, conformable, and non-irritating to the user's skln. It can comprise any a~aterial used in the art for such purpose.
lion-limiting examples include natural ~paterlals such as coaa~inuted wood pulp which is generally referred to as airfelt, creped cellulose wadding, hydrogel-forcing pollrmer gelling agents, modified cross-linked cellulose fibers (such as those described in U.S. Patent 5,217,445 issued to Young, et al. an June a, 1993, ' capillary channel fibers (that is, fibers having infra-ftber capillary channels such as those described in u.5. Patent 5,200,248 issued to Thompson, et al. on April b, 1993), absorbent foams, absorbent sponges, synthetic staple fibers, polymeric WO 94/~2p96 PCTlU593/pG95T

fibers, peat moss, or say equivalent material or combinations of materials.
The polya~eric getting agents listed above may also be referred to as 'absorbent gelling ~paterials" ar 'superabsorbent materials'. Polymeric gelling agents are those materials which, upon contact with liquids such as water or other body liquids, i~bibs such liquids and thereby form hydrogels. In this manner, liRuids dischar~ad into the absorbent care ~Z caa be acquired an4 held by the polymeric ge111ng agent, thereby providing the articles herein with enhanced absorbent capacity and/or improved 11qu1d retention perfonaance. The polymeric gelling agent which is employed in the absorbent core 42 trill generally comprise particles 4I of a substantially water-insoluble, slightly cross-linked, partially neutralized, hydrogel-forming polymer material. The polymeric gelling agent can be in many forns, including 1n the form of pallets, flakes, or fibers.
In ono preferred embadl~ent shown in Figure 2, the absorbent care 42 is a laminate. The iawlnate is coarprised of a layer of superabsorbent polymer materiel, such as in the fore of particles ~I, disposed between two air-lsid tissues, first and second tissue Layers (or 'upper" and 'lower' tissue layers) 43 and 47, respectively. The first and second tissura lagers ~3 and 47 provide containment of the superabsorbent palywer material, improve lateral wicking of the absorbed exudates thr4ughout the absorbent core ~2 and provide a degree of absorbency. The tissue layers q3 and d7 can be comprised of s single tissue web which 1s folded with the superabsorbent materfai particles ~I between, ar two separate sheets of the salsa (ar different) tissue.
A suitable laminate is a superabsarbent la~ainate known as IiATER-SOCK L-53S available from the Grain Processing Corporation of Iluscatine, Iowa (bJITER-LOCK registered 7!i by Grain Processing Corporation). Such superabsarbent laminates are disclosed in U.s.
Patent 4,4b7,0IZ, issued to Pedersen et al. on August Z1, 1884, U_S. Patent 4,26~f,~d3, issued to Lindsay et at. an April 7, 1961, WD 94101.096 . PG'T'/U993/Ob9S7 and U.S. Patent ',578,p68 issued to Kramer, et al. on ~4arch 25, 1986. The laminate absorbent care t2 can ba made extensible by cutting or slitting the same. Figure :; shows that the absorbent core 42 is a laminate as described above which is slitted or partially slitted for longitudinal extensibility.
In alternative embodiments, mzking the :one from tissue paper having between 20% and 200 stretch (i.e., capable of extending to so extended di~oensiprt that is between about I.2 and 9 times Its unextended dimension). Such tissue sheets can bs ~aads by a n~ber of processes. Ths tissue paper may fn one embodiment, be conventionally creped tissue. far sxafiple, the tissue paper may be a 6oWiTY tissue that is taken directly after it has been creped off of a Yankee dryer before any crepe is pulled out of the tissue. A process for ssking such a tissue is described in U.S.
Patent 5,A98,522 issued to Smurkoski, et al. on (larch 24> 1992.
In alternative sabadiments> a tissue with no or very low initial crepe can be crsped after lamination. The crepina process in this case could occur by passing the laminate through two ~aatched rolls such that they would yield a carrugsted laminate tissue with stretch in the range of 20x to 2p0x. The corrugations should be perpendicular to the direction of desired stretch. In still other embodiments, the entire gain body portion can be creped.
The longitudinal and en4 edges 22 and 2~ of the main body portion 21 are preferably sealed to prevent the nicking and expulsion of liquid or liquid-containing superabsarbent ~aaterlal Pram the napkin when it is extended. Alternatively, the edges ~2C
and ~42p of the absorbent core 42 way be sealed rather thin sealing the edges of the entire ioain body portion. The edges of the care 42 way, for exa~'fe, be wrapped yr covered by a tissue layer. In other alternative e~nbodiwents, the edges of the tissue may be -foided, or atherrrise manipulated to prevent the wicking and expulsion of liquid ar liquid-containing sWperabsarbent material particles 41 from the core 42. All permanent seals around the wo 9aia2c~ pcTiusn~oses r perimeter of the vain body portion should not break upon lengthening (i.e., any seal is intended to re~pain for the duration of the use of the sanitary napkin.) The absorbent core t2 ~aay be made elastically extensible even though it has no elasttc properties of its orn. The absorbent core 42 can be wade elastically extensible by attaching )t to an elastlc backsheet or topshest so that the absorbent core ~2 rill extend arid rctraGt with the elastic tapsheet pr backshest.
C. The gacksh tt The backshset 40 prevents the exudates absorbed and wntained in the absorbent core ~2 from aettinp articles ~rhich contact the sanitary napkin 20 such as pants, pa~smas and undergarwents. The backsheet ~0 is imperviAUS to liquids (e. g., menses and/or urine).
The backsheet 40 is preferably msnufactured from a thin plastic film, although other flexible Liquid iepervious materials may also be used.
The backsheet 40 may ca~prise a rovers or non~aven oaterial, polyaeric files such as thsraioplastic filAS of polyethylene or polypropylene, or coiaposite paterials such as a film~cpated nonraven paterlal. Preferably, the backshqet ~0 is a polyethylene film having a thickness of from about 0.012 ~ (0.5 aril) to about 4.031 no (3.0 ~nila). Exeaplary polyethylene filers are n~anafactured by Clopay Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio, under the desi9natipn p18-0401 and by Tredegar Film Products of Terre Haute, Indiana, under the designation XP-39385.
The backsheet 40 is preferably embossed and/or matte finlshed to provide a acre elothlike appearance. Further, the backsheet 40 ~aay pee~it vapors to escape frog the absorbent core 42 (i.e., the backsheet ~0 rsay bs breathable) nhile still preventing exudates from passing through the backsheet 40. Flushable or biodegradable backsheets can also be used, e.9., such as with the pantiliner WO 9.4/06 PCT/LIS93/06957 2~
devices described herein. Another suitable backshest material is nonwoven/film laa~inate described in U.S. Patent 5,007,9D6 issued to Qsborn April Lb, 1991. _ The backsheet #4 can be made extensible by performing a mechanical operation, such as pleating, corrugating, or ring rolling the backshget material. Preferably, however, the backsheet 40 is made extensible by forming it from an elasto~neric film sWCh as the film described in U.S. Patent 1,17b,180 issued to wnuk on October 9, 1984. Such a film is obtained from Exxon Chemical Co~npan~r of Eake Zurich, It as Exxon film EXX-500 (formerly EXX-7).
Another particularly preferred extensible backshaet ~0 is an extended adhesive film Formula #198-338 manufactured by the Findlsy Adhesives Company of ilauwatosa, i~iscansin. The Findiey adhesive film is a fluid impervious film cspable of extending 200 - 3a0J~. The Findley adhesive film is preferred because it is also elastically extensible. At least one side of this film can be used with the adhesive 'as is' in the sanitary napkin Z0. Far axa~nple, this side of the adhesive film can be adhered to the garment-facing side 4Za of the absorbent core 4Z. The other side of the adhesive film that forws the garsrent-facing side 408 of the backsheet #Q may have its adhesive surface at least partially covered (or 'blacked" to eliminate its adhesive characteristics).
The adhesive defining the body-facing side ~fCA pf the backsheet can also be st least partially blocked. The exposed adhesive can be blocked in a number of suitable ways. These include, but are not limited to attaching a layer of nonadhesivs e~ateriil to cover the exposed adhesive, and brushing or sprinkling a powdered ixaterial such as talcua~ powder or corn starch on et Least part of the exposed adhesive. The partial blocking of the exposed adhesive on the garment-facing aide 40B of the backsheet #0 can be used with the regaining exposed adhesive to create particular adhesive patterns for fastening the backshest to the panty covering component.

wo 9ara~~ rcrrus9sio~r zs In still other embodia~ents, an adhesive film can be created with one side that has adhesive tick, and one side without tack.
One suitable adhesive file having these characteristics is a cos~osite structNre coaprising a nonwoven eiastomeric film rith a law modul4s presrure sensitive adheaiva, such as adhesive film For~wis i~198-338 which is available with a biockin~ film such as film Fanaata H23a1 from the Findley Adhesives Company. Such materisls are further described (and used far other p4rposes) in u.s. Patent 5,092,120 iausd to Fresland, et al. on duly 14, 1891, and U.S. Patent 5,037,~16 issued to Allen, et s1. on Awgast 4, 1991.
In other preferred embodiments, the bacicsheet ~0 may coa~psise a~ extensible laminate structure compsised of tyro or more layers.
The laminate can be co~rised of layers which ere each capable of different extensibility. For instance, a backsheet ~0 can comprise a lasinate fanwM of : layer of Findlsy adhesive film that is covered on one ar both sides by an extensible nonwoven web or by an extensible film.
D. ~awbina io d To Da hake a a BQdv partiort of t~,h~"~an at~r liar.
The main body portion zI of the sanitary napkin 20 of the present invention can be comprised of different ca~abinatians of the tapshset, backshest, and core Aaterials. The main body portion zI aay, as noted above, be comprised of all extensible components. The main body portion may also be comprised of any of the other types o~ combinations of extensible or inextensible tapsheets, becksh~asts and absorbent cores that are described in PCT Publication Nas. H0 93/01785 end 93/01786.
The components of the vain body portion described above (the tapsness, p~LCltalvsuy o,.4 ~beprbowt r~sr~pj tip ~B aSSe~ilBd in any sc~ftable wanner. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, the components of the main body portion are assembled in a "sandwich" configuration with the components sized so that the edges of the topsheet 38 and backsheet 40 extend outward beyond the edges of the absorbent core 42. The topsheet 38 and backsheet 40 are preferably at least partially peripherally joined using known techniques. As shown in Figure 1, the topsheet 38 is preferably secured to backsheet 40 along a first seam, such as seam 90. Seam 90 is preferably liquid impervious. The seam 90 can be formed by any means commonly used in the art for this purpose such as by gluing, crimping, or heat-sealing.
The term "joined", as used herein, encompasses configurations in which an element is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to the other element; conficurations in which the element is indirectly secured to the other element by affixing the element to intermediate 1s members) which in turn are affixed to the other element; and configurations in which one element is integral with another element, i.e., one element is essentially part of the other element.
The components of the sanitary napkin 20 can be joined together by 2o adhesives, stitching, heat and/or pressure bonds, dynamic mechanical bonds, ultrasonic bonds, intermingling or entanglement of the fibers or other structural elements comprising the components of the sanitary napkin, such as by meltblowing the fibers comprising one component onto another component, extruding one component onto another, or by any other means 25 known in the art. Suitable means for attaching the components of the sanitary napkin are described in U.S. Patent No. 6,103,953 issued to Cree, et al. on August 15, 2000.
When the main body portion is comprised of extensible components, 3o the components can be joined together in any suitable manner that allows the main body portion to extend. The backsheet 40, in one example comprises a stretchable adhesive film. The core 42 is placed on top of the backsheet 40.
The topsheet 38 is then placed on top of the core 42. The portions of the edges of the topsheet 38 that extend outward beyond those of the core 38 are secured to those of the backsheet 40 using the adhesive around the perimeter of the backsheet file. It has been found that such a construction adequately secures the components of the sanitary napkin without further securing the faces of the adjacent components to each other. Although, as noted above, it is often preferred to secure sore of the cooponents at their faces, as well.
The above manners of joining the components are preferred for ease of construction. (Other jeans of uniting the various components can be used.) For instance, the present invention also includes so-called 'tube' products. In these products, a liquid pervious cover ~:~terial (such as topsheet material) can be wrapped coiapletely around the absorbent core and the backsheet, and then the components can be secured together. In alternative arrangements, the topsheet could be wrapped around the core, and the wrapped core could be placed on and secured to the backsheet.
E. jhe Pantv Covering Component.
The panty covering coeponent 100 cooprises a pair of side wrapping elements 52 that are disposed along the longitudinal side edges of the sanitary napkin to automatically wrap the sides of a wearer's panties. The panty covering coeponent 100 provides an alternative to conventional side flaps.
' Figs. 1-5 show a preferred embodiment of the panty covering component. Before exaaining the features of the sanitary napkin shown in Figs. 1-5 in greater detail, the functioning of the panty covering component, in its most basic forms, will be discussed with relation to Figs. 9-15C.
Figs. 9 and 9A are simplified schematic end views of a sanitary napkin having longitudinally extensible flaps, such as WO 94/02096 PC1'/US93/06957 the one described in U.S. Patent 4,940,162 issued to Salerno. The sanitary napkin shown in the Salerno patent suffers from several drawbacks due to the fact. that the longitudinally expandable flaps extend directly outward from the longitudinal sides of the absorbent element. The expandable flaps in Salerno are attached directly to an inextensible body. This lions the extensibility of the portions of the Salerno flaps that are located adjacent to the absorbent element. In order for the Salerno flaps to extend an amount sufficient to wrap around the panty elastics, particularly if the panty crotch stretches, the flaps have to hive a relatively wide transverse dimension.
Fig. 9A also shows that any laterally inward compression of the absorbent portion of the Salerno sanitary napkin will ca~ke_ the flaps to be pulled inward. This can result in a loss in the ability of the flaps to cover a given area of the wearer's panties (i.e., a loss in area coverage), and may also cause the flaps to become detached from the wearer's panties.
Fig. 10 shows a first basic embodiment of the panty covering component of the present invention. The panty covering component 100 comprises side wrapping elements 52 that are extensible extensions frog the longitudinal sides of an extensible sanitary napkin. The extensions are preferably extensions of non-absorbent components. The panty covering component (or the extensible portions thereof) can, in this, like most of the other embodiments described herein, be extensible in the longitudinal direction, the transverse direction, or both. When the panties are pulled up on the wearer's body, the stretching of the portions of the panties along the leg elastics causes the extensions to naturally fold around and wrap the elastic-containing edges of the panty crotch.
In this particular embodiment, the distal edges 53 of the extensions preferably extend from about 3/8 inch (about 1 cm) to about 2 inches (about 5 ca) from the edge of the absorbent core of the sanitary napkin. the extensible extensions can be comprised of one of the components of the main body portion, or they can comprise separate elements joined to the main body portion. In a particularly preferred version of this embodiment, an adhesive fastener 45 may be applied up to about 1/8 inch (3 am) of the edge on the garment-facing side of the extensions to help hold the extensions in place around the panty crotch during vigorous motions by the wearer (although such fasteners are generally not required under normal circumstances).
In alternative versions of this embodiment, the extensions can be provided with regions that are permanently extensible (that is, regions that will have no tendency to retract after extension) along any of those portions of the extension that vill be disposed in the area of the panty elastics. In other alternative versions, extensions can be folded, gathered, or pinched and sealed ao---further facilitate wrapping the elastic-containing edges of the panty crotch. fig. 26 shows an alternative version of such an embodiment in which the sanitary napkin is extensible and the backsheet extends beyond the edges of the topsheet and absorbent core to form the extensible extensions. In this ebodiment, all of the components of the sanitary napkin are preferably at least extensible in the longitudinal direction.
The fact that the sanitary napkin is extensible at least partially alleviates sooe of the problems associated with the Salerno sanitary napkin. The fact that the side wrapping elements are joined to an extensible body rather than to an inextensible body, allows the side mapping elements to continue to stay wrapped around the sides of the panty crotch even if the panty crotch stretches.
It should be understood that the 'basic' embodiments described herein are directed to certain features with which the panty covering component may be provided. These features can be combined in various different ways (or omitted from) the sanitary napkin of the present invention. That is,, they are not all mandatory features.

WO 9d/02096 PCT/US93/06957 Figs. 11 and 11A show that in a second basic embodiment, the panty covering component 100 of the present invention is joined underneath to the main body portion Z1 of the sanitary napkin inboard of the longitudinal side edges 22 of the main body portion. The panty covering component is otherwise unnattached to the ganAent-facing side of the main body portion Zl of the sanitary napkin 20 between the points of attachment Q and the longitudinal side edges 22 of the gain body portion. The embodiment shown in figs. 11 and 11A allows the panty covering canponent 100 to stretch between the points, Q, where the panty covering component is attached to the iaain body portion and the place where the panty elastics will cross the panty covering component. This allows the panty covering component to gold to and fold around the wearer's panty. = --Figs. 12 and 12A show that in a third basic embodioent, the panty covering component can be joined a substantial distance inward of the longitudinal side edges 22 of the ~aain body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin 20 so that the point of attachment is located in the region of the longitudinal centerline, L. The embodiment shown in fig. 12 provides the advantage that it reduces the tendency for the compression of the gain body portion (particularly compression of the absorbent core) to interfere with the operation of the panty covering component 100. The reduction in the tendency for the coepression of the core to interfere with the operation of the panty covering component 100 occurs because - the panty covering component 100 is not joined near the sides 22 of the gain body portion. This prevents any forces exerted on the core from directly acting on the panty covering component. Fig.
12 shows that the absorbent core can be bunched inward to the points, Q, where the panty covering coa~ponent 100 is attached to the main body portion without effecting the coverage of the panty covering component 100. This can be contrasted with Fig. 9A which shows how the flaps of the Salerno sanitary napkin will bunch inward in response to such forces.

Several additional matters should be noted with regard to the embodiment shown in Fig. 12. First, the location where the panty covering component 100 is joined to the garnient side 21B of the main body portion 21 is most important in the central region 32 of the main body portion (or, if the main body portion is asymmetrical, the area of the main body portion that is intended to be between the wearer's legs) because this is primarily where any bunching of the maln body portion 21 will occur. The central region 32 (shown in fig. 1) is subject to bunching because this is in the area of the narrowest portion of the panty crotch and the narrowest space between the wearer's legs, when the wearer's legs are brought together. This is particularly true for the central about 3 inches (7.6 un) to about 6 inches (1S cm) of the main body portion. = ---The second matter which should be noted with regard to the embodiment shown in Fig. 12 is that such an embodiment should preferably be provided with some type of stabilizing structure in order to prevent the main body portion Z1 of the sanitary napkin 20 from pitching and rolling around the longitudinal centerline relative to the panty covering component 100.
The third matter which should be noted with regard to the embodiment shown in Fig. 12 is the manner in which the side wrapping elements function differently from the flaps of known sanitary napkins. For example, sanitary napkins are known which have flaps of various types attached inboard of the longitudinal sides of an absorbent cooponent. Examples of such flaps are described in U.S. Patent 4,589,876 issued to Van Tilburg and 11.5.
a Patent 4,900,320 issued to McCoy. The differences are particularly apparent with regard to the flaps of the sanitary napkin dcscribed in the McCoy patent. The flaps of the sanitary napkfn described in the McCoy patent are intended to completely encircle the panty crotch and be affixed to each other. The flaps of the McCoy sanitary napkin are designed to gather the panty crotch inward. The side wrapping elements S2 of the sanitary napkin of the present invention do not overlap, nor ire they designed to gather the wearer's panties. The side wrapping elements 52 are intended to adjust to the movements of the panties. That is, they move with the panties and allow the panties to move, rather than to constrain the movement of the panties as do the flaps of the McCoy sanitary napkin.
While attaching the panty covering component inboard of the longitudinal side edges of the main body portion Is beneficial, additional benefits may be achieved by decoupling the main body portion from. the panty covering component. The decoupling of the main body portion from the panty covering component refers to the ability of the main body portion to move away from the panty covering component in the z-direction. (For a discussion of the concept of decoupling in other contexts, reference can be made-to U.S. Patent 5,007,906 issued to Osborn, et al on April 16, 1991 and EP Patent No. 555,341 issued to Visscher, et al. on December 14, 2000. The decoupling of the main body portion is achieved through a decoupling component (or "isolation component" or "intermediate component") 102 that is joined at points of juncture to the main body portion and at points of juncture to the panty covering component with extra material between the two sets of points. (The points of juncture may comprise lines, zones, etc., and, as a 2o result, may be referred to simply as "junctures".) Three basic examples of structures capable of decoupling are shown in Figs. 13-15C (Figs. 13 and 13A; Figs. 14 and 14A; and Figs. 15-15C). Figs.
13-1 SC show that the extra material indirectly joins the panty covering component to the main body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin. The isolation component 102 is attached to the main body portion 21 at main body portion attachment points 110, and the isolation component 102 is attached to the panty covering component 100 at undergarment covering component attachment points 112. These three sets of figures show the various different 3o possible relationships between the location of the main body portion attachments points and the undergarment covering component attachment points.

Figs. 13 and 13A show a first example in which the sanitary napkin is provided with a construction that alloys the main body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin to decouple from the panty covering component 100. A basic way of accomplishing this is for the decoupling component 102 to comprise a single piece of material or separate strips of ~aterlal that form a pair of legs 107 that loin the undergarment covering component 100 to the main body portion 102. The sanitary napkin shorn in figs. l3 and 13A
is characterized by the fact that the points of puncture 110 There the decoupling coaponent 102 is joined to the main body portion 21 are inboard (1.e., closer to the longitudinal centerline) of the points There the decoupling component is joined to the panty covering component 100. The construction shorn in Fig. 13A allays the pain body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin to Maintain close contact rith the rearer's body and the panty covering component 100 to stay in the wearer's panties even Then the panties rove away frog the rearer's body. The basic ray of achieving the construction described above can be carried out in numerous different Banners.
For example, in the e~bodl~ent shown in Figs. 13 and 13A, the sanitary napkin ZO can be provided with a panty covering component 100 that is in the fore of a two layer laminate structure, comprising an upper layer 106 and a lower layer 108. In this eebodiment, the layers of the laoinate are bonded at points of attachment 112 located toward the longitudinal sides of the laminate. The layers of the lawinate are unbonded betreen the points of attachment. This allows the unbonded portion 109 of the upper layer 106 of the laminate (and the overlying gain body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin) to separate frog the lower layer 108 of the laminate and the panty crotch. The structure shown in Figs 13 and 13A provides the lateral stability needed to the embodiment shown in Fig. 12. In addition, the upper layer can be provided rith transverse extensibility to reduce the tendency for the compression of the core to pull the sides of the panty covering component inrard.

WO 94/02096 PC1'/US93/06957 4lhile the construction of the sanitary napkin is shown in Fig. 13 is suitable for allowing the main body portion to decouple from the panty covering component, as shown in Fig. 13A, a degree of bunching of the main body portion could still lead to some tendency for the side wrrapping elements to be pulled inward. The embodiment shown in Figs. 13 and 13A, however, is still believed to represent an improvement over the Salerno sanitary napkin in this regard.
Figs. 14 and 14A show a second example of a decoupling feature. In this second example, the sanitary napkin 20 is provided with extra material in the form of a pair of inwardly attached legs 107 that loin the panty covering cooponent 100 to the rain body portion 21. (That is, the points where 'tfie decoupling component are joined to the main body portion are outboard of the points vhere the decoupling component is joined to the panty covering component.) The inwardly attached legs aay comprise a number of possible types of structures. For instance, as showrn in Fig. 25, the inwardly attached legs can comprise a portion of one or more of the components of the sanitary napkin which is/are pleated and folded under the main body portion of the sanitary napkin and attached to the panty covering coaponent.
Alternatively, the inwardly attached legs can comprise separate elements that are connected to the main body portion of the sanitary napkin and the panty covering component. The embodiment shown in Figs. 14 and 14A provide the advantage that the panty covering component is not subject to being pulled inward by compression of the core and the legs provided the ~aain body portion vith stability from pitching and rolling relative to the main body portion.
Figs. 15 through 15C show a third example in which a sanitary napkin is provided with a construction that allows the main body portion of the sanitary napkin to decouple from the panty covering component. The panty covering component shown in Figs. 15 and 15A
has pleated slack material between the main body portion and the panty covering component. This sanitary napkin combines the features of the embodiments shown in Figs. 13 and 14. This panty covering component can be thought of as having legs with a lower portion like that shown in Fig. 13 and an upper portion like that shown in Fig. 1~1. The lower portion of the connecting structure between the main body portion 21 and the panty covering component 100 helps prevent the compression of the gain body portion 21 froe interfering with the Bolding of the panty coversng coa~ponent 100 to the wearer's panties. The upper portion of the connecting structure allows the gain body portion to be bunched or~~olded to the wearer's body (e.g., to assuage a 'N'-shape) without causing the panty covering coa~ponent 100 to be pulled inward resulting in losing coverage of the panty covering component.
Figs. 15B and C shot two additional versions of the type of extra Material that ~otns the pain body portion to the panty covering coaponent. Fig. 15B shows a version having iaaterial in the fore of flaccid (or slack) material joining the main body portion to the panty covering cooponent. Fig. 15C shows a version having extensible eaterial between the ~aln body portion and the panty covering component.
The panty covering cooponent features shown in Figs. 15 through 15C are particularly desirable for products having thicker (e. g., greater than about 8 w~ thick) gain body portions. Nhen the sides of the main body portion of the sanitary napkin are not constrained as they are in Fig. 14, they are able to rove to fit up close to the wearer's body.
The decoupling component 102 has been described above in terms of how it can interact to allow the pain body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin to separate frog the panty covering component in the z-direction. The decoupling component can also enhance the functioning of embodiments in which the panty covering co~onent is joined to an inextensible Rain body portion. In these cases, the decoupling component is preferably provided with extensibility under the same or lesser forces than those that cause the panty covering component to extend. The decoupling component is, thus, able to serve as a stretch isolation component (or 'isolation component') to allow the panty covering component 100 to extend more independently of the inextensible (or less extensible) components of the main body portion.
Nith the fundamental concepts and structures of the panty covering component described above in mind, the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 1-S will now be discussed in greater detail. The sanitary napkin shown in Figs. 1-5 comprises a panty covering component that comprises at least one sheet of extensible material 100 which is used in conjunction with an isolation element 102.
The sheet of extensible material 100 shown in Figs. ~-iw comprises a racetrack-shaped sheet of aaterial that is larger in dimensions than the main body portion of the sanitary napkin. The panty covering component 100 may be of any suitably size and shape. For example, the panty covering component 100 may have certain dimensions that are less than or equal to those of the main body portion of the sanitary napkin. The panty covering component may be oval, rectangular, irregular, or some other suitable shape.
Figure 1 shows that portions of the sheet of extensible material 100 extend laterally outward beyond portions of the longitudinal edges 22 of the main body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin 20 in the central region 32 of the sanitary napkin 20. The portions of the sheet of extensible material 100 that extend laterally outward beyond the longitudinal edges 22 of the sanitary napkin 20 in the central region 32 provide side wrapping elements 52 that can be folded around the edges of the wearer's panties.
It should be understood, however, that while the panty covering component 100 is shown as being a single sheet of material having portions which define the side wrapping elements 52, other embodiments ire also within the scope of the present invention. For instance, in alternative embodiments, the side crapping elements 52 may each comprise one or more separate pieces attached to the main body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin. In still other alternative embodiments, the side crapping elements 52 may be integral portions of one or more components of the main body portion. In addition, Chile the side wrapping eleaents 52 are shown as extending from each longitudinal edge of the main body portion, there may only be one side crapping element extending from one of the edges of the main body portion.
Further, the side crapping elements are preferably mirror rages of each other, and are syw~etrical about the longitudinal centerline. Hocever, it should be understood that the shape and location of the side crapping elements described herein are those of a preferred embodiment, and other embodiments ire also possible. for instance, the side crapping elements 52 may - be-offset along the longitudinal centerline more tocards one end edge of the main body portion than the other.
In the embodiment shorn in figs. 1-5, the sheet of extensible material 100 is preferably at least extensible in the longitudinal direction. The sheet of extensible material 100 (or any of the other panty covering components or components of the sanitary napkin described herein) can, however, be extensible only in the transverse direction, or extensible only in a direction betceen the longitudinal and transverse directions, or be provided cith bi-directional, or multi-directional extensibility.
The sheet of extensible material 100 can be made of- any suitable material. In one non-limiting example, the sheet of extensible material 100 comprises a laminate. The laminate comprises a sheet of extensible film such as findley Adhesive 198-338 secured betceen tco longitudinally extensible nomroven cabs. In another embodiment, the sheet of extensible material 100 can comprise an adhesive film secured betceen extensible noncoven cabs or betceen ring rolled plastic film sheets such as those of a type that can be used for the backsheet.

The side wrapping elements 52 are smaller than conventional flaps. (That is, the side yapping elements do not have as great a span from distal edge to distal edge.) Preferably, the size of the side wrapping elements relates to the size of the crotch region of the wearer's panties. Panties have crotch widths that average about 65-70 mm (about 2 3/t inches) measured at the narrowest point of the crotch. Panties come in a wide variety of sizes, however. The width of panty crotches can range from about 2 inches (about 5 cm) to about 4 1/2 inches (about 11.~ cm). The smallest span of conventional flaps is believed to be about 5 inches (about 12.7 cm) for small tab-like flaps that are on some current products.
With these factors in mind, the width of the side crapping elements should not be large enough to overlap when they fold under the wearer's panties. The dimensions of the side wrapping elements can be expressed in tens related to the boundaries of main body portion of the sanitary napkin. For instance, the span of the side wrapping elements 52 can be expressed in terms of the perpendicular distance in the x-y plane, D1, from the most inward point on the longitudinal side edge of the main body portion (i.e., the point closest to the longitudinal centerline) R to the distal edge 53 of the side wrapping elements 52. The side wrapping elements 52 preferably extend a distance that is less than or equal to about 1 1/~ inch (about 3 cm) from the most inward portion of the main body portion of the sanitary napkin.
!lore preferably, the side wrapping elements extend less than or equal to the following distances from the most inward point on the main body portion: about 1 inch (about 2.5 cm), about 3/~ inch (about 2 ua), about 1.5 u, and about 0.5 inch (about 1.25 cm).
The span of the side wrapping elements 52 can alternatively be specified in absolute tern of the distance froo the distal edge to distal edge when the side wrapping elements 52 are extended laterally in opposite directions. Expressed in this manner, the span of the side wrapping elements from one distal edge to the other (and, thus also the span of the panty covering component) is preferably less thin about 5 inches (about 12.7 c~a) more preferably less than or equal to about 4 3/4 inches (about 12 cm). The minimum span of the side wrapping elements should be greater than or equal to any of the following aa~ounts provided the span is also greater than the width of the panty crotch: about 2 1/2 inches (about 6.4 ai); about 3 inches (about 7.6 or 8 cm); or about 3 1/2 inches (about 9 ai). A preferred range for the span of the side wrapping elements is betveen about 3 1/2 inches to about 4 3/4 inches. Even yore preferably, the side wrapping elements have a span of between about 4 inches (about 10 c~) to about 4 1/2 inches (about 11.5 ai).
The side wrapping elements 52 can have a length (longitudinal dimension) that varies within a large range. The length of=tfie s i de wrapp 1 mg el e~nents 52 i s preferably at 1 east as 1 arge as the longitudinal dimension of known types of flaps (such as those described in the Background of the Invention) that attach to each other or to the underside of a wearer's panties. The side wrapping elements,' therefore, can extend primarily frog the central region of the main body portion of the sanitary napkin.
Alternatively, the side wrapping.eleeents can have a length that is as long as, or longer thin, the length of the pain body portion. Providing the sanitary napkin with side wrapping elements that are shorter than the length of the vain body portion, howcver, gay be preferred frog a cost standpoint since such a sanitary napkin will require less Material to sake.
The panty covering component 100 should have additional features in order to autooatically wrap the edges of the wearer's panties and stay in place around the same. For exaople, at least portions of the sheet of extensible Material 100 preferably comprise a material having a low return force and a high set.
These are materials that, when stretched, will not tend to return all the way to their unstretched dimensions. They will tend to remain (or set) close to their extended dioensions.

When the side wrapping elements 52 comprise a material having a high set, they will stretch to fit around the crotch of the wearer's panties. The high set reduces the tendency of the side wrapping elements 52 to retract and bunch the wearer's panties, or to unfold from the underneath the panties.
The term 'set', as used herein, refers to the amount of permanent defonaation (as a percentage of the original sample length) remaining in a sample after application and removal of the indicated strain. The procedure and equipment are described in the following. (Unless otherwise specified, all tests described herein are performed on samples that have been conditioned by leaving them in a room at 50x relative humidity and at 73' F for.a period of two hours prior to the tests.) The set of a material is determined by pulling a 1' wide x 4' long (2.5 cm x 10 cm) sasple of the material to a given strain in an Instron model testing apparatus 1122, using a crosshead speed of 10 in/min. (25 q/min.). The saple is mounted in the Instron grips so that the axis of elongation is parallel to the long dimension of the sample. The gage length of the sample (distance between gripping points is 2' (5 cm)). The strain used for this particular test is 30x (i.e., a 2' t5 cm) sample is pulled to 2.6' (6.6 cm)) and is held for thirty seconds at that strain. The separation between the grips is then returned to 2' (Ox strain on the sample) and held at this position for 60 seconds. This cycle is then repeated. The percent set is determined as the first point on the strain axis vhere the force to elongate is greater than zero during the second cycle. This is illustrated in Figure 27. An average percent set for three samples is reported. The material comprising the extensible material preferably has a set greater than or equal to lOX strain and more preferably his a set greater than or equal to 15x, 20x, 25x, or 30x strain (at 30x set all deformation is permanent).
Materials having a high set are particularly useful in several selected portions of the sanitary napkin. Two such a portions ire the regions of the fold lines where the side wrapping elements 52 are folded around the curved leg openings in the crotch of a pair of panties. The material in these areas is stretched when the side yapping elements S2 are folded around the crotch of the panties. The stretching also puts tension on the material, outward of the fold lines along the distal edges of the side wrapping elements 52. (The effect ~of such stresses on components of a sanitary napkin with conventional flaps is described in greater detail in U.S. Patent 4,917,697 issued to Osborn, et al. on April 17, 1990.) Examples of materials having a high set are zero strain nonwoven materials, such as a ring rolled nonwoven material or,a nonwoven web comprised of unbonded fibers. In one embodiment, the entire sheet of extensible material 100 could comprise one of these types of materials. In other e~bodiaents, the sheet of extensible material 100 could only have side wrapping elements 52 comprised of such materials. In such a case, the entire sheet of extensible material 100, with the exception of the side wrapping elements 52, could be co~rised of the laminate with an extensible adhesive file therein. The extensible adhesive file, in such an embodiment, preferably omitted from the portion of the sheet comprising the side wrapping eleoents 52. The sheet of extensible material 100 that has the extensible adhesive therein will be elastically extensible. The side wrapping elements 52, however, will not be elastically extensible. The side wrapping elements 52 can, as a result, be folded around and attached to the underside of the wearer's panties and will not tend to flip back.
In other embodiments, only portions of the side wrapping elements S2 could comprise materials having a high set. For instance, the portions of the side wrapping elements 52 located on and near the axes where the side wrapping elements 52 are folded around the panty crotch gay be comprised of such materials, while the remaining portions of the side wrapping elements 52 are not to relieve the stresses where they ire concentrated when the side wrapping elements are folded under the panties.

WO 94/02096 PCf/US93/06957 The side wrapping elements 52 preferably also have several properties which allow them to wrap the sides of the wearer's panties and stay folded around the panty elastics without unfolding. These properties are low return force, resistance to edge compression and fold retention:
Return force is ieeasured as follows: A 1' x 4' long (2.5 cm x cnj sample is cut frog the Material to be tested so that the long axis of the sample is in the direction of lowest modulus (highest extensibility at lowest force) of the Material. The sample is then mounted in a fixture comprising a force gauge, a steel rule for Measuring extension of the sample and two clamps to hold the saiaple separated by a distance of 2' (5 cm) (the gale length). One of the clamps is attached to the force gauge and ttie-other is attached to a lab hack which can be raised and lowered.
The entire apparatus is placed in an oven set at a temperature of 98'F (37'C), and the sample is clamped between the two grips. The sample is pulled to 30x strain (2.6' e.g. 6.6 c~j and held at this position for 5 Minutes. The strain on the sample is then reduced to 25x and the force on the force gage is reported as the return force at 25x. This is to simulate the temperatures and strains placed on a Material during wearing of the product. The average return force of three samples is reported. The return force should be less than or equal to about 100 grams, preferably less than~or equal to about 50 grains, and post preferably less than or equal to about 25 grays.
The 'resistance to edge compression' refers to the aeasure~ent of how substantial. the ~aterlal is that coeprises the side wrapping eleoents. Specifically, edge compression refers to the tendency of the Material cooprising the side wrapping elements 52 to buckle when the side wrapping elements are extended to fona a planar extension and forces are applied perpendicular to the plane of the side wrapping elements. The resistance to edge compression can be measured by placing a plate or block 115 perpendicular to the distal edge 53 of the side wrapping element 52 and applying a force with the block perpendicular to the plane of the side wrapping elements. This property is important because if the material comprising the side wrapping elements is insubstantial, it will bunch up when forces are applied by the wearer's panty elastics to the side wrapping elements during wear.
The side wrapping elements preferably have a resistance to edge compression of greater than or equal to about 5 grams, more preferably greater than or equal to the following amounts: about 7 grams; about 10 grams, and about 15 grams.
The edge compression test uses the Instron Model 1122 equipped with a compression load cell which is interfaced with Testworks~ software made by Sintech, Inc., and run on a Gateway 486/33Hz computer. All of the parameters for testing are specified in the computer program, for example the crosslFe~d speed, the strain up and the strain down. Also, all the data collection, data analysis and graphing are done by Testworks.
A 9 mw by 25 m sample is cut from the panty covering component so that the distal edge 53 of the side wrapping element 1 s paral 1 e1 to the 25 me 1 ong edge of the sampl a . The sampl a i s glued on its long edge in an upright position to a glass slide (i.e., perpendicular to the face of the slide). The glass slide is called the sample holder. The sample snd holder are placed on a platform on top of the crosshead. The crosshead speed is set for 10 in/min (25 c4/min). A T-bar is attached to the compression cell and the crosshead is raised until a load of 0.5 9ra~s is placed on the sample. The gage length is set to zero at this point and the crosshead continues .to move up to a distance of 3 The crosshead then returns to zero extension and the cycle is repeated. The maximum force of the two cycles is recorded and the average of five samples is reported as the Edge Compression Force.
This is shown in Figure 28.
The 'fold retention" refers to the ability of the side wrapping elements to stay in place after they have been folded around a panty crotch. Fold retention is eeasured by the following procedure. A side yapping element is first folded around a panty crotch. The fol ded s i de rrappi rtg e1 ement i s then placed folded side uprard on a flat surface. A 105 gram reight is placed on the side crapping element for a period of 5 minutes.
Also, this test is run at 98'F. The reight is removed, and the side crapping element is allored to unfold (if there is any tendency for it to do so). The amount, if any, the side crapping eleo~ent hss unfolded is measured by weasuring the angle formed betreen the side crapping element and the flat surface after 30 seconds folloring the reraval of the reight. The smaller the angle the side crapping element makes rith the flat surface, the better fold retention the side crapping element has. The side crapping elements preferably have a fold retention eeasured in the foregoing manner of less than or equal to about 90', and pore preferably, less than or equal to about 45', and post prefer*bTy~
less than or equal to about 20'.
In a particularly preferred eiabodi~ent, the side crapping elewents can be at least partially coe~prised of a sateOrial, rith a 'dead fold' property such as aluminus foil or SARAIiRvrap so the side crapping eleafents till have very little tendency to unfold after being folded.
The panty covering coa~ponent 100 in the preferred eiobodie~ent shorn in Figs. 1-S is used rith an isolation eleiaent 102. The isolation element 102 provides the sanitary napkin rith slack saterial betreen the pain body portion 21 and the panty covering cooponent. This allots the panty covering coaponent 100 to decouple so the sain body portion may rove closer to the body then panties pull aray frog the body.
The isolation eleoent 102 can also be used to connect the sheet of extensible naterial 100 to an inextensible component of the oain body portion of the sanitary napkin (or to a component that is less extensible than the sheet of extensible waterial 100). This is iaportant rhen it is desired to create a 'sanitary napkin that stretches rith the cearer's panties rhen one or pore of the components of the pain body portion are either relatively WO 94/02096 PC1"/US93/06957 inextensible or less extensible than the wearer's panties. If the isolation element 102 serves this purpose, the isolation element can comprise any suitable type of component that allows the sheet of extensible material 100 to extend more independently of the less extensible components than if such an element were not present. The isolation element, thus, can be said to 'isolate', "disassociate', or 'decouple' the extensibility of the sheet of extensible material 100 froo the inextensible components of the sanitary napkin.
Figs. 1-5 show an embodiment in which the isolation element 102 is in the position of the backsheet 40 of the sanitary napkin 20. The isolation element 102 shown in Figs. 1-5 preferably comprises a nonwoven web that is extensible at least in the longitudinal direction. The main body portion of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-5 has a liquid impervious barrier between the absorbent core and the isolation component. The isolation element can, however, replace the backsheet in other embodiments. In other embodiments, the sanitary napkin 20 may have a conventional backsheet, and the isolation element 102 may comprise a separate component that is attached to the backsheet 40. The isolation element 102 may be liquid pervious if it is used in addition to a backsheet. The Isolation element 102 is preferably liquid impervious if it replaces the backsheet.
The panty covering component (or sheet of extensible material 100 in Figs. 1-5) should, as discussed above, preferably be joined to the main body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin (or in the case of the embodiment shown in figs. 1-5, to the isolation element a 102) at certain discrete pointsj. The sheet of extensible material 100 can be joined to the the isolation element 102 by any suitable attachment mechanism. Suitable attachment mechanisms include, but are not limited to adhesives, and the like.
Fig. 1 shows one way the sheet of extensible material 100 may be attached to the isolation element 102. The attachment mechanism 108 comprises a large zone of adhesive 104 disposed along a portion of the longitudinal centerline L, and smaller adhesive areas 106 in the corners 27 of the sanitary napkin 20.
These adhesives can be extensible or inextensible. The large zone of adhesive 104 can comprise adhesive in any suitable pattern.
The large zone of adhesive 104 can comprise one or more strips, patches, spots, or lines of adhesive. The strips (or the like). of adhesive within the large zone 104 can be intermittent or continuous. The length and width of the large zone of adhesive 104 can range i n s 1 ze. The 1 ength of the 1 urge zone of adhes i ve 104 can range in site from a small pitch located along the transverse centerline T to a tone that extends nearly the length of the sanitary napkin. The large zone of adhesive in the embodiment shown is about 6 inches (about 15 cm.) long. The large zone of adhesive 104 can range from very narrow to fairly w?de:
The width of the large zone of adhesive 104 can be so swell that it is dust a thin line of adhesive disposed along the longitudinal centerline. The following discussion describes some of the factors involved in choosing the configuration of the attachment mechanism, such as the large zone of adhesive 104 and sntller adhesive areas 106.
There are many possible alternative configurations of attachments between the panty covering component and the gain body portion of the sanitary napkin. Several configurations for the attachment mechanism are shown in Figs. 17-20. (Figs. 17-20 also show several examples of panty covering components that are shorter in the longitudinal dimension than the main body portion of the sanitary napkin.) Fig. 17 shows an attachment mechanise 0 108 that i s i n the form of a rectangul ar zone or b1 ock that i s centered about the longitudinal centerline. Fig. 18 shows an attachment mechanism 108 that is in the forgo of two strips that extend in the longitudinal direction. The strips are on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline. The strips can be in any suitable configuration that extends generally in the longitudinal direction. Suitable configurations include, but are not limited to linear strips, curvilinear strips, intermittent strips, and the like. The strips are located near, but inward from the longitudinal side edges 22 of the main body portion 21.
Fig. 19 shows an attachment mechanism 108 that is in the form of two strips that extend in the transverse direction. The strips are on opposite sides of the transverse centerline. These strips are preferably located at the transverse end edges 100D of the panty covering component. Fig. 20 shows an attachment mechanism that is in the form of a block letter 'I' which has two strips similar to those shown in Fig. 19 and a central strip that runs down the longitudinal centerline connecting the two transverse strips. The attachment patterns in Figs. 19 and 20 have the advantage that they can penait the win body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin to decouple from the panty covering component~and the central region 32 of the main body portion can also permit the main body portion to bunch inward without pulling the panty covering coa~onent inward.
Returning to the discussion of the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 1-S, there are several factors which were taken into account in providing such a product. Yhen such an embodiment is provided with a main body portion that is generally inextensible, a key dimension to the proper functioning of the panty covering component embodiment shown therein is the dimension D2 (shown in Figure 1). The dimension D2 can be oeasured longitudinally or laterally, as shown in Fig. 1. The dimension D2 is the distance from the place where: (a) the isolation element 102 is bonded to any inextensible components of the sanitary napkin, point P, to _ the place where (b) the isolation element 102 is bonded to the sheet of extensible material 100, point Q. (In this embodiment, if the main body portion comprises inextensible or less extensible components, the isolation element 102 would be bonded to any inextensible components of the sanitary napkin at the seam 90 around the perimeter of the sanitary napkin.) The dimension D2 is important because it affects the amount that the extensibility properties of the sheet of extensible material 100 and the main body portion of the sanitary napkin 20 can be decoupled. The dimension D2 required for a particular sanitary napkin depends on the relative extensibility of the materials comprising all of the relevant portions of the sanitary napkin. The portions of the sanitary napkin relevant to the dimension 02 include, but are not limited to the inextensible components, the sheet of extensible material 100, and the isolation eleoent 102. For instance, if the isolation element 102 is extremely extensible, the isolation element 102 will,not need a great D2 dimension to create a sufficient aioount of slack between the sheet of extensible aaterial and the inextensible components.
The dimension D2 will also depend on the dimensions of the attachment mechanise used to attach.the sanitary napkin ZO to tae ___ wearer's panties. This is because the slack Material can also be present in the portion of the sheet of extensible Material 100 between the edge of the panty fastener and the place where the sheet of extensible material 100 is joined to the isolation element 102. Preferably, in the embodiment described herein, D2 is greater than or equal to about S w~, yore preferably greater than or equal to about 10 wi, yore preferably, and cost preferably is greater than or equal to about~l5 ~. The upper licit on D2 is as follows. 02 is preferably not so large that point Q extends past the intersection of the centerlines of the sanitary napkin, point I.
Figures 4 and 5 show what happens when the sanitary napkin 20 with the panty covering co~onent 100 shown in Figs. 1-3 is stretched. The sheet of stretchable material 100 stretches with the wearer's undergarnents U. Figure 4 shows that the end regions 28 and 30 of the sanitary napkin 20 will curve upward when the sanitary napkin is viewed frog the side. This will provide the sanitary napkin an overall curved longitudinal profile. Figure 5 shows that the sanitary napkin 20 is saddle-shaped when viewed froe the end. The particular curvature shown in FIGS. 4 and, 5 results from the configuration of the attachment mechanism between the sheet of extensible aaterial 100 and the isolation elesent 102. Other attachment mechanisms nay be used to create other stretched configurations.
The panty covering component (as noted above) automatically wraps around the sides of the wearer's panties by the simple action of the wearer pulling up her panties. There are several additional matters which should be kept in mind relating to the features of the panty covering coaponent.
First, placing a sanitary napkin having conventional flaps in a pair of panties and pulling up the panties will not consistently provide the automatic sustained wraparound feature of the present invention. There are several reasons for this. The conventional flaps are not extensible, so they will not confona to the panties..._ Conventional flaps are not provided with a low return force and a high fold retention, so that in cases where conventional flaps wrap around the panties, they do not consistently stay. In addition, conventionally-sized flaps will have excess flap aaterial that hangs down underneath the panties during wear. This Material can wove around excessively underneath the panties. The side wrapping elements of the present invention, on the other hand, have a span that is ideally~~ust wide enough to wrap around the elastic-containing edges of the panties, but no wider. The absence of Material hanging down under the panties, coobined with the extensibility of the sage, reduces any tendency for the side wrapping elements to bunch longitudinally inward during wear.
The second utter wh i ch shoul d be kept i n ~i nd i s that the portions of the panty covering cooponent to the longitudinal ends of the side crapping eleeents that do not wrap around the edges of the panties can also serve an important function. These portions, end portions (or 'non-wrapping portions') are shown is 52' in Fig.
1. The sanitary napkin is preferably constructed so these non-wrapping portions 52' can naturally work their way into the area of the wearer's leg crease to provide a gasketing effect against the wearer's body. This is believed to provide the wearer with extra protection from soiling of the wearer's panties (even in these areas) where the panty covering component does not cover the panty elastics. This is particularly true when the panty covering component is between about 150-200 mm long, or up to about 90% of the length of the main body portion for sanitary napkins having main body portions longer than 5 200 mm.
The gasketing benefits of the non-wrapping portions 52' is believed to be attributable to several factors associated with the construction of the sanitary napkin. When the side wrapping elements 52 are wrapped around 1o the edges of the panties, the non-wrapping portions 52' are held in tension.
The non-wrapping portions 52' are held at one end by the panty elastic, and at the other end by the smaller adhesive areas 106 in the corners 27 of the sanitary napkin. This causes the non-wrapping elements to stand more upright to form these gasket-like structures, rather than to simply flop over.
The benefits provided by the non-wrapping portions are enhanced when the panty covering component has a nonwoven body-facing side. When the panty covering component has a n~nwoven body-facing side, this provides the panty covering component with a "skin friendly" surface that is 2o desirable when the non-wrapping portions serve their gasketing function.
The panty covering component, as noted above, may provide an extensible (or stretchable) interactive connection between the main body portion of the sanitary napkin and the wearer's undergarments. The panty covering component 100 is particularly useful in providing a generally inextensible sanitary napkin with the ability to adapt to the stretching of the wearer's undergarments. The panty covering components are also useful in providing the other benefits of extensibility described herein. The panty covering component 100 can be stretchable, 2nd therefore, it can be 3o considered to be a variety of a stretchable attachment device as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,824,004 issued to Osborn, et al on October 20, 1998.

F. Fasteners for Attachingi the Sanitary Naakin to the Wearer's P nti The garment surface 208 of the sanitary napkin 20 (e.g., the garment surface 1008 of the panty covering component) may include fasteners (or "means for attaching the sanitary napkin to the undergarment of the wearer"
or "attaching means") 44.
Figures 2 and 3 show the central pad fastener 44 which is adapted to secure the main body portion 21 of the sanitary napkin 20 to the crotch region of an undergarment. Fasteners comprising adhesives have been found to work well for this purpose. Any adhesive or glue used in the art for such purposes can be used, with pressure-sensitive adhesives being preferred.
Suitable adhesives are sold under the Century A-305-IV tradename ~s manufactured by the Century Adhesives Corporation, Instant Lock 34-2823 manufactured by the National Starch Company, 3 Sigma 3153 manufactured by 3 Sigma, and Fuller H-2238ZP manufactured by the H.B. Fuller Co.
Suitable adhesive fasteners are also described in U.S. Patent 4,917,697.
2o The central pad fastener 44 can be in many possible configurations depending on the characteristics desired for the sanitary napkin. Figs. 2 and show one preferred arrangement which utilizes a longitudinally oriented zone of extensible adhesive centered about the longitudinal centerline L. Other suitable fastener configurations are shown In PCT International Patent 25 Publication No. WO 92/04000 entitled "Shape and Adhesive Fastening Means for an Absorbent Article" published in the name of Papa, et al. on March 19, 1992; PCT Publication No. WO 93/01783 published in the name of Olsen, et al. and in PCT Publication No. WO 93/01785 published in the name of Osborn, et al It should be understood that if it is desired to make the component that forms the garment surface of the sanitary napkin (and any overlying components) extensible in the wearer's panties, the particular adhesive configurations that can be used depend on whether extensible or inextensible adhesives are used. The WO 94/02096 SZ PC1'/US93/069~
portion of the sanitary napkin on which extensible adhesives ire located will be extensible. Sanitary napkins containing inextensible adhesives will typically only be capable of extension between the inextensible adhesive pitches. Therefore, if inextensible adhesives are used, they are preferably applied in intenaittent patterns, inchrding but not limited to intermittent dots, internittent strips, and the like, to penrit the sanitary napkin to extend between adhesive pitches. If, on the other hand, the adhesive is extensible, the adhesive can be applied in continuous or intermittent patterns in the above configurations (and other configurations). If the adhesives are extensible, they preferably extend approximately the sage mounts as the sanitary napkin as set forth in Table 1.
.'_.
Suitable extensible adhesives include extensible adhesives, per se, and extensible adhesive/backsheet co~binatlons. My extensible adhesives kno~rn in the art can be used. Suitable extensible adhesive/backsheet combinations include, but are not limited to non-extensible adhesive used on an extensible backsheet Material such as 3 Sigaa 2474 available frog Mchor Continental, Inc., 3 Sigaa Division, of Covington, Ohio; elastically stretchable adhesive file such as findley adhesive 198-338, or an elastically stretchable adhesive file known as 3h XPO-0-014 available frog the Minnesota !lining and Manufacturing Co~pany of St. Paul, Minnesota; or spray adhesives such as 3!I adhesive 1442 on a low ~odulus elastic file.
In addition, other types of fasteners can be used instead of, or in addition to adhesives. These other types of fasteners are preferably arranged in patterns similar to those in the patent publications referred to above. S~h fasteners include, but are not limited to conventional VELCRO hook Material, the fasteners described in: U.S. Patent 4,946,527 issued to Battrell on August 7, 1990; U.S. Patents 5,058,247 and 5,116,563 issued to Thowas, et al. on October 22, 1991 and Ilay 26, 1992, respectively; and EPO
Patent Application Publication No. 0 381 087 published August 8, 1990; or, high coefficient of friction foals and other high 53 ~/US93/06957 coefficient of friction oaterials in the sage category as those described in U.S. Patent 4,166,64 issued to Korp~nan, U.S. Patent 4,834,739. issued to linker, III, et al., and U.S. Patent S,O11,t80 issued to Gossens, tt al. These fasteners gay also be jade extensible as described in U.S. Patent No.
5,824,004 issued to Osborn et al. on October 20,1998.
The side trapping elements 52, as noted above, should trap and stir rithout being provided rith fasteners to secure the sage to the panties. Ho~eever, eb~odi~ents of the present invention sir have optional fasteners thereon for additional security, optional side trapping ete~ent fasteners ~S can be any of the types of fsstening Materials specified herein.
The optional side trapping element fasteners 45 assist ~he~
side trapping elements S2 in string in position after they are ~"aPPtd around the edges of the crotch portion of the panty. The side crapping elesent fasteners 45 Wr be looted on the gan~ent surface of side trapping eletents 52, adjacent the distal edges 53 of the side crapping elements 52 (1.e., the end of the side ~'aPPing elements S2 farthest at~r frot the longitudinal centerline L of the sanitary napkin 20), or at various other locations on the side trapping elements.
In one alternative etbodieent, as shorn in Fig. 21, the side crapping elements 52 are provided rith side crapping elements in the form of strips of hook Material ~5 or other Mechanical fastener taterlal ~S. In this preferred etbodi~ent, the holes t9 on the strips of hook Material 45 are distributed in a radial pattern. The hooks can be oriented in a particular direction for irproved gripping properties. Preferably, in the eobodieent in Fig. 21, the youths of the hooks an oriented so that they face the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse centtrlines.
The use of Mechanical fasteners on absorbent articles is believed to be particularly beneficial, due to their tendency to reduce the effect of the shearing forces exerted on the garnent WO 94/02096 54 ~ PCT/US93/06957 surface 20B of the sanitary napkin 20 by the rearer's panties waving in response to the rearer's body motions. Mechanical fasteners that engage the fabric of the rearer's panties rill move rith the panties, reducing the probl~s caused by these shearing forces. The mechanical fastening devices have engaging elewtents 49 that preferably engage the fabric (typically, the yarns of a knit or rovers fabric) covering the panty leg elastics. The mechanical fastening devices Wr engage the fabric covering the top of the nearer': panty Mastics, the fabric covering the sides of the panty elastics, or the fabric covering the bottom of the panty elastics.
The use of Mechanical attachment elements at or near the panty elastics and at other places, such as at the end edges 24 of the main body portion of the sanitary napkin 20, also eli~inate;--several problems associated pith the use of adhesive fasteners alone. Mechanical fasteners an not sutr~ect to the problai of adhes i ves :ti cki ng to the rearer's body has r. They are al so not subject to the probldw of the adhesives become unattached and causing the sanitary napkin folding back and stick to itself rhen the panty and panty Mastics move and stretch. further, as shorn in Figure 22, the leg elastics of the rearer's panties, E, are stretched rhea the panties are put on by the nearer. This causes the elastics to exert forces FE against the rearer's body. These forces provide a normal force component relative to the portions of the side crapping elements 52 that are against the vearer's body. The normal force component can be used to cause mechanical - or frictional attachment jeans to be yore effective. Nornal forces may aid mechanical fasteners having hook-like elements in penetrating and hooking onto the fabric of the caanec's panties.
Ideally, the normal forces rill cause the hooks to automatically engage the panty fabric rith little or no effort needed on the part of the nearer to press the hooks into the panties.
In another alternative ewtbodiment shorn in Fig. 23, the panty covering component 100 has indentations at its four corners 120 to al l or the panty covers ng component to ad,~ust to the shape of the wearer's undergarments. This embodiment is especially useful when the sanitary napkin is worn with menstrual shorts of the type typically worn by Japanese women. The indentations also allow the panty covering component to assist the side wrapping elements in flipping underneath the crotch region of the wearer's undergarments. The panty covering component 100 shown in Fig. 23 is preferably provided with an overall multi-directional extensibility.
The panty covering component is also preferably provided with an adhesive fastener that covers the entire garment side of the same with the exception of two longitudinally oriented zones 128 which are adhesive-free. The adhesive-free zones 128 prevent the side wrapping elements 52 from folding over onto and sticking to other portions of the panty covering component after the release paper is removed from the back of the panty covering component.
Optionally, the adhesive-free areas can be provided with a releasable material to further reduce any tendency for the side wrapping elements to stick to these portions of the panty covering component.
Before the sanitary napkin 20 is placed in use, if an adhesive fastener is used, the adhesive is typically covered with a removable cover strip or release liner 52 in order to keep the adhesive from sticking to a surface other than the crotch portion of the panty prior to use. Suitable release liners are also described in the above-referenced U.S. Patent 4,917,697. Any commercially available release liners commonly used for such purposes can be utilized herein. Non-limiting examples of suitable release liners are sold under BL30MG-A SiloxTM E1/0 and BL30MG-A SiloxTM 4P/0, both of which are manufactured by the Akrosil Corporation.
In particularly preferred embodiments, the adhesive fastener 50 is protected with a wrapper that not only covers the adhesive, but also provides both an individually packaged sanitary napkin and a container for disposing the sanitary napkin after use, such as is described in U.S. Patent 4,556,146 issued to Swanson, et al. on December 3, 1985 and in PCT International Publication No. WO 93/09743 entitled "Sanitary Napkin Wrapper and Adhesive Tab Construction for the Same' publ fished in the name of Berg, et al .
on May 27, 1993.
The sanitary napkin 20 of the present invention is used by reAOVing any release liner 52 and thereafter placing the sanitary napkin 20 in a panty so that the adhesive (or other fastener) SO
contacts the panty and Maintains the sanitary napkin in position within the panty during use. ' The following Example further illustrates the practice of the present invention. The following Exa~ple, however, is not intended to licit the scope _of the absorbent articles encompassed herein. .
_.
The topsheet 38 is jade in accordance rith U.S. Patent 4,463,045 and ring rolled to provide it vith longitudinal extensibility. The absorbent core 42 is a superabsorbent Material la.inate as described above which is :lifted or partially :lifted for longitudinal extensibility. Figure 8 shays an absorbent core 42 that is slit at the end regions 28 and 30, but not at the central region 32. The backsheet 40 is an extensible adhesive film known as Fonwli 1198-338 manufactured by the Findley Adhesives Co~pany of Nauratosa, W sconsin. The sanitary napkin 20 al so i ncl udes a creped BOlJNTIf (TM) paper towel 1 aver and several layers of extensible, highly-oriented spunlaced polyester nomroven material obtained frog llerstec Inc., a Division of International o Paper Company, of ifal poi e, Massachusetts. One 1 ~rer of lleratec spunlaced nonwoven having a basis areight of 19 g/yd2 and twro layers having a basis Freight of 30 g/yd2 are used. This ~atertal is extensible in the lateral direction as it is unrolled.
Assembly of the gain body portion of the sanitary napkin is as follows. Cut the ring-rolled topsheet to size. Place a te~late on the bottom side of the topsheet and apply Findley 4031 adhesive in a spiral pattern. Lay the Findley backsheet with a protective release paper attached on flat surface. Place the slitted absorbent gelling material (AGM) laminate core on the Findley backsheet. Center the creped BOUNTYTM tissue (shaped similarly to the topsheet) over the laminate core.
Place the topsheet over the creped tissue. Secure the components and smooth at edges. Roll the edges to seal. Peel the release paper from the back of the backsheet. Tear and remove in 2 or 3 pieces, then place the Veratec nonwoven material having the lower basis weight (19 g/yd2) on the exposed adhesive on the backsheet (oriented so the nonwoven is extensible in the longitudinal direction). Spray the topsheet with 0.01 g.
PEGOSPERSE~ surfactant available from Lonza, Inc., Williamsport, PA.
Assembly of the panty covering component is as follows. Form a laminate of the Findley extensible adhesive between the two layers of higher basis weight nonwoven (30 g/yd2). Apply panty fastening adhesive.
Assembly of the complete sanitary napkin is as follows. Bond the isolation layer to the main body portion around the perimeter of the main body portion with the 0.25 inch wide Findley adhesive. Trim the isolation layer to the same shape as the main body portion. Bond this assembly to the panty covering component with the 1.5 inch wide Findley adhesive. The adhesive is centered along the longitudinal centerline of the main body portion. Cut the panty covering component to shape.
The specifications of the finished product are as follows:
Main Body Portion Parameters of Main Body Portion Specifications Pad weight (g) 8.50 t 0.18 Core weight (g) laminate 2.54 t 0.09 Pad length (mm) 232 ~ 4 Core length (mm) laminate 201 t 1 WO 94/02096 ~ PCT/US93/06957 Pad width at center (am) 85 + 1 Core width at center (omj 65 _+ 1 Pad caliper (in. at 0.13 psij 0.11 + 0.01 (2.9 iam) Core caliper (in. at 0.13 psij 0.07 + 0.003 Coinnonents of Main Bodv Portion Specifications Polyethylene forged-file topsheet (per U.S. 9' x 5' Patent 4,463,045; ring rolled]
Findley extensible adhesive file baciaheet -9' x~5' (Foniula 9198-338]
Creped BOUNTY paper towel Shaped;
PFA (panty fastening adhesive] None PE60SPERSE 0.01 g Veratec spunlaced nonwoven (19 g/ydZj 9' x 5' ' --A6rl slit con non-slit center; total 65 ~ x 193 ~~
core weight 2.5 g; contains 0.7 g A6l1 with 2 3/4' non-slit center Findley 4031 (adhesive] 0.05 g Pareweters of Isolation Laver Specifications Length 232 t 4 Width of Center 85 t 1 Co~onents of Isolation Laver Specifications Yeratec spunlaced nomroven (19 g/yd 2j 9' x 5' Bond to panty covering component 9' x 1.50' Bond to gain body portion (around peri~eterj 30' x 0.25' Para~~eters of Pantv Covering Component . Scecifications Length (w~j 232 t 4 liidth 108 ~ 2 Comaonents of Panty Covering C~mnnnPnt Scecifications Veratec spunlaced nonwoven (30g/yd2- 2 layers) 9" x 5"
Findley extensible adhesive film 9" x 5"
PFA (panty fastening adhesive) 8" x 2.5"
Release paper As needed G. Other Alternative Embodiments.
While several preferred sanitary napkin embodiments have been described, numerous other sanitary napkin embodiments are disclosed in the literature. These could be provided with the panty covering component of the present invention. Some of such sanitary napkins are described in U.S.
Patents 5,009,653 and 4,950,264, issued to Osborn on April 23, 1991 and August 21, 1990, respectively, and in U.S. PatEnt No. 5,688,259 issued to Johnson, et al. on November 18, 1997.
The terms panty liner or "pantiliner" refer to absorbent articles that are less bulky than sanitary napkins which are generally worn by women between their menstrual periods. Suitable absorbent articles In the form, of pantiliners are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,738,676 entitled "Pantiliner" issued to Osborn on April 19, 1988.
2s The term incontinence article refers to pads, undergarments (pads held in place by a suspension system of same type, such as a belt, or the like), inserts for absorbent articles, capacity boosters for absorbent articles, briefs, bed pads, and the like, regardless of whether they are worn by adults or other incontinent persons. Suitable incontinent articles that can be provided with the so panty covering components described herein are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,253,461 issued to Strickland, et al. on March 3, 1981; U.S. Patents 4,597,760 and 4,597,761 issued to Buell; the above-mentioned U.S. Patent 4,704,115; U.S. Patent 4,909,802 issued to Ahr, et al.; U.S. Patent 4,964,860 issued to Gipson, et al. on October 23, 1990; and in U.S. Patent No. 5,304,161 issued to Noel, et al. on April 19, 1994 and in U.S. Patent No. 5,300,054 issued to Feist, et al.
on April 5, 1994.
s While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, It would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal dimension extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse dimension extending in a transverse direction, a longitudinal centerline, and a transverse centerline, said absorbent article comprising:

a main body portion comprising an absorbent core, said main body portion having a body-facing side, a garment-facing side, and a pair of longitudinal side edges;

an undergarment covering component, said undergarment covering component being joined to the garment-facing side of said main body portion by a decoupling component, said decoupling component joining to said main body portion at a pair of junctures being unattached between said junctures to define an unattached region of said main body portion that can move apart from said undergarment covering component, said undergarment covering component comprising a pair of side wrapping elements that extend laterally outward beyond the longitudinal side edges of said main body portion a distance of less than one-half the width of said main body portion to distal edges, wherein at least a portion of said undergarment covering component is extensible generally in the longitudinal direction between said affixation points and said distal edges of said side wrapping elements.

2. The absorbent article of Claim 1 wherein said main body portion has three regions disposed along the longitudinal centerline, said three regions comprising a first end region, a second end region, and a central region disposed between said first end region and said second end region, wherein said unattached region of said main body portion is located at least in said central region.

3. The absorbent article of Claim 2 wherein said decoupling component is joined to said main body portion at main body portion junctures, and said decoupling component is joined to said undergarment covering component at undergarment covering component junctures, wherein said main body portion junctures and said undergarment covering component junctures are spaced away from said longitudinal centerline.

4. The absorbent article of Claim 2 wherein said main body portion junctures are the same distance away from said longitudinal centerline as said undergarment covering component junctures.

5. The absorbent article of Claim 2 wherein said main body portion junctures are further inward from said longitudinal centerline than said undergarment covering component junctures.

6. The absorbent article of Claim 2 wherein said main body portion junctures are further outward from said longitudinal centerline than said undergarment covering component junctures.

7. The absorbent article of any one of claims 4,to 6 wherein said decoupling component comprises flaccid material.

8. The absorbent article of any one of claims 4,to 6 wherein said decoupling component comprises a pleated component.

9. The absorbent article of Claim 4 wherein said decoupling component comprises an extensible material.

10. The absorbent article of Claim 9 wherein said decoupling component is extensible in the longitudinal direction.

11. The absorbent article of Claim 9 wherein said decoupling component is extensible in the transverse direction.

12. The absorbent article of Claim 9 wherein said decoupling component is extensible in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.

13. The absorbent article of Claim 1 wherein said decoupling component forms a pair of legs, each of said legs having a pair of ends comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said first ends of said legs extend from first locations on said main body portion and said second ends of said legs are attached to said panty covering component at second locations.

14. The absorbent article of Claim 13 wherein said legs comprise extensions of said longitudinal side edges of said main body portion that are folded underneath said main body portion.