MXPA99004368A - Absorbent article with a raised portion - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an absorbent article intended for female users, such as a sanitary napkin, or an incontinence guard, having such a shape and size that it maybe substantially accommodated in the crotch region of a pair of panties and having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a thickness direction. The article exhibits a liquid-pervious cover layer (2) and a liquid-impervious cover layer (3) and further an absorbent core consisting of at least one absorbent body (6), arranged between the two surfaces (2, 3), and wherein a hump (16) is arranged at the liquid-pervious cover layer (2) of the article. The invention is characterized in that the hump (16) is substantially shape permanent in the transverse direction of the article, both in a wet and in a dry state, and to such an extent that the hump (16) is not deformed in the transverse direction, either temporarily or permanently, by the forces acting on the hump (16) during use of the article.

Description

"ABSORBENT ARTICLE WITH A LIFTED PORTION" TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to an absorbent article intended for female users such as a sanitary napkin, or an incontinence protector, with a shape and size such that it can be essentially accommodated in the crotch region of a pair of panties and that has a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a thickness direction, wherein the article exhibits a liquid-permeable surface and a liquid impervious surface, and furthermore an absorbent core consisting of at least one absorbent body placed between the two surfaces , and where a hump is placed on the surface permeable to the liquid of the article.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A common problem associated with absorbent articles of the type proposed herein is the escape of fluid from the body beyond the longitudinal lateral edges of the article. This escape is of course extremely undesirable, since it involves the risk of soiling the wearer's clothes. Due to the almost insignificant extension of the article also in the longitudinal direction, it is also not unusual for the liquid to escape back and forth beyond the end edges of the article. Therefore, a specific problem is the backward escape that usually arises in relation when the user goes to bed, for example, during the night. The most frequent reason for shore escape is that the absorbent article deforms during use, when the article is squeezed between the wearer's thighs. In this way, wrinkles are raised in a non-controllable manner both in the absorbent core of the article and in its cover material. This wrinkling results in the formation of channels on the surface of the article, where the fluid of the body can infiltrate beyond the lateral edges. In addition, the compression of the article implies that the accessible area for receiving the liquid is reduced, whereby the risk of the body fluid ending up on one side of the article is significant. A further problem in relation to the absorbent articles known above is that the lateral edges of the articles have the risk of being bent above the liquid-permeable surface of the article due to the action of the forces of the body that arise when the user moves. The area accessible for the reception of the liquid is also drastically reduced by this fold, since only a region permeable to the narrow liquid between the lateral edges bent inwards is left in this way. One way to reduce the risk of edge escape, caused by the deformation of the article during use, is to provide the item with a preformed hump, which during use is intended to be in contact with the user's genitals. The excreted body fluid can thus be retained as soon as it exits the wearer's body, and be immediately absorbed into the article without flowing out through the surface thereof. Previously known absorbent articles provided with a hump receiving liquid, however, are subject to a number of disadvantages. A common way to create a hump has been to simply reconstitute it by placing a larger amount of absorbent material within the area of the hump. Since the most common absorbent material is the so-called cellulose fluff paste, this hump, however, collapses and loses its shape when wetted. In order to achieve a hump that is large enough also in the wet state, a hump consisting of cellulose fluff paste must comprise such an amount of absorbent material that it becomes too high, hard and uncomfortable to be used in a dry state. . In order to solve the problem with large humps, hard and uncomfortable, it has been suggested in Patent Number EP 0 339 041 that the liquid impervious surface of the article be provided with transverse elastic members. These elastic members impart a certain resilience to the article if it is subjected to flattening. The elastic members, however, do not prevent compression and undesired deformation in the transverse direction of the article to a considerable degree. In another publication, Patent Number 0 419 434, it has been suggested to create a soft hump in an average absorbent article to hold the lateral edges of the article at a mutual distance that is smaller than the flat distance between the lateral edges. This previously known article also does not resist, to any appreciable degree, this deformation that is caused by the article that is affected by the pressure and shear forces during use.

In Patent Numbers 0 335 252 and EP 0 335 253 it has been suggested to provide an absorbent article with a deformation element. The deformation element is affected by the transverse compression forces between the thighs of a user. The object of the deformation element is that it, during use, curves in a portion of the article in a direction towards the body of the wearer. However, it is impossible to completely control, or anticipate, the form that the article will adopt for each individual user. Furthermore, it is not possible to ensure contact between the wearer's body and the surface of the article, since the degree of warpage is completely determined by how much of this article is compressed in a transverse direction. Therefore, there is a need for an escape-proof absorbent article, which has a predictable shape, both before and during use, and which maintains its shape independently of the movements of the wearer and the dampening to which the article is subjected. . An article designed in accordance with the invention, of the type disclosed in the introduction, is characterized primarily because the hump has essentially a permanent shape in the transverse direction of the article both in a dry state and in a wet state, and to a degree in such a way that the hump does not deform in the transverse direction neither temporarily nor permanently by the forces acting on the hump during the use of the article. The variants and additional embodiments of the following claims are evident. Since the article is provided with a joraba that is permanent in form in both a dry and a wet state, it is possible to predict the shape of the hump in each situation. The fact that the hump is permanently implies that it remains essentially unchanged during normal use and does not deform when subjected to the pressure and shear forces that arise during use. It is particularly important that the hump is not compressed in the transverse direction, between the thighs of the wearer. However, it is also an advantage that the hump is essentially incompressible also in the thickness direction. The height of the hump above the surface of the absorbent article must be adapted in such a way as to ensure, during use, good contact between the wearer's body and the hump. Since the hump is so hard or stiff so that it essentially does not give in to the forces it undergoes during use, it is important that the hump is not so high that it is pressed against the wearer's body and body. this way causes discomfort during use. It is also necessary to ensure that the hump does not rub against sensitive soft parts in the wearer's crotch. In this way it has been found that a hump that at its highest part projects at least 5 millimeters from the surface of the article, but not more than 20 millimeters, satisfies the requirements of both good contact with the body and great comfort for the user. A hump according to the invention is relatively narrow, appropriately between 2 millimeters and 25 millimeters at the base, and preferably between 12 millimeters and 16 millimeters. In the upper part, the hump is appropriately between 3 millimeters and 10 millimeters wide, and preferably between 4 millimeters and 6 millimeters. The hump is designed with an essentially triangular cross section and consequently, it is wider at the base than at the top. Since the hump is comparatively narrow, it can protrude without any discomfort for the wearer, slightly between the external genitalia of the wearer. In this way, it would be an advantage if the hump slightly separates the external genital lips since the transfer of fluid from the user to the article is facilitated in this way.

In the posterior portion of the hump, it must have a shape in such a way that it is in close contact with the wearer's body, in the region behind the vaginal opening. Therefore, body fluid is prevented from leaking back into the groove between the gluteal region of the wearer and escaping out of the article. As mentioned above, this backward escape is particularly embarrassing when the user is lying down. Correspondingly, the front portion of the hump must conform to the shape of the wearer's body in the region in front of the vaginal opening. It is important that the body fluid that is emitted be immediately retained and absorbed into the hump. The liquid in this way is prevented from being collected between the body of the user and the joraba. When the user separates or moves, there is a risk that a space will arise in the frontal portion of the jaw, between the hump and the user's body. If a large amount of the non-absorbed liquid has been treated between the wearer's body and the surface of the article, this liquid can then flow outward through the space. Sudden liquid flows are extremely undesirable partly because the user perceives them as unpleasant and partially because they significantly increase the risk of escape.

The length of the hump is also important to achieve optimal contact between the hump and the body of the user. The joraba should have a shape and an extinguish backward in such a manner in the article that it is sealed essentially against the flow of liquid back into the article. This is achieved by means of the hump remaining in sealing contact against the skin behind the vaginal opening of the wearer. An appropriate length of the hump has been found to be between 70 millimeters and 140 millimeters, preferably between 80 millimeters and 120 millimeters. The hump should not extend through the entire length of the article and, in particular, it is advantageous if a portion of the front end of the article is permanently free of the rigid hump. In this way, the front end can bend and conform to the curvature of the wearer's body. In order to conform to the user's anatomy, the hump should be higher in the portion of the article that is intended to be in contact with the vaginal opening of the wearer. From the highest portion, the height should gradually decrease in one direction toward the end portions of the article. In this way, the hump should extend backward from the highest portion of between 5 millimeters and 40 millimeters and preferably between 10 millimeters and 30 millimeters. On the opposite side of - lu ¬ the highest portion, the hump should have a length between 50 millimeters and 90 millimeters, preferably between 55 millimeters and 80 millimeters. A raised shore barrier on both sides of the central hump can advantageously be placed. Shore barriers increase the safety of escape from the item by serving as seals against the wearer's groin. Shore barriers erected can be achieved in a number of different ways. Preferably, the shore barriers can be made of the same material as the central hump and thus have essentially the same resistance to deformation as the hump. However, other types of shore barriers are conceivable, such as elastic side edges, foam rubber strips, wadding and similar materials. Shore barriers can simply be physical barriers or impede the passage of liquid through the absorption of body fluid.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a sanitary napkin according to the invention, seen from the side which during use is oriented towards the wearer. Figure 2 shows a section along the line II-II through the sanitary napkin in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section along the line III-III through the sanitary napkin in Figure 1. Figure 4 shows a plan view of a sanitary napkin according to a second embodiment of the invention, which is seen from the side that during the use is oriented towards the user. Figure 5 shows a cross section through the line V-V through the sanitary napkin of Figure 4, Figure 6 shows a portion of the absorbent core in the sanitary napkin of Figure 4 seen from the side that during the Use is user-oriented. Figure 7 shows a sanitary napkin according to a third embodiment of the invention, which is seen from the side which during use is oriented towards the user, and Figure 8 shows a cross section through the line VII-VII through of the sanitary napkin in Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES: The sanitary napkin 1, shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a liquid-permeable cover layer 2 placed on the side of the sanitary napkin 1 which is intended to be oriented towards the wearer during use. The liquid-permeable cover layer 2 suitably consists of a soft, skin-friendly material. Examples of useful liquid-permeable cover materials are different types of non-woven fiber fabrics, so-called non-woven materials. Other liquid-permeable cover materials are perforated plastic films, cambric, woven or knitted fabrics, and combinations and laminates of the aforementioned types of material. The sanitary towel 1 also comprises a layer 3 liquid-impermeable cover, placed on the side of the sanitary towel 1 that during use is intended to be oriented away from the user. Usually a thin plastic film is used as a liquid impermeable cover layer 3. However, it is also possible to use layers of liquid-permeable material that are coated with a liquid impervious material. Other treatments, such as thermo-calendering in order to melt a liquid-permeable material originally in a liquid impermeable layer essentially, can also be used. It is also possible to use nonwoven materials or other textile materials that are sufficiently dense, and the fibers of which are sufficiently hydrophobic so that they can function as a liquid barrier layer. The two cover layers 2, 3 are mutually interengaged and form a protruding connecting edge 4 around the periphery of the sanitary napkin. The connection between the cover layers 2, 3 can be achieved by means of any prior art technique suitable for the object, such as gumming, welding or sewing. Between the cover layers 2, 3, in a direction from the liquid-permeable cover layer 2 towards the liquid-impermeable cover layer 3, there is a shape retaining element 5, a first absorbent body 6 and a second body 7 absorbent. The sanitary napkin 1 is hourglass-shaped, with a relatively wide front portion 8 and a rear portion 9 and with a narrower crotch portion 10. The sanitary towel 1 also exhibits two longitudinally curved sides 11, 12 concavely and also two end edges 13, 14 convexly curved. A fixing member 15, in the form of a longitudinal rectangular region of self-adhesive rubber, is placed on the surface of the cover layer 3 impervious to the liquid that is remote from the wearer. The fixing member 15 extends through most of the surface of the liquid-impermeable cover layer 3, between the two end edges 13, 14. Of course it is possible to use other rubber patterns, such as longitudinal strips , cross regions, points, circles or other designs. Also the invention is not limited to adhesive fastening members, but friction fastening devices such as snaps, staples, belts, panties, or the like may be used where appropriate. The extension and location of the shape retention element 5 corresponds together to the shape and dimension of the crotch portion 10 of the sanitary towel 1. The shape retention element 5 has a predetermined three-dimensional shape with a central hump 16, extending in the longitudinal direction of the sanitary napkin, and two raised shore barriers 17, 18 positioned along the lateral edges 11, 12 of the sanitary towel 1, on each side of the central hump. The central hump 16 and the shore barriers 17, 18 project from the plane of the sanitary napkin on the side of the sanitary napkin which during use is intended to be oriented towards the wearer. In this way, the intention is that the central hump 16 should remain in contact against the wearer's body and be partially inserted between the external genital lips of the wearer. The edge barriers 17, 18 are located in the groin of the wearer during use and are sealed against leakage beyond the lateral edges 11, 12 of the sanitary napkin. The central hump 16 has an elongated shape and tapers in a direction toward the portions 8, 9 of the end of the sanitary napkin 1. In this way, the hump is higher in the region that during use is intended to be in contact with the vaginal opening of the user. The length of the hump is approximately 115 millimeters, but if desired, it can vary between 70 millimeters and 140 millimeters. In this way, the hump extends properly approximately 20 millimeters back from the highest portion and approximately 75 millimeters forward from the highest portion.

Likewise, these measures may nevertheless be varied within the aforementioned limits. Within the region of the hump 16, both the shape retaining element 5 and the liquid-permeable cover layer 2 is provided with a plurality of openings 19, or perforations allowing the passage of the liquid towards the first absorbent body 6, located in the shape retention element 5 inside the hump 16. When this retention element is used in a perforated manner, the liquid-permeable cover layer 2 can be omitted, at least within the region of the hump 16. However, in general, for reasons of convenience, it is desirable to cover the element rigidly, hard, with a softer material. The shape retention element 5 is designed in a permanent form, of a rigid sheet material such as hard plastic, rigid paper, cardboard, a rigid nonwoven material, a laminate or a similar material. It is essential for the invention that the retaining element 5, at least in the transverse direction, be sufficiently permanent in shape so that the central hump 16 during use resists considerably the compression forces from the thighs of the wearer , without it being deformed either temporarily or permanently. It is appropriate, but not necessary, that the central hump 16 also resists compression in the thickness direction. The degree of deformability of the central hump 16 in the direction of thickness is decided by the rigidity of the material of the shape retaining element 5, in combination with the number of openings 19 in the hump 16, and also the size of the openings 19 At the same basic rigidity of the material in the shape retention element 5, the deformability increases with the number of openings 19 as well as with the size of the openings 19. Furthermore, the stiffness of the hump 16 is influenced by the stiffness of the Absorbent material that is placed inside the hump. The first absorbent body 6, positioned within the shape retention element 5, is located within the central hump 16. Due to the shape of the sanitary napkin, with the central hump 16, the sanitary napkin is kept in contact with the wearer's body during use. The fluid that is thus emitted is immediately retained by the hump 16 and passes through the openings 19 in the shape retaining element 5, towards the first absorbent body 6. Until the first absorbent body 6 is intended to receive and absorb almost all of the emitted body fluid, the absorption capacity of the first absorbent body must correspond to the total amount of liquid that is calculated to be absorbed by the sanitary napkin during use.

In Figures 2 and 3 in cross-section, the first absorbent body 6 is shown as a fiber batt containing particles of super-absorbent material, equally distributed in the fiber structure. The super-absorbent material refers to polymers that are available in the form of fibers, flakes, particles, granules or the like and that are capable of absorbing several times their own weight of body fluid, during swelling and the formation of a gel . A specific advantage with the use of the superabsorbent material in relation to the sanitary napkin shown in Figures 1 to 3 is that the space available for the absorbent material in the central hump 16 is quite limited. By using the super-absorbent material, it is possible to obtain a large absorption capacity, even in the comparatively small space below the central hump 16 in the shape retaining element 5. Other absorbent materials suitable for use in the first absorbent body 6 are for example cellulose fluff pulp, cotton, absorbent foam material or the like. For maximum utilization of the absorption capacity of the absorbent material, it is necessary to ensure that there is sufficient space for expansion during absorption. Using a layer 3 of waterproof cover, which has a certain flexibility and elasticity, the super-absorbent material can be expanded both to fill the central hump, and to elongate the water-impermeable cover layer 3 so as to form a sagging on the side of the sanitary towel 1 that is oriented away from the user. The absorbent material in the first absorbent body 6 may further consist of a mixture of an absorbent and non-absorbent material. An example of this mixture is a non-absorbent fiber structure with fibers or superabsorbent particles bound together. One type of absorbent material that has been found to be particularly suitable for use in the first absorbent body are those fiber materials that are described in Patent Number WO 94/10953 and WO 94/10956. Since the shape retention element 5 prevents the absorbent material from swelling in a direction towards the wearer's body, the hump 16 maintains its shape against the wearer during use. However, it is possible to use material that swells when absorbing the liquid. The first absorbent body in this manner can be allowed to expand in a direction away from the body of the wearer, since the liquid-impermeable cover layer 3 is resilient and allows this expansion.

The second absorbent body 7 is placed between the first absorbent body 6 and the cover layer 3 impervious to the liquid. The second absorbent body 7 has a very limited absorption capacity compared to the first absorbent body 6. Because of this, the second absorbent body 7 serves mainly as a reservoir that is used for absorption when the first absorbent body 6 has been saturated with liquid. The second absorbent body 7 also has the capacity to absorb a small amount of liquid such as sweat or stationary droplets that can slide outward to the end portions 8, 9 of the sanitary napkin 1. In addition, the second absorbent body 7 increases the stability in the soft, flexible end portions 8, 9 and makes the sanitary napkin softer against the wearer's body. The absorbent material in the second absorbent body 7 is suitably constituted by one or several layers of a conventional absorbent material. Examples of useful materials are tissue paper layers, wadding layer of synthetic or natural fibers, cellulose fluff pulp layers, absorbent foam layers or similar materials. In the sanitary towel 1 in Figures 1 to 3, good contact between the hump 16 and the wearer's body ensures that essentially no fluid flows from the body outwardly from the side of the hump 16. Yes, despite this , a small amount of the body fluid passes outward to the side edges of the sanitary napkin, the escape is efficiently prevented by means of the raised shore barriers 17, 18. The shore barriers 17, 18 drive the liquid forward or backward to the sanitary towel edge portions 8, 9, where it can enter through the liquid-permeable cover layer 2 into the second absorbent body 7, located inside. If it is found to be desirable, it is of course possible to place a small amount of absorbent material within the liquid-permeable cover layer 2, between the shore barriers 17, 18 and the central hump 16, in order to prevent the liquid from flow towards the surface of the sanitary napkin. The sanitary towel 401 shown in Figures 4 and 5, has the same general structure as the sanitary napkin 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3. However, the sanitary napkin 401 in Figures 4 and 5 lacks a sanitary towel. special way Accordingly, the sanitary towel 401 comprises a liquid-permeable cover layer 402, a liquid-impermeable cover layer 403 and a first absorbent body 406 and a second absorbent body 407, enclosed between the cover layers 402, 403. The layers of cover 402, 403 are mutually interconnected around the absorbent bodies 406, 407 and thus form a connecting edge 404 around the periphery of the sanitary towel 401. The sanitary towel 401 has a trapezoidal shape with a wider front portion 408, a narrower posterior portion 409, and an intermediate central portion 410. Likewise, the sanitary napkin 401 has two oblique lateral edges 411, 412, which extend between two almost straight end edges 413, 414. An adhesive fixing member 415 is placed in the shape of three rubber lines, running in the longitudinal direction of the sanitary napkin 401 in the liquid impervious cover layer 403. An elongated mandrel 416 is positioned centrally in the longitudinal direction of the sanitary towel 401. The hump 416 is wider in the central portion 410 of the sanitary napkin and tapers in a direction toward the front and rear portions 408, 409. Furthermore, it is appropriate for the hump 416 to be profiled in the longitudinal direction so as to be more high in the central portion 410 and decreases in height gradually in a direction towards the end portions 408, 409.

The hump 416 is constituted by a plurality of layers 420 in the form of a willow leaf of a highly absorbent fiber material. The willow leaf layers 420 together constitute the first absorbent body 406 of the sanitary towel 401, which consequently constitutes the hump 416. Figure 6 shows the first body 406 absorbent. The absorbent body 406 is seen from the side which during use is facing the user. In order to obtain the desired shape similar to a flange of the absorbent body 406, the integral layers 420 of the absorbent material have been stacked one on top of the other. In this way, layer 420, which in Figure 6 is located furthest from the observer, has the greatest extent after which layers 420 decrease in area in a direction toward the observer. The layers 420 are almost congruent and are placed concentrically one relative to the other. As a consequence, the first absorbent body 406 imparts a profile in a stepped cross section. A form of such a kind is achieved by placing the layers 420 in reverse order, with the smaller layer at the bottom and gradually increasing the dimensions of the layer in a direction towards the top of the hump. In this arrangement the larger layers are turned over the smaller layers so that the end result is a hump that tapers towards the top. Another way to achieve an absorbent body 406 with an appropriate shape is by rolling a triangular white shape of an absorbent material. The shape in white has the shape of an isosceles triangle and is rolled from the base to the corner between the two edges that have equal length. By means of this method, the resulting absorbent body is converted into a spool with a thicker central portion and narrower end portions. A further way to achieve an absorbent body having the desired shape is by placing a number of plates, or layers of material of an absorbent material at one end. By selecting an appropriate absorbent material it is possible in this way to achieve an absorbent body with a very good body permanence both in a transverse direction and in a vertical direction. A suitable material for the absorbent body shown in Figure 6 is the absorbent material disclosed in Patent Number WO 94/10956. This material is a dry-formed fiber layer with high density and stiffness that is used directly in the absorbent article without defibring first. Another similar material with properties particularly suitable for blood absorption purposes is disclosed in Patent Number WO 94/10953. The materials disclosed in Patent Number WO 94/10956 and Patent Number 94/10953 both have sufficient stiffness and ability to withstand pressure deformation so as to provide hump 416 in sanitary towel 401 in Figure 4, with the stability of desired shape. In addition, these fiber materials have a very good absorption capacity. During absorption, the material swells slightly in the thickness direction and thus conforms to the space available in the wearer's crotch. An advantage with this is that the hump 416 during use adopts a shape that is uniquely adapted for each respective user. In this way, both the escape safety and the comfort of the user are increased. The second absorbent body 407 of the sanitary towel 401 is positioned between the first absorbent body 406 and the liquid-impermeable cover layer 403. The second absorbent body 407 is primarily a protection against shore escape around the central hump 416. Second, it also serves as an additional absorption capacity that can be used if the first absorbent body 406 is saturated by unexpectedly large amounts of the liquid. In addition, the second absorbent body 407 is responsible for providing the sanitary towel 401 with a length of extension in the plane so that the sanitary towel 401 can be fixed within a pair of panties by means of the fixing member 415 placed in the layer 403 of waterproof cover. The sanitary towel 701 shown in Figure 7, comprises a liquid permeable cover layer 702 and a liquid impervious cover layer 703 which interconnect with each other within the connecting edge 704 around the periphery 701 of the sanitary towel 701. The sanitary towel 701 is in the form of an hourglass, with two end portions 708, 709 and a narrower central portion 710. In addition, the sanitary towel 701 exhibits two longitudinal side edges 711, 712 and two transverse end edges 713, 714. A layer 707 of material providing shape having essentially the same shape and dimensions as the sanitary towel 701, as a whole, it is placed between the two cover layers 702, 703. The layer 707 of material is essentially non-absorbent, soft and resilient. The main object of the layer 707 of material is to provide the sanitary towel 701 with the shown hourglass shape. Since the layer 707 of material has a certain resilience, both in the direction of thickness and in the plane of the layer, the layer 707 of material also provides comfort for the wearer and permanence of shape in the sanitary towel 701. A shape retention element 705 of the kind shown in Figures 1 to 3 is placed in the central portion 710 of the sanitary towel 701. Accordingly, the shape retention element 705 is made of a material that is so rigid that it essentially resists compression in its entirety during use. The shape retention element 705 is not deformable, either in the transverse direction or in the thickness direction, when it is subjected to body forces arising during normal use. The shape retention element 705 is constituted by a piece of almost rectangular material, which in the transverse direction of the sanitary towel ends at a distance within the lateral edges 711, 712 of the sanitary towel 701. In the longitudinal direction of the sanitary napkin the shape retention element 705 extends only through the central portion 710. A hump 716 resembling a longitudinal ridge is formed centrally in the shape retention element 705. The hump 716 is lower near the end portions 708, 709 than in the central portion of the central portion 710. An absorbent body 706 is formed consisting of one or more layers of absorbent material above the hump 716, between this and the liquid-permeable cover layer 702. The absorbent material can be selected in the same manner as the absorbent material in the humps 16, 416, which are described in relation to Figures 1 to 6. The raised shore barriers 717, 718 are placed along the lateral edges. 711, 712 of the 701 sanitary towel. The edge barriers 717, 718 are formed by elastic members 721 that are fixed in an elongated condition between the two cover layers 702, 703, along the side edges 711, 712 in the central portion 710 of the towel sanitary The elastic members 721 can be of any conventional kind, such as elastic bands, threads, elastic nonwoven material, or a similar material. The elastic members 721 can of course optionally be affixed to the outside of one of the cover layers 702, 703, or be formed by a band of an elastic foam material, an elastic nonwoven material or similar materials that have been folded around the connecting edge 704 formed by the cover layers 702, 703.

A number of different ways of attaching the elastic members 721 to one or two layers of material are known above, and can be used in order to achieve the raised edge barriers 717, 718. The sanitary napkin in addition to a conventional manner is provided with fastening members 715 in the form of two longitudinal strips of self-adhesive pressure sensitive rubber. The invention in the above has been described in relation to sanitary napkins. However, it is possible to use the invention also for other absorbent articles that are intended for use by female users. Accordingly, the invention also covers liners for panties and incontinence guards for women. The invention is not to be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein, but a number of additional variants and modifications are conceivable within the scope of the claims. In addition, all conceivable combinations of the described embodiments are intended to be encompassed by the invention.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS;

1. An absorbent article intended for female users, such as a sanitary napkin, or an incontinence protector, with a shape and size that can be essentially accommodated in the crotch region of a pair of panties and having a longitudinal direction, an address cross section and a thickness direction wherein the article exhibits a liquid permeable cover layer (2), and a liquid impermeable cover layer (3), and furthermore an absorbent core consisting of at least one absorbent body (6). ), placed between the two cover layers (2, 3), and where a hump (16) is placed in the liquid-permeable cover layer (2) of the article, characterized in that the hump (16) is essentially in shape. permanent in the transverse direction of the article, both in a wet state and in a dry state, and to a degree such as the hump (16) does not deform in the transverse direction, either temporarily or permanently, med. by the forces acting on the hump (16) during the use of the article. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that the hump (16) is essentially permanently in the thickness direction of the article, whereby the article will not be permanently deformed by the pressure forces acting in the direction thickness of the article, which arise during the normal use of the article. An article according to any of the preceding claims, and exhibiting two longitudinal side edges (11, 12; 711, 712), characterized in that the raised shore barriers (17, 18; 717, 718) are placed at along the longitudinal lateral edges (11, 12; 711, 712). An article according to claim 3, characterized in that the edge barriers (717, 718) are formed by the arrangement of the pretensioned elastic members (712) mounted along the lateral edges (711, 712) . An article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a shape retention element (5), and that the hump (16) is formed by the shape retention element (5). 6. An article according to claim 5, characterized in that the shape retaining element (5) consists of a layer of rigid plastic material. An article according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the edge barriers (17, 18) are formed by the shape retaining element (5). An article according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that at least one first absorbent body (6) is placed inside the shape retention element (5), which is viewed in a direction from the permeable surface to the liquid of the article, and between the shape retaining element (5) exhibits at least one through opening (19) within the region of the hump (16), through which the body fluid can pass to the body. first absorbent body (6). An article according to any of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that an absorbent body (706) is placed between the shape retaining element (705) and the liquid permeable cover layer (2) of the article. An article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hump (16; 416; 716) is between 70 millimeters and 140 millimeters in the longitudinal direction of the article and preferably between 80 millimeters and 120 millimeters. 11. An article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hump (16; 416; 716) has a base oriented towards the liquid-impermeable cover layer (3), and an upper part oriented toward the layer of liquid permeable cover (2), whereby the extension of the hump (16; 416; 716) in the transverse direction of the article is between 2 millimeters and 25 millimeters at the base, preferably between 12 millimeters and 16 millimeters, and that the extension of the hump (16; 416; 716) in the transverse direction in the upper part is between 3 millimeters and 10 millimeters, preferably between 4 millimeters and 6 millimeters, and also in that the hump (16; 416; 716 ) is wider at the base than the top.