GB2370490A

GB2370490A - Absorbent garment

Info

Publication number: GB2370490A
Application number: GB0129573A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean Claude Debaise
Original assignee: RECTELLA INTERNAT Ltd
Current assignee: RECTELLA INTERNAT Ltd
Priority date: 2000-12-12
Filing date: 2001-12-11
Publication date: 2002-07-03
Also published as: GB0129573D0

Abstract

An absorbent garment comprises two sheets 50,58 welded together and an absorbent pad 52 located there between. The garment further comprising a weldable elongate elastic strip 62a,62b,62c located and welded between the two sheets 50,58 and adjacent the sides of the pad 12. The elastic strip 62a,62b,62c may be welded to the sheets 50,58 when the elastic strip is in a stretched state. The sheets 50,58 may be welded together around the periphery of the pad 12 and can be welded at a point within the pad 77. The welding may be high frequency welding or comprise supplying heat and/or pressure. An absorbent pad 52 is also disclosed which comprises a recess or channel C.

Description

Absorbent Garment

In first and second aspects, the invention relates to an absorbent pad and an absorbent garment incorporating the same for an infant or incontinent person. The absorbent garment may be a nappy (UK terminology) or diaper (US terminology). Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a re-usable absorbent garment. In third and subsequent aspects, the invention relates to an absorbent garment, a method for making the same and an apparatus for carrying out the method.

The present invention is made against the background of problems associated with disposable absorbent garments, e. g. the large waste problem. There is a growing need for re-usable, i. e. washable, absorbent garments that are more environmentally friendly. However, persistent problem with all absorbent garments including re-useables is the less than desired effectiveness at retaining liquid, e. g. urine, within the garment, such that liquid leaks out of the garment. Absorbent garments comprise, generally, a liquid impermeable outer sheet, a liquid permeable inner sheet and a liquid absorbent pad located therebetween. In the prior art, the absorbent pads are typically rectangular shaped and have flat surfaces. Hitherto, attempts have been made to make the pad thicker and/or wider, i. e. to provide more absorbent material. However the problem of liquid leakage still exists.

Accordingly, it is an aim of the invention to provide an absorbent pad and an absorbent garment, which prevent or reduce liquid leakage with respect to the prior art designs. Further aims will become apparent from the following description.

According to a first aspect of the invention the invention there is provided an absorbent pad for absorbing liquid wherein the absorbent pad comprises a recess.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an absorbent garment having the absorbent pad of the first aspect of the invention.

Advantageously, it has been found that the use of an absorbent pad having a recess provides an absorbent garment with vastly improved liquid retention, i. e. reduced liquid leakage.

The recess is preferably located centrally in the pad.

The recess is preferably located inwardly of all the sides of the pad. That is, preferably the recess is bounded all around by non-recessed edges of the pad, which thereby form a rim around the recess. However, the recess may be bounded on less than all of its sides.

The pad may be any manner of shape, e. g. substantially rectangular shaped. The pad preferably is substantially waisted shaped, i. e. narrower in its mid-region.

The pad may be made from any material known for use in absorbent pads. The invention has a particular utility in re-usable (i. e. washable) absorbent garments. Re-usable absorbent garments are made of fully washable materials.

For such use, preferably the pad comprises a felt, e. g. a cotton felt. Re-usable absorbent garments have the significant advantage of avoiding the waste produced by the discarding of many disposable absorbent garments since they may be washed and re-used. The pad of the invention makes the re-usable garment even more viable because it increases the efficiency of liquid retention.

The shape of the recess may be the same as that of the pad.

For example, the recess may be rectangular shaped in a rectangular shaped pad. The recess may alternatively be a different shape to the pad. For example, the recess may be oval-shaped in a substantially waisted-shaped pad.

Preferably, the recess is oval-shaped. Oval-shaped, as used herein, means generally any elongate shape with rounded ends. The recess may be any manner of shapes, for example: rectangular, square, triangular, round or similar.

The invention provides vastly improved liquid retention in tests compared with conventional flat (i. e. non-recessed) pads. A possible explanation is that the recess provides the pad with a shape such as to constrain better the liquid within the bounds of the pad, e. g. to act as a collector, and thereby significantly lessen the ability of the liquid to run off the surface as may occur with conventional pads.

With the prior art, the thinking was to increase liquid retention by thickening the pad, particularly in the central area and thereby creating an inclined surface.

The invention is a completely opposite development compared with the prior art where there has been a tendency towards making the pads thicker and/or wider, i. e. increasing the total amount of absorbent material in the pad. It is surprising that the pad according to the invention which employs less absorbent material by virtue of the recessed area yet provides greatly improved liquid retention (reduced leakage) with respect to the prior art. It will also be appreciated that the pad of the invention, by having a recess, comprises a lower total amount of absorbent material compared with the prior art flat absorbent pads thereby providing a cost saving.

In a further, more preferred embodiment the pad comprises a centre portion located inwardly of at least one recess.

For example, a non-recessed or centre portion may be located within the recess, e. g. centrally within the recess. In such embodiments the recess may then take the form of a channel or moat surrounding the non-recessed portion or centrepiece. As the recess may be any suitable shape, so may the non-recessed portion or centre piece. The non-recessed portion or centrepiece may be the same or different peripheral shape to the recess. Preferably, the non-recessed portion or centrepiece is oval shaped.

Further preferably, the recess is in the form of an oval shaped channel surrounding the centrepiece. The recess and

centre piece act such that while the recess prevents socalled"run-off"of urine and instead constrains the same, the centre piece serves to better soak up liquid constrained by the recess.

The channel or moat shaped recess need not be continuous.

For ease of manufacture, the recess may instead be discontinuous, i. e. comprising a sections of channel interrupted by one or more pad portions which connect the centrepiece to the outer part of the pad. This enables the pad including the centrepiece to be formed from one component and, moreover, helps prevent the centrepiece from moving with repeated washing.

The pad may be attached to the garment, i. e. as part of a complete garment, e. g. secured between outer and inner sheets of a diaper. Alternatively, the pad may be a separate item for being removably enclosed within a separate outer garment. For example it may be removable so that it can be fitted between inner and outer sheets for use and can be removed e. g. for cleaning after soiling.

The pad may be reusable. The rest of the garment may also be washable and reusable.

The pad itself may, particularly where it is removable and/or reusable, be enclosed by one or more sheets e. g. of fabric material. For example an upper sheet and a lower sheet may enclose the pad. As mentioned, enclosure of the pad by one or more sheets may be the case particularly

where the pad is a re-usable separate part. The one or more sheets may be fixed to the pad by welding or stitching, preferably welding. The fabric material may comprise a polyester or cotton, preferably cotton.

A preferred embodiment of construction for the pad or a reusable garment incorporating the pad comprises peripherally welding together the upper and lower sheets enclosing the pad (thereby typically doing without the need for stitching) which improves the sealing and reduces liquid leakage. Welding also greatly simplifies the manufacture and reduces the time and/or cost of unit manufacture.

Preferably, the upper sheet (the sheet nearest the wearer's skin) comprises a fabric. Further preferably, the upper sheet comprises cotton. Preferably, the lower sheet comprises weldable waterproof thermoplastic material, especially polyurethane.

Preferably, a cotton upper sheet (i. e. the sheet closest the skin) is welded to a polyurethane or polyurethane composition lower sheet. The welding may be effected by applying heat, pressure or by r. f welding or by ultrasonic welding.

The remainder of the absorbent garment according to the first and second aspects of the invention, in principle, may be constructed according to any known designs. For example known designs may be employed for the overall

shape of the absorbent garment, the shape and material of the outer liquid impermeable sheet and/or the inner liquid permeable sheet, the manner of sealing of the garment, the manner of elastication, the manner of securing the inner and outer sheets to one another, the means for fastening the absorbent garment around the wearer e. g. hook and loop pile fabric such as VELCRO (trade name) tabs or press studs.

The pad of the invention, as mentioned, may be useful for a re-usable absorbent garment. The pad may be used, for example, with an absorbent garment of the type described in UK patent application GB 2295306 A. With such a garment, the pad according to the invention may be used in place of the known absorbent pad. The absorbent garment described in that document has an inner sheet which provides two flaps under which the absorbent pad may be placed such that the side edges of the absorbent pad underlie these flaps.

After saturation with liquid, the absorbent pad may be removed from under the flaps and the used pad can either be replaced by a new one or the pad can be washed and put back in the garment. The garment separate outer garment itself may also be washable. Alternatively to an absorbent garment as described in GB 2295306 A, the pad may be permanently fixed in a garment and the whole garment is in that case washable. A further construction of garment is provided by the third and subsequent aspects of the invention described below.

As mentioned above, where the absorbent pad is to be a separate reusable part, i. e. where it may need to be washed separately (e. g. in a washing machine), preferably the pad is enclosed in a fabric. The fabric may be closed around and/or fixed to the absorbent pad by stitching or preferably welding.

The absorbent pad according the invention may comprise a single, i. e. unitary, pad having the recess formed therein.

Alternatively, the pad may comprise a first pad member having a hole cut therein in a central region fixed in overlaid relationship to a second pad member which is substantially flat i. e. having no hole. The second pad member preferably has substantially the same outline shape as the first pad. The absorbent pad provided by fixing the first pad member on top of the second pad member thereby has a recess formed in a central region by means of the hole of the first pad member over the second pad member. Alternatively, a further variation, which includes a pad member having a hole cut centrally therein, and which may be placed in overlaid relationship to a second, similar pad member which may also have a hole cut therein, may have a part of the cut out portion replaced in the hole thereby to provide a non-recessed portion or a centrepiece in the recess. This latter feature thereby provides that the recess forms a channel surrounding the centrepiece. A still further variation based on a single, unitary pad, comprises a single pad member which is provided with one or more cutout portions around a centrepiece but leaving the centrepiece connected to the outer part of the pad by one

or more uncut portions of pad. Thereby, a discontinuous channel or moat is formed in the pad wherein the channel is interrupted by one or more pad portions connecting the centrepiece to the rest of the pad. This enables the pad to be formed from one pad member for ease of manufacture.

Moreover, the centrepiece is better restrained from moving with repeated washing in such an embodiment.

Further problems exist with reusable absorbent garments in that the construction is conventionally stitched together, including having the elastication provided by stitching, either by using elastic thread to stitch the leg portions or by stitching elastic tape or similar to the sheets. The use of stitching results in a certain amount of liquid leakage through the stitching and, furthermore, stitching is a costly, labour intensive and time consuming operation.

A further object of the invention in the following third and subsequent aspects is to provide an improved construction of reusable absorbent garment.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an absorbent garment, the garment comprising an upper sheet, in use, nearest a wearer's body, a lower sheet, in use, furthest from the wearer's body, an absorbent pad located therebetween, wherein the upper sheet comprises a fabric and the lower sheet includes a weldable material, and wherein the upper and lower sheets are welded together to fix the sheets together, the garment further comprising at least one weldable elongate elastic strip

located and welded between the upper and lower sheets beside each of the long sides of the pad.

The invention according to the third aspect may advantageously provide a completely welded garment i. e. comprising no stitching. Therefore, the garment is much less labour intensive and less time consuming to produce and is correspondingly cheaper in cost. The invention according to the third aspect, also facilitates a more automated process of manufacture, since no stitching is required. For example, the components of the garment may be laid out in the specified configuration in a welding machine, e. g. laid out on the bed electrode of a high frequency welding machine, and then the components may be fixed, sealed and elasticated in one step of welding.

Since the garments may be completely welded, it is much better for a reusable garment, since stitching can deteriorate with repeated washing. It has been found that the all welded garment according to the third aspect of the invention better withstands repeated washing and the welds do not deteriorate as for stitching, i. e. it is more hardwearing.

Moreover, since the garment is welded, the seams are better sealed, i. e. result in less leakage than with stitching.

The arrangement of elastic strips in addition to being easy to lay out for manufacture gives a comfortable garment shape.

Preferably, the upper sheet is a woven or knitted fabric. Preferably, the upper sheet comprises cotton. A most preferred fabric for the upper sheet comprises cotton and polyester. This most preferred fabric, is still further preferably knitted such that the fabric has one side or face predominately cotton containing and the other side or face predominately polyester containing. In that case, the face predominately polyester containing is upper most in the garment in use, i. e. in contact with the wearer's skin, with the cotton containing face below it and adjacent to the absorbent pad. The cotton and polyester fabric is such that whilst the polyester is liquid permeable, it does not substantially retain liquid, thereby the fabric surface in contact with the wearer's skin remains dry. The cotton face of the fabric acts in a manner to assist drawing of the liquid through the polyester and towards the absorbent pad.

The weldable material of the lower sheets preferably comprises a weldable thermoplastic material. The lower sheet may be a sheet of weldable thermoplastic material. The lower sheet preferably comprises polyurethane as the weldable thermoplastic material. The lower sheet may also include a fabric. For example, the lower sheet may comprise a fabric sheet having a weldable material coating thereon. In use, the fabric sheet of the lower sheet may be outermost and the weldable coating thereon may be innermost in the garment to enable the weldable coating of the lower sheet to be used to weld the upper sheet thereto.

The fabric of the lower sheet, may include a material

selected from the group of cotton, nylon, polyester or viscose, preferably nylon. Further preferably, the lower sheet comprises a nylon fabric sheet having a polyurethane coating. Such a lower sheet thereby presents a fabric outer to the garment which, moreover, is hardwearing with respect to repeated washing. It will be appreciated, that the weldable thermoplastic material is waterproof, thereby providing a liquid impermeable barrier in the garment.

The invention according to the third aspect may present fabric upper and lower surfaces achieved by the provision of two sheets, namely the fabric-comprising upper sheet welded to the thermoplastic-coated fabric lower sheet as described above. However, the lower sheet may be entirely thermoplastic or have a thermoplastic outermost.

The pad, which is also washable, may comprise a felt material. For example, it may comprise a cotton felt material. The pad may be a pad according to the first aspect of the invention.

The elastic strip preferably comprises a weldable thermoplastic material, e. g. polyurethane. The elastic may be welded in a line substantially parallel to each long side of the pad. Preferably, a further elastic strip is provided and welded between the sheets at a location beside the end or short side of the pad which will form the waist of the garment. Preferably, the elastic strips are welded to the upper and lower sheet when they are in a stretched state such that, after welding, the elastic relaxes to its

unstretched state thereby drawing up the sheets in the region of welded elastication. A smocked appearance is thereby provided.

Preferably, the upper and lower sheets are welded together around the periphery of the pad. Preferably, the upper and lower sheets are also welded at at least one point, further preferably a plurality of points, within the pad. The latter feature assists anchoring of the pad with respect to the sheets, i. e. restricts movement of the pad within the garment with repeated washing. The anchoring points may take the form of apertures within the pad through which the enclosing upper and lower sheets are welded to each other. Further preferably, the upper and lower sheets are welded within the recess of the pad where the pad has a recess according to the first aspect of the invention. More preferably the sheets are welded around the periphery of the recess. Where the recess is in the form of a channel, preferably the sheets are welded together in the channel.

Preferably, the garment includes one or more"pinch"welds at one or more locations in which the pad is squashed between the upper and lower sheets and at least the external fibres of the pad are welded to the material above and below. There is preferably an additional sheet of weldable thermoplastic material provided at the pinch welds between the pad and the upper fabric sheet to aid welding.

Preferably, the pad comprises felt. By pinching welding, the anchoring of the pad within the garment is improved and the pad is less prone to move with repeated washing.

Preferably a margin area of the sheets extends peripherally beyond the pad on all sides thereof to form the leg and waist portions of the garment. The outer edges of the sheets in the margin areas, i. e. at the extremities of the garment, may be joined together by welding and/or, if desired, finished by conventional stitching and/or cutting. Employing a stitching operation just for the outer edge would not add significantly to the cost or complication of the manufacture since this is a relatively straightforward aspect of manufacture compared with, e. g. , elastication.

Preferably, in the margins, beside each of the long sides of the pad, and outwardly of the lines of elastication, the sheets are welded together in a plurality of short lines to form a series of welded ribs. Preferably, the welded short lines are positioned at an angle to the sides of the pad.

More preferably, the welded short lines are generally orthogonal to the sides of the pad. The welded short lines serve to increase durability in the leg portions of the garment, particularly where the garment size is relatively large, and may add to the smocked appearance in the leg area.

Preferably, the upper and lower sheet have a waisted shape, i. e. are narrower in their mid region than at their ends.

Thereby, a waisted shaped garment is produced. Preferably, the pad is also waisted shaped.

Preferably the garment is provided with fastening means. The fastening means may comprise press studs or Velcro or other conventional fastening means. Preferably the fastening means comprise press studs. More preferably, a plurality of press studs halves are located in the garment through the pad near the end of the pad, being the end of the pad opposite that which the third strip of elastic may be located. The other, i. e. complimentary halves of, press studs are then preferably located on margin areas of the sheets at the end which has the third elastic strip, preferably at the corners of the sheets.

To improve liquid impermeability of the garment, a sheet of weldable thermoplastic material, needing only to be no more than a similar area to the pad, may be placed beneath the underside surface of the pad (i. e. the surface, in use, furthest away from the wearer's body). This improves liquid impermeability of the garment below the pad.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an absorbent garment according to the third aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of: providing an upper sheet comprising a fabric, providing a lower sheet including a weldable material, providing a pad therebetween, providing at least one weldable elastic strip between the sheets beside each of the long sides of the pad, stretching the elastic strip prior to a welding step, and welding such as to weld the upper and lower sheets together and to weld the stretched elastic strip to the upper and lower sheets.

Preferably, the elastic strips which lie beside the long sides of the pad are stretched in a direction substantially along the length of the sheets. Preferably, the elastic strips are stretched between two points which lay outside the area of the sheets. Desirably, the stretched elastic strips may be also displaced in a direction substantially normal to their length at at least one location along the length of the elastic strip in order to better follow the outer edge shape of the sheets and/or the outer shape of the pad, particularly where the same are waisted shaped. Where the garment is of very small size (i. e. for a very small baby), the elastic strip may be welded in a single straight line, i. e. without the aforementioned displacement. However, for a larger sized garment, it may be necessary to displace the elastic strip at at least one location along its length. Where the elastic strip is displaced at one location along its length, this location may be approximately mid-way along the welded elastic line such that the welded elastic line comprises two sections which are at an angle to one another. For even larger sized garments, the elastic strip may be displaced normal to its length at two, three or more points along its length. The displacing of the elastic strip normal to its length, for larger sized garments, provides that the elastic strip better follows the shape of the outer edge of the garment.

Preferably, the peripheral shape of the pad is substantially similar to or the same as the outer shape of the garment.

Preferably, a further weldable elastic strip is provided between the sheets in the region of the sheets which will form the waist portion of the garment. Preferably, the further elastic strip is also stretched prior to welding.

The welding may comprise supplying heat and/or pressure.

Preferably, the welding comprises high frequency welding (RF welding). Preferably, the components of the garment are provided placed between the electrodes of a high frequency welding machine.

The garment may be finished by cutting the outer edge of the upper and lower sheet to the final shape.

The method may further comprise providing press studs or other fastening means on the garment.

Preferably, a sheet of weldable thermoplastic material is provided beneath the pad, i. e. between the pad and the lower sheet to improve liquid impermeability underneath the pad. This additional thermoplastic sheet need only be of an area sufficient to underlie the pad.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the apparatus

comprising a high frequency welding machine wherein an electrode thereof is provided with tooling comprising rule electrodes arranged and dimensioned to weld the garment in the configuration described herein above.

Preferably, a rule electrode is provided shaped and dimensioned substantially similar to the periphery of the pad, to provide a weld between the upper and lower sheets around the periphery of the pad. Preferably at least one rule electrode is provided such as to provide at least one weld between the upper and lower sheets through the pad.

Preferably, rule electrodes are provided so as to provide at least one weld of elastic strip beside each long side of the pad. Preferably, a rule electrode is provided so as to provide a weld of a further elastic strip near the end of the sheets which will form the waist of the garment.

Preferably, a rule electrode is provided substantially the same shape as the outer edge of the final garment to provide a welded outer edge of the garment.

Preferably, the apparatus provides fixing means, further preferably located outside the area enclosed by the rule electrode which will form the outer edge of the garment, to hold each elastic strip in a stretched state during welding. Preferably, the fixing points comprise clamps to hold the elastic strip in a stretched state.

Preferably, the rule electrodes are provided in a base.

The base construction will be apparent to one skilled in the art of rf welding.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises one or more means to displace the stretched elastic'strip in a direction approximately normal to the strip length. Preferably, such means comprise elongate members. Preferably, the member is pivotable about one end on a base, the other end of the elongate member being capable of engaging the stretched elastic strip to displace the same.

Advantageously, the joining of the two sheets by welding also provides an improved liquid seal. The thermoplastics material, preferably polyurethane, is pressed by the welding process into and through the fabric of the upper sheet, preferably comprising cotton, thereby to provide the improved seal. Moreover, a lower time and cost of manufacture is provided by the welding rather than stitching since the welding process can be carried out in one simple step.

The elastic material is welded directly to the one or more sheets of the garment thereby without need for adhesive, glue, stitching or the like. In the prior art, absorbent garments have elasticated portions wherein an elastic yarn is typically stitched to the relevant portions. However, leakage of liquid may occur through the stitching.

Sometimes, glue is used to fix the elastic to the garment.

However, leakage may still occur and the method of manufacture is complicated. The invention in the third aspect solves these problems by providing a weldable

elastic material that is welded to the sheets of the garment rather than stitched or glued to it. Moreover, the method of welding the elastic provides a simpler, cheaper and quicker method of elasticating the garment than stitching or gluing.

Two or more of the different aspects of the invention may be combined with each other to provide further preferable embodiments.

It will be appreciated that the combination of the welded sheet features and the welded elastication features can provided a completely welded garment, i. e. with no stitching needed. This has great benefits in terms of the cost and speed of unit manufacture. Moreover the absence of stitching results in fewer potential leak points.

An example of the invention will now be described with reference to: Figure 1 which shows a first pad member forming part of an absorbent pad of the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 which shows a second pad member forming part of an absorbent pad of the first aspect of the invention; Figure 3, which shows the outline of a fabric for enclosing an absorbent pad of the first aspect of the invention; Figure 4 which shows a plan view of an absorbent pad of the first aspect of the invention; Figure 5 which shows a cross-section through an absorbent pad along the line D-D ;

Figure 6 which shows a first pad member forming part of a further embodiment of absorbent pad according to the first aspect of the invention; Figure 7 which shows a centrepiece of the further embodiment of absorbent pad according to the invention; Figure 8 which shows the outline of a polyurethane containing material sheet for enclosing the absorbent pad of the further embodiment according to the invention; Figure 9 which shows an upper plan view of the further embodiment of absorbent pad according to the invention; Figure 10 which shows a cross-section through the further embodiment of absorbent pad along the line E-E; Figure 11 which shows a plan view of a further embodiment of the first and second aspects of the invention comprising a complete garment, laid out prior to final production; Figure 12 which shows a plan view of a still further embodiment of the invention, being a slight variation of Figure 11 ; Figure 13 which shows generally a plan view of the further embodiment of the invention in Figure 11 in final form; and Figure 14A, 14B and 14C which respectively show still further embodiments of absorbent pad according to the first aspect of the invention; Figure 15 which shows an apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the invention for making a garment according to the third aspect;

Figure 16 which shows the apparatus of Figure 15 having components of the garment located thereon in a first stage of manufacture; Figure 17 which shows the apparatus of Figure 15 with components of the garment located thereon in a further stage of the manufacture; Figure 18 which shows a garment according to the third aspect of the invention as manufactured by the method described with reference to Figures 15-17; Figure 19 which shows an apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the invention including pinching electrodes; Figure 20 A and B which show alternative shapes of pinching electrodes; and Figure 21 which shows a cross section of a garment according to the invention in the area of a pinch weld.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a first pad member (2) having a hole (4) cut therein. The hole (4) is substantially oval-shaped. The first pad member (2) is made of a felt. Referring to Figure 2 there is shown a flat second pad member (6) also made of a felt. A sheet (8) of polyester fabric is shown in Figure 3. The peripheral shape of the first and second pad members is waisted i. e. it is narrower in its mid-region. The fabric (8) has substantially the same peripheral shape as the first and

second pad members (2) and (6). The area of the fabric sheet (8) is however slightly greater than that of the first and second pad members (2) and (6). The absorbent pad (1) according to the invention is constructed from the first and second pad members (2) and (6) and upper and

lower sheets of fabric (8 and 8') as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the second pad member (6) is located on a first sheet of fabric (8). The first pad member (2) is located on top of the second pad member (6) and a second sheet of fabric (8') is located on the first pad member (2). The structure is sewed together by means of stitching (10) at the end regions of the pad (1). The stitching (10) penetrates through the first and second pad members (2) and (6) as well as through the first and second fabric sheets (8 and 8'). The first and second fabric sheets (8 and 8') are also stitched along their long edges by stitching (14). Stitching (12) inside the perimeter of the recess R formed by the hole (4) against the flat second pad member (6) ensures that the second fabric sheet (8') fits to the contour of the recess R. The stitching (12) also penetrates through the second pad member (6) and bottom fabric sheet (8) thereby trapping the lower fabric sheet (8) at that point. The hole (4) clearly provides a recess R which can serve to constrain a volume of liquid and prevent"run-off"of the liquid across the surface of the pad (1), enabling it to be absorbed by the body of the pad. Although stitching has been used in the foregoing

embodiment, alternatively, the welding could be used as in the following embodiment. Referring to Figure 6, which relates to a further embodiment of pad which comprises a centre portion located inwardly of a recess, there is shown a first pad member (22) having a hole (24) cut therein. The hole (24) is substantially oval shaped. The first pad member (22) is made of a felt. The absorbent pad further comprises a second pad member (not shown in Fig. 6) (22'), similar to first pad member (22) and also having a hole (24') cut therein. Referring to Figure 7, the cut out centrepiece (23) removed from the hole (24) is trimmed to a size somewhat smaller than the hole (24) such that when it is placed back in the hole (24) a peripheral channel C is formed therebetween. A sheet (28) of polyurethane material for enclosing the pad members is shown in Figure 8. The peripheral shape of the first and second pad members is waisted i. e. it is narrower in its mid-region. The sheet (28) has substantially the same peripheral shape as the first and second pad members. The area of the sheet (28) is however greater than that of the first and second pad members. The absorbent pad (21) according to the invention as shown in Figures 9 and 10 is constructed from the first and second pad members (22,22'), the piece (23), the sheet (28) and an upper sheet of cotton material (29) similar in

size and shape to the sheet (28). Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the second pad member (22'), shown in dotted outline in Fig. 9, is located on the polyurethane sheet (28). The first pad member (22) is located on top of the

second pad member (22'). The centrepiece (23) also shown in dotted outline in Fig. 9 is then located in the space provided by the holes (24), (24') of the pad members (22), (22'). The cotton sheet (29) is located over the first pad member (22'). The area of sheets (28) and (29) which extend beyond the area of the first and second pad member are welded together to provide a sealed seam in the peripheral areas (28a) and (29a) by applying heat and pressure. A further welded seam (30) between the sheets (28), (29) is also provided inside the perimeter of the hole (24) and around the centrepiece (23). The channel C formed between the pad members (22,22') and the centrepiece (23) clearly provides a recess which can serve to collect or constrain liquid and prevent"run-off"of t'he liquid across the surface of the pad (21), enabling it to be absorbed by the body of the pad. Moreover, the centrepiece (23) improves liquid retention by the pad by helping to soak up liquid constrained by the channel C.

The pads (1) and (21) are suitable to be employed in all manner of absorbent garments e. g. as known from the prior art garments. The pad (1) or (21) can either be attached to a garment or be a separate part. The pad (1) or (21) may be used for example with an absorbent garment of the type described in UK patent application GB 2295306A. With such an absorbent garment, the absorbent pad (1) or (21) of the invention may be used in place of the absorbent pad described in that document. For such use, the absorbent pad (1) or (21) is washable e. g. in a domestic washing machine. For example, the absorbent pad (1) or (21) may be

removed from the absorbent garment described in the aforementioned document and washed for re-use. The remainder of the absorbent garment may also be washable as described in the aforementioned document providing a completely washable and reusable garment.

Referring to Figure 14A, which shows a still further configuration of pad which comprises a centre portion located inwardly of a recess, there is shown a pad (101) comprising a single pad member (102) having cut-out portions (104a-d) therein. The cut-out portions (104a-d) provide a center portion of the pad (106) which is connected to the rest of the pad by connecting portions (108a-d).

Referring to Figure 14B, there is shown a variation from the embodiment shown in Figure 14A, which comprises a pad (111) comprising a single pad member (112) having cut out portions (114a-d) therein. The cut-out portions (114a-d) are similar to the cut-out portions (104a-d) of Figure 14A but without the oval ends. The cut out portions (114a-d) provide a center portion of the pad (116) which is connected to the rest of the pad by connecting portions (118a-d). In Figure 14C there is shown a variation from Figure 14B, but having six cut out portions (124a-f) therein. The cut out portions (124a-d) define a centre portion (126) of the pad which is connected to the rest of the pad by connecting portions (128a-f). In Figures 14A and 14B, the pad is provided in a single pad member, which makes for easy assembly and manufacture. Moreover, the

center portion will not move with respect to the rest of the pad, since it is connected thereto. The pads (101) and (111) may be enclosed by sheet members as in Figures 4 and 5 and 9 and 10 or may be employed in a garment as in Figures 11-13 described below.

A further embodiment of the first and second aspects of the invention comprising a complete garment is shown in Figures 11-13 which illustrates many of the features described herein. The garment may in particular be a re-usable, i. e. washable, garment.

Figures 11 and 12 show an outline, referred to as a "print", of a garment, prior to a final elastication and finishing. A lower sheet (50) of a fabric backed polyurethane composition is overlaid with an upper cotton sheet (58). In between sheets (50) and (58) is an arrangement of absorbent pad members generally as shown in figures 9 and 10. The outline of the pad members is shown by line (52). Centrally located within the pad members is a centre piece, the position of which is shown by outline (53). Again, the centre piece is similar to the arrangement shown in figures 9 and 10. Similarly, a recess in the form of a channel C is thereby provided within the pad members and peripherally around the centrepiece. The polyurethane sheet (50) and the cotton sheet (58) are welded together along the line (52), i. e. around the periphery of the pad members. Moreover, the sheets (50) and (58) are welded inside the periphery of the recess, i. e. in channel C, to anchor the pad members. Beyond the

central pad area bounded by (52) is a peripheral area or margin of overlapping sheets (50, 58) which forms the edge portions of the garment. The outer edge shape of the garment is shown by outline (55). The two sheets (50,58) are welded along line (55) to make the peripheral seam (57) (see Fig 13) of the garment. The garment will ultimately be cut from the surrounding sheet material around outline (55).

Further features are lines 62a, 62b and 62c which mark the lines of elastication. A weldable elastic strip material is laid out between the sheets (50) (58) and stretched along lines 62a, 62b and 62c and is then welded in the stretched state such that after welding the elastic relaxes and draws up the edges of the garment as shown in the final form in Figure 13.

Welded anchor points (65) are provided within the pad members. For this purpose, the pad members have small holes cut therein at the positions indicated by (65) such that the cotton upper sheet can be welded through the holes to the lower sheet of polyurethane composition. This firmly fixes the pad members in position to prevent movement of the pad with constant washing.

Alternative preferred means (75), (77) for effectively anchoring the pad to prevent movement within the sheets with repeated washing is shown in Figure 12. The welded anchor points (75) are provided near the top side edge of the pad and the welded anchor points (77) are provided

within the centrepiece (53), preferably near the top and bottom ends thereof. The anchor points (75, 77) are provided in a similar way to the anchoring points (65) in Figure 11, i. e. the pad members have small portions cut therein at the positions (75,77) such that the cotton upper sheet can be welded through the cut-out portions to the lower sheet of polyurethane composition, except that the portions cut in the pad for anchor points (75,77) are in the form of lines rather than the substantially circular holes (65) for further improved anchoring.

Further anchoring of the pad maybe provided by the fastening means (64) comprising one complimentary half of a press stud. The press studs (64) are located right through the pad. The other complimentary halves of press studs are provided at (66) at the outsides of the opposite end of the garment. The complimentary halves of press studs (64) and (65) provide the means for fastening the garment around the wearer.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments of Figures 11, 12 and 13 are a completely welded garment, i. e. it contains no stitching. Therefore it is significantly cheaper and faster to manufacture each garment than using known methods. Moreover, the absence of any stitching results in fewer leakage points.

Referring to Figure 15, there is shown an apparatus (200) according to the fifth aspect of the invention for making a garment according to the third aspect. The apparatus (200)

constitutes an electrode of a high frequency welding machine. The apparatus (200) comprises a base (202) constructed from wood. Located in the base (202) and protruding above the surface thereof are a plurality of bar or rule electrodes constructed of brass rule. Rule electrode (204) is substantially the same shape and dimension as the outer edge of the garment to be made.

Rule electrode (206) is substantially the same shape but slightly larger dimension as the periphery of the absorbent pad of the garment. Rule electrodes (208) are situated within the internal space of electrode (206). There are four rule electrodes (208) which are used for welding the upper and lower sheets together through four correspondingly positioned recesses in the pad. Rule electrodes (210) are arranged as a plurality of short bars on either side of the long sides of the electrode (206) to provide a series of welded ribs in the margin region of the sheets of the garment. Rule electrodes (212) of which there are four on each of the long sides of electrode (206), are located approximately in a line generally following the shape of the edge of the electrode (206) and situated between electrodes (210) and (206). Each line of four electrodes (212) is for welding a strip of weldable elastic material in a line generally following the contour of the edge of pad and approximately parallel to the outer edge of the garment.

Clamping means (214a-d) are provided for holding the ends of the strip of elastic material and particularly for holding it in a stretched state whilst it is positioned

over the rule electrodes (212) as described in more detail below. Clamping means (214a-d) may comprise conventional clamps. Displacement means (216) are provided for bending the strip of elastic material such that, in use, the elastic material is positioned over rule electrodes (212). Displacement means (216) comprise elongate fingers which are pivotable on the base about a point (217). The opposite end (219) of the finger (216) is adapted to engage with the strip of elastic material.

Rule electrode (220) is provided for welding a strip of weldable elastic material between the upper and lower sheets near the end of the garment that will form the waist portion. The strip of elastic material to be welded by rule electrode (220) is held stretched for welding between clamping means (224 a, b) similar to clamping means (214ad). Circular electrodes (226) and (228) are provided for welding the upper and lower sheets together through the correspondingly positioned holes in the pad as further anchoring for the pad between the sheets. Subsequently, fastening means comprising press-studs may be provided through the welded sheets at locations (228).

Referring to Figure 16, there is shown the first stage in the manufacture of the garment according to the third aspect of the invention. The apparatus (200) of Figure 15 is shown with a lower sheet (230) placed over the rule electrodes with enough area to cover rule electrode (204).

The position of the rule electrodes of Figure 15 is shown in dotted outline in Figure 16. A barrier sheet (not

shown) is placed between the electrodes and the lower sheet. The barrier sheet comprises a thin sheet of dielectric material to prevent tears and burns to the upper and lower sheets as is conventional in the art of high frequency welding. The lower sheet (230) is already approximately cut to size and shape of the final garment and slightly overlaps the rule electrode (204) which will provide the welded seam around the outer edge of the garment. The lower sheet (230) comprises a sheet of polyester fabric which is in contact with the rule electrodes, the sheet of polyester having a coating of polyurethane thereon which faces upper most. On top of the lower sheet (230) is placed an absorbent pad (240) comprising a felt material. The absorbent pad (240) is located within the perimeter of the rule electrode (206) which will provide a welded seam between the lower and upper sheets (upper sheet not shown in Figure 16) around the periphery of the pad (240). The pad (240) is provided with apertures (236) and (238) positioned corresponding to the positions of the electrodes (226) and (228) to provide welds therethrough. The pad (240) is further provided with apertures forming recesses (248) which are located above the rule electrodes (208) which, in turn, will each provide a weld between the lower sheet (230) and the upper sheet through the recesses (248). A strip of weldable elastic material (250) is provided on the lower sheet (230) and is clamped at one end by clamping means (214a) and then passed over the ends (219) of displacement means (216) which are adapted to hold the elastic material. The other end of the elastic strip (250) is clamped by clamping means (214b).

The displacement means (216) are pivoted downwards towards the base and electrode so that their ends (219) lie approximately between the rule electrodes (212) for welding the elastic strip. This holds the elastic strip in a position such that it is located above the rule electrodes (212). The elastic strip is a polyurethane containing composition and is stretched along its length between clamping means (214a) and (214b) and held in this stretched state by the clamping means. Likewise, on the opposite side of the garment, a similar elastic strip (250') is provided which is similarly stretched and held between clamping means (214c) and (214d), the displacement means (216) locating the elastic strip (250') in position over the rule electrodes (212).

The third strip of weldable elastic material (252) is clamped by clamping means (224a) at one end and then stretched over the lower sheet (230) above the position of rule electrode (220). The elastic strip (252) is held stretched by the other clamping means (224b).

Referring to Figure 17 there is shown an upper sheet (260) laid over the arrangement of Figure 16. That is, the upper sheet (260) which is cut to a similar shape and size as the lower sheet (230), is laid so as to substantially overlay the same area as the lower sheer (230) and covers the pad (240) and elastic strips (250) (250') and (252). The positions of the pad (240) and the elastic strips (250), (250') and (252) are shown in dotted outline in Figure 17.

The upper sheet (260) comprises a knitted fabric of cotton

and polyester such that a predominantly cotton containing face and a predominantly polyester containing face are provided. The predominantly cotton containing face of upper sheet (260) is laid downwards, i. e. in contact with the lower sheet (230) and pad (240) and the predominantly polyester containing face faces uppermost.

Thus, it can be seen that the components of the garment are laid out on the apparatus (200), such that the lower sheet (230) is positioned on the tooling comprising rule electrodes with the upper sheet (260) positioned thereon. Between sheets (230) and (260) is located the pad (240) and elastic strips (250), (250') and (252).

The final stage of manufacture comprises the welding step.

A barrier sheet is placed on top of the upper sheet similar to the barrier that is placed between the rule electrodes and the lower sheet. A plate electrode of the high frequency welding machine is brought together with the electrode comprising the rule electrodes and the components of the garment located therebetween are thereby welded.

The rule electrode (204) welds together lower sheet (230) and the upper sheet (260) to form the sealed outer edge of the garments. The rule electrodes (210) weld together the lower sheet (230) and upper sheet (260) in the margin areas of the sheets on either side of the pad (240) and a series of rib welds is thereby provided in the margin area. The rule electrode (206) welds together the lower sheet (230) and upper sheet (260) along a line around the periphery of the pad (240), thereby locating the pad centrally within

the garment. The rule electrodes (208) weld the lower sheet (230) to the upper sheet (260) through the recesses (248) in the pad (240). This further assists anchoring of the pad in position within the garment. Further anchoring of the pad (240) is provided by welds through holes (236) and (238) of the pad (240). The elastic strips (250), (250') and (252) in their stretched state are welded at the positions of rule electrodes (212) and (220).

When the welding is complete the plate electrode is lifted away from the rule electrodes. After releasing the ends of the elastic strips (250), (250') and (252) the garment may be lifted from the apparatus. After release of the elastic strips (250), (250') and (252) from the clamping means (214ad) and (224a, b) the elastic relaxes to its unstretched state thereby drawing up the material of the sheets along the lines of elastication. The garment may be finished by trimming the edges around the outer welded seam provided by rule electrode (204). Finally, the fastening means comprising press-studs may be attached to the garment. One set of complimentary halves of press-stud may be provided through the welded apertures (238) in the pad and the other complimentary halves of the press-studs may be provided in the corners (270) of the sheet margins.

Referring to Figure 19 there is shown a welding apparatus according to the invention, as shown in Figure 15 but having additional"pinching"electrodes 302. The pinching electrodes provide that the pad itself is compressed between the upper and lower sheets. The pad is thereby

partially welded to the material of the sheets above and below the pad. That is, the fibres of pad located towards the outside of the pad are welded. A piece of polyurethane is provided above and below the pad, between the upper sheet and the pad, to facilitate welding of the upper sheet to the pad. A cross section of the pad and sheet material in the area of a pinch weld is shown in Figure 21 where a part of felt pad 310 is shown positioned between upper sheet 312 as herein above described and lower sheet 314 comprising polyurethane as herein above described. The position of a conventional weld as herein above described is shown at 319. The conventional weld 319 surrounds the periphery of the pad. The pinch weld is shown at 317. The pinch weld includes a compressed piece of pad 318 which has been squashed between and welded at its surface to the sheets 312 and 314. Additional polyurethane pieces 316 are placed above and below pad piece 318 to aid welding of the surface of the pad to the upper and lower sheets. The pinch weld provides a weld to the actual pad which in turn provides anchoring of the pad within the garment. The pinch weld may be other than a straight configuration.

Alternative pinch weld configurations may be provided for example by the alternative pinch weld electrode shapes shown in Figs 20A and 20B.

An illustration of the final absorbent garment manufactured by the method is shown in Figure 18. The garment is shown with the upper sheet uppermost. The lower sheet is not visible in Figure 18. The position of the enclosed pad (240) is shown with the four recesses therein (248)

indicated. The centre portion (249) of the pad (240) is located inwardly of the recesses (248). Thus, in use when the pad is curved around the wearers crotch the recesses (248) help restrain run-off of liquid whilst having the centre portion of pad (249) soaks up liquid which may collect there. The pad (240) is bounded by a welded seam between the upper and lower sheets indicated by the line (241) of Figure 18 which is provided by the rule electrode (206) of the apparatus. The outer most peripheral edge of the sheets has a welded seam indicated as (242) in Figure 18 which was provided by the rule electrode (204) of the apparatus. Similarly, the upper and lower sheets are also welded together through the recesses (248) as provided by the rule electrodes (208) of the apparatus. The position of the press-studs (238) is also shown and the position of the anchoring points (236) are indicated. Along a line substantially parallel to the long sides of the pad (240) are the strips of welded elastic shown by dotted outlines (250), (250') and (252). The sheet material around the lines of welded elastication are drawn up to provide a smocked appearance. The strips of welded elastic (250), (250') are provided along what are the leg portions of the garment. The line of welded elastic (252) is located in what is the waist portion of the garment. Press-stud halves (280) in the margins of the sheets are illustrated. In use, the garment will be fastened around the wearer by passing the garment between the wearer's legs with the upper sheet closest to'the wearer's skin such that the elasticated waist portion of the garment is located at the front of the wearer's waist and the opposite end of the

garment having press studs halves (238) is located at the rear of the wearer's waist. The elasticated side portions will fit around the wearer's legs. The press stud halves (238) are finally fastened to complimentary press stud

halves (280) around the waist of the wearer which at the same time provides a close fit of the elasticated waist and leg portions around the wearer.

Claims

1. An absorbent garment, the garment comprising an upper sheet, in use, nearest a wearer's body, a lower sheet, in use, furthest from the wearer's body, an absorbent pad located therebetween, wherein the upper sheet comprises a fabric and the lower sheet includes a weldable material, and wherein the upper and lower sheets are welded together to fix the sheets together, the garment further comprising at least one weldable elongate elastic strip located and welded between the upper and lower sheets beside each of the long sides of the pad.

2. An absorbent garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper sheet comprises a woven or knitted fabric.

3. An absorbent garment as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the fabric of the upper sheet comprises cotton.

4. An absorbent garment as claimed in claim 3 wherein the fabric of the upper sheet comprises cotton and polyester.

5. An absorbent garment as claimed in claim 4 wherein the fabric is knitted such that the fabric has one side predominately cotton containing and the other side predominately polyester containing.

6. An absorbent garment as claimed in claim 5 wherein, the side predominately polyester containing is, in use, closest to the skin of a wearer.

7. An absorbent garment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the weldable material of the lower sheet comprises a weldable thermoplastic material.

8. An absorbent garment as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lower sheet comprises polyurethane.

9. An absorbent garment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the lower sheet further includes a fabric.

10. An absorbent garment as claimed in claim 9 wherein the lower sheet comprises a fabric sheet having a weldable material coating thereon.

11. An absorbent garment as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the fabric of the lower sheet includes a material selected from the group of cotton, nylon, polyester or viscose.

12. An absorbent garment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the pad comprises a felt material.

13. An absorbent garment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the elastic strip comprises a weldable thermoplastic material.

14. An absorbent garment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the elastic is welded in a line substantially parallel to each long side of the pad.

15. An absorbent garment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein a further elastic strip is provided and welded between the sheets at a location beside the short side of the pad which will form the waist of the garment.

16. An absorbent garment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the elastic strip is welded to the upper and lower sheet when it is in a stretched state.

17. An absorbent garment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the upper and lower sheets are welded together around the periphery of the pad.

18. An absorbent garment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the upper and lower sheets are welded at at least one point within the pad.

19. An absorbent garment as claimed in claim 18 wherein the sheets are welded through apertures within the pad.

20. An absorbent garment as claimed in claim 18 wherein the upper and lower sheets are welded within a recess in the pad.

21. An absorbent garment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein there is a margin area of the sheets extending peripherally beyond the pad on all sides thereof to form the leg and waist portions of the garment.

22. An absorbent garment as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the upper and lower sheet have a waisted shape.

23. An absorbent garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A method of manufacturing an absorbent garment, the method comprising the steps of: providing an upper sheet comprising a fabric, providing a lower sheet including a weldable material, providing a pad therebetween, providing at least one weldable elastic strip between the sheets beside each of the long sides of the pad, stretching the elastic strip prior to a welding step, and welding such as to weld the upper and lower sheets together and to weld the stretched elastic strip to the upper and lower sheets.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein the elastic strip is stretched in a direction substantially along the sheets.

26. A method as claimed in claim 24 or 25 wherein the elastic strip is stretched between two points which lay outside the area of the sheets.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26 wherein the stretched elastic strip is also displaced in a direction substantially normal to its length at at least one location along the length of the elastic strip.

28. A method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 27 wherein a further weldable elastic strip is provided between the sheets in the region of the sheets forming the waist portion of the garment.

29. A method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 28 wherein the welding comprises supplying heat and/or pressure.

30. A method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 29 wherein the welding comprises high frequency (rf) welding.

31. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

32. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 24 to 31, the apparatus comprising a high frequency welding machine wherein an electrode thereof is provided with tooling comprising rule

electrodes arranged and dimensioned to weld the garment in the claimed arrangement.

33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein a rule electrode is provided shaped and dimensioned substantially similar to the periphery of the pad.

34. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32 or 33 wherein at least one rule electrode is provided such as to provide at least one weld between the upper and lower sheets through the pad.

35. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 34 wherein rule electrodes are provided so as to provide at least one weld of elastic strip beside each long side of the pad.

36. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 35 wherein a rule electrode is provided so as to provide a weld of a further elastic strip near the end of the sheets which will form the waist of the garment.

37. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 36 wherein a rule electrode is provided substantially the same shape as the outer edge of the final garment to provide a welded outer edge of the garment.

38. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 37 wherein the apparatus provides fixing means to hold

each elastic strip in a stretched state during welding.

39. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 38 wherein the apparatus comprises one or more means to displace the stretched elastic strip in a direction approximately normal to the strip length.

40. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

41. An absorbent pad for absorbing liquid in an absorbent garment wherein the absorbent pad comprises at least one recess.

42. An absorbent pad for absorbing liquid in an absorbent garment as in claim 41 wherein the recess is located centrally in the pad.

43. An absorbent pad for absorbing liquid in an absorbent garment as in claim 42 wherein the recess is located inwardly of all the sides of the pad.

44. An absorbent pad for absorbing liquid in an absorbent garment as in any one of claims 41 to 43 wherein the pad comprises felt.

45. An absorbent pad for absorbing liquid in an absorbent garment as in any one of claims 41 to 44 wherein the pad comprises a centre portion located inwardly of the

at least one recess such that the recess forms of a channel about the centre portion.

46. An absorbent pad for absorbing liquid in an absorbent garment as in any one of claims 41 to 45 wherein the channel is discontinuous.

47. An absorbent pad for absorbing liquid in an absorbent garment as in any one of claims 41 to 46 wherein the channel comprises sections of channel separated by one or more portions of pad.

48. An absorbent pad for absorbing liquid in an absorbent garment as in any one of claims 41 to 47 wherein the pad is washable.

49. An absorbent pad substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.