MXPA99004425A - Absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, an incontinence guard, a panty-liner or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, an incontinence guard or a panty-liner, which article has a generally elongated shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and exhibits two long sides (6, 7), two short sides (8, 9), two end portions (10, 11) and a central portion (12), located between the end portions, and exhibiting a transversely extending cross-sectional line (17) from which the width of the article increases in a direction towards a short side (8) of the article, whereby the end portion (10) located at the short side (8) exhibits a maximum width which is larger than the width of the central portion (12), whereby the article changes inclination at the cross-sectional line (17), whereby the inclination is defined by an angle between the long side (6, 7) of the article and a longitudinal line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the article, which article exhibits a width of the central portion which has an upper limit of 60 mm, and an angle&agr;of 30-90°.

Description

ABSORBENT ARTICLE SUCH AS SANITARY TOWELS, PROTECTION AGAINST INCONTINENCE, LINER OF TROUSERS OR SIMILAR FIELD OF THE ART An absorbent article LIKE, for example, a sanitary napkin, an incontinence protector or a panty liner, said article has a substantially elongated shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and showing two long sides, two short sides, two end portions and a central portion located between the end portions, said central portion shows a transverse cut line extending transversely from the as the width of the article increases in a direction towards a short side of the article, where the end portion located on the short side shows a maximum width that is greater than the width of the central portion, where the long sides of the article change from tilt in the line * transversal, where the inclination is defined by means of an alpha angle between the long side of the article and a longitudinal line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the article. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional absorbent articles of the aforementioned type - show a substantially rectangular shape. A problem associated with this design is that the articles are not adapted to the user's body. As a general rule they are too wide in the central portion of the article, that is, the portion of the article whose purpose is to fit between the wearer's thighs. Therefore, the article will wrinkle during use. This is uncomfortable for the user and increases the risk of leakage. In order to solve this problem it has been suggested to make absorbent articles in the form of an hourglass instead of having a rectangular shape. Said articles are already known, for example, in EP 67 377 and EP 235 763. Normally, the absorbent articles of the aforementioned type are fixed in the crotch portion of the wearer's underwear by means of adhesive areas applied to the article. . A problem with this type of fixation is that the adhesive areas can be contaminated in such a way that they lose their fixability. Another problem with fixing with adhesives is that the adhesive can permanently adhere to the wearer's underwear, that is, the adhesive can not be removed by washing and the underwear is spoiled. An additional problem with adhesive bonding is that protective bands are required in order to protect the adhesive areas, such protective bands must be removed and disposed of before use. Many users of absorbent articles consider that this requirement takes time and is laborious.

An additional problem, especially if large areas of the article are covered with adhesive, is that it is more likely that the article follows the movements of the underwear than the movements of the body. This results in an increased risk of leakage since gaps will appear between the article and the user's body. In the cases in which the article follows the movements of the body, this will cause the fixation on the underwear to be subjected to cutting force. This may involve the detachment of the item from the underwear or its deformation. In the worst case, both situations occur simultaneously. The consequence in all cases is that the article does not cover the areas that it should cover and as a result leaks arise. One way to reduce that problem is by designing the adhesive areas in different ways, as shown, for example in GB 2 119 656 and GB 2 119 657, or by combining the adhesive areas with high friction, as shown in US 3 888 255. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The purpose of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems and to offer an article which has a good capacity of adjustment to the body and which can remain in place against the body without the aid of any special fixing device.

BRIEF COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an article of the type mentioned in the introduction, wherein the problems associated with such previously known articles have been essentially eliminated, is characterized in that the width of the crotch portion is not greater than 60 mm and because the alpha angle is 30 to 90 °. Additional modalities are evident from the appended claims. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION By means of the present invention, the problems of unsatisfactory adaptation and insufficient fixation are solved. This is achieved by designing the article in such a way that its central portion has a width less than at least one of its end portions, and ensuring that the angle between the longitudinal direction of the article and the main direction of the long sides of the article. , where the article tapers towards the central portion is from 30 to 90 °. When an article designed in this way is placed with the end portion showing the wider cross section forward in the wearer, ie in the region of the wearer's groin, the article will remain in position naturally and will not be It is necessary to use any additional fixing members, such as adhesive surfaces. This is due to the fact that the width of the central portion of the article, and the angle with which it is transformed in the width of the end portion, have been selected in such a way that the article adapts to the user's anatomy. An article designed in this way is held in the groin of the wearer and prevents the article from moving backwards between the wearer's legs. It is a common problem in terms of conventional articles, since the movements of the user's legs push the article backwards. The angle between the longitudinal direction of the article and the main direction of the long sides of the article, where the article tapers towards the central portion should be 30 to 90 °. At angles greater than 90 °, the edges of the end portion may rub against the groin area and legs of the wearer and thereby create discomfort for the wearer. The lower the angle, the greater the risk that the item will slide backwards between the legs of the wearer. With an angle less than 30 ° this risk is unacceptable. An angle between 35 ° and 55 ° offers the best balance between fixation and comfort. An angle of 45 ° is especially favorable. An alternative way of describing the angle, which is relevant to the invention, is in terms of proportions between the width of the central portion in its narrowest part and the width of the end portion in its widest part. The width of the end portion that during use faces forward in the wearer should be 1.5 to 5 times wider in its part wider than the width of the central portion in its narrowest part. However, there is also a risk, even though it is not great for the item to slide forward between the user's legs. This risk is eliminated if the end portion that is intended to be placed backward on the wearer is also designed in such a way that its width is greater than the width of the central portion. It is important that the width or cross section of the central portion be adapted to the user's anatomy in such a way that the article does not wrinkle or form folds in the central portion and consequently cause discomfort for the user and possible leaks. From the perspective of comfort, as to the width of the article, the most critical region in the crotch region of the user is the region where the muscle group that originates in the inner part of the pelvis passes and its Fixation along the thigh. This group of muscles consists of the adductor short, adductor longus, gracilis and adductor magnus muscles. Measurements have shown that the distance in the crotch region of the user, between adductor muscle groups on the left side and on the right side, it is strikingly similar in all humans and that is between 30mm and 35mm. Obviously the fat affects the width between the thighs, but the width between the muscle groups in the crotch region is the same and are what give the impression that an article is rubbing. The fatty tissues are deposited on the outside of the muscles, but do not contribute to the possible sensation of discomfort. If the article is constructed of a very rigid material, the width of the central portion, at least in the area intended to be between the tendons, should not exceed approximately 40 mm and preferably should not exceed approximately 35 mm. This critical area is approximately 5-15 mm long in the longitudinal direction of the article. A very rigid material does not give or wrinkle but can on the contrary, rub against the muscle causing a feeling of discomfort for the. user. An article composed of a very rigid material and having a completely straight cross section must have a total width less than what is necessary when the construction is more flexible. One way to manufacture a more flexible article is to offer its transverse dimension a form other than the straight form. Said more flexible transverse direction, for example, may have one or several crests. For example, you can present the basic form of the letter M. The stiffness of the article is important in order to prevent the article from twisting, bending, cracking or cutting during use. In order to prevent the article from losing its stiffness when the cross section of the central part is narrower, the edges of the article can be folded or rolled up, at least in the central part. This makes it possible to employ a piece of material that has a total cross section too wide to be comfortable. In this way, the rigidity of the article is increased, and comfort is preserved. In order to balance the comfort with the stiffness required of the article, it is also possible to employ various materials with different stiffness in order to build a central portion with a variable stiffness in the transverse direction. For example, the central portion may be composed of a center portion of more rigid material with external portions of a less rigid material. Therefore, the external parts will be in contact with the thighs of the user. Accordingly, in the longitudinal direction of the article, the outer portions will be bounded by the two end portions and, in the transverse direction of the article by the long sides of the article and the center portion of the central portion located between the two outer portions. . With such a design, the central portion may be wider than is possible if the stiffer material is simply used. By reinforcing the central part of the central portion, the article obtains better rigidity properties than in a case in which a rigid minor material is employed. At the same time, high comfort for the user is achieved. Examples of stiffer materials that are suitable for use in the central portion of the central portion are relatively thick layers of polypropylene film, polyethylene film, and bonded fiber networks. In this context, a relatively thick material layer refers to layers of material with a layer thickness exceeding approximately 0.2 mm. In addition, it is possible to increase the rigidity of a plastic layer by mixing the plastic with talc, clay, or other fillers that increase the rigidity. In addition, the rigidity of the central part of the central portion can be obtained by means of rigid metal or wood inserts, such as plates, rods, skeleton-like constructions, or the like. The less rigid external parts advantageously consist of one or more layers of soft material, deformable as for example plastic films and non-woven layers of the type which are commonly used as coating materials in absorbent articles. The external parts may further comprise an absorbent material, such as for example a nonwoven sheet, absorbent, a layer of cellulose fluff pulp, sheets of fabric, or the like.

Preferably, an absorbent article according to the present invention has a comparatively small width. However, according to the materials used and according to the design of the central portion of the article, it has been found that the width of the central portion can vary between 15 mm and 60 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 35 mm. A central portion with a greater width should suitably be compressed by the forces arising during normal use such that the width of the central portion during use does not exceed approximately 40 mm, and preferably does not exceed approximately 35 mm. Furthermore, it has been found that articles having a width during use that is less than about 15 mm work unsatisfactorily in terms of leakage. Accordingly, it is suitable that the central portion be at least as rigid or have such a construction in other aspects that the central portion during use can not be compressed to a width of less than about 15 mm. The entire central portion does not have to meet the specified width criteria. As mentioned above, the critical area is constituted by the region of the article that must fit between the place where the adductor groups of the left side and the right side, which originate from the inside of the base of the pelvis and that have their fixings along the thigh, pass the crotch region of the user. The groin begins just in front of these. This area corresponds to the region of the article where the article begins to become wider and the central portion joins in one of the end portions. As mentioned above, the area of the article that should fit between the adductor muscle groups of the thighs is approximately 5-15 mm long. As mentioned above, the proper width of the central portion of the article, at least in the critical area described above, depends on the choice of material and the choice of design for the central portion of the article. If a design with a stiffer material is chosen in the central part and a less rigid material in the external part, an adequate width of the most rigid material is 20 mm and an adequate total width of ._ the central portion is of a maximum about 40 mm and preferably about 35 mm. That is, each external part is between approximately 7.5 mm and 10 mm wide. If the material used for the external parts has the ability to function as a bellows, that is, to deform folds in a controlled manner, the central portion may be up to about 60 mm wide. During use, the pressure of the wearer's thighs will compress the article to a width of approximately 30-35 mm in the region in question. Naturally, for all widths greater than about 30-35 mm, it is true that the central portion of the article will be compressed transversely, provided that the entire central portion is not made of a very rigid material. Said design of a very rigid material would cut the thighs of the wearer and cause discomfort for the wearer. Due to the fact that the article is designed in such a way that at least one of its end portions is considerably wider than in its central portion, and that with the lateral edges of the article in the wider end portion forming an angle in relation with the lateral edges in the central portion, the article adapts well to the curve around the wearer's thighs. Accordingly, it is particularly suitable that the end portion which during use is intended to face forward in the present user the specified width in relation to the central portion. In addition, the adaptation of the width of the article to the critical area between the muscle groups that move down on both sides of the crotch zone is decisive for the adjustment of the article. Thanks to its shape, an article in accordance with the present invention has the ability to remain in place against the wearer's body during use without requiring the use of special fastening members. In order to further ensure that the article keeps its place against the body during use and to prevent the article from sliding in the longitudinal direction, it has been found suitable that the wider end portion has a relatively high stiffness. The end portion can therefore not be wrinkled during use, nor deformed in any other way, so that the article can slide between the wearer's thighs. A rigid end portion serves as a type of hook, which bears against the thighs, and subtracts the displacement of the article in the longitudinal direction. It is especially advantageous that the end portion during use must face forward in the wearer is comparatively rigid. A rigid front portion counteracts the movement of the article backward during use, which would otherwise be problematic, for example, when the wearer is walking or running. A further method to improve the fit and to prevent the article during use from moving out of position in relation to the body of the wearer, is by the curved shape of the article longitudinally in accordance with the curve of the wearer's body. Accordingly, it has been found to be especially advantageous if the front portion, i.e. the end portion of the article which during use is intended to face forward in the wearer, presents an upward angle relative to the central portion of the article. the side of the article intended to face towards the user. By means of the front portion of the article having an upward angle from the central portion such that the front portion in the longitudinal direction of the article is better suited to the shape of the intimate parts of the user, the risk of that the article slides backwards during use is further reduced. During use, the front portion that presents an angle is applied in the intimate part of the wearer and functions as a retaining plate that counteracts the backward movement of the article caused by the movement of the user's legs. In order to obtain the desired braking effect, it is necessary that the front portion and the crotch portion of the article be so rigid that the angle between them is essentially maintained even during use. However for reasons of convenience it may be desirable that the edge portions closest to the long sides and the front edge of the article, respectively, be made of a rigid minor material. The stiffness that is important for maintaining an alpha angle between the front portion and the central portion is primarily the resistance toward bending toward the bend along the transversely extending bending lines. The exact value of the alpha angle is of minor importance to achieve the desired braking effect, while the alpha angle is between 20 ° and 50 °. The materials that can be used to increase the rigidity of the end portions of the article are suitably of the same type as the liquid materials that have been discussed in connection with the description of a rigid central portion. - To achieve sufficient stiffness of the finished design, it has been found that the intrinsic stiffness of at least some component in the region of the article in question must exceed 100 N, medium in accordance with "Circular Bending Procedure" ASTM D 4032- 82 said method is described in detail in EP 0 336 578. Accordingly, intrinsic rigidity refers to the stiffness of a flat layer of material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Next, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the modalities illustrated in the drawings. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a sanitary napkin according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a sanitary napkin according to the present invention seen from the side of the sanitary napkin provided to face the wearer, Figure 3 shows a section along a line III-III through the sanitary napkin of figure 2Figure 4 shows a sanitary napkin according to a second embodiment of the invention, seen from the side of the sanitary napkin provided to face the wearer, Figure 5 shows a cut through the central portion of a sanitary napkin according to a third embodiment of the present invention, figure 6 shows a sectional view through the central portion of a sanitary napkin according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, figure 7 shows a perspective view of a sanitary napkin according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, figure 8 shows a section along the line VIII-VIII through the sanitary napkin of figure 7, figure 9 shows a perspective view of a towel sanitary according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 10 shows a section along the line XX through the sanitary napkin in the figure 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND MODALITIES The sanitary napkin 1, - shown in figures 1, 2 and 3, comprises a liquid-permeable surface layer 2 arranged on the side of the sanitary napkin 1 which during use is intended to be placed in front of the wearer, a liquid barrier layer 3 arranged on the side of the sanitary napkin 1 which during use is intended to face the opposite side to the wearer, and also an absorbent layer 4 arranged between these two layers. The material in the surface layer 2 may, for example, be a perforated plastic film, a plastic or fabric net, a non-woven material or a sheet material for example of a perforated plastic sheet and a non-woven sheet. . The plastic can be a thermoplastic product, such as polyethylene. The nonwoven material can be made of natural fibers, such as cellulose or cotton, or of synthetic fibers, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyurethane, nylon or regenerated cellulose. The main functions of the surface layer 2 in the sanitary napkin are carried in liquid towards the absorbent layer 4, to be soft and pleasant in contact with the body of the wearer, and to avoid what is known as rewetting, that is to say, that the Absorbed body fluid returns to the wearer's skin. For reasons of comfort, and to avoid skin irritation, it is important that the surface on the part of the sanitary napkin in contact with the wearer's skin is kept as dry as possible during use. In addition, a dry surface in the sanitary napkin feels fresher and more pleasant during use, and more attractive than a wet, stained surface, both from a purely visual perspective and during handling when changing the sanitary napkin. The liquid barrier layer or the backing layer 3 consists of a liquid impervious material. Thin plastic films, impervious to liquids, are suitable for the purpose, but it is also possible to use materials that are originally permeable to liquids, but which have been offered with a plastic coating, resin, or other liquid impervious material. In this way, leakage of liquid from the bottom of the absorbent article is prevented. Accordingly, the barrier layer 3 can consist of any material that meets the criteria of liquid impermeability and shows sufficient flexibility and is sufficiently pleasant for the skin for the purpose. Examples of materials suitable as barrier layers are plastic films, nonwovens and laminates thereof. Useful plastic films can be, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene or polyester. Alternatively, the barrier layer may consist of a laminate product of a liquid-impermeable plastic layer facing the absorbent body, and a non-woven material facing the wearer's underwear. Said construction results in a leak-proof barrier layer with textile texture. The absorbent layer 4 is suitably manufactured from cellulose fluff pulp. This may be present in the form of rolls, sacks or leaves that are shredded dry and transformed into a sphere of pulp in a crumbled state, sometimes with the mixture of what are known as super absorbers, which are polymers that have the capacity to absorb several times their own weight of water or body fluid. Examples of other useful materials are different types of natural fibers such as cotton peat fibers or the like. Obviously it is also possible to use absorbent synthetic fibers, or mixtures of natural fibers and synthetic fibers. In addition, the absorbent material may include additional components such as for example shape stabilizing members, liquid distribution members or binder such as for example thermoplastic fibers which have been heat treated in order to preserve the short fibers and particles together as a coherent unit . It is also possible to use various types of absorbent foams in the absorbent layer. The two outer layers 2, 3 are mutually interconnected, outside the absorbent layer 4 in a joint 5, located along the periphery of the sanitary napkin. The sanitary napkin 1 has a generally elongate shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and has two long sides 6,7, two short sides 8,9, two end portions 10,11 and a central portion 12, located between the portions of end. The central portion has a center part 13 and two external parts 14, 15 seen in the transverse direction of the article. In the longitudinal direction of the article, the external parts are delimited by the two end portions 10, 11, and in the transverse direction of the article of the long sides 6,7 of the article and the center portion 13 of the central portion 12, located between the two outer portions 14, 15. The central portion 12 shows a width smaller than the end portion 10 which is intended to be placed forward in the user. Accordingly, the wider end portion 10 can be maintained on the front of the wearer's thighs and thereby prevent the sanitary napkin from sliding backward on the wearer during use. The widening of the article, in a direction from the central portion 12 towards the wider end portion 10 starts on a transverse line 17. The angle alpha, which is created between a line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the article and the main direction of the long sides of article 6,7 in a wider end portion 10, is comprised between 30 ° and 90 °. As mentioned above, the widening of the end portion 10, and the angle between the side edges 6,7 of the end portion 10 and the longitudinal direction of the sanitary napkin, are important parameters in order to make the sanitary napkin Stay in place during use and do not slide backwards between the user's legs. The length of the entire article is approximately 150-250 mm. A common length of a sanitary napkin is approximately 200 mm. In this total length, the central portion 12 and the two end portions 10, 11 can constitute approximately one third each. Accordingly, the total article length of 150 mm results in a length of 50 mm for each of the central portion and end portions 10, 11. The total length of 200 mm results in a length of approximately 70 mm for each one of the portions, and a total length of 200 mm results in a length of approximately 80mm for each of the portions. The relationships between the lengths between the central portion 12 and the end portions 10, 11, and between the two end portions, can obviously deviate from a specified upper third, and therefore constitute a portion greater or less than 1/3 of the total length of the article. It is common for the back end portion 11 to constitute a portion greater than 1/3 of the total length of the article. The central portion 12 is delimited by the fact that the article is enlarged from the narrowest side in the central portion 12 towards the end portion 10 which has the purpose of facing forward in the user. The end portion 10 starts where the article begins to widen. As specified above, the width of the central portion 12 is 10-45 mm in the narrowest part of the central portion. The width of the widest part of the end portion 10, which is intended to face forward in the user is 50-200 mm. The relationship between the width and the length of the end portion is important for the stability of the end portion and for keeping the article in place against the body. Here, the length of the central portion refers to the distance from where the article begins to widen from its narrowest point to the forward short end 8 of the article measured along a central line 16 through the article. which is parallel to the long sides 6,7 of the article.

The length of the end portion is measured along one of the sides 6, 7 of the article. If the width of the end portion is 100 mm, a suitable length is 50 mm, that is, a 2: 1 ratio between the width and the length. Analogous to this, a width of 50 mm results in a length of mm, and a width of 200 mm results in a length of 100 mm. Deviations from this 2: 1 ratio, between the width and the length of the end portion 10 are obviously possible, for example, 3: 2-3: 1. In Figure 3, a cross section of the sanitary napkin 1 is shown, as can be seen from the end portion 11 which, in use, is intended to meet backward in the wearer. Here, a section through the central portion 12 is illustrated, such that the surface layer 12, the barrier layer 3 and the absorbent layer 4 are observed in cross section. The end portion 10, which is intended to face forward in the wearer can be seen in the drawing with an absorbent layer covered by the surface layer 2 and the barrier layer 3. In order to eliminate the risk of slippage of the article forward between the legs of the wearer, the end portion 11 which is intended to face backward in the wearer may also be designed in such a way that its width is greater than the width of the central portion 12. An article This form is shown in Figure 4. The widening of the two end portions is carried out in a direction from the central portion 12 to the respective short sides 8.9 of the article. Accordingly, the long sides 6, 7 of the article change inclination in the two transverse lines 17, located on both sides of the central portion 12 in the longitudinal direction of the article. In Figure 5, the alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the absorbent layer 4 is constructed of a more rigid material in the central portion 13 of the central portion 12, and a rigid minor material in the outer portions 14, 15 of the central portion 12. Said construction allows that the width of the portion is greater than if the more rigid material had been selected for the entire absorbent layer 4, with comfort maintained for the wearer. In the sanitary napkin illustrated in Figure 5, the long sides 6,7 have been folded or rolled to the rear. It is a measure that gives the sanitary napkin an increased stiffness without the need to use a stiffening material. That is to say, the sanitary napkin obtains an increased stiffness, and consequently, an increased resistance to twisting, bending, cracking and cutting while maintaining the comfort of the wearer. The two designs, illustrated in Figure 5, which provide a possibility to balance the required stiffness of the sanitary napkin and the comfort of the wearer, by selecting different materials on the outside and central part, and by means of the use of winding at the edges laterally, it can obviously also be used separately. In Figure 6, a cross-section through the central portion 12 of the sanitary napkin is shown after use of the sanitary napkin. The absorbent layer 4 has been formed of different materials in the central part 13 and in the external parts 14, 15. The material in the central part 13 can be made of a very rigid material, if the external parts 14, 15 are composed of a material that has the ability to operate with bellows. An article designed in this way, where the width exceeds the critical distance between the two groups of muscles in the crotch part of the wearer, will form folds in the outer parts 14, 15 of the central portion 12 while it is compressed between the thighs of the user, while the central part 13 will retain its flat shape. In contrast to what happens with a conventional design, where the entire central portion wrinkles in an uncontrolled manner, the central part 13 of the central portion 12 in a design according to the present invention constitutes a flat impact surface for the body fluid that is emitted in the region. No folds are observed on the impact surface that can transport the liquid in the article in a longitudinal or transverse direction and cause leakage on the short or long sides of article 6,7, 8, 9. An alternative embodiment of the present invention provided for to create flexibility in the central portion 12 is illustrated in Figures 7-8. Figure 7 shows the general appearance of the sanitary napkin, without any details. As mentioned above, an alternative to the selection of flexible materials is to design the central portion 12 with various properties in the cross section, such that the design itself provides greater flexibility. An example of such a shape of the cross section of the central portion 12 is the M shape illustrated in Figure 8. This cross section is characterized in that the central part 13 of the central portion projects downward from the user, while the external parts 14, 15 in relation to the central part protrude towards the wearer, after which they are folded downwards in a direction towards the support layer 3 of the article, in such a way that the long sides 6, 7 of the sanitary napkin are directed towards the support layer 3 of the article. Such a cross-section provides flexibility to the central portion in such a way that it can flexibly absorb the load arising "during use, instead of irreversibly wrinkling as is the case with conventional articles, which causes leakage and discomfort for the user. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, the end portion 11, which is intended to face backward in the wearer, exhibits an M-shaped cross section. A mode wherein only the central portion 12 has a cross section in the form of M is also conceivable in accordance with the invention. Another possible embodiment of the present invention is that the central portion shows a U-shaped cross section, that is, the cross section shows the same shape as above except that the long sides 6,7 do not bend inwards towards the layer of support 3 of the article. An alternative design of the present invention in comparison with those illustrated in Figure 7-8 are shown in Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9 shows the general appearance of the sanitary napkin without any detail. Figure 10 shows an alternative design of the one illustrated in Figure 8 of the cross section of the central portion 12. The cross section shows three ridges, as compared to the two crests shown by the cross section in Figure 8. This implies that the towel Figure 9 presents a central ridge, which moves between the two crests located peripherally, placed approximately halfway between the longitudinal side edges 6,7 of the article. The sanitary napkin in Figure 9 shows a liquid permeable layer 2, a liquid barrier layer 3 and an absorbent layer 4. In addition, the sanitary napkin has a protrusion or ridge 18 arranged in the article, which is projected from the liquid-permeable surface 2 and extending in the longitudinal direction of the article through the central position 12 of the article. The intention is to provide the sanitary napkin with a central ridge to offer the sanitary napkin a shape more adapted to the anatomy of the wearer. The central ridge 18, as shown in the figure can be made of absorbent material, thus adding to the absorption capacity of the sanitary napkin. The central ridge 18 can optionally be composed of a separate forming element, a rigid surface layer 2, or a rigid support layer 3. FIGS., 6, 8 and 10, simply show a cross section of the central portion 12. For reasons of clarity, the wider end portion 10 has been excluded from the figures. For reasons of simplicity, the sanitary napkins illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 8 are designed in a conventional manner, with the liquid-permeable surface material, a liquid barrier support layer, and an absorbent layer located between these two layers. Said design is not necessary to carry out the invention. A design with special shaped element can also be used in order to offer the article the rigidity required. The shape element can, for example, be placed between the absorbent body and the backing layer, and extend across the entire sanitary napkin or through portions thereof. Another possibility is to select a backing material that has sufficient stiffness to offer the article such stiffness. The values that have been specified for the width of the central portion and for the angle alpha between the longitudinal direction of the sanitary napkin and the main direction of the long sides of the article where the article is tapering towards the central portion, can be combined freely within of the scope of the present invention. The widening of the sanitary napkin from the central portion towards one or both end portions, does not have to follow a straight line. Accordingly, it may optionally be parabolic or exponential, for example. It can also be constituted by a straight line, interrupted by another straight line with a different inclination. The short sides of the article may be constituted by straight lines, but may also have other shapes such as, for example, an arc shape.

Claims (11)

1. CLAIMS An absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, an incontinence protector or a panty liner, said article having a generally elongated shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and also showing two long sides (6,7) , two short sides (8,9), two end portions (10,11) and a central portion (12) located between the end portions (10, 11) and showing a transversely extending cross-sectional line ( 17) from which the width of the article increases in a direction towards the short side (8) of the article, whereby the end portion (10) located on the short side (8) has a maximum width that is greater than the width of the central portion (12) in the cross-sectional line, whereby the long sides (6,7) of the article change inclination in the cross-sectional line (17), whereby the inclination is define by means of an angle alpha enters each long side (6,7) of the article and a longitudinal line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the article, characterized in that the width of the central portion has an upper limit of 60 mm and because the alpha angle is from 30 ° to 90 ° .
2. An absorbent article according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid permeable layer (2) and a liquid barrier layer (3), characterized in that there is a protuberance (18) on the article projecting from the liquid permeable surface (8) and extending in the longitudinal direction of the article and at least on the central portion (12) of the article.
3. An absorbent article according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the angle alpha is 35 ° to 55 °.
4. An absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the width of the central portion is between 15 mm and 60 mm.
5. An absorbent article according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the width of the central portion is within a range of 15 mm to 45 mm.
6. An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the width of the central portion is comprised within a range of 20 m to 35 ra.
7. An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central portion (12) has a smaller width than both end portions (10, 11).
8. 8. An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central portion (12) has an M-shaped cross-section.
9. 9. An absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, or a panty lining, said article has a substantially elongated shape and has two long sides (6,7), two short sides (8,9), two end portions (10,11) and a central portion (12), located between the end portions (10, 11) and having a width less than at least one of the end portions (10), characterized in that the widest part of the end portion (10) is 1.5 to 5 times wider than the smaller width of the central portion (12).
10. 10. An absorbent article according to claim 9, characterized in that the end portion (10) has a width which, in its widest portion, is 1.5 to 3 times wider than the length of the end portion (10). ).
11. 11. An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the end portions (10, 11) are constituted by a front portion (10) and a rear portion (11) characterized in that the article shows a high stiffness to the less inside the front portion (10), whereby the front portion (10) of the article shows a high permanence of form during the use of the article. An absorbent article according to claim 11 and wherein the article shows a liquid permeable layer (2) intended to be in front of a wearer during use, and a liquid barrier layer (3) provided to face the opposite side to the wearer during use, characterized in that the article shows a high stiffness towards bending along the fold lines extending transversely to the less inside the front portion (6) and the crotch portion (8) so that the front portion (6) and the crotch portion (8) of the article show a high permanence of shape during the use of the article, and also because the front portion (6) of the article is inclined in relation to the crotch portion (8) in a direction toward the liquid-permeable surface (2) where the front portion (6) forms an angle alpha relative to the crotch portion (8).