Feminine absorbent articles with bonded side flaps and an apparatus for producing the same

Abstract

A disposable sanitary napkin includes a main body and a pair of bridged flaps. The main body includes an absorbent system, a topsheet, and a backsheet, and it has a pair of side edges extending along the length thereof. The bridged flaps include a first straight edge, a second, shape-cut edge defining a projecting portion, and a bridging segment of a release liner having at least one zone of adhesive configured for attachment to the projecting portion of each bridged flap. Each bridged flap is attached to the main body with the first, substantially straight edge of each shaped strip aligned with a corresponding side edge of the main body, the bridged flaps are disposed over the topsheet, and each side flap is releasable from the bridging segment of the release liner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable sanitary napkin intended to be worn in an undergarment of a user, the sanitary napkin comprising:
 (a) a main body:
 (i) having a length, a width, and a thickness; 
 (ii) comprising an absorbent system, a topsheet, and a backsheet; and 
 (iii) having a pair of side edges extending along the length thereof; 
   (b) a pair of bridged flaps comprising
 (i) a first, substantially straight edge; 
 (ii) a second, shape-cut edge defining a projecting portion; 
 (iii) a bridging segment of a release liner having at least one zone of pressure sensitive adhesive arranged and configured for attachment to the projecting portion of each bridged flap; 
   
       wherein each bridged flap is attached to the main body such that the first, substantially straight edge of each shaped strip is aligned with a corresponding side edge of the main body to form an outwardly disposed flange seal, the bridged flaps are disposed over the topsheet, and each side flap is arranged and configured to be releasable from the bridging segment of the release liner and to be articulable away from the topsheet of the sanitary napkin and to be secured to a crotch portion of an undergarment for use whereby the flange seals are disposed inwardly toward the crotch portion of the undergarment.