Thong sanitary napkin with self folding flaps

1. A sanitary napkin adapted to be worn in a thong undergarment, the undergarment having a body faceable surface and a garment faceable surface, the sanitary napkin comprising a central absorbent pad, the central absorbent pad having a liquid pervious cover layer, a liquid impervious barrier layer and an absorbent core between the cover layer and barrier layer, the sanitary napkin having a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a pair of opposite longitudinal side edges, a first distal end having a relatively narrow width and adapted to be worn in a posterior portion of the thong undergarment in use and an opposite second distal end having a relatively wider width and adapted to be worn in an anterior portion of the thong undergarment in use and a pair of flaps extending laterally outward from each longitudinal side edge along a respective line of juncture, including;

a first flap being substantially adjacent the lateral centerline, the first flap being adapted to fold over a crotch portion of the thong undergarment in use along a first preferential bending axis and to contact the garment faceable surface of the thong undergarment, and

a second flap being intermediate the first flap and the first distal end, the second flap being adapted to fold over the posterior portion of the thong undergarment in use along a second preferential bending axis and to contact the garment faceable surface of the thong undergarment;

the first flap being separated from the second flap by a flange portion, the flange portion having a lateral dimension that is insufficient to allow the flange portion to be folded over an edge of the thong undergarment or to contact the garment faceable surface thereof in use, wherein the first preferential edge of the thong undergarment or to contact the garment faceable surface thereof in use, wherein the first preferential bending axis is substantially collinear with the second preferential bending axis within the flange portion;

wherein the first preferential bending axis is parallel to the second preferential bending axis.

2. A sanitary absorbent article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core has a width and the central absorbent pad adhesive has a width that is the same as the width of the absorbent core.

3. A sanitary absorbent article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the central absorbent pad adhesive is a plurality of relatively narrow stripes.

4. A sanitary absorbent article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first distal end has a width of less than 30 mm.

5. A sanitary absorbent article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first distal end has a width of about 15 mm to 20 mm.

6. A sanitary napkin adapted to be worn in a thong undergarment, the undergarment having a body faceable surface and a garment faceable surface, the sanitary napkin comprising a central absorbent pad, the central absorbent pad having a liquid pervious cover layer, a liquid impervious barrier layer and an absorbent core between the cover layer and barrier layer, the sanitary napkin having a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a pair of opposite longitudinal side edges, a first distal end having a relatively narrow width and adapted to be worn in a posterior portion of the thong undergarment in use and an opposite second distal end having a relatively wider width and adapted to be worn in an anterior portion of the thong undergarment in use and a pair of flaps extending laterally outward from each longitudinal side edge along a respective line of juncture, including;

a first flap being substantially adjacent the lateral centerline, the first flap being adapted to fold over a crotch portion of the thong undergarment in use along a first preferential bending axis and to contact the garment faceable surface of the thong undergarment, and

a second flap being intermediate the first flap and the first distal end, the second flap being adapted to fold over the posterior portion of the thong undergarment in use along a second preferential bending axis and to contact the garment faceable surface of the thong undergarment;

the first flap being separated from the second flap by a flange portion, the flange portion having a lateral dimension that is insufficient to allow the flange portion to be folded over an edge of the thong undergarment or to contact the garment faceable surface thereof in use, wherein the first preferential bending axis is substantially collinear with the second preferential bending axis within the flange portion;

wherein the central absorbent pad has a central absorbent pad adhesive that is in vertical alignment with at least a portion of the absorbent core and is adapted to contact a body faceable side of the thong undergarment in use, each flap having flap adhesive adapted to contact an underside of the thong undergarment in use, the flap adhesive being spaced apart from the central absorbent pad adhesive and is not vertically aligned with any portion of the absorbent core.

7. A sanitary absorbent article as defined in claim 6 , wherein the absorbent core has a width and the central absorbent pad adhesive has a width that is the same as the width of the absorbent core.

8. A sanitary absorbent article as defined in claim 6 , wherein the central absorbent pad adhesive is a plurality of relatively narrow stripes.

9. A sanitary absorbent article as defined in claim 6 , wherein the first distal end has a width of less than 30 mm.

10. A sanitary absorbent article as defined in claim 6 , wherein the first distal end has a width of about 15 mm to 20 mm.