WO2005009156A2

WO2005009156A2 - Perspiration pad

Info

Publication number: WO2005009156A2
Application number: PCT/IL2004/000703
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vardit Levy
Original assignee: Vardit Levy
Priority date: 2003-07-31
Filing date: 2004-08-01
Publication date: 2005-02-03
Also published as: WO2005009156A3

Abstract

Apparatus including a disposable perspiration pad (1) including a perspiration absorbing material disposed in a carrier material, the pad including at least one detachable section (22) that includes the perspiration absorbing material, the pad being capable of absorbing perspiration both with the at least one detachable section (22) attached to the rest of the pad and with the at least one detachable section detached from the pad.

Description

PERSPIRATION PAD FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to perspiration pads and particularly to disposable perspiration pads for protecting clothes from perspiration and deodorant stains in the underarm area or other areas of the body, such as but not limited to, the collar, neck, feet and under the breasts. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Damage to clothing from perspiration stains has long been a problem, with the underarm area of a garment being particularly susceptible to such damage. Perspiration marks, circles and stains, particularly in the underarm area, are aesthetically unpleasant and may cause body odor problems. In addition, the absorption of perspiration by certain fabrics tends to deteriorate the fabric, thus shortening the useful life of the garment. To some extent, the use of anti-perspirants or deodorants reduces the probability of perspiration damage, but even the best anti-perspirants or deodorants are only partially effective. Further, conventional anti-perspirants and deodorants may reduce perspiration or mask its odor, but they often contain chemicals, which when combined with perspiration, may exacerbate the problem of fabric deterioration. Of course, in addition to the damage done to clothing by perspiration, there is the discomfort of perspiration wetness in the underarm area. Once again, anti-perspirants are only a partial solution, and deodorants do nothing at all to ease the discomfort. A large percentage of perspiration occurs at the armpit. Many devices designed to absorb underarm perspiration are known. Some examples are US Patents 5,042,089 and 5,245,707, which describe dress shield devices designed to absorb perspiration and protect garments from deodorant discoloration. US Patent 6,138,276 describes an underarm perspiration shield that includes an absorption pad suitable for absorbing perspiration from a wearer's armpit and two straps that are connected to opposite ends of the absorption pad. The ends of the two straps loop around the shoulder strap of the wearer's undergarment, and attach to the absorption pad through an attachment means. In one embodiment, the absorption pad is laminated with the side closest to the wearer's armpit being cotton and the side closest to the outer garment being PVC. Ends of the two straps are attached to the absorption pad with a VELCRO fastener. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved disposable perspiration pad for protecting clothes from perspiration and deodorant stains in the underarm area or other areas of the body, such as but not limited to, the collar, neck, feet (e.g., when placed in footwear) and under the breasts, as is described more in detail hereinbelow. The perspiration pad of the invention may not only protect clothing from damage, it may also serve as a substitute for deodorants and anti-perspirants by combating odors and moist sweat marks. The perspiration pad of the invention may be adjustable in size, shape and absorbing capability, and thus may be personally adjusted to each user and to any portion of the body. The perspiration pad may be used by women, men and children. The perspiration pad is easy to use and is not visible under clothing. The perspiration pad may be optionally provided with any scent and/or color, and may include a shoulder strap. The perspiration pad may include absorption channels that radiate from a central hub in the pad towards the periphery of the pad. The perspiration pad may include an absorbent gel that also absorbs odors. There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention apparatus including a disposable perspiration pad including a perspiration absorbing material disposed in a carrier material, the pad including at least one detachable section that includes the perspiration absorbing material, the pad being capable of absorbing perspiration both with the at least one detachable section attached to the rest of the pad and with the at least one detachable section detached from the pad. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the at least one detachable section is detachable from more than one edge of the perspiration pad. Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a detaching device may be provided that detaches the at least one detachable section from the perspiration pad. Still further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the perspiration pad includes a plurality of absorption channels that radiate from a central hub in the perspiration pad towards a periphery of the perspiration pad. The perspiration absorbing material may be disposed in the absorption channels and the central hub. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the perspiration absorbing material includes an absorbent gelling material, for example, a hydrogel- forming, absorbent gelling material based on a polyacid. Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the perspiration pad may include a shoulder strap. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a disposable perspiration pad with one or more detachable sections, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C are simplified pictorial, end-view and side-view illustrations, respectively, of the disposable perspiration pad of Fig. 1, without the detachable sections, wherein Fig. 2C shows one example of folding the pad, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a simplified cutaway illustration of an inner construction of the disposable perspiration pad of Fig. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the disposable perspiration pad of Fig. 1 comprising a shoulder strap, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Figs. 1-3, which illustrate a disposable perspiration pad 10, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Disposable perspiration pad 10 may comprise a perspiration absorbing material 12 disposed in a carrier material 14. As seen best in Fig. 3, in one preferred construction for pad 10, perspiration pad 10 may comprise a liquid pervious topsheet 16, a backsheet 18 and an absorbent core which is the carrier material 14 (herein also referred to as absorbent core 14). Intermediate layers 20 may also be provided to enhance the stiffness and formability of the pad 10. Intermediate layers 20 may comprise, without limitation, corrugated plies of plastic, paper, fiber and the like. Such a construction may be similar, but is not necessarily similar, to absorbent disposable articles such as sanitary napkins, baby diapers, incontinence products and panty liners. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, perspiration absorbing material 12 comprises an absorbent gelling material, which may also absorb odors. Examples of suitable absorbent gelling materials are well known in the art, and are described, for example, in US Patent 6,225,524 to Guarracino, et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Absorbent gelling materials are materials that have fluid-absorbing properties. Such materials form hydrogels on contact with water or other fluids, such as sweat, urine, blood, and the like. One preferred type of hydrogel- forming, absorbent gelling material is based on polyacids, especially polyacrylic acid. Hydrogel-forming polymeric materials of this type are those, which upon contact with fluids such as water or body fluids, imbibe such fluids and thereby form hydrogels. These preferred absorbent gelling materials may generally comprise substantially water- insoluble, slightly cross-linked, partially neutralized, hydrogel-forming polymer materials prepared from polymerizable, unsaturated, acid-containing monomers. In such materials, the polymeric component formed from unsaturated, acid-containing monomers may comprise the entire gelling agent or may be grafted onto other types of polymer moieties such as starch or cellulose. Acrylic acid grafted starch materials are of this latter type. Accordingly, the absorbent gelling materials may include hydrolyzed acrylonitrile grafted starch, acrylic acid grafted starch, polyacrylates, maleic anhydride-based copolymers and combinations thereof. Referring again to Fig. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, pad 10 may comprise one or more detachable sections 22 that comprise the perspiration absorbing material 12 therein. In the illustrated embodiment, detachable sections 22 may be detached from more than one edge of perspiration pad 10. The detachable sections 22 may be of any size or shape, and are not necessarily the same size and shape, although they may be. The detachable sections 22 may be detached by simply tearing by hand or cutting them with a knife or scissors. In the illustrated embodiment, a detaching device 24 is provided that detaches the detachable sections from perspiration pad 10. The detaching device 24 may comprise, without limitation, a string placed between adjacent detachable sections 22 that cuts through the material of the pad 10 to detach the detachable sections 22. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, perspiration pad lOmay comprise a plurality of absorption channels 26 that radiate from a central hub 28 towards a periphery of perspiration pad 10. The perspiration absorbing material 12 may be disposed in absorption channels 26 and/or central hub 28. It may be seen in Figs. 1 and 2A that perspiration pad 10 is capable of absorbing perspiration both with and without detachable sections 22 attached to the rest of pad 10. It may be further seen in Fig. 2C that perspiration pad 10 may be bent or folded into any convenient configuration for adaptation to any body part. Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which illustrates another possible feature of perspiration pad 10. In this embodiment, perspiration pad 10 comprises a shoulder strap 30. In this manner, perspiration pad 10 may be conveniently placed in the armpits or under the breasts, for example. Perspiration pad 10 may be optionally provided with any scent and/or color (e.g., any non-white color). Perspiration pad 10 may comprise deodorant and/or anti-perspirant substances. Perspiration pad 10 may comprise anti- allergenic substances for compatibility with sensitive skin. Perspiration pad 10 may comprise a substance that provides a cooling feeling, such as but not limited to, acetone that produces a cooling and refreshing reaction with the skin. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising: a disposable perspiration pad comprising a perspiration absorbing material disposed in a carrier material, said pad comprising at least one detachable section that comprises said perspiration absorbing material, said pad being capable of absorbing perspiration both with said at least one detachable section attached to the rest of said pad and with said at least one detachable section detached from said pad.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one detachable section is detachable from more than one edge of said perspiration pad.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a detaching device that detaches said at least one detachable section from said perspiration pad.

4. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said perspiration pad comprises a plurality of absorption channels that radiate from a central hub in said perspiration pad towards a periphery of said perspiration pad.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said perspiration absorbing material is disposed in said absorption channels and said central hub.

6. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said perspiration absorbing material comprises an absorbent gelling material.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said absorbent gelling material comprises a hydrogel-forming, absorbent gelling material based on a polyacid.

8. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said perspiration pad comprises a shoulder strap.

9. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said perspiration pad is colored a non- white color.

10. Apparatus comprising: a disposable perspiration pad comprising a plurality of absorption channels that radiate from a central hub in said perspiration pad towards a periphery of said perspiration pad; and a perspiration absorbing material disposed in at least one of said absorption channels and said central hub.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising at least one detachable section that comprises said perspiration absorbing material, said pad being capable of absorbing perspiration both with said at least one detachable section attached to the rest of said pad and with said at least one detachable section detached from said pad.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said at least one detachable section is detachable from more than one edge of said perspiration pad.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12, further comprising a detaching device that detaches said at least one detachable section from said perspiration pad.

14. The apparatus according to any of claims 10-13, wherein said perspiration absorbing material comprises an absorbent gelling material.