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| United States Patent | 4961982 |
| Link to this page | http://www.wikipatents.com/4961982.html |
| Inventor(s) | Taylor; Jeffrey L. (Cincinnati, OH) |
| Abstract | A liquid-absorbing pad assembly and method of making same are provided
wherein such assembly comprises a top layer, a bottom waterproof layer, an
absorbent layer between the top and bottom layers, and a multiple-purpose
structure disposed between the absorbent layer and the top layer, such
structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage
therethrough of liquid from the top layer, means substantially preventing
reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through the structure, and a
suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said
top layer for drying purposes. |
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Title Information  |
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Drawing from US Patent 4961982 |
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Liquid-absorbing pad assembly and method of making same |
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| Publication Date |
October 9, 1990 |
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| Filing Date |
March 15, 1989 |
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| Parent Case |
This is a Continuation, of application Ser. No. 253,667 filed Oct. 5, 1988
abandoned. |
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Title Information |
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References |
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| Market Size |
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Estimate the gross annual revenues of the relevant market
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Market Review |
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Technical Review |
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Claims |
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What is claimed is:
1. In a liquid-absorbing pad assembly having a peripheral outline and
comprising, a top layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an absorbent layer
between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising, a
multiple-purpose structure disposed between said absorbent layer and said
top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate
passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially
preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said
structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the
underside of said top layer for drying purposes,
characterized in that
said structure is a resilient sheet of foamed synthetic plastic material
having a reticulated construction.
2. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said top layer,
structure, and absorbent layer are held together inwardly of said
peripheral outline by stitch means.
3. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 2 in which said stitch means define
a quilted construction.
4. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 3 in which said stitch means pull
said top layer, structure, and absorbent layer together in a plurality of
locations defining a patterned outline when viewed normal to said top
layer, such patterned outline having a central part, and said resilient
sheet has a predetermined thickness which when measured at each central
part comprises a major portion of the overall thickness of said assembly.
5. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said top layer,
structure, and absorbent layer are laminated together.
6. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 5 in which said resilient sheet has
a predetermined thickness which comprises a major portion of the overall
thickness of said assembly.
7. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said top layer is a top
fabric layer.
8. In a liquid-absorbing pad assembly having a peripheral outline and
comprising, a top fabric layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an
absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement
comprising, a multiple-purpose structure disposed between said absorbent
layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means
enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer,
means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed
through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely
associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes,
characterized in that
said top fabric layer is a tricot.
9. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 8 in which said tricot is a napped
tricot.
10. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 9 in which said napped tricot is a
loop napped tricot whereby it has a napped surface texture which is
defined by its knitted construction.
11. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 10 in which said napped tricot is
made entirely of polyester yarns.
12. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said absorbent layer is
a nonwoven fibrous mat.
13. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 12 in which said fibrous mat
serves to dissipate liquid radially from a local introduction point
throughout a substantial portion of its volume.
14. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 13 in which said mat is comprised
of randomly disposed bonded fibers.
15. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 14 in which said fibers comprise
polyester fibers.
16. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said waterproof layer
comprises a polymeric sheet portion and a woven fabric bonded together
free of additional adhesive means therebetween.
17. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 16 in which said polymeric sheet
portion is made of rubber.
18. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 17 in which said woven fabric is a
plainwoven fabric comprised of cotton and polyester, said woven fabric
serves to protect said polymeric layer against abrasion, provides
dimensional stability to said waterproof layer, and provides a non-skid
surface to the bottom of said pad assembly.
19. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 18 in which said polymeric sheet
portion is capable of withstanding a hydrostatic water pressure of 100
pounds per square inch gauge without allowing passage of water
therethrough.
20. In a liquid-absorbing pad assembly having a peripheral outline and
comprising, a top layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an absorbent layer
between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising, a
multiple-purpose structure disposed between said absorbent layer and said
top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate
passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially
preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said
structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the
underside of said top layer for drying purposes,
characterized in that
adhesive means are disposed between said top layer and said
multiple-purpose structure, between said multiple-purpose structure and
said absorbent layer and between said absorbent layer and said bottom
waterproof layer, said adhesive means having substantially no affect on
the passage of liquid through said pad assembly.
21. A liquid absorbing pad adapted for use by persons suffering from
incontinence, said pad being of generally rectangular outline and
comprising
a bottom waterproof layer having a given outline,
an absorbent layer, having the same given outline, superposed directly on
said bottom layer,
a reticulated, resilient, multi-purpose structure layer, having the same
given outline, superposed directly on said absorbent layer,
a liquid permeable top layer, having the same given outline, superposed
directly on said absorbent layer, and
means joining the peripheral edges of said layers,
said multi-purpose structure layer being characterized by providing
a. cushioning means for the pad,
b. means enabling immediate passage of liquid therethrough from the top
layer to the absorbent layer,
c. means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed
through the multi-purpose structure layer, and
d. a suspension for the top layer which allows air to freely associate with
the underside of said top layer for drying purposes.
22. A pad set forth in claim 21 in which the multiple-purpose structure
layer comprises foamed, synthetic plastic material.
23. A pad as set forth in claim 22 in which the absorbent layer comprises a
non-woven fibrous mat.
24. A pad as set forth in claim 23 in which
each of said layers has a substantially uniform thickness,
the thickness of the multi-purpose structure layer comprises a major
portion of the combined thickness of said layers.
25. A pad as set forth in claim 21 in which
a plurality of laterally spaced means secure in the top layer and absorbent
layers together and compress the resilient, multipurpose layer
therebetween.
26. A pad as set forth in claim 21 in which
the laterally spaced means comprise stitching disposed in quilted fashion.
27. A pad as set forth in claim 21 in which
said layers and the means joining the peripheral edges thereof are
washable,
whereby the incontinent pad is capable of repeated reuse.
28. In a method of making a liquid-absorbing pad assembly which has a
peripheral outline, said method comprising the steps of, providing a top
layer, providing a bottom waterproof layer, and disposing an absorbent
layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising the
steps of, providing a multiple-purpose structure, disposing said structure
between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing
cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from
said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid
that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air
to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying
purposes,
characterized in that
the step of providing said structure comprises
providing said structure as a resilient sheet of foamed synthetic plastic
material having a reticulated construction.
29. In a method of making a liquid-absorbing pad assembly which has a
peripheral outline, said method comprising the steps of, providing a top
layer, providing a bottom waterproof layer, and laminating an absorbent
layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising the
steps of, providing a multiple-purpose structure, and laminating said
multiple-purpose structure between said absorbent layer and said top layer
and inwardly of said peripheral outline employing adhesive means, said
structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage
therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means preventing reverse
wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension
which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer
for drying purposes, said adhesive means having substantially no effect on
the passage of liquid through said pad assembly.
30. A method of making a pad assembly as set forth in claim 28 and
comprising
the further step of stitching said top layer, said structure and absorbent
layer together inwardly of said peripheral outline with stitch means.
31. A method of making a pad assembly as set forth in claim 30 in which
said stitching step defines said top layer, said structure and absorbent
layer as a quilted construction inwardly of said peripheral outline.
32. A method of making a pad assembly as set forth in claim 29 in which
said step of laminating said multiple-purpose structure between said
absorbent layer and said top layer employing additional adhesive means
comprises
disposing adhesive means between said top layer and said multiple-purpose
structure and between said multiple-purpose structure and said absorbent
layer and
comprising the further step of
employing adhesive means between said absorbent layer and said bottom
waterproof layer.
33. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 32 in which said adhesive means
comprises a urethane adhesive.
34. A pad assembly as set forth in claim 33 in which said urethane adhesive
is applied by a controlled spray technique to an associated layer. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a liquid-absorbing pad assembly and to a method
of making such pad assembly and in particular to a pad assembly which may
be used on a bed, chair, wheel chair, or the like; and, such pad assembly
has particular use in keeping a urinary incontinent patient, a surgical
patient, or anyone subject to drainage of body fluid(s) for example, dry
and comfortable.
2. Prior Art Statement
It is known in the art to provide a liquid-absorbing pad assembly which
comprises a top layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an absorbent layer
disposed therebetween; and, such a liquid-absorbing pad assembly has been
proposed for use as a bed pad and as a chair pad.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One feature of this invention is to provide a new liquid-absorbing pad
assembly comprising a top layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an
absorbent layer disposed therebetween. The new liquid-absorbing pad
assembly of this invention is particularly adapted to be used with a
patient having urinary incontinence. The pad assembly is also effective in
absorbing other liquids as well as blood, in the case of the surgical
patient; and, the pad assembly serves to keep liquids away from a person's
body so as to assure optimum comfort and the prevention of bed sores, and
the like.
In accordance with one embodiment Of the new liquidabsorbing pad assembly
of this invention a multiple-purpose structure is dispOsed between the
absorbent layer and the top layer with the structure providing cushioning,
means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from the top
layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has
passed through the structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely
associate with the underside of the top layer for drying purposes.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new
liquid-absorbing pad assembly having one or more of the novel features of
this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.
Another object of this invention is to provide a new method of making such
a liquid-absorbing pad assembly with the method of this invention having
one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or
hereinafter shown or described.
Other features, objects, uses, and advantages of this invention are
apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference
to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings show present preferred embodiments of this
invention, in which
FIG. 1 is a plan view of one exemplary embodiment of the liquid-absorbing
pad assembly of this invention with the central portion thereof broken
away;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken essentially on the line
2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic isometric view illustrating the manner in which an
absorbent layer of the pad assembly serves to dissipate liquid radially
from a local introduction point throughout a substantial volume of the
absorbent layer;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view taken essentially on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 of another exemplary embodiment of
the liquid-absorbing pad assembly of this invention with the central
portion thereof broken away;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken essentially on the line
6--6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a schematic isometric view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the
manner in which the absorbent layer of the pad assembly of FIG. 1 serves
to dissipate liquid radially from a local introduction point throughout a
substantial volume of the absorbent layer;
FIG. 8 is a schematic view taken essentially on the line 8--8 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a schematic presentation particularly illustrating the manner in
which adhesive means is utilized to laminate together the various
components of the pad assembly of FIGS. 5-8;
FIG. 10 is a view showing the pad assembly of FIGS. 5-8, after the
application of adhesive means, rolled on a supply roll thereof to enable
the weight of adjoining turns of the supply roll to serve as a means for
holding the various layers or structures of the pad assembly urged
together with the adhesive means disposed therebetween so that upon drying
of the adhesive means the pad assembly is defined as a laminated
construction; and
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary isometric view presented to show the overall
stacked arrangement of the various layers of each pad assembly minus the
details applicable to either of the two illustrated embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustrated
and described as being particularly adapted to provide a liquid-absorbing
pad assembly usable as a bed pad, chair pad, wheel chair pad, and the
like, in a manner known in the art, it is to be understood that the
various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in various
combinations thereof to provide a liquid-absorbing pad assembly usable
with other liquids and in other applications, as desired.
Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments
illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to
illustrate exemplary ones of the wide variety of uses of this invention.
Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawings which illustrates one
exemplary embodiment of the liquid-absorbing pad assembly of this
invention which is designated generally by the reference numeral 20. The
pad assembly 20 is | | |
