AU6353801A - An incontinence article - Google Patents

Description

II

S&FRef: 568408

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Rosemarie Lakiss-Smith 5 Richards Avenue Surry Hills New South Wales 2010 Australia Rosemarie Lakiss-Smith Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower,Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) An Incontinence Article Invention Title: ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country [31] Applic. No(s) AU PQ9555 [32] Application Date 21 Aug 2000 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815c 1 AN INCONTINENCE

ARTICLE

Technical Field The present invention relates to re-useable cloth absorbent articles and more particularly to washable articles such as nappies (diapers), feminine care aids (panty liners and panty protectors), incontinence pads, and fitted undergarments.

Background of the Invention Incontinence garments and pads, and feminine care products have developed more recently into one use disposable products. Earlier re-useable (washable) items tended to be manufactured from a single cloth sheet.

A washable nappy is described in British Patent 2,194,878, which nappy is of a particular configuration. However there is no analysis of the problems in respect of the materials to be employed.

Similarly British Patent 2,164,542 discusses the particular configuration of the nappy but merely states that it is to consist of absorbent material such as cotton. US Patent 4,516,975 also describes a washable nappy. However in this particular instance attention is paid to the material from which the nappy is formed. More particularly, the 20 nappy has an outer layer forming a moisture barrier, a moisture absorbent felt layer, a middle layer of batting forming the frame of the diaper, and a soft inner facing layer made of a non-irritating absorbent washable fabric.

European Patent Publication 0 122 803 describes an incontinence article. The article consists of an elongated pad containing absorbent material retained within a water- 25 pervious cover. The pad has at least one strip of transmitting material having substantially no resistance to liquid flow. The absorbent layer would consist of wood flock and the strip or strips would be formed of skeleton polyester foam. A cotton wool layer extends over the entire upper surface of the wood flock and foam.

US Patent 4,402,690 also describes a nappy which may be laundered. The nappy has a central absorbent layer preferably comprising two layers of cotton material or cotton :gauze. Immediately adjacent the inner layer is a quantity of padding which can be made from polyester blended batting or any other suitable non-absorbent padding.

Australian Patent 125203 also describes a cloth nappy. The nappy has a cotton outer sheeting which encompasses cotton wool.

[R:\LIBT]02898.doc:tyb International Patent Publication No. WO 91/14812 describes a washable nappy.

The nappy is of a laminated structure having an inner layer and outer layer both formed of absorbent fabric material, encompassing an intermediate layer of synthetic material which aids in transferring moisture from the inner layer to the outer layer. The outer layer may be formed of plush cotton towelling, while the inner layer is formed of brushed cotton or flannelette. The intermediate layer is bonded polyester.

The present invention is also an improvement on the absorbent article of Australian Patent No. 663735.

l0 The above discussed articles do not provide an efficient incontinence garment which will generally withstand repeated laundering.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a washable incontinence article having a laminated construction including: a first layer, said first layer being a body side liner formed of nylon, polyester, S• nylon/cotton blend, or polyester/cotton blend; a second layer, said second layer being knitted fabric consisting of nylon or polyester; a third layer, said third layer being absorbent material; and a fourth layer providing a moisture barrier.

Preferably said third layer is cellulose fibre. More particularly it is preferred that said third layer is viscose-regenerated cellulose fibre.

Preferably said article has a fifth layer, said fifth layer being located between said second and third layers, said fifth layer being a wadding.

Preferably the wadding is polyester.

Preferably the article includes a sixth layer, said sixth layer being located between said third and fourth layers. Said sixth layer being a knitted fabric. Preferably said sixth layer is nylon.

[R:\LIBT]02898.doc:tyb Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which schematically depicts in section side Selevation a washable nappy (diaper).

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a portion 10 of a washable nappy. As would be expected the nappy is of a pant construction with the 1o section of the attached drawing being through the crutch portion of the garment.

The portion 10 includes a first layer 11. The layer 11 is a body side liner formed of knitted polyester, nylon, polyester/cotton blend, or nylon/cotton blend. Preferably the fabric would be an eyelet knitted construction.

Located adjacent the first layer 11 is a second layer 12. The second layer 12 is a knitted nylon or polyester, preferably polyester.

Adjacent the second layer 12 is a third layer 14 which provides an absorbent material. Preferably the absorbent material is viscose-regenerated cellulose fibre.

Adjacent the third layer 14 is a fourth layer 16 providing a moisture barrier (shield).

Typically the fourth layer would be a polyurethane vinyl.

S' 20 In a further preferred construction there is provided a fifth layer 13, the fifth layer 13 being located between the layers 12 and 14. The layer 13 is a wadding which aids to retain moisture in the layer 14. Preferably the layer 13 is 100% polyester wadding of grams.

In a further preferred construction there is provided a sixth layer 15, the layer 25 being located between the layers 14 and 16. Preferably the layer 15 is knitted nylon. The ooooo layer 15 helps contain moisture.

[R:\LIBTT]02898.doc:tyb

Claims (9)

1. A washable incontinence article having a laminated construction including: a first layer, said first layer being a body side liner formed of nylon, polyester, nylon/cotton blend, or polyester/cotton blend; a second layer, said second layer being knitted fabric consisting of nylon or polyester; a third layer, said third layer being absorbent material; and a fourth layer providing a moisture barrier.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein said third layer is cellulose fibre.

3. The article of claim 2, wherein particularly it is preferred that said third layer is viscose-regenerated cellulose fibre.

4. The article of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said article has a fifth layer, said fifth layer being located between said second and third layers, said fifth layer being a wadding. is

5. The article of claim 4, wherein the wadding is polyester.

6. The article of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the article includes a sixth layer, said sixth layer being located between said third and fourth layers.

7. The article of claim 6, wherein sixth layer being a knitted fabric.

8. The article of claim 6 or 7, wherein said sixth layer is nylon.

9. A washable incontinence article substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 17 August, 2001 Rosemarie Lakiss-Smith Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [R:\LIBTT]02898.doc:tyb