CA2084149A1 - Disposable elastic sock - Google Patents
Disposable elastic sockInfo
- Publication number
- CA2084149A1 CA2084149A1 CA 2084149 CA2084149A CA2084149A1 CA 2084149 A1 CA2084149 A1 CA 2084149A1 CA 2084149 CA2084149 CA 2084149 CA 2084149 A CA2084149 A CA 2084149A CA 2084149 A1 CA2084149 A1 CA 2084149A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sock
- nonwoven
- web
- elastomeric
- elastic sock
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
- Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)
- Socks And Pantyhose (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Disclosed is a disposable elastic sock composed of (1) a top portion made of a nonwoven material that has stretch and recovery properties and can retainingly engage a foot; and (2) a bottom portion which includes at least one layer of an abrasion resistant material. The bottom portion of the disposable elastic sock may also include at least one layer of an absorbent material. The stretchable top portion may be an elastomeric composite material that contains a nonwoven web of elastomeric meltblown fibers and is adapted to retainingly engage a foot (e.g., a hoof or paw) and/or lower leg of an animal. The abrasion resistant component of the bottom portion can be an abrasion resistant nonwoven web of meltblown fibers, an abrasion resistant nonwoven web of spunbond filaments, abrasion resistant films, or multi-layer materials containing one or more of the same. The absorbent component of the bottom portion can be a web composed of a mixture of meltblown fibers and one or more other materials. The disposable elastic sock can be used as a protective foot cover, lining for a animal overboot, a surgical insulating sock or a poultice sock.
Disclosed is a disposable elastic sock composed of (1) a top portion made of a nonwoven material that has stretch and recovery properties and can retainingly engage a foot; and (2) a bottom portion which includes at least one layer of an abrasion resistant material. The bottom portion of the disposable elastic sock may also include at least one layer of an absorbent material. The stretchable top portion may be an elastomeric composite material that contains a nonwoven web of elastomeric meltblown fibers and is adapted to retainingly engage a foot (e.g., a hoof or paw) and/or lower leg of an animal. The abrasion resistant component of the bottom portion can be an abrasion resistant nonwoven web of meltblown fibers, an abrasion resistant nonwoven web of spunbond filaments, abrasion resistant films, or multi-layer materials containing one or more of the same. The absorbent component of the bottom portion can be a web composed of a mixture of meltblown fibers and one or more other materials. The disposable elastic sock can be used as a protective foot cover, lining for a animal overboot, a surgical insulating sock or a poultice sock.
Description
2~8~9 PATENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a disposable cover or sock for an animal's foot.
BACKGROUND
Socks, boots, covers, shoes and the like have heen used to protect the feet of animals. For examp:Le, when a bandage or treatment has been applied to an animal hoof or paw, it is desirable that the hoof or paw remain covered to avoid contact with moisture and/or contaminants. Keeping such aovers securPd to an animal hoo~ or paw with minimum difficulty and expense has been a probl~m. Another problem has been providin~ such covers so inexpensively that they can be considered disposable a~ter a single or limited use.
When used with a bandage or treatment, it may also be desirable for the sock or cover to have an absorbent interior.
However, there has been difficulty in providing such absorbent covers which are easily secured to an animal hoof or paw and which are also inexpensive.
Adhesive tapes, arrangements of cords, strings and/or belts, rubberized sheets, elastic strips have all been used to secura covers to animal hoofs or paws. However, adhesive tapes tend to lose their tackiness, especially after being removed and reattached several times. Cords, strings andtor belts can be clumsy and relatively expensive. Cords and harness arrangemPnts can be difficult to remove, especially if an animal is uncooperative. Rubberized sheets and elastic strips may be expensive and can be difficult to convert into inexpensive foot covers.
Thu~, a need exists for a sock or cover that can be easily secured and removed from an animal foot. There is also a need for a sock or cover that can be provided so economically that it can be considered disposable after a single or limited use.
There is also a need for a sock or cover which provides an absorbent interior and yet is inexpensive and easily ~ecured to an animal hoo~ or paw.
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2 2~ 9 DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the term "recoverable stretch" refers to the difference between the stretched dimension of a material following the application of a biasing force and that same dimension upon termination of the bia~;ing forcP. Percent recoverable stretch may be expressed as [(maximum stretch length - recovered sample length) / recovered sample length] x 100. For example, if a material having a stretched or extended length of 1.85 inches contracts, that is, recovers 0.85 inch to a length of 1 inch, that material can be said to have a recoverable stretch of ~5 percent.
As used herein, the term "non-recoverable stretch" refers to elongation of a material upon application of a biasing force which is not followed by a contraction of the material as described above for "recoverable stretch". Non-recoverable stretch may be expressed as follows:
Non-recoverable stretch = 100 - recovery when the recovery (defined below) is expressed in percent.
As used herein, the term "recovery" refers to the contra~tion of a stretchsd material upon termination of a biasing force following stretching of the material by application of the biasing force. For example, if a material having a relaxed, unbiased length of one (1) inch is elongated 50 percent by stretching to a length of one-and-one-half (1.5) inches, the material is elongated 50 percent (0.5 inch) and has a stretched length that is 150 percent of its relaxed length. If this stretched material contracts, that is, recovers to a length of one-and-one-tenth (1.1) inches after release of the biasing and stretching force, the material has recovered 80 perc~nt (0.4 inch) of its one-half (0.5) inch elongation. Percent recovery may be expressed as ~(maximum stretch length - final sample length) / (maximum stretch length - initial sample length)] x 100 .
As used herein, the term "nonwoven web" refers to a web that has a structure of individual fibers or filaments which are interlaid, but not in an identifiable repeating manner. Nonwoven webs have been, in the past, formed by a varisty of processes known to those skilled in the art such a~, for example, meltblowing and melt spinning processes, spunbonding processes and bonded carded web processes.
5As used herein, the term "spunbonded web" refers to web o~
small diameter fibers and/or filaments which are formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material as filament~. from a plurality of fine, usually circular, capillaries in a spinnerette with the diameter of the extruded filaments then being rapidly 10reduced, for example, by non-eductive or sductive ~luid-drawing or other well known spunbonding mechanisms. The production of spunbonded nonwoven webs is illustrated in patents such as Appel, et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,340,563; Dorschner et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,692,618; Kinney, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,338,992 and 3,341,394;
15Levy, U.S. Patent No. 3,276,944; Peterson, U.S. Patent No.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a disposable cover or sock for an animal's foot.
BACKGROUND
Socks, boots, covers, shoes and the like have heen used to protect the feet of animals. For examp:Le, when a bandage or treatment has been applied to an animal hoof or paw, it is desirable that the hoof or paw remain covered to avoid contact with moisture and/or contaminants. Keeping such aovers securPd to an animal hoo~ or paw with minimum difficulty and expense has been a probl~m. Another problem has been providin~ such covers so inexpensively that they can be considered disposable a~ter a single or limited use.
When used with a bandage or treatment, it may also be desirable for the sock or cover to have an absorbent interior.
However, there has been difficulty in providing such absorbent covers which are easily secured to an animal hoof or paw and which are also inexpensive.
Adhesive tapes, arrangements of cords, strings and/or belts, rubberized sheets, elastic strips have all been used to secura covers to animal hoofs or paws. However, adhesive tapes tend to lose their tackiness, especially after being removed and reattached several times. Cords, strings andtor belts can be clumsy and relatively expensive. Cords and harness arrangemPnts can be difficult to remove, especially if an animal is uncooperative. Rubberized sheets and elastic strips may be expensive and can be difficult to convert into inexpensive foot covers.
Thu~, a need exists for a sock or cover that can be easily secured and removed from an animal foot. There is also a need for a sock or cover that can be provided so economically that it can be considered disposable after a single or limited use.
There is also a need for a sock or cover which provides an absorbent interior and yet is inexpensive and easily ~ecured to an animal hoo~ or paw.
.; ;, .;~
;
2 2~ 9 DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the term "recoverable stretch" refers to the difference between the stretched dimension of a material following the application of a biasing force and that same dimension upon termination of the bia~;ing forcP. Percent recoverable stretch may be expressed as [(maximum stretch length - recovered sample length) / recovered sample length] x 100. For example, if a material having a stretched or extended length of 1.85 inches contracts, that is, recovers 0.85 inch to a length of 1 inch, that material can be said to have a recoverable stretch of ~5 percent.
As used herein, the term "non-recoverable stretch" refers to elongation of a material upon application of a biasing force which is not followed by a contraction of the material as described above for "recoverable stretch". Non-recoverable stretch may be expressed as follows:
Non-recoverable stretch = 100 - recovery when the recovery (defined below) is expressed in percent.
As used herein, the term "recovery" refers to the contra~tion of a stretchsd material upon termination of a biasing force following stretching of the material by application of the biasing force. For example, if a material having a relaxed, unbiased length of one (1) inch is elongated 50 percent by stretching to a length of one-and-one-half (1.5) inches, the material is elongated 50 percent (0.5 inch) and has a stretched length that is 150 percent of its relaxed length. If this stretched material contracts, that is, recovers to a length of one-and-one-tenth (1.1) inches after release of the biasing and stretching force, the material has recovered 80 perc~nt (0.4 inch) of its one-half (0.5) inch elongation. Percent recovery may be expressed as ~(maximum stretch length - final sample length) / (maximum stretch length - initial sample length)] x 100 .
As used herein, the term "nonwoven web" refers to a web that has a structure of individual fibers or filaments which are interlaid, but not in an identifiable repeating manner. Nonwoven webs have been, in the past, formed by a varisty of processes known to those skilled in the art such a~, for example, meltblowing and melt spinning processes, spunbonding processes and bonded carded web processes.
5As used herein, the term "spunbonded web" refers to web o~
small diameter fibers and/or filaments which are formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material as filament~. from a plurality of fine, usually circular, capillaries in a spinnerette with the diameter of the extruded filaments then being rapidly 10reduced, for example, by non-eductive or sductive ~luid-drawing or other well known spunbonding mechanisms. The production of spunbonded nonwoven webs is illustrated in patents such as Appel, et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,340,563; Dorschner et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,692,618; Kinney, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,338,992 and 3,341,394;
15Levy, U.S. Patent No. 3,276,944; Peterson, U.S. Patent No.
3,502,538; Hartman, U.S. Patent No. 3,502,7~3; Dobo et al., U.S.
Patent No. 3,542,615; and Harmon, Canadian Patent No. 803,714.
As used herein, the term "meltblown fibers" means fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a 20plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into a ~igh-velocity gas (e.g. air) stream which attenuates the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameters, which may be to micro~iber diameter.
Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high-velocity 25gas stream and are deposited on a coll~cting surface to form a web of randomly disbursed meltblown fibers. The meltblown process is well-known and is described in various patents and publications, including NRL Report 4364, "Manufacture o~ Super-Fine Organic Fibers" by V.A. Wendt, E.L~ Boone, and C.D.
30Fluharty; NRL Report 5265, "An Improved Device for the Formation of Super-Fine Thermoplastic Fibers" by K.D. Lawrence, R.T. Lukas, and J.A. Young; and U.S. Patent No. 3,849,241, issued November 19, 1974, to Buntin, ~t al.
As used herein, the term "microfibers'; means small diameter 35fibers having an average diameter not greater than about 100 microns, for example, having a diameter of from about 0.5 microns ~ ~ "
.:: . :
Patent No. 3,542,615; and Harmon, Canadian Patent No. 803,714.
As used herein, the term "meltblown fibers" means fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a 20plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into a ~igh-velocity gas (e.g. air) stream which attenuates the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameters, which may be to micro~iber diameter.
Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high-velocity 25gas stream and are deposited on a coll~cting surface to form a web of randomly disbursed meltblown fibers. The meltblown process is well-known and is described in various patents and publications, including NRL Report 4364, "Manufacture o~ Super-Fine Organic Fibers" by V.A. Wendt, E.L~ Boone, and C.D.
30Fluharty; NRL Report 5265, "An Improved Device for the Formation of Super-Fine Thermoplastic Fibers" by K.D. Lawrence, R.T. Lukas, and J.A. Young; and U.S. Patent No. 3,849,241, issued November 19, 1974, to Buntin, ~t al.
As used herein, the term "microfibers'; means small diameter 35fibers having an average diameter not greater than about 100 microns, for example, having a diameter of from about 0.5 microns ~ ~ "
.:: . :
4 ~8~
to about 50 microns, more specifically microfibers may also have an average diameter of from about 4 microns to about 40 microns.
As used herein, the term "disposable" is not limited to single use or limited use articles but also refers to articles that are so inexpensive to the consumer that they can be discarded if they bacome soiled or otherwise unusable after only one or a few uses.
As used herein, the term "necked material" refers to any material which has been constricted in at least one dimension by processes such as, for example, drawing.
As usad herein, the term "neckable material" means any material which can be necked. .
As used herein, the term "reversibly-necked material'l refers to a necked material that has been treated while necked to impart memory to the material so that when force is applied to extend the material to its pre-necked dimensions, the necked and treated portions will generally recover to their necked dimensions upon termination of the force. A reversibly-necked material may include more than one layer. For example, multiple layers of spunbvnded web, multiple layers of meltblown web, m~ltiple layers of bonded carded web or any other suitable combination of mixtures thereof. The production of reversibly-necked materials is illu~trated in patents such as, ~or example, Morman, U.S.
Patent Nos. 4,965,122 and 4,981,747.
As used herein, the term "stretch direction" refers to the direction in which a reversibly-necked material has recoverable stretch (i.e., the direction of stretch and recovery~.
As used herein, the term "percent neck down" refers to the ratio determined by measuring the difference between the pre-necked dimension and the necked dimension of a necXable material and then dividing that difference by the pre-necked dimension of the neckable material.
As used herein, the term "percent stretch" refers to the ratio determined by measuring the change in the nPcked dimension of a re~ersibly-necked material upon application of a stretching force and dividing that value by the necked dimension before 2~4~
application of the stretching force. For example, the percent stretched may be represented by the following expression:
X stretch = t~maximum stretched dimension initia~ necked dimensicn)/initial necked dimension~ x 100 As used herein, the term "superabsorbent" refers to absorbent materials capable of absorbing at least 10 grams of aqueous liquid (e.g. distilled water per gram of absor~ent material while immersed in the liquid for 4 hours and holding substantially all of the absorbed liquid while under a compression for~e of up to about 1.5 psi.
As used herein, the term "consisting essentially ofll does not exclude the presence of additional materials which do not significantly affect the desired characteristics of a given composition or product. Exemplary materials of this sort would include, without limitation, pigments, antioxidants, stabilizers, surfactants, waxes, flow promoters, particulates or materials added to enhance processability of a composition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention responds to the needs described above by providing a disposable elastic sock composed of (1) a top portion made of a nonwoven material that has recoverable stretch and can retainingly engage a ~oot and/or lower leg; and (2) a bottom portion which includes at least one layer of an abrasion resistant material. The bottom portion may also contain one or more layers o~ an absorbent material.
The top portion of the disposable lastic sock can be an elastomeric composite material. For example, such a material could contain at least one nonwoven fibrous elastomeric web joined at spaced-apart locations to at least one gatherable web so that the gatherable web is gathered between the spaced-apart locations. Such an elastomeric composite material can be made to stretch and recover in only a single direc~ion or it can be made to stretch and recover in multiple directions.
The nonwoven fibrous elastomeric web can be a nonwoven web of elastomeric meltblown fibers. Elastomeric meltblo~n fibers can be formed from an extrudable elastomeric polymer such as, for example, elastic polyesters, elastic polyurethanes, elastic .-. . , 2~8~9 polyamides, elastic copolymers of ethylene and at least one vinyl monomer, and elastic A-B-A' block copolymers wherein A and A' are the same or different thermoplastic polymer, and wherein B is an elastomeric polymer block.
In one aspect of the present inventiont the nonwoven material used in the upper portion of the elastic sock may be one or more layers o~ a reYersibly necked material. Such a reversibly neck~d material can be a single layer o~ material or a multi-layer laminate containing, for example, one or more layers of a lo nonwoven web of meltblown polypropylene fibers and one or more layers of a nonwoven web of spunbond polypropylene filaments.
Whether formed of an elastic composite material or a reversibly necked material, the top portion of the elastic sock must have recoverable stretch and be able to retainingly engage a ~oot.
For example, the top portion must be able to retainingly engage an animal hoof or an animal paw.
The bottom portion of the elastic sock includes an abrasion resistant material. Such a material can be an abrasion resistant nonwoven web of meltblown fibers, an abrasion resistant nonwoven web of spunbond filaments, abrasion resistant films~ or multi-layer materials containing one or more of the same.
The bottom portion of the elastic sock may also include an absorbent material. The absorbent material may be a web composed of a mixture of meltblown fibers and one or more other materials.
Such a web is referred to as a co-formed web. A co-formed web may contain, for example, wood pulp, staple fibers, particulates and/or super-absorbent materials. The absorbent material may also be a hydraulically entangled composite containing synthetic fibers and pulp. The synthetic fibers may be in the form of a ; 30 nonwoven web of continuous filamen~s such as, for example, spunbonded filaments.
In one aspect of the present invention, the disposable elastic sock can be a lining for a animal overboot. For example, the elastic sock can be used as a lining for a horse overboot or a dog overboot. The elastic sock may be used as a surgical insulating sock. The elastic sock may also be used to cover and protect a poulticed foot.
7 ~8~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of an exPmplary disposable elastic sock.
FIG. 2 is a back view of an exemplary disposable elastic sock.
FIG. 3 is a top Yiew of an exemplary disposable elastic sock.
FIG. 4 is a view of an exemplary composite elastic material.
DETAI~ED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a side view of an exemplary disposable elastic sock is illustrated at 10. The disposable elastic sock 10 is composed of a top portion 12 made of a nonwoven material 14 that has stretch and recovery properties and can retainingly engage a foot and/or a lower leg 16; and a bottom portion 18 which includes at least one layer of an abrasion resistant material 20. In FIG. 1, the disposable elastic sock 10 is shown with an optional layer of an absorbent material 22. The top portion 12 should extend hiyh enough to completely cover the foot and desirably may be made to cover a portion of th~ lower leg 16.
Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, therP is illustrated a back view of an exemplary disposable elastic sock 10. The top portion 12 is composed of nonwoven material 14 an~ contains a left end 24 and a right end 26 which are joined by a seam 28.
This seam 28 ~ay be any conventional seam suitable for joining both ends o~ the nonwoven material 14. For example, the seam 28 may be a stitched seam, an adhesive seam, a solvent welded seam, a thermally bonded seam, or an ultrasonically bonded seam. ~s can be seen in FIG. 2, the top portion 12 o the elastic sock 10 and its bottom portion 18 are joined by a seam 30. As noted above, this seam 30 may be any conventional type of seam suitable for joining the nonwoven material 14 to at least one layer o~ an abrasion resistant material 20. The seam 30 may also be used to join the abrasion resistant material 20 to one or moxe layers of an absorbent material 22.
: Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a top view of an exemplary disposable elastic sock 10. The top 8 ~1~8~1~9 portion 12 of the disposable elastic sock 10 has an upper edge 32 and a lower ed~e 34. The upper edge 32 defines an opening 36 into the elastic sock 10. The opening 36 may be circular or any convenient shape. Because the nonwoven material 14 which forms the tsp portion 12 has stretch and recovery properties, the upper edge 32 is able to expand to enlarge the opening 36 so that a foot may be insPrted into the disposable elastic sock 10. The nonwoven material 14 is then adapted to recover and retainingly engage the foot.
Desirably, the top portion 12 of the disposable elastic sock 10 is an elastomeric composite material. Referring now to FIG.
4 of the drawings, an exemplary elastomeric composite material is illustrated at 100. The composite elastomeric material 100 contains a nonwoven fibrous elastomeric web 102 ioined at spaced-apart locations 104 to a first gatherable web 106 and a second gatherable web 108 so that the gatherable webs form gathers 110 between the spaced-apart locations 104. Suitable elastomeric composite materials may be made according to U.S.
Patent No. 4,720,415 which is commonly assigned to the assignee of the present application. The contents of that patent are hereby incorporated by reerence. Generally speaking, the elastomeric composite material can be made to stretch and recover in only a single direction or it can be made to stretch and recover in at least two directions. For most purposes, stretch and recovery in a single direction is adequate. An exemplary elastomeric composite material that can stretch and recover in two directions may be made according to U.S. Patent No.
to about 50 microns, more specifically microfibers may also have an average diameter of from about 4 microns to about 40 microns.
As used herein, the term "disposable" is not limited to single use or limited use articles but also refers to articles that are so inexpensive to the consumer that they can be discarded if they bacome soiled or otherwise unusable after only one or a few uses.
As used herein, the term "necked material" refers to any material which has been constricted in at least one dimension by processes such as, for example, drawing.
As usad herein, the term "neckable material" means any material which can be necked. .
As used herein, the term "reversibly-necked material'l refers to a necked material that has been treated while necked to impart memory to the material so that when force is applied to extend the material to its pre-necked dimensions, the necked and treated portions will generally recover to their necked dimensions upon termination of the force. A reversibly-necked material may include more than one layer. For example, multiple layers of spunbvnded web, multiple layers of meltblown web, m~ltiple layers of bonded carded web or any other suitable combination of mixtures thereof. The production of reversibly-necked materials is illu~trated in patents such as, ~or example, Morman, U.S.
Patent Nos. 4,965,122 and 4,981,747.
As used herein, the term "stretch direction" refers to the direction in which a reversibly-necked material has recoverable stretch (i.e., the direction of stretch and recovery~.
As used herein, the term "percent neck down" refers to the ratio determined by measuring the difference between the pre-necked dimension and the necked dimension of a necXable material and then dividing that difference by the pre-necked dimension of the neckable material.
As used herein, the term "percent stretch" refers to the ratio determined by measuring the change in the nPcked dimension of a re~ersibly-necked material upon application of a stretching force and dividing that value by the necked dimension before 2~4~
application of the stretching force. For example, the percent stretched may be represented by the following expression:
X stretch = t~maximum stretched dimension initia~ necked dimensicn)/initial necked dimension~ x 100 As used herein, the term "superabsorbent" refers to absorbent materials capable of absorbing at least 10 grams of aqueous liquid (e.g. distilled water per gram of absor~ent material while immersed in the liquid for 4 hours and holding substantially all of the absorbed liquid while under a compression for~e of up to about 1.5 psi.
As used herein, the term "consisting essentially ofll does not exclude the presence of additional materials which do not significantly affect the desired characteristics of a given composition or product. Exemplary materials of this sort would include, without limitation, pigments, antioxidants, stabilizers, surfactants, waxes, flow promoters, particulates or materials added to enhance processability of a composition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention responds to the needs described above by providing a disposable elastic sock composed of (1) a top portion made of a nonwoven material that has recoverable stretch and can retainingly engage a ~oot and/or lower leg; and (2) a bottom portion which includes at least one layer of an abrasion resistant material. The bottom portion may also contain one or more layers o~ an absorbent material.
The top portion of the disposable lastic sock can be an elastomeric composite material. For example, such a material could contain at least one nonwoven fibrous elastomeric web joined at spaced-apart locations to at least one gatherable web so that the gatherable web is gathered between the spaced-apart locations. Such an elastomeric composite material can be made to stretch and recover in only a single direc~ion or it can be made to stretch and recover in multiple directions.
The nonwoven fibrous elastomeric web can be a nonwoven web of elastomeric meltblown fibers. Elastomeric meltblo~n fibers can be formed from an extrudable elastomeric polymer such as, for example, elastic polyesters, elastic polyurethanes, elastic .-. . , 2~8~9 polyamides, elastic copolymers of ethylene and at least one vinyl monomer, and elastic A-B-A' block copolymers wherein A and A' are the same or different thermoplastic polymer, and wherein B is an elastomeric polymer block.
In one aspect of the present inventiont the nonwoven material used in the upper portion of the elastic sock may be one or more layers o~ a reYersibly necked material. Such a reversibly neck~d material can be a single layer o~ material or a multi-layer laminate containing, for example, one or more layers of a lo nonwoven web of meltblown polypropylene fibers and one or more layers of a nonwoven web of spunbond polypropylene filaments.
Whether formed of an elastic composite material or a reversibly necked material, the top portion of the elastic sock must have recoverable stretch and be able to retainingly engage a ~oot.
For example, the top portion must be able to retainingly engage an animal hoof or an animal paw.
The bottom portion of the elastic sock includes an abrasion resistant material. Such a material can be an abrasion resistant nonwoven web of meltblown fibers, an abrasion resistant nonwoven web of spunbond filaments, abrasion resistant films~ or multi-layer materials containing one or more of the same.
The bottom portion of the elastic sock may also include an absorbent material. The absorbent material may be a web composed of a mixture of meltblown fibers and one or more other materials.
Such a web is referred to as a co-formed web. A co-formed web may contain, for example, wood pulp, staple fibers, particulates and/or super-absorbent materials. The absorbent material may also be a hydraulically entangled composite containing synthetic fibers and pulp. The synthetic fibers may be in the form of a ; 30 nonwoven web of continuous filamen~s such as, for example, spunbonded filaments.
In one aspect of the present invention, the disposable elastic sock can be a lining for a animal overboot. For example, the elastic sock can be used as a lining for a horse overboot or a dog overboot. The elastic sock may be used as a surgical insulating sock. The elastic sock may also be used to cover and protect a poulticed foot.
7 ~8~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of an exPmplary disposable elastic sock.
FIG. 2 is a back view of an exemplary disposable elastic sock.
FIG. 3 is a top Yiew of an exemplary disposable elastic sock.
FIG. 4 is a view of an exemplary composite elastic material.
DETAI~ED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a side view of an exemplary disposable elastic sock is illustrated at 10. The disposable elastic sock 10 is composed of a top portion 12 made of a nonwoven material 14 that has stretch and recovery properties and can retainingly engage a foot and/or a lower leg 16; and a bottom portion 18 which includes at least one layer of an abrasion resistant material 20. In FIG. 1, the disposable elastic sock 10 is shown with an optional layer of an absorbent material 22. The top portion 12 should extend hiyh enough to completely cover the foot and desirably may be made to cover a portion of th~ lower leg 16.
Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, therP is illustrated a back view of an exemplary disposable elastic sock 10. The top portion 12 is composed of nonwoven material 14 an~ contains a left end 24 and a right end 26 which are joined by a seam 28.
This seam 28 ~ay be any conventional seam suitable for joining both ends o~ the nonwoven material 14. For example, the seam 28 may be a stitched seam, an adhesive seam, a solvent welded seam, a thermally bonded seam, or an ultrasonically bonded seam. ~s can be seen in FIG. 2, the top portion 12 o the elastic sock 10 and its bottom portion 18 are joined by a seam 30. As noted above, this seam 30 may be any conventional type of seam suitable for joining the nonwoven material 14 to at least one layer o~ an abrasion resistant material 20. The seam 30 may also be used to join the abrasion resistant material 20 to one or moxe layers of an absorbent material 22.
: Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a top view of an exemplary disposable elastic sock 10. The top 8 ~1~8~1~9 portion 12 of the disposable elastic sock 10 has an upper edge 32 and a lower ed~e 34. The upper edge 32 defines an opening 36 into the elastic sock 10. The opening 36 may be circular or any convenient shape. Because the nonwoven material 14 which forms the tsp portion 12 has stretch and recovery properties, the upper edge 32 is able to expand to enlarge the opening 36 so that a foot may be insPrted into the disposable elastic sock 10. The nonwoven material 14 is then adapted to recover and retainingly engage the foot.
Desirably, the top portion 12 of the disposable elastic sock 10 is an elastomeric composite material. Referring now to FIG.
4 of the drawings, an exemplary elastomeric composite material is illustrated at 100. The composite elastomeric material 100 contains a nonwoven fibrous elastomeric web 102 ioined at spaced-apart locations 104 to a first gatherable web 106 and a second gatherable web 108 so that the gatherable webs form gathers 110 between the spaced-apart locations 104. Suitable elastomeric composite materials may be made according to U.S.
Patent No. 4,720,415 which is commonly assigned to the assignee of the present application. The contents of that patent are hereby incorporated by reerence. Generally speaking, the elastomeric composite material can be made to stretch and recover in only a single direction or it can be made to stretch and recover in at least two directions. For most purposes, stretch and recovery in a single direction is adequate. An exemplary elastomeric composite material that can stretch and recover in two directions may be made according to U.S. Patent No.
5,116,662. That patent is also commonly assigned to the assignee of the present application. The contents of that patent are hereby incorporated by reference.
The elastomeric compo~ite material 100 contains a nonwoven fibrous elastomeric web 102. Desirably, the nonwoven ~ibrous elastomeric web 102 is a nonwoven web of elastomeric meltblown fib~rs. In general, nonwoven webs of elastomeric meltblown fibers can be formed from any suitable elastomeric fiber forming resins or blends containing the same. For example, useful elastomeric fiber forming resins include block copolymers having 2~8~9 the general formula A-B-A' or A-B, where A and A' are each a thermoplastic polymer endblock which contains a styrenic moiety such as a poly (vinyl arene) and where :B is an elastomeric polymer midblock such as a conjugated dierle or a lower alkene polymer. Block copolymers o~ the A-B-A' type can have di~ferent or the same thermoplastic block polymers for the A and A' blocks, and the present block copolymers are intended to embrace linear, branched and radial block copolymers. In this regard, the radial block copolymers may be designated ~A B) m X, wherein X is a polyfunctional atom or molecule and in which each (A-B) m~
radiates from X in a way that A is an endblock. In the radial bloc~ copolymer, X may be an organic or inorganic polyfunctional atom or molecule and m is an integer having the same value as the functional group originally present in X. It is usually at least 3, and is frequently 4 or 5, but not limited thereto.
Thus, in the present invention, the expression "block copolymer", and particularly "A-B-A"' and "A-B" block copolymer, is intended to embrace all block copolymers having such rubbery blocks and thermopla~tic blocks as discussed above, which can be extruded (e.g., by meltblowing~, and without limitation as to the number of blocks. The elastomeric nonwoven web may be formed from, for example, elastomeric (polystyrene/poly(ethylene-butylene)/
polystyrene) block copolymexs available from the Shell Chemical Company of Houston, Texas under the trade designati~n KRATON G.
One such block copolymer may be, ~or example, KRATON~ G-1657.
Formation of an elastomeric nonwoven web from block copolymers such as, for example, A-B-A' block copolymers is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,692,371, to Morman et al., hereby incorporated by reference.
Other exemplary el~stomeric materials which may be used to form an elastomeric nonwov~n web include polyurethane elastomeric materials such as, for example, those available under the trademark ESTANE from B. F. Goodrich & Co., polyamide elastomeric materials such as, for example, those available under the trademark PEBAX from the Rilsan Company, and polyester elastomeric materials such as, for example, those available under the trade designation HYTREL~ ~rom E. I. DuPont De Nemours &
.: , - . i , . -2~4~
Company. Formation of an elastomeric nonwoven web from polyester elastomeric materials is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,741,949 to Morman et al., hereby incorporated ~y reference.
Elastomeric nonwoven webs may also be formed from elastomeric copolymers of ethylen~ and at least one vinyl monomer such as, for example, vinyl acetates, unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, and esters of such monocarboxylic acids. The elastomeric copolymers and formation of elastomeric nonwoven webs from those elastomeric copolymers a~e disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,803,117 to DaPonte, hereby incorporated by reerence.
Processing aids may be added to the elastomeric polymer. For example, a polyolein may be blended with the elastomeric polymer (e.g., the A-B-A elastomeric block copolymer) to improve the processability of the composition. Extrudable blends of elastomeric polymers and polyolefins are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,663,220 to Wisneski et al., hereby incorporated by reference.
The elastomeric nonwoven web may also be a pressure sensitive elastomer adhesive web. For example, the elastomeric material itself may be tacky or, alternatively, a compatible tackifying resin may ba added to the extrudable elastomeric compositions described above to provide an elastomeric web that can act as a pressure sensitive adhesive, e.g., to bond the elastomeric web to another material or to enhance the ability of the elastic sock to retainingly engage a foot. In regard to the tackifying resins and tackified extrudable elastomeric compositions, note the resins and compositions as disclosed in U.S. patent No. 4,787,699 to Kieffer, et al., hereby incorporated by reference.
Alternatively and/or additionally, the top portion 12 of the elastic sock 10 may be an elastomeric fabric which is a multilayer material in that it may include two or more individual coherent webs and/or films. Additionally, the elastomeric fabric may be a multilayer material in which one or more of the layers contain a mixture of elastomeric and non-elastomeric fibers or particulates. An exampls of the latter type of elastomeric web, reference is made to U.S. Patent No. 4,209,563, incorporated herein by reference, in which elastomeric and non-elastomeric ..
. . .
fibers are commingled to form a single coherent web of randomly dispersed fibers. Another example of such an elastomeric composite web would be one made by a technique such as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,741,949 and in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,100,324 and 4,803,117, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Those patents disclose elastomeric nonwoven materials which include a mixture of meltblown thermoplastic fibers and other materials. Such mixtures may be formed by addlng fibers and/or particulates to the gas stream in which elastomeric meltblown fibers are carried so that an intimate entangled commingling of the elastomeric meltblown fibers and other materials occurs prior to collection of the meltblown fibers upon a collection device to form a coherent web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers and other materials. Useful materials which may be used in such nonwoven elastomeric composite webs include, for example, wood pulp fibers, staple length fibers from natural and synthetic sources (e.g., cotton, wool, asbesto~, rayon, polyester, polyamide, glass, polyolefin, cellulose derivatives and the like), non-elastic meltblown fibers, multi-component fibers, absorbent fibers, electrically conductive fibers, and particulates such as, for example, activated charcoal/carbon, clays, starches, metal oxides, super-absorbent materials and mixtures of such materials.
It is contemplated that other types of elastomeric composite nonwoven webs may be used for the top portion 12 of the disposable elastic sock 10. For example, a hydraulically entangled nonwoven elastomeric composite web may be used such as disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,879,170 and 4,939,016 both to Radwanski, et al. the contents of which ars incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Alternatively and/or additionally, the top portion 12 of the elastic sock 10 may ona or more layers of a non-elastic material that has been treated to impart recoverable stretch. Such a material may be a single layer of material or a multi~layer laminate that has been treated as described, for example, in U.S.
Patent No. 4,965,122 to Morman~ hereby incorporated by reference.
For example, one material may contain at least one nonwoven web of meltblown polypropylene ~ibers and at least one nonwoven web of spunbond polypropylene filaments which have been necked and then heated and cooled to impart a memory of the material's necked configuration.
The top portion 12 of the elastic soc]c lo must be able to retainingly engage a foot and/or lower leg of an animal. For example, the top portion must be able to retainingly engage an animal hoof or an animal paw. This is effectively accomplished when the nonwoven material 14 used to make the top portion 12 of lo the elastic sock 10 has recoverable stretch which draws the top portion 12 snugly about the foot and/or lower leg. Generally speaking, the nonwoven material 14 should be able to stretch at least about twenty-five (25) percent and recover at least about eighty-five (85) percent when stretched about twenty~ e (25) percent. For example, the nonwoven material 14 can be adapted to stretch about one-hundred (100) percent and recover at least about ninety-five (95) percent when stretched about one-hundred (100) percent. A nonwoven material which is abla to stretch at least about twenty-five (25) percent and recover at least about eighty-~ive (8S) percent when stretched about twenty-five (25) percent is considered to be "elastic" for purposes of the present invention. -The bottom portion 18 of the disposable elastic sock 10 includes an abrasion resistant material. Such a ma~erial can be an abrasion resistant nonwoven web of meltblown fibers, an abrasion resistant nonwoven web of spunbond ~ilaments, a~rasion resistant films, an abrasion resistant woven fabric or multi-layer materials containing one or more of the same. For example, one useful abrasion resistant laminate may contain two outer layers of spunbond polypropylene filament web sandwiching an inner layer o~ meltblown polypropylene fiber wPb. The basis weight of thîs exemplary abrasion resistant laminate desirably should be at least about 45 grams psr square meter ~gsm). For exampl , the basis weight of such an exemplary abrasion resistant laminate may be from about 50 to 150 gsm or even more. Generally speaking, the abrasion resistant material need only resist abrasion encountered during limited use of a sock or cover such ~8~
as, for example, when a horse or other animal is in a stall or kennel. However, much tougher materials can be used for socks or covers that are designed ~or wear when a horse or other animal is "turned-out" to pasture or allowed to move without restr~int.
The bottom portion of the disposable elastic sock may also include an absorbent material. The a~sorbent material may be a web composed of a mixture of meltblown fibers and one or more other materials. Such a web is referred to as a co-formed web.
A co formed web may contain, for example, wood pulp, staple fibers, particulates and super-absorbent materials. Such webs can be formed by the techniques disclosed in, for example, previously referenced U.S. Patent Mos. 4,741,949, 4,100,324 and 4,803,117. The absorbent material may also be a hydraulically entangled composite containing synthetic fibers and pulp such as disclosed in previously referenced U.S. Patent Nos. 4,879,170 and 4,939,016. The basis weight and type of absorbent material ~ill vary according to the individual use and level of absorbency desired. For example, a co-formed web containing superabsorbent particulates having an overall basis weight of 20 gsm or more can be used when high levels of absorb~ncy are desired.
In one aspect of the present invention, the disposable elastic sock can be used as a lining for a animal overboot. For example, the disposable elastic sock can be used as a lining for a horse overboot or a dog overboot. The disposable elastic sock may also be used as a surgical insulating sock. The disposable elastic sock may also be used as a cover for a poulticed foot (e.g., a poultice sock~. It is contemplated that when the elastic sock ii~ uised as a cover for a poulticed foot the sock may contain a saturated hydrogel material. That is, the elastic sock may contain a hydrogel that has been hydrated to a gel-like consistency. Some exemplary saturated hydrogels may contain more than about 90 percent, by wsight, water.
~hile the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that ;35 the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention r .
'', ' - 2~84~9 :
to include all alternatives, modi~ications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope o~ the following claims.
The elastomeric compo~ite material 100 contains a nonwoven fibrous elastomeric web 102. Desirably, the nonwoven ~ibrous elastomeric web 102 is a nonwoven web of elastomeric meltblown fib~rs. In general, nonwoven webs of elastomeric meltblown fibers can be formed from any suitable elastomeric fiber forming resins or blends containing the same. For example, useful elastomeric fiber forming resins include block copolymers having 2~8~9 the general formula A-B-A' or A-B, where A and A' are each a thermoplastic polymer endblock which contains a styrenic moiety such as a poly (vinyl arene) and where :B is an elastomeric polymer midblock such as a conjugated dierle or a lower alkene polymer. Block copolymers o~ the A-B-A' type can have di~ferent or the same thermoplastic block polymers for the A and A' blocks, and the present block copolymers are intended to embrace linear, branched and radial block copolymers. In this regard, the radial block copolymers may be designated ~A B) m X, wherein X is a polyfunctional atom or molecule and in which each (A-B) m~
radiates from X in a way that A is an endblock. In the radial bloc~ copolymer, X may be an organic or inorganic polyfunctional atom or molecule and m is an integer having the same value as the functional group originally present in X. It is usually at least 3, and is frequently 4 or 5, but not limited thereto.
Thus, in the present invention, the expression "block copolymer", and particularly "A-B-A"' and "A-B" block copolymer, is intended to embrace all block copolymers having such rubbery blocks and thermopla~tic blocks as discussed above, which can be extruded (e.g., by meltblowing~, and without limitation as to the number of blocks. The elastomeric nonwoven web may be formed from, for example, elastomeric (polystyrene/poly(ethylene-butylene)/
polystyrene) block copolymexs available from the Shell Chemical Company of Houston, Texas under the trade designati~n KRATON G.
One such block copolymer may be, ~or example, KRATON~ G-1657.
Formation of an elastomeric nonwoven web from block copolymers such as, for example, A-B-A' block copolymers is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,692,371, to Morman et al., hereby incorporated by reference.
Other exemplary el~stomeric materials which may be used to form an elastomeric nonwov~n web include polyurethane elastomeric materials such as, for example, those available under the trademark ESTANE from B. F. Goodrich & Co., polyamide elastomeric materials such as, for example, those available under the trademark PEBAX from the Rilsan Company, and polyester elastomeric materials such as, for example, those available under the trade designation HYTREL~ ~rom E. I. DuPont De Nemours &
.: , - . i , . -2~4~
Company. Formation of an elastomeric nonwoven web from polyester elastomeric materials is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,741,949 to Morman et al., hereby incorporated ~y reference.
Elastomeric nonwoven webs may also be formed from elastomeric copolymers of ethylen~ and at least one vinyl monomer such as, for example, vinyl acetates, unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, and esters of such monocarboxylic acids. The elastomeric copolymers and formation of elastomeric nonwoven webs from those elastomeric copolymers a~e disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,803,117 to DaPonte, hereby incorporated by reerence.
Processing aids may be added to the elastomeric polymer. For example, a polyolein may be blended with the elastomeric polymer (e.g., the A-B-A elastomeric block copolymer) to improve the processability of the composition. Extrudable blends of elastomeric polymers and polyolefins are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,663,220 to Wisneski et al., hereby incorporated by reference.
The elastomeric nonwoven web may also be a pressure sensitive elastomer adhesive web. For example, the elastomeric material itself may be tacky or, alternatively, a compatible tackifying resin may ba added to the extrudable elastomeric compositions described above to provide an elastomeric web that can act as a pressure sensitive adhesive, e.g., to bond the elastomeric web to another material or to enhance the ability of the elastic sock to retainingly engage a foot. In regard to the tackifying resins and tackified extrudable elastomeric compositions, note the resins and compositions as disclosed in U.S. patent No. 4,787,699 to Kieffer, et al., hereby incorporated by reference.
Alternatively and/or additionally, the top portion 12 of the elastic sock 10 may be an elastomeric fabric which is a multilayer material in that it may include two or more individual coherent webs and/or films. Additionally, the elastomeric fabric may be a multilayer material in which one or more of the layers contain a mixture of elastomeric and non-elastomeric fibers or particulates. An exampls of the latter type of elastomeric web, reference is made to U.S. Patent No. 4,209,563, incorporated herein by reference, in which elastomeric and non-elastomeric ..
. . .
fibers are commingled to form a single coherent web of randomly dispersed fibers. Another example of such an elastomeric composite web would be one made by a technique such as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,741,949 and in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,100,324 and 4,803,117, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Those patents disclose elastomeric nonwoven materials which include a mixture of meltblown thermoplastic fibers and other materials. Such mixtures may be formed by addlng fibers and/or particulates to the gas stream in which elastomeric meltblown fibers are carried so that an intimate entangled commingling of the elastomeric meltblown fibers and other materials occurs prior to collection of the meltblown fibers upon a collection device to form a coherent web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers and other materials. Useful materials which may be used in such nonwoven elastomeric composite webs include, for example, wood pulp fibers, staple length fibers from natural and synthetic sources (e.g., cotton, wool, asbesto~, rayon, polyester, polyamide, glass, polyolefin, cellulose derivatives and the like), non-elastic meltblown fibers, multi-component fibers, absorbent fibers, electrically conductive fibers, and particulates such as, for example, activated charcoal/carbon, clays, starches, metal oxides, super-absorbent materials and mixtures of such materials.
It is contemplated that other types of elastomeric composite nonwoven webs may be used for the top portion 12 of the disposable elastic sock 10. For example, a hydraulically entangled nonwoven elastomeric composite web may be used such as disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,879,170 and 4,939,016 both to Radwanski, et al. the contents of which ars incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Alternatively and/or additionally, the top portion 12 of the elastic sock 10 may ona or more layers of a non-elastic material that has been treated to impart recoverable stretch. Such a material may be a single layer of material or a multi~layer laminate that has been treated as described, for example, in U.S.
Patent No. 4,965,122 to Morman~ hereby incorporated by reference.
For example, one material may contain at least one nonwoven web of meltblown polypropylene ~ibers and at least one nonwoven web of spunbond polypropylene filaments which have been necked and then heated and cooled to impart a memory of the material's necked configuration.
The top portion 12 of the elastic soc]c lo must be able to retainingly engage a foot and/or lower leg of an animal. For example, the top portion must be able to retainingly engage an animal hoof or an animal paw. This is effectively accomplished when the nonwoven material 14 used to make the top portion 12 of lo the elastic sock 10 has recoverable stretch which draws the top portion 12 snugly about the foot and/or lower leg. Generally speaking, the nonwoven material 14 should be able to stretch at least about twenty-five (25) percent and recover at least about eighty-five (85) percent when stretched about twenty~ e (25) percent. For example, the nonwoven material 14 can be adapted to stretch about one-hundred (100) percent and recover at least about ninety-five (95) percent when stretched about one-hundred (100) percent. A nonwoven material which is abla to stretch at least about twenty-five (25) percent and recover at least about eighty-~ive (8S) percent when stretched about twenty-five (25) percent is considered to be "elastic" for purposes of the present invention. -The bottom portion 18 of the disposable elastic sock 10 includes an abrasion resistant material. Such a ma~erial can be an abrasion resistant nonwoven web of meltblown fibers, an abrasion resistant nonwoven web of spunbond ~ilaments, a~rasion resistant films, an abrasion resistant woven fabric or multi-layer materials containing one or more of the same. For example, one useful abrasion resistant laminate may contain two outer layers of spunbond polypropylene filament web sandwiching an inner layer o~ meltblown polypropylene fiber wPb. The basis weight of thîs exemplary abrasion resistant laminate desirably should be at least about 45 grams psr square meter ~gsm). For exampl , the basis weight of such an exemplary abrasion resistant laminate may be from about 50 to 150 gsm or even more. Generally speaking, the abrasion resistant material need only resist abrasion encountered during limited use of a sock or cover such ~8~
as, for example, when a horse or other animal is in a stall or kennel. However, much tougher materials can be used for socks or covers that are designed ~or wear when a horse or other animal is "turned-out" to pasture or allowed to move without restr~int.
The bottom portion of the disposable elastic sock may also include an absorbent material. The a~sorbent material may be a web composed of a mixture of meltblown fibers and one or more other materials. Such a web is referred to as a co-formed web.
A co formed web may contain, for example, wood pulp, staple fibers, particulates and super-absorbent materials. Such webs can be formed by the techniques disclosed in, for example, previously referenced U.S. Patent Mos. 4,741,949, 4,100,324 and 4,803,117. The absorbent material may also be a hydraulically entangled composite containing synthetic fibers and pulp such as disclosed in previously referenced U.S. Patent Nos. 4,879,170 and 4,939,016. The basis weight and type of absorbent material ~ill vary according to the individual use and level of absorbency desired. For example, a co-formed web containing superabsorbent particulates having an overall basis weight of 20 gsm or more can be used when high levels of absorb~ncy are desired.
In one aspect of the present invention, the disposable elastic sock can be used as a lining for a animal overboot. For example, the disposable elastic sock can be used as a lining for a horse overboot or a dog overboot. The disposable elastic sock may also be used as a surgical insulating sock. The disposable elastic sock may also be used as a cover for a poulticed foot (e.g., a poultice sock~. It is contemplated that when the elastic sock ii~ uised as a cover for a poulticed foot the sock may contain a saturated hydrogel material. That is, the elastic sock may contain a hydrogel that has been hydrated to a gel-like consistency. Some exemplary saturated hydrogels may contain more than about 90 percent, by wsight, water.
~hile the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that ;35 the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention r .
'', ' - 2~84~9 :
to include all alternatives, modi~ications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope o~ the following claims.
Claims (20)
1. A disposable elastic sock comprising:
an upper portion comprising a nonwoven material having recoverable stretch and adapted to retainingly engage a foot; and a bottom portion comprising at least one layer of an abrasion resistant material.
an upper portion comprising a nonwoven material having recoverable stretch and adapted to retainingly engage a foot; and a bottom portion comprising at least one layer of an abrasion resistant material.
2. The disposable elastic sock of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion further comprises at least one layer of an absorbent material.
3. The disposable elastic sock of claim 1 wherein the nonwoven material comprises at least one nonwoven fibrous elastomeric web joined at spaced-apart locations to at least one gatherable web, said gatherable web being gathered between said spaced-apart locations.
4. The disposable elastic sock of claim 3 wherein the nonwoven fibrous elastomeric web is a nonwoven web of elastomeric meltblown fibers.
5. The disposable elastic sock of claim 4 wherein the elastomeric meltblown fibers comprise an elastomeric polymer selected from the group consisting of elastic polyesters, elastic polyurethanes, elastic polyamides, elastic copolymers of ethylene and at least one vinyl monomer, and elastic A-B-A' block copolymers wherein A and A' are the same or different thermoplastic polymer, and wherein B is an elastomeric polymer block.
6. The disposable elastic sock of claim 3 wherein the upper portion is adapted to stretch and recover in at least two directions.
7. The disposable elastic sock of claim 1 wherein the nonwoven material comprises at least one reversibly necked material.
8. The disposable elastic sock of claim 7 wherein the reversibly necked material is a multi-layer laminate including at least one nonwoven web of meltblown polypropylene fibers and at least one nonwoven web of spunbond polypropylene filaments.
9. The disposable elastic sock of claim 1 wherein the abrasion resistant material of the bottom portion is selected from the group consisting of nonwoven webs of meltblown fibers, nonwoven webs of spunbond filaments, films, and multi-layer materials containing one or more of the same.
10. The disposable elastic sock of claim 2 wherein the absorbent material of the bottom portion comprises a co-formed nonwoven web.
11. The disposable elastic sock of claim 10 wherein the co-formed nonwoven web comprises a mixture of meltblown fibers and one or more other materials selected from the group consisting of wood pulp, staple fibers, particulates and super-absorbent materials.
12. The disposable elastic sock of claim 2 wherein the absorbent material of the bottom portion comprises a hydraulically entangled composite comprising synthetic fibers and pulp.
13. The disposable elastic sock of claim 12 wherein the hydraulically entangled composite comprises a continuous filament nonwoven substrate and pulp.
14. The disposable elastic sock of claim 13 wherein the continuous filament nonwoven substrate is a nonwoven web of continuous spunbonded filaments.
15. A lining for a protective animal overboot comprising the disposable elastic sock of claim 1.
16. The lining for a protective animal overboot of claim 15 wherein the protective animal overboot is a horse overboot.
17. The lining for a protective animal overboot of claim 15 wherein the protective animal overboot is a canine overboot.
18. An insulating surgical sock comprising the disposable elastic sock of claim 1.
19. A poultice sock comprising the disposable elastic sock of claim 1.
20. The poultice sock according to claim 19 further comprising a layer of hydrogel material.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US92297892A | 1992-07-30 | 1992-07-30 | |
| US922,978 | 1992-07-30 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2084149A1 true CA2084149A1 (en) | 1994-01-31 |
Family
ID=25447908
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2084149 Abandoned CA2084149A1 (en) | 1992-07-30 | 1992-11-30 | Disposable elastic sock |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2084149A1 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX9303794A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2416308A (en) * | 2004-07-21 | 2006-01-25 | Jane Patricia Murfett | Locating sock for pad e.g. poultice |
| WO2016027040A1 (en) | 2014-08-18 | 2016-02-25 | Alexander, Elizabeth | Animal overshoes |
-
1992
- 1992-11-30 CA CA 2084149 patent/CA2084149A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
1993
- 1993-06-24 MX MX9303794A patent/MX9303794A/en unknown
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2416308A (en) * | 2004-07-21 | 2006-01-25 | Jane Patricia Murfett | Locating sock for pad e.g. poultice |
| GB2416308B (en) * | 2004-07-21 | 2007-07-18 | Jane Patricia Murfett | Locating sock |
| WO2016027040A1 (en) | 2014-08-18 | 2016-02-25 | Alexander, Elizabeth | Animal overshoes |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| MX9303794A (en) | 1994-01-31 |
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| JP2000116468A (en) | Deodorant pad |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
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