CA3108625A1 - Reusable menstrual pad - Google Patents

Abstract

A launderable reusable menstrual pad comprising layers, including an absorbent material and a frictional material for providing frictional engagement with the user's underwear. The reusable menstrual pad may also include a substantially fluid impervious layer interposed between the absorbent material and the frictional material. The reusable menstrual pad may also include a skin contact suitable fabric overlying the absorbent material to contact the user's skin during use.

Description

Y:\TKF01\7485 CAP \CIPO \Spec Clms Abstct FINAL 210212.wpd REUSABLE MENSTRUAL PAD
Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to the field of feminine hygiene products, namely menstrual pads.
Summary of the Drawings

[0002] Figures 1 - 3 are photographs of components of an embodiment during assembly.

[0003] Figure 4 is a pattern for a reusable menstrual pad embodiment in size mini.

[0004] Figure 5 is a pattern for the reusable menstrual pad embodiment in size light.

[0005] Figure 6 is a pattern for the reusable menstrual pad embodiment in size moderate.

[0006] Figure 7 is the first portion of a pattern for the reusable menstrual pad embodiment in size moderate long.

[0007] Figure 8 is a second portion of a pattern for the reusable menstrual pad embodiment in size moderate long.

[0008] Figure 9 is a first portion of a pattern for the reusable menstrual pad Date Recue/Date Received 2021-02-12 embodiment in size overnight or overnight long.

[0009] Figure 10 is a second portion of a pattern for the reusable menstrual pad embodiment in size overnight.

[0010] Figure 11 is a second portion of a pattern for the reusable menstrual pad embodiment in size overnight long.

[0011] Figure 12 is an illustration of three embodiments of the reusable menstrual pad.
Detailed Description with Reference to the Drawings

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention include reusable menstrual pads comprising four layers: layer 1, being against the user's skin when in use;
layer 2, being an absorbent material; layer 3, being a substantially fluid impervious material;
and a backing, being a frictional material for providing frictional engagement with the user's underwear.

[0013] Layer 1 is preferably Quilting Weight Cotton with a minimum 68 thread count, such as can be obtained from numerous fabric supply businesses, e.g., Northcott Fabrics northcott.com; Connecting Threads connectingthreads.com; JN
Harper Co. Ltd jnharper.com etc.). Layer 1 desirably wicks liquid away from the user's skin, and is soft against the skin. Adequate, though less preferable results may be obtained with lower thread count quilting cotton, flat cotton, cotton flannel, cotton fleece, cotton jersey, bamboo fleece, bamboo jersey, hemp fleece or hemp jersey.

[0014] Layer 2 is preferably ZORB TM Original Fabric 235 GSM / 7 OSY 1 60"
wide (other widths also acceptable), which can be obtained from Funky Monkey Date Recue/Date Received 2021-02-12 Fabrics funkymonkeyfabrics.com; Club Tissues clubtissues.com; and Wazoodle wazoodle.com. Original Zorb fabric is a non-woven interlining material made from tangled cellulose fibres from bamboo viscose, cotton, organic cotton and polyester.
It is understood that the Zorb original fabric can absorb 20 times it's weight in liquid and that it absorbs appreciably faster than other materials like bamboo, cotton or hemp knits. Alternatively, layer 2 may comprise, or may further comprise, flannel, terry, or fleece or additional layers of Zorb.

[0015]
Layer 3 is preferably Polyurethane laminate Fabric Solid, Black 5M x 60" (other sizes are also acceptable) (BPA Free & FDA Approved), e.g., Item #:

BFI-BLK" N. Jefferson njeffersonitd.com. Other known flexible substantially fluid impervious materials may also be suitable.

[0016]
The backing is preferably Jiffy GripTM 121018, Const: 100% Cotton, Width: 60" (other widths are acceptable), such as can be obtained from Mook Fabrics mookfabrics.com. Jiffy Grip 121018 is a cotton fabric with an array of numerous raised rubber dots (sometimes referred to as "gripper dots"), and is intended for anti-slip between an item (e.g., the feet of an infant's pajamas, or the underside of an area rug) and a smooth floor (e.g., a wood floor or other slippery surface). Other anti-slip or gripper dot materials may be suitable for use in embodiments of the current invention, but many will not be suitable due to qualities (e.g., softness, flexibility, breathability, etc.) that are not of significance with respect to their intended purpose (i.e., anti-slip between an item and a smooth/slippery floor).
Although understood to be less desirable than Jiffy Grip 121018, it is understood that a variety of other materials could be used for the backing, including:
polyester fleece, waterproof nylon, flat cotton, cotton flannel, cotton fleece, cotton jersey, bamboo fleece, bamboo jersey, hemp fleece or hemp jersey.

[0017]
Embodiments also include snaps, e.g., Dritz Plastic Snaps, Size 20 /
12mm, White, 12 Sets, such as can be obtained from N. Jefferson njeffersonitd.com.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-02-12 The snaps are affixed to the wings of the pads for use in releasably securing the pads to the user's underwear. Alternatively, it is understood that a different size plastic snap, or Metal snaps, or buttons, or velcro, or hook and eye closures, could be used.

[0018]
Layers 1,2 and 3 and the backing are attached together using thread, preferably 100% Polyester Thread, e.g., Mettler Metrosene 100% Polyester Thread as can be obtained from N. Jefferson njeffersonitd.com. Other brands of 100%
polyester thread would of course also be acceptable. Although cotton thread could be used, it is understood that it would not be inadvisable as cotton pulls/wicks liquids.

[0019]
Here follows a set of instructions prepared by the applicant for the assembly of an embodiment of the reusable menstrual pad, which contemplates a division of labour between a "shop" and one or more "sewists".
Use of a ditch quilting foot is strongly recommended.
1 Cut ZORB core into shapes as sized. Done in Shop Cut Quilting Cotton Cotton, PUL and Jiffy Grip into shapes with a 1" margin on each side. Done in shop.

Trace the pad outline onto wrong side of quilting cotton with a fabric pen or stamp with a pattern stamp. Done in shop Lay the quilting cotton top layer with the traced/stamped pattern facing up.
Lay your pad core in the centre of it. Pin a couple of times in the centre to secure in place. Set your machine to a 4mm (3/16") zigzag stitch. Sew about 1/4 inch/0.5cm in from the edge of the core all the way around, attaching it to your topping fabric. Done by Sewist Place your topping and backing fabrics right sides together, and pin in place.
The core should be on top. Done by Sewist Leaving 1/4" seam allowance, sew inside the line, around the pad, leaving a Date Recue/Date Received 2021-02-12 gap of approximately 1.5 in (4 cm) on one of the wings. Take a couple of backstitches and clip thread. Trim your seam allowance to approximately 1/4 inch/5mm, leaving it longer where your gap is. Done by Sewist 7 Notch every 1/2" along the curve so that fabric will lie flat once turned.
Remove pins. Done by Sewist 8 Turn your pad out through the gap that you left in your stitching. Take a knitting needle, pencil, chopstick or similar. Poke it into the pad, and tease the edges out, paying extra attention to the corners. Fold the excess fabric at your gap inwards, so that it is concealed within the pad. Pin in place. Done by Sewist 9 Iron pad flat, taking care NOT to iron jiffy grip. Done by Sewist Topstitch the whole pad. Starting at the beginning of your gap, about 1/8 inch from the edge of the pad, sew all the way around. Your gap will now be securely closed. Take a couple of backstitches and clip thread. Done by Sewist 11 Attach snaps to wings using snap tool. Attach 1 ball end to the left wing and 2 socket ends to the right wing. Done in Shop Date Recue/Date Received 2021-02-12

[0020] Embodiments of the present inventions include the following sizes.
Size Fabric Thread Length Width Flair? ZORB
Colour Core Mini light Ocean Mettler 6" 2.5" No flair 4.5" x Mist 100% 1.5"
Light Mulberry Mettler 7.5" 3" No flair 6" x 1.5"
100%
Moderate Midnight Mettler 9.5" 3" No flair 8" x 100% 1.75"
Moderate Smoke Mettler 11" 3.25" No flair 9.5" x Long 100% 1.75"
Overnight Grape Mettler 12.5" 4" Flared at 11"x 3"
100% rear Overnight Emerald Mettler 14" 4" Flared at 12.5" x Long 100% rear 3"

[0021] Pads may also be made without wings and/or without snaps.
Variations on size of length and width are possible. Variations on pads shape (oval, rectangle, triangular ends, etc) are possible.

[0022] It is understood that the following configurations of materials could be used but that they would provide lesser protection than the embodiments described above: "Layers 1, 3 and backing"; "Layers 1, 2 and backing"; Layers 1 and 2 with a quilting cotton backing; Layers 1 and 3 with a quilting cotton backing.

[0023] The scope of the claim should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-02-12

Claims (12)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A menstrual pad, for imposing between a user's body and the user's underwear, the pad comprising:
a frictional material for providing frictional engagement with the user's underwear; and an absorbent material attached to the frictional material, that in use is interposed between the frictional material and the user's body.

2. The menstrual pad of claim 1, wherein the frictional material is an anti-slip material comprising a fabric with an array of friction features affixed thereto.

3. The menstrual pad of claim 2, wherein the fabric is cotton and the friction features comprise a spaced array of gripper dots.

4. The menstrual pad of claim 3, wherein the gripper dots are rubber.

5. The menstrual pad of claim 1, wherein the frictional material is Jiffy GripTM
121018.

6. The menstrual pad of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material is a non-woven interlining material made from tangled cellulose fibres.

7. The menstrual pad of claim 6, wherein the tangled cellulose fibres are from one or more of bamboo viscose, cotton, organic cotton and polyester.

8. The menstrual pad of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material is ZORB TM
Original Fabric 235.

9. The menstrual pad of claim 1, further comprising a substantially fluid Date Recue/Date Received 2021-02-12 impervious material interposed between the frictional material and the absorbent material.

10. The menstrual pad of claim 9, wherein the substantially fluid impervious material is a polyurethane laminate fabric.

11. The menstrual pad of claim 1, further comprising a skin-contact suitable material overlying the absorbent material so as to directly contact the user's skin during use.

12. The menstrual pad of claim 11, wherein the skin-contact suitable material is Quilting Weight Cotton.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-02-12