DE102023101954A1 - Washable menstrual pad - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a washable menstrual pad (100) with several layers (110, 120, 130, 140, 150), characterized in that the menstrual pad (100) has at least five layers (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) made of different materials, all of which materials are washable at at least 60° C. The invention also relates to a pair of panties suitable for receiving and fastening a washable menstrual pad according to the invention and a bag suitable for storing both.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a washable menstrual pad.

STATE OF THE ART

A washable menstrual pad, for example, is made from WO 2021/231310 A1 This menstrual pad has three foldable layers of absorbent material that can be placed on top of each other and detachably arranged on or in a textile casing. The need to connect the absorbent layers to the casing or to detach them from it again after use means that handling is not user-friendly. Furthermore, the absorbency and comfort of known washable menstrual pads is limited and the washing temperature is usually no more than 40° C, which means that long-term hygiene can hardly be guaranteed.

Based on the above-mentioned prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved washable menstrual pad which is easy and extremely hygienic to handle, is very comfortable to wear and offers the user a high level of security against the passage of liquids.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object is achieved with a washable menstrual pad according to claim 1. Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention also relates to a pair of panties suitable for receiving and fastening a washable menstrual pad according to the invention according to claim 10 and a bag suitable for storing both according to claim 11.

According to the invention, the washable menstrual pad has at least five layers, the different materials of which are all washable at at least 60 °C.

It is particularly preferred that a first layer close to the body and a fifth layer away from the body are made of jersey, especially cotton jersey, or lyocell. These materials are particularly skin-friendly and comfortable to wear.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, a second layer, adjoining the first layer close to the body, consists of a terry cloth, in particular a cotton terry cloth.

Preferably, a fourth layer adjacent to an inner side of the fifth layer consists of a heavy molleton fabric with a basis weight of at least 200 g/m ² . This fabric forms a very good barrier against the passage of liquids to the outside.

Preferably, a third layer arranged between the second layer and the fourth layer has at least one layer of a light molleton fabric with a basis weight of up to 190 g/m ^2. Depending on the expected load on the bandage, one to five, preferably in particular three such layers of a light molleton fabric can form the third layer.

In an active variant of a menstrual pad according to the invention designed for special loads, a sixth layer made of a polyurethane-laminated polyester (PUL) can be arranged between the fourth layer and the fifth layer, which absolutely reliably prevents any leakage of liquid to the outside.

Advantageously, all layers are connected near their outer edge by means of at least one connecting seam. This connecting seam is preferably adapted to the shape of the menstrual pad and is arranged circumferentially parallel and at a short distance from its outer edge.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first three layers are connected in the inner area by means of at least one further seam. In the embodiment shown, these are, for example, three elongated oval circumferential seams that are arranged at a distance from one another and nested in a plan view. These seams serve to support the rapid introduction of liquid from the side of the first layer closest to the body to the absorbent layers of the third layer.

On the outside of the fifth layer, the menstrual pad preferably has fastening means for connecting to correspondingly designed counter-fastening means of a pair of panties that can be purchased in a set with several menstrual pads. These fastening means and counter-fastening means are formed, for example, by snap fasteners, with the menstrual pad having, for example, a male snap fastener element in the front part in the center and two male snap fastener elements spaced apart from each other in the back part, while the panties have a female snap fastener element on the front part and two female snap fastener elements on the back part.

Between the two male snap fastener elements on the menstrual pad, a female snap fastener element can also be arranged, which, in conjunction with a male snap fastener element on an adjacent menstrual pad, can form a connected chain of several menstrual pads during washing and/or drying. In addition, the female snap fastener element on the menstrual pad can be attached to a male snap fastener element that is arranged on a loop that can be hung over a clothesline. This loop itself can also advantageously be detachably attached as a handle to a bag suitable for storing the menstrual pads.

Instead of snap fastener elements, Velcro fasteners can also be used as fastening elements and counter-fastening elements.

In a pair of panties suitable for attaching a menstrual pad according to the invention, it is preferably provided that in the area of the counter-fastening means, at least one elastic layer is connected to the material of the panties by means of at least one seam. Preferably, three seams are provided closely spaced parallel to one another. The elastic layer holds the menstrual pads on the panties in a spread-out, slightly pre-tensioned position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• 1 eine Draufsicht auf die bei Benutzung dem Körper zugewandte Oberseite einer waschbaren Menstruationsbinde;
• 2 einen Schnitt durch die waschbare Menstruationsbinde gemäß 1 mit einer zusätzlichen Andeutung zweier Befestigungsmittel;
• 3 eine Draufsicht auf die bei Benutzung dem Körper abgewandte Unterseite einer waschbaren Menstruationsbinde; und
• 4 eine Draufsicht auf einen an den Seitenkanten noch nicht vernähten Zuschnitt eines Höschens, das mit zur Befestigung von Befestigungsmitteln an der waschbaren Menstruationsbinde zusammenwirkenden Gegen-Befestigungsmitteln versehen ist,
• 5 eine vergrößerte Detailansicht auf den Befestigungsbereich der Gegen-Befestigungsmittel gemäß 4.,
• 6 eine zur Aufbewahrung einer waschbaren Menstruationsbinde geeignete Tasche mit einer zur Aufhängung der Menstruationsbinden geeigneten Schlaufe, und
• 7 eine zur Aufnahme einer frischen oder benutzten Menstruationsbinde geeigneten Hülle.

Further features, advantages and embodiments of the invention emerge from the following description of embodiments of a washable menstrual pad based on the figures. It shows:

• 1 a plan view of the top of a washable menstrual pad facing the body during use;
• 2 a cut through the washable menstrual pad according to 1 with an additional indication of two fastening elements;
• 3 a plan view of the underside of a washable menstrual pad facing away from the body during use; and
• 4 a plan view of a pair of panties, not yet sewn at the side edges, which are provided with counter-fasteners that cooperate to attach fastening means to the washable menstrual pad,
• 5 an enlarged detailed view of the fastening area of the counter-fasteners according to 4 .,
• 6 a bag suitable for storing a washable menstrual pad with a loop suitable for hanging the menstrual pads, and
• 7 a cover suitable for holding a fresh or used menstrual pad.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

1 shows a top view of a side of a washable menstrual pad 100 facing the body of a user (not shown). The menstrual pad 100 has a known, elongated shape with a waist in the middle and widening, rounded front and rear areas. The menstrual pad 100 has a wing 105 on each side that can be folded around a seam 175 and is connected to the central main part 102. In 1 It can also be seen that in the main part 102 of the menstrual pad 100, close to and parallel to its outer edge, a circumferential connecting seam 170 is provided, all of which will be described below in connection with the 2 described layers 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 of the menstrual pad 100. The connecting seam 170 is preferably formed by a zigzag seam with a width of 5 mm and a stitch length of 1 mm. The seam 175, on the other hand, only connects the outer layers 110, 120 and 140, 150, 160 and leaves out the middle layer 130 so that the wings 105 do not become too thick.

Furthermore, in 1 shown that in the middle area of the main part 102 of the menstrual pad 100 there are three elongated oval, nested further seams 181, 182, 183 which - as can be seen from 2 visible - connect the first three layers 110, 120, 130 with each other.

As in 2 As shown, the menstrual pad 100 according to the invention has a total of six layers 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 made of different materials that serve different purposes. What all six layers 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 have in common is that their materials can be washed at a temperature of at least 60 °C, preferably even up to 95 °C. This effectively eliminates all germs and bacteria and achieves an excellent cleaning effect.

A first layer 110 on the upper side of the menstrual pad 100 facing the body of a user, as well as a fifth layer 150 arranged on the opposite underside, consists of a jersey material, preferably a cotton jersey or lyocell with very good skin-friendly wearing properties.

A second layer 120 adjoining the first layer 110 on the inside consists of terry cloth, in particular a highly absorbent cotton terry cloth.

The second layer 120 is followed by a third layer 130, which, depending on the thickness of the sanitary pad, comprises between one and five layers of a highly absorbent, light molleton material with a surface weight of up to 190 g/m ^2. As already mentioned at the beginning in connection with the 1 As mentioned, the first three layers 110, 120, 130 are connected to one another by the further seams 181,100 82,183, whereby the liquid passage from the upper side of the first layer 110 to the absorbent layers 120 and 130 is significantly improved. The further seams 181, 182, 183 preferably have a stitch length of 4.5 stitches per centimeter.

The third layer 130 is connected to the outside, ie in 2 downwards, a fourth layer 140 consisting of a heavier molleton material with a basis weight of at least 200 g/m ^2. This material has a high impermeability to the penetration of liquids.

Optionally, a sixth layer 160 is provided between the fourth layer 140 and the fifth layer 150. This sixth layer 160 consists of a polyurethane-laminated polyester (PUL), which is impermeable to liquids and yet allows a certain degree of breathability. A menstrual pad 100 additionally equipped with such a sixth layer 160 is intended for special requirements when the user is highly active or for days with particularly heavy menstrual bleeding.

On the underside of the menstrual pad 100 facing away from the user's body, as shown in 3 - a total of three fastening means 190 are provided. One fastening means 190 is arranged centrally in the front area of the menstrual pad 100 and two further fastening means 190 are arranged at a distance from one another in the rear area of the menstrual pad 100. In the embodiment shown, the fastening means 190 are formed by male snap fastener elements. As can be seen from 2 As can be seen, an anchor 195 of the fastening means 190 extends through the fourth layer 140, the optionally present sixth layer 160 and the fifth layer 150.

In 3 In the middle of the rear area of the menstrual pad 101 between the two fastening means 190, a further fastening means 191 is provided, which in this case is designed as a female snap fastener element and, in conjunction with adjacent menstrual pads 100, can form a chain of menstrual pads 100 that facilitates handling during washing and drying. The further fastening means 191 can also be fastened with a further counter fastening means 314 to a loop 310 of a pocket 300 described below (see 6 ).

In 4 a pair of panties 200 is shown which is particularly suitable for connection to a menstrual pad 100 according to the invention described above. The panties 200 are shown here as a cut with unconnected side edges 212 and 222. The panties 200 have a back part 210 and a front part 220 which are connected to one another by a narrower web 230.

The back part 210 has an elastic waistband 214 at the upper end, preferably formed by an elastic band. Between the waistband 214 and the web 230, a total of three horizontal seams 216, 217, 218 are provided on the back part 210, by means of which, as shown in the detail V shown in perspective in section according to 5 As shown, an elastic layer 240 is connected to the fabric of the panties 200, which is preferably formed from two layers of lyocell. In the area of these three horizontal seams 216, 217, 218 or the elastic layer 240, two counter-fastening means 290 are provided, which are the same distance from each other as the two fastening means 190 arranged next to each other on the menstrual pad 100. The elastic layer 240 brings the menstrual pad 100 into a stretched, slightly pre-tensioned position when the fastening means 190 are connected to the counter-fastening means 290, which prevents the menstrual pad 100 from accidentally rolling up from the edges.

Analogous to the back part 210 described above, the front part 220 of the panties 200 also has three horizontally parallel seams 226, 227, 228 arranged closely spaced between an elastic waistband 224 and the web 230, by means of which an elastic layer 240 (not shown) is connected to the material of the panties 140. In this area, a further counter-fastening means 290 is provided in the middle, which interacts with the individual fastening means 190 in the front area of the menstrual pad 100. The counter-fastening means 290 are designed as female snap fastener elements in the exemplary embodiment, but can also be formed by corresponding Velcro elements.

In 6 a bag 300 suitable for storing at least one washable menstrual pad 100 described above is shown. Optionally, each individual menstrual pad 100 can also be accommodated in a separate cover 350 shown in Figure 6. The material of both the bag 300 and the covers 350 is preferably water-repellent. Moleskin is particularly suitable for this.

The bag 300 has a loop 310 which is detachably attached to the outside of the bag with a further counter-fastening means 314. The counter-fastening means 314 is in this case designed, for example, as a male snap fastener element which can be connected to a fastening means (not shown) which is fixedly arranged on the bag 300 and in the form of a female snap fastener element. Deviating from the 6 In the position shown, the loop 310 can also be arranged on another fastening means 320 in the upper middle area of the bag 300 and thus serve as a handle for the bag 300.

The loop 310 can be closed by means of a locking means 312. The loop 310 can be removed from the bag 300 by releasing the counter-fastening means 314. The locking means 312 is preferably also formed by a male and a female snap fastener element.

After opening the locking means 312 holding both ends of the loop 310 together, the opened loop 310 can be pulled over a clothesline, for example, and after closing the locking means 312 again, the counter-fastening means 314 serves as a hanging device for drying one or more washable menstrual pads 300 connected in a chain. The counter-fastening means 314 is simply connected to the further fastening means 191 of the uppermost menstrual pad 300 for this purpose. Further menstrual pads 300 are then connected to the individual fastening means 190 of the next highest menstrual pad 300 by means of the further fastening means 191 to form a hanging chain.

Preferably, a set consisting of a bag 300, a pair of panties 200 and several washable menstrual pads 100, each individually packed in a sleeve 350, is offered commercially.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2021231310 A1 [0002]

Claims (11)

Washable menstrual pad (100) with several layers (110, 120, 130, 140, 150), characterized in that the menstrual pad (100) has at least five layers (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) made of different materials, all of which materials are washable at at least 60° C. Washable menstrual pad (100) after Claim 1 , characterized in that a first layer (110) close to the body and a fifth layer (150) remote from the body consist of jersey or lyocell. Washable menstrual pad (100) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that a second layer (120) adjoining the first layer (110) consists of terry cloth. Washable menstrual pad (100) after Claim 1 until 3 , characterized in that a fourth layer (140) adjoining an inner side of the fifth layer (150) consists of a heavy molleton fabric with a basis weight of at least 200 g/m ² . Washable menstrual pad (100) after Claim 1 until 4 , characterized in that a third layer (130) arranged between the second layer (120) and the fourth layer (140) has at least one layer (131, 132, 133) made of a light molleton fabric with a maximum basis weight of 190 g/m ² . Washable menstrual pad (100) after Claim 1 until 5 characterized in that a sixth layer (160) made of a polyurethane laminated polyester (PUL) is arranged between the fourth layer (140) and the fifth layer (150). Washable menstrual pad (100) after Claim 1 until 6 characterized in that all layers (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) are connected near their outer edge by means of at least one connecting seam (170). Washable menstrual pad (100) after Claim 1 until 7 , characterized in that the first three layers (110, 120, 130) are connected in the inner region by means of at least one further seam (181, 182, 183). Washable menstrual pad (100) after Claim 1 until 8th , characterized in that it has on the outside of the fifth layer (150) fastening means (190) for connection to correspondingly designed counter-fastening means (290) of a pair of panties (200). Panties (200) for receiving and securing a washable menstrual pad (100) according to Claim 9 , characterized in that in the region of the counter-fastening means (290) at least one elastic layer (240) is connected to the fabric of the panties (200) by means of at least one seam (216, 217, 218; 226, 227, 228). Bag (300) for receiving at least one washable menstrual pad (100) according to Claim 9 , characterized in that it has at least one loop (310) which can be detachably fastened to the pocket (300), on which at least one further fastening means (314) is arranged which can be brought into engagement with a fastening means (191) on the washable menstrual pad (100), and wherein the loop (310) can be opened by means of a detachable locking device (312).