EP1143816B1 - Nightwear for children or incontinent persons - Google Patents

Abstract

The garment (1) intended for children who are enuretic or are undergoing toilet training, or for incontinent persons, is impermeable but has a permeable internal face (3) coming into contact with the skin. It incorporates sealing devices (4) for preventing the flow of urine outside the garment. The garment can also incorporate pieces of absorbent material (5) disposed on the internal face (3) of the garment (1) close to the sealing devices (4).

Description

The present invention relates to a sleepwear intended for enuretic or learning children cleanliness, or incontinence.

There is currently no clothing for night specially adapted for enuretic or making children toilet training.

A child is considered to be bedwetting if continues to wet his bed beyond 3 years. This bedwetting can sometimes last until the age of 14 years or even beyond.

At present, to avoid wetting the bedding, disposable baby diapers are used. But wearing these baby diapers up to the age of 3 to 4 years maximum is totally unsuitable for enuretic children or incontinent people who can relearn how to be clean.

In the opinion of the medical profession, in therapy suitable for enuretic children, the elimination of the wearing of diapers is essential.

Furthermore, psychologically, it is inconceivable continue to put diapers on 10 year olds see more. The use of diapers beyond 3 at 4 years keeps the child in a regressive state, often wanted by the child himself. This is the case for example, of the own child who at the birth of a little brother or of a little sister, starts to soil her bed again (bedwetting secondary). Give her diapers at this critical time will not help him overcome his natural jealousy and accept this new birth. So we can see that if wearing diapers is possible until the age of 3 or 4 years, it is no longer beyond.

By the way, for younger children doing toilet training, wearing diapers panties that keep dry is not recommended, the keeping dry does not promote learning cleanliness.

Indeed, if the child who became clean during the day does not can't feel it getting wet at night, or during nap, he will most often continue to pee in bed. In the same way, the relearning of cleanliness by adults whose incontinence due to accident or illness is only passing must pass by the unpleasant feeling of being wet.

In addition, some people whose incontinence cannot be rehabilitated hardly accept port of diapers which is felt as infantilizing, even degrading.

However, if the person feels wet, this implies that all bedding is switch. This represents a daily burden important both in working time and in cost: repetitive detergents, excessive wear of the laundry and handicap for the person who cannot sleep outside At her place.

Specific sleepwear has been offered for incontinent adults or for children.

EP 0 187 727 relates to a diaper disposable with an absorbent part on the whole of its area. Elastics are provided to ensure tightness around the thighs.

GB patent 1,494,196 relates to an undergarment waterproof, washable and reusable, provided with a layer absorbent interior over its entire surface can be fixed removably.

US Patent 4,735,622 relates to a diaper disposable with a removable reusable belt, and consisting of an inner absorbent layer attached to a waterproof exterior coating.

So these documents concern either diapers traditional absorbents, i.e. underwear can be worn on a layer or with a absorbent layer incorporated and are all intended for absorb the liquid in order to keep the user at dry. The object of the invention is, on the contrary, to maintain the wet user to facilitate learning, while leaving the bedding dry. This goal is achieved by the structure of the garment combining a permeable material not or very little absorbent over the entire surface of the clothing, and the presence of pieces of absorbent tape located on the inner side near the closures waterproof, to ensure a better seal. This structure is not found in any of these documents.

Furthermore, US Patent 3,648,699 relates to a clothing for incontinent or bedridden patient, consisting in an outer garment in the form of short pants, with the interior of which removably inserts a lining waterproof in the form of underpants covered with a material absorbent on the user side, of a configuration analogous to that of short pants.

US Patent 2,621,336 relates to a garment of sleeper type night, in two parts. A part external, in a material retaining heat, such as cover and a removable inner part consisting of a plastic lining to prevent staining bedding. This garment is an over-pajamas intended for very young children.

US Patent 3,180,336 relates to pajamas for child consisting of pants inside which a panty-shaped piece made of plastic is attached to the waist but not to the crotch of the pants, so that the child carrying it can move freely her legs. This garment has elastic bands at the waist and ankles to ensure comfort and warmth to the child. This garment can also cover a diaper worn by a very young child.

Finally, patent CA 1 000 001 relates to a garment multi-layer for incontinent people or mainly for hospital patients, which opens and closes with fastening cords.

All of these documents relate to clothing that are associated with the presence of a layer or provide a function of over-pajamas, but these clothes cannot be applied to enuretic children or making toilet training, who you want to suppress diapers while preserving the bedding from any defilement.

Unexpectedly and surprisingly, the Applicant has produced a sleepwear for toilet training, comfortable to wear and discreet, which, while allowing the person who wears feeling when wet, lets leave dry bedding.

Thus, the subject of the present invention is a nightwear intended for enuretic children or toilet training, or people incontinent, as defined in claim 1.

Of course, the expression "clothing for the night" is not limited to overnight use but during all prolonged periods of sleep such than napping.

This nightwear can be presented under all the usual forms for this kind of clothing, including romper, pajamas with long pants, Bermuda shorts or shorts, jumpsuit or simple panties.

The sealing devices are arranged so as to allow waterproof contacts between the garment and the body of the person who wears it and are disposed to prevent leakage of urine from the ends of clothing. Preferably, these devices are arranged at the waist and legs of the garment.

According to another embodiment of the garment according to the invention, the sealing devices are arranged to isolate the area covering the buttocks of the rest of the garment so that the person has the feeling of being wet without risking get cold while totally wet.

According to a particular embodiment, these sealing devices consist of an elastic or a row of elastic bands or an elastic band, tight enough to seal and flexible enough not to obstruct circulation blood.

This elastic sealing device can be arranged for example by sewing, in or externally to a hem of the waterproof material formed at the ends of the clothing.

To reinforce this tightness, one can provide in addition, to have an absorbent strip internally near the elastic sealing devices which may be of the type used as a material absorbing diapers. This strip preferably has a width between five and ten centimeters. Furthermore, she can be obtained by cutting from a continuous strip which may then include visual cues, such as cues in the form of colors, signs, geometric figures or others, or graduations in centimeters, numerical or others, these visual cues constituting cuts.

The garment according to the invention can be made from a material composed of at least two overlapping layers, one waterproof outer layer and an internal fluid permeable layer or single layer material having a double-sided, for example a textile of which one of the faces is coated with a waterproof coating.

The waterproof outer coating is made of fabrics coated with waterproofing, or in film flexible polymer such as polyethylene, PVC, polyurethane, rubber or their mixtures.

The permeable internal face is made of material woven such as flannel, terry cloth, or knitted as than jersey preferably in the case of clothing reusable, or non-woven, fiber-based material of cotton or synthetic materials, or their blends of preferably in the case of a single-use garment.

Of course, the materials will be chosen in depending on whether the garment is single-use or is reusable.

In the case of a single-use garment or disposable, the outer waterproof material is present under the form of a thin film impermeable to material fluids synthetic, of the type used for external coating waterproof diapers, for example polyethylene and on which a lining is attached interior of fluid permeable nonwoven, for example of the type used for making female briefs Disposable. The flexible material can also be obtained by a non-woven material coated by gluing or any other means, an external waterproofing coating.

In the case of reusable clothing, the material waterproof is made of a rubber film on which is added the fabric lining, or is obtained by a fabric coated with a waterproofing coating, for example PVC or polyurethane, of the type used for the production of waterproof mattress covers.

When it starts to get wet, the person enuretic or incontinent may wake up and interrupt so her urine to go to the bathroom, thus limiting the amount of urine spilled. However if the person does not wake up or wakes up too much late, or in the case of large flows, according to a another embodiment, the garment comprises in this case as seen before, a strip or pieces of absorbent material, arranged on the inner face of the clothing, close to the sealing devices.

In the case of a single-use garment, this absorbent material can be glued.

In the case of a reusable garment, the pieces of absorbent material are arranged so removable on the inside of the garment, and reported by adhesive or contact fixing. These pieces of matter absorbent being provided on one side with a strip of adhesive or contact fixing.

According to another embodiment, still in in the case of a reusable garment, the absorbent material is removably received in wrapping means permeable interior provided on the garment, for example in the form of a connected flap or permeable extension permanently on one side, for example by sewing, to the permeable lining alone or also to the material waterproof. This flap or extension being intended to be folded down and closed on its opposite edge by any means removable fixing. Such a removable fastening means is chosen from the group comprising in particular the bands Velcro fasteners, zippers, presses, buttons. The free edge of the flap being arranged near the elastic sealing device or internally on the side opposite the absorbent strip.

Alternatively, the flap can be provided completely removable by being provided on its two sides with means of attachment such as those defined above on the part inside of the garment.

According to another variant, the flap is provided double in the form of two bands positioned so that overlap over part of their width at their free edge, to constitute a removable closure, permanently fixed on their outer edge, to define a envelope opening in the central part at the free end of the two strips.

According to another variant, the means of the absorbent tape are made up an envelope consisting of a folded strip fixed to remains on the permeable lining alone or also waterproof material on one side and provided with any means of attachment such as Velcro, buttons ... on the free edges of the fixed and opening faces, located either close to the watertight closures, either on their side opposite to the absorbent strip.

This way if the urine emission is more important, it will be contained in these absorbent tapes which can easily be replaced.

The desired effect will remain the same: the person will be wet, but not the bedding.

According to another characteristic, the garment is made up of tightly connected panels by welding or sewing.

• la figure 1 représente une vue de face d'un pantalon de pyjama conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2a est une coupe selon AA' du pantalon représenté sur la figure 1 ;
• la figure 2b est une coupe semblable à celle de la figure 2a d'un autre mode de réalisation du pantalon conforme à l'invention ;
• les figures 2c à 2h sont des coupes selon BB' du pantalon représenté sur la figure 1, représentant différentes variantes de réalisation du dispositif de fermeture étanche avec divers positionnements possibles de la bande élastique et du matériau perméable intérieurement ou non au niveau de l'ourlet réalisé dans le matériau étanche.
• la figure 3 est une vue de face d'un pantalon de pyjama comportant des bandes de matériau absorbant ;
• la figure 4 est une coupe selon BB' de la figure 3 montrant le maintien de la bande absorbante ;
• les figures 5,6a,6b,7,8,9a et 9b représentent en coupe selon CC' de la figure 3, des variantes de réalisation du maintien de la bande absorbante, pour le pantalon réutilisable.

The present invention will be described in more detail with the aid of the appended drawings which show, by way of nonlimiting example, the preferred embodiments mentioned above, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a front view of pajama pants according to the invention;
• Figure 2a is a section along AA 'of the pants shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 2b is a section similar to that of Figure 2a of another embodiment of the pants according to the invention;
• Figures 2c to 2h are sections along BB 'of the pants shown in Figure 1, showing different embodiments of the waterproof closure device with various possible positions of the elastic band and the material permeable internally or not at the hem made of waterproof material.
• Figure 3 is a front view of pajama pants having strips of absorbent material;
• Figure 4 is a section along BB 'of Figure 3 showing the maintenance of the absorbent strip;
• Figures 5,6a, 6b, 7,8,9a and 9b show in section along CC 'of Figure 3, alternative embodiments of the maintenance of the absorbent strip, for reusable pants.

1. pantalon

2. couche externe imperméable

3. couche interne perméable

4. fermeture étanche élastique

5. bande absorbante

6. et 6.'rabat perméable

7. moyen de fixation amovible

8. bande adhésive de fixation de la bande absorbante

9. enveloppe complète pour bande absorbante amovible

10. ourlet de fermeture étanche

11. couture

With reference to these drawings, the following references represent:

1. pants

2. waterproof outer layer

3. permeable inner layer

4. elastic waterproof closure

5. absorbent tape

6. and 6. permeable flap

7. removable fixing means

8. adhesive tape for fixing the absorbent tape

9. complete cover for removable absorbent tape

10. waterproof closure hem

11. sewing

Figure 1 shows pants of pajamas (1) according to the invention. These pajama pants are discreet and looks like ordinary pajama pants which can also be matched with a pajama jacket, either by the presence of a band of identical color, a pattern or any other decorative element on its face external (2) and provided at its ends with sealing devices (4).

As illustrated in Figure 2a, the pants (1) is made of a material composed of two layers separate, an impermeable outer layer (2) and a internal layer permeable to fluids (3). According to another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2b, the pajama pants (1) is made of a single material single double-sided layer, one internal textile side (3) coated with a waterproofing coating (2) by gluing or any other means.

Figures 2c to 2h illustrate modes individuals of realization concerning the closings waterproof elastic. The elastic or the row of elastic bands (4) is placed either in (fig.2c) or externally (fig.2d) by sewing (11) to a hem (10) of the waterproof material formed at the ends of the garment, and the permeable material (3) is stopped before the hem (10) (fig. 2c, 2d) or extended inside the hem (10) (Fig.2e, f, g, h).

Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment clothing according to the invention which includes pieces of absorbent material, in the form of strips (5) absorbent pads arranged near a device sealing (4) consisting of a single elastic of low width.

In Figure 4 the absorbent strip (5) for disposable pants are glued near the device sealing (4).

In FIG. 5, the absorbent strip (5) for the reusable pants are removably arranged on the internal face of the garment, this strip being provided on one side of an adhesive tape or coating (8) or contact fixing allowing maintenance on the part inside of the garment near the ends (4).

Figures 6a and 6b show in section a reusable pants, the absorbent strip (5) adjacent to the waterproof closure (4) is inserted in a flap permeable (6) consisting of the permeable material (3) closed at the free end by fixing means removable such as pressures (7), this flap being fixed to remains (11) on the opposite side, i.e. near the device seal (Figure 6a), the permeable material (3) being in this case provided with a width greater than the material waterproof to constitute an overturned extension internally to form the flap, either on the side opposite (Figure 6b), the permeable material being length substantially corresponding to that of the material waterproof and permanently attached (11) to the material watertight (2) upstream at a distance from the closure waterproof (4) slightly greater than the width of the strip absorbent to constitute under this flap thus defined the housing of a removable absorbent strip (5).

FIG. 7 alternatively represents a flap (6) attached and removable (6) of width greater than that of the absorbent strip and in this case provided on both lateral sides, of removable fixing means (7) cooperating with those complementary provided on the garment and as defined above.

Figure 8 shows another variant where the flap is provided double in the form of two strips (6) (6 ') attached and positioned so as to be overlap in the central zone on part of their width, permanently fixed (11) on their outer side, either permeable material alone, or both and waterproof material, to define an opening envelope partly central at the free end of the two strips like a pillowcase.

In FIGS. 9a and 9b a total envelope (9) in the form of a band folded back on itself, is provided attached and fixed permanently (11) by one face on the side inside of the garment near the closures waterproof (4) and provided with removable fasteners (7) such that Velcro straps, buttons etc on the end free from its other side bearing on means complementary at the end of its fixed face so that enclose an absorbent sealing strip (5).

• consommation électrique (machine à laver et éventuellement sèche-linge),
• consommation d'eau (machine à laver)
• produit de lessive, adoucissant,
• usure rapide du linge (pyjama, draps, alèse...) occasionnée par de fréquents lavage,
• usure accélérée de machine à laver et du sèche-linge,
• travail et temps passé à changer la literie, la laver, refaire le lit, occasionnant éventuellement des frais supplémentaires de rémunération d'une aide ménagère.

The use of the garment according to the invention, in its two forms, is likely to generate significant savings on several levels:

• electricity consumption (washing machine and possibly dryer),
• water consumption (washing machine)
• detergent, softener,
• rapid wear of the linen (pajamas, sheets, draw sheet, etc.) caused by frequent washing,
• accelerated wear of washing machine and dryer,
• work and time spent changing the bedding, washing it, making the bed again, possibly causing additional costs of remuneration for a housekeeper.

• l'utilisation de l'invention évite une fatigue supplémentaire à la mère (généralement) et un surcroít de travail lui permettant d'être plus disponible auprès de son enfant,
• l'enfant utilisateur devient plus autonome et peut prendre en charge plus aisément son énurésie en rinçant lui-même, par exemple, son pantalon réutilisable,
• l'utilisation de l'invention sous ses deux formes, permet enfin à l'enfant de passer des nuits hors de son domicile. Auparavant, la fréquentation d'une colonie de vacances était difficile, un séjour chez des grands-parents délicat, une nuit chez des amis impossible. Dorénavant, le port du pyjama selon l'invention permet à l'enfant de passer des nuits à l'hôtel ou en location, chez des amis ou en famille, seul ou avec ses parents, en colonie de vacances. Ceci, sans même que l'entourage ou les petits copains ne soient nécessairement au courant de l'énurésie de l'enfant qui peut désormais affronter plus sereinement son problème. Il suffira qu'au matin, il jette - s'il l'a mouillé - son vêtement jetable puis prenne sa douche normalement.

The secondary benefits are not least:

• the use of the invention avoids additional fatigue for the mother (generally) and additional work allowing her to be more available to her child,
• the child user becomes more autonomous and can more easily take care of his bedwetting by rinsing himself, for example, his reusable pants,
• the use of the invention in its two forms, finally allows the child to spend nights away from his home. Previously, attending a summer camp was difficult, a stay with grandparents delicate, a night with friends impossible. From now on, wearing the pajamas according to the invention allows the child to spend nights at the hotel or in a rental, with friends or family, alone or with his parents, in summer camps. This, without even the entourage or the little friends being necessarily aware of the bedwetting of the child who can now face his problem more serenely. It will be enough that in the morning, he throws away - if he has wet it - his disposable clothing then takes his shower normally.

It is understood that this sleepwear is also can be used during the day, alone or under other clothes, especially in this case for children doing toilet training, this garment is always in contact with the skin.

Claims (14)

1. Night garment (1) intended for children who are enuretic or are undergoing toilet training, or incontinent persons, reusable or for single use, of the type comprising an impermeable external face and internally provided with a permeable material coming into contact with the skin and sealing devices consisting of elastic elements or of an elasticated band allowing to prevent the flow of urine outside the garment through its ends, characterized by the fact that the garment consists of a material defining the internal permeable face (3) of the type in a woven material such as flannel or terry cloth, or in a knitted material such as jersey, or in a non-woven material based on cotton fibres or fibres made of synthetic materials, or mixtures thereof, this material being such that it does not allow the user to be maintained dry and contrarily allows the user to feel wet, and in that it comprises pieces of absorbent material (5) disposed on the internal face close to the sealing devices (4) disposed at the ends of the garment at the waist and the legs.
2. Garment according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic element or the row of elastic elements or the elasticated band (4) is disposed for example by stitching (11) in or externally to a hem (10) in the waterproof material formed at the ends of the garment.
3. Garment according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the material is composed of at least two superimposed layers (2,3), the impermeable external layer (2) and the internal layer (3) permeable to fluids.
4. Garment according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the material consists of a single layer having a double face, an impermeable external face (2) and an internal face (3) permeable to fluids.
5. Garment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that the impermeable coating (2) is produced from a cloth coated with waterproofing.
6. Garment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that the impermeable coating (2) is produced from flexible polymer film such as polyethylene, PVC, polyurethane, rubber or mixtures thereof.
7. Garment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pieces of absorbent material (5) disposed on the internal face of the garment close to the elastic sealing devices (4), are fixed for example by gluing, by adhesive fixing or by contact.
8. Garment according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it has internally, close to the elastic sealing device (4), means (6) for the permeable enveloping of the absorbent strip or of the pieces of absorbent material (5).
9. Garment according to claim 8, characterized in that the means for enveloping the absorbent strip or the pieces of absorbent material (5) consist of a permeable flap (6) permanently connected on one side, for example by stitching (11), to the permeable lining (3) alone or also to the waterproof material (2) and on the other side by a removable fixing means (7) such as for example press studs, the free edge being disposed close to the elastic sealing device (4) or internally on the opposite side with respect to the absorbent strip (5).
10. Garment according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the flap (6) is removable and is provided on its two sides with removable means (7), such as a self-gripping strip, press studs, buttons, of fixing to the permeable lining (3) alone or also to the waterproof material (2).
11. Garment according to claim 8, characterized in that the means of enveloping the absorbent strip or the pieces of absorbent material (5) consist of a double flap, in the form of two strips (6) (6') positioned so as to overlap over part of their length at their free edge in order to constitute a removable closure and permanently fixed (11) on their external side to the permeable lining (3) alone or also to the waterproof material (2), in order to define an envelope opening at the central part at the free end of the two strips.
12. Garment according to claim 8, characterized in that the means of enveloping the absorbent strip or the pieces of absorbent material (5) consist of an envelope formed by a folded strip (9) permanently fixed (11) to the permeable lining (3) alone or also to the waterproof material (2) on one face and provided with fixing means (7) such as a self-gripping strip, buttons etc on the free edges of the fixed opening faces, situated either close to the sealed closures (4), or on the opposite side to the sealed closures (4).
13. Garment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it consists of panels connected together sealingly by welding or stitching.
14. Garment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it is of the type of trousers, bermuda or pajamas with long trousers.

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