GB2187659A

GB2187659A - Slip-proofing device

Info

Publication number: GB2187659A
Application number: GB08702434A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Haruhisa Honjo
Original assignee: HARUMAC KK
Current assignee: HARUMAC KK
Priority date: 1986-02-05
Filing date: 1987-02-04
Publication date: 1987-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 2007-02-04
Also published as: CN1009705B; GB8702434D0; KR870008000A; CN87101882A; GB2187659B

Abstract

A slip-proofing device 1 is provided which comprises a flexible backing web 2 and a non-slip means 3 in the form of a foamed polymer disposed thereon. This slip-proofing device is applicable to sanitary shorts for preventing displacement of a sanitary napkin or to trousers or a skirt for preventing sagging thereof. The non-slip means preferably comprises a multiplicity of foamed polymer projection formed on the backing web in regular arrangements or randomly. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Slip proofing device The present invention relates generally to slipproofing devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to anti-slip devices for preventing displacement of, for example, a sanitary napkin or the like from sanitary shorts or for preventing sagging of trousers, skirts orthe like.

Sanitary shorts are often proved with means for retaining a napkin in position, or else the napkin may easily be dislocated from the abutting part of the short to cause embarrassment. It has been proposed to provide the napkin with a portion carrying an adhesive coating which may be applied againstthe abutting part of the shorts to prevent displacement.

However, since the sanitary napkin after use is usually flushed away in a water closet, a napkin carrying an adhesive agent can cause a pollution problem. Moreover, the provision of such an adhesive portion is an increased production cost.

Conventional trousers or skirts tend to sag, or a shirt-tail will protrude, upon repeated sitting and rising. To prevent such occurrences slip-proof belts or the like can be worn between the trousers and the shirt so as to prevent their relative displacement.

However, this measure adds bulkto the waist region and gives an unsightly appearance. Also, it tendsto interfernwiththe movementofthewearer.

The present invention sets out to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art clothing anti-slip devices as described.

The present invention thus sets out to provide an effective anti-slip device which takes advantage of the frictional surface resistance of a polymeric foam.

Another objective of the invention is to provide an anti-slip device which is not sticky, which is kind on the skin, and which can be attached easily to clothes such as shorts, etc.

Thepresentinventionfurthersetsoutto provide a slip-proofing device which has a non-slip means that resists separation.

In one aspect the invention provides a slipproofing device comprising a flexible backing web and a non-slip foamed polymer disposed thereon.

The invention will be further described with refer ence to the preferred embodiments shown intheaccompanying drawing.

In the drawings: Figure 7 is a perspective view showing, in partial section, a slip-proofing deviceaccordingtothepre- sent invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing, in partial section, sanitary shorts provided with a slip-proofing device according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a pair of trousers provided with a slip-proofing device accord- ing to the present invention.

The slip-proofing agent 1 consists of a backing or substrate web 2 and a multiplicity of non-slip mem bers arranged in dots on a surface 2a of the backing web 2. The web 2 may be made ofvirtuallyanyflex- ible material. Thus, when the slip-proofing device according to the present invention is applied to a sanitary napkin (which must be air-permeable) then air-permeable materials are selected for the backing web 2. For use with trousers and other like apparel, water-proof materials may be selected. Thus, the backing web 2 may be made of any flexible material selected according to the intended application of the slip-proofing device.

The above-mentioned non-slip members 3 are made of a polymer foam composition.

Atypical foam may be produced by drying an aqueous solution, dispersion or emulsion containing (A) a homopolymer of or copolymer containing acrylic or substituted acrylic monomer units (B) a cellulosic size component (C) a foaming or blowing agent and (D) a polyurethane; and thereafter foaming the dried material.

The acrylic constituent (A) can be used in admixture with a vinyl acetate polymer, and/orthe copolymer of constituent (A) can include vinyl acetate units. The cellulosic size material is preferably ethylcellulose.

The acrylic polymer may include homopolymers and copolymersofacrylicacid,estersthereof,acry- lamide, acrylonitrile, methacrylic acid, esters thereof, and so on. The solution, suspension or emulsion ofthe acrylic resin component (which may also contain the vinyl acetate component) may contain such material in a total of 40 to 50 weight percent, to ensure the toughness essential to a slipproofing device. To improve flexibility the ratio ofthe "vinyl acetate" component to the "acrylic" component is preferably (by weig ht) 5 to 10 parts of the former to 100 parts of the latter.

The ethylcellulose mentioned above is preferably water-solublewith a low degree of ethylation (up to 1.5) and is commonly used in sizes and the like.

Thefoaming agent mentioned above mayforexample be sodium hydrogen carbonate, ammonium carbonate, amyl acetate, butyl acetate, diazoaminobenzene, azo-bis-isobutyronitrile, benzoyl peroxide, ammonium nitrate, calcium carbonate, or a mixture of aluminium sulfate and sodium hydrogen carbonate.

The non-slip elements 3 are typically small projections from a surface 2a of the backing web 2. The configuration of each of said non-slip elements3 may be circular (as shown in the drawing) or polygonal, (e.g. square, pentagonal, etc) linear, bandlike, or otherwise depending on the intended application. Further, the arrangement of said non-slip elements may be regularorirregular, andthe elements may be provided in straight rows, oblique rows, grid patterns or other arrangements according to the intended application.

Atypical method for producing the above slipproofing device 1 is described below.

(a) To 100 weight parts of an aqueous solution composed of 42 weight percent of acrylic polymer, 0.2 weight percent of ethylcell uose, 9.0 weight percent of a foaming agent such as sodium bicarbonate and 48.3 weight percent of water was added 15 parts by weight aqueous polyurethane solution.

(b) The above composition was then applied in a plurality of dots in a suitable pattern on the surface 2a of a flexible backing web 2.

(c) Thereafter, the web 2 carrying said plurality of dots was allowed to stand in a room temperature atmosphere for about 6 hou rs whereby said dots of the composition were dried.

(d) Finally, the backing web 2 was placed in a dryer at 11 Oto 1 200C and exposed to jets of steam for about 5 seconds, whereby said composition was foamed.

Instead of the foaming reaction by steam in the above step (d), the foaming reaction may be induced by irradiation with infrared rays.

The following examples describe the slip-proofing device according to the present invention in further detail.

Example 1 Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the present in vention wherein a slip-proofing device 1 is attached to sanitary shorts during menstruation, to prevent displacement of a sanitary napkin 8.

The sanitary shorts 7 generally have a gluteal part 9a adapted to accept a sanitary napkin on the reverse side thereof. In this embodiment, the slip-proofing device 1 is affixed (for example by sewing) to there verse side of said gluteal part 9a. The slip-proofing device 1 has a larger size than the contour of the abutting surface of said sanitary napkin and is con figured to lie in correspondence with said gluteal part 9a. In use, one puts on the sanitary shorts 7 and inserts and sets in position the sanitary napkin 8 on the gluteal part 9a of the shorts 7. The sanitarynap- kin 8 is thus protected against relative displacement from said gluteal part9a by the action ofthe non-slip elements 3.

Example2 Figure 2 shows another example wherein the slip proofing device 1 according to the present invention is applied to prevent a pair of trousers 1 Ofrom sagging at the waist band.

The inner face of the waist part 11 ofthetrousers i.e. the partwhere a belt is generally worn, abuts at 12. The slip-proofing device 1 according to the pre sent invention is affixed, for example by sewing, to a cloth member 13 disposed around the entire girth of the waist. In the illustrated example, the slip proofing device 1 itself is located only in the post erior portion of said cloth member 13.

When thetail of the shirt (not shown) is tucked into the trousers 10, the slip-proofing device 1 contacts the tail to prevent relative displacement of the shirt and trousers 10. Sagging of the trousers 10 and the climbing of the shirt are effectively prevented.

In order to confirm the non-slip effect of the slip proofing device according to the present invention, field testswere carried out uderthe conditions des cribed in Examples 1 and 2, respectively. Underthe conditions of Example 1, it was found that when the sanitary napkin was wet, there was substantially no displacement of the napkin from the gluteal part9a ofthe shorts even after 12 hours of use. Underthe conditions of Example 2, too, there was substantially no relative displacement of the trousers and shirt.

In ordertotestthe non-removability ofthe non-slip elements 3 they were pried with a fingernail again and again, but no separation occurred.

In another test, a laundering machine was set to a laundering cycle of 10 minutes and the slip-proofing device 1 was subjected to 100 cycles of laundering.

The results of this test showed that no separation of non-slip elements occurred.

Theadvantageousfeaturesofthepresentinven tion as evidenced by the above test results appearto accrue from the foam structure of the non-slip elements. Moreover, said non-slip means can be easily formed on the backing web over any area and in any distribution. Furthermore, the slip-proofing device according to the present invention can be embodied using a water-proof synthetic polymeric web, is kind to the skin and can be worn in comfort.

The foregoing examples are only intended to illustrate the present invention and should by no means be construed as being limitative of the invention as claimed. Thus, various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A slip-proofing device comprising a flexible backing web and a non-slip foamed polymerdisposed thereon.

2. A slip-proofing device according to Claim 1 wherein said non-slip foamed polymer is disposed in a pl u ra I ity of dots.

3. A slip-proofing device according to Claim 2 wherein said non-slip foamed polymer dots are arranged in a regular pattern.

4. A slip-proofing device according to Claim 2 wherein said non-slip foamed polymer dots are arranged irregularlyorrandomly.

5. A slip-proofing device according to any of Claims 1 through 4wherein said foamed polymer is formed as small projections on the surface of said flexible backing web.

6. A slip-proofing device according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the foamed polymer is that pro duced by drying an aqueous solution, dispersion or emulsion containing (A) a homopolymer of or copolymercontaining acrylic or substituted acrylic monomer units (B) a cellulosic size component (C) a foaming or blowing agent and (D) a polyurethane; and thereafter foaming the dried material.

7. A slip-proofing device according to Claim 6 in which the constitutent (A) is used in admixture with vinyl acetate polymer, andlorthe copolymer of con stituent (A) includes vinyl acetate units.

8. A slip-proofing device according to Claim 6 or 7 wherein said acrylic polymer is a homopolymer or copolymer of acrylic acid or a derivative thereof.

9. A slip-proofing device according to any of Claims 6 to 9 wherein said ethylcellulose has a low degree of ethylation upto 1.5.

10. A slip-proofing device according to Claim 1 wherein said backing web is a web used to form that part of sanitary shorts which accepts a sanitary nap kin.

11. A slip-proofing device according to Claim 1 wherein said backing web is a web used in the inner girth part of the waist region around a pair of trousers.

12. A slip-proofing device as claimed in claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.