GB2327886A - Underarm Perspiration Absorbing Device - Google Patents

Abstract

Axillary perspiration is prevented from marking a wearer's clothing by absorbing the perspiration by using an absorbent pad secured in place in the wearer's armpit or axil. The absorbent pad comprises a impermeable outer sheet (7), an absorbent body (6) and a permeable sheet (5) placed, in use, adjacent the wearer's body. The pad may be secured in place by means of straps, or by means of adhesive members which may be attached to the user's clothing or body.

Description

PERSPIRATION ABSORBER The present invention relates to personal hygiene, and is particularly concerned with the control of axillary perspiration.

Excessive axillary perspiration gives rise not only to problems of body odour, but also can cause unsightly moisture patches on clothing which detract from the person's general neatness of appearance, and can lead to loss of confidence and poise.

Chemical anti-perspirants for topical application are well known, but in many cases such preparations only inhibit perspiration for a short time, after which a reapplication of the anti-perspirant is necessary.

Frequent re-applications of anti-perspirant compositions are inconvenient, in that it is often necessary for the user to remove outer clothing in order to apply the antiperspirant. Not only is this time-consuming, but it cannot always be decorously effected, for example in public places.

An objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a means of controlling axillary perspiration which prevents unsightly marking of a wearer's clothes.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view showing the device in use on a wearer, seen from the rear;.

Figure 2 is a plan view, to an enlarged scale, of a pad for use with the invention.

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line III-III of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the perspiration control device shown in Figure 1 comprises a pair of absorbent pads (1) which are secured over the axil regions of a wearer's body by means of straps. In the embodiment shown, each pad (1) is generally lozengeshaped, ie. shaped in the form of a rhombus with its corners rounded. Situated adjacent opposite corners of the pad (1) are a pair of slots (2) for the attachment of respective ends of a shoulder strap (3).

In use, the ends of the shoulder strap (3) are attached to the pad (1) by passing the free ends of the straps through a respective one of the slots (2) and fixing the free ends to the main part of the strap. The pad (1) is then positioned under the wearer's arm, with the strap (3) extending over the wearer's shoulder. The strap (3) may be elasticated, and slightly tensioned to provide secure retention of the pad (1).

The strap (3) may be attached to the pad (1) by passing an end portion of the strap (3) through the slot (2), and fixing the strap (3) back on itself by means of a burr-type fastener, or by means of a press-stud or button or any other suitable fastening device.

Alternatively, the strap (3) may be fixed to the pad (1) by providing a button at the end of the strap (3) and passing the button through a button-hole formed in the pad (1).

In order to provide a secure retention of the pads (1) in wearers whose shoulders are markedly sloped, horizontally-extending ties (4) may be provided between the shoulder straps (3). In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the horizontal tie (4) is composed of two sections (4a, 4b), each of which is attached to a respective shoulder strap at one end. The other end of the tie portions (4a, 4b) are provided with complementary fixing means, such as a bra clasp. A horizontal tie (4) may be provided to extend across the wearer's back between the shoulder straps (3) and optionally a further tie may be provided to extend across the wearer's chest.

The straps (3) and ties (4) are preferably adjustable in length, and most preferably are elasticated.

The pads (1) may be of any suitable shape, and are preferably formed on one face with a permeable outer covering (5) which will lie in use adjacent the wearer's body, an absorbent core (6), and an impermeable cover sheet (7) which will lie in use facing away from the wearer's body.

With such a construction, perspiration can penetrate the absorbent cover sheet (5) by capillary action, and be absorbed by the absorbent core material (6). The impermeable cover sheet (7) will prevent any marking of the wearer's clothes by the absorbed perspiration. The permeable cover sheet (5) may be made of any suitable woven or non-woven material, provided that perspiration can pass through the sheet into the absorbent core (6).

The absorbent core (6) may be formed of any conventional absorbent or super absorbent material.

Natural or synthetic fibres may be used for the cover sheet (5) and/or the absorbent material (6). The impermeable cover sheet (7) is preferably formed from a flexible plastics sheet material.

While it is envisaged that the pads (1) will be disposable, it is also possible to construct the pads (1) from woven fabric cover sheets with absorbent cores so that they may be washable and re-usable.

The pads may also be impregnated with anti-bacterial agents to suppress the generation of odour, and may optionally be impregnated with scent.

In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the pads (1) may be held in place by an elasticated strap passing round the wearer's ribcage underneath the arms, with vertical support being afforded by shoulder straps.

The pads (1) would then be held between the elasticated strap and the wearer's body.

In yet a further alternative embodiment, the pads (1) may be secured in place by means of adhesive strips fixed to the wearer's body and to the pad. Adhesive strip material such as "micropore" (registered trade mark) could be used. In such an embodiment, a pad would be held in place on the wearer's body and the adhesive strip would then be passed over the pad and attached to the wearer's body at both ends. It is envisaged that such embodiments would comprise disposable pads.

In yet a further alternative, the impervious backing sheet (7) of the pad (1) may be provided with an adhesive area covered by a release sheet. In use, the release sheet would be removed from the adhesive area and the adhesive area applied to the inner surface of the wearer's normal clothing so as to position the pad in the axil. Perspiration would then be absorbed by the pad, but would be prevented from passing to the wearer's clothing by the impermeable backing sheet (7). It is again envisaged that such embodiments would be single-use disposable items.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS:

1. A perspiration absorbing device comprising: a generally planar body of absorbent material covered on one face by a permeable layer and on its other face by a liquid-impermeable layer, and further comprising means to retain the perspiration absorber in the axil.

2. A perspiration absorbing device according to claim 1, wherein the means to retain the absorbent body in the axil comprises a strap extending, in use, over the shoulder of the wearer.

3. A perspiration absorbing device according to claim 2, wherein a pair of absorbent bodies are provided each with a respective shoulder strap, and wherein the shoulder straps are joined by one or more horizontal ties.

4. A perspiration absorbing device according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the horizontal ties is formed from two releasably fastenable portions.

5. A perspiration absorbing device according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the straps are elasticated.

6. A perspiration absorbing device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises an adhesive member attachable to a wearer's body.

7. A perspiration absorbing device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises an adhesive member attachable to a wearer's clothing.