GB2425457A

GB2425457A - Garment protector

Info

Publication number: GB2425457A
Application number: GB0508921A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Basil Walter Lowndes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-30
Filing date: 2005-04-30
Publication date: 2006-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-30
Also published as: GB0508921D0; GB2425457B

Abstract

A garment protector 10 for positioning adjacent an armpit of a user comprises a first layer 12 which is moisture permeable, a second layer 14 connected to the first layer and a moisture absorbing zeolite-type material 18 provided between the first and second layers. The moisture absorbing material may be in the form of granules and/or powder; it may also comprise fly ash. A third layer may be provided with adhesive portions and the first layer may be undulated and/or waffled and/or ribbed with a plurality of indentations to provide a wicking effect.

Description

I

Title: Garment Protector

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a garment protector.

More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a garment protector for positioning adjacent an armpit of a user to absorb perspiration exuded from the user. The purpose of such a garment protector is to minimise soiling of the garment adjacent the armpit of the user.

During the course of a day, unwelcome body odours can be generated by the concentration of moisture at the armpit of a user. Such concentration of moisture can result in the soiling of a garment which the user is wearing, such as, for examples, a shirt or a suit jacket. This is highly undesirable and can cause embarrassment to the user as well as discolouration of and permanent damage to the fabric of the garment.

This situation is exacerbated where the user is subjected to a relatively high degree of physical activity, such as for example a soldier on parade, and it is desirable to ensure that any moisture exuded from the soldier does not damage his uniform or is noticeable when on parade.

Therefore, according to the present invention there is provided a garment protector for positioning adjacent an armpit of a user, the garment protector including a first layer which is moisture permeable and a second layer connected to the first layer, wherein a moisture adsorbing material is provided between the first and second layers to adsorb moisture exuded from the user, and wherein the moisture adsorbing material is a zeolite-type material.

By providing a garment protector in accordance with the present invention moisture exuded from the user passes through the first layer and is absorbed by the zeolite-type material, thus reducing the risk of damage to the user's garment.

As the zeolite-type material is an adsorbing material, it attracts other molecules, e.g. liquids, and attaches them to its surface without forming chemical bonds. The zeolite-type material can be regenerated relatively easily using, for example, heating, to remove the adsorbed liquid. Therefore a garment protector in accordance with the present invention can be reused, and does not have to be disposed of once soiled.

The zeolite-type material may be in the form of a powder and/or may be in the form of granules.

The garment protector may include a moisture absorbing material, such as fly ash, also provided between the first and second layers to assist the moisture adsorbing material in taking on moisture exuded from the user.

The zeolite-type material and the fly ash may be provided in a moisture permeable container which is provided between the first and second layers of the protector. The container may be in the form of a package or sachet.

The garment protector may include a third layer of a moisture impermeable material, which third layer is connected to the second layer sandwiching the second layer between the third and first layers. The purpose of the third layer is to provide anchorage during prolonged use of the protector and also to provide additional comfort for the user.

An external surface of the third layer may be provided with one or more adhesive portions to permit connection of the garment protector to the garment. Alternatively, a majority of the external surface of the third layer may be provided with an adhesive to permit connection of the garment protector to the garment. The adhesive may be a hypoallergenic material and may be covered by a removable cover, which can be removed prior to adhering the protector to the garment.

An external surface of the first layer may be contoured to assist in movement of air relative thereto by body movement of the user. This is advantageous because it assists in reducing perspiration of the user as movement of air over the user's skin increases forced convection and thus evaporation of moisture.

The contoured surface of the first layer may be undulating, and/or waffled and/or ridged. Alternatively, the external surface of the first layer may have a plurality of indentations, preferably circular, which provide a wicking effect to draw moisture away from the user's skin and towards the moisture adsorbing and/or absorbing materials between the first and second layers.

Other layers of the garment protector may also be contoured in a similar fashion to the first layer.

Examples of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view from above and one side of a garment protector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the garment protector of Figure 1; and Figures 3 to 5 illustrate alternative surface contouring of the layers of the garment protector of Figure 1.

Referring to the Figures there is shown a garment protector 10 in accordance with the present invention. The garment protector 10 includes a first layer 12, which is moisture permeable, and a second layer 14, which is also moisture permeable, which are connected to each other at their peripheries by an adhesive (not shown), although they could be connected by any other appropriate means, such as, for examples, stitching, or heat bonding. The shape of the garment protector 10 is substantially oval in plan view with elongate sides substantially parallel to one another. It must be appreciated, however, that another appropriate shape could be used, such as an ovoid or a rectangle. The external surface of the first layer 12 is soft so as not to cause irritation to a user during use.

Provided between the first layer 12 and the second layer 14 is a container 16, in the form of a sachet which is slightly smaller in plan view than the first and second layers 12, 14. The container 16 contains a moisture adsorbing material 18 in the form of a zeolite-type material and a moisture absorbing material in the form of fly ash, which are mixed together to provide a substantially even distribution of the zeolite-type material throughout the container 16. The fly ash is a byproduct of the power industry and is a pulverised ash ground to a fine powder which is cheap and absorbent, thus assisting the zeolite-type material in taking on moisture exuded from the user.

The garment protector 10 also includes a third layer 20 which is moisture impermeable and which is connected at its periphery to a periphery of an external surface of the second layer 14 thus sandwiching the second layer 14 between the third layer 20 and the first layer 12. An external surface of the third layer 20 is provided with an adhesive 22 which is covered, prior to use, by a removable adhesive cover 24.

To assist in positioning of the garment protector 10 on a garment, such as a shirt or a suit jacket, the garment protector 10 includes an indentation 26 which is provided in the layers 12, 14, 20 and extends along a mid-line of the garment protector 10, substantially perpendicular to the elongate sides of the first and second layers 12, 14. As the indentation 26 approaches both elongate sides of the garment protector 10, it opens into a respective triangular cut-out section 28 in the layers 12, 14, 20. The purpose of the cut- out section 28 at both sides of the garment protector 10 is to assist the user in bending the garment protector 10 about the indentation 26 for the purpose of securing this in place.

Turning now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, these show alternative embodiments of contouring of the layers 12, 14, 20 of the garment protector 10. Figure 3 shows the layers 12, 14, 20 of the garment protector 10 in undulating form.

Figure 4 shows the layers 12, 14, 20 of the garment protector 10 in a ridged form, and Figure 5 shows part of an embodiment of the garment protector 10 where an external surface of the first layer 12 is provided with circular indentations 30 to provide a wicking effect to draw moisture exuded from the user away from the user's skin and towards the moisture absorbing and adsorbing materials in the container 16.

By the term "zeolite-type" material, we include natural zeolite, which is a 3- dimensional, microporous, crystaline solid containing aluminium, silicone and oxygen. We also include naturally occurring zeolites and synthetic zeolites, as well as any other materials which provide characteristics similar to zeolite materials.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A garment protector for positioning adjacent an armpit of a user, the garment protector including a first layer which is moisture permeable and a second layer connected to the first layer, wherein a moisture adsorbing material is provided between the first and second layers to adsorb moisture exuded from the user, and wherein the moisture adsorbing material is a zeolite-type material.

2. A garment protector according to claim I wherein the zeolite-type material is in the form of a powder and/or of granules.

3. A garment protector according to any one of the preceding claims which further includes a moisture absorbing material.

4. A garment protector according to claim 3 wherein the moisture absorbing material is fly ash.

5. A garment protector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the zeolite-type material and the absorbing material are provided in a moisture permeable container which is provided between the first and second layers.

6. A garment protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the garment protector includes a third layer of a moisture impermeable material, which third layer is connected to a second layer sandwiching the second layer between the third and first layers.

7. A garment protector according to claim 5 wherein an external surface of the third layer is provided with one or more adhesive portions to permit connection of the garment protector to the garment.

8. A garment protector according to claim 5 wherein a majority of an external surface of the third layer is provided with an adhesive to permit connection of the garment protector to the garment.

9. A garment protector according to any one of the preceding claims wherein an external surface of the first layer is contoured.

10. A garment protector according to claim 9 wherein the contoured surface of the first layer is undulating and/or is waffled and/or is ridged.

11. A garment protector according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the external surface of the first layer has a plurality of indentations which provide a wicking effect to draw moisture away from a surface of the user and towards the liquid adsorbing and/or absorbing material between the first and second layers.

12. A garment protector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.