GB2506433A

GB2506433A - Adhesive absorbent mattress protector

Info

Publication number: GB2506433A
Application number: GB201217492A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jacqueline Oxford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-10-01
Filing date: 2012-10-01
Publication date: 2014-04-02
Also published as: GB201217492D0

Abstract

This application relates to an absorbent article 1 comprising an absorbent layer and one or more adhesive strips for attaching the article to a mattress. It also provides a package containing one or more of the absorbent articles of the invention. It further relates to use of an absorbent article and a method for protecting a mattress from leakage of menstrual fluid. The mattress protector is preferably made of cotton, is oval in shape, has an area of at least 600cm2, a thickness of less than 1cm and is biodegradable. The article 1 may have fold lines 2 and a textured edge 3.

Description

Absorbent article

Background

During a woman's menstrual cycle, menstruation occurs for about 2-7 days each month.

During this phase, the thickened womb lining or menses (also known in the art as menstrual fluid) is lost through the vagina. The total volume of fluid lost generally amounts to 1O-8Onil over the total penod of menstruation.

Tampons and sanitary towels are available on the market for use during menstruation. These absorbent articles are positioned internally (in the case of tampons) or externally (in the case of sanitary towels), and function to collect the released menses. This prevents staining of clothing and other articles, and any associated embarrassment.

Whilst tampons and sanitary towels are thought to be very effective at absorbing released menses during the day, they can be ineffective during the night for three main reasons.

Firstly, both tampons and sanitary towels are designed to function primarily with the user in a sitting or standing position, such that gravity will draw menses downwards through the centre of the vagina to be absorbed by a correctly positioned tampon or sanitary towel. This is not the case when the user is lying down since gravity will draw the menses towards the front, back or side of the vagina, depending on the lying position. This can be compounded by the secondary consideration that, during sleep, movement of the user may dislodge the tampon or sanitary towel, reducing its absorbent capacity in the required area. Finally, whilst asleep the user is unaware of any imminent leakage and therefore cannot replace a tampon or sanitary towel in a timely manner, as they wou'd have done if awake.

The issues described above can lead to leakage of menses during the night, which can stain nightwear, sheets and mattresses. Such leakage can also cause acute embarrassment to the woman, particularly if staying in a hotel or in someone else's home.

Some attempts have been made in the art to avoid the problems of menses leakage during the night. These have primarily focussed on adapting sanitary towels to either have an increased absorbent capacity e.g. by making the sanitary towd thicker or using a more absorbent central core, or to prevent movement of the sanitary towel as the user moves dunng sleep, e.g. by including additional adhesive on the underside of the sanitary towel or wings which stick to the underside of the user's underwear. However, these precautions cannot avoid all leakage, particularly during a very heavy menstruation, or during a particularly restless night.

Some women attempt to circumvent this problem by covering the mattress in towels prior to sleeping. However, this can require the entire mattress, including an area to be occupied by another person, to be covered and can make the women feel further embarrassment. Towels can also be ineffective since they can move during the night, leaving the mattress exposed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for avoiding the problems associated with leakage of menses during the night. This will have the effect of protecting nightwear. bedding and mattresses, and also of avoiding embarrassment associated with such leakage.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to an absorbent article comprising an absorbent layer and one or more adhesive strips for attaching the article to a mattress. The article functions to protect the mattress from leakages of menses, and the associated embarrassment of soiling a mattress.

The invention also relates to the use of an absorbent article for protecting a mattress from leakage of menses, a method of protecting a mattress from leakage of menses and a kit for protecting a mattress from the eakage of menses. The method, use and kit also function to overcome the disadvantages of pnor art products discussed above.

Brief description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows an overhead view of an absorbent article I of the invention. Fold lines 2 and a textured edge 3 can be seen.

Figure 2 shows an underside view of an absorbent article i of the invention. Adhesive strips 4 can be seen.

Figure 3 shows a side view of an absorbent article i of the invention. Fold lines 2 and a textured edge 3 can be seen.

Figure 4 shows and end view of an absorbent article 1 of the invention. A textured edge 3 can be seen.

Figure 5 shows an isometric view of an absorbent article I of the invention. Fold lines 2 and a textured edge 3 can be seen.

Figure 6 shows a method of attaching an absorbent article of the invention to a mattress. A) Remove absorbent article from its packaging and unfold until fully open. B) Remove wax strips from the adhesive strips. C) Place the absorbent article onto the mattress in an appropriate position. D) Ensured that absorbent article is correctly attached to mattress.

Detailed description of the invention

In one aspect, the invention relates to an absorbent article comprising an absorbent layer and one or more adhesive strips for attaching the article to a mattress.

The absorbent article of the invention is intended for use in protecting a mattress against leakage of menses. This includes the leakage of blood and other fluids which are released during menstruation, but not the leakage of urine, for which incontinence products are available.

Attachment to a mattress The absorbent article of the present invention is intended for use when attached to the upper surface of a mattress. By "mattress" is meant any material surface upon which a user may sleep. This includes sprung mattresses, memory foam mattresses, air mattresses, water mattresses, futons and sofas.

Generally the absorbent article will be attached to the mattress on top of any linen on which the user will lie, such as a mattress protector and/or sheet upon which the user will sleep. This allows the absorbent article to ako protect the linen from leakage of menses. However, in certain embodiments, the absorbent article may be attached directly to the mattress, beneath the linen upon which the user will sleep.

Surface area, size & shape The absorbent article of the present invention may have a surface area of at least 600cm2. In certain embodiments the absorbent article may have a surface area of 700cm2, 800cm2, 2 2 2 2 2 900cm, 1000cm, llOOcm, 1200cm, 1300cm, 1400cm, 1500cm-, l600cnr, 1700cm, 1800cm2, 1900cm2, 2000cm2 or more.

The absorbent article is generally intended to cover the portion of the mattress on which the user predominantly sleeps. For a single mattress the article may cover most of the mattress.

However, on a double, king-sized, queen-sized, super king-sized or other mattress, the article is intended to cover the area of the mattress on which the user predominantly sleeps, whilst leaving the areas of the mattress on which another person sleeps unprotected and therefore unencumbered by the absorbent article.

In some embodiments, the absorbent article may have a length which is between I and 3 times the width at the widest point.

In other embodiments, the absorbent article may be more than 30cm in length, such as 40cm, 50cm, 60cm, 70cm, 80cm, 90cm, 100cm, 110cm, 120cm, 130cm, 140cm, 150cm, 160cm, 170cm, 180cm, 190cm, 200cm or more.

The absorbent article may also be more than 20cm in width, such as 30cm, 40cm, 50cm, 60cm, 70cm, 80cm, 90cm, 100cm or more.

The absorbent article of the invention may have a thickness of less than 1cm. In some embodiments the absorbent article may have a thickness of 9mm, 8mm. 7mm. 6mm, 5mm.

4mm, 3mm, 2mm, 1mm or less. The thin profile of the absorbent article makes the article comfortable to sleep on for the user, and ensures that there is no discernible difference between the feel of the area covered by the article and the rest of the mattress. In addition, as the amount of menses released during a single night will generally be less than 20m1, and the majority of this will be absorbed by a tampon or sanitary towel, only a thin article is required to absorb this small amount of leaked fluid. This is in contrast to products designed for incontinence, which are required to absorb a much larger volume of fluid.

It is contemplated that the absorbent article may have a size resulting from a combination of any of the size and area measurements and proportions described above.

The absorbent article may be of any shape suitable for attachment to the surface of a mattress.

For example, the absorbent article may be triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, oval or round. However, in a preferred embodiment the absorbent article is substantially oval in shape. This shape is preferred because it permits the greatest width of the article to be positioned at the area of potential leakage, and the article to be narrower at the top and bottom, so that unnecessary material is not used.

The absorbent article may include one or more fold fines 2 as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5.

These fold lines aid in the folding of the absorbent article for packaging purposes. This can allow the absorbent article to be packaged in a discrete package. In certain embodiments, fold lines may be produced using an embossing method, e.g. by the combined application of heat and pressure. However, fold lines produced by any method are contemplated, including fold lines produced by heat or pressure alone.

The absorbent article may comprise a textured edge 3 as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5. Such an edge may be raised or recessed and may be formed using an embossing method, e.g. by the combined application of heat and pressure. However, a textured edge produced by any method is contemplated, including a textured edge produced by heat or pressure alone. The function of the textured edge is to prevent any leaked menses from spilling from the edges of the absorbent article. The textured edge may cover the entire circumference of the absorbent article, or any part thereof.

Absorbency In one embodiment, the absorbent article may have an absorbent capacity of less than lml/cm. This means that the total amount of fluid which can be absorbed by a certain portion of the absorbent article does not exceed the stated value. In other embodiments, the absorbent article may have an absorbent capacity of O.9ml/cm3, O.8mlIcm3, O.7mL/cm3, O.6ml/cm, O.5mlIcm3, 0.4 ml/cm, 0.3 mI/cm, 0.2 ml/cm, 0.1 mI/cm' or less.

In further embodiments, the absorbent article may have a total absorbent capacity of i000ml, 900m1, 800rnl, 700ml, 600m1, SOOnil, 300ml, 200ml i5Oml, 140m1, 130m1, 120m1, IlOmI, lOOmI, 90m1, 80m1, 70m1, 60m1, SGml, 40m1, 30m1, 20m1. lOmI or less.

Preferably, the majority of the absorbent capacity is provided by the absorbent layer.

Absorbent layer The absorbent layer may comprise any material having an absorbent capacity, wherein absorbent capacity is as described above.

In one embodiment, the absorbent layer may comprise or consist of cotton. This encompasses all forms of cotton including single layers of woven cotton and multiple layers of woven cotton.

In another embodiment, the absorbent layer may comprise a nonwoven material. Suitable nonwoven materials may include materials which contain at least one component based on a thermoplastic polymer, such as card webs. spunbonded nonwovens, hydraulically neeWed nonwovens. SM nonwovens, SMS nonwovens, SMMS nonwovens or laminates (wherein S stands for spunbonded nonwoven layers and M stands for meltblown nonwoven layers).

in one embodiment, the absorbent article may contain an upper surface made from a breathable material, such as cotton.

Adhesive strips The absorbent article of the invention comprises one or more adhesive strips 4 on the underside of the absorbent article, as shown in Figure 2. In certain embodiments the absorbent article may comprise one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen or more adhesive strips.

The adhesive strips may be orientated in any direction on the absorbent article. For example, the absorbent strips may be positioned parallel to the length of the absorbent article, parallel to the width of the absorbent article or at an angle in between the length and the width of the absorbent article. Each of the adhesive strips need not necessarily be orientated in the same direction. In one embodiment, the adhesive strips may be curved, and may lie parallel to the circumference of the absorbent article. In another embodiment a single adhesive strip may cover the whole underside of the absorbent article.

The adhesive strips may be formed from any material which will allow the absorbent article to be releasably attached to a mattress. In one embodiment the adhesive strips may comprise one or more adhesives including, but not limited to polymers such as polybutylene, copolymers such as styrenic block copolymers, tackifying resins, synthetic rubbers such as styrene butadiene and carboxybted styrene butadiene and natural rubbers. Suitable adhesives are known in the art.

Where the adhesive strips are formed from one or more adhesives, each adhesive strip may.

prior to use, be covered with a wax strip such as a paper strip with a wax coating to prevent the adhesive layer adhering to an unwanted surface. These wax strips are removed prior to adhesion of the absorbent article to the mattress as shown in Figure 6B.

In another embodiment, the adhesive strips may form a mechanical attachment with parts of the mattress in the manner of a Velcro-type attachment. This may require the mattress or mattresses covering (e.g. mattress protector or linen) to be pre-treated to contain a suitable surface for attachment of the adhesive strips.

Biodegradability The absorbent article is preferably substantially biodegradable. By "substantially biodegradable" means that at least 50% of the article can degrade naturally. In some embodiments at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99% or more of the article may be biodegradable. A proportion of the article is considered to be biodegradable if it degrades within one month, two months, three months, four months, five months, six months, seven months, eight months, nine months, ten months, eleven months, twelve months, thirteen months, fourteen months, fifteen months, sixteen months, seventeen months, eighteen months, nineteen months, twenty months, twenty one months, twenty two months, twenty three months, twenty four months or more.

The nature of the absorbent article means that it is primarily designed to be used only once and then thrown away. However, if no leakage occurs during the first night of use, it is contemplated that the user may retain the article for use on subsequent nights.

Illustrations In some embodiments, the absorbent article of the invention may contain an illustration on the upper surface. The illustration functions to make the article aesthetically pleasing, and to reduce the clinical image of sanitary articles. It is thought that the user will prefer to use an absorbent article which is illustrated with a feminine design, arid is therefore viewed as a luxury product rather than a clinical one.

Packaging The invention includes a package containing one or more of the absorbent articles of the invention. In one embodiment the package may contain one, two, three. four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more articles of the invention. The package may also contain other articles such as sanitary towels and/or tampons.

The absorbent articles may be f&ded in order to fit into the package. In certain embodiments the articles may be folded along fold lines, such as the fold lines described above.

In certain embodiments, each absorbent article within the package may be independently packaged, for example using a plastic film.

The package may be formed from any material, but is preferably formed from a material which is substantially biodegradable, within the definition of "biodegradable" provided above. The package is preferably substantially formed from cardboard, which may or may not be laminated. The package may include an illustration, which may correspond to an illustration provided on the article itself The package may also contain instructions for using the absorbent article, such as those provided in Figure 6.

Use of an absorbent article In another aspect, the invention relates to the use of an absorbent article for protecting a mattress from leakage of menses. Within this aspect, the absorbent article may comprise an absorbent layer and one or more adhesive strips for attaching the absorbent article to a mattress.

Within this use, the absorbent article may have any of the properties discussed above in relation to the absorbent article per Se.

Method for protecting a mattress from leakage of menses In a third aspect, the invention relates to a method of protecting a mattress from leakage of menses. Within this aspect, the method may comprise attaching an absorbent article to the mattress.

Within this method, the absorbent article may comprise an absorbent layer and one or more adhesive strips for attaching the absorbent artide to a mattress. The absorbent article used in the method may have any of the properties discussed above in relation to the absorbent article per Sc.

Kit for protecting a mattress In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a kit for protecting a mattress from leakage of menses, comprising: i) an absorbent article comprising an absorbent layer and one or more adhesive strips for attaching the article to a mattress; and ii) instructions for attaching the absorbent article to a mattress.

Within the kit, the absorbent article may have any of the properties discussed above in relation to the absorbent article per se.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An absorbent article comprising an absorbent layer and one or more adhesive strips for attaching the article to a mattress.
2. The absorbent article of claim 1 for use in protecting a mattress against leakage of menses.
3. The absorbent article of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the absorbent article has a surface area of at least 600cm2.
4. The absorbent article of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the absorbent article has a thickness of less than 1cm.
5. The absorbent article of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the absorbent article is substantially biodegradable.
6. The absorbent article of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the absorbent article has an absorbent capacity of less than imllcm3,
7. The absorbent article of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the absorbent layer comprises cotton.
8. The absorbent article of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the absorbent layer consists of cotton.
9. The absorbent article of any of the preceding claims, wherein the absorbent article is substantially oval in shape.
10. A package containing one or more of the absorbent articles of any one of the preceding claims.
11. The package of claim 10 further comprising instructions for attaching the absorbent article to a mattress.
12. Use of an absorbent article for protecting a mattress from leakage of menses.
13. The use of claim 12, wherein the absorbent article comprises an absorbent layer and one or more adhesive strips for attaching the absorbent article to a mattress.
14. The use of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the absorbent article has a surface area of at least 600cm2.
15. The use of any one of claims 12-14, wherein the absorbent article has a thickness of less than 1cm.
16. The use of any one of claims 12-15, wherein the absorbent article is substantially biodegradable.
17. The use of any one of claims 12-16, wherein the absorbent article has an absorbent capacity of less than I ml/cm3.
18. The use of any one of claims 12-17 wherein the absorbent layer of the absorbent article comprises cotton.
19. The use of any one of claims 12-17 wherein the absorbent layer of the absorbent article consists of cotton.
20. The use of any one of claims 12-19, wherein the absorbent article is attached to the mattress on top of any linen on which the user will lie.
21. The use of any one of claims 12-20. wherein the absorbent article is substantiafly ova' in shape.
22. A method of protecting a mattress from leakage of menses.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the method comprises attaching an absorbent article to the mattress.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the absorbent article comprises an absorbent layer and one or more adhesive strips for attaching the absorbent article to a mattress.
25. The method of claim 23 or daim 24, wherein the absorbent article has a surface area of at least 600cm2.
26. The method of any one of claims 23-26, wherein the absorbent artide has a thickness of less than 1cm.
27. The method of any one of claims 23-26, wherein the absorbent article is substantially biodegradable.
28. The method of any one of claims 23-27, wherein the absorbent article has an absorbent capacity of less than lmlJcm
29. The method of any one of claims 23-28 wherein the absorbent layer of the absorbent article comprises cotton.
30. The method of any one of claims 23-28 wherein the absorbent layer of the absorbent article consists of cotton.
31. The method of any one of claims 23-30, wherein the absorbent article is substantially oval in shape.
32. A kit for protecting a mattress from leakage of menses, comprising: i) an absorbent article comprising an absorbent layer and one or more adhesive strips for attaching the article to a mattress; and ii) instructions for attaching the absorbent article to a mattress.
33. The kit of claim 32. wherein the absorbent article has a surface area of at least 600cm2.
34. The kit of claim 32 or 33, wherein the absorbent article has a thickness of less than 1cm.
35. The kit of any one of claims 32-34, wherein the absorbent article is substantially biodegradable.
36. The kit of any one of claims 32-3 5, wherein the absorbent article has an absorbent capacity of less than lml/cmA.
37. The kit of any one of claims 32-36 wherein the absorbent layer of the absorbent article comprises cotton.
38. The kit of any one of claims 32-36 wherein the absorbent layer of the absorbent article consists of cotton.
39. The kit of any one of claims 32-38, wherein the absorbent article is substantially oval in shape.