US3828785A

US3828785A - Liner for incontinent pants

Info

Publication number: US3828785A
Application number: US00272434A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Gamm; B Clare
Original assignee: JUNG PROD Inc
Current assignee: Kendall Co
Priority date: 1972-07-17
Filing date: 1972-07-17
Publication date: 1974-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-13

Abstract

A removable and washable liner for incontinent pants in the form of an essentially seamless flattened tubular sleeve formed from a porous hydrophobic knitted fabric enclosing one or more layers of an hydrophilic material, the hydrophobic sleeve acting as a barrier to prevent discharged body fluids absorbed by the enclosed hydrophilic material from wicking into contact with the wearer''s body on its inner surface and with the enclosing pants on its outer surface, yet the liner, due to the porosity and tubular construction of the sleeve, being readily washable and free from obstructions which would retain or inhibit the removal of absorbed fluids during washing.

Description

nited States Patent 1191 Gamm et al. Aug. 13, 1974 [5 LINER FOR INCONTINENT PANTS 3,720,212 3/1973 Kaupin 128/288 [75] Inventors: Paul B. Gamm, Cincinnati, Ohio;

Przma ExammerCharles F. Rosenbaum Billy C. Clare Cahfomla Attomg Agent, or FirmAlbert E. Strasser; John W.

[73] Assignee: Jung Products, Inc., Cincinnati, M l ill St l H, F t

Ohio

22 Filed: July 17, 1972 ABSTRACT [21] APPL 272 4 A removable and washable liner for incontinent pants in the form of an essentially seamless flattened tubular sleeve formed from a porous hydrophobic knitted fab- U.S. Cl- .l ri e lo ing one or more layers of an ma- [51] Int. Cl. A6lf 13/16 tel-i3], the hydrophobic Sleeve acting as a barrier to [58] Field of Search 128/287, 288, 289, 290 prevent dischargedbody fl id absorbed by the closed hydrophilic material from wicking into contact References Clted with the wearers body on its inner surface and with UNITED STATES PATENTS the enclosing pants on its outer surface, yet the liner, 2,964,040 l2/l960 Ashton eta] 128/290 R due to the P y and tubular Construction Of the 3,237,625 3/1966 Johnson 128/288 Sleeve, being readily washable and free from obstruc- 3,460,535 8/1969 Behna 128/288 tions which would retain or inhibit the removal of ab- 3,489,l49 l/l970 Larson 128/288 sorbed fluids during washing. 3,599,638 8/1971 Rickard l28/288 3,613,687 10/1971 Kennedy 128/288 2 Claims, 3 Drawmg Flgures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Numerous forms of incontinent pants have hitherto been proposed to retain discharged body fluids. :In their simplest form, such pants may comprise a ,diaper formed from one or more layers of a material which will readily absorb the discharged fluids. Similarly, one or more layers of an absorptive material have been utilized as a liner for a garment which is impervious to the body fluids, thereby preventing the absorbed fluids from wetting the wearers clothing, bed-clothing, or the like. In order to prevent the absorbed fluids from remainingin contact with the wearersbody, it'has also been proposed to surface the side of the liner in contact with thewearers body with a hydrophobic material, such a knitted fabric formed fromnon-absorptive fibers, which permits thefluids to flow through the knit ted fabric for absorption by the underlying absorptive material, thereby maintaining a relatively dryand nonirritating surface in contact with-the body.

All of the prior art arrangements are, however, subject to various disadvantages, particularly intheirability to be washed. For example, a linercomposed of an inner ply of a knitted hydrophobic .fabricand one or more outer plies of an absorptive fabric .is usually formed by wrapping the edgesoftheplies ,withaibinding tapeand stitching-the.pliestogether. ,Unless a-bind- 1 ing is .used, the edges of the ,plies will readily @fray ,and the stitching will unravel. Such binding, and even the stitching itself, provide obstructions which will retain or inhibit the removal of the absorbed :fluids during washing. Since the body fluidsprovidean excellentculture medium to promote bacterial growth, complete removal of the body-fluids during washing is essential if contamination is to be prevented. ln addition, such edge bindings are relatively coarse and hard and hence are irritating to the wearers skin, particularly when wet.

It will also be evident that if the linerincludes an impervious outer ply, thorough washing and rinsing is further inhibited by the impervious material. Consequently, heretofore the various forms of incontinent pants and their liners have either compromised washability or have sacrificed fluid containment. If, for example, an absorptive liner is covered on its inner surface only with a protective layer of a knitted material which is hydrophobic, the liner nonetheless wets the surrounding outer garment, .with the result that both the liner and the outer garment must be changed. Even if the liner is provided with an impervious outer cover, the absorbed fluids will wick through the edge bindings and wet the outer garment, again necessitating changing of both the liner and the outer garment. Usually, where the outer garment is formed from a liquid impervious material, such asa nylon fabric coated on its inner surface with a vinyl plastic, the garment willbe lined on its inner surface with a layer of flannel or other material which will contact the wearers body; and when wicking occurs, the flannel lining willbe wetted, again posing a laundering problem.

In contrast to the foregoing, the instant invention provides a liner which effectively prevents wicking and hence leakage of the contained body fluid, yet the liner is readily washable with the assurance of essentially complete removal of urine and other contained body wastes.

RESUME OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, the liner comprises an elongated seamless tubularsleeve adapted to be'detachably secured to the inner surface of the outer garment, the liner sleeve containing one or more layers of a hydrophilic material extending the full length of the sleeve.

The tubular sleeve is preferably of a length to extend from the uppermost front edge of the outer garment to the uppermost rear edge thereof, and of a width to comfortably pass between the wearers legs. The tubular sleeve is in flattenedcondition and the enclosed hydrophilic material willbe of a width to lie essentially flat within the confines of the flattenedsleeve.

Being in the form of a seamless tube surrounding the enclosed layers of hydrophilic material, no binding tapes or stitching is required along the side edges of the liner; andwhile the opposite end edges of the sleeve are preferably bound and stitchedto close the ends of the sleeve and bind together the end edges of the juxtaposed layers, such bindings will lie in the area of the vwearers waist and-hence as remoteas possible from the normal area of containment of the body fluids.

Preferably, the tubular sleeve will be formed from a double knit woven fabric having a sufficiently open mesh 'weave .to permit the fluids to readily pass therethrough. Single knit woven fabrics also may be em- ,ployed,ialtho,ugh the double knits are .preferreddue '10 their increased thickness which increases theiba'rrier forming properties of the sleeve. Excellent results have been achieved using knitted fabrics made from hydro- ;phobic yarns, such as olefin, nylon, Dacron, Orlon, polyester and the like, all of which fibers provide the desired hydrophobic characteristics. The inner hydrophilic plies are preferably formed from cotton fabrics,

such as flannel, the so-called double nap flannels being preferred. Alternatively, the hydrophilic material may comprise hydrophilic foam, which is a synthetic sponge-like material available in sheet form.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a typical outer garment incorporating a liner in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the inner surface of the outer garment with the liner attached.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated an essentially conventional outer garment l, in the nature of detachable diaper pants having front and rear body The opposite side edges of the front body panel 2 are bound by strips of binding material, indicated at 11 and 12; and similarly, the opposite side edges of rear body panel 3 is provided with binding strips 14 and 15. Snap fastener elements 16 are arranged at spaced apart intervals along theopposite side edge of front body panel 2, and mating snap fastener elements 17 are provided along the opposite side edge of rear body panel 3, the sets of snap fasteners, when engaged, forming the body surrounding garment illustrated in FIG. 1.

The material from which the outer garment is formed does not constitute a limitation on the invention, although preferably it will comprise an essentially impervious outer covering 17, as seen in H0. 3, formed from a non-fibrous film or from a woven fabric, such as nylon, coated with a vinyl or other material which renders the covering impervious to fluids. Such covering may be unlined, although preferably it will be lined with a layer of flannel 18 or other soft material which will protect the wearers skin from direct contact with the impervious covering. It is to be understood that numerous modifications may be made in the outer garment without departing from the spirit and purpose of the invention which has to do with the liner which is associated with the outer garment.

As will be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the liner, which is indicated generally at 19, comprises an elongated seamless tubular sleeve 20 which is preferably of a length to extend from the front waistband portion to the rear waistband portion 6 of the outer garment, as will be clearly evident from FIG. 2. The width of the liner will be preferably substantially equal to the width of the crotch 4 when the liner sleeve is in essentially flattened condition. The liner sleeve is formed from a seamless tube ofa knitted fabric having an open mesh weave which renders it porous and permits fluids to readily flow therethrough. Double knit fabrics are preferred due to their added thickness, although single knit fabrics may be readily employed. The yarn from which the sleeve is made is of essentially hydophobic character, being woven from olefin fibers, nylon, Dacron. Orlon, polyester fibers or the like, all of which are of hydrophobic character.

One or more layers of a highly absorptive or hydrophilic material, such as the layers 21 and 22 illustrated in FIG. 3, are enclosed within the sleeve 20. These layers will be formed from a material such as flannel, preferably a double napped flannel, or they may be formed from a sheet of hydrophilic foam, which is a spongeline synthetic cellular material. The number of layers of lining material does not constitute a limitation on the invention and one or more layers may be employed, depending upon the desired absorbency.

The layer or layers of lining material preferably will extend the full length of the tubular sleeve 20 and will have a width substantially equal to the width of the outer sleeve.

The opposite end edges of the liner are bound and stitched, as indicated at 23 and 24, so that the inner layer or layers of absorptive material are joined to the surrounding sleeve. Sets of snap fasteners, indicated at 25, are provided to secure the ends of the liner to the waistline portions 5 and 6 of the outer garment. In order to avoid twisting or roping of the inner layers,

particularly during washing, it is preferred to provide transverse lines of stitching 26 and 27 at approximately the opposite ends of the crotch area to hold the absorbent layers in place within the sleeve. Preferably the thread used for the lines of stitching will be formed from hydrophobic fibers.

As should now be evident, a liner formed in accordance with the invention provides a self-contained unit in which the absorbent material is completely surrounded and enclosed within a barrier sleeve which is effectively free from obstructions throughout its length which would permit undesirable wicking of contained fluids. Yet the liner may be readily washed with the assurance that all contained fluids will be removed. The tubular barrier provides a non-absorbent and hence essentially dry surface for contact with the wearer's body. and at the same time the surface in contact with the outer garment is protected from wetting by the contained fluids. It will be evident that modifications may be made in the invention without departing from its spirit and purpose. For example, while snap fasteners are preferred to secure the liner to the outer garment, other fastening means may be employed, as for example, a Velcro type fastener may be used. Similarly, the edge bindings at the opposite ends of the liner may be secured other than by stitching, as for example by heat sealing where the nature of the fabrics permits them to be bonded together. Other modifications will undoubtedly occur to the worker in the art upon reading this specification, and it is not intended that the invention be limited other than in the manner set forth in the claims which follow.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a garment for incontinent persons, a unitary liner adapted to be attached to the inner surface of the garment to extend from front to rear throughout the crotch area, said liner consisting essentially of an elongated, longitudinally seamless, porous tubular sleeve formed from a hydrophobic material, and at least one layer ofa hydrophilic material wholly contained within and surrounded by said tubular sleeve, said tubular sleeve being in flattened condition with the layer of hydrophilic material lying in essentially flat condition within said flattened sleeve and substantially coextensive therewith, whereby said porous hydrophobic sleeve permits body fluids to pass therethrough for absorption by said enclosed layer of hydrophilic material and at the same time acts as an enclosing barrier effective to prevent the discharge of the contained body fluids by wicking action even if the liner is in contact with an outer garment or the like capable of absorbing such fluids, binding tapes surrounding the opposite ends of said sleeve and the underlying ends of the hydrophilic layer, means secured to said binding tapes for detachably connecting said liner to an outer garment, and stitching extending through said sleeve and the enclosed layer of hydrophilic material at spaced apart intervals to prevent the enclosed layers from twisting relative to the sleeve.

2. The liner claimed in claim 1 wherein said stitching is formed from thread consisting of hydrophobic fibers. l

Claims

1. In a garment for incontinent persons, a unitary liner adapted to be attached to the inner surface of the garment to extend from front to rear throughout the crotch area, said liner consisting essentially of an elongated, longitudinally seamless, porous tubular sleeve formed from a hydrophobic material, and at least one layer of a hydrophilic material wholly contained within and surrounded by said tubular sleeve, said tubular sleeve being in flattened condition with the layer of hydrophilic material lying in essentially flat condition within said flattened sleeve and substantially coextensive therewith, whereby said porous hydrophobic sleeve permits body fluids to pass therethrough for absorption by said enclosed layer of hydrophilic material and at the same time acts as an enclosing barrier effective to prevent the discharge of the contained body fluids by wicking action even if the liner is in contact with an outer garment or the like capable of absorbing such fluids, binding tapes surrounding the opposite ends of said sleeve and the underlying ends of the hydrophilic layer, means secured to said binding tapes for detachably connecting said liner to an outer garment, and stitching extending through said sleeve and the enclosed layer of hydrophilic material at spaced apart intervals to prevent the enclosed layers from twisting relative to the sleeve.

2. The liner claimed in claim 1 wherein said stitching is formed from thread consisting of hydrophobic fibers.