WO1999051179A1

WO1999051179A1 - Improvements to disposable diapers

Info

Publication number: WO1999051179A1
Application number: PCT/ES1999/000083
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vittorio Bonacini
Original assignee: Vittorio Bonacini
Priority date: 1998-04-06
Filing date: 1999-03-30
Publication date: 1999-10-14
Also published as: AU2935899A; ES2135354B1; ES2135354A1

Abstract

The improvements comprise incorporating into a conventional diaper (1) a sensor (2) capable of detecting a predetermined level of liquid or solid deposition, the sensor being activated so that the corresponding signal is sent to a receiving/warning device (3) which translates the signal from the sensor (2) into an acoustic and/or light signal. The sensor (2) is supplied through an electric supplier (4) and the closing of the corresponding circuit is done through the bridge which is created between pairs of free poles, terminals or humidity sensing probes (5), due to solid or liquid deposition onto the diaper (1). With these improvements, it is possible to known instantaneously if a baby or an incontinent adult must be attended in order to change the diaper because of a deposition.

Description

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IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN DISPOSABLE diapers

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a series of improvements introduced in the classic disposable diapers that can be constituted in any type of material of those conventionally used or in others that are appropriate for its function, also being able to have the appropriate shapes and sizes for its correct positioning. or application in the user, either baby or adult. The improvements consist of the incorporation of an electronic circuit in sensor functions to detect certain levels of depositions, both liquid (urine) and solid (fecal), and activate a receiver / alarm that translates the signal from the sensor into another visual signal, acoustic or acoustic-musical, adjustable.

The object of the invention is essentially to know, a priori and with certainty, the exact, most opportune and convenient time to change the diaper to a baby or any adult with incontinence problems, without suffering the complications and disadvantages of re-undressing often to users, which is annoying, especially at night, in the case of no real need.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently there is no known system that makes it possible to know if a child, baby or adult with - two -

Incontinence, you need a diaper changed, either for having made a liquid or solid deposition.

Given these facts, two situations can occur, one in which the child or adult with incontinence makes his deposition and maintains it for a prolonged period of time, with the inconveniences from the point of view of health that this entails, and another that has an impact on The person in charge of watching over that person, having to constantly be aware of whether the person he is watching needs a diaper change for having made the corresponding deposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improvements that have been advocated have been designed to solve this problem to full satisfaction, based on a simple but highly effective solution.

More specifically, the improvements consist in that on the diaper itself an electronic circuit is included that will act as a sensor, which will allow to detect certain levels of solid or liquid depositions in diapers of babies or incontinent people; with the particularity that this sensor circuit, by means of low voltage electrical conduction, emission or reflection of electromagnetic or ultrasonic waves, will activate a receiver / alarm that, connected to the electric or autonomous network, translates the signal from the sensor into a visual signal or acoustic-musical, adjustable.

The receiver / adviser must be located in the area close to the user, and may in turn - 3 -

reproduce the alert or warning status in a more remote area by means of another new receiver, fixed or portable, close to the person interested or in charge of monitoring the user.

As for the sensor itself, it will have means through which the activation circuit will be closed, means that are constituted by pairs of electrical poles, humidity detection probes or terminals integrated in the diaper itself that allow establishing an electrical bridge when there is a deposition, according to certain previously established levels.

Said sensor, which will be connected to these terminals, electrical poles or humidity detecting probes, by means of corresponding microconductors, may be integrated into the diaper itself during the manufacturing process thereof, and a disposable element may be combined with said diaper, or it may go attached, under appropriate modifications, a posteriori, specifically at the time prior to the use or application of the diaper on the user.

In order to achieve a simplification and reduction in the size of the sensor, it will be enough that it is made to maintain the signal for a few seconds, long enough for the receiver to deactivate on its own, or, if the signal persists at Regular intervals the alarm will be maintained permanently until the person concerned becomes aware, deactivates it and arranges it for a new cycle.

To avoid changes that are too continuous (high - 4 -

consumption) on the one hand, or on the contrary infrequent (harmful to the user), it is expected that the sensor emits the corresponding signal when the deposition levels exceed a lintel or barrier that is considered harmful to the user's skin, of so that as a consequence that these levels will vary with age, as well as the retention capacities of the respective diapers, sensors with different comparative resistances can be manufactured, which determine the activation point according to the development of the user.

Likewise, sensors can be manufactured with only incontinent and adult people in mind, considering the retention capacities of their diapers, as well as the volumes of depositions and their analytical data.

It should also be said that the sensor can have simultaneous double detection capacity (solid and liquid depositions), or differentiated in one way or another. Similarly, the receiver could individually distinguish both signals and translate them differently for greater knowledge of the responsible person.

Undoubtedly, the sensor can be materialized with the most suitable components for the intended function, as well as the receiver, which can even take the form of a key ring or any decorative object, with the appropriate means, such as switch, pilot light signaling, buzzer, etc.

On the other hand, it is noteworthy that the - 5 -

The sensor can be integrated in the diaper itself and form a disposable element with it, as previously stated, or be external and attached at the time of the application of the diaper on the user.

In the event that said sensor is external, it can be independent, or form a set with the corresponding power supply, or even form a set of the sensor, the power supply and the receiver itself.

Based on the aforementioned characteristics, the advantages and benefits that are achieved through the improvements of the invention can be summarized as follows:

- It is not annoying or harmful to the baby or the incontinent.

- The free poles or terminals by which the electric bridge will be determined, can be positioned in the diaper, at the time of production, and differently depending on the gender of the diaper user.

- It is visible and audible, as eventually disturbed by the user's sleep and as practically have to check the need for change.

- Low production cost of the sensor element inserted in the diaper.

- It is not inconvenient when the sensor is inserted into the diaper manufacturing process. - 6 -

- The electronic circuit of the sensor element will be isolated by moisture.

- The sensor, in the case of being integrated in the diaper, has sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the manufacturing phase of that and the packaging itself.

- The signal or impulse emitted by the sensor to the receiver can be caused by an electromagnetic wave, infrared rays, ultrasound wave or by means of a reflection.

- The receiver, which receives the signal or sensor signal, has a relatively low cost.

- The power supply is reusable in any of the versions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. In an illustrative and non-limiting manner, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation in perspective of a diaper provided with the sensor forming an integral part thereof, the feeder and receiver being external and independent. - 7 -

Figure 2. - Shows another view like the one in the previous figure, in which the sensor is external and forms in conjunction with the feeder, while the receiver remains independent.

Figure 3. - Shows a view like the previous ones, but in this case with the power supply, the receiver and the sensor forming a single external set.

Figure 4.- Shows a schematic view of the circuit that constitutes the sensor.

Figure 5.- Shows, finally, a view of one of the multiple forms of external materialization of the receiver / annunciator.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in the aforementioned figures, the improvements of the invention are applicable to any type of diaper (1), constituted in the most diverse and appropriate materials, with the size, shape and characteristics that are most convenient in each case. The improvements focus on the fact that said diaper (1) is complemented by a sensor (2) capable of detecting a liquid or solid deposition and sending the corresponding signal to an external receiver / alarm (3), the sensor being ( 2) connected to an electric feeder (4). The circuit corresponding to the sensor (2) is closed by means of pairs of free terminals (5), electrical poles or humidity detection probes, which are integrated in the diaper (1) itself, and which are connected to the sensor (2) by microconductors (6). - 8 -

The sensor (2) can be integrated in the diaper itself (1), as shown in Figure 1, in which case the corresponding power supply conductors (between the power supply (4) and the sensor (2)) are provided. 6 '). In this case the sensor (2) forms a disposable element together with the diaper (1).

In another variant embodiment, the sensor (2) can be external as shown in Figure 2, in which case it can form a unique assembly (7) with the feeder, being reusable.

In a third variant embodiment, the sensor (2) is also external as in the previous case and in addition to forming together with the feeder it also forms a joint with the receiver, being equally reusable and removable.

The signal from the sensor (2) and that is sent to the receiver / alarm (3), is transformed by it into a signal that can be luminous, acoustic, acoustic-musical, adjustable.

In the first alternative embodiment, that is, when the sensor (2) is an integral part of the diaper (1), it will be incorporated at the time of manufacture of the diaper, so that the poles (5) will determine a bridge with a resistance lower than that of comparison, when a liquid or solid deposition is carried out by the user. In this first alternative of embodiment it has already been said that the sensor together with the diaper form a disposable assembly, while the receiver (3) and feeder (4) are - 9 -

External and reusable.

In the second variant embodiment, that is, when the sensor (2) and the feeder (4) are external to the diaper (1), and those form a single set, they will constitute reusable elements, so that inside the diaper only The microconductors (6) will be included and logically the poles, terminals or probes (5) by which the bridge is established before the depositions, both liquid and solid.

In the third variant embodiment, that is, in that in which the sensor, feeder and receiver are external and form a set, it will be reusable and removable.

Although the aforementioned components will have reduced dimensions, the sensor (2) can have a catchment or influence area as large as desired, externally presenting a compact and embedded form in harmless plastic material, presenting a contact surface of materials such as cellulose, gauze and other used in diaper manufacturing.

Figure 4 shows the circuit diagram corresponding to the sensor (2), which includes an integrated circuit (7), a pair of comparison resistors (8-8 *), a transmitter (9) and the corresponding pairs of poles (10-10 ') or humidity detection probes, so that the integrated circuit (7) compares the resistance value (8) between the poles (10) with respect to the resistance value (8 *), so that if its value is lower, the transmitter circuit (9) will be closed, logically depending on the level of deposition. - 10 -

Finally, in figure 5 a concrete embodiment can be observed, as far as external configuration is concerned, of the receiver (3), being in this case materialized in a kind of key ring that externally can be provided with certain data, as they can be the name of the user or other features, always with an on / off switch (11), a light signaling pilot (12), which corresponds to the visual signal, and a buzzer or alarm (13) corresponding to the signal acoustics.

It is not considered necessary to make this description more extensive so that any person skilled in the art understands the scope of the invention and the advantages derived therefrom.

The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements will be subject to variation as long as this does not imply an alteration in the essentiality of the invention.

The terms in which this report has been written must always be taken in a broad and non-limiting sense.

Claims

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R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S

1§.- Improvements introduced in disposable diapers, which being applicable in diapers constituted in any type of appropriate materials, with shapes and sizes suitable to be used comfortably and effectively, both by children and adults with incontinence, are characterized because they consist of that the diaper (1) itself incorporates an electronic circuit in functions of sensor (2) that allows to detect certain levels of solid or liquid depositions in the diaper, sensor (2) that, through low voltage electrical conduction, emission or reflection of electromagnetic or ultrasonic waves, activates a receiver / alarm (3) conveniently connected to an autonomous electrical network, which translates the signal from the sensor (2) into another visual and / or acoustic signal; with the particularity that the sensor (2) is connected, in addition to an electric feeder (4), to pairs of free poles, terminals or humidity detecting probes (5) that establish a bridge that closes the sensor activation circuit (2), before a solid or liquid deposition.

2 ^ .- Improvements introduced in disposable diapers, according to claim 1 ^§ , characterized in that the free poles, terminals or humidity detecting probes (5) integrated in the diaper (1) are connected to the sensor (2) through microconductors (6 ), while said sensor (2) is connected to the feeder (4) by conductors (6 ¹ ), said sensor and the diaper (1) forming a disposable assembly.

3 ^§ .- Improvements introduced in disposable diapers, - 12 -

according claim 1 ^§, characterized in that the sensor (2) is external to the diaper (1), incorporating this free poles, terminals or probes detecting moisture (5) and corresponding microconductors (6), by docking said external sensor (2) to the diaper (1) at the time of its application in the user; with the particularity that said sensor (2) and power supply (4) form a single reusable and independent receiver set (3).

4a.- Improvements introduced in disposable diapers, according to claim 1 ^§ , characterized in that the sensor (2) is external to the diaper (1), incorporating the free poles, terminals or probes (5) and the corresponding microconductors (6), forming said sensor (2) a set with the receiver (3) and the power supply (4), reusable.

5 ^§ .- Improvements introduced in disposable diapers, according to previous claims, characterized in that the circuit corresponding to the sensor (2) includes an integrated circuit (7), a pair of resistors object of comparison (8-8 ¹ ), the first of them sandwiched between the corresponding poles, terminals or probes (10) which is compared with the resistance (8 ') taken as a reference; it being provided that the resistance (8) determines the deposition levels to allow the establishment of the electric bridge of activation of the emitter (9).

6 ^§ .- Improvements introduced in disposable diapers, according to claims 1 ^ to 4 ^§ , characterized in that the receiver (3) is capable of being constituted by a body of any configuration, in which there is a - 13 -

switch (11) for switching on / off or for choosing acoustic or visual signal, also including a display element established by a light signal, and a sound or buzzer element (13).

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FIG. 2 3/4

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FIG. 3 4/4

FIG. 4

FIG. 5