WO2005034824A1

WO2005034824A1 - Nursing pad

Info

Publication number: WO2005034824A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/004232
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rebecca Lewis
Original assignee: Dailys Limited
Priority date: 2003-10-07
Filing date: 2004-10-07
Publication date: 2005-04-21
Also published as: GB2406796B; GB0323387D0; GB2406796A; GB0422034D0

Abstract

A nursing pad as proposed which comprises three layers. A first layer (1) designed to be placed next to the skin to wick away moisture is made from a man-made material such as a knitted polyester. The second layer comprises an absorbing layer made of a needle punch felt such as 50:50 polyester viscose mix. The third layer is made from a breathable but milk proof layer such as a woven nylon layer laminated to a membrane that is mircoporous. The three layers are preferably formed into a cup shape and sealed together around their periphery by ultrasonic welding. The invention also proposes a method of manufacturing the nursing pad comprising superimposing the three layers of material, presenting them to a 3-dimensional mould to shape the layers, and securing the layers together.

Description

Title: Nursing pad

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a nursing pad. Nursing pads are purchased by mothers who breast feed their babies. The pad is placed against the breast and prevents milk leakage, when a baby is not on the breast, from permeating through the mother's clothing. The most popular products on the market today are disposable nursing pads which are made from pulp, non-woven material and a polythene backing. However, because the item is disposable it has to be within a price range that allows the purchaser to throw it away. By anticipating an acceptable degree of absorbcncy, an amount of pulp is sandwiched between a polythene backing on the pad on a non- woven fabric. An inexpensive circular shaped pad can be produced that will absorb an amount of mother's milk at an acceptable price. Nevertheless, disposable pads have serious limitations. The use of a plastic backing in order to stop the milk coming through, stops air circulation to the skin and can cause infection, exacerbating mastitis and creating problems for feeding the baby. Furtheπriore, the type of pulp used does not allow the mother to wear them for any length of time before the pad becomes saturated. The majority of known non-disposable pads are flat. Attempts to shape the pads to conform more closely to the breast have been made by taking a slice out of a circular piece of material and bringing the edges back together to produce a cone. The material is then stitched back together. However, the line of stitching creates a leak along the line where the needle has punctured the fabric. The present invention aims to overcome the above-mentioned problems and to provide an advantageous construction of nursing pads. Accordingly, the present invention provides a nursing pad comprising a first wicking layer of say polyester knit, a second absorbent layer of say needle punch felt, and a third layer breathable layer comprising say a breathable woven nylon with a laminated membrane that is microporous. In use the first wicking layer is placed next to the skin. It is a man-made fibre. Any liquid presented to the first layer passes through it and is blotted by the absorbent layer. Thus liquid is drawn from the first wicking layer to leave the fabric next to the skin dry. In effect the first layer acts as a filter. The third layer will stop liquid passing therethrough to the exterior of the pad, but due to its construction will allow the pad and hence the skin to breathe. The resulting construction is washable permitting re-use. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of manufacturing a nursing pad comprising three superimposed layers of material, presenting the overlying layers to a 3-dimensional mould to shape the layers into a desired shape, and securing together the three layers. Preferably the method further comprises bringing together the three layers of material in overlying relation prior to presenting to the mould and cutting out a desired shape, conveniently a circular shape. Preferably the cutting and shaping operation takes place at the same station. The resulting pad has the advantage that it is considerably more comfortable to wear. The pad can be designed to absorb more milk than is the case with a disposable pad. For convenience it is proposed to provide a small mesh bag in which a plurality of the pads can be put for washing in a washing machine. Placing a number of pads in a bag lessens the likelihood of them being lost. Preferably a plurality of the pads are packaged in a circular plastics container. The present invention will now be described further hereinafter by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a front view of a nursing pad according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a cross section A-A of figure 1. A nursing pad according to the present invention comprising a first wicking layer 1. A second absorbing layer 3 and a third breathable layer 5. The three layers are disposed in overlying relation and formed into a dished shape, conveniently in a mould and cut out and ultrasonically sealed around the periphery. A suitable first layer is a knitted polyester say 70 grams weight. It allows liquid to pass through and will not retain fluid, which is blotted by the needle punch material of the second layer. A suitable second layer is made up of 50% polyester and 50% viscose. Viscose is used for absorbency whereas the polyester content allows an ultrasonic seal to be achieved. A suitable third layer is made up of 60% PES and 40% PU. A weight of 77 gram per square meter is envisaged as suitable. The PES is laminated with the PU which is microporous. The described example has been tested for liquid resistance, gives a shrinkage of less than 2%, is washable at 40°C and dry cleanable, and is produced under ISO standards.

Claims

1. A nursing pad comprising a first wicking layer, a second absorbent layer, and a third breathable layer.

2. A nursing pad as claimed in claim 1 in which the first wicking layer is a man made fibre.

3. A nursing pad as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the first wicking layer comprises a polyester knit.

4. A nursing pad as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the second absorbant layer comprises a needle punch felt.

5. A nursing pad as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the breathable layer comprises a breathable woven nylon with a laminated membrane that is microporous.

6. A nursing pad as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which, in use, the first wicking layer is arranged to be placed nearest to the skin.

7. A nursing pad as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the three layers are disposed in overlying relation and formed into a dished or cup shape.

8. A nursing pad as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the three layers are connected together by a continuous line of ultrasonic sealing.

9. A nursing pad as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the three layers are ultrasonically sealed together around their periphery.

10. A nursing pad as claimed in claim 3 in which the knitted polyester has a weight of 70grams per square metre.

1 1. A nursing pad as claimed in claim 4 in which the second layer comprises 50% polyester and 50% viscose.

12. A nursing pad as claimed in claim 5 in which the third layer comprises 60% PES and 40% PU.

13. A method of manufacturing a nursing pad comprising three superimposed layers of material, presenting the overlying layers to a 3-dimensional mould to shape the layers into a desired shape, and securing together the three layers.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 and further comprising bringing together the three layers of material in overlying relation prior to presenting to the mould and cutting out a desired shape.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13 or 15 in which the desired shape is circular.

16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15 in which the cutting and shaping operation takes place at the same time.

17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16 in which the layers are secured together by a continuous line of ultrasonic weld.

18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17 when the three layers comprise a wicking layer, an absorbent layer and a breathable layer.

19. A nursing pad as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 and further comprising a mesh bag dimensioned to accommodate a plurality of the nursing pads.

20. A nursing pad constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

21. A method of manufacturing a nursing pad substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.