Liquid-absorbing pad assembly and method of making same
AssigneeStandard Textile Co., Inc.
InventorJeffrey L. Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liquid-absorbing pad assembly and method of making same are provided wherein such assembly comprises a top layer, a bottom waterproof layer, an absorbent layer between the top and bottom layers, and a multiple-purpose structure disposed between the absorbent layer and the top layer, such structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from the top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through the structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes.
Claims34
In a liquid-absorbing pad assembly having a peripheral outline and comprising, a top layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising, a multiple-purpose structure disposed between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes,
- characterized in that
- said structure is a resilient sheet of foamed synthetic plastic material having a reticulated construction.
In a liquid-absorbing pad assembly having a peripheral outline and comprising, a top fabric layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising, a multiple-purpose structure disposed between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes,
- characterized in that
- said top fabric layer is a tricot.
In a liquid-absorbing pad assembly having a peripheral outline and comprising, a top layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising, a multiple-purpose structure disposed between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes,
- characterized in that
- adhesive means are disposed between said top layer and said multiple-purpose structure, between said multiple-purpose structure and said absorbent layer and between said absorbent layer and said bottom waterproof layer, said adhesive means having substantially no affect on the passage of liquid through said pad assembly.
A liquid absorbing pad adapted for use by persons suffering from incontinence, said pad being of generally rectangular outline and comprising
- a bottom waterproof layer having a given outline,
- an absorbent layer, having the same given outline, superposed directly on said bottom layer,
- a reticulated, resilient, multi-purpose structure layer, having the same given outline, superposed directly on said absorbent layer,
- a liquid permeable top layer, having the same given outline, superposed directly on said absorbent layer, and
- means joining the peripheral edges of said layers,
- said multi-purpose structure layer being characterized by providing
- a. cushioning means for the pad,
- b. means enabling immediate passage of liquid therethrough from the top layer to the absorbent layer,
- c. means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through the multi-purpose structure layer, and
- d. a suspension for the top layer which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes.
In a method of making a liquid-absorbing pad assembly which has a peripheral outline, said method comprising the steps of, providing a top layer, providing a bottom waterproof layer, and disposing an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising the steps of, providing a multiple-purpose structure, disposing said structure between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes,
- characterized in that
- the step of providing said structure comprises
- providing said structure as a resilient sheet of foamed synthetic plastic material having a reticulated construction.
In a method of making a liquid-absorbing pad assembly which has a peripheral outline, said method comprising the steps of, providing a top layer, providing a bottom waterproof layer, and laminating an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising the steps of, providing a multiple-purpose structure, and laminating said multiple-purpose structure between said absorbent layer and said top layer and inwardly of said peripheral outline employing adhesive means, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes, said adhesive means having substantially no effect on the passage of liquid through said pad assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.