Hygienic products and fabrics therefor

An absorbent textile fabric adapted to provide a dry feel on one surface thereof,

• said fabric having separate hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties, and comprising
• a top portion of finite thickness, an outer portion of which defines the upper surface of the fabric,
• a bottom portion of finite thickness, an outer portion of which defines the lower surface of the fabric, and
• a central portion in which inner end portions of the top and bottom portions and ground yarn means interconnected therewith and providing dimensional stability for the fabric,
• said top portion being characterized that it comprises a piling formed by hydrophobic yarns, inner end portions of which extend into the central portion,
• said top portion being further characterized in that said hydrophobic yarn piling wicks liquid from the upper surface of the fabric into the central portion and in incapable of retaining any substantial amount of liquid therein,
• said bottom portion being characterized in that it comprises a piling formed by hydrophilic yarns, inner end portions of which extend into the central portion,
• said bottom portion being further characterized in that said hydrophilic yarn piling wicks liquid from the central portion into the remainder of the yarn piling and provides a reservoir function in retaining the liquid,
• further characterized in that
• the hydrophobic yarn of the top portion essentially consists of texturized yarn comprised of continuous filaments of a polymeric material, and
• the ground yarn means has a relatively high strength,
• whereby, the upper surface of the fabric has a dry feel shortly after liquid is discharged thereon.

An absorbent textile fabric adapted to provide a dry feel on one surface thereof,

• said fabric having separate hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties, and comprising
• a top portion formed by hydrophobic yarn piling, outer portions of the hydrophobic piling yarns defining the upper surface of the fabric,
• a bottom portion formed by hydrophilic yarn piling, outer portions of the hydrophilic piling yarns defining the lower surface of the fabric, and
• a central portion comprising inner end portions of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic piling yarns and ground yarn means interconnected with said piling yarns and providing dimensional stability for the fabric,
• said top portion being characterized in that said hydrophobic yarn piling wicks liquid from the upper surface of the fabric into the central portion and is incapable of retaining any substantial amount of liquid therein,
• said bottom portion being characterized in that said hydrophilic yarn piling wicks liquid from the central portion into the remainder of the yarn piling and provides a reservoir function in retaining the liquid,
• further characterized in that
• the bottom portion hydrophilic yarn piling approximates fifty percent of the fabric weight,
• the top portion hydrophobic yarn comprises at least 30% of the weight of the fabric and
• the balance of the fabric weight is formed by the ground yarn means,
• whereby, the upper surface of the fabric has a dry feel shortly after liquid is discharged thereon.

A liquid absorbent incontinent pad adapted to be interposed between an incontinent and a generally flat supporting surface, said pad including

• a hygienic panel adapted to contact the person of an incontinent and absorb liquid discharged by the incontinent,
• a barrier sheet forming the lower exterior surface of said pad and adapted to contain liquid discharged by the user, and
• means for securing said hygienic panel and barrier sheet is superposed, assembled relation,
• characterized in that
• the hygienic panel is an integrally knit, piled fabric having separate hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties, and comprising
• a central ground portion,
• a top portion formed by hydrophobic yarn piling projecting upwardly from the central ground portion and defining the upper surface of said pad, and
• a bottom portion, formed by hydrophilic yarn piling projecting downwardly from said central portion and defining the lower surface of the fabric,
• said central portion comprising inner end portions of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic yarns and ground yarn means interconnected with said piling yarns and providing dimensional stability for the fabric, and
• further characterized in that
• the top piling portion has the capability of wicking liquid from the upper surface of said pad and
• the bottom piling portion has the capability of absorbing liquid and providing a reservoir function to minimize the liquid in the top piling portion and particularly the upper surface which is contacted by the incontinent, and
• the inner end portions of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic yarns and the ground yarn of the central portion are knitted together in overlapping juxtaposition with each other, and
• said central portion has a high density of yarns which facilitates dispersal of liquid from the top portion into the bottom portion and further provides a barrier inhibiting reverse flow of liquid therethrough, thereby minimizing passage of liquid from the bottom portion of the top portion as a result of pressures on the fabric, and
• the ground yarn means has a relatively high strength,
• whereby, the upper surface of the incontinent pad has a dry feel shortly after liquid is discharged thereon.

A liquid absorbent incontinent pad adapted to be interposed between an incontinent and a generally flat supporting surface, said pad including a hygienic panel having an upper surface adapted to contact the person of an incontinent and absorb liquid discharged by the incontinent,

• a barrier sheet forming the lower exterior surface of said pad and adapted to contain liquid discharged by the user, and
• means for securing said hygienic panel and barrier sheet in superposed, assembled relation,
• characterized in that
• said hygienic panel has separate hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties, and comprises
• a fabric constructed with
• a top portion, of finite thickness, an outer portion of which defines the upper surface of the incontinent pad,
• a bottom portion of finite thickness, an outer portion of which defines the lower surface of the panel, and
• a central portion in which inner end portions of the top said bottom portion are intermeshed,
• said top portion being characterized in that it is formed of hydrophobic yarns, inner end portions of which extend into the central portion,
• said top portion being further characterized in that it is hydrophobic and wicks liquid from the upper surface of the fabric to the central portion and is incapable of retaining any substantial amount of liquid therein,
• said bottom portion being further characterized in that it is formed of hydrophilic yarns, inner end portions of which extend into said central portion,
• said bottom portion being further characterized in that it wicks liquid from the central portion into the remainder of the bottom portion and provides a reservoir function in retaining the liquid,
• further characterized in that
• the hydrophobic yarn of the top portion essentially consists of a texturized yarn comprised of continuous filaments of a polymeric material, and
• the ground yarn means has a relatively high strength,
• whereby, the upper surface of the incontinent pad has a dry feel shortly after liquid is discharged thereon.

A hygienic product in the form of an incontinent pad, comprising

• an absorbent hygienic panel, said panel having a large lateral extent relative to its thickness, and
• an underlying barrier sheet of approximately the same lateral extent,
• characterized in that
• the hygienic panel and barrier sheet are flexible and tend to fold as an incontinent shifts his body position thereon,
• said product further comprising
• a flat stiffener sheet disposed between the hygienic panel and the barrier sheet,
• said stiffener sheet being characterized by a resilient characteristic tending to maintain it in a flat condition, thereby minimizing the tendency of the product to fold,
• said stiffener sheet being further characterized by having sufficient flexibility to avoid uncomfortable pressure concentrations on the person of the incontinent.

A diaper adapted to be worn by an incontinent in the fashion of a garment. said diaper including

• a hygienic panel forming the inner surface of the diaper and adapted to contact the person of an incontinent and absorb liquid discharged by the incontinent,
• a barrier sheet forming the outer, exterior surface of said pad and adapted to contain liquid discharged by the user, and
• means for securing said hygienic panel and barrier sheet in superposed, assembled relation,
• characterized in that
• the hygienic panel is an integrally knit, piled fabric having separate hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties and comprising
• a central ground portion,
• a top portion formed by hydrophobic yarn piling projecting upwardly from the central ground portion and defining the inner surface of said diaper, and
• a bottom portion, formed by hydrophilic yarn piling projecting downwardly from said central portion and defining the lower, outer surface of the fabric,
• said central portion comprising inner end portions of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic yarns and ground yarn means interconnected with said piling yarns and providing dimensional stability for the fabric, and
• further characterized in that
• the top piling portion has the capability of wicking liquid form the inner surface of said diaper, and
• the bottom piling portion has the capability of absorbing liquid and providing a reservoir function to minimize the liquid in the top piling portion and particularly the inner surface which is contacted by the incontinent, and
• the inner end portions of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic yarns and the ground yarn of the central portion are knitted together in overlapping juxtaposition with each other, and
• said central portion has a high density of yarns which facilitates dispersal of liquid from the top portion into the bottom portion and further provides a barrier inhibiting reverse flow of liquid therethrough thereby minimizing passage of liquid from the bottom portion of the top portion as a result of pressures on the fabric, and
• the ground yarn means has a relatively high strength,
• whereby the inner surface of the incontinent pad has a dry feel shortly after liquid is discharged thereon.

A diaper adapted to be worn by an incontinent in the fashion of a garment, said diaper including

• a hygienic panel having an upper surface forming the inner surface of the diaper and adapted to contact the person of an incontinent and absorb liquid discharged by the incontinent,
• a barrier sheet forming the outer, exterior surface of said pad and adapted to contain liquid discharged by the user, and
• means for securing said hygienic panel and barrier sheet is superposed, assembled relation,
• characterized in that
• said hygienic panel has separate hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties, and comprises
• a fabric constructed with
• a top portion, of finite thickness, an outer portion of which defines the inner surface of the diaper,
• a bottom portion of finite thickness, an outer portion of which defines the lower surface of the panel, and
• a central portion in which inner end portions of the top and bottom portions are intermeshed,
• said top portion being characterized in that it is formed of hydrophobic yarns, inner end portions of which extend into the central portion,
• said top portion being further characterized in that it is hydrophobic and wicks liquid from the upper surface of the fabric to the central portion and is incapable of retaining any substantial amount of liquid therein,
• said bottom portion being further characterized in that it is formed of hydrophilic yarns, inner end portions of which extend into said central portion,
• said bottom portion being further characterized in that it is formed of hydrophilic yarns, inner end portions of which extend into said central portion,
• said bottom portion being further characterized in that it wicks liquid from the central portion into the remainder of the bottom portion and provides a reservoir function in retaining the liquid,
• further characterized in that
• a hydrophobic yarn of the top portion essentially consists of a texturized yarn comprised of continuous filaments of a polymeric material, and
• the ground yarn means has a relatively high strength,
• whereby, the upper surface of the panel has a dry feel shortly after liquid is discharged thereon.

A diaper comprising

• a hygienic panel
• a barrier sheet, and
• means securing the panel and barrier sheet is superposed relation,
• said panel and barrier sheet is superposed relation,
• said panel and barrier sheet compositely forming
• a front portion and
• a back portion,
• the front portion being adapted to overlie the abdomen of an infant with its top edge generally in the area of the infant's navel button,
• characterized in that
• the means for securing the hygienic panel and the barrier sheet comprises
• a relatively soft binding tape extending across the width of said top edge to minimize irritation of the belly button, and
• impervious binding tape means secured to the remaining marginal edge portions of the hygienic panel and the barrier sheet.