Sanitary apparatus with moisture level indication

• US 20080033383A1
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joy Cantor, Mark A. Cantor
• Original Assignee: Joy Cantor, Mark A. Cantor
• Inventors: Cantor, Joy, Cantor, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US11/497,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20080033383A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm

Abstract

A moisture absorbent sanitary apparatus is provided with a body, moisture absorbent material, a moisture sensor in the body, and an actuator in the body for imparting a motion to a user for indicating a level of moisture absorption. A computer-readable medium is disclosed with instructions for performing a method including receiving a signal of a moisture level in a sanitary apparatus, and transmitting a signal for driving an actuator in the sanitary apparatus.

Claims

1. A moisture absorbent sanitary apparatus comprising:

a body sized to cooperate with a body part of a user;

a moisture absorbent material provided in the body of the apparatus for absorbing moisture from the user;

a moisture sensor provided in the body of the apparatus for sensing moisture at a location of the body of the apparatus; and

an actuator provided in the body of the apparatus in communication with the moisture sensor for receiving a signal from the moisture sensor indicating a level of moisture absorption in the moisture absorbent material whereby the actuator imparts a signal to the body part of the user indicating to the user the level of moisture absorption.

2. The sanitary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the moisture sensor provides a signal to the actuator when the level of moisture absorption reached saturation of the moisture absorbent material.

3. The sanitary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuator further comprises a vibration mechanism for imparting a vibration to the body part of the user.

4. The sanitary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuator further comprises a vibration chip for imparting a vibration to the body part of the user.

5. The sanitary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuator is encased in a moisture resistant material.

6. The sanitary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor is oriented within the body of the apparatus at a location to measure a partially full condition of the absorbent material.

7. The sanitary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the moisture sensor further comprises a switch that is adapted to be actuated by moisture.

8. The sanitary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the moisture sensor further comprises a normally-closed mechanical switch with a moisture soluble material maintaining the switch in a closed position until contacted by moisture.

9. The sanitary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sanitary apparatus body is further defined as a tampon.

10. The sanitary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sanitary apparatus body is further defined as a pad.

11. The sanitary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sanitary apparatus body is further defined as a diaper.

12. The sanitary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuator further comprises an audible alarm.

13. The sanitary apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a power source.

14. The sanitary apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a manual switch for selecting a moisture detection mode.

15. The sanitary apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a normally-closed switch interrupting a circuit that includes the power source and the actuator; and

an insulator in cooperation with the switch maintaining the switch in an open orientation, wherein the user can remove the insulator for powering the circuit.

16. A moisture absorbent sanitary apparatus comprising:

a body sized to cooperate with a body part of a user;

a moisture absorbent material provided in the body of the apparatus for absorbing moisture from the user;

a moisture sensor provided in the body of the apparatus for sensing moisture at a location of the body of the apparatus; and

a vibration mechanism provided in the body of the apparatus in communication with the moisture sensor for receiving a signal from the moisture sensor indicating a level of moisture absorption in the moisture absorbent material whereby the vibration mechanism imparts a vibration to the body part of the user indicating to the user the level of moisture absorption.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

receiving a signal indicating a predefined moisture level in a moisture absorbent sanitary apparatus; and

transmitting a signal for driving an actuator in the moisture absorbent sanitary apparatus in response to receiving the signal for indicating to a user that the moisture absorbent sanitary apparatus has reached the predefined moisture level.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 having computer-executable instructions for performing a method further comprising:

receiving a signal indicating commencement of a moisture detection mode before transmitting the signal to drive the actuator.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 having computer-executable instructions for performing a method further comprising:

counting a time associated with predefined intervals; and

transmitting a signal after each interval for driving an actuator in the moisture absorbent sanitary apparatus for indicating to a user that a moisture sensor and the actuator of the moisture absorbent sanitary apparatus are operational.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 having computer-executable instructions for performing a method further comprising:

transmitting a signal for emitting an audible alarm from the moisture absorbent sanitary apparatus in response to receiving the signal for indicating to a listener that the moisture absorbent sanitary apparatus has reached the predefined moisture level.