ABSORBENT GARMENT

• US 20160089276A1
• Filed: 05/02/2014
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knix Wear Inc
• Original Assignee: Knix Wear Inc
• Inventors: Griffiths, Joanna
• Granted Patent: US 10,441,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15268 reusable with separable parts A61F13/505
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49017 the elastic means being located at the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49406 the edge leakage prevention means being at the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/496 in the form of pants or briefs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/532 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/8405 Additives, e.g. for odour, disinfectant or pH control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15276 washable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8414 with anti-microbic
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/46 Deodorants or malodour counteractants, e.g. to inhibit the formation of ammonia or bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/104 Silver, e.g. silver sulfadiazine
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents

Abstract

An undergarment includes a body portion having an upper edge defining a waistband, two leg openings and a crotch region between the leg openings; an absorbent pad on the inside of the body portion within at least the crotch region, the absorbent pad having an inner region and a peripheral region, wherein the thickness of the absorbent pad in the peripheral region is less than the thickness of the absorbent pad in the inner region; and elastic bonding film lining each of the two leg openings while overlying respective portions of the peripheral region of the absorbent pad thereby to bond the absorbent pad and the body portion. A method of manufacturing an undergarment is provided.

Claims

1. An undergarment comprising:

a body portion having an upper edge defining a waistband, two leg openings and a crotch region between the leg openings;

an absorbent pad on the inside of the body portion within at least the crotch region, the absorbent pad having an inner region and a peripheral region, wherein the thickness of the absorbent pad in the peripheral region is less than the thickness of the absorbent pad in the inner region; and

elastic bonding film lining each of the two leg openings while overlying respective portions of the peripheral region of the absorbent pad thereby to bond the absorbent pad and the body portion.

2. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the elastic bonding film is about equal to the difference in thickness of the absorbent pad in the peripheral and inner regions.

3. The undergarment of claim 1, further comprising:

a wicking layer overlying the absorbent pad within the crotch region for wicking moisture away from a user of the undergarment towards the absorbent pad.

4. The undergarment of claim 3, wherein the elastic bonding film also overlies a peripheral region of the wicking layer thereby to bond the wicking layer, the absorbent pad, and the body portion.

5. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the absorbent pad comprises an absorbent layer and a moisture-barrier layer.

6. The undergarment of claim 5, wherein the moisture barrier layer is a moisture-barrier treatment and/or film.

7. The undergarment of claim 5, wherein the absorbent layer and the moisture-barrier layer are thermal-compression bonded together about their periphery.

8. The undergarment of claim 1, further comprising a moisture-repellant adjacent to and inside the peripheral region of the absorbent pad, wherein the moisture-repellant resists passage of moisture from within the absorbent pad towards the peripheral region.

9. The undergarment of claim 3, wherein the wicking layer is adapted to spread moisture prior to reaching the absorbent pad thereby to reduce the rate at which the absorbent pad is locally saturated.

10. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the reduced-thickness peripheral region is immediately adjacent to the edges of the absorbent pad.

11. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the reduced-thickness peripheral region is spaced from the edges of the absorbent pad.

12. The undergarment of claim 7, wherein the thermo-compression increases the density of the peripheral region thereby to facilitate bonding with the elastic bonding film.

18. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein the absorbent pad comprises antimicrobial fibre.

19. The undergarment of claim 18, wherein the antimicrobial fibre comprises silver.

24. The undergarment of claim 3, wherein the wicking layer comprises cotton.

13. A method of manufacturing an undergarment comprising:

arranging an absorbent pad within at least a crotch region between two leg openings of a body portion; and

bonding the absorbent pad to the body portion by lining the leg openings with elastic bonding film so as to also overly respective portions of a peripheral region of the absorbent pad.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

prior to lining the leg openings with elastic bonding film, overlying the absorbent pad with a wicking layer, wherein the elastic bonding film also overlies a peripheral region of the wicking layer thereby to bond the wicking layer, the absorbent pad, and the body portion.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising:

thermo-compressing the peripheral region of the absorbent pad thereby to cause the peripheral region to be reduced in thickness.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the absorbent pad comprises antimicrobial fibre.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the antimicrobial fibre comprises silver.

16. An undergarment comprising a body portion having a crotch region between two leg openings and an absorbent pad bonded within the crotch region to the body portion with elastic bonding film lining the leg openings and overlying a reduced-thickness peripheral region of the absorbent pad.

17. The undergarment of claim 16, further comprising a wicking layer overlying the absorbent pad, wherein the elastic bonding film also overlies a peripheral region of the wicking layer thereby to bond the wicking layer, the absorbent pad, and the body portion.

22. The undergarment of claim 16, wherein the absorbent pad comprises antimicrobial fibre.

23. The undergarment of claim 22, wherein the antimicrobial fibre comprises silver.