MOISTURE INDICATING STRIP FOR DIAPERS AND SURGICAL DRESSINGS

• US 3,731,685 A
• Filed: 04/01/1971
• Issued: 05/08/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William Eidus
• Original Assignee: William Eidus
• Inventors: Eidus, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, Charles F.
• Application Number:
  US05/130,305
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 128/284,287,296 116/114AM
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm

Abstract

A moisture indicating strip for use with diapers, surgical dressings and the like. One end of the strip is attached to the garment whose wet condition is to be detected. The other end of the strip is impregnated with a chemical which changes color when wet. The strip is capable of supporting capillary action so that moisture in the garment is transported to the chemical which then changes color so that the wet condition of the garment can be verified visually.

Claims

1. A moisture indicating device for attachment to a garment such as a diaper, surgical dressing or the like comprising a strip of material having an elongated body which supports capillary action, means for securing one end portion of said strip within said garment in an area having an anticipated wet condition to be verified visually, and chemical means disposed at the other end portion of said strip, said elongated strip body being of sufficient length such that when said one end portion is secured within said garment, said other end portion extends outwardly beyond the edge of the garment and is exposed to view outside said garment, said chemical means comprising a moistureresponsive chemical impregnating said exposed end portion for presenting a visible color indication on said exposed end portion when contacted by moisture travelling by capillary action from said first end portion within the garment along the length of said strip body to said other end portion outside said garment.

2. A moisture indicating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said securing means is a pressure-sensitive adhesive coated on said one end portion of said strip.

3. A moisture indicating device in accordance with claim 2 further including a transparent plastic sleeve around said other end portion of said strip for preventing dripping of liquids therefrom.

4. A moisture indicating device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said strip is made of a long narrow length of gauze-like material and said chemical means is impregnated therein.

5. A moisture indicating device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said strip is made of a continuous length of gauze-like material and said chemical means is impregnated therein.

6. A moisture indicating device in accordance with claim 1 further including a transparent plastic sleeve around said other end portion of said strip for preventing dripping of liquids therefrom.

7. A moisture indicating device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said strip is made of a continuous length of gauze-like material and said chemical means is a substantially colorless water-soluble agent which will provide a color stain when wet.

8. A garment having a moisture indicating device attached thereto, said moisture indicating device comprising an elongated strip of material which supports capillary action and having one of its ends attached within said garment at a part thereof which it is anticipated will become internally wet, and chemical means disposed at the other end of said strip for changing color when moisture in said garment is transported thereto along the length of said strip by capillary action, the length of said strip being sufficient to locate said other end thereof with said chemical means externally of said garment in an exposed position in which color changes in said chemical means are visible from outside said garment.

9. A garment in accordance with claim 8 further including a transparent plastic sleeve around said other end of said strip for preventing dripping of liquids therefrom.

10. A garment in accordance with claim 9 wherein said strip is made of gauze-like material and said chemical means is impregnated therein.

11. A garment in accordance with claim 10 wherein said garment is a baby diaper.

12. A garment in accordance with claim 10 wherein said garment is a surgical dressing.

13. A garment in accordance with claim 9 wherein said garment is a baby diaper.

14. A garment in accordance with claim 9 wherein said garment is a surgical dressing.

15. A garment in accordance with claim 9 wherein said garment is a baby diaper.

16. A garment in accordance with claim 8 wherein said garment is a surgical dressing.

17. A garment in accordance with claim 8 wherein said strip is made of gauze-like material and said chemical means is impregnated therein.

18. A garment in accordance with claim 17 wherein said garment is a baby diaper.

19. A garment in accordance with claim 17 wherein said garment is a surgical dressing.