Wetness indicator for absorbent pads
First Claim
1. An improved wetness indicating means in combination with an absorbent assembly in which said assembly is comprised of an absorbent pad and a light-transmitting fluid-impervious backing sheet in association with said pad, said indicating means comprising a water-dispersible coloring agent temporarily affixed to one surface of a carrier means disposed in association with, but separate from, said pad at the interface of said pad and said backing sheet, said pad being free of said coloring agent and said coloring agent being of sufficient intensity to be visible through said backing sheet when said agent is in dry condition, said coloring agent being present in an amount such that when said agent is contacted with aqueous fluid in areas where said pad becomes wetted out due to absorption of said fluid in said pad areas during use, that portion of said agent which is contacted by said fluid in said wetted out pad areas disperses in said fluid and is transported by said fluid away from said carrier means into said wetted out pad areas whereby the dispersed portion of said coloring agent is no longer visible through said backing sheet, the degree and area of the visual disappearance of said agent indicating the degree and area of wetness in said pad.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wetness indicator for an absorbent pad assembly in which the pads have light-transmitting backing sheets. The indicator comprises a water-dispersible or water-soluble coloring agent affixed to a carrier means adjacent the absorbent pad and of sufficient intensity to be readily visible through the backing sheet when the pad is dry but which after being wetted by aqueous body fluids becomes substantially invisible. The coloring agent may be used by itself or with a suitable binder. It may also be used alone or in combination with a permanent color pattern or design which latter remains visible after wetting.
275 Citations
19 Claims
- 1. An improved wetness indicating means in combination with an absorbent assembly in which said assembly is comprised of an absorbent pad and a light-transmitting fluid-impervious backing sheet in association with said pad, said indicating means comprising a water-dispersible coloring agent temporarily affixed to one surface of a carrier means disposed in association with, but separate from, said pad at the interface of said pad and said backing sheet, said pad being free of said coloring agent and said coloring agent being of sufficient intensity to be visible through said backing sheet when said agent is in dry condition, said coloring agent being present in an amount such that when said agent is contacted with aqueous fluid in areas where said pad becomes wetted out due to absorption of said fluid in said pad areas during use, that portion of said agent which is contacted by said fluid in said wetted out pad areas disperses in said fluid and is transported by said fluid away from said carrier means into said wetted out pad areas whereby the dispersed portion of said coloring agent is no longer visible through said backing sheet, the degree and area of the visual disappearance of said agent indicating the degree and area of wetness in said pad.
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeKimberly-Clark Corporation
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Original AssigneeKimberly-Clark Corporation
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InventorsEndres, Dan D., Timmons, Terry K.
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Primary Examiner(s)Crowder, Clifford D.
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Application NumberUS05/620,659Time in Patent Office580 DaysField of Search128/284, 128/287, 128/288, 128/286, 128/290 R, 128/296, 116/114 AM, 116/114 R, 116/114 AJUS Class Current604/361CPC Class CodesA61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or a...A61F 2013/8497 having decorations or indic...
