Moisture detecting devices such as for diapers and diapers having such devices
First Claim
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1. A wetness detector for a detecting electrolytic wetness in a first area, said first area being subject to wetness, comprising:
- a first electrode projecting into the first area;
a second electrode spaced from the first electrode and projecting into the first area;
a sensing device in a second area protected from wetness in said first area and non-conductively coupled to each of said electrodes and responsive to the impedance between said electrodes in said first area so as to produce a signal when the first area becomes wet and electrolytic wetness couples the electrodes in the first area.
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Abstract
A pair of spaced electrodes within an area subject to wetness couple non-conductively with a sensor protected from wetness, and an alarm sounds in response to moisture decreasing the resistance between the electrodes. For example the electrodes project into the absorbent material of a diaper and extend along the inside of the diaper sheath opposite a pouch on the outside of the sheath. The pouch contains a sensor capacitively coupled to the electrodes.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A wetness detector for a detecting electrolytic wetness in a first area, said first area being subject to wetness, comprising:
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a first electrode projecting into the first area; a second electrode spaced from the first electrode and projecting into the first area; a sensing device in a second area protected from wetness in said first area and non-conductively coupled to each of said electrodes and responsive to the impedance between said electrodes in said first area so as to produce a signal when the first area becomes wet and electrolytic wetness couples the electrodes in the first area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A diaper, comprising:
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an absorbent portion; a liquid resistant portion having first and second faces and lining the absorbent portion along the first face; a pouch on the second face of the liquid resistant portion; a first electrode extending along said absorbent portion and projecting along the first face of the liquid resistant portion opposite the pouch; a second electrode spaced from the first electrode and extending along said absorbent portion and projecting along the first face of the liquid resistant portion opposite the pouch; said first and second electrodes projecting along the absorbent portion opposite the pouch and being insulated from said pouch so as to non-conductively couple to contents in the pouch. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A wetness detector for placement in a pouch on an outside of a non-conductive waterproof sheath of a diaper having an absorber inside the sheath and a pair of electrodes extending into the absorber and along a inside of the sheath opposite the pouch, comprising:
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a source of varying voltage; a pair of conductive members coupled to said source of varying voltage and spaced from each other for placement against the outside of the non-conductive sheath within the pouch so as to create a non-conductive coupling between said members outside of the non-conductive sheath and the electrodes inside the non-conductive sheath; and an alarm coupled to said conductive members and responsive to detection of low impedance between the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification