Wet diaper detector

• US 5,838,240 A
• Filed: 05/08/1995
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johnson Researach and Development Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Johnson Researach and Development Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Lonnie G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US08/438,090
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/573, 340/603, 340/605, 128/886, 200/61.05, 604/361
• US Class Current: 340/604
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/48 Devices for preventing wetting or pollution of the bed

Abstract

A wet diaper detector comprises an elongated strip of material sized to be positioned in a diaper with a portion of the strip residing in a region of the diaper subject to wetness and an end of the strip protruding from the diaper at the upper rear or front portion thereof. The strip carries a pair of spaced conductors that extend along the length of the strip and terminate at the protruding end thereof. A detector and alarm assembly is adapted to be releasably coupled to the protruding end of the elongated strip and is configured to monitor the electrical resistance between the spaced conductors of the strip. When the diaper is wet by its wearer, the resistance between the spaced conductors of the strips falls below a pre-established value whereupon the detector activates the alarm to alert an attendant to change the diaper. In one embodiment, wetness is detected capacitively. When the diaper is changed, the detector and alarm assembly is decoupled from the strip for reuse and the strip is discarded along with the soiled diaper.

Claims

1. A wet diaper detector comprising a diaper having a liquid impermeable exterior surface, a housing for containing operative components of said detector with said housing having a surface configured to be positioned against the impermeable exterior surface of the diaper, an adhesive patch for removably mounting said housing to said exterior surface of said diaper with said surface of said housing held against said diaper impermeable exterior surface, sensor means located on said surface of said housing for sensing a wet condition on the inside of said diaper while being located outside the diaper where said sensor means does not contact wetness within the diaper, and electronic means in said housing operatively coupled to said sensor means for producing an alarm upon the sensing of a wet condition inside the diaper.

2. The wet diaper detector of claim 1 wherein said sensor means comprises a capacitive detector on said surface of said housing and wherein said electronic means comprises means for detecting a change in capacitance of said capacitive detector resulting from the dielectric change within the diaper when the diaper becomes wet.

3. A wet diaper detector comprising a diaper having liquid impermeable exterior surface sensor means for sensing a wet condition on the inside of said diaper while being located outside said diaper impermeable exterior surface, and electronic means operatively coupled to said sensor means for producing an alarm upon said sensor means sensing of a wet condition inside the diaper.

4. The wet diaper detector of claim 3 wherein said sensor means comprises a capacitive detector and wherein said electronic means comprises means for detecting a change in capacitance of said capacitive detector resulting from the dielectric change within the diaper when the diaper becomes wet.

5. A wet diaper detector comprising:

a diaper having a liquid impermeable layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface;

sensor means mounted to said impermeable layer exterior surface for sensing the presence of liquid adjacent said impermeable layer interior surface;

mounting means for mounting said sensor means adjacent said impermeable layer exterior surface; and

electronic means operatively coupled to said sensor means for producing an alarm upon said sensor means sensing liquid adjacent said impermeable layer interior surface.

6. The wet diaper detector of claim 5 wherein said sensor means comprises a capacitive detector positioned closely adjacent said impermeable layer exterior surface and wherein said electronic means comprises means for detecting a change in capacitance of said capacitive detector, whereby liquid adjacent said impermeable layer interior surface causes a dielectric change resulting in a sensed change in capacitance by said capacitive detector.

7. The wet diaper detector of claim 6 further comprising a housing at least partially surrounding said sensor means and said electronic means.