Wetness indicator for alerting a wearer to urination
First Claim
1. A wetness indicator for alerting a wearer to urination comprising a liquid permeable enclosure having an interior volume and a liquid absorbent body therein, said liquid absorbent body absorbing liquid in the presence thereof and having an unrestrained volume upon absorption of a preselected amount of liquid, said unrestrained volume of the absorbent body being substantially greater than the interior volume of the enclosure such that the absorbent body applies an expansion pressure to the enclosure upon absorption of said preselected amount of liquid, said enclosure limiting expansion of the absorbent body so that the wetness indicator stiffens as liquid is absorbed, said wetness indicator having a first stiffness when dry and a second stiffness greater than said first stiffness upon absorption of said preselected amount of liquid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A toilet training wetness indicator for alerting a wearer to urination and a garment incorporating such an element. The toilet training wetness indicator, which may be an insertable wetness indicator or integrated directly into a garment, such as training pants, comprises a liquid permeable enclosure having a liquid absorbent body enclosed therein. The liquid absorbent body absorbs liquid within the pants and applies hydraulic pressure to the enclosure upon absorption of a preselected amount of liquid. The enclosure limits expansion of the absorbent body so that the wetness indicator stiffens as liquid is absorbed. The wetness indicator has a first stiffness and is relatively pliable when dry and a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness upon absorption of the preselected amount of liquid.
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Citations
28 Claims
- 1. A wetness indicator for alerting a wearer to urination comprising a liquid permeable enclosure having an interior volume and a liquid absorbent body therein, said liquid absorbent body absorbing liquid in the presence thereof and having an unrestrained volume upon absorption of a preselected amount of liquid, said unrestrained volume of the absorbent body being substantially greater than the interior volume of the enclosure such that the absorbent body applies an expansion pressure to the enclosure upon absorption of said preselected amount of liquid, said enclosure limiting expansion of the absorbent body so that the wetness indicator stiffens as liquid is absorbed, said wetness indicator having a first stiffness when dry and a second stiffness greater than said first stiffness upon absorption of said preselected amount of liquid.
- 12. A garment comprising an inner surface facing a wearer when wearing the garment, and a wetness indicator positioned relative to the inner surface for alerting the wearer when the inner surface becomes wet with liquid, said wetness indicator having a first stiffness when dry and a second stiffness greater than said first stiffness upon absorption of a preselected amount of liquid, said wetness indicator comprising a liquid permeable enclosure having an interior volume and a liquid absorbent body therein, the absorbent body having an unrestrained saturated volume greater than the interior volume of the liquid permeable enclosure.
- 23. An article for personal wear capable of alerting a wearer to the wearer'"'"'s release of liquid body exudates, the article comprising a front region, a back region and a crotch region interconnecting the front and back regions and extending generally longitudinally therebetween, and a generally elongate wetness indicator positioned in said crotch region so as to come in contact with the liquid body exudates, said wetness indicator having a first stiffness when dry and a second stiffness greater than said first stiffness upon absorption of a preselected amount of the liquid body exudates, said wetness indicator being positioned transversely in the crotch region such that opposite ends of said wetness indicator provide a tactile sensation to the inner thighs of the wearer for alerting the wearer to the release of liquid body exudates.
Specification