Training progress indicator

• US 8,101,813 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Ales, Thomas Michael, Magic, Keith William, Sullivan, Shawn Jeffery, Nhan, Davis-Dang H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephens, Jacqueline F
• Application Number:
  US12/261,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20100114046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 604/361, 604/359, 604/360
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm

Abstract

The present subject matter relates to absorbent articles and signaling devices for use therewith. An absorbent article may be provided with selected electrical components used as wetness or other type sensors which may be determined by a coupled signaling device. An attached signaling device may automatically determine physiological changes of a wearer of the absorbent article including increases in void volume over time, increases in time between voids and proximity to bathroom fixtures. The signaling device may provide data analysis and/or display, and may provide remote alarm functions.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a chassis configured to be worn by an individual comprising an outer cover having an interior surface and an exterior surface and an absorbent structure positioned adjacent the interior surface of the outer cover;

a pair of conductive elements contained in the chassis and forming part of a sensing circuit that is configured to sense physiological changes of a wearer; and

at least one electrical device associated with said pair of conductive elements, said at least one electrical device configured to determine and to indicate sensed physiological changes of a wearer comprising at least one of increases in void volume over time, increases in time between voids, and proximity of a wearer to a fixture in a bathroom.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one electrical device is directly coupled to said pair of conductive elements.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one electrical device is wirelessly coupled to said pair of conductive elements.

4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one electrical device is configured to provide a signal at a location remote from said chassis, said signal indicative of said sensed physiological changes.

5. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrical device further comprises a memory configured to store data representing said sensed physiological changes.

6. A system as defined in claim 5, further comprising:

at least one second electrical device, said at least one second electrical device configured to provide indicia representative of data transferred from said memory of said electrical device.

7. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein said at least one second electrical device comprises a computer.

8. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein said at least one second electrical device is configured to receive data from said electrical device by one of direct electrical connection, USB connection, wireless connection, Bluetooth connection, WiFi connection, and optical connection.

9. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein said at least one second electrical device is configured to provide a visual display of data trend tracking over time.

10. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein said at least one second electrical device is configured to provide at least one of audible and visual alarms based on data received from said electrical device.

11. A method for providing physiological change related signals, comprising:

providing a wearable absorbent article comprising an absorbent structure and a pair of conductive elements, the pair of conductive elements forming part of a sensing circuit configured to sense physiological changes of a wearer;

providing a signaling device capable of producing humanly perceptible signals;

configuring the signaling device to determine in response to sensed physiological changes of a wearer including at least one of increases in void volume over time, increases in the time between voids, and proximity to a bathroom fixture; and

coupling the signaling device to the absorbent article.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein coupling comprises direct coupling.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein coupling comprises wireless coupling.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing voice instructions from the signaling device to a wearer.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

associating a memory with said signaling device;

storing data indicative of one or more of sensed physiological changes of a wearer; and

displaying indicia of said stored data.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transferring stored data from said memory to a remote device; and

displaying indicia of the transferred data on the remote device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote device is a computer.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein transferring stored data comprises transferring data by one of direct electrical connection, USB connection, wireless connection, Bluetooth connection, WiFi connection, and optical connection.