Patent Application
20070270773
The present invention includes absorbent articles and/or garments with thermochromic wetness indicator(s). The absorbent articles and/or garments may include diapers, incontinent briefs, feminine pads, bandages and all other suitable absorbent articles and/or garments.
The thermochromic wetness indicator(s) may include incorporation to the exterior surface of absorbent articles and/or garments in practical and visible location(s).
Upon contact of urination and/or other bodily wastes and/or bodily excretions, the temperature of absorbent articles and/or garments and/or the thermochromic wetness indicator(s) increases and the increased temperature change activates a visual color change to the thermochromic compounds(s) and/or material(s) applied as the wetness-indicating embodiment(s).
Any suitable thermochromic wetness indicator(s) may be used with this invention. For example, the thermochromic compound(s) and/or material(s) used with this invention may include various known/unknown thermochromic compound(s) and/or material(s) including thermochromic leuco dye(s) and/or thermochromic liquid crystal(s) or any suitable combination. The thermochromic compound(s) and/or material(s) used as the wetness indicator(s) embodiment of this invention may be of any suitable color or combination of colors both prior to activation and after activation of the wetness indicator(s) occurs. For example, a possible color prior to activation may include tan and after activation occurs the color change may include blue.
Any suitable temperature range may be set for the activation of color change to the thermochromic wetness indicator(s) and could include the range of known human bodily temperatures. For example, the activation temperature range for color change of the wetness indicator(s) could include 95 F to 104 F, however due to the unknown insulation factors and/or RH factors and/or uses of future absorbent articles and/or garments developed with this invention, the actual activation temperature range of the wetness indicator(s) will be determined upon product development.
The method of application of the thermochromic compounds(s) and/or material(s) including thermochromic leuco dye(s) and/or liquid crystal(s) to the absorbent articles and/or garments as the wetness indicator(s) could include printing, painting, dying, staining and/or melting and could be manually applied and/or mechanically applied. Furthermore, the thermochromic compound(s) and/or materials(s) used as the wetness indicator(s) embodiment(s) of this invention may include inks, paints, powders, vinyl and/or any other thermochromic compound(s) and/or material(s) not currently available for use. Specific application method(s) and thermochromic material(s) and/or compound(s) are to be predetermined at the time of product development.
The graphic form of application of the thermochromic wetness indicator(s) may include any suitable shapes, figures, characters, animals, numbers, letters, people, planes, trains and/or automobiles, flowers, trees, insects, and/or any combination of such, either entirely of thermochromic compound(s) and/or material(s) including thermochromic leuco dye(s) and/or thermochromic liquid crystal(s) or combined with other non thermochromic compound(s) and/or materials(s) and/or medium(s) of any form and/or of any graphic content as described above.
An example of the present invention is comprised of a liquid-permeable top sheet with an external and an internal side, a liquid-impermeable back sheet with an external and internal side, and a absorbent core/pad situated at least partially between the internal sides of the liquid-permeable top sheet and the liquid-impermeable back sheet, and a thermochromic wetness indicator(s) may include incorporation to the exterior side of the liquid-impermeable back sheet, furthermore the present invention offers a large range and variety of uses with many products including diapers, incontinent briefs, feminine pads, bandages and any other suitable products and/or uses.
Providing this invention is an important step forward in personal care products. Early detection of urine and/or other bodily wastes and/or bodily excretions is a priceless asset for providing a healthy and clean environment for both the wearers and the caretakers of the wearers of absorbents articles and/or garments alike. Controlling and preventing diaper rash, skin irritation, body sores and infection through early detection of wetness is a win-win situation for all.
Although the absorbent articles and/or garments are described to include thermochromic wetness indicator(s), those articles and/or garments may include any suitable wetness indicator(s), including any suitable wetness indicator(s) that change color based, at least in part, on temperature, moisture-content, and/or other suitable parameters. Additionally, although absorbent articles and/or garments and features of absorbent articles and/or garments have been shown and described with reference to the foregoing operational principles and preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will find apparent that various changes in form and detail may be made. Inventions may be embodied in various combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties, which may be claimed in a future application. Such claims are regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.
The drawing provided with the present invention is only a visual tool to simply illustrate the basic concept of this invention. The provided drawing is only an example of a possible use of the thermochromic wetness indicator(s) incorporated with absorbent articles and/or garments as described herein. It should be considered generic and not of a particular absorbent article or garment.
