Patent Application
20060041987
The present invention relates to personal hygienic devices, and more particularly, to an absorbent patch to be adhered to the underarm of the user to prevent moisture from contacting and damaging clothing.
People perspire for a number of reasons. The sweating is used by the body as a device to regulate the temperature of the body and eliminate toxins from the body. The perspiration, which contains water, salt, acid, and other ingredients, is secreted, often profusely, in the underarm area of the human body. The secreted sweat may damage the user's clothing, especially if the garment is made from a delicate fabric, such as silk, chiffon, cotton, wood, rayon and the like. Sweat stains are sometimes difficult to remove by conventional methods of laundering or dry cleaning.
Discoloration and sweat stains, even if cleaned expeditiously, may permanently damage the garment. Also, when a garment is frequently cleaned it will eventually lose its attractiveness and become non-wearable.
Even with proper hygiene and the use of an antiperspirant agent that can reduce secretion from the glands beneath the skin of the user, staining may still occur. However, even when using an antiperspirant agent, the user may still have excessive sweating, resulting in the moisture penetrating the fabric of the garment and forming an unsightly stain.
The present invention contemplates provision of a disposable underarm patch that may be secured to the user's underarm to absorb the perspiration and prevent soiling and discoloration of the garment.
It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a disposable underarm patch to protect the garment from perspiration.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable underarm patch that can easily be attached in the underarm area of the user and quickly removed therefrom.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide perspiration patch having a moisture-impermeable surface to prevent sweat from reaching the garment.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a provision of a flat flexible body, approximately ⅛ inch thick, comprised of a first porous layer, a second moisture-absorbing layer and a third moisture-impermeable layer. The patch is to be developed in various sizes, and skin tone colors to best suit the user. It is to be of a kidney shape design which follows the natural contours of the user's underarm. The first soft porous layer contact the user's skin in the underarm area to capture the moisture secreted in the armpit of the user. The second layer may be impregnated with an antiperspirant or deodorant agent, if desired, and absorbs and retains the moisture, while the third layer prevents the moisture from escaping the patch and contacting a garment. The third layer is comprised of a non-porous material.
To secure the patch onto the armpit, a pressure-sensitive and skin sensitive adhesive coating, approx. ¼ inch in width is to be deposited around the outermost surface of the first layer. The adhesive coating may be covered with a conventional peel-off strip, which is removed immediately before securing the patch to the user.
The flexible patch is disposable and would come in a variety of skin tone colors and sizes to best fit the user.
The underarm patch protects the garment from soiling and extends the usable life of the garment. The patch is thin and lies in contact with the user's underarm, protecting the garment.
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein
The moisture then travels to the second inner layer (
The third layer entirely covers the middle layer. The third layer is made from a moisture-impermeable material that prevents the moisture from traveling outside of the middle layer. All three layers are secured together to form a single body of the patch positioned on the user's underarm. (
A pressure sensitive adhesive coating is deposited on the outer surface of the first layer. The coating may be covered with conventional peel-off strips which are removed prior to positioning the patch on the user's underarm. (
When positioning the patch on the underarm the user peels off the covering strips and positions the patch on the underarm similarly to the position in
The patch is made from three layers of flexible material and is relatively thin. It is to come in a variety of sizes and skin tone colors to best fit the user so that it will be comfortable and unnoticeable through sheer clothing. Wearing of the patch, even with a thin-fabric will not affect the shape or the structure of the garment to any noticeable degree. The adhesive coating is strong enough to retain the patch on the user's skin, even through heavy perspiration, but can be easily released by peeling off the patch from the user's underarm. The patch can be then disposed of in a conventional manner.
If desired, the patch may be impregnated with an antiperspirant and/or deodorant agents, that would enhance the hygienic qualities of the underarm perspiration patch.
The patch can be inexpensively manufactured using available technology and materials, so that the patch can be made easily disposable.
Many changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, I therefore wish that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
