Patent ID: 6317889
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: A41D

Abstract:
A protective pad affixable to a protective garment having a moisture barrier and having an outer shell covering the moisture barrier, the moisture barrier being impervious to moisture and the outer shell being pervious to moisture, wherein the protective pad has a moisture absorber pervious to moisture and incorporating a superabsorbent polymer and an outer cover pervious to moisture, and wherein, when the protective pad is affixed to the protective garment,(a) the moisture absorber covers a region of the outer shell of the protective garment,(b) the outer cover of the protective pad covers the moisture absorber,(c) the outer cover of the protective pad is affixed to the outer shell of the protective garment, at least partly around the moisture absorber, and(d) the outer cover of the protective pad and the outer shell of the protective garment, in the covered region, are adapted to conduct moisture into the moisture absorber, in which the superabsorbent polymer is adapted to absorb much if not all moisture conducted into the moisture absorber,wherein the moisture absorber has a fibrous matrix incorporating the superabsorbent polymer, wherein the fibrous matrix is disposed between an inner cover pervious to moisture and an outer cover pervious to moisture, and wherein the inner and outer covers, between which the fibrous matrix is disposed, are quilted so as to segregate discrete regions of the fibrous matrix incorporating the superabsorbent polymer.