Abstract:
A reusable shield and liner for use by a woman during menstruation is disclosed. The liner is octagonal in shape and comprises two or more layers. The shield contains one water-resistant layer.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     A reusable shield and liner for use by a woman during menstruation is disclosed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In many developing countries, women do not have access to affordable menstruation supplies. Women often are chastised and isolated during the menstruation process, and in some countries, it is customary for women to miss school or work during the menstruation process. 
     What is needed is an affordable, reusable device to assist women during the menstruation process. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A reusable shield and liner for use by a woman during menstruation is disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a prior art reusable shield developed by the applicant. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a side view of the prior art reusable shield of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts an embodiment of a reusable shield developed by the applicant. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a side view of the reusable shield of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  depicts a prior art reusable liner developed by the applicant. 
         FIG. 6  depicts an embodiment of a reusable liner developed by the applicant. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a method for assembling and using a shield and liner. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , prior art reusable shield  100  developed by the applicant is depicted. Shield  100  comprises a first piece  110  in the general shape shown in  FIG. 1 , a second piece  120  attached to the first piece  110  as shown, and a third piece  130  attached to the first piece as shown. First piece  110 , second piece  120 , and third piece  130  comprise pieces of cloth, preferably cotton. Second piece  120  and third piece  130  are sewn, adhered, or attached using other means to first piece  110  to form pockets. Shield  100  also comprises attachment mechanism  140 , which can comprise a snap, button, Velcro, or other known attachment mechanism. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , first piece  110  also is attached to fourth piece  160 , which is made of water-resistant material such as polyurethane laminate or other water-resistant material. Fourth piece  160  is of the same shape as first piece  110 , and the side of first piece  110  opposite the side attached to second piece  120  and third piece  130  is sewn, adhered, or attached using other means to fourth piece  160 . On the opposite site of fourth piece  160  is fifth piece  150 , which can be identical to first piece  110 . Fourth piece  160  and fifth piece  150  are sewn or adhered together or attached using other means. First piece  110 , fourth piece  160 , and fifth piece  150  can be sewn or adhered together or attached using other means in a contiguous manner. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of an improved reusable shield  300  is depicted. Shield  300  comprises a first piece  310  in the general shape shown in  FIG. 3 , a second piece  320  attached to the first piece  310  as shown, and a third piece  330  attached to the first piece as shown. First piece  310 , second piece  320 , and third piece  330  comprise pieces of cloth, preferably cotton. Second piece  320  and third piece  330  are sewn, adhered, or attached using other means to first piece  310  to form pockets. Shield  300  also comprises attachment mechanism  340 , which can comprise a snap, button, Velcro, or other known attachment mechanism. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , first piece  310  also is attached to fourth piece  360 , which is made of water-resistant material such as polyurethane laminate or another water-resistant material. Fourth piece  360  is of the same shape as first piece  310 , and the side of first piece  310  opposite the side attached to second piece  320  and third piece  330  is sewn, adhered, or attached using other means to fourth piece  360 . On the opposite site of fourth piece  360  is fifth piece  350 , which can be identical to first piece  310 . Fourth piece  360  and fifth piece  350  are sewn or adhered together or attached using other means. First piece  310 , fourth piece  360 , and fifth piece  350  can be sewn or adhered together or attached using other means in a contiguous manner. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , prior art reusable liner  500  is depicted. Liner  500  has a generally square shape and can be folded along fold lines  510  and  520 . Liner  500  comprises first layer  530 , and optionally includes second layer  540  as well. First layer  530  and second layer  540  are made from cloth, preferably cotton or flannel. First layer  530  and second layer  540  are sewn or adhered together or attached using other means. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of an improved liner  600  is depicted. Liner  600  has a generally octagonal shape and can be folded along fold lines  610  and  620 . Liner  600  is an improvement over liner  500  because it is less bulky in certain areas and is more comfortable for a woman to wear. Liner  600  comprises first layer  630  and optionally includes second layer  640 . First layer  630  and second layer  640  are made from cloth, preferably cotton or flannel. First layer  630  and second layer  640  are sewn or adhered together or attached using other means. 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , a method  700  of using liner  600  in conjunction with shield  100  or shield  300  is shown. Liner  600  is folded along fold line  620  (step  701 ) and then is folded along fold line  610  (step  702 ) to create a generally rectangular shape. Liner  600  is then inserted into shield  100  (or shield  300 ) by inserting one end of liner  600  into the pocket formed by first piece  110  and second piece  120  (or first piece  310  and second piece  320 ) (step  703 ) and inserting the other end of liner  600  into the pocket formed by first piece  110  and third piece  130  (or first piece  310  and third piece  330 ) (step  704 ). Liner  600  and shield  100  or shield  300  are then attached to underwear  700  as shown in  FIG. 7  using attachment mechanism  140  (or attachment mechanism  340 ) (steps  705  and  706 ). The combination of underwear  700 , liner  600 , and shield  100  or shield  300  can then be worn by a woman. After use, liner  600  can be removed (step  707 ) a new liner  600  inserted as described previously (step  708 ) and then old liner  600  can be washed (step  709 ). Thereafter, old liner  600  can be reused. 
     References to the present invention herein are not intended to limit the scope of any claim or claim term, but instead merely make reference to one or more features that may be covered by one or more of the claims. Structures, processes and numerical examples described above are exemplary only, and should not be deemed to limit the claims. It should be noted that, as used herein, the terms “over” and “on” both inclusively include “directly on” (no intermediate materials, elements or space disposed there between) and “indirectly on” (intermediate materials, elements or space disposed there between).