Abstract:
An absorbent article for use by a male to absorb moisture at the scrotum comprising: an elongated soft pad made of an absorbent material and sized to wrap around the rear of the scrotum and lie against the inner thigh, said pad having opposed ends; a strap connected to the ends of the pad for extending about the waist of the wearer to hold the pad in place about the scrotum and against the inner thigh; and wherein said absorbent article includes a body portion having a slit to allow fitting the pad along the stomach and allow the pad to collect sweat.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 60/177,536, filed Jan. 21, 2000, and a continuation of Ser. No. 09/699,576 filed Oct. 31, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to absorbent articles for absorbing and retaining perspiration and other exuded body fluids. More particularly the articles are intended for use by obese people to absorb fluids in the stomach crease and for abese males to absorb perspiration on the scrotum and inner thighs. The articles also have application for male athletes.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    A. OBJECTS  
           [0004]    One object of the present invention is to provide an article for absorbing and retaining perspiration and other exuded body fluids.  
           [0005]    Another object of the invention is to provide an article for use by obese males to absorb perspiration on the scrotum and inner thighs, including male athletes.  
           [0006]    B. SUMMARY  
           [0007]    In FIG. 1 a somewhat obese torso of a male is shown with the absorbent article  10  of the present invention applied to the groin area of the body. The article includes a pad  12  and an elasticized adjustable belt  14  releasably attached to the ends  16  and  18  of the pad by alligator-type clips  20 . While in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the pad is shown made of foam material, it may be made of other soft and flexible absorbent materials such as cellulose, wood fluff, coform, meltblown or carded material, sphagnum moss or other conventional and commonly used materials presently used in diapers, feminine pads, panty liners, incontinent garments, underarm shields, bed pads, etc. The pad shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has a narrowed central portion  22  approximately 1 inch wide, that is particularly convenient and comfortable when the article is used to absorb moisture such as perspiration in the groin area and inner thighs as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, both the top and bottom surfaces  24  and  26  are highly absorbent. When the article is worn as shown in FIG. 1, the narrower mid-section  22  of the pad extends behind the scrotum and over the inner thighs and may extend comfortably up to the bottom of the stomach (distended as shown) of the wearer.  
           [0008]    In FIGS. 4 and 4A another embodiment of absorbent article is shown that may be of the same configuration and made of any of the materials suggested for the pad of FIGS. 2 and 3, but preferably is of uniform width, that is, without the reduced mid-section  22 . In FIGS. 4 and 4A the pad  44  is shown positioned in the stomach crease  40  of an obese person (either male or female) and held in place by an elasticized belt  42  that may be identical to the belt  14  of FIG. 1. Preferably the length of this belt is adjustable. In this embodiment, the pad  44  is shown folded longitudinally along its center line so as to effectively provide two layers, one against each side of the crease  40 . It may be more comfortable for the wearer, particularly if he/she is morbidly obese so that the stomach hangs down over the pelvic area, to use the pad in an unfolded form with a side edge of the pad disposed at the innermost section of the crease.  
           [0009]    In the embodiment of FIGS.  5 - 7 , the pad  60  is shown formed with a longitudinally extending narrowed portion  62 . In this configuration the pad may be made of a foam material as described in connection with FIG. 1 or of other absorbent materials including the well-known material suggested in connection with the first embodiment. The longitudinal area of reduced thickness is particularly desirable when the pad is to be used in the folded form as shown in FIG. 7 as the longitudinally extending reduced portion  62  forms a hinge-like readily foldable area as shown in FIG. 7.  
           [0010]    In FIG. 8 yet another alternative construction of pad is shown. In this embodiment, the pad  70  is composed of two foam layers  72  and  74  or any of the other absorbent materials suggested above, separated by a central layer  76  that may be made of a cotton fabric or any other suitable material. The three layers may be bonded together by a suitable adhesive, or by a thermoforming technique, all of which a re well known in the art. When constructed as suggested in the embodiment of FIG. 8, the pad may also have a reduced central portion and a slitted section to allow the pad to fit over and under scrotum such as shown in the embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 3  or enlarged central portion as shown in FIG. 9, and/or with the longitudinally extending reduced thickness as suggested in FIGS. 5 and 6 to suit the particular intended application of the article.  
           [0011]    In FIG. 9 another embodiment is illustrated, particularly suitable for use by obese people to absorb moisture in and adjacent the stomach crease. In this embodiment, the pad  90  whether made of a single ply of absorbent material or a multiple ply arrangement as shown in FIG. 8, is wider at its mid portion  92  than at its ends  94 , as tapering smoothly in a gentle S-curve as shown. The wider mid portion  92  will fit into the deeper portion of the body crease beneath the stomach.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a front view of a male torso showing one embodiment of an absorbent article constructed in accordance with the present invention and applied to the scrotum area;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pad and ends of the elastic belt that comprises the article shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 3 and 3A are cross sectional views of the pad forming part of the absorbent article, taken along section lines  3 - 3  and  3 A- 3 A in FIG. 2;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a torso of an obese person showing another embodiment of the absorbent article constructed in accordance with the present invention and applied to the stomach crease;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic view of the side of the torso shown in FIG. 4 and further showing in section the pad that forms part of the absorbent article;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4B is a view similar to FIG. 4A but showing the article used in a different configuration particularly suited for a morbidly obese person;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the pad constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the pad taken along the section line  6 - 6  in FIG. 5;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the pad shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, folded along the longitudinal center line as it may be used in the stomach crease of an obese person as suggested in FIGS. 4 and 4A;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of yet another embodiment of the pad constructed in accordance with this invention; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a plan view of still another embodiment of pad particularly suitable for use in the stomach crease of an obese person.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an absorbent article having a slit and a buckle.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a belt having a buckle and aligator clips.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]    In FIG. 1 a somewhat obese torso of a male is shown with the absorbent article  10  of the present invention applied to the groin area of the body. The article includes a pad  12  and an elasticized adjustable belt  14  releasably attached to the ends  16  and  18  of the pad by alligator-type clips  20 . The pad  10  is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. The embodiment shown may be made of a cellular foam material such as made by Lendell Manufacturing Incorporated and sold under the trademark MEDISPONGE. While in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the pad is shown made of foam material, it may be made of other soft and flexible absorbent materials as well, such as cellulose, wood fluff, coform, meltblown or carded material, sphagnum moss or other conventional and commonly used materials presently used in diapers, feminine pads, panty liners, incontinent garments, underarm shields, bed pads, etc. Preferably the pad is approximately 15-21 inches in length and approximately ¼ inch in thickness, although these suggested dimensions are not to be considered limiting. The width of the pad may be approximately 2 inches as suggested in the embodiments described below. The pad as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has a narrowed central portion  22  approximately 1 inch wide, that is particularly convenient and comfortable when the article is used to absorb moisture such as perspiration in the groin area and inner thighs as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, both the top and bottom surfaces  24  and  26  are highly absorbent. When the article is worn as shown in FIG. 1, the narrower mid-section  22  of the pad extends behind the scrotum and over the inner thighs and may extend comfortably up to the bottom of the stomach (distended as shown) of the wearer. The pad is held in place by the belt  14  that is clipped to the ends of the pad by the alligator-type clips  20 . As shown, the belt  14  extends around the back of the waist so as to retain the pad in place. Preferably the belt is adjustable to accommodate girth differences. The ends of the pad may be enclosed by a binding (not shown) or otherwise finished to prevent the ends from unraveling when the clips are applied to them.  
         [0026]    In the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , the pad is worn to conform to the rear portion of the scrotum and lies against the upper thighs. Because both surfaces of the pad are absorbent, the pad will perform its intended function of absorbing perspiration exuded on the scrotum and the thighs against which the opposed surfaces  24  and  26  of the pad lie. The pad will naturally conform to the body contours of the crotch, groin and inner thigh.  
         [0027]    In FIGS. 4 and 4A another embodiment of absorbent article is shown that may be of the same configuration and made of any of the materials suggested for the pad of FIGS. 2 and 3, but preferably is of uniform width, that is, without the reduced mid-section  22 . In FIGS. 4 and 4A the pad  44  is shown positioned in the stomach crease  40  of an obese person (either male or female) and held in place by an elasticized belt  42  that may be identical to the belt  14  of FIG. 1. Preferably the length of this belt is adjustable. In this embodiment, the pad  44  is shown folded longitudinally along its center line so as to effectively provide two layers, one against each side of the crease  40 . It may be more comfortable for the wearer, particularly if he/she is morbidly obese so that the stomach hangs down over the pelvic area, to use the pad in an unfolded form with a side edge of the pad disposed at the innermost section of the crease. This use of the pad is suggested in FIG. 4B. It should be appreciated also that the pad may be used in the folded form when applied to the groin area as depicted in FIG. 1 and may fold in the scrotum and inner thigh areas.  
         [0028]    In the embodiment of FIGS.  5 - 7 , the pad  60  is shown formed with a longitudinally extending narrowed portion  62 . In this configuration the pad may be made of a foam material as described in connection with FIG. 1 or of other absorbent materials including the well-known materials suggested in connection with the first embodiment. The longitudinal area of reduced thickness is particularly desirable when the pad is to be used in the folded form as shown in FIG. 7 as the longitudinally extending reduced portion  62  forms a hinge like readily foldable area as shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0029]    In FIG. 8 yet another alternative construction of pad is shown. In this embodiment, the pad  70  is composed of two foam layers  72  and  74  or any of the other absorbent materials suggested above, separated by a central layer  76  that may be made of a cotton fabric or any other suitable material. The three layers may be bonded together by a suitable adhesive, or by a thermoforming technique, all of which are well known in the art. When constructed as suggested in the embodiment of FIG. 8, the pad may also have a reduced central portion such as shown in the embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 3  or enlarged central portion as shown in FIG. 9, and/or with the longitudinally extending reduced thickness as suggested in FIGS. 5 and 6 to suit the particular intended application of the article. The central layer may serve to stabilize the dimensions of the pad that is particularly desirable when the absorbent outer layers are made of foam or other stretchable material so to maintain a comfortable fit of the article.  
         [0030]    In FIG. 9 another embodiment is illustrated, particularly suitable for use by obese people to absorb moisture in and adjacent the stomach crease. In this embodiment, the pad  90  whether made of a single ply of absorbent material or a multiple ply arrangement as shown in FIG. 8, is wider at its mid portion  92  than at its ends  94 , as tapering smoothly in a gentle S-curve as shown. The wider mid portion  92  will fit into the deeper portion of the body crease beneath the stomach. Preferably the width at the ends is approximately 2 inches while at the mid portion it is approximately 4⅛ inches, and the pad is approximately 20 inches long and ¼ inch thick.  
         [0031]    It should also be appreciated that while an elasticized belt is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4 with alligator-type clips to hold the pad in place, other types of belts and fasteners may be used. It is essential that the method employed for connecting the ends of the belt to the pad be of minimum size and free of sharp corners which would make the article uncomfortable when worn particularly when the wearer is in the sitting position. The invention also contemplates providing thin extensions on the ends of the pad to which the belt may be fastened. The extensions in the form of tabs as suggested at  80  in FIG. 5 may be used to reduce the total thickness of the article at the ends where the attachments of the belt are made. The comfort may also be enhanced by including tabs on each end of the pad designed to lie beneath the clips to prevent them from contacting the skin. It is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the belt may be a disposable article permanently fastened in any of the embodiments shown. The belt may be fastened about the body with snaps or other well-known fasteners, or by simply tying the ends together.  
         [0032]    In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, an absorbent article  100  includes a body portion  102  having a slit  104  approximately five to eight inches long to allow fitting the pad along the stomch and place the opened section under the scrotum to allow the pad to collect sweat. Alligator clips  120 ,  122  are used to connect the absorbent article  100  to a belt  114  having a buckle  116 .  
         [0033]    It should also be appreciated that while an elasticized belt is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4 with alligator-type clips  20  to hold the pad in place, other types of belts and fasteners may be used. It is essential that the method employed for connecting the ends of the belt to the pad be of minimum size and free of sharp corners which would make the article uncomfortable when worn particularly when the wearer is in the sitting position. The invention also contemplates providing thin extensions on the ends of the pad to which the belt may be fastened. The extensions in the form of tabs as suggested at  80  in FIG. 5 may be used to reduce the total thickness of the article at the ends where the attachments of the belt are made. The comfort may also be enhanced by including tabs on each end of the pad designed to lie beneath the clips to prevent them from contacting the skin.