Disposable underarm perspiration pad

An underarm perspiration pad for being releasably secured within a garment (12) proximate the underarm area (14) of such garment for protecting the garment (12) from damage resulting from contact with perspiration and for absorbing perspiration from the underarm skin surface of a wearer of the garment (12). The pad (10) comprises a first exterior panel (16) and a second exterior panel (20) joined at their peripheral edges (26, 28) to enclose a perspiration absorbent filler (24). The first exterior panel (16) contacts the skin surface of the wearer of the garment (12) and serves to absorb perspiration from the skin from the wearer and to wick such perspiration to the absorbent filler (24) where it is retained. The second exterior panel (20) is fabricated of a perspiration impervious material and prohibits perspiration from contacting the garment (12). Further, the second exterior panel (20) is provided with means for releasably securing the pad (10) to the garment (12).

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to an underarm perspiration pad for being releasably 
secured in a garment proximate the underarm area to protect the garment 
from being stained or otherwise damaged by perspiration, while at the same 
time absorbing perspiration from the skin surface of the wearer of the 
garment to keep such wearer's underarms dry. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Damage to clothing by reason of perspiration stains has long been a 
problem, with the underarm area of a garment being particularly 
susceptible to such damage. In addition to the problem of perspiration 
stains, the absorption of perspiration by certain fabrics tends to 
deteriorate the fabric, thus shortening the useful life of the garment. To 
some extent, the use of anti-perspirants reduces the probability of 
perspiration damage, but even the best anti-perspirants are only partially 
effective. Further, conventional anti-perspirants and deodorants may 
reduce perspiration or mask its odor, but they often contain chemicals, 
which when combined with perspiration, may exacerbate the problem of 
fabric deterioration. Of course, in addition to the damage done to 
clothing by perspiration, there is the discomfort of perspiration wetness 
in the underarm area. Once again, anti-perspirants are only a partial 
solution, and deodorants do nothing at all to ease the discomfort. 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an underarm 
perspiration pad which protects the underarm area of a garment from 
perspiration stains and other perspiration related damage. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an underarm 
perspiration pad which absorbs perspiration from the skin surface of a 
wearer so as to keep the wearer's underarm dry. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an underarm 
perspiration pad which may be easily secured in a garment and easily 
removed from the garment after the garment has been worn. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an underarm 
perspiration pad which can be inexpensively manufactured such that the 
pads are disposable after use. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
Other objects and advantages will be accomplished by the present invention 
which provides an underarm perspiration pad for being releasably secured 
within a garment proximate the underarm area of such garment for 
protecting the garment from damage resulting from contact with 
perspiration and for absorbing perspiration from the underarm skin surface 
of the wearer of the garment. The pad of the present invention comprises a 
first exterior panel and a second exterior panel joined at their 
peripheral edges to enclose a perspiration absorbent filler. The first 
exterior panel contacts the skin surface of the wearer of the garment and 
serves to absorb perspiration from the skin of the wearer and wick such 
perspiration to the absorbent filler where it is retained. The second 
exterior panel is fabricated of a perspiration impervious material and 
prohibits perspiration from contacting the garment. Further, the second 
exterior panel is provided with means for releasably securing the pad to 
the garment. In one embodiment, such means comprise a suitable adhesive 
provided with an adhesive protection tab for covering the adhesive prior 
to use.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
An underarm perspiration pad incorporating various features of the present 
invention is illustrated generally at 10 in the figures. The pad 10 is 
designed to be releasably secured to the interior surface of a garment 12, 
such as a blouse, shirt, coat, etc., proximate the underarm area 14. 
Thusly positioned, the pad 10 serves to protect the garment 12 from stains 
or other damage caused by the absorption of, or contact with, 
perspiration. Further, as discussed in detail below, the pad 10 serves to 
draw or wick perspiration from the skin surface of the wearer of the 
garment 12 such that the wearer's underarm is kept dry. 
In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the pad 10 is 
substantially elliptical or oval in shape. However, it will be appreciated 
that the pad 10 may assume various geometric configurations, and that the 
illustrated embodiment depicts only one preferred configuration which has 
been found to be appropriate for being received in a variety of garments, 
while at the same time providing the desired protection against 
perspiration damage. Further, the overall size of the pad may vary 
depending upon garment size or style. 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pad 10 comprises a first exterior panel 16 
having an exterior surface 18 for contacting the skin surface of the 
wearer of the garment 12, and a second oppositely disposed exterior panel 
20 having an exterior surface 22 for engaging the garment 12. Sandwiched 
between the exterior panel 16 and the exterior panel 20 is a perspiration 
absorbent filler 24. In order to secure the filler 24 in a position 
between the panels 16 and 20, the panels 16 and 20 are secured together 
proximate their peripheral edges 26 and 28, respectively, as for example 
with an adhesive. 
The first exterior panel 16, being that portion of the pad 10 which 
contacts the wearer's skin is preferably fabricated of a hydrophobic gauze 
or other material which serves to absorb the perspiration of the wearer 
from the skin surface and wick such perspiration toward the absorbent 
filler 24. Further, it is desirable that the panel 16 be sufficiently soft 
and pliable to avoid irritation of the wearer's skin and to insure that 
the pad does not affect mobility. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the filler 24 
preferably comprises a plurality of layered absorbent sheets 30, the 
sheets 30 being fabricated of a tissue like paper or an absorbent cloth. 
It will be appreciated that the layering of the sheets 30 of the filler 24 
allows perspiration to be absorbed and trapped between the sheets 30 and 
thus enhances the absorption and moisture holding capacity of the filler 
24. Of course, it will be understood that the filler 24 can be fabricated 
of cellulose, pulp, or other absorbent materials, and, at the risk of 
reduced efficiency, need not comprise layered sheets as in the illustrated 
embodiment. 
The second exterior panel 20 is preferably fabricated of a perspiration 
impervious material such that the panel 20 forms a barrier between the 
filler 24 and the garment 12 which prevents perspiration trapped in the 
filler 24 from reaching the garment 12. In this regard, the exterior panel 
20 can be fabricated of any one of numerous conventional liquid impervious 
materials. However, to facilitate the disposability of the pad 10, a paper 
material, chemically treated to be perspiration impervious, is well suited 
for this purpose. Further, as with the panel 16, it is desirable that the 
panel 20 and the filler 24 be sufficiently pliable to avoid restricting 
the mobility of the wearer. 
In order to releasably secure the pad 10 in position proximate the underarm 
area 14 of the garment 12, the exterior surface 22 of the second exterior 
panel 20 is provided with a suitable adhesive 32. A removable adhesive 
protection tab 34 is also provided to cover and protect the adhesive 32 
until such time as the pad 10 is to be used, at which time the tab 34 is 
pulled from the adhesive 32 and the pad 10 is pressed into place proximate 
the underarm area 14 of the garment 12. Further, in order to facilitate 
the positioning of the pad 10 within the garment 12, and to insure that 
the pad 10 does not obstruct mobility, in the preferred embodiment of the 
figures, the pad 10 is provided with a centrally disposed crease 36 which 
facilitates the folding of the pad 10 in the direction indicated by arrow 
38. Thus, when securing the pad 10 to the garment 12, the pad 10 is 
positioned such that the crease 36 is aligned along the underarm seam 40 
of the garment 12. Resultantly, the fold in the pad 10 created by the 
crease 36 overlaps the natural fold in the garment 12 created by the seam 
40 such that movement of the sleeve 42 of the garment 12 is not restricted 
or hampered by the pad 10. 
Therefore, it will be appreciated that the underarm perspiration pad 10 can 
be secured proximate each underarm area 14 of a garment 12 in order to 
protect the garment from perspiration damage and to keep the wearer's 
underarms dry. In this regard, the hydrophobic first exterior panel 16 
serves to absorb perspiration from the skin of the wearer and wick the 
perspiration toward the absorbent sheets 30 which make up the filler 24. 
Accordingly, the wearer's underarms are kept dry with the perspiration 
being trapped in the filler 24. Further, the perspiration impervious 
second exterior panel 20 prohibits the perspiration trapped in the filler 
24 from reaching the garment 12, thereby obviating the perspiration damage 
to the garment 12. Of course, after the garment has been worn, the pads 10 
may be removed from the garment and disposed of, and new pads 10 may be 
inserted when the garment 12 is worn again. Additionally, in the preferred 
embodiment, the pads 10 are impregnated with a deodorant to obviate any 
offensive odor emanating from the perspiration absorbed by the pads 10. Of 
course, the pads 10 may be provided with an artificial scent or may be 
unscented as desired, and may be provided in various colors such that they 
will match the color of the garment to which they are secured so that they 
are not visible through the weave of the cloth of the garment. 
While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it will be 
understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to such 
disclosure, but rather it is intended to cover all modifications and 
alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the 
invention as defined in the appended claims.