Single use sweat band

A flat elongate sweat band having end portions releasably and adjustably fastenable to each other to form an annular configuration for use. The sweat band provides a thin tubular cover defining an internal chamber carrying a perspiration absorbing pad. The cover is compound with an annularly interior portion that is perspiration permeable and an annularly exterior portion that is perspiration impermeable which may carry patternation for aesthetic purposes or alphanumeric characters for advertising. One side of the cover carries an elongate strip of elastomeric material that shrinks after placement to provide elastic tension to aid positional maintenance of the band during use. The absorbent pad is formed of a mixture of linted fiber and water absorbing polymeres. The band structure particularly adapts the device for formation by continuous manufacturing processes which provide economic parameters allowing single use, throw away type use.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
1. Related Applications 
There are no applications related hereto heretofore filed in this or any 
foreign country. 
2. Field of Invention 
This invention relates generally to single use, releasably fastenable sweat 
bands, and more particularly to such a sweat band having a peripheral 
cover formed with a pervious inner side and an impervious outer side and 
carrying a pad of absorbing material. 
3. Background and Description of Prior Art 
Sweat bands have long been known and used on the extremities of the human 
body, and especially the head and arms, to absorb perspiration and prevent 
its flow on the body surface past the sweat band during periods of active 
exercise or exertion. Such bands in their simplest and primitive form 
merely provide an elongate piece of pervious material, such as absorbent 
cloth or paper, that is wrapped and releasably fastened about the body 
part being serviced. Such devices during their course of development have 
become more sophisticated to provide complex bands having plural element 
defining structures allowing formation by releasably fastening the ends of 
a flat band to each other with secondary structure providing elastically 
deformable means to aid positional maintenance. My invention provides a 
new, novel and improved device of this latter class. 
Sweat bands generally provide a somewhat flattened bandlike structure 
configured for use as an annulus to provide surface contact of some 
substantial areal extent on the human body to allow them to more 
effectively fulfill their purposes. Some such bands are permanently formed 
in an annular configuration, but in general the more convenient type for 
placement is formed of flexible material with an elongate shape and with 
fastening means in their end portions to releasably connect the band ends 
to form an annulus of somewhat cylindrical configuration. This releasable 
type of fastening provides the added benefit of allowing an adjustable 
interconnection so that a band may be variously sized to allow a better 
fit upon a body portion and to allow a single band to be usable through a 
range of sizes. Many such known adjustably and releasably fastened bands, 
however, have not provided perspiration absorbing means about 
substantially their body contacting surface because of particular methods 
of formation or means for fastening. My sweat band solves this problem by 
providing a substantially homogeneous and continuous inner perspiration 
absorbing surface about substantially the entire body contacting area of 
the band. 
Most known sweat bands have provided perspiration permeable material on 
both inner body contacting surface and outer exposed surface to allow 
perspiration to pass through the band and evaporate on its external 
surface. This evaporative function has commonly been required because the 
sweat band itself did not absorb and contain sufficient quantities of 
perspiration during a period of use and unless part of that accumulated 
perspiration were removed the band would cease to properly function. My 
invention in contradistinction provides a sweat band having a peripherally 
defined cover carrying perspiration absorbing material in its internal 
channel with a potentiality for absorption and containment of substantial 
amounts of perspiration, greater than will be developed during any 
continuous period of use of the device. This absorptive material is not 
configurationally stable as were paper and fabric sweat bands of the past, 
and therefore requires the particularized construction of my band 
providing an external casement, which distinguishes my band from prior 
devices. This particular structure allows my sweat band to be formed with 
different materials on its inner body contacting surface and its outer 
exposed surface, and the particular moisture absorbing material allows the 
outer surface to be formed of perspiration impervious material both of 
which features further distinguish my invention from prior sweat bands. 
Sweat bands generally require some type of biasing to aid their positional 
maintenance and most have provided an elastically deformable material in 
their structure, commonly configured to extend in a circular band when in 
their annular mode. Such elastically deformable material has generally 
been created in the sweat band structure itself or has been a separate 
structure that is incorporated by sewing or other mechanical fastening. In 
either case, the structures generally have been complex and difficult of 
formation and have added disportionate expense to the general sweat band 
structure. 
My invention in distinguishment provides a strip of elastomeric material 
carried by one surface of the tubular peripheral band cover. The material 
is an elastic polymere that may be applied in a viscous extrudable form to 
the surface of the cover to which it adheres for positional maintenance, 
but after a period of drying or curing contracts while yet maintaining 
adhesion, coherence and elasticity to pucker the cover carrying the 
material. This provides an elastomeric structure that will create a bias 
in a circular direction when the sweat band is placed about part of a body 
larger than the circumference of the band in its relaxed state. This type 
of elastomeric element provides a simple, inexpensive biasing means 
particularly adapted to mass production to further distinguishes my sweat 
band from those heretofore known. 
Most prior sweat bands have been created for multiple use probably 
primarily because of their cost, though such use is not particularly 
desirable as various components of perspiration which they absorb remain 
in the bands to make multiple use physically, biologically and ascetically 
undesirable. The perspiration residues left in sweat bands commonly are 
odoriferous and often become more so after the lapse of time by reason of 
bacterial activity, oxidation and other chemical activity. Human 
perspiration also commonly contains various microbal agents which become 
resident in the sweat band where environmental conditions often are such 
as to encourage their growth and activity to create potential future 
hazards to health. Physically sweat bands often take a long period of time 
to dry after periods of use, if they ever do, and such moist sweat bands 
are generally not ascetically pleasing to a user at the time of a 
subsequent period of reuse. My invention solves these problems by 
providing a sweat band that is economically viable for single use. 
My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in 
the synergistic combination of all of the structures of my sweat band that 
necessarily give rise to the functions flowing therefrom, as herein 
specified and claimed. 
SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
My invention provides a flat sweat band having end tabs with loop and pile 
fasteners at each end for adjustable fastening into an annular 
configuration about a human body part. The sweat band provides a 
relatively thin flexible peripheral cover defining an elongate channel 
closed in its end parts by the end tabs and carrying absorptive material 
comprising cotton lint and polyacrylonitrile grafted onto a starch 
substrata. The inner body contacting surface of the cover is formed of 
sweat permeable material and the outer exposed side is formed of sweat 
impermeable material which may carry patternation or alpha-numeric 
characters. One elongate surface of the cover carries a strip of elastic 
material that is placed in a viscous extrudable material that adheres to 
the cover and subsequently shrinks during curing while yet retaining its 
elasticity and adhesion to provide elastic biasing in the cover when 
placed in a tensive condition. The band is particularly designed for 
inexpensive mass production to allow single use on a human head or limbs. 
In providing such a sweat band, it is: 
A principal object to create a sweat band that may be mass produced in an 
economically feasible fashion to allow single throw-away type use. 
A further object is to provide such a sweat band that is formable from a 
flat band-like mode into an annular use mode by adjustably and releasably 
interconnecting its end portions. 
A further object is to provide such a sweat band that has a flexible 
peripheral cover defining an internal channel and having an inner body 
contacting surface that is permeable to perspiration and an outer surface 
that is impermeable. 
A further object is to provide such a sweat band that carries within the 
channel defined by the cover a perspiration absorbing material comprising 
a mixture of cotton lint and polyacrylonitrile grafted onto a starch 
substrata. 
A further object is to provide such a band with one cover surface carrying 
a strip of elastomeric material that adheres to the cover and contracts 
after placement to pucker the cover while retaining its elasticity to 
allow stretching of the cover to provide tension in the stretch mode. 
A still further object is to provide such a band that may carry 
patternation or alphanumeric information on its impervious outer surface. 
A still further object of my invention is to provide such a sweat band that 
is of new and novel design, of rugged and durable nature, of simple and 
economic manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the uses and purposes 
for which it is intended. 
Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following 
specification and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. In 
carrying out the objects of my invention, however, it is to be remembered 
that its accidental features are susceptible of change in design and 
structural arrangement with only one preferred and practical embodiment 
being illustrated in the accompanying drawings as is required.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
My sweat band generally provides elongate tubular cover 10 having 
fastenable end structure 11 and carrying perspiration absorbing material 
12 in its internal channel. 
Tubular cover 10 is an elongate band-like element of generally rectilinear 
configuration formed by an inner surface element 13 and outer surface 
element 14, each of similar configuration and structurally joined to the 
other at adjacent edges. Elongate side edge portions 15 of the inner 
surface element and adjacent side edge portions 16 of the outer surface 
element preferably overlap in either an abutting relationship as 
illustrated in FIG. 4 or an overlapping relationship as illustrated in 
FIG. 5. The adjacent surfaces of edge portions 15, 16 are structurally 
joined to each other by known methods depending upon the nature of the 
material, such as by sewing, adhesion, electronic welding or the like. The 
method of joinder of these elements should be such as not to create undue 
stiffness or lack of flexibility in the finished product. The two side 
elements 13 and 14 thusly joined form an elongate peripherally defined 
tubular structure defining a similarly configured internal channel for 
containment of absorbent material. 
The opposed shorter ends 17 of the inner surface element and ends 18 of the 
outer surface element are joined in butt-type joint 20 by mechanical 
interconnection of the adjacent portions of these elements. Generally this 
butt-type joint will have some length to provide an outwardly extending 
end tab structure which may be used to fasten the two end tab structures 
together to form an annular band as hereinafter described. With the 
adjacent ends of the surface elements thusly joined, the channel defined 
by the side joinder becomes chamber 22 for containment of absorbing 
material. 
At least one surface of one of the surface elements of the tubular cover 
carries an elongate strip of biasing material 23. This biasing material 
may be on one or more of the inner or outer sides of either inner surface 
element 13 or outer surface element 14, and it may be variously positioned 
on that surface. Preferably the biasing material is medially positioned in 
a strip substantially parallel to elongate sides 15, 16 of one side of the 
element supporting it, and for ease of manufacture the material preferably 
is carried on the outer side of the outer surface element 14. 
The purpose of the biasing material is to contract the tubular casement to 
a length less than its normal constructed length, but yet under 
appropriate tension allow elastic extension of the element to 
substantially its normal constructed length to aid in positionally 
maintaining the band when placed about a body part. The biasing material 
23 may include various known elastomeric materials such as latex, 
synthetic elastomeres or similar substances formed as separate elements 
and mechanically attached to my band by adhesion, stitching or similar 
process, and various pucker-type stitching with either elastic or 
non-elastic thread, would also be within the scope of my invention. 
The preferred biasing material is a curable elastic polymeric material that 
may be applied in a viscous extrudable state to cover 10. The material 
adheres to the cover surface and during subsequent curing shrinks to some 
degree, but yet cures to a state that is cohesive with elastomeric 
properties sufficient to allow the material to be expanded to its original 
placement length without physical damage. Various of such materials have 
heretofore become known for purposes similar to those for which biasing 
material 23 is used in my invention. The material that I have found suited 
for this purpose and that which I prefer is one merchandised under the 
trade name and style MELTECK by the Meltech Corporation which has an 
office in Baroda, Mich. This material is available in the present day 
marketplace, is of an economically viable nature and allows simple and 
easy formation and manufacturing processes to provide a sweat band of a 
single use throw-away type. 
Fastenable end structure 11 is shown particularly in the cross-sectional 
view of FIG. 3. The adjacent end portions 18, 19 of inner and outer cover 
elements 13, 14 respectively are attached to each other by mechanical 
means. In production, it may be simpler to allow some absorbing material 
12 to exist between the two end portions 18, 19 and this is within the 
scope of my invention as long as the end portions are fastened 
sufficiently to each other to define chamber 22. The end tab structure 18, 
19 must have some length, that is the distance that it extends from the 
portion of tubular cover 10 whereat chamber 22 is defined, but the 
absolute length is not critical. For effective use tab length should be 
related to the amount of potential elongate elastic deformation of the 
tubular cover and the amount of adjustable sizing desired for a particular 
sweat band. Commonly this length will be in approximately one-half to one 
inch range. It should be remembered, however, that the sweat band will not 
have so great a potential for absorbing moisture in the tab structure as 
in its body area between the tab structures, so the tabs should not be 
larger than necessary. 
At least one side of each tab structure 18, 19 provides fastening means 24 
to allow releasable fastening of the tab structures to each other to 
establish and maintain the band in an annual configuration. It is 
generally desired that a sweat band provide a cylinder-like configuration, 
as opposed to a Mobius type configuration, and this requires that the 
fastening elements at opposite ends be on opposite sides of the tab 
structures as illustrated in FIG. 3. The fastening means may comprise 
various adhesives or mechanical fasteners such as buttons, hooks and the 
like, but the preferred fastener is of the fabric hook and loop type. It 
is possible that fastening elements may be positioned on both sides of 
each end tab structure, but this commonly is not necessary or even 
desirable. The length of the two tab elements will allow some measure of 
adjustability in the size of the band when formed into an annulus and may 
be varied to meet individual needs. 
The size and configuration of my sweat band is somewhat critical and 
essentially related to its function. The length of the band, that is the 
distance between end tab structures, must be such that when the tubular 
cover is in relaxed condition this length is less than the circumference 
of the body member which is to carry the sweat band, but in tensioned 
condition must also be at least as long as the circumference of the body 
part that is to carry the band. Some variance is allowed in either of 
these dimensions by reason of the nature of end tab structures which 
allows variable positioning of the ends of the cover relative to each 
other when the band is formed into an annular configuration. Such 
dimensioning allows a sweat band to be positionally maintained on a body 
part by elastic resilience in the band. 
The width of my sweat band, that is the distance between elongate sides 15, 
16, is not critical but should be sufficient to allow the absorption of 
perspiration presented to it and prevent passage of perspiration across 
the band while yet not being greater than necessary for this purpose so as 
to be uncomfortable to a wearer or hinder his physical activities. 
Commonly for a head band the length will vary from about eighteen to 
twenty-four inches and the width will vary from one to four inches. The 
length of arm or leg bands will vary according to the portion of an arm or 
leg which they are to encompass, but generally will be in the six to eight 
inch range and the width of such bands will be substantially the same as 
in head bands. 
The material from which cover 10 is formed is also critical to my 
invention. The inner surface element 13 is formed of material pervious to 
human perspiration and the outer surface element is formed of material 
impervious to that perspiration. The inner surface element may be formed 
from materials that are themselves pervious, such as various animal or 
vegetable fibers or from moisture impervious materials that provide a 
structure with holes, pores, voids, channels or the like that allow 
permeation. Cotton cloth is a typical example of the first type of 
material while various sheet plastic or polymeric materials which have 
perforations or are of woven form are examples of the latter class. The 
outer surface element is formed from polymeric or resinous sheet plastic 
materials that do not define porosity of any significance. The material 
from which both inner and outer surface elements of the tubular cover is 
formed must also be of a reasonably flexible, deformable nature and must 
possess appropriate strength and durability to serve the purposes required 
of it. 
Perspiration absorbing material 12 receives perspiration permeating inner 
surface element 13 and retains and stores this perspiration. The absorbing 
material must have the potentiality to contain reasonable amounts of 
perspiration, since the outer surface of my sweat band is impermeable and 
contained perspiration cannot pass through the outer surface of the sweat 
band for evaporation during use. Various known absorptive materials that 
are wetted by perspiration fulfill this purpose, but that which is 
preferred is a mixture of vegetable fibers of relatively small mass and 
volume and a chemical material that may absorb sufficient water to 
ultimately swell to form a gel or colloid. Preferably the mixture 
comprises cotton lint and the material commonly known as Polysorb, which 
is a polyacrylonitrile grafted onto a starch substrata pursuant to the 
teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,387. The name Polysorb for this material 
is a trademark of Polysorb, Inc., of Smelterville, Id., which manufactures 
the material. The proportions of fiber and Polysorb may vary from 
substantially all of one material to substantially all of the other 
material, but the preferred mixture is approximately ten percent by weight 
of Polysorb and the balance of fiber. In general, the greater the 
proportion of Polysorb, the greater will be the absorptive capacity of the 
mixture. 
This absorptive material may be placed within chamber 22 in the form of a 
loose, dry mixture or preferably may be formed as a mat to better maintain 
a flat band-like configuration of my sweat band. The linted Polysorb 
mixture may readily be formed into a matted structure by adding small 
amounts of moisture to the mixture and subsequently drying it in the 
configuration ultimately desired. This type of absorptive material lends 
itself to continuous manufacturing processes and contributes to the 
economic viability of my sweat band to allow its use as a throw-away type 
device for single use. 
Manufacturing of the band may be accomplished by continuous processes 
wherein the product is created in continuous lengths with the perspiration 
absorbing material 12 being established within the tubular cover 10 during 
the process of formation. The continuous band then may be cut to desired 
lengths and the end elements mechanically pressed together and fastened to 
form tab structures. The biasing material 23 is established in an elongate 
strip by extrusion, and may serve as an adhesive or cement the 
interconnection of adjacent ends 18 and 19 that form end tabs. 
Having thusly described the structure of my invention, its use may be 
understood. 
A sweat band is formed according to the foregoing specification, by known 
continuous manufacturing processes. The various parameters of the sweat 
band are determined by known engineering methods to meet the conditions of 
particular use. The band length is regulated to allow some bias in the 
element when formed into an annulus and positioned about the body part 
where it is to be used. Inner surface element 13 is chosen to have 
sufficient permeability to allow passage of perspiration from the covered 
body surface without allowing transport of such perspiration along that 
covered surface. The amount of absorbing material 25 is chosen in 
consideration of the absorbency of the material being used so that that 
material will absorb perspiration that will be presented to a sweat band 
during a period of use. This normally will require a filling of a mixture 
of approximately three-fourths by weight of cotton lint and one-fourth by 
weight of Polysorb of approximately one-quarter inch thickness. This type 
of sweat band will generally absorb perspiration presented to the device 
during a period of a day of ordinary exertive activity. 
For use, such a sweat band is positioned on a body extremity in an annular 
configuration and in a biased condition for positional maintenance. 
Positioning may be accomplished either by releasably fastening the two 
band ends together and then positioning the band by tensioning it or by 
positioning the band as an elongate structure, wrapping it around a body 
part and then fastening the two ends together with appropriate tension in 
the band. The only thing critical to the placement is the configurational 
relationship of the device in place with some tension upon the human body. 
It is to be noted that in the placement process the size of the annulus 
formed by the structure may be somewhat varied by positioning the end tab 
structures in different relationship to each other, so long as those 
structures form a releasably fastenable connection of such strength as is 
required to positionally maintain the device. 
It is further to be noted that the sweat band might be used on any portion 
of the body about which the band may be wrapped in a fastenable 
configuration and positionally maintained. The positioning may be about 
the arms or legs, most commonly about the head, and even possibly about 
the trunk, if the sweat band be there desired. Bands having appropriate 
parameters for such positioning and use are all within the scope of my 
invention. 
The foregoing description of my invention is necessarily of a detailed 
nature so that a specific embodiment of it might be set forth as required, 
but it is to be understood that various modifications of detail, 
rearrangement and multiplication of parts might be resorted to without 
departing from its spirit, essence or scope. 
Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect by Letters 
Patent, and