Moisture management incontinence device

A moisture management incontinence pad is adapted for placement within an undergarment worn by a user. The fabric composite includes a plurality of overlying absorbent layers having respective first and second opposing end edges and first and second opposing side edges. The adsorbent layers are substantially unattached to one another along at least one of respective first and second side edges and first and second end edges to promote circulation between the layers during laundering. A liquid impermeable jacket resides adjacent an outside major surface of the fabric composite, and covers the opposing end edges and opposing side edges of the absorbent layers. The jacket is adapted for trapping moisture within the composite, and forms a moisture barrier between the composite and the undergarment. The jacket defines an open moisture entry zone which communicates with a portion of the inside major surface of the fabric composite, whereby moisture is received through the entry zone and into the fabric composite for transport away from the body of the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a moisture management incontinence pad designed for both men and women, and applicable for managing light, moderate and heavy urinary incontinence. The invention is especially useful for controlling multiple instances of leakage.

An estimated 19 million North American adults suffer urinary incontinence with severity ranging from partial to complete loss of bladder control. They may experience varying degrees of urine loss, and the incontinence may change over time. For example, some adults with light incontinence may leak a little when they laugh or cough, while others with heavy incontinence may be experience continuous leakage. No two cases are alike, and no two adults are affected by incontinence the same way.

Incontinence is not an inevitable part of aging, and it is not a disease. In fact, in most cases, it is merely a symptom or side-effect of another medical condition. Male urinary incontinence may be caused by any number of health conditions including prostate surgery, neurologic disease or injury (Parkinson's disease, stroke or spinal cord injury), obstructed urination, and certain birth defects or chronic medical conditions such as diabetes. In many cases, incontinence can be cured and it can always be managed. Many women will experience periods of urinary incontinence caused by childbirth and menopause.

Presently available commercial products address all levels of urinary incontinence. Prior art incontinence pads are generally either relatively inexpensive and disposable, or more expensive and reusable. The present invention focuses on the reusable pad market. Such pads typically include a moisture absorbing component combined with an overlying moisture barrier. The moisture barrier is designed to prevent movement of moisture through the moisture absorbing component and outwardly from the pad. When washing these pads for reuse, it is difficult to fully clean the moisture absorbing component due to the restricted flow of water through the pad caused by the moisture barrier. An even greater problem is the inability to efficiently and effectively dry the pad after washing. Thus, while an advantage of these pads lies in their repeated reusability, the considerable time and inconvenience in laundering generally outweighs the ultimate costs savings.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a moisture management incontinence pad which is launderable and reusable.

It is another object of the invention to provide a moisture management incontinence pad which can be efficiently and effectively cleaned.

It is another object of the invention to provide a moisture management incontinence pad which can be efficiently and effectively dried after washing.

It is another object of the invention to provide a moisture management incontinence pad which can be either used alone or in combination with a washable undergarment.

It is another object of the invention to provide a moisture management incontinence pad which promotes rapid osmotic pulling or wicking of moisture away from the skin of a user.

It is another object of the invention to provide a moisture management incontinence pad which utilizes a first wicking layer at a urine entry zone and then multiple layers of increasingly absorbent fabric.

It is another object of the invention to provide a moisture management incontinence pad which can be worn over an extended period of time.

It is another object of the invention to provide a moisture management incontinence pad which is specifically intended to receive and properly manage multiple instances of urine leakage without having to change the pad.

It is another object of the invention to provide a moisture management incontinence pad which is constructed such that all fabric layers including the outer barrier jacket are adjoined to ensure proper orientation when reconstructing the pad after laundering.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a moisture management incontinence pad adapted for placement within an undergarment worn by a user. The incontinence pad includes a multi-layer fabric composite having an inside major surface for residing nearest the body of the user and an outside major surface for residing nearest the undergarment. The fabric composite comprises a plurality of overlying absorbent layers having respective first and second opposing end edges and first and second opposing side edges. The adsorbent layers are substantially unattached to one another along at least one of respective first and second side edges and first and second end edges to promote circulation between the layers during laundering. The term “substantially unattached” as used herein means unattached along more than 50% of the entire length of a single side edge or end edge, and preferably more than 80% of the entire length of the side edge or end edge. The term “laundering” is broadly defined herein to mean any step in the cleaning process including washing and air drying.

A liquid impermeable jacket resides adjacent the outside major surface of the fabric composite, and covers the opposing end edges and opposing side edges of the absorbent layers. The jacket is adapted for trapping moisture within the composite, and forms a moisture barrier between the composite and the undergarment. The jacket defines an open moisture entry zone which communicates with a portion of the inside major surface of the fabric composite, whereby moisture is received through the entry zone and into the fabric composite for transport away from the body of the user.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid impermeable jacket covers greater than 20 percent of the inside major surface of the fabric composite.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the moisture entry zone occupies less than 80 percent of the inside major surface.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the absorbent layers are attached together at respective first and second end edges.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the absorbent layers are substantially unattached to one another along respective first and second side edges.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the fabric composite has a fixed end secured to the jacket and a free end opposite the fixed end.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the jacket has a lateral pocket for receiving the free end of the fabric composite.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, means are provided for releasably attaching the free end of the fabric composite inside the pocket of the jacket, such that the fabric composite is removable from the pocket and extendable outwardly from the jacket for laundering and drying.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for releasably attaching the free end of the fabric composite includes mating hook and loop fasteners.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the inside major surface of the fabric composite includes hydrophobic fibers.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the fabric composite includes at least 4 overlying absorbent layers.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the fabric composite has an hourglass design.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the fabric composite has a reduced thickness at a tapered portion of the hourglass design.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the jacket has opposing elastic side edges.

In another embodiment, the invention is an undergarment combined with a moisture management incontinence pad, as described above, placed inside the undergarment and adjacent the body of a user.

In yet another embodiment, the invention is a method for managing moisture resulting from moderate to heavy incontinence.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE

Referring now specifically to the drawings, a moisture management incontinence pad according to the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 1, and shown generally at reference numeral10. The incontinence pad10is designed for both men and women, and is especially useful for wear at night to manage multiple instances of moderate to heavy urine leakage while sleeping. The incontinence pad10is adapted for suspension inside an undergarment11using any suitable fastener “F”, such as snaps, hook and loop fasteners, or the like. The undergarment11resembles a conventional sport brief including an elastic waistline, a front and rear joined to the waistline, and first and second leg segments defining respective leg openings. The undergarment11has complementary fasteners (not shown) designed to mate with the fasteners “F” of the incontinence pad10to position and retain the pad10inside the undergarment11.

As best shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the incontinence pad10comprises a multi-layer fabric composite12substantially encased within a liquid impermeable, vapor permeable polyester jacket14. The fabric composite12has an inside major surface which resides nearest the body of the user, and an outside major surface which resides nearest the undergarment11. A first layer15A,15B of the fabric composite12includes soft hydrophilic or wicking fibers, such as Dacron® manufactured by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. The wicking fibers operate to quickly move moisture away from the skin and into an overlying series of more absorbent inner layers16A,16B,17,18,19,20A,20B. The inner layers16A,16B,17,18,19,20A,20B comprise hydrophilic fibers, such as cotton, hydrophilic nylon, rayon, wool, and blends of these fibers.

The liquid impermeable, vapor permeable jacket14resides adjacent the outside major surface of the fabric composite12, and covers the end edges and opposing side edges of the composite layers15A,15B,16A,16B,17,18,19,20A,20B. The sides of the jacket14comprise elastic yarns, such as Spandex®, which give the incontinence pad10a generally cupped shape for improved fit and added comfort. The jacket14serves to trap liquid within the fabric composite12, and forms a breathable moisture barrier between the composite12and the undergarment11.

Urine enters the incontinence pad10through a moisture entry zone “Z” which communicates with an entirely exposed portion of the inside major surface of the fabric composite12. As shown inFIG. 2, the moisture entry zone “Z” is defined by an area of the fabric composite12extending between points A, B, C, and D of the jacket14. Preferably, the jacket14wraps around the ends and sides of the fabric composite12covering greater than 20 percent of the inside major surface, thereby reducing the likelihood of urine leakage outwardly from the incontinence pad10and onto the undergarment11and bed sheets. In this embodiment, the moisture entry zone “Z” comprises less than 80 percent of the inside major surface of the fabric composite. During each incidence of leakage, urine is received through the entry zone “Z” and immediately passed into the fabric composite12for transport away from the body.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, the fabric composite12comprises an assembly of full length and partial length fabric layers17,18,19and15A,15B,16A,16B,20A,20B, respectively. The full length fabric layers17,18,19extend in overlying registration from one end of the fabric composite12to the other and have a generally hourglass design. Each of the layers17,18,19has opposing relatively wide ends tapering at a narrow center. The partial length layers15A,15B,16A,16B and20A,20B overlie respective wide ends of the layers17and19, such that the fabric composite12is relatively thick and wide at the ends and relatively thin and narrow at the center. Preferably, the front end12A of the fabric composite12is wider than the rear end12B, and may include additional partial fabric layers (not shown) for increased moisture absorption.

The partial length layers15A,15B,16A,16B and20A,20B are sewn together at respective opposite ends to the full length layers17and19, as best shown inFIG. 3. Additionally, the layers15B and16B are sewn together to the jacket14at an intermediate point24. The full length layers17,18,19are sewn to the partial length layers15A,15B,16A,16B,20A,20B at respective opposite ends of the layers17,18,19. The opposing sides of all layers15A,15B,16A,16B,17,18,19,20A,20B remain substantially unattached in order to promote air circulation through the fabric composite12between adjacent layers. Preferably, the individual layer ends at respective opposite ends12A and12B of the fabric composite12are staggered in pairs, thereby thinning the composite12at the ends12A,12B for added comfort.

The fixed end12B of the fabric composite12resides within a lateral end pocket25of the jacket14and is permanently secured to the jacket14at point24, as previously described. The free end12A of the fabric composite12is received inside a second lateral end pocket26of the jacket14. As shown inFIG. 5, the free end12A is releasably secured to the jacket14by complementary patches of hook and loop fasteners28and29. Prior to washing and drying the incontinence pad10, the free end12A of the fabric composite12is removed from the end pocket26and extended away from the jacket14, as illustrated inFIG. 6. The attached fabric layers15A,15B,16A,16B,17,18,19,20A,20B open along respective opposite sides to allow effective cleaning of the interior layers, and to promote fast and efficient drying. After laundering, the fabric composite12is replaced inside the end pocket26of the jacket14and the complementary hook and loop fasteners28,29reattached.

For increased absorption, one or more separate, unattached layers of fabric may be added inside the jacket14at any desired location. In an alternative embodiment, the entire fabric composite12may be removable from the jacket14and constructed for ready and convenient re-insertion into the jacket.

A further embodiment of an incontinence pad30according to the present invention is illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8. The incontinence pad30comprises a multi-layer fabric composite32substantially encased within a liquid impermeable, vapor permeable polyester jacket34. The fabric composite32has an inside major surface which resides nearest the body of the user, and an outside major surface which resides nearest the undergarment (not shown). A first layer35of the fabric composite32includes soft hydrophilic or wicking fibers, such as Dacron® manufactured by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. The wicking fibers operate to quickly move moisture away from the skin and into an overlying series of more absorbent inner layers36,37, and38. The inner layers36,37,38comprise hydrophilic fibers, such as cotton, hydrophilic nylon, rayon, wool, and blends of these fibers.

The liquid impermeable, vapor permeable jacket34resides adjacent the outside major surface of the fabric composite32, and covers the end edges and opposing side edges of the composite layers35,36,37, and38. The side edges of the jacket34comprise elastic yarns, such as Spandex®, which give the incontinence pad30a generally cupped shape for improved fit and added comfort. The jacket34serves to trap liquid within the fabric composite32, and forms a breathable moisture barrier between the composite32and the undergarment.

Urine enters the incontinence pad30through a moisture entry zone, as previously described. Preferably, the jacket34wraps around the ends and sides of the fabric composite32covering greater than 20 percent of the inside major surface, thereby reducing the likelihood of urine leakage outwardly from the incontinence pad30and onto the undergarment and bed sheets. As in pad10, the moisture entry zone comprises less than 80 percent of the inside major surface of the fabric composite32. During each incidence of leakage, urine is received through the entry zone and immediately passed into the fabric composite32for transport away from the body.

As best shown inFIG. 8, the fabric composite32comprises an assembly of full length and partial length fabric layers—35,36,37, and38. The full length fabric layers35and38extend from one end of the fabric composite32to the other, and are sewn together at respective opposite ends. The partial length layer36overlies inner layer37which overlies the layer38. The layers36,37, and38are arranged in increasing lengths such that the ends of the fabric composite32have a relatively thin profile, while the central area at the moisture entry zone defines a thicker profile for increased absorption. Each of the layers35–38has opposing relatively wide ends tapering at a narrow center to form a generally hourglass design. Preferably, the front end32A of the fabric composite32is wider than the rear end32B, and may include additional partial fabric layers (not shown).

As previously stated, the full length layers35and38are sewn together at their respective opposite ends. The partial length layer36is sewn at its opposite ends to the underlying inner layer37. This layer37is sewn at its opposite ends to the underlying layer38. The opposing sides of all layers35–38remain substantially unattached in order to promote air circulation through the fabric composite32between adjacent layers.

Each of the layers35–38are sewn together and attached to the jacket34at the central area of the pad30along lateral stitch lines39and40. The ends32A and32B of the fabric composite32are preferably unattached to the jacket34, and are designed removably placement within respective lateral pockets41and42. Prior to washing and drying the incontinence pad30, the free ends32A and32B of the fabric composite32are removed from respective end pockets41,42and are extended away from the jacket34, as illustrated inFIG. 7. The attached fabric layers35–38open along respective opposite sides to allow effective cleaning of the interior layers, and to promote fast and efficient drying. After laundering, the fabric composite32is replaced inside the end pockets41,42of the jacket34and the pad reassembled for reuse.

A moisture management incontinence pad is described above. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation—the invention being defined by the claims.