Abstract:
An apparatus to reduce the effect of coughing or sneezing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pad having a configuration that conforms to a general outline of a person&#39;s nose and mouth region. The pad includes a bottom having a first side and an opposing second side, an absorbent material disposed on the first side of the bottom to receive byproducts of a cough or a sneeze, and a peripheral wall extending from the bottom substantially upward and around the periphery of the bottom. The peripheral wall is configured to prevent escape of the byproducts from the pad.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/732,353 filed Nov. 1, 2005 and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to reducing the effects of coughing and sneezing, and more particularly to an absorbent pad which can be used on an arm while both hands are occupied. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   In the health care and food preparation fields, as well as in everyday life, the prevention of the spread of germs through what the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services calls the practice of “respiratory etiquette” (i.e. covering ones&#39; mouth when coughing and sneezing) has become a priority. Facemasks, while effective at blocking many of these germs, are not worn in many situations. The problem is that often a cough or sneeze occurs with little warning and the individual does not have the time to reach into his or her pocket for a tissue or is carrying an object and is unable to obtain or use a conventional tissue. 
   A sneeze can travel up to 100 MPH, and stifling or attempting to stop a sneeze can cause serious injuries, including broken facial bones. There exist various devices designed primarily to be worn on ones&#39; arm, wrist or glove during winter outdoor activities for wiping a dripping nose, but these are not suitable for the purpose of stopping the spread of germs caused by the forceful expulsion of germ-laden air created by coughs and sneezes. 
   U.S. Pat. No. D446,381 discloses a handkerchief attachable to a user&#39;s wrist. The shape is not conformed to a human nose and mouth, nor are a welt and baffle disclosed. A protective sheet is also not disclosed. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,057 discloses a nasal drip absorbing device wearable on a cuff or back of a glove. The shape is not conformed to a human nose and mouth, nor are a welt and baffle disclosed. A protective sheet is also not disclosed. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,233 discloses a dispenser for tissues. The dispenser is not made to be coughed or sneezed into. The shape is not conformed to a human nose and mouth, nor are a welt and baffle disclosed. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,889 discloses a wearable absorbent pad for wiping a wearer&#39;s nose. A protective sheet (31) is disclosed. The shape is not conformed to a human nose and mouth, nor are a welt and baffle disclosed. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,728 discloses a dispenser for flexible sheets. The dispenser is not made to be coughed or sneezed into. The shape is not conformed to a human nose and mouth, nor are a welt and baffle disclosed. 
   U.S. Publication No. 20020084279 discloses a dispenser for tissues. The dispenser is not made to be coughed or sneezed into. The shape is not conformed to a human nose and mouth, nor are a welt and baffle disclosed. A protective sheet is also not disclosed. 
   Accordingly there is a need for a simple wearable device, which can hold a single or multiple disposable absorbent pads to reduce the amount of germs expelled into the air when it is coughed or sneezed into and which can optionally contain a pocket or pockets which can store latex gloves, a facemask, and antibacterial wipes, for preventing the spread of disease. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Disclosed is a device that includes one or more cough/sneeze absorbent pads attached to a washable, reusable armband or alternately, a completely disposable device that includes one or more disposable absorbent pads. A pad can be peeled off and used while held in the hand but preferably, when worn on one&#39;s arm, can be coughed/sneezed into while the device is on the arm. This allows the device to be utilized even when one&#39;s hands are not available, such as for anyone working in a health care setting, a chef preparing food or a waiter carrying plates of food. This prevents the common occurrence of sneezing/coughing out into the air or into one&#39;s hands or sleeve, which are unsanitary practices. The pad is shaped to receive a user&#39;s nose and mouth, and a raised welt and/or a baffle around the perimeter (peripheral wall) greatly reduces the amount of germs that escape, as does the shape which conforms generally to the position of the user&#39;s nose and mouth. Optionally, a pocket or pockets contained within the armband can hold gloves, facemask(s) and antibacterial wipes. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description below when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a view showing an entirely disposable device with one or more sneeze/cough pads worn on a sleeve of a shirt; 
       FIG. 2  shows the back side of a sneeze/cough pad shaped to cover a user&#39;s nose and mouth area and showing how a layer is peeled off of the back to allow an adhesive surface to be exposed so the device can be attached to the sleeve of a garment or to a bare arm; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the device to show how several pads nest together and are removable one at a time; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of one of the contoured sneeze/cough pads of the device taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 : 
       FIG. 5  shows a nurse in a hospital carrying a tray of food while using the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  shows the nurse of  FIG. 5  coughing or sneezing into a pad of the device of  FIG. 1  while holding the tray of food; 
       FIG. 7  shows a nurse in a hospital carrying a glass and a pitcher of liquid while using the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8  shows the nurse of  FIG. 7  coughing or sneezing into a pad of the device of  FIG. 1  while holding the glass and pitcher; 
       FIG. 9  shows the nurse of  FIGS. 5-8  removing a top pad of the device of  FIG. 1  into which the nurse had sneezed or coughed, exposing a fresh pad of the device beneath; 
       FIG. 10  shows the nurse of  FIGS. 5-8  holding the removed top pad into which the nurse had sneezed or coughed; 
       FIG. 11  shows the nurse of  FIGS. 5-8  throwing away the removed top pad into which the nurse had sneezed or coughed; 
       FIG. 12  shows an alternate embodiment with a VELCRO secured arm band to which the device with multiple pads is and a tissue/bacterial wipe and vinyl glove extending from a pocket in the armband; 
       FIG. 13  shows a nurse in a hospital carrying a tray of food while using the arm band with the device of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  shows the nurse of  FIG. 13  coughing or sneezing into the device attached to the arm band of  FIG. 12  being worn on the forearm; and 
       FIG. 15  shows an alternate embodiment with the device with multiple pads being attached to an elastic band that can be placed on a person&#39;s arm and showing the device in a rectangular shape to illustrate that the pads can be made in a variety of. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows a device  10  that can include one or more sneeze/cough pads  13  constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to the sleeve of a person shown in dashed lines. 
   The device  10  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 2-4 .  FIG. 2  shows device  10  that includes a single pad.  FIG. 4  shows the device  10  with multiple pads  13  that are stackable. The back (i.e. bottom) of each pad  13  has an adhesive layer  12  which is exposed when layer  11  is peeled off of it as shown in  FIG. 2 . That allows the pad  13  to stick to the sleeve of a person or to an arm or hand of such person. Each pad  13  of the device  10  can be an entirely disposable unit that adheres to the user with the adhesive surface  12 . 
   Each pad  13  of the device  10  includes a clean and dry absorbent cloth or the like (i.e. absorbent layer) and can optionally have a bacterial wipe on the back side of for wiping a user&#39;s hands and mouth before throwing the pad  13  away. Also, optionally, each pad  13  of the device  10  would have the back with an adhesive surface  12  thereon, which back is constructed of an impermeable material such as vinyl or some other flexible plastic material to prevent the germs of a top pad  13  of the device  10  from passing to a lower pad  13 . Of course non-plastic impermeable materials could be used instead of plastic ones. So it will be appreciated that each pad  13  of the device  10  would preferably have the clean and dry absorbent layer attached to the impermeable material with adhesive  12  on the back of it. Only the extreme bottom pad  13  of the device  10  shown in  FIG. 1  would have the layer  11  thereon. 
   The device  10  can also be attached to an arm band  17  like that is shown in  FIG. 12 , which can be washable, adjustable and closed via straps, hook and loop fasteners  18  and  19 , ties, or adhesive. Various attaching means can be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention and would be familiar to those skilled in the art. The device  10  could be worn anywhere along the shoulder, arm or hand, wherever the user finds it most comfortable. Because device  10  can be worn on the arm, it is always readily available and can even be used when both hands are occupied as shown in  FIGS. 5-11 ,  13  and  14 . Each pad  13  of device  10  is preferably shaped to conform to the general outline of a user&#39;s nose and mouth region thus helping to better block the escape of germs and requiring less material for manufacture, or it can be three-dimensionally contoured as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The device  10  preferably has a raised welt and/or a baffle  16  (i.e. peripheral wall) around the outer periphery of each pad  13  of the device  10  of the side to be sneezed/coughed into, to prevent cough/sneeze byproducts (mucous, germs, saliva) from being expelled out from the edges of the pad  10 . The raised welt and/or baffle  16  (peripheral wall) preferably also has a downwardly and inwardly extending top  16   a  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Ideally the welt and/or baffle  16  (peripheral wall) and top  16   a  extend completely around the periphery of each pad  13  of the device  10 . 
   Within this arm band  17 , constructed of a washable material, such as but not limited to, vinyl or plastic, resides a pocket or pockets  21 . These pockets  21  could have a cover over their openings, secured by another hook and loop fastener (not shown) or other type of closure. The user can store objects  22  such as surgical type face masks, gloves of latex or similar materials, and antibacterial wipes within these pockets  21  for ready access. The wipes can be used to disinfect stethoscopes, hands and other objects, which spread germs in a health care or food service environment. 
   The arm band  17  could optionally be made in various colors/materials to match uniforms and could be imprinted with a business or institutions&#39; name or logo etc. After each use, i.e. after being sneezed or coughed into as shown in  FIG. 6 , the user would peel off or otherwise remove and dispose of the used pad  13  of the device  10  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , which would reveal a fresh pad  13  of the device beneath it as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The device  10 , in a preferred embodiment, could contain from one to six pads  13 , but more pads  13  could be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Each of the pads  13  could optionally be made to make usage evident by means of a pressure or moisture activated color change of the absorbent layer of the pads  13 . Although, for most uses, the pads  13  do not have to be sterile, optionally, each pad  13  could include a removable cover (not shown) so that if a user has time, the user could remove the cover, if not, the user could cough/sneeze directly into the cover. 
     FIGS. 14 and 15  show an alternate embodiment of the invention using an elastic arm band  23  having a device that includes multiple rectangular pads  24  that can be peeled off, one by one by pulling on tabs  25 . Ideally this embodiment will also use a raised peripheral wall (not shown). 
   In operation,  FIG. 5  shows a nurse carrying a tray of food. When the nurse has to cough or sneeze, it is done into a pad  13  of device  10  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Also, if the nurse has a glass of liquid, such as water in one hand and a pitcher of liquid, such a water, in the other hand as shown in  FIG. 7 , the nurse can sneeze or cough into a pad  13  of device  10  as shown in  FIG. 8 , preferably by putting his or her nose and mouth firmly against a pad  13  of the device  10  to catch air, germs, mucus or the like. After the sneeze or cough, the nurse can peel off the top pad  13  from device  10  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  and throw the used top pad  13  away as shown in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 14  shows the nurse coughing or sneezing into a rectangular pad  24  attached to arm band  23 , shown being worn on the forearm of the nurse. 
   Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the preferred embodiments do indeed overcome the deficiencies of the prior art. Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.