WO2010073267A1

WO2010073267A1 - Elastic wearing article for support and containment in particular of absorbing devices such as napkins, dressings and similar articles and its method of production.

Info

Publication number: WO2010073267A1
Application number: PCT/IT2008/000782
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Bosco
Original assignee: Fra Production S.P.A.
Priority date: 2008-12-22
Filing date: 2008-12-22
Publication date: 2010-07-01
Also published as: SMAP201100031A; SMP201100031B

Abstract

An elastic wearing article (11) for containment or support, particularly of absorbent devices such as diapers, dressings and the like, comprising a substantially tubular structure (13), in which there is provided a pocket (31) adapted for storing a replacement absorbent device or another item.

Description

"ELASTIC WEARING ARTICLE FOR SUPPORT AND CONTAINMENT IN PARTICULAR OF ABSORBING DEVICES SUCH AS NAPKINS, DRESSINGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES AND ITS METHOD OF PRODUCTION"

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an elastic wearing article or garment for supporting and containing diapers, dressings and the like, as well as a method for manufacturing such article.

More precisely, the invention relates to a containment or support elastic (under)garment, that thanks to its elasticity is capable of adjusting itself to the body of the wearer, so as to keep in place diapers, dressings and similar devices.

The invention is further directed to a method for manufacturing said containment or support elastic wearing article.

Prior Art

There are known elastic wearing articles for containing or supporting diapers, nappies or napkins of various shapes and sizes, for instance of the type used by incontinent people or during the female menstrual cycle.

As it is known, incontinence is defined as the unintentional loss of urine or faeces in such an amount and/or so often as to raise a social or sanitary problem; such dysfunction may occur in different degrees of seriousness, ranging from a modest dripping to a complete lack of control of the excretion functions.

Incontinence is more widespread than commonly thought and can trouble the most different people, independently from their age: such as a young mother after delivery, people under extreme stress, and more particularly elderly people.

Although incontinence by itself cannot be considered a pathology, but rather the result of one or more pathological conditions, it is nevertheless a physical condition imposing to the sufferer a psychological and a moral damage rather than a physical one. Incontinence can be treated with different types of aids, in accordance with the specificity of the single cases.

Among the several aids for incontinence there are currently widely used disposable absorbent products which offer a practical and effective solution, capable of really helping the user to recover his/her freedom and independence, which are decisive factors to the quality of life, also considering that they are non-invasive devices and simple to be used.

Substantially the absorbent aids can be divided into two macros categories.

A first category includes one-piece aids consisting of completely absorbent pants, which fit closely the user body, and thanks to this feature are particularly suitable in all the cases of both urinary and faecal incontinence, for bedridden patients, for patient the conditions of which are particularly serious, and anyhow for patients that are not self-sufficient.

An example of this first type of aids is disclosed in US 4,964,859.

A second group of aids includes two-piece systems comprising an absorbent member which is more or less shaped and extended for better fitting to the configuration of the user body, and a separate member such as an elastic pant or the like, the function of which is to securely keep the absorbent member around the user body. In view of its construction, this latter system is particularly suitable for autonomous patients.

CH 580959 discloses an example of an elastic containment garment formed as a pant that can for instance be used for holding incontinence diapers.

Figure 1 shows an example of a pant of the above disclosed type, indicated by the reference MT, wom by a subject SG and to which an absorbent diaper PN is secured.

According to the prior art, the pant MT or a similar device is made of an elastic fabric, preferably a soft yarn, and comprises a belt CN and a thigh seam BC.

Still according to the prior art, the belt CN is made of an elastic material and ensures a very good support of the pant when this latter is being worn, whereas the thigh seams BC, also made of an elastic material, prevent the pant portions extending along the thigh from moving up toward the pelvis during the use, e.g. when walking.

As stated above, this type of pant is generally used to keep in position a diaper of an absorbent material, the shape and size of which can be varied according to the physiological necessities to be met.

For instance such a diaper can be of the type used by incontinent people, both male and female, and can even be of a large size and extend over either a reduced part or over a large part of the pant, or can be of the type used for a woman's menstrual cycle. As stated above, a definitely better quality of life can be achieved by people suffering of incontinence problems using such absorbent diapers.

However, since the absorbing capacity of a diaper is limited, the use of the aforesaid containment devices raises the problem of a periodic replacement of the absorbent means, i.e. the diaper.

Presently, people using such containment devices and desiring or needing a prolonged autonomy, such as for instance in working activities or when walking outside, are compelled to carry at least one replacement diaper.

This well-known necessity is annoying, both because the user must remember to take the replacement with him/her, and because a suitable container for transporting the replacement is often needed, such as for instance a bag, a small backpack or the like.

Further, replacing the diaper is a particularly annoying operation since it requires a secluded place where it is often pretty unpleasant to retire with such container.

US 2005/0137548 discloses an example of a pant equipped with pockets that can be used for instance for storing a backup pant and/or a refreshing napkin.

The above disclosed solution is nevertheless provided for disposable pants and cannot be used in the case of pants for incontinent people, particularly of elastic pants for containing or supporting a diaper, a dressing or the like.

Namely, although in such a situation it could be devised to replace also the elastic pant together with the diaper, it is evident that the different mesh structure of the pant and the separation of the absorbent function from the those of containment and support allow for re-using several times a single pant with several fresh diapers.

A first object of the present invention is therefore to provide a solution to the above discussed problem by realizing a support and containment elastic wearing article that can advantageously be used for diapers, dressings and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment of the above type that is simple and cheap to be manufactured and can therefore be industrially mass produced at advantageous costs.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved through a containment elastic wearing article as claimed in the attached claims.

Description of the invention Thanks to the fact that the (under)garment according to the invention, while maintaining its characteristics of elasticity - and therefore of adaptability to the user body - is provided with an easily accessible pocket, a longer autonomy of use can be advantageously conferred the user, without altering the convenience of use of the device.

According to the invention, in addition to the diaper or dressing being used, it will advantageously be possible to carry a replacement diaper or dressing.

Moreover, and still in accordance with the invention, the pocket associated with the elastic containment or support wearing garment could advantageously be used for storing different items, such as for example a medical device, a band-aid, etc.

Still according to the invention and since the pocket is preferably formed as a flag, such pocket can advantageously be positioned either on the outside or the inside the garment, by merely turning the fabric inside out.

Thanks to the above arrangement of the pocket, this latter can advantageously be located at different positions with respect to the user body, according to the needs.

According to the invention, such elastic wearing article provided with a pocket can advantageously be made with several shapes, for instance it can be formed as a pant, or a tubular garment item to keep a dressing or the like at a desired position, such as over an arm or a leg of a patient.

Brief description of the drawings.

The objects and the advantages of the invention will become more clear from the following description, referring to exemplary and non-limiting embodiments thereof and considered together with the attached drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a front view of a garment formed as a pant according to the prior art;

- Figure 2 is a front view of a garment according to the invention, formed as a pant;

- Figure 3 is a cross-section view of the pant shown in Figure 2;

- Figure 4 illustrates a first example of an elastic mesh structure;

- Figure 5 illustrates a second example of an elastic mesh structure;

- Figures 6a and 6b show the pant of Figure 2 while being worn according to two different dispositions;

- Figure 7A is a front view illustrating an intermediate step in the manufacturing of a garment according to the invention;

- Figure 7B is a cross-section view of the intermediate step shown in Figure 7A. Description of some Preferred Embodiments

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate an elastic wearing article according to the invention, generally indicated by the reference 1 1 , formed as a pant adapted for containing or supporting absorbent devices such as for instance diapers and the like.

With reference to the illustrated embodiment, the pant 1 1 comprises a substantially tubular pant structure 13 in which there are defined an upper portion 15, adapted to enclose the pelvis of a user, and two lower side portions 17, at least partially extending along the thighs of the user.

The pant structurel 3 further comprises an elastic belt 19, upwardly defining the upper portion 15, and two thigh seams 21 , also preferably made of an elastic material, each of which defines a corresponding lower side portion 17.

The pant structure 13 is preferably made of an elastic fabric, for instance a knit or mesh fabric with rhomboidal or triangular or trapezoidal meshes, capable of snugly fitting to the user body and to hold variously shaped and sized diapers, dressings and the like.

Referring now to Figure 4, according to an embodiment of the invention, the garment 1 1 is shaped for instance as a pant and formed from an elastic tubular mesh fabric comprising longitudinal and parallel ranks 23 of chain meshes of a non-elastic yarn that are transversely connected to one another by an elastic yarn 25, and more particularly such elastic yarns 25 could be different at different areas so as to impart different elastic strengths to the garment.

With reference to Figure 5 there is illustrated another embodiment of a mesh fabric employed in a garment according to the invention in which reference 27 indicates elastomeric yarns around which non elastic yearns of another suitable material are twisted, that are transversely disposed and longitudinally provided with evenly-spaced non-elastic yarns 29, whereby the resulting mesh fabric can be stretched lengthwise and sidewise to adjust itself to the user body.

Of course the above elastic fabric can advantageously be realized with different mesh shapes, for instance with a helical configuration, without falling outside of the invention scope.

Referring again to Figures 2 and 3, according to the invention the garment 1 1 is further provided with a pocket 31 adapted to contain an item, such as for instance a backup diaper or dressing 33, either of the same or of different type from the one worn by the user.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pocket 31 has a substantially rectangular shape and is joined to a side of the garment by a seam 35A.

More particularly, when the garment is formed as a pant, said pocket 31 preferably extends along its upper portion 15 and along one of the two side portions 17 of the pant, with an access opening 37 positioned along the pant upper edge, in correspondence of the elastic belt 19.

According to the invention, the pocket 31 is therefore formed as a "flag-wise" member, i.e. it is fixed to the pant along one edge only and therefore can advantageously be positioned in a "front" or "back" position with respect of the user body when the garment is being worn, as it will become evident from the following description.

With reference to Figures 6a and 6b, there is illustrated a garment according to the invention, formed as a pant and worn by a person SG with the pocket 31 located either on the front or on the back, respectively, thanks to the flag-wise configuration of the pocket

31 inside the pant.

In both cases, the pocket 31 is easily accessible from the outside through the opening 37 for introducing and extracting objects, particularly a replacement diaper 33. Thanks to the fact that the garment according to the invention is made of an elastic material and therefore adheres to the user body, the pocket 31 can also be provided with both an upper and a lower opening, since the elastic strength of the structure is generally enough for retaining a light-weight object located inside.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said pocket 31 is nevertheless closed along the lower edge, e.g. through a transverse seam.

Still because of the flag-wise configuration of the pocket 31 the garment, particularly when formed as a pant, can be worn with the pocket 31 facing either the inside of the garment or its outside. It will be possible to switch from one to the other of said two configurations by simply turning the garment inside out, as will be clearly illustrated later on in the following description of a method for manufacturing such garment.

According to the invention, the pocket 31 is preferably made of the same elastic material forming the garment and is moreover integrated in it.

With reference to Figures 7A and 7B a garment according to the invention is shown in an intermediate step of the manufacturing method which substantially comprises the steps of: - providing a pair of bands 5 I A, 51 B of an elastic mesh fabric that are located on corresponding substantially parallel planes;

- longitudinally seaming (in the direction of the axis "L" in Figure 7A) said bands 5 IA, 51 B along two parallel peripheral lines 35B, 35C and along a third inner parallel line 35A, so as to define a pair of adjacent inner zones 59, 61 surrounded by said mesh fabric;

- transversely cutting (in the direction of the axis "T" in Figure 7A) said bands 5 I A, 51 B so as to obtain corresponding garments, each provided with a pair of said inner zones 59, 61 , which garments could be worn by a user for containing or supporting an absorbent device or the like by introducing a part of the body or a limb through a first of said inner zones 59, 61, with the second of said inner zones forming a pocket 31 for a replacement absorbent or the like.

The method can further comprise a step of transversely seaming one of said inner zones in order to close a side edge of said pocket, particularly along a lower or an upper side, whereby the inside of said pocket becomes accessible through one opening 37 only. Advantageously the method according to the invention can be used for producing panties, leggings, bracelets and substantially any type of elastic garment adapted to contain or support an absorbent device or the like against the body of a user and provided with a pocket for housing a replacement absorbent or the like.

Of course such pocket can be devised for containing items that are different from those listed above, for instance drug packages, electro-medical devices, sacks for collecting liquids, etc., without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A containment or support elastic wearing article (1 1) particularly for absorbing devices such as diapers, dressings and the like, comprising a substantially tubular structure (13), characterized in that it comprises a pocket (31 ) adapted for containing either a replacement for said absorbent device or another item.

2. A wearing article as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said structure (13) is formed as a pant and comprises an upper portion (15) adapted to enclose the user pelvis, and two lower side portions (17) extending at least partially along the thighs of said user.

3. A wearing article as claimed in claim 2, wherein said structure further includes an elastic belt (19) upwardly defining said upper portion (15) and two thigh seams (21 ) of an elastic material, each downwardly defining a corresponding side portion ( 17).

4. A wearing article as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said structure is made of an elastic mesh or knit fabric, e.g. with rhomboidal or triangular or trapezoidal meshes, so as to snugly fit the user body and to receive diapers, dressings and the like of various shape and size.

5. A wearing article as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 4, wherein said pocket (31 ) has a substantially rectangular shape and is joined to one side of said wearing article through a seam (35A).

6. A wearing article as claimed in claim 5, wherein said pocket (31 ) preferably extends along said upper portion ( 15) and one of said lower side portions (17) of the pant, and it is accessible at least through an opening (37) located along the upper edge of the said pant, in correspondence of said elastic belt ( 19).

7. A wearing article according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said pocket (31 ) is flag-wise formed, being joined to the pant along one edge only whereby it can advantageously be positioned either at the front or at the back, and/or inside or outside with respect to the user body when said article is being worn.

8. A wearing article as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said pocket (31 ) is made of the same elastic material of the garment.

9. A method for manufacturing an elastic wearing article of containment or support for diapers, dressings and the like, comprising the steps of: - providing a pair of bands (5 IA, 51 B) of elastic mesh or knit fabric that are located on corresponding substantially parallel planes;

- longitudinally seaming said bands along two parallel peripheral lines (35B, 35C) and along a third inner and parallel line (35A), so as to define a pair of adjacent inner zones (59, 61 ) surrounded by said knit fabric;

- transversely cutting said bands (5 I A, 51 B) so as to obtain corresponding (under)garments which can be worn by a user by introducing a part of the body or a limb through a first of said inner zones (59, 61 ), with the second of said inner zones forming a pocket (31) for storing a replacement absorbent or the like.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, further providing the step of transversely seaming said pocket (31 ) so as to render this latter accessible through a single opening (37).