Armpit Perspiration Absorbing Pad

Abstract

The present invention is a thin transparent pad in various configurations, coated by a durable, water repellent material and a padding of absorbent material on peripheral edges of the pad, which absorb perspiration from under arms of a user and prevent a garment of the user from staining. A plurality of micro channels is disposed on the pad to absorb body moisture and guide it to the padding portion. A plurality of perforations is created on the channels to allow the perspiration discharged in the underarm area to penetrate and become absorbed to the padding portion. The padding portion is made of a slightly thicker material with perforations, which allows the moisture to vapor. The armpit pad contacts the skin of a user or garment by adhesive means.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates in general, to the underarm perspiration protection and in particular, to the pads to protect garments from underarm perspiration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Garment shields and underarm pads have been used to protect garments from the perspiration of the wearer. They are applied to the portions of garments under the armpits of the wearer or applied directly to the skin of the user to protect the garment from stains and other damages caused by the body moisture. Generally, these shields are made of absorbent materials backed by an adhesive attachment liner for adhering the shield to the underarm portion of the garment.

[0003] However, problems have been encountered with such prior devices. For people who with light to moderate sweating conditions, armpit pads can effectively block the appearance of underarm sweat stains. However, there are situations where armpit sweat pads may not be the answer.

[0004] When wearing very loose-fitting clothing, the pad cannot capture all of the sweat. If the underarm of the shirt or button-down does not sit closely to the underarm, sweat may find a way to soak inside the shirt, or when wearing very tight clothing the sweat pad can be visible. Therefore, excessive sweat often limits ones wardrobe and lifestyle. Due to the size, appearance and the application of many prior armpit pads, they often limit the clothing that can be worn. Tank tops and short sleeves are almost never an option. Transparent or tight clothes are usually out of the question.

[0005] Another issue with underarm sweat pads is that they do not breathe and can create more sweat.

[0006] The tackiness of the adhesive sometimes causes damage to the portion of the garment to which it is attached to, since the shield must be parted from the garment by pulling or tearing, especially if the garment is made from a delicate fabric, such as silk, chiffon, cotton, rayon and the like.

[0007] For people with sensitive skins, pads can cause a rash if it adheres directly to the skin. Garment shields do not always stay in place and often can loosen their adhesive qualities, causing leaking within a matter of minutes so they may feel heavy and loose.

[0008] Another drawback associated with these shields, is that many of the current shields are bulky in design, which may cause discomfort to the wearer. They do not fit tightly under the garment and therefore, may be visible there through.

[0009] Furthermore, the conventional shields attached to a garment, such as a slack dress, are relatively remote from the armpit area of the user, so that considerable gap exists between the shield and the skin area of the user, which may most likely generate moisture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention comprises of a thin transparent pad in various configurations, coated by a durable, water repellent material, preferably on one side, and alternatively on both sides, a padding of absorbent material on peripheral of the pad, which absorb perspiration from under arms of a user and prevent a garment of the user from staining.

[0011] The coating of the pad has a thickness of less than 5 microns. The unique features of the present pad is that it has a plurality of micro channels disposed on the pad to absorb body moisture and guide it to a padding portion disposed on the peripheral edges of the pad. The padding portion surrounds (fully or partially) the transparent pad on its outer periphery. The padding portion is thicker than the transparent pad.

[0012] The transparent pad is made from a hydrophobic high moisture repellent material, which do not allow the body moisture to remain in the interior part of the under arm, where the most contact area with the garment is. The channels absorb and direct the body moisture to the exterior portion of the pad that stay further of the armpit area.

[0013] The padding portion is made of a slightly thicker material with perforations, which allows the moisture to vapor. In such configuration, the moisture deposited on the surface of the water repellent pad is transported through the channels towards the padding, which has an absorbent structure. The pad can be on one side water-repellent and capable of absorbing and storing body fluid from the other side, or alternatively be repellent on both sides.

[0014] The armpit pad contacts with the users skin by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive, which is carried about the periphery of the backing of the padding area. The adhesive carried thereon may be any suitable tacky substance. The pad is applied either on the skin of the user in the critical area most likely to generate moisture, or on the garment in place. The adhesive is selected of material readily removed from the skin of the user without causing irritation, pain or other uncomfortable aspects, or from the garment without causing any damage.

[0015] A peal able paper is applied onto the adhesive coating. When the pad is placed into service the outer peel able paper is first removed to expose the adhesive coating and the exposed portion of adhesive coating are pressed against the portion of the garment under an armpit of a wearer or the skin of the underarm.

[0016] An object of the present invention is a transparent thin and non-visible pad that can be used with any clothing especially delicate fabric, such as silk, chiffon, lacy dresses, dresses with light colors and the like.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a water repellent coating and moisture absorbent padding, which absorbs the moisture produced and prevents to reach to the garment.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is that the transparent pad provides vaporization protrudes which prevents the moisture and body fluid remain in the pad, began leaking within a matter of minutes, and get heavy and loose.

[0019] Since the pad can be applied to the skin of the user, it is therefore another object of the invention that no gap or space exists between the pad and the critical area of the skin and the pad is in constant contact at all times during use.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a moisture-absorbing pad having a durable repellent coating thereon adapted to facilitate absorption of moisture and the evaporation thereof when the pad is anchored directly to the skin of the user or on the garment.

[0021] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an armpit pad which may be readily employed with garments of the sleeveless type or with garments having sleeves so that the under-arm portions of the garment are protected from stain damage caused by body moisture.

[0022] The present invention is transparent, breathable, ultra-thin, can effective bactericidal directs into the deepest portion in the armpit to occupy any spaces or gaps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Embodiments herein will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the claims, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which:

[0024] FIG. 1A is a plan view of an embodiment of an armpit pad showing the portions according to the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 1B is a side view of the armpit pad according to the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 1C is a side view of the armpit pad showing the pad in a folded configuration;

[0027] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the present invention constructed on the garment;

[0028] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the present invention under the armpit of the user;

[0029] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the FIG. 3A in folded position;

[0031] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing the altered padding area; and

[0032] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and that the disclosed technology be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.

[0034] The invention disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments of the disclosed invention. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosed invention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability thereof. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

[0035] According to FIGS. 1 to 4, the armpit pad 10 of the present invention has a substantially rectangular or oval configuration. The armpit pad 10 comprises a thin transparent fabric 11 coated by a durable, water repellent material 12 to make it water resistant or hydrophobic. This prevents the outer layers of the pad 10, which are in contact with the garment, from becoming saturated with body moisture. The coating of the pad 12 has a thickness of less than 5 microns, and most preferably in the range of 0.001 to 1 microns, and supports water vapor transport through it. The coating 12 may be formed of any suitable hydrophobic material, such as cellulose triacetate, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, acrylic and polyester fibers.

[0036] A plurality of micro channels 13 is disposed on the transparent pad 11. The micro channels 13 extend longitudinally or radially, depending on the pad shape, to the peripheral edges 15 of the pad 10. The body moisture collected on the surface of the pad 11 is then guided by the micro channels 13 towards the periphery of the pad. These channels 13 preferably permit the moisture produced to direct to the water absorbent portion 15.

[0037] It should also be realized that these micro channels 13 are necessary within the pad 10 to absorb body moisture and guide it to the padding 15 around the exterior portion of the pad 10. The channels 13 allow the perspiration secreted in the underarm area to penetrate and become absorbed to the padding portion 15 and do not remain in the portion of the pad 11 where the most area, which contacts the garment is.

[0038] The padding portion 15 is made of a slightly thicker material with perforations, which allows the moisture to evaporate. The moisture accumulated by the pad may more readily evaporate and ventilate there through. It is to be understood that any desired number of perforations, and channels may be readily accommodated. Thus it may be seen, that the armpit pad 10 of the present invention provides an advanced method, which is adapted to draw and wick moisture away from the skin of a user and to absorb and hold this moisture away from the garment to prevent staining of a garment.

[0039] In another embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1C and 3B the padding area 15 is without perforations. In this case the padding area is made of a highly absorbent material.

[0040] To secure the pad 10 onto the armpit, a pressure-sensitive and skin sensitive adhesive coating 16 is deposited around the outermost surface of the padding area 15. The adhesive coating 16 may be covered with a conventional peel-off strip, which is removed immediately before securing the pad 10 so that it may be secured to the user's underarm with slight pressure.

[0041] When positioning the armpit pad 10 on the underarm, the user peels off the covering strips and positions the pad 10 on the underarm similarly to the position in FIG. 2A, such that the pad 10 covers generally the outer underarm area. The user then presses the adhesive coating 16 against the underarm, to secure to the skin of the user or underarm of the garment.

[0042] The armpit pad of the present invention 10 comes in a variety of sizes and shapes to best fit the user so that it will be comfortable, unnoticeable through sheer clothing, and protectable on loose clothing. Wearing of the armpit pad of the present invention 10, even with a thin-fabric will not affect the shape or the structure of the garment to any noticeable degree yet keeping under arm area dry.

[0043] The method of providing a durable water-repellent coating to a substrate material have been disclosed in prior art and refer to surfaces that are repellent to aqueous liquids (e.g., body liquids) deposited on these surfaces.

[0044] The novel water repellent coating 12 with conjunction of channels 13 on the centre of the pad 10 will absorb body moisture even if attached to the skin or to the garment and keeps underarm portion dry yet prevents of collecting moisture or perspiration in this area and passing onto the garment.

[0045] FIGS. 4A and 4B of the drawings show another embodiment of this invention wherein the padding portion 15 is disposed on sides of the peripheral edges of the pad 10. In this embodiment, the perspiration in the channels 13 will drive to the absorbent padding 15 on the edges. When the arm is bent, the gravity helps to direct the perspiration to the absorbent padding 15. In this embodiment, the adhesive coating 16 will be applied to the padding 15 or alternatively to the backing surface of the pad 10.

[0046] According to the drawings, the armpit pad may be in various configurations. These configurations may be rectangular as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B or substantially oval as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The actual vertical and horizontal dimensions however, would be preferably in a bigger size (horizontal 75/8 inches and vertical 45/8 inches).

[0047] Furthermore, it is to be noted that the hydrophobic coating may be but not necessarily applied to both sides of the transparent pad. For this reason, it is understood that the moisture can be absorbed regardless of the area located on the pad, which is of greater size and area and has more moisture absorbing ability. The thinness of the pad provides for the application of the pad directly to the area of the armpit more readily susceptible to generate moisture while the padding area is employed on the extreme upper and lower of the arm. Therefore, in effect, the pad of the present invention once applied, actually becomes a part of the user.

[0048] The under armpit pad of the present invention 10 is disposable and would come in a variety of skin tone colours and sizes to best fit the user and may be impregnated with an antiperspirant and/or deodorant agents that would enhance the hygienic qualities of the underarm perspiration pad.

[0049] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

[0050] With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the parts of the invention in regard to size, shape, form, materials, function and manner of operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent and obvious to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Claims

1) An armpit pad for positioning under the arm of a user comprising: a) an ultrathin transparent sheet having a first side adapted to be secured to an under arm skin of a user or to an under arm of a garment; b) a moisture absorbent padding portion partially or fully surrounding said ultrathin transparent sheet, wherein said moisture absorbent padding is thicker than said ultrathin transparent sheet, and c) a plurality of micro channels constructed on said first side of said ultrathin transparent sheet to guide a moister generated by sweating towards said moisture absorbent padding.

2) The armpit pad of claim 1, wherein said ultrathin transparent sheet further having a plurality of perforations thereon to allow at least a part of a moisture to evaporate out of said armpit pad.

3) The armpit pad of claim 1, wherein said ultrathin transparent sheet is coated by a durable, moisture repellent coating.

4) The armpit pad of claim 3, wherein said durable, moisture repellent coating has a thickness of less than 5 microns.

5) The armpit pad of claim 3, wherein said durable, moisture repellent coating consists of any one of cellulose triacetate, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, acrylic and polyester fibers.

6) The armpit pad of claim 1, wherein said moisture absorbent padding portion is made of a porous non-woven polyester material having perforations to evaporate and ventilate moisture there through.

7) The armpit pad of claim 1, wherein said ultrathin transparent sheet has an adhesive adapted to secure sheet to the under arm of the user or the under arm of the garment.

8) The armpit pad of claim 7, wherein said adhesive is a pressure-sensitive or skin-sensitive adhesive coating.

9) The armpit pad of claim 7, wherein said adhesive is applied on said first side of said sheet.

10) The armpit pad of claim 7, wherein said adhesive coating is applied on said moisture absorbent padding portion.

11) The armpit pad for positioning under arm of a user comprising: a) an ultra-thin transparent body coated by a durable, moisture repellent material; wherein said body has an upper side and a lower side; and wherein said body have a first side adapted to be secured to an under arm skin of a user or under arm of a garment. b) a moisture absorbent padding disposed on the upper side and lower side of the body portion, wherein said padding portion of absorbent material is thicker than said transparent body portion; c) plurality of micro channels to absorb moisture and direct it from the body portion to the padding, wherein said channels have plurality of perforations thereon to absorb moisture and direct it to the padding portion.