Perineal Protector

Abstract

A perineal protector to be worn by humans, particularly incontinent adults, shaped to fit the perineal area and comprised of sheet material having elongated curved sides and curved ends defining a waist area. The perineal protector is preferably formed from a continuous length of sheet material having at the ends scored lines capable of being torn, and a wedge-shaped area formed between and being bound by the ends of adjacent protectors, which wedge-shaped area is removable by tearing along the score lines. An inner layer of liquid-impervious material may be included through which means are provided for fluid communication through the inner layer for admitting fluids from the perineum of a wearer, and between the layers there may be positioned the liquid receiving and retaining material to prevent solids and fluids from passing beyond the protector.

Description

This invention generally relates to body protectors to be worn by humans. More particularly, this invention is concerned with a protector for positioning about the perineum of humans, particularly those who are aged or incontinent, to protect against the undesirable flow of solids and fluids originating from the perineum area of the human body.

The use of the diaper is well known to all in connection with its application to infants. However, the use of a similar protection material for adults, particularly the incontinent in nursing homes, may be referred to as a perineal protector and serves essentially the same physical purpose of the diapers for infants. Broadly speaking, the term "perineal protector" may be applied to any protector of this general utility that may be worn by infants or adults, the difference being generally only in size.

Protectors for the perineum are in great demand in hospitals and nursing homes for aged adults as well as for infant care. For the same reasons that it is necessary to use protectors for infants, many aged adults require similar protectors due to their inability to control their excretion of waste products.

In view of the great many persons who would frequently and regularly use a perineal protector, a disposable perineal protector which is conveniently and preferably continuously available in a dispenser for instant use has long been needed. This ideal perineal protector must possess all the qualities and characteristics of shape and design that have been long sought after by the medical profession and others caring for such persons who would require frequent changes of the perineal protector. Among these requirements are proper fit to the body, effective protection, simplicity of use, and low cost for disposability.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a perineal protector which is shaped and structured to be comfortably and effectively worn.

Another object of the present invention is to provide perineal protectors in a continuous roll to permit easy access and substantially instant use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a perineal protector formed from continuous inexpensive plastic sheet material to provide a continuous supply of such perineal protectors which are economical and disposable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a perineal protector of multiple layers and which would include means for transmitting fluids through one of the layers.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a perineal protector of multiple layers having an opening in one of the layers to permit fluids emanating from the perineum to pass through and incorporating between the layers a fluid receiving and retaining material to prevent the undesirable loss of any of the liquid while also retaining any solid matter from passing through the protector.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent upon a careful study of the following specification and claims, as well as the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single layer perineal protector and illustrating the continuous sheet material from which the perineal protector is easily torn off by means of the score lines shown.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sheet material forming a plurality of perineal protectors.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the present invention illustrating the superposed inner and outer layers and the optional liquid receiving and retaining material.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the continuous sheet material illustrating the alternate embodiment of FIG. 3 and further illustrating the wedge-shaped tear-off area at the ends of successive perineal protectors and the plurality of ventilation holes and the opening for the passage of the liquids into the space between the inner and outer layers.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the perineal protector in accordance with the present invention in place on the wearer.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it may be seen that there is a roll 10 of disposable sheet material generally provided with an inner core 12 to facilitate the rolling of the sheet material.

The disposable sheet material that may be used includes but is not limited to the polyvinyl synthetic resins of a thermoplastic nature such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, as well as the various polyesters well known to form sheet materials. Additionally, there may be any one of the various cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate, butyrate, cellulose nitrate, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, the polycarbonates, and even nylon. Also, the commonly used paper products that are formed into sheet material may be utilized to provide the disposable perineal protectors of the present invention provided that they possess sufficient water proof and strength characteristics. In fact, the material that is usable is not in any way limited for use as the disposable sheet material.

The sheet material is provided with unique perforated tear or score lines 14 and 16 which form the perineal protector 18 of the present invention. As shown, the perineal protector 18 is formed by tearing individual sections of the perineal protector 18 along the score lines 14 and 16. Between the score lines 14 and 16, there is provided a wedge-shaped area 20 bounded by the score lines 14 and 16. Each said score line 14 and 16 is preferably in the form of a smooth continuous curve extending from side 22 to side 24 of the perineal protector 18 and intersect the corresponding sides of adjacent protectors at points 26 and 28.

The shape of the score lines 14 and 16 are preferably as shown. It is preferably that they be curved and appear as mutual mirror images, as best seen in FIG. 2, to form the wedge-shaped area 20 and particularly to form the ends 30 and 32 of the protector 18 after the wedge-shaped area has been removed.

The significance of the curved ends being formed in a continuous curve is that as worn these ends will be comfortably positioned about the front and rear of the waist. More importantly, when secured or fastened at or adjacent the points 26 and 28, the curved nature of the ends will effect an upward force directed at the center of the ends 30 and 32 toward the navel and small of the back of the wearer to more comfortably and snugly hold the perineal protector in place. Preferably, the ends are about 0.2 to 0.7 the times the length of each side 22 and 24 to properly fit in position about the waist of the wearer.

Each of the sides 22 and 24 are curved mutually inwardly along at least a portion of the length of the perineal protector forming a relieved area as shown by the dimension a that has a maximum width of up to 50 percent of the minimum width b across the perineal protector 18, as best shown in FIG. 2.

In use, the perineal protector of this embodiment of the present invention will be torn from the continuous roll 10 along score line 14 so as to form edge 30 which along with edge 32 would surround a portion of the waist of the wearer. Preferably, a cloth or other liquid absorbing diaper-like material D, forming no part of this invention, should be positioned between the protector 18 and the perineum. See FIG. 5 for best illustration. Any suitable securing means such as pins 34 or staples, grommets, or the like, passing through the points 26 and 28 or simply attached to or adjacent the points would be adequate to provide the upward force to hold the perineal protector in place.

For use of the succeeding perineal protector, the wedge-shaped area 20 must be removed by tearing along score lines 16 thereby forming along the score lines 16 a new edge 32 and tearing again at score line 14 to form a new edge 30 for the next perineal protector. The wedge-shaped area 20 is discarded as not being necessary or essential.

In the alternate embodiment of the present invention, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the perineal protector 18 of the same shape and design as previously described forms a lower or outer layer and a second sheet of similar sheet material that is water impermeable is superposed as shown at 38 and forms the inner layer which is designed to be adjacent the wearer. The inner layer 38 is preferably sealed or otherwise secured along the sides 40 and 42 which correspond and are coincident with sides 22 and 24 of the lower layer 18. Suitable securing means well known and conventional in the art such as heat sealing or adhesive means would be adequate to provide the necessary registry and positioning of the inner layer 38 with respect to the outer layer 18.

The wedge-shaped area is similarly formed of score lines 44 and 46 which correspond in shape and function to score lines 14 and 16 previously discussed. A similar wedge-shaped area 48 is formed by tearing along score lines 44 and 46 and edges 50 and 52 correspond to the end edges 30 and 32 of the previously discussed embodiment and with the gentle continuous curve assist in the formation of a better fit about the waist of the wearer. If there are two layers, the outer layer 18 and the inner layer 38 as in FIGS. 3 and 4, there will be two pairs of adjacent coincident ends, 32 on the outer layer and 52 on the inner layer, which as previously stated are shaped similarly as are ends 50 and 30 of the inner layer and outer layer, respectively, as best shown in FIG. 3.

The inner layer is preferably provided with a plurality of fluid communication means in the form of ventilation holes 54 and at least one large opening 56 designed to admit fluids or even solids originating from the perineum of the wearer. The ventilation holes permit air to pass into the perineum area of the wearer for comfort from that entrapped between the inner and outer layers 38 and 18 and to pass out through the ends forming the waist line at ends 32,52 on one side and ends 50,30 on the other side.

Preferably, absorbent or hydroscopic material is positioned between the inner and outer layers after removal from the roll 10. This material 60 in particular is exposed to the perineum of the wearer through the opening 56, and is designed to receive and retain the fluids from the perineum. This absorbent or hydroscopic material further may be in the form of multiple layers 62 of cotton which may be stitched in a mid line vertically as shown at 64, or could be any of the well known porous liquid-receiving sponge-like materials or open-celled foam material such as the urethane foams for instance.

The hydroscopic or absorbent material 60 when positioned between the inner and outer layers 38 and 18, may extend several inches beyond the periphery 66 of the large opening 56 but preferably, although not essentially, the material 60 should not extend so as to block the ventilation holes 54.

The large opening 56 is preferably, but not necessarily, an elongated opening having its greater length in the direction of the length of the perineal protector. A substantially oval shape as shown is desirable although the shape is not critical to the invention. Nor is it essential to have only a single large opening, merely one that will easily and quickly pass fluids into the area between the upper and lower layers.

The embodiment of the perineal protector having multiple layers is removed from the roll 10 in the same fashion and torn from the score lines with the wedge-shaped area 48 discarded forming the concave curved shape of the ends 52,32 and 50,30. Because of the shape and design of the ends, there is provided a great deal of comfort when pulled across the abdomen and back as previously explained in connection with the first embodiment. This gives a far better fit, permitting the central portion of the perineal protector in this embodiment, and particularly the large opening 56, to be positioned in the center of the perineum to provide the greatest comfort and the most significant protection so that all the liquids from the person will be passed into the large opening and absorbed by the absorbent or hydroscopic material 60.

The shapes of the sides 40 and 52 being coincident with and sealed to the sides 22 and 24 possess the same design characteristics as does the relieved area and width previously discussed in accordance with the dimensions a and b in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A perineal protector to be worn by humans comprising: a sheet material having inner and outer layers, each having ends and elongated sides, each said side being curved mutually inwardly along at least a portion of its length forming a relieved area having a maximum width of up to 50 percent of the minimum width of said sheet material, each end being inwardly curved to define a waist area along each end, each said waist area being about 0.2 to 0.7 times the length of each side, each said end and said side intersecting to form a plurality of points at the corners of the perineal protector whereby upon said curved ends being positioned at the front and back of the waist and pairs of said points secured together, said waist area produces an uplifting force to said perineal protector to assure close fitting and secure protection of the perineal protector, said inner layer being composed of liquid-impervious material and being provided with means for fluid communication through said inner layer, said means for fluid communication in said inner layer including a large opening for admitting fluids from the perinium of a wearer.

2. The perineal protector of claim 1 including means for receiving and retaining liquids between said inner and outer layers;

3. The perineal protector of claim 1 wherein said means for fluid communication includes a plurality of small holes and at least one large opening.

4. A perineal protector to be worn by humans comprising: a sheet material having ends and elongated sides, each said side being curved mutually inwardly along at least a portion of its length forming a relieved area having a maximum width of up to 50 percent of the minimum width of said sheet material, each end being inwardly curved to define a waist area along each end, each said waist area being about 0.2 to 0.7 times the length of each side, said perineal protector being one of a plurality of said protectors formed from continuous sheet material, each said end being formed as a score line capable of being easily torn, a wedge-shaped area being formed between and being bound by ends of adjacent protectors, each wedge-shaped area being removable by tearing said score lines.

5. The perineal protector of claim 4 including said wedge-shaped area intersecting the sides of adjacent protectors at substantially the same point.

6. The perineal protector of claim 4 including said curved side being in the form of a smooth continuous curve extending from said end to said end.

7. The perineal protector of claim 4 including said wedge-shaped area being bound by said ends shaped as opposed continuous curved lines.

8. The perineal protector of claim 4 having an inner and an outer layer, said inner layer being composed of liquid-impervious material and being provided with means for fluid communication through said inner layer.

9. The perineal protector of claim 8 wherein said means for fluid communication include in said inner layer a large opening for admitting fluids from the perineum of a wearer.

10. The perineal protector of claim 9 including said opening being elongated in the direction of said ends of said protector.

11. The perineal protector of claim 8 including means for receiving and retaining liquids positioned between said inner and outer layers.

12. The perineal protector of claim 11 including said means for receiving and retaining liquids including a plurality of layers of absorbent cotton.

13. A perineal protector to be worn by humans adjacent the perineal area of the body comprising: an inner and outer layer of sheet material in superposed position, means retaining said inner and outer layers in relative position, said protector having ends and elongated sides, each said side being curved mutually inwardly and along at least a portion of its length forming a relieved area, each said end being inwardly curved to define a waist area along each end, said perineal protector being formed as one of a plurality of said protectors connected together along their ends, each said end being formed at the score line capable of being easily torn, a wedge-shaped area being formed between and being bound by ends of adjacent protectors, each wedge-shaped area being removable by tearing said score lines, said inner layer being composed of liquid-impervious material and being provided with means for fluid communication through said inner layer, said means for fluid communication include in said inner layer a large opening for admitting fluids from the perineum of a wearer.

14. The perineal protector of claim 13 including means for receiving and retaining liquids positioned between said inner and outer layers.