U.S. patent number 3,856,014 [Application Number 05/317,795] was granted by the patent office on 1974-12-24 for sanitary napkin with porous resin powder deodorant.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Jex Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Akira Yamauchi.
United States Patent |
3,856,014 |
Yamauchi |
December 24, 1974 |
SANITARY NAPKIN WITH POROUS RESIN POWDER DEODORANT
Abstract
A sanitary napkin containing at least one layer of staple fibers
having adhered thereto, as a deodorant, a porous resin powder in
the form of its acid salt, the resin having been produced by the
condensation of an aromatic amine, with or without a phenol, with
formaldehyde. The sanitary napkin containing the layer is
particularly effective in deodorizing a malodorous liquid.
Inventors: |
Yamauchi; Akira (Hyogo-ken,
JA) |
Assignee: |
Jex Co., Ltd. (Osaka-fu,
JA)
|
Family
ID: |
14424382 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/317,795 |
Filed: |
December 22, 1972 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 23, 1972 [JA] |
|
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47-106072 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/359; 424/443;
604/378 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C08L
61/04 (20130101); A61F 13/51478 (20130101); A61F
13/8405 (20130101); A61L 15/26 (20130101); A61L
15/26 (20130101); A61F 2013/51443 (20130101); A61F
2013/51441 (20130101); A61F 2013/53445 (20130101); A61F
13/534 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
13/15 (20060101); A61L 15/26 (20060101); A61L
15/16 (20060101); A61f 013/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/284,286,287,290,296,285 ;424/27-28 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: McGowan; J. C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Stewart and Kolasch, Ltd.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a sanitary napkin which comprises at least one layer of
staple fibers in the form of a pad, the improvement wherein said
pad contains as a deodorant a porous resin powder which is the
condensation product of an aromatic amine with formaldehyde in the
form of its acid salt.
2. The sanitary napkin according to claim 1 wherein a phenol is
present in the reaction system.
3. The sanitary napkin according to claim 1 wherein the
condensation product is one layer made of a pulp staple fiber
containing an aromatic amine selected from the group consisting of
m-phenylenediamine and m-aminophenol, with or without phenol or
resorcin, and formaldehyde, said reaction product being in the form
of the salt of tartaric acid.
4. The sanitary napkin according to claim 3, wherein the deodorant
powder is produced from m-phenylenediamine and phenol or resorcin
by condensation with formaldehyde.
5. The sanitary napkin according to claim 4, wherein one mole of
m-phenylenediamine, one mole of phenol or resorcin and three moles
of formaldehyde are used.
6. The sanitary napkin according to claim 3, wherein the deodorant
powder is produced from m-aminophenol by condensation with
formaldehyde.
7. The sanitary napkin according to claim 3, wherein a pulp staple
fiber is used in an amount of about 50 to 500 parts by weight with
respect to one part by weight of the deodorant powder.
8. The sanitary napkin according to claim 3, wherein the amount of
the pulp staple fiber is about 200 parts by weight with respect to
about one part by weight of the deodorant powder.
9. The sanitary napkin according to claim 4, wherein the deodorant
powder is used in an amount of about one part by weight with
respect to about 10 to 20 parts by weight of diatomaceous
earth.
10. The sanitary napkin according to claim 9, wherein the amount of
diatomaceous earth is about 16 parts by weight to about one part by
weight of the deodorant powder.
11. The sanitary napkin according to claim 1, comprising a
composite of two layers of water-adsorbing paper, a layer of staple
fibers, another two layers of water-adsorbing paper, another layer
of staple fibers, two layers of water-repellent paper and a layer
of water-proof paper which are arranged in this order, said
composite being provided at both sides thereof with a layer of
water-repellent paper.
12. The sanitary napkin according to claim 1 comprising one layer
of staple fibers containing said deodorant, said layer being
surrounded on one side with at least one layer of water-repellant
paper and on the other side with at least one layer of water
absorbing paper.
13. The sanitary napkin according to claim 1 comprising two layers
of staple fibers containing said deodorant, said layers being
separated by at least one layer of water absorbing paper and
surrounded on one side with at least one layer of water-repellant
paper and on the other side with at least one layer of water
absorbing paper.
14. The sanitary napkin of claim 12 housed within a non-woven
fabric wrapper.
15. The sanitary napkin of claim 13 housed within a non-woven
fabric wrapper.
Description
The present invention relates to a sanitary napkin. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a sanitary napkin
which is effective in deodorizing a malodorous fluid.
In conventional sanitary napkins, a variety of improvements have
been proposed for setting and deodorizing a malodorous fluid
particularly that discharged by a menstrual flow. However, such
conventional sanitary napkins have not been able to effectively
achieve these purposes. With respect to the dispersion and
retention of the malodorous fluid on sanitary napkins, the
conventional sanitary napkins have not been satisfactory. Although
some napkins have a thick layer or several layers which function to
adsorb the fluid, they still possess the problem of the exudation
of the malodorous fluid therefrom.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sanitary
napkin containing a deodorant which is effective in deodorizing a
malodorous fluid.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary
napkin which contains at least one layer of staple fibers to which
a deodorant powder in the form of its acid salt is adhered, said
napkin functioning to absorb the malodorous constituents of a
fluid.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary
napkin which is effective in adsorbing and diffusing a malodorous
fluid.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
sanitary napkin which although being thin in thickness and small in
size, is nevertheless effective in maintaining the desired
deodorizing and adsorbing effects.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent during the course of the description which
follows, and the accompanying drawing wherein
The FIGURE is a perspective view of a sanitary napkin according to
the present invention.
Referring now more particularly to the FIGURE, element 10 is a
non-woven fabric, 11 is a water-adsorbing paper, 12 is a
water-repellent paper, 13 is a water-proof paper, 14 is a thread,
and 15 is a sheet made of staple fibers which contain the deodorant
powder of the present invention.
As shown in the FIGURE the non-woven fabric 10 is made in the form
of a closed container, which acts as a wrapper to protect the
materials contained therein and help them retain their shape. As
seen in the FIGURE two sheets of water-adsorbing paper 11, a sheet
of staple fibers 15, another two sheets of water-adsorbing paper
11, another sheet of staple fibers 15, two sheets of
water-repellent paper 12 and a sheet of water-proof paper 13 are
piled together in this order, and a sheet of water-repellent paper
12 is positioned at both sides of the accumulated materials so as
to substantially cover said sides. The materials are arranged in
such a way that the upper side of the water-adsorbing paper 11 is
next to the inner side of that portion of the wrapper which does
not contain the thread, as illustrated in the FIGURE. Both the open
sides are sealed at an appropriate length. The side of the napkin
containing the thread 14 is the exterior side of the napkin, and as
such should not come into contact with the body of the user. Only
the opposite or interior side of the napkin should contact the body
of the user.
The materials and shapes of the non-woven fabric, the
water-adsorbing paper, the water-repellent paper, the water-proof
paper and the thread conventionally employed and known in the art
may also be used for the sanitary napkin of the present invention,
and no limitations are placed on these materials and shapes unless
undesirable effects can be expected by their use. The essential
feature of the present invention is that at least one of the layers
or sheets of the napkin is made of staple fibers which contain a
specific deodorant powder. Advantageously, the sanitary napkin of
the present invention is arranged as shown in the accompanying
drawing although some modifications and re-arrangements of the
materials and shape may be possible without decreasing the desired
effects to be attained. For example, a sheet of staple fibers
containing activated carbon powder may be used for either of two
sheets of staple fibers 15. Alternatively, it is also possible that
the deodorant powder of the invention is disposed in the
water-adsorbing papers between the two sheets of staple fibers 15.
The shape of the wrapper is also not limited to that specifically
disclosed in the accompanying drawing, and various modifications
and arrangements can be contrived to meet practical needs. Although
the specific embodiment of the present invention is described with
respect to a sanitary napkin, the term "sanitary napkin" used
herein is intended to also include a delivery napkin, a baby' s
napkin, and any other napkins which may be used for substantially
the same purposes. In either case, it is to be noted that the main
aspect of the present invention comprises the feature that at least
one layer of staple fibers contains the specific deodorant powder
of the present invention.
The deodorant powder may be used alone or as a mixture with other
water-absorbing agents and/or fillers known in the art. The
deodorant of the present invention is a porous resin produced from
an aromatic amine, with or without a phenol, by condensation with
formaldehyde. The condensation product has as a partial structure
the following chemical structure: ##SPC1##
The resin may be specifically produced from starting materials,
such for example, one mole of m-phenylene diamine, one mole of
phenol or resorcin, and three moles of formaldehyde, using as a
catalyst an acid, such for example, hydrochloric acid or oxalic
acid, in substantially the same manner as utilized in conventional
processes of manufacturing phenolic resins. As starting materials,
m-aminophenol and formaldehyde, may also be used, without the
presence of a phenol. A porous structure of the resin may be
accomplished by the addition of a conventional aqueous inorganic
salt to the reaction system at the beginning of the reaction. The
resulting resin is then heat-treated at above 80.degree.C. for
about 10 hours in the air and thereafter is washed by a hot
alkaline aqueous solution and then by dilute hydrochloric acid,
resulting in the removal of intermediate condensates.
The porous resinous powder of the present invention is stable in
water, solutes and alkalis, and is not decomposable at temperatures
below 100.degree.C. Said resin is capable of holding a comparably
large amount of water in its structure as will be clear from the
hydrophilic property of the amino groups on the aromatic rings and
its porous structure. When the resin is employed in the napkin of
the present invention, the content of water is preferably about 30
to 50 per cent.
The resin of the present invention is in the form of its acid salt
for practical use. The acid salt may be produced by neutralizing
the amino groups in the resin with acids. The following is a
reaction scheme showing the neutralization reaction.
R - NH.sub.2 + HX .fwdarw. R - N.sup.+H.sub.3 .sup.. X.sup.-
wherein R is a resin body and X is a residue of an acid.
The acids which can be used for the neutralization of the resin
generally are those which are not harmful to human beings, such as
tartaric acid. Although the acid used for the neutralization of the
resin is liberated in the water in a very small amount, a napkin
containing the deodorant of the present invention does not cause
any harm to the user because of the presence of the acid liberated
in the water contained in the napkin. It should also be noted that
no dissolution of other substances such as, for example,
formaldehyde occurs.
The functions of deodorizing various malodorous constituents by the
deodorant are considered as follows:
1. Basic malodorous constituents such as ammonia, amines, and the
like: The malodorous constituents are first dissolved in the water
contained in the deodorant and then reacted with acids adhered to
the resin to form an odor-free salt. For example, ammonia is
converted to a malodor-free salt as follows:
R - N.sup.+H.sub.3 X.sup.- + NH.sub.3 .fwdarw. R - NH.sub.2 +
NH.sub.4 X
wherein R and X are as defined above. The formed salt is dissolved
in the water of the deodorant and retained therein. 2. Acidic
malodorous constituents such as lower aliphatic acids, hydrogen
sulfide, and the like: The acidic malodorous constituents are
deodorized by dissolution in water. When the basic malodorous
constituents coexist with the acidic ones, the deodorant is first
subjected to the following reaction:
R - N.sup.+H.sub.3 - X.sup.- .fwdarw. R - NH.sub.2 + HX
in which R and X are as given above. The resulting resin is then
reacted with the acidic malodorous constituents having the
following general formula: HY, in which Y is a residue of the acid,
whose reaction is represented as follows:
R - NH.sub.2 + HY .fwdarw. R - N.sup.+H.sub.3 - Y.sup.-
This means that the acidic malodorous constituents are adsorbed by
the resin, resulting in the formation of the acid salt free from
malodor. 3. Neutral malodorous constituents such as aromatic
hydrocarbons: The neutral malodorous constituents may be deodorized
by intramolecular, physical adsorption because the deodorant is
porous and it has a very large surface area.
In accordance with the present invention, said deodorants having
the above-mentioned adsorbing properties possess a more effective
adsorbing capacity when compared to deodorants conventionally
available in the art. As compared with a slightly acidic
cation-exchange resin, the deodorants of the present invention have
the capacity of adsorbing acetic acid about 3 to 4 times more than
the cation-exchange resin. Furthermore, the cation-exchange resin
has no adsorbing capacity for hydrogen sulfide, as do the
deodorants of the present invention. As for strongly basic
anion-exchange resins, the deodorants of the present invention
adsorb ammonia approximately 30 times more than the basic
aninon-exchange resin and they show an adsorbing capacity for
trimethylamine, whereas the basic anion-exchange resin has no such
capacity. Compared with active carbon made from coconuts, the
deodorants of the present invention have about 3 to 4 times the
adsorbing capacity for ammonia as said activated coconut carbon,
and about 4 to 5 times the adsorbing capacity for acetic acid.
Furthermore, the ammonia that was adsorbed on the active coconut
carbon at 10.degree.C. was desorbed in an amount of about 70 to 80
per cent, when the active carbon was heated to 50.degree.C. On the
other hand, the ammonia adsorbed by the deodorants of the present
invention was only slightly desorbed, that is, in an amount of
about 1 to 2 per cent under the same conditions.
These characteristics of the deodorants according to the present
invention are based upon the following facts; (1) the resin is an
amphoteric ion-exchange resin, not a mere anion-exchange resin; (2)
its exchange groups (R-NH.sub.2 and R-OH) act as weak electrolytes;
and (3) a gas tends to penetrate into the resin because of its
porous structure.
In conventional ion-exchange resins, for example, a cation-exchange
resin having strongly acidic exchange groups can easily adsorb
basic malodorous constituents, but it does not adsorb acidic
malodorous constituents because the repellency of the homogenous
electric charges of the strong exchange groups of the
cation-exchange resin and the acidic malodorous constituents makes
it difficult for the constituents to transfer into the liquid phase
in the resin. However, the resin of the present invention has weak
exchange groups, thereby making it capable of adsorbing both acidic
and basic malodorous constituents.
When the deodorants of the present invention were applied to the
menstruous discharge, it was confirmed by gas-chromatography that
monomethylamine, methyl mercaptan, ethylamine, acetaldehyde,
acrolein, diethylamine, ethyl mercaptan, n-butylaldehyde, n-butyl
mercaptan, etc. were adsorbed. This shows the removal of a majority
of the malodorous constituents of the discharge.
In accordance with the present invention, the deodorants may be
employed alone or as a mixture with unharmful agents, such as
diatomaceous earth, conventionally employed in the art as a
water-adsorbent or filler. These additives may be used in an amount
of about 10 to 20 parts by weight, preferably 16 parts by weight,
with respect to one part by weight of the deodorant.
The layer or sheet of the present invention is made out of staple
fibers as a support to which the deodorant powder alone or as a
mixture with a water-adsorbent or filler is adhered. The staple
fibers may be the same as those employed for conventional sanitary
napkins, such as cotton linter and the like. Pulp fiber is
particularly preferred. The staple fibers may be used in an amount
of about 50 to 500 parts by weight, preferably 200 parts by weight,
with respect to a part by weight of the deodorant. Said sheet may
be prepared by spreading a ground pulp band with the deodorant
powders. However, the deodorant powders tend to peel off or drop
from the sheet prepared in this manner causing a decrease in the
desired deodorizing effect. The preferred preparation of the sheet
is accomplished by a procedure discussed hereinbelow. The procedure
enables the deodorants to adhere adhesively to the fiber. The
satisfactory adherence effect may be produced by scattering the
powder during ventillation of the pulp by a pulp machine following
conventional purification procedures. More particularly, the
desired sheet of pulp fibers and the deodorant may be prepared from
pulp bands in a conventional manner by maintaining the deodorant
powders and the ground pulp in a fluidized state in a wind pipe.
The deodorant powders are introduced into the wind pipe through a
powder supply pipe and the powders are joined in the pipe with the
ground pulp which is ventilated into the wind pipe through a
crusher. Since the pulp fibers are charged with static electricity
created by the friction of the hammers in the crushing device, the
deodorant powders adhere to the surface of each fiber while the
mixture is fluidized in the wind pipe. Microscopic observations of
a sheet manufactured by the above procedures show that particles of
an adhering agent, such as diatomaceous earth, and the like, form
complex surfaces which adhere to the pulp fibers more strongly than
the deodorant powder. Accordingly, the use of an adhering agent
prevents the adhering deodorant powder from becoming detached from
the fibers during the handling.
The sanitary napkin having the features described above permits a
fluid to penetrate through the non-woven fabric and the
water-adsorbing paper into the surface of the sheet of staple
fibers containing the deodorant powder. Here the fluid spreads
itself into the sheet while being adsorbed and diffused by the
combined action of the liquid-adsorbing action of said powder
itself and the liquid-adsorbility between the fibers with their
effective liquid adsorbing surfaces increased by the adherence of
the powder thereon. Accordingly, the fluid is effectively
deodorized by contact with the deodorant powder adhered to the
surfaces of each of said fibers. In addition, a gaseous malodor
generated from the fluid is also adsorbed by the deodorant powder.
Furthermore, the fluid spreads and distributes itself in the napkin
not only in the vertical direction (depth direction) but also in
the horizontal direction (the plane direction) resulting in an
increase in the amount of liquid which can be adsorbed. Thus the
napkin of the present invention can be reduced in size while still
maintaining the effective deodorant capacity. Said advantages were
confirmed by an organoleptic test using a napkin of normal size (a
total weight of 6.5 to 7 grams) having the same shape and structure
as shown in the accompanying drawing, and containing 0.02 gram of
the deodorant powder, 0.28 gram of diatomaceous earth and 4 grams
of pulp staple fibers.
* * * * *