WO1992006604A1 - Shaped elastic dress-guard - Google Patents

Abstract

The dress-guard (16) is folded at about the middle or made in two parts and secured as a disposable item to an item of clothing (12) in at least one armpit (14). It comprises a mixed, shaped pulp (20) of cellulose-containing fibres secured by heat adhesion at many points to fibres of at least one thermoplastic substance and form a net-like layer of increased strength with a superabsorber sprinkled inside and a liquid-permeable, elastic outer covering (18) at least on the side away from the item of clothing (12). To produce a dress-guard (16), the uniformly mixed cellulose-containing fibres and plastic fibres are heated until the plastic begins to melt to a temperature just below the flash-point of cellulose. The super-absorber is inserted before or after heating.

Description

 Formatted, elastic arm sheet

The invention relates to a formatted, elastic arm sheet, which is folded approximately in the middle or formed in two parts and is worn as a disposable article on a piece of clothing and is worn in at least one armpit. The invention further relates to a method for producing an arm sheet.

In the hot season and / or in the case of physical exertion, sweat formed in the armpits and often the odor that is emitted therewith have been attempted for a long time, be it in relation to the cause or the effect. Prevention of the lower or stronger sweat formation by chemical means, depending on the disposition of the person, is increasingly being rejected by broad circles.

If something is to be done, an attempt is rather made to eliminate the effect by arm sheets fastened in the women's and men's clothing absorbing the sweat formed in the armpits. Such arm sheets have to be washed relatively frequently, which is why fastening with a needle and thread is not very suitable.

In CH-PS 485 433 it is proposed to design an arm sheet as a disposable item and to make it quickly and easily attachable to the associated women's or men's outer garment and also to remove it easily by using an adhesive. The arm sheet can e.g. consist of a moisture-absorbent fabric, a moisture-absorbent paper film, a structure made of the same fiber or cotton.

In addition to the great advantage of being easy to replace However, the arm blade according to CH-PS 485 433 has the disadvantage that it has a relatively low absorbency. It must therefore be of a comparatively thick construction or be replaced frequently, up to several times on the same day. Furthermore, the materials used for the formation of the arm sheet have a comparatively low retention; when pressure is exerted, the sweat absorbed can at least partially be expressed and flow away.

The inventor has set himself the task of creating an arm blade of the type mentioned at the outset, which has a very high absorbency, a rapid absorption of liquid and a high retention capacity, is nevertheless easy to handle thanks to the low layer thickness and is economical to produce.

With regard to the product, the object is achieved according to the invention in that the arm sheet is a homogeneously mixed, formatted pulp made of cellulose-containing fibers, which at many points are bonded to fibers made of at least one thermoplastic plastic by means of hot melt adhesive and a network-like layer of increased Form strength with an interspersed chemical super absorber, and include an elastic outer shell that is permeable to moisture at least on the side facing away from the garment. Special embodiments and further developments of the invention are the subject of dependent patent claims.

Superabsorbers per se scattered into suction pads are known, for example, for the production of hygienic articles, such as diapers. Superabsorbers are highly absorbent polymers that can bind a multiple of their weight in salty water, including sweat, and thereby form a gel that remains stable even under pressure. This high retention capacity, also called retention, is a particularly important feature so that the clothing stays really clean.

The suction speed of a superabsorbent of a given composition and surface properties is mainly dependent on its grain size, i.e. in the case of smaller grains, the total active area of the superabsorber is larger, and therefore the absorption or gel formation takes place much faster. The setting of the absorbency of a pulp is achieved with different types of superabsorbers and / or different amounts of superabsorbers. Several superabsorbents are commercially available.

An arm sheet with a thermally bonded pulp as described above and sprinkled superabsorber can be a multiple, e.g. absorb up to 50 times its own weight in sweat. It is therefore only necessary to insert thin arm sheets which do not immediately give the feeling of an inserted cushion, as in the known prior art. If there is little sweating, the thin insert is not bulky, and only little if sweating profusely.

For economic reasons, recycled fibers containing cellulose are preferred as the basic structure in an arm sheet. Recycling aterial, in particular from paper and / or textiles, is defibrated in a manner known per se. The process corresponds in principle to the shredding of wood chips obtained from logs in a devibrator. If necessary, the recycling material is cut to at least the maximum format permissible for the machine prior to defibrillation. All defibrillation materials are suitable which contain pulps that are obtained after use and / or during processing.

The cellulosic fibers obtained from the recycling material are cleaned in a manner known per se using at least one physical and / or chemical process. n igt.

The cellulose-containing fibers, be they new or recycled fibers, and the plastic-containing fibers of a pulp are preferably homogeneously mixed in a weight ratio of 100: 1 to 4: 1. This ratio can be used to influence the number of connection points, and thus the shape and elasticity of the arm sheet produced.

The plastic fibers preferably consist of a polyolefin and / or a polyester. These plastic fibers generally have a diameter of 1-40 μm, in particular 5-20 μm.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous to use a pulp composed of homogeneously mixed cellulose-containing fibers and fibrillated polyethylene. A product from DUPONT known under the trade name "PULPLUS", for example, consists of 1-20 μm thick, approximately 1 mm long fibrils, which form numerous connection points during a heat treatment (thermobonding). In addition to the very small diameter, these plastic fibers have i.a. the following advantageous properties:

- High strength and orientation easily meltable and editable environmentally friendly - inexpensive.

The advantageous effect of the addition of a superabsorbent is not limited to the many times increased water absorption capacity with high retention. Thanks to the formation of a gel, the unpleasant odor development of body exhalations is also greatly reduced or even largely prevented.

The effect on odor control can be increased by adding an odorant, for example charcoal fibers and / or charcoal powder, to the pulp. Active charcoal fibers can be obtained by charring organic polymer fibers and optionally pulverized.

The pulp can also be scented, for example by dripping on or spraying on a normal active ingredient. The perfumes work in the usual way.

The outer shell, consisting of a tissue, nonwoven or a fabric, can be impermeable to moisture in the direction of the clothing. This means that the clothing is protected in all cases despite the high retention capacity of the arm blade.

The outer sleeve can be coated, at least partially in the direction of the clothing to be protected, with an adhesive for detachable gluing, this adhesive advantageously being covered with a removable protective film. With regard to the properties of the adhesive, it is essential that the arm sheet can be detached again without traces after use.

The arm sheet can, however, also be produced completely unassembled and inserted interchangeably into pockets which are arranged in the clothing, for example as a hydrophobic, coarse-mesh network.

With regard to the method for producing an arm sheet, the object is achieved according to the invention in that the homogeneously mixed cellulose-containing fibers and plastic fibers are heated to a temperature just below the combustion temperature of cellulose until the plastic melts, and the superabsorber before or is sprinkled in after heating.

The heat treatment temperature for melting the plastic fibers is in the range for the materials used of about 160-220 ° C. The plastic fibers may only melt to such an extent that they form connection points with the cellulosic fibers. However, they must not melt through. The temperature is used for a correspondingly short period of time which can be determined in simple experiments.

The temperature required for thermal bonding is preferably determined by means of a hot air stream introduced into the forming cavities or by means of at least one shaped heating surface, e.g. designed as a heating bed, heating roller or wandering, endless heating tape, which means enable a metered application of heat.

The arm sheet according to the invention can be used in all clothing items which have armholes and short or long sleeves, preferably in the outer clothing. For sleeveless. Garments can also only be provided with an arm sheet on the side facing the body below the armholes, and / or an arm sheet on the outside can be inserted into an inconspicuous pocket. Suitable supports for arm blades are e.g. Vestons, blouses, sweaters, vests, shirts etc.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing, which are also the subject of dependent claims. They show schematically:

1 shows a partial view of a woman's outer clothing while being put on,

2 shows a section through a sweater with a folded arm sheet, FIG. 3 shows an inside view of an opened arm sheet, FIG. 4 shows a section of the pulp of an arm sheet, and Fig. 5 shows a section of the pulp of an arm sheet, with an odorant.

The lady indicated in FIG. 1 with a blouse 10 is about to put on her clothing 12, a blouse. A folded arm sheet 16 is visible in the area of the armpit 14. This is only clearly visible on the drawing, in reality it is arranged completely inconspicuously. When the jacket is completely on, the arm sheet 16 is no longer visible. It does not hinder the wearer in any way.

The blouse 10 could of course also be outer clothing, it should have at least a short sleeve.

The clothing 12 indicated in FIG. 2 is designed in the form of a sweater. In the area of the armpit 14 of the wearer, the arm sheet 16 is folded approximately in the middle.

From the cut it can be clearly seen that the arm sheet consists of an outer shell 18 and a pulp 20, a suction pad.

In the present embodiment, the outer shell 18 is impermeable to moisture in the direction of the clothing 12. The clothing 12 is thus protected against any traces of sweat emerging from the pulp 20. Of course, the outer shell 18 is permeable to moisture in the direction of the body, ie in the direction pointing away from the clothing 12.

The moisture-impermeable part of the outer shell 18 of the arm sheet 16 according to FIG. 2 can be seen from the front in FIG. 3. This moisture-impermeable and the moisture-permeable part of the outer shell 18 are glued together in a circumferential seam 22. Each of the two halves of the arm sheet 16 has a patch-like application of adhesive 24, which is used for the detachable attachment of the arm sheet 16 to the garment 12 (FIGS. 1, 2). The adhesive 24 is covered with a protective film 26 which has a grip tab 28. The protective film 26 can easily be removed before use.

4 and 5 show a greatly simplified view of the basic structure of the pulp 20 of an arm blade 16 (FIGS. 1-3) reduced to two dimensions. A basic structure made of cellulose-containing fibers 30 is connected to one another via plastic fibers 32, shown as polyethylene fibers. The partially melted plastic fibers 32 in a heat treatment process, the thermal bonding, form numerous connection points 34 with the cellulose-containing fibers 30. This leads to an increased, but elastic, dimensional stability of the arm sheet 16.

Superabsorber grains 40 are embedded in the network-like structure.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, in addition to the super absorber 40, charcoal fibers 36, for the sake of clarity, are only shown as fragments, and charcoal powder 38 are mixed in. The charcoal serves as a scent binder, so that even very strong perspiration can remain completely unnoticed.

Claims

Claims 1. Formatted, elastic arm sheet (16), which is folded approximately in the middle or formed in two parts and is fastened as a disposable item to an item of clothing (12) and is worn in at least one armpit (14), characterized in that the arm sheet (16) is a homogeneously mixed, formatted pulp (20) made of cellulose-containing fibers (30), which are connected at many points (34) to fibers (32) made of at least one thermoplastic material by means of hot melt adhesive and a net-like layer of increased thickness Form strength with an interspersed superabsorber (40), and comprises an elastic outer shell (18) permeable to moisture at least on the side facing away from the clothing item (12). 2. Arm sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that the cellulose-containing fibers (30) at least partially consist of shredded and cleaned recycling material, preferably paper and / or cotton. 3. Arm sheet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the cellulose-containing fibers (30) and the plastic fibers (32) made of a polyolefin and / or a polyester pulp (20) in a weight ratio of 100: 1 to 4: 1 are mixed. 4. arm blade according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized ge indicates that the plastic fibers (32) have a diameter in the range of 1-40 microns, in particular 5-20 microns, and preferably consist of fibril 1 iert poly ethylene. 5. arm blade according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized ge indicates that the pulp (20) contains an odor, preferably charcoal fibers (36) and / or Holzkohle¬ powder (38). 6. arm blade according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized ge indicates that the pulp (20) is perfumed. 7. arm blade according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized ge indicates that the outer shell (18) in the direction of the article of clothing (12) is impervious to moisture. 8. Arm sheet according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized ge indicates that the outer shell (18) in the direction of the item of clothing (12) at least partially coated with an adhesive (24) for releasable gluing and preferably by a removable protective film ( 26) is covered. 9. A method for producing an arm sheet (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the homogeneously mixed cellulose-containing fibers (30) and plastic fibers (32) until the plastic melts to just below the combustion temperature of cellulose lying temperature are heated, and the super absorber (40) is sprinkled before or after heating. 10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the homogeneously mixed cellulose-containing fibers (30) and plastic fibers (32) are heated to 200-220 ^β C.