US4961982A — Liquid-absorbing pad assembly and method of makin…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 108 words

In a liquid-absorbing pad assembly having a peripheral outline and comprising, a top layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising, a multiple-purpose structure disposed between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes, characterized in that said structure is a resilient sheet of foamed synthetic plastic material having a reticulated construction.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 108 words

In a liquid-absorbing pad assembly having a peripheral outline and comprising, a top layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising, a multiple-purpose structure disposed between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes, characterized in that said structure is a resilient sheet of foamed synthetic plastic material having a reticulated construction.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said top layer, structure, and absorbent layer are held together inwardly of said peripheral outline by stitch means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 2 in which said stitch means define a quilted construction.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 72 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 3 in which said stitch means pull said top layer, structure, and absorbent layer together in a plurality of locations defining a patterned outline when viewed normal to said top layer, such patterned outline having a central part, and said resilient sheet has a predetermined thickness which when measured at each central part comprises a major portion of the overall thickness of said assembly.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said top layer, structure, and absorbent layer are laminated together.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 5 in which said resilient sheet has a predetermined thickness which comprises a major portion of the overall thickness of said assembly.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said top layer is a top fabric layer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 101 words

In a liquid-absorbing pad assembly having a peripheral outline and comprising, a top fabric layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising, a multiple-purpose structure disposed between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes, characterized in that said top fabric layer is a tricot.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 101 words

In a liquid-absorbing pad assembly having a peripheral outline and comprising, a top fabric layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising, a multiple-purpose structure disposed between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes, characterized in that said top fabric layer is a tricot.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 17 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 8 in which said tricot is a napped tricot.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 9 in which said napped tricot is a loop napped tricot whereby it has a napped surface texture which is defined by its knitted construction.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 10 in which said napped tricot is made entirely of polyester yarns.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said absorbent layer is a nonwoven fibrous mat.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 12 in which said fibrous mat serves to dissipate liquid radially from a local introduction point throughout a substantial portion of its volume.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 13 in which said mat is comprised of randomly disposed bonded fibers.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 14 in which said fibers comprise polyester fibers.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 31 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said waterproof layer comprises a polymeric sheet portion and a woven fabric bonded together free of additional adhesive means therebetween.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 16 in which said polymeric sheet portion is made of rubber.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 53 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 17 in which said woven fabric is a plainwoven fabric comprised of cotton and polyester, said woven fabric serves to protect said polymeric layer against abrasion, provides dimensional stability to said waterproof layer, and provides a non-skid surface to the bottom of said pad assembly.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 18 in which said polymeric sheet portion is capable of withstanding a hydrostatic water pressure of 100 pounds per square inch gauge without allowing passage of water therethrough.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 139 words

In a liquid-absorbing pad assembly having a peripheral outline and comprising, a top layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising, a multiple-purpose structure disposed between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes, characterized in that adhesive means are disposed between said top layer and said multiple-purpose structure, between said multiple-purpose structure and said absorbent layer and between said absorbent layer and said bottom waterproof layer, said adhesive means having substantially no affect on the passage of liquid through said pad assembly.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 139 words

In a liquid-absorbing pad assembly having a peripheral outline and comprising, a top layer, a bottom waterproof layer, and an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising, a multiple-purpose structure disposed between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes, characterized in that adhesive means are disposed between said top layer and said multiple-purpose structure, between said multiple-purpose structure and said absorbent layer and between said absorbent layer and said bottom waterproof layer, said adhesive means having substantially no affect on the passage of liquid through said pad assembly.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 155 words

A liquid absorbing pad adapted for use by persons suffering from incontinence, said pad being of generally rectangular outline and comprising a bottom waterproof layer having a given outline, an absorbent layer, having the same given outline, superposed directly on said bottom layer, a reticulated, resilient, multi-purpose structure layer, having the same given outline, superposed directly on said absorbent layer, a liquid permeable top layer, having the same given outline, superposed directly on said absorbent layer, and means joining the peripheral edges of said layers, said multi-purpose structure layer being characterized by providing a. cushioning means for the pad, b. means enabling immediate passage of liquid therethrough from the top layer to the absorbent layer, c. means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through the multi-purpose structure layer, and d. a suspension for the top layer which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 155 words

A liquid absorbing pad adapted for use by persons suffering from incontinence, said pad being of generally rectangular outline and comprising a bottom waterproof layer having a given outline, an absorbent layer, having the same given outline, superposed directly on said bottom layer, a reticulated, resilient, multi-purpose structure layer, having the same given outline, superposed directly on said absorbent layer, a liquid permeable top layer, having the same given outline, superposed directly on said absorbent layer, and means joining the peripheral edges of said layers, said multi-purpose structure layer being characterized by providing a. cushioning means for the pad, b. means enabling immediate passage of liquid therethrough from the top layer to the absorbent layer, c. means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through the multi-purpose structure layer, and d. a suspension for the top layer which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 18 words

A pad set forth in claim 21 in which the multiple-purpose structure layer comprises foamed, synthetic plastic material.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 18 words

A pad as set forth in claim 22 in which the absorbent layer comprises a non-woven fibrous mat.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 37 words

A pad as set forth in claim 23 in which each of said layers has a substantially uniform thickness, the thickness of the multi-purpose structure layer comprises a major portion of the combined thickness of said layers.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 32 words

A pad as set forth in claim 21 in which a plurality of laterally spaced means secure in the top layer and absorbent layers together and compress the resilient, multipurpose layer therebetween.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

A pad as set forth in claim 21 in which the laterally spaced means comprise stitching disposed in quilted fashion.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 31 words

A pad as set forth in claim 21 in which said layers and the means joining the peripheral edges thereof are washable, whereby the incontinent pad is capable of repeated reuse.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 134 words

In a method of making a liquid-absorbing pad assembly which has a peripheral outline, said method comprising the steps of, providing a top layer, providing a bottom waterproof layer, and disposing an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising the steps of, providing a multiple-purpose structure, disposing said structure between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes, characterized in that the step of providing said structure comprises providing said structure as a resilient sheet of foamed synthetic plastic material having a reticulated construction.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 134 words

In a method of making a liquid-absorbing pad assembly which has a peripheral outline, said method comprising the steps of, providing a top layer, providing a bottom waterproof layer, and disposing an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising the steps of, providing a multiple-purpose structure, disposing said structure between said absorbent layer and said top layer, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means substantially preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes, characterized in that the step of providing said structure comprises providing said structure as a resilient sheet of foamed synthetic plastic material having a reticulated construction.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 134 words

In a method of making a liquid-absorbing pad assembly which has a peripheral outline, said method comprising the steps of, providing a top layer, providing a bottom waterproof layer, and laminating an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising the steps of, providing a multiple-purpose structure, and laminating said multiple-purpose structure between said absorbent layer and said top layer and inwardly of said peripheral outline employing adhesive means, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes, said adhesive means having substantially no effect on the passage of liquid through said pad assembly.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 134 words

In a method of making a liquid-absorbing pad assembly which has a peripheral outline, said method comprising the steps of, providing a top layer, providing a bottom waterproof layer, and laminating an absorbent layer between said top and bottom layers, the improvement comprising the steps of, providing a multiple-purpose structure, and laminating said multiple-purpose structure between said absorbent layer and said top layer and inwardly of said peripheral outline employing adhesive means, said structure providing cushioning, means enabling immediate passage therethrough of liquid from said top layer, means preventing reverse wicking of liquid that has passed through said structure, and a suspension which allows air to freely associate with the underside of said top layer for drying purposes, said adhesive means having substantially no effect on the passage of liquid through said pad assembly.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method of making a pad assembly as set forth in claim 28 and comprising the further step of stitching said top layer, said structure and absorbent layer together inwardly of said peripheral outline with stitch means.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method of making a pad assembly as set forth in claim 30 in which said stitching step defines said top layer, said structure and absorbent layer as a quilted construction inwardly of said peripheral outline.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 73 words

A method of making a pad assembly as set forth in claim 29 in which said step of laminating said multiple-purpose structure between said absorbent layer and said top layer employing additional adhesive means comprises disposing adhesive means between said top layer and said multiple-purpose structure and between said multiple-purpose structure and said absorbent layer and comprising the further step of employing adhesive means between said absorbent layer and said bottom waterproof layer.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 18 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 32 in which said adhesive means comprises a urethane adhesive.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 25 words

A pad assembly as set forth in claim 33 in which said urethane adhesive is applied by a controlled spray technique to an associated layer.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-10-08	1994-04-09	1994-10-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-10-08	1998-04-09	1998-10-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-10-08	2002-04-09	2002-10-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Liquid-absorbing pad assembly and method of making same

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