Adhesive nursing pad

Abstract

This invention concerns an adhesive nursing pad particularly useful for absorbing body fluids. The adhesive nursing pad comprises of a high absorption inner body, and outer layer with an adhesive circumference that attaches directly to the woman's breast for securely maintaining the nursing pad's position without slippage upon leakage of fluids from the breast of nursing or pregnant women, also containing a velcro strap, and adhesive flap on opposite ends of the adhesive nursing pad to give added support as a brassiere.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE to RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH or DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE to SEQUENCE LISTING, a TABLE, or a COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Everyday women around the world become pregnant and give birth. Upon entering the final weeks or the first weeks of breast feeding, a woman's breast become tender, swollen, and in some cases full with milk. Once a baby is born, breast feeding takes place. The breasts continue to produce daily to supply the frequent feeding habits of the newborn, leaving the breast sore, and leaking milk. Such occurrences may result in leaving stains on the bed linen from the breast leaking overnight and at the very least will increase in required cleaning frequency of the woman's clothing.

It is of course, highly desirable to maintain the nursing pad securely in a fixed position over the woman's nipple. Adhesive materials have been applied to the outer layer of the nursing pad to engage and adhere to an inner surface of the woman's garment, such as a regular or nursing brassiere. It is particularly difficult to maintain the nursing pad in proper position at night during sleep when leakage from the woman is likely to stain the woman's bed clothing and bedding materials such as sheets and covers. Some nursing pads currently available make use of an adhesive disposed on an outer surface, but are of limited use because of the location and area of application of the adhesive material on the pad. Current nursing pads are easily detached from a woman's garment resulting in movement of the pad from the woman's nipple and/or folding over of the pad on itself so that it no longer engages the nipple resulting in failure of the pad to perform its intended function. Furthermore, wearing a brassiere while pregnant is considered uncomfortable by many women and can often become a nuisance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a disposable nursing pad for wear by a nursing and pregnant woman, which adheres to the breast of pregnant and nursing women for maintaining the pad in a fixed position on the woman's nipple. The invention specifically relates to an adhesive nursing pad with an adhesive circumference, and adhesive flap, and velcro strap for absorption upon leakage of breast milk from the breast of nursing and pregnant women during non-nursing times and giving women the support of a brassiere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of the adhesive nursing pad, with an inner absorption layer, an outer layer with an adhesive circumference, an adhesive flap, and velcro strap;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the side of the adhesive nursing pad, with an inner absorption layer, an outer layer with an adhesive circumference, and adhesive flap, and velcro strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 there is shown a perspective view of an adhesive nursing pad 10, with a high absorption inner layer 12, which is placed in contact with a woman's lactating breast for absorbing leaked milk, an outer layer 18, usually disposed against the woman's clothing such as a regular or nursing brassiere, having an adhesive circumference 14 which attaches directly to the woman's breast for securely maintaining the nursing pad's position without slippage upon leakage of fluids from the breast of nursing or pregnant women, a velcro strap 20 that links the adjacent nursing pad, an adhesive flap 22 that attaches to the upper part of the breast.

In more detail the adhesive nursing pad 10 is generally circular in shape and is contoured so as to receive and engage the breast of a woman and cover her nipple. Thus, the inner surface of the nursing breast pad 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is generally concave, while its outer surface as shown in FIG. 2 is convex. The adhesive nursing pad 10 has a multi-layer structure and includes an inner absorbent layer 12 in contact with the woman's breast, and an outer layer 18. The inner absorbent layer 12 and the outer layer 18 may be bonded together by conventional means such as by conventional thermal bonding. The inner absorbent layer 12 is preferably comprised of a non-woven fabric material which has a high coefficient of fluid absorbance. One well known fiber material commonly used in these types of applications is comprised of copolymer micro-fibers. The inner absorbent layer 12 may itself include an inner layer in contact with the woman's breast which allows the woman's milk to pass into and be absorbed by the pad's inner absorbent layer 12. The outer layer 18 is preferably comprised of a moisture impermeable material and is disposed against the woman's clothing such as a regular or nursing brassiere (not shown for simplicity). The outer layer 18 may be conventional in composition and structure and preferably is in the form of a web of non-woven fibers preferably treated with a laminating material for rendering the outer layer moisture impermeable so as to prevent the woman's milk from passing through the nursing breast pad 10 and staining the woman's clothes and bedding. An example of a laminating material which could be used for the outer layer 18 of the nursing breast pad 10 is a thin material treated with a light plastic or rubber latex to render the thin layer moisture impermeable. The structure and configuration of the nursing breast pad 10 described thus far is conventional and well-known to those familiar with disposable nursing breast pads.

In further detail with several aspects of the present invention, of the adhesive nursing pad 10, disposed on the outer layer's 18 circumference, is an approved skin adhesive 14. In addition to the adhesive circumference 14, there is an adhesive flap 22, and a velcro strap 20 for added support. The adhesive 14 is positioned on the circumference of the outer layer 18 to be attached to the woman's breast, while both the adhesive flap 22 and velcro strap 20 are located on opposites ends of the adhesive nursing pad 10. The purpose of the inner absorbent layer 12 is to absorb discharged milk and carry it away from the woman's breast. The purpose of the adhesive circumference 14 is to securely maintain the nursing pad's position without slippage upon leakage of fluids from the breast of nursing or pregnant women. The purpose of the velcro strap 20 is to attach the adjacent nursing pad worn by the woman. The purpose of the adhesive flap 22 is to be attached to the upper part of the breast therefore providing support for the breast of pregnant or lactating women as though they were wearing a brassier.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of the adhesive nursing pad 10 in accordance with the present invention. As in the previously described embodiment, the nursing pad 10 includes an inner absorbent layer 12, an outer layer 18 with an adhesive circumference 14 and adhesive flap 22. Disposed over the adhesive circumference 14 and adhesive flap 22 is a covering layer 16 for protecting the adhesive prior to use. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a covering layer is shown 16, slightly bent backwards, it being understood to be disposed over the adhesive circumference 14 and adhesive flap 22 prior to use. The covering layer 16 protects the adhesive circumference 14 and adhesive flap 22 prior to use and maintains them in a tacky condition. The covering layer 16 is adapted for manual grasping and pulling off of the adhesive circumference 14 and adhesive flap 22 and is well known in these types of adhesive items. Covering layer 16 thus may be provided with a tab portion 16a extending outward to facilitate grasping and removing the covering layer from adhesive circumference 14 and adhesive flap 22.

The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, that it is convenient for a nursing mother's tender breast not caring to wear a brassiere. It will prevent constant breast milk leakage through clothing and during the night when the breast tend to shift around the brassiere. Further, the woman would be able change their brassiere and not have to remove the breast pad being that it will be stuck to the breast and not the brassiere.

In broad embodiment, the present invention is a nursing pad that adheres directly to the mother's breast.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enable one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific, embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A disposable adhesive nursing pad for absorbing fluid secreted by the nipple of a woman's breast giving the support as a brassiere comprising of: a) an inner layer having being concave disposed on the woman's breast and covering her nipple to absorb said leaking secreted fluids; wherein said inner absorbent layer is moisture absorbing, and moisture transmitting; b) an outer layer being moisture impermeable material that is convex shaped with a pressure sensitive adhesive circumference disposed on said woman's breast securely maintaining the adhesive nursing pad's position without slippage upon leakage of fluids; c) an adhesive flap on the end of said outer layer opposite of adhesive flap; e) a removable covering disposed on said adhesive circumference and adhesive flap to protect said adhesive circumference and adhesive flap prior to use; f) said removable covering layer includes a gripping tab to facilitate it removal from said adhesive nursing pad and adhesive flap;

2. The adhesive nursing pad of claim 1, said inner absorbent layer contains pressure sensitive adhesive circumference.

3. The adhesive nursing pad of claim 1, said adhesive circumference and adhesive flap contains a removable covering layer.

4. The adhesive nursing pad of claim 3, said removable covering further contains a gripping tab.

5. The adhesive nursing pad of claim 1, said inner layer being concave.

6. The adhesive nursing pad of claim 1, said outer layer being convex.

7. The adhesive nursing pad of claim 1, contains said adhesive flap on the end of the outer layer of adhesive nursing pad.

8. The adhesive nursing pad of claim 1, contains a said velcro strap on the end of the outer layer of the said adhesive nursing pad.

9. The adhesive nursing pad of claim 1, said inner absorbent layer is moisture absorbing and moisture transmitting.

10. The adhesive nursing pad of claim 1, said outer layer is moisture impermeable material.

11. The adhesive nursing pad of claim 1, gives said support as a brassiere.