Adhesive Underarm Perspiration Pad

Abstract

A perspiration pad for absorbing underarm perspiration and providing deodorant to the underarm is provided. The perspiration pad is configured to be attached to a body proximate the person's underarm. In one embodiment, the perspiration pad has an absorbent layer with a deodorant. The absorbent layer is attached to a larger sheet or a barrier. The barrier extends beyond the edges of the absorbent layer and has a surface with an adhesive coating for releasably attaching the pad to an underarm. In various embodiments, the perspiration pad is translucent or transparent, has a flesh colored outer surface, or has a surface that receives color imparting cosmetics such as makeup or foundation. The perspiration pad is packaged with a protector that seals the deodorant-embedded absorbent layer to preserve the deodorant for use.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/180,965, filed May 26, 2009.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention pertains to a perspiration pad. More particularly, this invention pertains to a perspiration pad configured to apply to an underarm to absorb underarm perspiration and provide deodorant to the underarm.

2. Description of the Related Art

The human body has apocrine sweat glands located in the underarm. The glands are located wherever there is body hair. The apocrine sweat glands produce sweat that contains fatty materials. Bacteria on the skin break down the fatty materials, thereby producing an unpleasant odor.

Many people put on deodorant or antiperspirant to combat the moisture and odor caused by underarm perspiration. The application of such material oftentimes leaves a visible white residue on the skin. The white residue transfers to clothing in the vicinity of the underarms and is considered unsightly. Such transfer frequently occurs when wearing sleeveless tops or shirts.

The clothing worn near the underarm often becomes noticeably wet when exposed to underarm perspiration. Such wetness often occurs when wearing tops or shirts with sleeves that cover the underarm portion of the body. Long-term exposure to underarm perspiration often discolors fabric. Both wet clothing and discolored fabric is considered unsightly. Frequently, the application of deodorant and/or antiperspirant is not sufficient to completely prevent wetness from perspiration.

Additionally, in some cultures, underarm hair is considered unsightly. Both men and women are known to shave their underarm hair. Unfortunately, the underarm hair grows and must be repeatedly shaved to provide a clean, hairless appearance.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an underarm perspiration pad that absorbs underarm perspiration and provides deodorant to the underarm is provided. The perspiration pad has an absorbent layer. The absorbent layer is attached to a barrier. The perspiration pad includes an adhesive for attaching the perspiration pad to an underarm. The barrier seals the perspiration against the underarm and protects garments worn near the underarm from perspiration.

The perspiration pad is packaged with an outer protector. The protector forms a seal around the absorbent layer, in one embodiment, by interfacing with the adhesive. In another embodiment the protector has two sheets that form a sealed pocket or enclosure. In such an embodiment, a shield is releasably secured to the adhesive when the pad is packaged. By sealing the absorbent layer, the embedded deodorant is preserved and the absorbent layer is kept clean before the pad is deployed on the underarm.

In one embodiment, the barrier is a thin, flexible sheet. The sheet is coated with an adhesive on one surface. The barrier has a matte finish and is colored to match a specific skin tone. In another embodiment, the barrier receives color imparting cosmetics such as makeup or foundation. In yet another such embodiment, the barrier is transparent whereby the absorbent layer, which has a colored side to match a skin tone, is visible through the barrier. In this way the barrier blends with the adjacent skin, thereby camouflaging the perspiration pad and hiding any hair growing in the armpit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description read together with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the perspiration pad affixed to the underarm of a human;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the perspiration pad;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the perspiration pad shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the perspiration pad packaged for use; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of another embodiment of the perspiration pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An apparatus for a perspiration pad 100 that is affixed to the human underarm 104 to absorb moisture from perspiration and provide deodorant is disclosed. It is not unusual for sweat and some types of applied deodorant to become visible on a person's clothing. Sweat often causes an odor that is sensed by others. The perspiration pad 100 provides a barrier between a person's underarm 104 and their clothing. It also provides a barrier between a person's underarm 104 and the surrounding environment. Additionally, the pad 100 covers the underarm hair and prevents it from being seen.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the perspiration pad 100 affixed to the underarm 104 of a human 102. A second perspiration pad 100 is affixed to the human's 102 other underarm 104. The perspiration pad 100 surrounds the part of the underarm 104 that grows body hair. The illustrated embodiment of the perspiration pad 100 is elongated, that is, it is long and narrow with a longitudinal axis. The perspiration pad 100 is oriented such that its longitudinal axis runs parallel to the mid-axillary line from the side of the body 102 through the underarm 104, or axilla, to the arm 106.

The perspiration pad 100 is sized and configured to surround the area of the underarm 104 where hair grows. The area of the underarm 104 where the hair grows is an indicator as to where the sweat glands are located; therefore, coverage of this area provides for both deodorizing the appropriate area as well as hiding unsightly underarm hair.

In one embodiment, the barrier 108 has an outside surface 110 that receives skin color imparting cosmetics such as makeup or foundation. In other embodiments, the outside surface 110 is colored to match a skin, or flesh, color or is translucent to show the natural skin coloring through the surface 110 and the color of the surface of the absorbent layer 204 opposite the surface in contact with the underarm 104. In this way, the barrier 108 blends with the adjacent skin to camouflage the perspiration pad 100 on the body 102 and to hide from viewing any hair growing in the armpit 104.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment of the perspiration pad 100. The perspiration pad 100 has a barrier 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the barrier 108 is rectangular. The barrier 108 has an absorbent layer 204 centrally located on the barrier 108. The absorbent layer 204 is smaller in both width and length than the barrier 108. The barrier 108 is flexible and pliant such that it conforms to the contour of the underarm 104 as the wearer 102 moves.

The perspiration pad 100 has a border 202. The border 202 is the exposed surface adjacent the edge of the barrier 108 that is not covered by the absorbent layer 204. The border 202 is coated with an adhesive 206 that releasably secures the perspiration pad 100 to the person 106. The adhesive 206 is pressure-sensitive and/or water-resistant. The border 202 is sized to have sufficient adhesive to secure the perspiration pad 100 to the person 106 for several hours as the person 106 moves.

In one embodiment, the perspiration pad 100 includes a deodorant that, in various embodiments, kills odor-causing bacteria, inhibits perspiration, and/or masks underarm odor. The deodorant is isolated to one side of the perspiration pad 100 so that garments worn near the underarm 104 are not in contact with the deodorant, but are isolated from the deodorant by the barrier 108 on the perspiration pad 100. The barrier 108 is impermeable to the deodorant and the products of perspiration.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the perspiration pad 100. The absorbent layer 204 is attached to the barrier 108. In one embodiment, the absorbent layer is attached to the barrier by the adhesive 206, which extends to the border 202. The absorbent layer 204 is made from a liquid-absorbent material, such as cotton, unwoven fabric, paper, sponge, etc. The absorbent layer 204 has sufficient capacity to absorb the amount of perspiration typically sweated by a person 102 for the time that the perspiration pad 100 is to be worn by the person 102.

In one embodiment, the absorbent layer 204 is impregnated or coated or otherwise embedded with a deodorant. The deodorant is either scented or unscented. In another embodiment the absorbent layer 204 is impregnated or coated or otherwise embedded with an antiperspirant, either by itself or as a component of the deodorant. That is, in one embodiment, the deodorant has anti-perspiration and/or anti-bacterial qualities.

The barrier 108 is made of a material that is impermeable to products of perspiration, odor, and water. In one embodiment, the barrier 108 is a thin, flexible sheet. In one such embodiment, the barrier 108 is resilient such that the barrier 108 stretches to accommodate the normal movements of the arm 106. The protective barrier 108 is made of materials such as polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, or materials that are rendered impermeable by a coating applied its surface.

In other embodiments, the barrier is a coating applied to the absorbent layer 204 or a material, such as a liquid, that is applied over the absorbent layer 204 to enclose the outside surface of the absorbent layer 204. In such embodiments, to secure the perspiration pad to the underarm 104 the surface of the absorbent layer 204 includes an adhesive suitable for adhering the absorbent layer 204 to the skin of the underarm 204 with such adhesive being permeable to moisture, perspiration, and/or odor.

The perspiration absorbed by the absorbent layer 204 does not pass through the perspiration pad 100. Otherwise, the perspiration would moisten garments located near the underarm 104. In one embodiment, the barrier 108 is transparent. In another embodiment, the barrier 108 has a matte finish. In yet another embodiment, the barrier 108 is transparent with or without a matte finish and the absorbent layer 204 has a colored surface that matches a skin color or skin tone and is visible through the transparent barrier 108.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the perspiration pad 100 packaged for transfer and/or storage before the pad 100 is deployed onto an underarm 104. Deodorant will often evaporate and lose its effectiveness when exposed to air and moisture. The packaged perspiration pad 100 includes a protector 402 that preserves the deodorant until the perspiration pad 100 is to be used. The illustrated embodiment of the protector 402 includes two protector sheets 402-A, 402-B that form a sealed enclosure that contains the perspiration pad 100. The mating edges of the sheets 402-A, 402-B are sealed together to form an impermeable container or pocket that encloses the pad 100. The protector sheets 402-A, 402-B are configured to be readily separable from each other for removal of the pad 100. The illustrated embodiment also shows a shield 404 that is positioned adjacent the exposed adhesive 206 on the pad 100. The shield 404 prevents the adhesive 206 from sticking to the protector sheet 402-A. The illustrated configuration allows the pad 100 to be removed from the protector 402 before use. The shield 404 is then removed from the pad 100 by pulling on the tab 406 and the pad 100 is immediately applied to the body 102.

The protector 402 is impermeable to deodorant degrading materials. The protector 402, in various embodiments, is made of a material such as polyethylene or polyvinylchloride or other materials that are rendered impermeable by an applied coating. The seal joining the protector sheets 402-A, 402-B, in conjunction with the impermeable material of the protector 402, preserves the deodorant. In one embodiment, the protector 402 includes a single sheet 402-A that has a surface that is removably attachable to the adhesive 206 on the border 202 such that the perspiration pad 100 is readily removed from the protector 402 for use by the wearer 102. In such an embodiment, the shield 404 is not present. When the protector 402 is attached to the perspiration pad 100, a seal is formed at the interface between the protector 402 and the adhesive 206. The seal, in conjunction with the impermeable material of the protector 402, preserves the deodorant.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of another embodiment of the perspiration pad 100′. The shape of the perspiration pad 100 has an effect on the comfort of the wearer. The perspiration pad 100′ has two ends 502 and a central region 504. The two ends 502 are narrower than the central region 502. The transition from the central region 502 to the narrower two ends 502 is angular in such a way that there is symmetry along the longitudinal axis of the perspiration pad 100′. In other embodiments, one end of the perspiration pad 100′ is wider than the opposite end. The wide end is configured to secure proximate the torso of the person 102 and the narrower end is configured and sized to extend toward the distal end of the arm 106 of the person 102.

In the illustrated embodiment, the angular transition is long and gently sloped at approximately 20 degrees per side. In other embodiments, the angular transition may be more or less abrupt. In the illustrated embodiment, the shape of the perspiration pad 100′ is an irregular octagon. In various embodiments, the perspiration pad 100 is round or square or another shape to maximize the comfort of the wearer. The perspiration pad 100 is made in many sizes and configuration to accommodate a variety of underarm hair patterns.

The underarm perspiration pad 100 includes various functions. The function of absorbing underarm perspiration is implemented, in one embodiment, by an absorbent layer 204 attached to a barrier 108. The barrier 108 has a border 202 that carries an adhesive 206 for affixing the perspiration pad 100 to the underarm 104 such that the absorbent layer 204 absorbs perspiration.

The function of protecting a garment from underarm perspiration is implemented, in one embodiment, by a barrier 108 that covers the underarm 104 and is impermeable to products of perspiration. In one such embodiment, the barrier 108 is affixed to the underarm 104 by an adhesive 206.

The function of concealing underarm hair and said absorbent layer 204 is implemented, in one embodiment, by a barrier 108 that receives color imparting cosmetics such as makeup or foundation. In one such embodiment, the cosmetic-receiving barrier 108 is affixed to the underarm 104 by an adhesive 206. In another embodiment, the function of concealing underarm hair is implemented by a barrier 108 that is colored to match a skin tone. In one such embodiment, the colored barrier 108 is affixed to the underarm 104 by an adhesive 206. In yet another embodiment, the barrier 108 is translucent or transparent such that the skin is visible through the barrier 108. In one such embodiment, the absorbent layer 204 has a color that is visible through the barrier 108 and that color matches or blends with the skin tone or skin color in the area adjacent the underarm 204.

The function of providing deodorant to an underarm 104 is implemented, in one embodiment, by an absorbent layer 204 that is embedded with deodorant. The deodorant is provided to the underarm by a barrier 108 that secures the deodorant-embedded absorbent layer 204 to the underarm 104.

The function of adhering the pad 100 to the underarm 104 is implemented, in one embodiment, by the adhesive 206 on the border 202 of the barrier 108. In another embodiment, the function of adhering is implemented by an adhesive on the surface of the absorbent layer 204 adjacent the underarm 104.

From the foregoing description, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that a perspiration pad 100 has been provided. The perspiration pad 100 is presented with an absorbent layer 204 that contains deodorant. The absorbent layer 204 is attached to a barrier 108 with an adhesive 206 for attaching to the underarm 104. The outer surface of the perspiration pad 100 is colored or capable of being colored to match a skin color.

The perspiration pad 100 is packaged with a protector 402 that is impermeable to moisture and air. The protector 402 seals the absorbent layer 204 to prevent degradation of the deodorant associated with the absorbent layer 204.

The size and configuration of the perspiration pad 100 varies according to the size of the underarm 104 and the pattern of the underarm hair. In one embodiment, the perspiration pad 100 is rectangular. In another embodiment, the perspiration pad 100′ is irregular with an elongated shape. Such elongated shape is dimensioned and configured to cover the hairy portion of the underarm 104 by the absorbent layer 204 with room for the adhesive 206 on the border 202 to contact skin without hair.

While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a perspiration pad, said apparatus comprising:

a barrier, said barrier being a thin, flexible sheet, said barrier having an edge about a periphery of said barrier, said barrier being impermeable to products of perspiration, said barrier being dimensioned and configured to surround an underarm hair pattern, said barrier being dimensioned and configured to be affixed along the mid-axillary line of the human body from the side of the body through the underarm to the arm;

an absorbent layer attached to a first surface of said barrier, said absorbent layer being dimensioned smaller than a length and width of said barrier; and

an adhesive coating on a border on said first surface of said barrier, said border defined by a peripheral edge of said barrier and a peripheral edge of said absorbent layer, said adhesive coating being pressure sensitive, said adhesive coating being water-resistant;

a deodorant associated with said absorbent layer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a shield removably attached to said adhesive, and said shield covering said adhesive before said barrier is deployed onto said underarm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a protector removably sealing said absorbent lawyer from an outside environment to prevent degradation of said deodorant.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a package enclosing said barrier and said absorbent layer, said package having a first protector sheet and a second protector sheet releasably joined at a peripheral edge and defining a sealed enclosure, and said barrier and said absorbent layer disposed between said first and second protector sheets.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said barrier is translucent, said barrier has a matte finish, and a surface of said absorbent layer proximate said barrier has a color configured to match a selected skin color.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said barrier has a surface configured to receive color imparting cosmetics.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said barrier has a surface with a color that matches a skin color.

8. An apparatus for a perspiration pad, said apparatus comprising:

an absorbent layer dimensioned and configured to be positioned proximate an underarm of a human;

a deodorant responsive to an odor emanating from said underarm;

a means for enclosing said absorbent layer when said absorbent layer is proximate said underarm; and

a means for adhering said perspiration pad to said underarm.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for enclosing includes a barrier sheet having a length and a width each greater than a length and a width of said absorbent layer, and said barrier sheet being flexible and impermeable to said deodorant.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for enclosing includes a coating on a first surface of said absorbent layer opposite a second surface of said absorbent layer, said second surface configured to be positioned proximate said underarm, and said coating being an impermeable barrier.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for adhering includes an adhesive disposed on a border of a barrier sheet extending beyond a peripheral edge of said absorbent layer, and said border being dimensioned and configured to secure said absorbent layer to said underarm.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for adhering includes an adhesive disposed on a surface of said absorbent layer configured to be proximate said underarm.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 further including a package covering an exposed surface of said absorbent layer, said package having a first protector sheet disposed proximate said exposed surface of said absorbent layer, and said first protector sheet sealing said absorbent layer between said means for enclosing and said first protector sheet.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 further including a means for concealing underarm hair and said absorbent layer.

15. An apparatus for a perspiration pad, said apparatus comprising:

an absorbent layer having a first surface and a second surface, said absorbent layer dimensioned and configured to position said second surface proximate an underarm of a human;

a barrier positioned proximate said first surface of said absorbent layer; and

an adhesive disposed to releasably secure said perspiration pad to said underarm.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said barrier is a sheet having a first surface, said first surface has a border defined by a peripheral edge of said sheet and a peripheral edge of said absorbent layer, said border having an adhesive configured to releasably secure said sheet to said underarm.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further including a shield positioned adjacent said border, and said shield being releasably secured by said adhesive before said barrier is deployed onto said underarm.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said absorbent layer includes a deodorant responsive to an odor emanating from said underarm.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 including a package enclosing said barrier and said absorbent layer, said package having a first protector sheet and a second protector sheet releasably joined at a peripheral edge and defining a sealed enclosure, and said barrier and said absorbent layer disposed between said first and second protector sheets.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said barrier is selected from a group including a translucent material with a matte finish, a flesh colored material, and a material with a surface configured to receive color imparting cosmetics.