PROTECTIVE PATCH PROVIDING PROTECTION AGAINST THE TRANSFER OF BODILY SECRETIONS

Abstract

The protective patch providing protection against visible transfer of bodily secretion is for incorporating on the inside of an article of clothing in a determined zone thereof. It comprises a fabric having two faces formed by interlaced yarns and connected to each other. The outside face of the fabric acts at least in part as an impermeable outer layer for coming into contact with the article, and comprises yarns made of a synthetic material. The fabric has “storage” yarns made of an absorbent material suitable for storing moisture and being visible little or not at all in the outside face. The inside face of the fabric, i.e. its face that is to come closer to the wearer of the article, comprises yarns suitable for absorbing and/or transferring moisture towards the storage yarns.

Description

This is a 371 national phase application of PCT/FR2009/051218 filed 25 Jun. 2009, claiming priority to French Patent Application No. 0854237 filed 25 Jun. 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to protecting an article of clothing against bodily secretions that might be emitted while the wearer is wearing the article. The invention relates more particularly to a protective patch for incorporating inside an article of clothing in a zone thereof that is to be in register with a zone of the user's body that is likely to emit bodily secretions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Attempts have been made for a very long time to provide protection against the negative effects of perspiration of the armpit, often manifested by disagreeable odors and, on the garment, by traces of moisture or indeed ring stains in the zone under the arm. To provide protection against odors, use is made of deodorants or antiperspirants, however they can damage the garment by degrading it mechanically or by degrading its color. Such negative effects appear in multiple conditions: in hot weather, during physical efforts or activities, when stressed or anxious, when taking medication, or during hormone unbalances or changes (menstruation, pregnancy, breast-feeding, menopause), or merely when a person is overweight. These effects vary from one person to another. Some perspire little, whereas others suffer permanently from hyper hydrosis: the quantity of sweat given off by each armpit may lie in the range 0.6 centiliters per day (cL/d) to 5 cL/d, or even more.

To protect the garment, the solution has consisted in absorbing the sweat before it comes into contact with the garment by placing an absorbent protective patch between the garment and the user's armpit zone. For example, in document FR 2 098 996, the patch is an absorbent lining for discarding after use that is made up of two thin sheets that are assembled together by heat sealing along their peripheral edges and that have at least one thin sheet of absorbent material placed between them. The sheet that is for putting into contact with the skin is a permeable sheet constituted by tangled fibers, while the sheet that is put into contact with the garment, on the inside thereof, is a waterproof sheet of plastics material. Thus, perspiration can pass through the permeable first sheet and be absorbed by the sheet(s) of absorbent material while being prevented from migrating to the garment because of the presence of the waterproof sheet.

Most protective patches of that type that are available on the market are discardable patches, and thus patches that are made of materials that are inexpensive, in particular non-woven fabrics, as for the protective patch described in document EP 0 322 309. The fabrication of such patches requires the various permeable, absorbent, and waterproof layers to be superposed, cut to shape, and then assembled together via their peripheral edges or to be laminated together in line, or to be pre-laminated before they are cut to shape. In document EP 0 322 309, assembly is performed in particular by applying adhesive to the superposed edges of the two outer layers.

If it is desired to regenerate such a protective patch after use by washing it by hand or in a machine, there is a major risk of the various layers becoming delaminated. Furthermore, the assembly operations, whether by applying adhesive or by heat sealing, make the fabrication process more complex. Those drawbacks exist in the same manner when the protective patch is for providing protection not against armpit sweat, but against any other bodily secretion, in particular nipple discharge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a protective patch for providing protection against the visible transfer of bodily secretions, for incorporating inside an article of clothing in a determined zone thereof and including at least an absorbent layer and a waterproof outer layer that is to come into contact with the article. The protective patch is characterized in that it comprises a fabric having two faces formed by interlaced yarns and connected to each other. In addition:

• • the outside face of the fabric acts at least in part as a waterproof outer layer and comprises yarns made of synthetic material;
  • the fabric includes “storage” yarns made of an absorbent material, being suitable for storing moisture and being visible little or not at all on the outside face; and
  • the inside face of the fabric, i.e., its face that is to be closer to the wearer of the article, comprises yarns suitable for absorbing and/or transferring moisture towards the storage yarns.

Thus, because of the particular technique used for fabricating the fabric and because of a suitable selection of components for use in fabricating a fabric, it is possible to obtain a protective patch that performs the same functions as those known in the state of the art in a single operation and without assembling different layers together. A fabrication process is thus obtained that is simpler, and above all a protective patch is obtained that is entirely suitable for being washed without any risk of delaminating.

In a variant embodiment, the fabric is of the three-dimensional type, with its two faces formed by two walls that are spaced apart from each other and that are connected together by link yarns which are at least in part storage yarns. Such a fabric is also known as a 3D knit. Thus, the capacity for absorbing and storing moisture is a function of the length of the link yarns between the two walls and of the density of said link yarns.

In another variant embodiment, the storage yarns are constituted at least in part by weft yarns inserted between the two faces of the fabric. They may be yarns of the wick type or a fiber band.

Advantageously, the waterproof outer layer includes means for reinforcing the moisture barrier effect of the outside face of the fabric. This may be useful when the patch is fitted to an article of clothing where it is certain that the user will generate large amounts of bodily secretion, in particular an article of sportswear or an article that is worn daily, e.g., a professional garment.

The means for reinforcing the moisture barrier effect of the outside face may consist in a treatment agent, in particular a hydrophobic agent, that is applied over or all some of the yarns constituting the outside face. The agent may be applied to the outside face of the fabric or indeed the outside face of the fabric may comprise yarns that have been previously subjected to hydrophobic treatment.

It is also possible to use a coating or a waterproof membrane that is secured to the outside face of the fabric. The membrane is preferably a breathable waterproof membrane that is secured to the outside face by lamination, i.e., by dots of adhesive, e.g., of the hot-melt type, so as to prevent the liquid secretion from passing, while allowing vapor to be transferred and thus allowing a certain amount of moisture to be discharged.

Advantageously, the lamination may be accompanied by ultrasonic welding at the periphery of the patch. Peripheral ultrasonic welding presents multiple advantages:

• • it enables the quality of the armpit patch to be preserved in spite of the degradation associated with being worn and washed, in particular the risks of fraying;
  • it performs an anti-leak function: the consolidation seals the edges and makes it possible to avoid moisture being transferred around the patch;
  • it has an appearance function: it makes it possible to maintain over time the perception of the article being fine, in particular for a woman's version in which the welding is preferably performed using a sonotrode in the form of a wheel that festoons the edge of the patch; and
  • it serves to reinforce the strength of the layers constituting the patch and to prevent them being dislodged while being worn.

In a variant embodiment, the protective patch is made to have a three-dimensional configuration without sharp edges and that is adapted to the configuration of the determined zone, with this being done in particular by thermoforming or thermomolding. As can be seen clearly in FIG. 1 of document FR 2 098 996, the patch disclosed in that document presents a sharp edge at the armhole fold that will firstly give rise to stiffness and that can secondly be uncomfortable for the wearer. This is particularly troublesome for garments that are fine or very close to the body, e.g., a silk blouse, a woman's small top, or indeed a man's light cotton shirt. The three-dimensional configuration serves to improve user comfort by ensuring that the protective patch fits as closely as possible to the configuration of the zone of the article where it is applied, in particular the configuration of the armhole, when the patch is an armpit patch.

When the protective patch includes a membrane secured to the outside face of the fabric, said patch preferably also includes a non-woven or textile outer layer that is secured to said membrane. This particular disposition seeks to avoid any risk of the membrane being degraded during the operation of putting the patch into a three-dimensional configuration, in particular a thermoforming or thermomolding operation, with the outer layer serving to protect the membrane and provide it with a certain amount of mechanical reinforcement. Furthermore, the presence of this outer layer eliminates any noise that the membrane might generate while the article is being worn, and thus prevents it being perceived by others.

In a variant embodiment, at least some of the yarns that are tangled to form the inside face contain fibers or filaments that are multi-lobed for providing improved moisture transfer. Fibers or filaments of this type present longitudinal channels suitable for transferring moisture by capillarity. In particular, there are fibers known under the name Coolmax®.

In a variant embodiment, at least some of the storage yarns, which are made of an absorbent material, are yarns that are based on viscose, preferably having bacteriostatic properties. They may be made of bamboo viscose that has the advantage not only of its great capacity for absorption but also of its bacteriostatic properties. The viscose may also be subjected to bacteriostatic treatment or it may be associated with a silver yarn that presents bacteriostatic properties.

In a variant embodiment, at least some of the yarns that are interlaced to form the outside face of the fabric and that are made of a synthetic material are made of a material based on polyester; this may also apply to some of the yarns connecting together the two faces of the fabric.

The protective patch may also include elastic yarns, in particular based on spandex, in particular for improving its ability to deform in the event of a thermoforming or thermomolding operation. Such yarns may be found throughout the structure of the fabric, in both the inside and outside faces and amongst the link yarns.

In a variant embodiment, in which the protective patch has an outer layer, in particular covering a waterproof membrane, said outer layer includes either a coating of adhesive, possibly protected by an anti-adhesive sheet, or a coating or a film of thermo-adhesive. In this embodiment, the user may fasten the protective patch, or cause it to be fastened, on the appropriate zone of the garment, either by applying the adhesive coating to said zone, after removing the anti-adhesive sheet, or by thermofastening the patch, or causing it to be thermofastened, by using the coating or film of thermo-adhesive.

The invention also claims an article of clothing including at least one determined zone that is to cover at least one zone of the user that generates bodily secretions, which article is provided with a protective patch as described in any of the above-described variants.

Said protective patch may be secured to the determined zone of the article in various ways.

The first way consists in fitting the article with at least one inside pocket formed in the determined zone, said pocket being suitable for housing the protective patch.

There may be a single pocket, or preferably first and second pockets having their openings facing each other and enabling a first portion of the protective patch to be inserted into the first pocket and a second portion of the protective patch to be inserted into the second pocket. This version is particularly suitable for protective patches having a three-dimensional configuration.

Advantageously, the or each pocket is formed by fitting a panel onto the determined zone of the article, which panel presents great porosity, a certain amount of elasticity, and good dimensional stability. The pocket must not constitute a barrier to transferring the bodily secretion to the protective patch and it is necessary for said patch, particularly if it has a three-dimensional configuration, to be easily inserted into the pocket while also being held in place after it has been inserted and without stretching while being worn.

A second way of securing the protective patch to the determined zone of the article consists in fastening said patch to said zone by adhesive using a coating of adhesive or possibly a coating or a film of thermo-adhesive, the film preferably being fine and transparent and presenting a certain amount of elasticity.

A third way consists in incorporating the protective patch as a unit panel during fabrication of the article, in particular by stitching. Naturally, the positioning of said protective patch must correspond to the panel that is located in the determined zone for protection.

A fourth way consists in implementing an attachment system comprising a first element suitable for co-operating with a second element, in particular a self-gripping attachment system using hooks and loops and known under the name Velcro®, or an attachment system using magnets. Under such circumstances, the first element is placed in the determined zone of the article while the second element is placed on the outside of the protective patch.

The invention also seeks to claim an article of clothing having a given type of armhole, said article including two armpit protective patches located in zones facing the armpit and of a three-dimensional configuration that is a function of the type of armhole.

The present invention also seeks to propose a protective assembly comprising firstly a protective patch as described in the various above-described variants and a pocket suitable for receiving said protective patch and suitable for being fastened on a determined zone of an article of clothing, it being possible to perform the fastening in particular by means of an adhesive or a thermo-adhesive. Thus, by obtaining such a protective assembly, the user may fasten said assembly, or cause it to be fastened, on an article of clothing, and may then use said article with or without the protective patch depending on the type of activity that is intended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be better understood on reading the following description of embodiments of patches for providing protection against visible transfer of bodily secretions and implementations of their fastening to a determined zone of a garment, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic section view of a first example of a protective patch constituted solely by a fabric of three-dimensional type;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic section view of a second example of a protective patch in which the fabric of three-dimensional type is associated with a breathable waterproof membrane;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic section view of a third example of a protective patch further including an outer layer and an adhesive coating that is protected by an anti-adhesive sheet;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic front view of a garment fitted with two protective patches for the armpits;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an armpit protective patch that is three-dimensionally shaped by thermoforming, and suitable for a garment having a T-shirt type armhole;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side view of an armpit protective patch that is three-dimensionally shaped by thermoforming, for a garment having a jacket type armhole;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are two diagrammatic views of two pockets suitable for serving as housings for an armpit protective patch, respectively for a man's shirt (FIG. 7A) and for a woman's T-shirt (FIG. 7B); and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic section view of another embodiment of a protective patch that is fastened to the garment by implementing a self-gripping attachment system using hooks and loops; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic plan view of an armpit patch that is three-dimensionally shaped by edge-to-edge stitching.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates in general to protecting a determined zone of an article of clothing against the secretions that might be emitted by the body of the user in register with said zone. The first intended application is that of protecting the armpit zone, i.e., under the arms or below the armpits, but this application is not limiting, and in particular the application could in particular involve protecting the mammary zone of a bra, in particular for women who are breast-feeding.

Under all circumstances, the principle of the protection is to arrange for the protective patch to pick up the emitted secretion and to store it in an absorbent layer while ensuring, by means of a waterproof outer layer, that said secretion cannot migrate and soil the article of clothing.

In its most elementary concept, the protective patch of the present invention consists solely of a piece of fabric having two faces that are formed by interlaced yarns and that are connected together. The outside face of the fabric acts at least in part as a waterproof outer layer and comprises yarns of synthetic material. The fabric also includes yarns made of an absorbent material that are visible little or not at all on the outside face of the fabric; these are the storage yarns. Finally, the inside face of the fabric has yarns suitable for absorbing and/or transferring moisture towards the storage yarns.

In the first embodiment, given in non-exclusive manner, the protective patch 1 consists of a fabric 2 that is said to be of the three-dimensional or 3D type in that it comprises two walls 3 and 6 that are both made of interlaced yarns, e.g., first warp yarns 4 and first weft yarns 5 for the first wall 3 and second warp yarns 7 and second weft yarns 8 for the second wall 6, said two walls 3 and 6 being connected together by a set 9 of link yarns, e.g., yarns 10 that, in the particularly simplified example shown in FIG. 1, pass in alternation over some of the first warp yarns 4 of the first wall 3 and under some of the second warp yarns 7 of the second wall 6. The technique for fabricating such a fabric of three-dimensional or 3D type is well known in the textile industry. It is possible to adjust the operating conditions of the loom used so as to determine accurately the distance between the two walls 3 and 6, which distance is occupied solely by the link yarns 10, and also so as to determine accurately the density of said link yarns in the set 9.

The first wall 3, also referred to as the inside wall of the fabric, is the wall that is closer to the wearer of the article. The second wall 6, also referred to as the outside wall, is the wall that is closer to the inside of the article. The inside wall 3 comprises yarns 4 and 5 that are suitable for absorbing the moisture coming from the secretion and/or for transferring said moisture towards the set 9 of link yarns 10. This set 9 comprises yarns 10 of an absorbent material so as to be suitable for storing at least temporarily the moisture contained in the secretion. The outside wall 6 comprises yarns 7, 8 that are made of a synthetic material and that are interlaced so as to obtain a barrier effect against the moisture contained in the set 9 of link yarns 10, which link yarns act at least in part as storage yarns.

In one particular embodiment, the moisture transfer function of the inside wall 3 is performed by implementing yarns that contain multi-lobed fibers or filaments that present improved moisture transfer, in particular Coolmax® fibers.

Because of their multi-lobed section, said fibers or filaments include longitudinal channels acting as capillaries and along which moisture migrates.

In this example, the moisture storage function of the set 9 of link yarns is provided by implementing yarns based on bamboo viscose that are known for their high absorption capacity and also for the bacteriostatic properties, which are particularly welcome given that they are to absorb bodily secretions.

In this example, the moisture barrier function of the outside wall 6 is obtained by implementing polyester-based fibers that are preferably hydrophobically treated.

Thus, for the protective patch 1 being incorporated as such in an article of clothing, the secretion, e.g., perspiration from the armpit, comes into contact with the inside wall 3, is diffused by capillarity along the yarns 4, 5, and reaches the link yarns that are to be found in said wall 3 so that the moisture in question is absorbed progressively by a pumping effect from the set 9 of link yarns. The outside wall 6 prevents the moisture that is stored in the set 9 from diffusing directly onto the determined zone of the article of clothing against which said wall is in contact.

The above-mentioned pumping effect improves the comfort of the user who no longer has a sensation of wetness, in particular no longer has wet under-arm areas, since the moisture is taken up quickly into the storage set 9.

Since the fabric 2 nevertheless presents a certain amount of porosity, and providing there is sufficient circulation of air, the moisture stored in said fabric 2 can be discharged progressively in the form of wet air or water vapor passing through the outside wall 6.

Nevertheless, if the quantity of secretion is large or possibly if it is desired to reduce the thickness of the fabric, it is preferable to reinforce the moisture barrier effect of the outside wall 6 so as to avoid any risk of moisture passing through said wall 6.

This reinforcement may be implemented by applying an appropriate treatment agent to the outside wall 6, e.g., a hydrophobic or waterproofing agent. Nevertheless, under some circumstances there is a risk of greatly limiting the porosity of the outside wall 6 and thus its ability to discharge the moisture contained in the element 9 acting as a storage zone.

The risk is the same, or even worse, if a waterproof membrane is used as reinforcing means.

Consequently, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the ptotective patch 11 also includes a breathable waterproof membrane 12 that is secured to the outside wall 6. Such a membrane 12 enhances the looked-for moisture barrier effect, while presenting sufficient porosity to allow air to circulate, which is useful for avoiding localized heating of the space between the patch and the wearer's body, which heating is likely in particular to accentuate perspiration. This porosity must also be sufficient to allow the moisture contained in the fabric 2 to be discharged in the form of water vapor, thereby correspondingly restoring its capacity to absorb moisture.

The technique for securing the breathable waterproof membrane 12 to the outside wall 6 must enable the membrane to retain its porosity. It is preferable to use dots of hot-melt type adhesive.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a protective patch 13 that differs from the second by securing an outer layer 14 on the breathable waterproof membrane 12, e.g., a layer of non-woven or lightweight textile having an adhesive 15 on its outside face, which adhesive is protected by an anti-adhesive sheet 16.

In this third embodiment, the protective patch 13 may be put into place directly by the user. It suffices to remove the anti-adhesive sheet 16 and to press the adhesive 15 against the inside face of the armpit zone 21 of an article of clothing 28.

The use of the outer layer 14 in this third embodiment is justified by the risk of delamination that might occur between the breathable waterproof membrane 12 and the article of clothing 28 were the adhesive 15 to be applied directly to said membrane 12.

More generally, the presence of an outer layer 14 is justified whenever there is a risk of the membrane being degraded or delaminated, either during manufacture of the protective patch or during use thereof in an article of clothing.

In particular, the use of an outer layer 14 is found to be particularly advantageous when it is desired to make a three-dimensional shape for the protective patch, as shown in FIG. 5.

It is quite possible for the protective patches 1, 11, and 13, embodiments of which are described above, to be incorporated while flat in a determined zone of an article of clothing, e.g., in the form of two adjacent segments, as described in document FR 2 098 986, or in the form of a single patch with lateral cutouts along a fold line as described in document EP 0 322 309.

Nevertheless, those known configurations do not provide the greatest possible comfort to the user, since the zone where the two superposed segments of document FR 2 098 986 are assembled or where the patch of document EP 0 322 309 is folded is uncomfortable for the wearer because of the presence of the edges that result from assembly or folding, especially in the particularly sensitive zone of the armpits.

In accordance with the invention, and preferably, the protective patch 19 comprises a single piece, but it is put into a three-dimensional configuration that matches the configuration of the determined zone, in particular by thermoforming or thermomolding.

Thermoforming performed on a 3D knit that is optionally laminated with a membrane and a protective outer layer on the membrane gives rise to unprecedented flexibility and enhances wearer comfort and also enhances the appearance of the protective patch. It also makes it possible to optimize the thickness/efficiency ratio of its absorption capacity.

When the protective patch is for protecting a bra from mammary secretions, the three-dimensional configuration needs to be adapted to the configuration of the determined zone of the bra that presses against and around the nipple. Such configuration is simple insofar as this zone deforms very little or not at all while the bra is in use. In contrast, for an armpit-protection patch it is important for the patch to include no edges that might be troublesome, or might even give rise to injury, irritation, or abrasion, during repeated movements of the user's arm.

With reference to FIG. 5, the patch 20 is of generally oblong shape with a longitudinal plane of symmetry L and a transverse plane D, the transverse plane being intended to lie substantially under the armhole line of the T-shirt. In FIG. 5, dashed lines represent the respective intersection lines 22 and 23 of the longitudinal and transverse planes L and D with the inside face 20a of the patch, i.e., its face that is closer to the user, as opposed to its outside face 20b that is to come into contact with the T-shirt. These two lines 22 and 23 intersect at a point of intersection 24.

In the patches 20, the transverse plane D defines a front portion 25 that is to be located under the arm 27 of the T-shirt 28 and a rear portion 26 that is to come into contact with the body 29 of the T-shirt.

The protective patch 20 presents a three-dimensional configuration without edges. This configuration consists in that laterally, close to either side of the transverse plane D, the front and rear portions 25 and 26 form two flanges in relief 30, 31, each flange being substantially in the shape of a portion of a cone having its apex substantially at the point of intersection 24 between the longitudinal and transverse planes L and D and the protective patch 20. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the generator line of the conical portion forming the flanges 30, 31 is not necessarily rectilinear but may be curved, such that the line 23 presents overall concave curvature, like the curvature of the armhole line between the arm 27 and the body 29 of the T-shirt 28.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side view of the armhole patch 20 of FIG. 5. In this figure, there can be seen in particular the angle a at the apex of the concave curvature taken by the patch 20 at its intersection line 22 with the longitudinal plane L. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the patch is for a garment having a T-shirt shaped armhole, in particular a sports garment of the sweatshirt or T-shirt type, having a T-shirt shaped armhole. This angle a is about 90°, and more precisely in the example shown it is 87°. Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 6, being an article for a woman, the value D1 of the horizontal projection of the front portion 25 is of the order of 53 millimeters (mm) while the value D2 of the vertical projection of the rear portion 26 is 71 mm. For an article having a T-shaped armhole for a man, the values of D1 and α1 would remain the same, while the value D2 of the vertical projection of the rear portion 26 would be greater, e.g., being 85 mm.

In comparison, the value of the projection of the intersection line 23 for a woman's garment would be 61 mm and for a man's garment would be 80 mm. Naturally, these values are given by way of indication.

For an article having a jacket type armhole, also known as set-in-sleeve, all that needs to be changed is the value of the angle α at the apex; this angle α2 preferably lies in the range 70° to 75°, and is preferably 73°.

FIG. 9 shows an armpit patch 40 of three-dimensional configuration that is obtained by assembling together two patch segments 41 and 42 that are assembled by plain stitching, edge to edge. More precisely, FIG. 9 shows the two patch segments 41 and 42 placed facing each other prior to be assembled. It can be seen that both of these segments has a concave edge 41a, 42a of the same dimensions and having the same concavity. However the two segments themselves are not symmetrical about the axis of symmetry XX′ of the concave edges 41a, 42b. These two segments 41 and 42 are assembled together by plain stitching 43 along the two concave edges 41a, 42a along their full length, with the edges being moved progressively towards each other during stitching. This operation serves to obtain a shape of the same type as that shown in FIG. 5. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the line of stitching 43 passes via the intersection 24 of the longitudinal and transverse planes L and D, said line of stitching 43 forming a determined angle, preferably of the order of 15°, relative to the intersection line 23 with the transverse plane D.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show one of the releasable fastener means for fastening an armpit patch 20 inside an article of clothing. In this embodiment, the armpit patch is housed in two pockets 50, 51 that are formed on the inside of the garment, on either side of the armhole line such that the respective openings 50a, 51a of the pockets face each other, the openings optionally being reinforced by hems 52. The smaller pocket 50 serves as a housing for the front portion 25, while the larger pocket 51 serves as a housing for the rear portion 26 of the patch 20. The inside dimensions of the two pockets are slightly greater than the outside dimensions of the armpit patch 20 so as to enable it to be put into position without too much difficulty. By way of example, these pockets 50, 51 are fastened by adhesive in peripheral zones 50b, 51b that are defined in FIG. 7 by shading. The front edge along the opening of each pocket presents concave curvature so as to adapt the configuration of the armhole. These pockets may be based on tulle netting and they may be consolidated towards their openings, e.g., by means of hems.

Once positioned inside the two pockets, the armpit patch 20 is securely held in place, being as it were trapped by the two pockets, and any relative movement of the patch in one pocket pushes the patch against the end of the other pocket.

The shape of each pocket 50, 51 must match the configuration respectively of the front portion 25 and of the rear portion 26 of the patch 20, the configuration of the patch itself depending on the type of armhole in the garment. By way of example, FIG. 7A shows pockets 50, 51 for a man's shirt and FIG. 7B shows pockets 50, 51 for a woman's T-shirt. Under all circumstances, the shape used must serve to hold the patch 20 securely, preventing it from escaping from either of the pockets 50, 51 while the garment is being worn.

In practice, in order to make the two pockets 50, 51, use is made of a textile panel, in particular a grid or a perforated textile, e.g., tulle netting, honeycomb, or lace, presenting a large degree of porosity, a certain amount of elasticity, and good dimensional stability, so as to ensure firstly that the pockets do not constitute a barrier to transferring sweat or perspiration from the user's body to the armpit patch 20, and secondly that said patch can be inserted easily into the pocket while being securely held therein and without stretching while being worn, the pocket not constraining deformation of the three-dimensional configuration of the patch.

Naturally, it is possible to house the armpit patch not in two pockets as described above, but in a single pocket, however that would make it more difficult to insert the armpit patch and would also not enable the patch to be brought into abutment when the arms move.

When the armpit patch is for being received in one or two pockets, the assembly constituted by the pocket(s) and the patch may be made available as a protective assembly, providing the pocket(s) is/are suitable for being fastened to the armpit zone of the article of clothing, which fastening may be performed in particular by adhesive or thermo-adhesive.

There are other ways of securing the patch to the article of clothing. This may be done by fastening the patch permanently to the article by adhesive using a coating of adhesive or possibly a coating or film of thermo-adhesive. When using a film of thermo-adhesive, it should be fine and transparent and should present a certain amount of elasticity. This is shown for the third above-described embodiment, with reference to FIG. 3.

The patch may also be fastened releasably by using in particular a releasable attachment system implementing a first element that is secured to the patch, on the outside face thereof, and a second element that is secured to the article of clothing, said two elements being suitable for co-operating with each other to form a releasable fastening. FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a fastening of that type, in which the patch 1 includes on its outside face 1a loop elements 50, while the hook elements 51 are fastened to the inside of the article of clothing 52. These loop and hook elements are of the type used in a self-gripping system known under the name Velcro®. Naturally, other releasable attachment systems could be used, in particular using press-buttons or a system of magnets.

Claims

1. A protective patch for providing protection against the visible transfer of bodily secretion, for incorporating inside an article of clothing in a determined zone thereof and including at least an absorbent layer and a waterproof outer layer that is to come into contact with the article, the patch comprising a fabric having two faces formed by interlaced yarns and connected to each other, wherein:

the outside face of the fabric acts at least in part as a waterproof outer layer and comprises yarns made of synthetic material;

the fabric includes yarns made of an absorbent material, being suitable for storing moisture and being hardly or not at all visible on the outside face; and

the inside face of the fabric, i.e., its face that is to be closer to the wearer of the article, comprises yarns suitable for absorbing and/or transferring moisture towards the storage yarns.

2. A protective patch according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is of the three-dimensional type, with its two faces formed by two walls that are spaced apart from each other and that are connected together by link yarns which are at least in part storage yarns.

3. A protective patch according to claim 1, wherein the storage yarns are constituted at least in part by weft yarns inserted between the two faces of the fabric.

4. A protective patch according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof outer layer includes means for reinforcing the moisture barrier effect of the outside face of the fabric, e.g., a treatment agent, in particular, a hydrophobic agent, applied to said face or a waterproof membrane or a breathable waterproof membrane secured to the outside face of the fabric, in particular, by dots of adhesive.

5. A protective patch according to claim 3, that includes a non-woven or textile outer layer secured to the membrane.

6. A protective patch according to claim 1, which is put into a three-dimensional configuration that is adapted to the configuration of the determined zone, in particular, by thermoforming or by thermo-molding.

7. A protective patch according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the yarns suitable for absorbing and/or transferring moisture from the inside face contain multi-lobed filaments or fibers with improved moisture transfer, in particular, Coolmax® fibers.

8. A protective patch according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the storage yarns made of an absorbent material are yarns based on viscose, in particular, having bacteriostatic properties, e.g., based on bamboo viscose or indeed on bacteriostatically-treated viscose, or in association with a silver yarn.

9. A protective patch according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the yarns of the outside face and possibly of the link yarns that are made of synthetic material are based on polyester and possibly are based on spandex.

10. A protective patch according to claim 1, wherein the outer layer includes an adhesive coating, optionally protected by an anti-adhesive film.

11. An armpit patch according to claim 4, wherein its periphery is consolidated by ultrasonic welding.

12. An article of clothing having at least one determined zone that is to cover at least one zone of the user that generates a natural secretion, which zone is provided with a protective patch according to claim 1.

13. An article according to claim 12, which includes at least one protective patch according to claim 1 and at least one pocket formed in said determined zone, suitable for housing said patch.

14. An article according to claim 13, wherein, for a determined zone, it includes first and second pockets having mutually facing openings enabling a first portion of the protective patch to be inserted into the first pocket and a second portion of the patch to be inserted into the second pocket.

15. An article according to claim 13, wherein the pocket(s) is/are formed by fitting a panel of great porosity onto the outside of the determined zone of the article.

16. An article according to claim 12, which article includes at least one protective patch according to claim 10 that is fastened to the determined zone by adhesive using an adhesive coating.

17. An article according to claim 12, wherein the article is obtained by assembling together a plurality of panels, in particular, by stitching, and the protective patch constitutes one of said panels.

18. An armpit protection article having at least one determined zone that is to cover at least one zone of the user that generates a natural secretion, which zone is provided with a protective patch for providing protection against the visible transfer of bodily secretion, for incorporating inside an article of clothing in a determined zone thereof and including at least an absorbent layer and a waterproof outer layer that is to come into contact with the article, the patch comprising a fabric having two faces formed by interlaced yarns and connected to each other, wherein:

the outside face of the fabric acts at least in part as a waterproof outer layer and comprises yarns made of synthetic material;

the fabric includes storage yarns made of an absorbent material, being suitable for storing moisture and being hardly or not at all visible on the outside face; and

the inside face of the fabric, i.e., its face that is to be closer to the wearer of the article, comprises yarns suitable for absorbing and/or transferring moisture towards the storage yarns,

the article having a given type of armhole and wherein the article includes two protective patches according to claim 6 presenting a three-dimensional configuration that is a function of the type of armhole.