PROTECTIVE ABSORBENT PAD

Abstract

A protective pad is described for protecting clothing from inadvertent spills. The protective pad includes a liquid absorbent layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an adhesive coating. The liquid impermeable layer overlies the liquid absorbent layer, while the adhesive coating covers at least a portion of the liquid impermeable layer. The adhesive coating allows the protective pad to be conveniently adhered to a user's clothing. Subsequently, if exposed to a liquid spill, the liquid absorbent layer cooperates with the liquid impermeable layer to absorb and contain the spill so that the underlying clothing remains untouched and undamaged.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to layered pads for absorbing liquids, and, more particularly, to absorbent pads adapted to protect clothing from spills.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Eating a meal in a car has become a fact of life in America with some experts estimating that some twenty percent of all meals in the United States are eaten in automobiles. Given the dynamic conditions in an automobile, unwanted spills are a unavoidable consequence. In fact, very few drivers who eat or drink regularly in a car can boast that they have never spilled something on themselves while undertaking this kind of risky behavior.

Some attempts at mitigating spills in cars have focused on beverage containers that are spill-proof or self-leveling. Nevertheless, while providing some relief when they are available, such attempts are not able to avoid all spills. These attempts, moreover, do not address the spilling of food that is not in the form of a liquid.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for new solutions that help to protect a user from spills in dynamic situations such as while driving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention address the above-identified needs by providing protective pads that may be adhered to clothing in order to protect that clothing from spills.

Aspects of the invention are directed to a protective pad comprising a liquid absorbent layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an adhesive coating. The liquid absorbent layer comprises a liquid absorbent material. The liquid impermeable layer overlies the liquid absorbent layer and comprises a liquid impermeable material. Lastly, the adhesive coating covers at least a portion of the liquid impermeable layer and comprises an adhesive material.

Additional aspects of the invention are directed to a method of protecting clothing from a spill. A protective pad is received. The protective pad comprises a liquid absorbent layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an adhesive coating. The liquid absorbent layer comprises a liquid absorbent material. The liquid impermeable layer overlies the liquid absorbent layer and comprises a liquid impermeable material. Lastly, the adhesive coating covers at least a portion of the liquid impermeable layer and comprises an adhesive material. After being received, the adhesive coating of the protective pad is adhered to the clothing.

Advantageously, when reduced to practice, the adhesive coating allows a protective pad in accordance with aspects of the invention to be conveniently adhered to a user's clothing. Subsequently, if exposed to a liquid spill, the liquid absorbent layer cooperates with the liquid impermeable layer to absorb and contain the spill so that the underlying clothing remains untouched and undamaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a user using a protective pad in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention while driving a car;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the FIG. 1 protective pad;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show front and back perspective views, respectively, of the FIG. 1 protective pad with its backing layer partially removed;

FIG. 5 shows a partially broken perspective view of the region encircled in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6-8 show perspective views of various alternative forms for the FIG. 1 protective pad; and

FIG. 9 shows an illustrative dispenser for the FIG. 1 protective pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described with reference to illustrative embodiments. For this reason, numerous modifications can be made to these embodiments and the results will still come within the scope of the invention. No limitations with respect to the specific embodiments described herein are intended or should be inferred.

Aspects of the invention are directed to protective pads that may be used to protect one's clothing from inadvertent spills. Such protective pads may be particularly useful when one is eating or drinking while driving a car. FIG. 1 shows just such a use. More particularly, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a user 1000 using a protective pad 100 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention while driving a car 1005.

In FIG. 1, the protective pad 100 is adhered to the user's clothing 1010 in the region of the user's chest. The user 1000 is drinking a beverage (e.g., coffee) and has just accidentally spilled some of the beverage on the protective pad 100 to create a liquid spill 1015 on the protective pad 100. As will be described in detail below, the protective pad 100 is able to absorb and contain the liquid spill 1015. The protective pad 100 thereby acts to protect the user's clothing 1010 from the liquid spill 1015.

Aspects of the protective pad 100 that help to impart it with its protective characteristics are illustrated in FIG. 2, which shows an exploded perspective view of the protective pad 100. The protective pad 100 includes a liquid absorbent layer 105 comprising a liquid absorbent material. A liquid impermeable layer 110 overlies the liquid absorbent layer 105 and comprises a liquid impermeable material. An adhesive coating 115 covers a portion of the liquid impermeable layer 110 and comprises an adhesive material. The adhesive coating 115 coats a face of the liquid impermeable layer 110 facing away from the liquid absorbent layer 105. Lastly, a backing layer 120 is adhered to the adhesive coating 115 and comprises a material that can be manually (i.e., by use of hands and without tools) peeled away from the adhesive coating 115 to leave the adhesive coating 115 exposed.

The backing layer 120 is intended to be peeled away from the adhesive coating 115 before use of the protective pad 100 so that the adhesive coating 115 may be used to adhere the protective pad 100 to whatever surface requires protection (e.g., a person's clothing). In the use case illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, the user 1000 has stripped away the adhesive coating 115 before adhering the protective pad 100 to his chest over his clothing 1010. FIGS. 3 and 4 show front and back perspective views, respectively, of the protective pad 100 with its backing layer 120 partially removed. In the present embodiment, removal of the backing layer 120 from the adhesive coating 115 is made easier by having a corner 125 of the liquid impermeable layer 110 be devoid of the adhesive coating 115 (i.e., the corner 125 is not covered by the adhesive coating 115). The corner 125 is visible in FIGS. 2 and 4, and provides a starting point for gaining purchase on the backing layer 120 during its removal.

Thus, when intending to use the protective pad 100, a user may receive the protective pad 100 and then peel away the backing layer 120. The user may then adhere the protective pad 100 to his or her clothing using the now-exposed adhesive coating 115 on the liquid impermeable layer 110. The liquid absorbent layer 105 would then be facing outward and exposed.

FIG. 5 helps to illustrate how the protective pad 100 protects the user's clothing 1010 from the liquid spill 1015 illustrated in FIG. 1. More particularly, FIG. 5 shows a partially broken perspective view of the region encircled in FIG. 1. In FIG. 5, the liquid spill 1015 can be seen to be absorbed by the liquid absorbent layer 105 but to not penetrate past the liquid impermeable layer 110. The liquid spill 1015 is thereby absorbed and contained in the liquid absorbent layer 105. The user's clothing 1010 (underlying the liquid impermeable layer 110) remains untouched by the liquid spill 1015. Thus, the protective pad 100 becomes an extremely effective and convenient means by which to protect one's clothing from inadvertent liquid spills. Likewise, the protective pad 100 further provides protection from solid spills by acting as a physical barrier between the solid and the clothing 1010. The protective pad 100 may be strategically placed wherever the user 1000 desires.

In one or more embodiments, the liquid absorbent layer 105 may comprise, for example, wood cellulose, cotton, bamboo fiber, banana fiber, jute fiber, flax spinning waste, a superabsorbent polymer (SAP), cellulose-based hydrogel, or some combination thereof. The SAP may be a material that turns to a gel when moistened and may comprise, as just one example, sodium polyacrylate. In one or more embodiments, moreover, the liquid absorbent layer 105 may also comprise a top sublayer that transfers fluids quickly to an underlying core of the liquid absorbent layer 105. Such a top sublayer may be perforated and may comprise, for example, polypropylene fiber, cotton, lyocell fiber, or some combination of these materials.

The liquid impermeable layer 110 is preferably a breathable material that is liquid impermeable. It may, in one or more embodiments, comprise, for example, polyethylene, polyurethane, and/or poly lactic acid (PLA) fiber. Finally, the adhesive coating 115 may comprise styrene-butadiene-styrene rubber, styrene-isoprene-styrene rubber, and/or poly-alpha-olefin, while the backing layer 120 may comprise a plastic and/or silicone-coated paper. Nevertheless, in providing the exemplary material selections set forth above, it is reinforced that these materials are merely exemplary and other suitable materials would be familiar to one having ordinary skill in the art and would fall within the scope of the invention.

While the exemplary protective pad 100 defines a simple rectangle (i.e., it is rectangular) and is unmarked, alternative protective pads falling within the scope of the invention may take on a number of alternative forms. FIGS. 6-8 show perspective views of various alternative forms for protective pads with layering similar to that of protective pad 100. In FIG. 6, for example, an alternative protective pad 600 includes a logo (e.g., the name of a restaurant) on its front external face. In FIG. 7, moreover, an alternative protective pad 700 defines a rectangle with a projection projecting therefrom. Finally, in FIG. 8, an alternative protective pad 800 defines two intersecting rectangles with differing widths. These various alternative forms are merely illustrative and intended to show that a myriad of different shapes and appearances for a protective pad will fall within the scope of the invention.

Protective pads in accordance with aspects of the invention may be made available individually, in stacks, in rolls, and in various other forms. FIG. 9 shows an illustrative dispenser 900 for protective pads 905, which, when separated from each other, may be similar to the protective pad 100. The dispenser 900 provides the protective pads 905 in a manner similar to a paper towel dispenser that might be found in a public restroom. A roll 910 of the protective pads 905 is housed in the dispenser 900, and a handle 915 is utilized to dispense the roll from a bottom slot 920 in the dispenser 900. Perforations 925 allow a single protective pad 905 to be easily removed from the remainder of the roll 910. That is, a first protective pad 905 is initially attached to a second protective pad 905, and the first protective pad 905 can be manually separated from the second protective pad 905 by tearing along one of the lines of perforations 925. In one or more embodiments, the protective pad 905 may have a height (h) of about five inches and a width (w) of about seven inches, but these dimensions are purely exemplary.

Once understood from the description provided herein, protective pads in accordance with aspects of the invention may be manufactured using conventional manufacturing methodologies that will already be familiar to one having ordinary skill in the relevant manufacturing arts. Relevant information is also available in a number of readily available references including, for example, NPCS Board of Consultants & Engineers, Disposable Products Manufacturing Handbook, Niir Project Consultancy Services, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

It should again be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be illustrative only. Other embodiments can use different types and arrangements of elements for implementing the described functionality. These numerous alternative embodiments within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to one skilled in the art. The spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited solely to the description of the preferred embodiments contained herein.

Moreover, all the features disclosed herein may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purposes, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function or “step for” performing a specified function is not to be interpreted as a “means for” or “step for” clause as specified in AIA 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). In particular, the use of “steps of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of AIA 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).

Claims

1. A protective pad comprising:

a liquid absorbent layer comprising a liquid absorbent material:

a liquid impermeable layer overlying the liquid absorbent layer and comprising a liquid impermeable material; and

an adhesive coating covering at least a portion of the liquid impermeable layer and comprising an adhesive material.

2. The protective pad of claim 1, further comprising a backing layer adhered to the adhesive coating.

3. The protective pad of claim 2, wherein the backing layer comprises at least one of paper or plastic.

4. The protective pad of claim 1, wherein the adhesive coating covers at least a portion of a face of the liquid impermeable layer facing away from the liquid absorbent layer.

5. The protective pad of claim 1, wherein the liquid impermeable layer defines a corner that is not covered by the adhesive coating.

6. The protective pad of claim 1 wherein the liquid absorbent material comprises at least one of wood cellulose, cotton, bamboo fiber, banana fiber, jute fiber, flax spinning waste, superabsorbent polymer, cellulose-based hydrogel, polypropylene fiber, or lyocell fiber.

7. The protective pad of claim 1, wherein the liquid impermeable material comprises at least one of polyethylene, polyurethane, or poly lactic acid fiber.

8. The protective pad of claim 1, wherein the adhesive coating comprises at least one of styrene-butadiene-styrene rubber, styrene-isoprene-styrene rubber, or poly-alpha-olefin.

9. The protective pad of claim 1, wherein the protective pad is rectangular.

10. The protective pad of claim 1, wherein the protective pad defines a rectangle with a projection projecting therefrom.

11. The protective pad of claim 1, wherein the protective pad defines two intersecting rectangles with differing widths.

12. The protective pad of claim 1, wherein the protective pad is a one of plurality of protective pads forming a roll.

13. The protective pad of claim 1, wherein:

the protective pad is attached to a second protective pad; and

the protective pad is manually separable from the second protective pad by tearing along perforations.

14. A method of protecting clothing from a spill, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a protective pad comprising: a liquid absorbent layer comprising a liquid absorbent material: a liquid impermeable layer overlying the liquid absorbent layer and comprising a liquid impermeable material; and an adhesive coating covering at least a portion of the liquid impermeable layer and comprising an adhesive material; and

adhering the adhesive coating to the clothing.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the protective pad further comprises a backing layer adhered to the adhesive coating.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the step of removing the backing layer from the adhesive coating before the step of adhering the adhesive coating to the clothing.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the liquid absorbent material comprises at least one of wood cellulose, cotton, bamboo fiber, banana fiber, jute fiber, flax spinning waste, superabsorbent polymer, cellulose-based hydrogel, polypropylene fiber, or lyocell fiber.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the liquid impermeable material comprises at least one of polyethylene, polyurethane, or poly lactic acid fiber.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the adhesive coating comprises at least one of styrene-butadiene-styrene rubber, styrene-isoprene-styrene rubber, or poly-alpha-olefin.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the adhesive coating covers at least a portion of a face of the liquid impermeable layer facing away from the liquid absorbent layer.