Disposable underarm garment liner

Abstract

An underarm garment liner for preventing a wearer's perspiration from soiling a garment is disclosed. The liner includes, in its simplest embodiment and in the following order, a non-woven layer, an air laid paper layer, a hygroscopic absorption layer, a water-impervious layer, and an adhesive layer. The non-woven layer is adapted for contacting the wearer's skin and to convey perspiration away from the skin through capillary action to the absorbent air laid paper layer, which draws moisture away from the non-woven layer and conveys the moisture to the hygroscopic absorption layer. The layers are all preferably adhered together through use of hot-melt adhesive, or the like. The water-impervious layer is comprised of a vapor-pervious “breathable” thermoplastic polymer to prevent heat buildup between the liner and the wearer. Deodorizers, antibacterial agents, aloe, vitamin E, and petrolatum may all be further included in the liner 10. A layer of release paper temporarily affixed to the adhesive layer, such that the release paper may be peeled away from the adhesive layer by the wearer in order to expose the adhesive layer prior to use.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to personal hygiene, and more particularly to a disposable under arm garment liner for absorbing perspiration. DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART [0002] Disposable garment liners for absorbing perspiration near a wearer's underarm are known in the prior art, and in fact date back to U.S. Pat. No. 108,908 to Hotchkiss on Nov. 1, 1870. Such prior art devices typically include single or multiple layers of moisture absorbent materials joined to single or multiple layers of moisture-impervious materials, such layers being typically joined by stitching, bonding or laminating. [0003] More recent innovations in garment liners are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,752 to Heyman et al., on Dec. 30, 1986; U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,409 to Nager et al. on Aug. 13, 1991; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,486 to Nager et al. on Aug. 7, 2001. While such recent innovations in the prior art have made some improvement in the performance of such garment liners, significant drawb...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The present device is an underarm garment liner for preventing a wearer's perspiration from soiling a garment. The liner includes, in its simplest embodiment and in the following order, a non-woven layer, an air laid paper layer, a hygroscopic absorption layer, a water-impervious layer, and an adhesive layer. The non-woven layer is adapted for contacting the wearer's skin and to convey perspiration away from the skin through capillary action to the absorbent air laid paper layer, which draws moisture away from the non-woven layer and conveys the moisture to the hygroscopic absorption layer. The layers are all preferably adhered together through use of hot-melt adhesive, or the like.

[0006] The hygroscopic absorption layer includes particles of sodium polyacrylate retained between two layers of gauze or the like. As moisture is absorbed by the hygroscopic absorption layer, the particles of sodium polyacrylate become polymerized and grow in volume, yet liquid water is retained therein and no liquid is allowed to pass through the absorption layer. Upon saturation of the hygroscopic absorption layer, any moisture that may be conveyed beyond the absorption layer is prevented from passing through the water-impervious layer, which is comprised of a vapor-pervious “breathable” thermoplastic polymer. Such a “breathable” vapor-pervious material prevents heat buildup between the liner and the wearer, thereby reducing the amount of perspiration that would otherwise be generated and also in many cases preventing a rash or other skin irritation caused by excessive heat and moisture build-up. A deodorizer, such as mint or the like, and an antibacterial agent may each be additionally included in the liner. The non-woven layer may further include an additive of one or more of aloe, vitamin E, and petrolatum, in order to reduce skin irritation caused by the liner rubbing against the wearer's skin.

Problems solved by technology

While such recent innovations in the prior art have made some improvement in the performance of such garment liners, significant drawbacks to such devices remain and use of such devices has not been widely adopted.

For example, such prior art devices are often bulky and not well suited for use with tight blouses and Chudidhars worn by many Asian women.

Further, the thinner garment liners found in the prior art are not sufficiently absorbent, making them ineffective, particularly for users from tropical countries who tend to perspire profusely.

The shape of prior art garment liners has been a further drawback, since circular, oblong, rectangular or square liners do not fit snuggly to the garment to cover the entire underarm area.

Most prior art devices tend to be considerably too small to be completely effective.

Further, some of the prior art are pervious to moisture, and those that are moisture-impervious trap heat between the user and the liner, further increasing perspiration and often resulting in a rash on the user.

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