Biodegradable Eco-Friendly Absorbent Pad for Male Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

The present invention relates to an absorbent pad for men that exhibits eco-friendliness and biodegradability through natural raw materials, while having improved absorbency. The present invention provides an absorbent pad for male urinary incontinence comprising: a waterproof portion forming an outer surface with a waterproof layer comprising a biodegradable film comprising a polyurethane resin derived from plant biomass; a pad portion laminated on top of the waterproof portion and comprising an absorbent body comprising a pulp nonwoven fabric inside; and a contact portion laminated on top of the pad portion and composed of a pulp material. The absorbent pad for urinary incontinence according to the present invention has excellent absorbency and is biodegradable, which can prevent environmental pollution problems and has the effect of preventing leakage of secretions and a damp feeling caused by secretions.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an eco-friendly absorbent pad for male urinary incontinence, and more specifically, to an absorbent pad for men that exhibits eco-friendliness and biodegradability through natural raw materials and has improved absorbency. Background Technology

[0003] As the low birth rate and aging population trends progress rapidly, the demand for adult sanitary panties is increasing in contrast to infant diapers, and changes in awareness regarding urinary incontinence are demanding improvements in the quality of adult sanitary products.

[0004] Urinary incontinence refers to the involuntary leakage of urine through the urethra. While it was previously a condition most frequently occurring in middle-aged women, it is now occurring often in people of all ages and genders, and awareness regarding urinary incontinence in men is particularly increasing. Urinary incontinence can cause discomfort in daily life or hinder social life due to personal shame.

[0005] Accordingly, active development is underway for absorbent pads and underwear for male urinary incontinence, most of which feature absorbent pads attached to the inner side of the underwear that are either detachable or fixed in a washable form.

[0006] As an example of an incontinence pad, incontinence panties were developed in a form in which a waterproof sheet, an absorbent core that absorbs and stores urine, and a lining that contacts the genital area are sequentially fitted to prevent absorbed urine from leaking out. However, while existing incontinence absorbent pads temporarily absorb the wearer's secretions, this is only very temporary, and they lack the ability to continuously absorb secretions. Furthermore, the wearer's secretions seep into the pad and spread to the outer fabric of the panties over time, causing odors and degrading the user experience.

[0007] Most of these existing incontinence panties are manufactured for women, and men's pads have the problem of poor fit and cause discomfort due to urine leaking out and accumulating in one area.

[0008] In addition, it contains a polymer material called supersorbent polymer (SAP) which is used as an absorbent material in absorbent pads. Supersorbent polymer is a resin that absorbs water up to tens to hundreds of times its own weight. Since the material itself absorbs water, it has a higher absorption capacity than cotton or cotton cloth and does not release water under normal pressure, so it is most widely used in diapers for infants, adults, and animals. However, while supersorbent polymer (SAP) is effective at absorbing water, the reality is that sanitary products such as diapers and sanitary pads that are absorbed and used do not biodegrade on their own, which poses a problem of environmental pollution.

[0009] In addition, while plastic film is used for waterproofing in absorbent pads, it is a non-biodegradable material. Recently, as national and societal interest in the environment has grown, there is increasing interest in biodegradable or recycled plastics over non-biodegradable plastics due to concerns about environmental issues arising from waste disposal, safety issues such as endocrine disruptors, and resource issues such as petroleum depletion.

[0010] Therefore, to prevent these problems, there is a need for research on absorbent pad technology that can improve absorbency while being biodegradable, thereby preventing environmental pollution and also preventing leakage of secretions. Prior art literature

[0012] Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2513184 (Publication Date: March 24, 2023) Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2513184 (Publication Date: October 6, 2022) The problem to be solved

[0013] The present invention was devised to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and aims to provide technical details regarding an eco-friendly absorbent pad for male urinary incontinence.

[0014] The technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0016] The present invention relates to a biodegradable, eco-friendly absorbent pad for male urinary incontinence.

[0017] To achieve the technical objectives described above, the present invention provides an absorbent pad for male urinary incontinence comprising: a waterproof portion forming an outer surface of a waterproof layer comprising a biodegradable film comprising a polyurethane resin derived from plant biomass; a pad portion laminated on top of the waterproof portion and comprising an absorbent body comprising a pulp nonwoven fabric inside; and a contact portion laminated on top of the pad portion and composed of a pulp material.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the invention may further include an attachment portion provided on a part of the outer surface of the waterproof portion to attach the absorbent pad to the inner surface.

[0019] In addition, the absorbent may include pulp extracted from seaweed comprising one or more selected from red algae, green algae, and brown algae.

[0020] In addition, the contact portion may include a multilayer water-dispersible laminate composed of pulp material.

[0021] In addition, the above attachment may include a plant-based adhesive containing corn starch. Effects of the invention

[0023] The absorbent pad for urinary incontinence according to the present invention has excellent absorbency and is biodegradable, which can prevent environmental pollution problems and has the effect of preventing leakage of secretions and a damp feeling caused by secretions. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0025] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an absorbent pad for male urinary incontinence according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a drawing showing an absorbent pad for male urinary incontinence according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a photograph showing an image of a product with an absorbent pad for male urinary incontinence applied according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0026] Hereinafter, the absorbent pad for male urinary incontinence according to the present invention will be described in more detail with specific examples. However, the embodiments introduced below are provided as examples to ensure that the concept of the present invention is sufficiently conveyed to those skilled in the art.

[0027] Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented below and may be embodied in other forms, and the embodiments presented below are described merely to clarify the concept of the present invention and are not limited thereto.

[0028] Unless otherwise defined, technical and scientific terms used herein have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and are defined in consideration of their functions in the present invention; such definitions may vary depending on the intent or convention of the user or operator. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be based on the content throughout this specification, and descriptions of known functions and configurations that could unnecessarily obscure the essence of the present invention are omitted in the following description.

[0029] Additionally, the singular form used in the specification and attached claims may be intended to include the plural form unless specifically indicated otherwise in the context.

[0030] In addition, the thickness of lines or the size of components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation.

[0031] The present invention will be described in detail below.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating an absorbent pad for male urinary incontinence according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises an absorbent pad for male urinary incontinence comprising: a waterproof portion forming an outer surface of a waterproof layer comprising a biodegradable film comprising a polyurethane resin derived from plant biomass; a pad portion laminated on top of the waterproof portion and comprising an absorbent body comprising a pulp nonwoven fabric inside; and a contact portion laminated on top of the pad portion and composed of a pulp material.

[0034] The above waterproof portion is formed of a waterproof material comprising a biodegradable film containing a polyurethane resin derived from plant biomass, and can serve to fix the pad portion so that it maintains its overall shape without shaking.

[0035] The above waterproofing part is formed from a biodegradable breathable waterproof film and serves to prevent fluid secretions from flowing out of the waterproofing part. It can also improve breathability by allowing gas to pass through using a breathable waterproof film, and can be formed in any shape as long as it allows for easy use by the user.

[0036] The above-mentioned breathable waterproof film allows gas to pass through while preventing liquid secretions from being discharged. When applied to the absorbent pad for urinary incontinence according to the present invention, it has the advantage of preventing leakage of secretions while allowing gas to pass through, thereby improving the user's comfort.

[0037] The above breathable waterproof film may use a polyurethane resin derived from plant biomass, and the polyurethane resin may contain 20 to 50 weight percent of plant biomass in the total weight of the resin.

[0038] If the plant biomass is less than 20 weight%, there may be a problem with the biodegradability of the breathable waterproof film made with the composition of the present invention being reduced, and if it exceeds 50 weight%, the biodegradability may increase but the mechanical properties may decrease.

[0039] The above plant biomass is a fatty acid produced by refining from by-products or wastes of plant biomass, for example, herbaceous energy crops, short-cycle woody crops, industrial crops, agricultural crops, aquatic resources, agricultural crop residues, forestry waste, by-products and wastes, and specifically, the above fatty acid may include a polyol containing one or more selected from castor oil, soybean oil, corn oil, rapeseed oil, palm oil, olive oil, sesame oil, sugarcane oil, sunflower oil, and palm oil.

[0040] In addition, the polyurethane resin may further comprise one or more selected from diisocyanates and chain extenders in addition to plant biomass, and preferably, the polyurethane resin may comprise 20% to 50% by weight of plant biomass, 20% to 50% by weight of diisocyanate, 5% to 10% by weight of chain extender, and 10% to 50% by weight of organic solvent. In addition, general chain extenders used in the industry may be used, but preferably, glycols containing one or more selected from ethylene glycol, 1,4-butylene glycol, and 1,6-hexamethylene glycol; One or more of the following can be used: diamines containing one or more selected from ethylene diamine (EDA), 4,4-diphenylmethane diamine (MDA), and isophorene diamine (IPDA).

[0041] In addition, the polyurethane resin of the present invention may have an NCO index of 20 to 70, and preferably an NCO index of 25 to 65.

[0042] The above waterproof portion prevents bodily fluids absorbed by the absorbent layer from leaking out, thereby maintaining comfort, preventing the wearer's underwear from getting wet, and enabling the wearer to maintain a sense of psychological stability.

[0043] The above pad portion is laminated on the upper part of the above waterproof portion and may include an absorbent material containing pulp nonwoven fabric inside.

[0044] The above pad portion can be formed of a porous material such as non-woven fabric to allow fluids of secretions, such as urine, to be easily absorbed.

[0045] In addition, the pulp nonwoven fabric of the pad portion is an airlaid web nonwoven fabric, and the material of the pulp nonwoven fabric may be wood pulp or seaweed pulp, and the wood pulp may be soft wood kraft pulp, but is not limited thereto.

[0046] In addition, the absorbent may include pulp extracted from seaweed comprising one or more selected from red algae, green algae, and brown algae, and more preferably may include pulp extracted from red algae.

[0047] The above-mentioned seaweed has the advantages of having a faster growth rate compared to wood, which is a terrestrial plant, and does not require separate soil for cultivation, and is easy to extract pulp, so production facilities are simple and inexpensive. In particular, the pulp extracted from seaweed has excellent moisture retention and excellent heavy metal adsorption capacity, making it a biodegradable, eco-friendly material that is harmless to the human body.

[0048] In the case of pulp components extracted from red algae in particular among seaweeds, the high internal gel extract content has excellent transparency and water retention capacity, and is effective in forming a high-density nonwoven fabric.

[0049] The above red algae may be one or more selected from the group consisting of Gracilaria, Gracilaria, Gracilaria, and Gracilaria, but may include all red algae having at least a minimum amount of fiber.

[0050] The pulp extracted from the above seaweed may have undergone a refining process to grind the pulp in order to increase dispersibility and uniformity.

[0051] In addition, the pulp extracted from the above seaweed may be acid-treated to improve absorbency and biodegradability, and physical properties may be improved when extracted using a combined acid / alkali method. The acid treatment of the above seaweed may be performed by dissolving it while heating it in an HCl solution, and the alkali treatment may be performed by treating the heated solution with CaCl2.

[0052] In the case of acid-treated seaweed, deformation may occur, which can increase biodegradability, while alkali treatment can improve physical properties by forming cross-links between alginic acid molecules and Ca ions within the seaweed.

[0053] It is preferable that the pulp of the above pad portion has an average length of 1 to 500 μm. If the fiber length of the pulp is less than 1 μm, it is difficult to form a nonwoven web, and if it exceeds 500 μm, it is difficult to secure excellent dispersibility and it is difficult to achieve uniform coating.

[0054] The above contact portion is laminated on the upper part of the pad portion and may be composed of a pulp sheet material.

[0055] The above contact portion includes a multilayer water-dispersible laminate, and each laminate can be joined at a plurality of discontinuous bonding points by an adhesive disposed between them.

[0056] The above discontinuous bonding points can be formed by passing an adhesive through a multilayer laminate.

[0057] The above multilayer laminates can be provided with sufficient strength by allowing the adhesive to pass through them so that each laminate overlaps, and when flushed in water or an aqueous solution, the adhesive dissolves and the laminates can be easily dispersed.

[0058] The adhesive of the above-mentioned multilayer laminate is a water-soluble binder, and as long as the adhesive can decompose in water without raising the temperature or adding chemicals, the type of adhesive is not limited.

[0059] The above contact portion can serve to allow a fluid flowing on the surface to flow to the surface of the pad portion.

[0060] The above contact portion may have a plurality of holes formed therein, and may be able to flow to an adjacent point of the pad portion through the plurality of holes.

[0061] In addition, the contact portion serves to ensure that the fluid is absorbed evenly throughout the pad portion without accumulating in one part, and by minimizing the feeling of dampness caused by the fluid absorbed in the pad portion, the user's discomfort level can be reduced.

[0062] In addition, the absorbent pad of the present invention may include a wrinkled portion. The wrinkled portion is formed on one side of the contact portion to prevent bodily fluids, such as urine, from flowing down along the contact portion.

[0063] The above-mentioned corrugated portion is formed of an elastic material and maintains its original state under normal circumstances, but when bodily fluids such as urine flow down, the space between the contact portion and the corrugated portion widens, causing the corrugated portion to expand.

[0064] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the waterproof portion may further include an attachment portion provided on a part of the outer surface of the waterproof portion to attach the absorbent pad to the inner surface.

[0065] The absorbent pad of the present invention can be attached to and detached from the inner surface of a user's underwear, such as panties, due to the attachment portion, and can be fixed by the adhesive of the attachment portion.

[0066] The above adhesive may be composed of adhesive components used in the industry, and preferably may include a plant-based crosslinking agent to have a harmful substance reduction effect.

[0067] The above adhesive may include rosin powder, and when the rosin powder is mixed with corn starch as a vegetable crosslinking agent, the rosin powder and corn starch undergo a polymerization reaction to further strengthen the adhesive strength, and when the adhesive is removed, no residue remains, so it has the effect of preventing stickiness.

[0068] The above-mentioned plant-based adhesive contains a plant-based crosslinking agent and has low toxicity; therefore, when the absorbent pad is removed and the underwear is worn, the harmfulness to the human body caused by adhesive components remaining in the underwear can be minimized compared to adhesives composed entirely of chemical components.

[0069] The above-mentioned plant crosslinking agents specifically include corn starch, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), milk casein, revan, xanthan gum, alginic acid, carrageenan, glue, etc.

[0070] Preferably, corn starch, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), milk casein, and revan may be used, and more preferably, corn starch may be used. These may be used alone or in a mixture of two or more types.

[0072] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to examples and comparative examples.

[0073] However, the following examples and comparative examples are merely illustrative of the invention for further detailed explanation, and the invention is not limited to the following examples and comparative examples.

[0074] <Manufacture of vegetable adhesives containing corn starch>

[0075] An adhesive was prepared comprising 50 wt% of a triglyceride-based polyurethane combined with polylactic acid having a weight-average molecular weight of 150,000 to 500,000 g / mol, 30 wt% of polylactic acid, 10 wt% of rosin powder, and 10 wt% of a plant-based crosslinking agent containing corn starch.

[0076] <Example 1>

[0077] An absorbent pad including a waterproof portion, a pad portion, and a contact portion was manufactured.

[0078] At this time, the waterproof part of the absorbent pad used a breathable waterproof film made of polyurethane resin containing soybean oil fatty acids, the pad part was manufactured using wood pulp and seaweed pulp in a 1:1 ratio and using pulp extracted from Gracilaria as the seaweed pulp, the contact part used a pulp sheet containing a water-dispersible laminate, and the adhesive of the attachment part used a polyurethane adhesive.

[0079] <Example 2>

[0080] An absorbent pad identical to Example 1 was manufactured, except that the adhesive for the attachment part was made using a vegetable adhesive containing corn starch.

[0081] <Example 3>

[0082] An absorbent pad identical to Example 2 was prepared, except that the seaweed pulp of the pad portion was extracted from Gracilaria, dissolved in an HCl solution, acid-treated, and alkali-treated with CaCl2.

[0084] <Comparative Example 1>

[0085] An absorbent pad identical to Example 1 was manufactured, except that the pad portion did not contain seaweed pulp.

[0086] <Comparative Example 2>

[0087] An absorbent pad identical to Example 1 was manufactured, except that SAP was used as the absorbent material of the pad portion and rayon fibers were used as the contact portion.

[0088] <Comparative Example 3>

[0089] An absorbent pad identical to Comparative Example 1 was manufactured, except that it did not include a waterproof portion.

[0091] <Experimental Example 1> - Secretion absorption effect and waterproofing effect

[0092] To check the absorption and waterproofing effects, about 50ml of water diluted with yellow ink was prepared, and the water was slowly sprayed to check whether the water could be absorbed and the waterproofing effect.

[0093] The absorption effect was checked to see if the yellow color changed after spraying water and covering the pad with a cloth, and the waterproof effect was checked visually to see if any leakage occurred on the opposite side of the absorption pad.

[0094] Ten absorbent pads were prepared for each, and the experiment was conducted 10 times.

[0095] The degree of absorption was rated as 5 points for cases where it was well absorbed and 1 point for cases where it was not absorbed.

[0096] In addition, regarding leakage, if yellow water was confirmed on the opposite side, it was marked as 1 point, and if no leakage occurred to the outside, it was marked as 5 points.

[0097] division Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Comparative Example 1 Comparative Example 2 Comparative Example 3 Absorption level 4 4 5 4 5 4 Whether there was a leak 4 4 5 4 4 1

[0098] <Experimental Example 2> - Comfort when worn and stickiness (foreign object sensation) when removed

[0099] Sensory evaluation was conducted on 5 groups of 20 men in their 50s to 60s for an absorbent pad according to one embodiment of the present invention, with each group consisting of 4 people.

[0100] The absorbent pad was attached to the underwear, and after wearing it, 30ml of water was poured onto the absorbent pad. After 10 minutes, the comfort level was checked, and the evaluation was conducted with the highest score being 5 points and the lowest score being 1 point.

[0101] Afterward, the stickiness (foreign sensation) was checked when wearing only the underwear after removing the absorbent pad.

[0102] division Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Comparative Example 1 Comparative Example 2 When worn Comfort 4 4 4 4 2 When removing stickiness 3 5 5 3 3

[0103] According to the evaluation results of Tables 1 and 2 above, when a vegetable adhesive containing corn starch was used as the adhesive for the attachment part, there was no stickiness upon removal; when seaweed pulp was included, sufficient absorbency was exhibited, and secretions did not stain the underwear, allowing the underwear to be worn again even after the absorbent pad was removed; and when a pulp sheet containing a water-dispersible laminate was used for the contact part, the wearing comfort was superior compared to when rayon fibers were used; when acid-treated seaweed pulp was included, the absorbency was the best, and it was confirmed to exhibit absorbency similar to Comparative Example 2 using SAP. In the results of inquiries regarding the willingness to purchase the actual product upon sale, the absorbent pad product according to the example was rated as having a high willingness to purchase.

[0107] <Experimental Example 3> - Comparative experiment on changes in mass due to biodegradation of absorbents

[0108] Synthetic SAP (super absorbent) was used as a control, and 1 g each of natural pulp absorbent extracted from red algae of the order Gracilaria and acid-treated pulp extracted from red algae of the order Gracilaria and refined was taken, 0.5 ml of water was absorbed, and the samples were placed in an oven at 50°C. After 60 days, the change in weight due to biodegradation was measured by comparing it with the initial weight, and the degree of weight reduction was indicated by the measured weight.

[0109] division Gracilaria pulp Acid-treated agar pulp control group Remaining weight ratio (%) 18 6 61

[0110] According to the results, synthetic SAP showed a remaining weight of 61% after reaching a certain weight loss level and no further weight loss occurred, showing a weight loss rate of less than 40%, whereas the agar pulp, which is the red algae extract pulp of the present invention, showed a remaining weight of 18%, confirming that it was biodegraded and the weight was reduced.

[0111] In addition, it was confirmed that acid-treated agar pulp had improved biodegradability and a more excellent weight reduction effect.

[0112] In other words, in the case of an absorbent containing pulp extracted from seaweed, decomposition occurred and the mass decreased, but it was confirmed that the mass of the synthetic absorbent SAP showed very little weight loss when considering the ratio of absorbed water that was dried.

[0115] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention without departing from the technical spirit of the invention as described in the following claims.

[0116] For example, those skilled in the art may utilize each configuration described in the embodiments above in a manner that combines them with one another. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is intended to give the broadest possible scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0117] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential features of the invention. Accordingly, the above detailed description should not be interpreted restrictively in all respects but should be considered exemplary. The scope of the invention shall be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the invention are included within the scope of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but to be given the broadest possible scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. Furthermore, embodiments may be constructed by combining claims that are not explicitly related in the claims, or by including them as new claims through amendments made after filing. Explanation of the symbols

[0119] 10 : Contact part 20 : Pad part 30 : Waterproof part 40 : Attachment part

Claims

Claim 1 An eco-friendly absorbent pad for male urinary incontinence, comprising: a waterproofing portion forming an outer surface with a waterproofing layer comprising a biodegradable film comprising a polyurethane resin derived from plant biomass; a pad portion laminated on top of the waterproofing portion and comprising an absorbent body comprising a pulp nonwoven fabric inside; a contact portion laminated on top of the pad portion and composed of a pulp material; and an attachment portion provided on a part of the outer surface of the waterproofing portion to attach the absorbent pad to the inner surface; wherein the absorbent body is a pulp extracted from agar, dissolved in an HCl solution, acid-treated, and alkali-treated with CaCl2, and the pulp has an average length of 1 to 500 μm; the contact portion comprises a multilayer water-dispersible laminate composed of a pulp material; and the attachment portion comprises a plant-based adhesive comprising rosin powder and corn starch. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 delete

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