AU2009100710A4 - Article of Sanitary Wear - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: Article of Sanitary Wear Name of Applicant: John Deliu, Michael Deliu and Marcus David Lakey Actual Inventor: John Deliu, Michael Deliu and Marcus David Lakey Address for service: WRAYS Ground Floor, 56 Ord Street West Perth WA 6005 Attorney code: WR The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2 Article of Sanitary Wear Field of the Invention This invention relates to an article of sanitary wear adapted to be fitted to a person to contain excrement. In this regard, the article may comprise a garment 5 commonly known as a nappy or diaper. Background Art Nappies are fitted to persons, particularly infants and incontinent persons. When a nappy requires changing, it is often necessary to clean the person wearing the nappy in the area about which the nappy was worn. Cleaning wipes are often 10 used for such purposes. This generally requires that there be a supply of cleaning wipes readily available at the time of performing the nappy change. It is against this background that the present invention has been developed. Disclosure of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an article of sanitary 15 wear characterised in that there is provided a compartment which accommodates a cleaning aid and from which the cleaning aid can be accessed when required. Preferably, the cleaning aid comprises one or more wipes which can be used for wiping the area to be cleaned. The wipes may be dry wipes, wet wipes or a 20 combination thereof. The wipes may incorporate any appropriate substance, such a cleanser, a lotion, a fragrance or any combination thereof. Preferably, the wipes are arranged to be dispensed from the compartment by being pulled therefrom. The wipes may be accommodated within the compartment in an interconnected 25 arrangement such that upon dispensing of one wipe, a further wipe is presented -3 for subsequent dispensing. The interconnected arrangement may be of any appropriate form, such as interleaving between successive wipes, or formation of the wipes as a continuous web with lines of separation (such as perforations) between successive wipes. 5 In another arrangement, there may be a continuous web of wipe material from which sections are torn to provide the wipes. In yet another arrangement, the wipes may be accommodated within the compartment in an individually wrapped condition. The compartment may be formed integrally with the article or it may be formed 10 separately of the article and affixed thereto. The compartment may be formed of fluid impervious material. Where the compartment is formed integrally with the article, it may comprise a pocket within the body of the article. The pocket may have an opening which opens onto an exterior surface of the 15 article. The opening may incorporate a closure. The closure may be a single use closure or it may be configured as a resealable closure for multiple uses. There may, of course, be other ways of opening the pocket to access the wipe or wipes accommodated therein. The pocket may, for example, have a wall which can be torn or otherwise ruptured to access the wipe or wipes. 20 Preferably, the pocket is so disposed as to be accessible once the article is fitted onto a person. The pocket is preferably disposed as to be accessible when the person is resting on his or her back. The article may be configured as a garment such as a nappy.

-4 Preferably, the garment is disposable. In one arrangement, the nappy may be of the type configured as a basic garment intended to be fitted on the wearer by wrapping the nappy between the legs of the wearer and around the lower abdomen; that is, the nappy may be configured 5 as a conventional nappy. In another arrangement, the nappy may be configured as a preformed garment (such as underpants) intended to be worn by the user. The compartment may also accommodate a bag for disposal of the garment. Alternatively, a bag for disposal of the garment may be incorporated in another compartment from which it can be accessed when required. 10 According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an article of sanitary wear comprising body adapted to be fitted onto a wearer, the body having a compartment accommodating a cleaning aid, the compartment being so configured that the cleaning aid can be accessed when required. The body of the article may comprise a front section, a rear section and a crotch 15 section between the front and rear sections, wherein the compartment provided within the body. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a nappy comprising body adapted to be fitted onto a wearer, the body having a compartment accommodating a wipe, the compartment being so configured that the wipe can 20 be accessed when required. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which: 25 Figure 1 is plan view of the exterior side of a nappy according to the embodiment; -5 Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the nappy fitted onto an infant; Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the nappy fitted onto the infant, with a wipe accommodated within the body of the nappy being dispensed; and Figure 4 is a schematic view of the nappy being removed from the infant. 5 Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention The embodiment shown in the drawings is directed to a disposable nappy 10 intended for infants, comprising a body 11 adapted to be wrapped between the legs and around the abdomen of an infant 12 in the conventional manner. The body 11 comprises a front section 13, a rear section 15 and a crotch section 17 10 between the front and rear sections. The body 11 further comprises an outer surface 19 defining the outer shape of the nappy 10, and an inner surface 20 for location against the infant. In the arrangement illustrated, the nappy 10 has adhesive tabs 18 of known kind for fastening the front and rear sections 13, 15 together when the nappy is fitted in position on the infant, as shown in Figures 2 15 and 3. A compartment 21 is provided in the body 11. The compartment 21 is configured as a pocket 23 which is formed within the body 11 between the outer and inner surfaces 19, 20 and which opens onto the outer surface 19 at opening 25. In the arrangement shown, the opening 25 is incorporated in the front section 13 of the 20 body. The pocket 23 is defined by an internal bag or lining arrangement formed of fluid impervious material. The pocket 23 accommodates a plurality of wipes 27. The wipes 27 are intended particularly for cleaning the infant 12 during a nappy change, and also the hands 25 of a person conducting the nappy change. While the wipes 27 are intended primarily for use in the nappy change process, they can of course be used for any other purpose.

-6 Each wipe may be of any appropriate form, such as a fibrous piece of material. The wipes may be wet wipes impregnated or saturated with a cleanser. The pocket 23 may also accommodate a bag (not shown) for disposal of the nappy 10 after use, as well as disposal of any wipes 27 used in the nappy 5 change process. The formation of the pocket 23 from fluid impervious material assists in maintaining the wet condition of the wet wipes. The wipes 27 are accommodated within the pocket 23 in a manner permitting dispensing of the wipes through the opening 25. Typically, the wipes 27 are 10 interconnected in a manner such that, upon dispensing of one wipe, a subsequent wipe is presented at the opening 25 to be readily accessible for subsequent dispensing. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate dispensing of a wipe 27a from the pocket 23 through the opening 25. Wipes 27 can be dispensed while the nappy 10 is fitted onto the infant 12, as shown in Figure 3. Additionally, wipes 27 15 can be dispensed while the infant 12 is resting on the nappy 10, but before fitting of the nappy onto the infant or after releasing the nappy from the infant, as shown schematically in Figure 4. With the arrangement illustrated in Figure 4, the wipes 27 are accessed from the underside of the nappy 10 (as the nappy is positioned with the inner surface 20 uppermost). 20 The opening 25 is provided with a closure 31 which is released to provide access to the wipes 27 contained within the pocket 23. The closure 31 may be configured as a single use closure in that the closure maintains the pocket 23 in a sealed condition only until such time as it is released to provide access to the pocket. With this arrangement, the closure 31 25 is not intended for re-use; that is, it is not intended to seal the pocket 23 again after it has been opened. With this arrangement, the closure 31 may comprise a closure strip which seals the opening 25 until such time as it is removed. The closure strip may be in the form of an adhesive strip which is applied to the outer surface 19 to cover the opening 25.

-7 In another arrangement, the closure 31 may be configured for re-use. In this way, the pocket 23 can be sealed to maintain the condition of any wipes 27 remaining within the pocket 23 after dispensing of a wipe. In this arrangement, the closure 31 may comprise a closure panel which is removable to provide 5 access to the opening 25 and which can be subsequently reattached, such as by way of an adhesive process. Alternatively, the closure 31 may comprise a zip lock closure system which can be selectively opened and closed. The nappy 10 according to the embodiment is fitted to an infant and used in the conventional way. If at the time of changing the nappy 10, it is necessary to 10 clean the infant, the wipes 27 are readily available for the cleaning process. It is merely necessary for the person changing the nappy to remove the wipes 27 required from the pocket 23. In the arrangement described and illustrated, the compartment 21 is incorporated into the body 11 of the nappy 10. Other arrangements are, of course, possible. 15 In another embodiment, for example, the compartment may be formed separately of the body of the nappy and affixed thereto. In such an arrangement, the compartment may be defined by a package of wipes formed separately of the body and attached thereto to be readily available for use when required in conjunction with the nappy. 20 It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiment described and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be 25 understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (5)

1. An article of sanitary wear characterised in that there is provided a compartment which accommodates a cleaning aid and from which the cleaning aid can be accessed when required. 5

2. An article of sanitary wear according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning aid comprises one or more wipes.

3. An article of sanitary wear according to claim 2 wherein the wipes are arranged to be dispensed from the compartment by being pulled therefrom.

4. An article of sanitary wear according to any one of the preceding claims 10 further comprising a body having a front section, a rear section and a crotch section between the front and rear sections, wherein the compartment provided within the body.

5. A article of sanitary wear substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15