Abstract
This invention is directed to the drip-slip™, which is a disposable, dispensable guard comprised of flexible, absorbent paper or fabric which may include a leak-proof backing. It is meant to wick dripping liquid, blood, or body fluids away from and keep foreign debris out of, for example, clothing while performing activities that include but are not limited to shaving, dishwashing, washing the hands, staining wood, dining, cooking, housecleaning, dental hygiene, foregoing medical treatment, performing arts and crafts, foregoing massage, hair dyeing, changing oil, or moving through wet or dry indoor or outdoor environments.
Claims
1. A disposable assembly with at least one absorbent material layer or one liquid-impermeable layer to be tucked into and/or worn over garments, either on the hand, wrist, forearm, upper arm, neck, waist, torso, foot or leg.
2. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein an additional liquid-impermeable backing layer is joined to the absorbent layer with adhesive, preventing fluid from soaking through to the sleeve or pant cuff.
3. The assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the absorbent layer is between 0.001 mm and 10 mm in thickness, liquid retentive, breathable, compact, and comfortable for the wearer.
4. The assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein adhesive tabs or backings secure the assembly directly to the clothing or to the assembly itself, making said assembly fit more snugly on the wearer and preventing it from falling off during use.
5. The assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein one or more drawstrings, fabric hook and loop fasteners, elastic bands, snap buttons, zippers, adhesive tabs, or adjustable cuffs prevents the ingression of insects or foreign objects from entering the sleeve.
6. The assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein one or more drawstrings, fabric hook and loop fasteners, elastic bands, snap buttons, zippers or adhesive tabs make the assembly adjustable so as to secure the assembly in place on the wearer.
7. The assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said assembly can be flattened, stacked, and/or individually wrapped for dispensing purposes.
8. The assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein the assembly is biodegradable, recyclable, and/or washable.
9. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the guard can be of any length and/or width in size between 25 mm to 1.5 m in length and width, including one size fits all.
10. The embodiment of said absorbent guard can be adorned with decorative elements selected from popular or non-popular character(s), new or existent, pattern(s), letter(s), symbol(s), one-dimensional elements, two-dimensional elements, and three dimensional elements, in any number of colors.
11. The guard as defined in claim 1, wherein the guard is tubular in shape and flexible enough to be folded over clothing.
12. The guard as defined in claim 1, where guard is flat and crease-able and suitable, to be fitted over the end of the sleeve.
13. The guard as defined in claim 10, wherein the guard is pleated and/or fluted woven or nonwoven elastic allowing for flexibility and elasticity.
14. The guard as defined in claim 11, wherein the guard has ends that can be joined with adhesive tabs, completing a tubular shape.
15. The guard as defined in claim 10, wherein an orifice is present at both ends of the guard, for accepting the hand, wrist, forearm, upper arm, foot, head, neck, waist, torso, or leg of a user.
16. The assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein the assembly features a slit allowing for enhanced mobility and/or comfort.
17. A method for protecting a wearer's garments from wetness, stains, soil, and foreign debris comprising of the steps of: (a) tucking an absorbent paper, fabric, and/or plastic guard into a garment orifice and folding the guard over the garment to protect it. (b) securing the paper or fabric guard in place with a device including but not limited to snap buttons, hook and loop fasteners, adhesive backings, adhesive tabs, drawstrings, zippers, and/or elastic bands. (c) sealing the gap between the absorbent paper or fabric and skin by closing guard orifices with devices including but not limited to snap buttons, hook and loop fasteners, adhesive backings, adhesive tabs, drawstrings, zippers, and/or elastic bands.
18. A method for protecting a wearer's garments according to claim 17 wherein the guard is square, rectangular, circular, rounded, tubular and/or folded in shape.
19. A method for protecting a wearer's garments according to claim 17 wherein the guard is slipped over and/or worn around the neck, torso, waist, forearm, arm, head, hand, leg, foot or ankle.
20. A method for protecting a wearer's garments according to claim 17 wherein the guard has pleating or a slit for flexibility.
21. A method for protecting a wearer's garments according to claim 17 wherein the guard has dimensions between 25 mm to 1.5 m in length and width, with a thickness between 0.001 and 10 mm.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 depicts the tubular variant of the drip-slip™ guard, with pleating.
[0014] FIG. 2 depicts the folded variant of the drip-slip™ guard.
[0015] FIG. 3 depicts how the tubular variant of the drip-slip™ guard is equipped.
[0016] FIG. 4 depicts how the folded variant of the drip-slip™ guard is equipped.
[0017] FIG. 5 depicts how the tubular variant of the drip-slip™ guard is worn over the pant cuff.
[0018] FIG. 6 depicts two variants of the drip-slip™ guard and how they are worn around the neck, protecting the shirt collar.
[0019] FIG. 7 depicts two variants of the drip-slip™ guard and how they are worn around the torso, protecting the waistband.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows the various features of the tubular variant (numeral 5) of the drip-slip™ a disposable and absorbent sleeve guard. Referring to this variant, numeral (1) indicates the absorbent inner layer and numeral (2) indicates the optional liquid-impermeable outer layer, when present. Numeral 3 describes an example optional adhesive tab used to secure the drip-slip™ when the drip-slip™ is folded over the sleeve. Other options that may be used to secure the drip-slip™ include snap buttons, drawstrings, zippers, hook and loop fastener devices, and elastic bands. Numeral 4 identifies an optional pleating or fluted woven or nonwoven elastic assembly for flexibility and elasticity, if present. The drip-slip™ may be comprised of a single layer of absorbent material (8) or multiple layers, wherein there may be, but not limited to, an inward-facing absorbent layer (7) and a liquid-impermeable outer layer (6). Numeral 9 illustrates how the tubular variant may be stacked and packaged in a tissue box-like carton.
[0021] FIG. 2. shows the various features of the folded variant of the drip-slip™ a disposable and absorbent sleeve guard. Referring to this figure, numeral (10) indicates the absorbent layer and numeral (11) indicates the liquid-impermeable layer, when present. Numeral 3 describes examples of adhesive tab used to secure the drip-slip™ when the drip-slip™ is equipped. Other options that may be used to secure the drip-slip™ include snap buttons, drawstrings, zippers, hook and loop fastener devices, and elastic bands. The drip-slip™ may be comprised of a single layer of absorbent material (14) or multiple layers, wherein there may be, but not limited to, an absorbent layer (12) and a liquid-impermeable layer (13). Numeral 15 illustrates how the folded variant may be stacked and packaged in a tissue box-like carton.
[0022] FIG. 3. illustrates how the tubular variant of the drip-slip™ is equipped by the wearer. First, the drip-slip™ is pulled over the hand (a), then tucked into the sleeve (b). Once the proximal end is tucked into the sleeve the adhesive tab is prepared and the drip-slip™ is folded over the sleeve, exposing the absorbent side to dripping liquid (c). If present, the liquid-impermeable layer faces the clothing, preventing the drip-slip™ from soaking through. If the wearer's sleeve is rolled up (d), the drip-slip™ should be elastic and flexible enough to accommodate the bulk of the sleeve.
[0023] FIG. 4. illustrates how the folded variant of the drip-slip™ is equipped by the wearer. First, the drip-slip™ is slipped around the hand (a), then tucked into the sleeve. If an adhesive tab is present, this will be secured before tucking the guard in completely. Once one end is tucked into the sleeve, the other end folds over the sleeve, exposing the absorbent side, which may or may not include an adhesive tab for securing as well (b). If present, the liquid-impermeable layer faces the clothing, preventing the drip-slip™ from soaking through during tasks (c). If the wearer's sleeve is rolled up (d), the drip-slip™ should be adjustable and flexible enough to accommodate the bulk of the sleeve.
[0024] FIG. 5. illustrates how the drip-slip™ can be worn as a pant cuff guard and for the prevention of pest and foreign objects from entering clothing. In the first illustration (a), a drip-slip™ of any variety can be tucked in and over the cuff of the pants and secured as described previously, to prevent against stains and wetness. As a guard against pests and foreign objects (b), the drip-slip™ may have a drawstring or elastic band to close off either end of the drip-slip™. First, the drip-slip™ will be slipped over the leg (20) and the inner drawstring (18) will be tied tight. Then, the drip-slip™ (19) will be folded over twice, to cover the pant leg cuff (17), finally being tied tight by the outer drawstring (16). In this diagram, the pant leg is rolled up, to illustrate how the drip-slip™ can be worn over clothing of any thickness.
[0025] FIG. 6. illustrates how the drip-slip™ can be used as a shirt collar and neck guard, preventing liquids and foreign debris from dribbling down the neck and into/onto garments. The first illustration (a) demonstrates how optional fluting (21) on the collar guard variant allows for flexibility as the drip-slip™ is tucked into the collar and folded over the wearer's garment. Optional elastic bands (22), zippers, snap buttons, adhesive tabs, drawstrings, or hook and loop fasteners may be used to secure the open ends around the wearer, further preventing debris and liquids from penetrating the guard. An optional slit (23) may be present to allow the drip-slip™ to fit comfortably over the shoulders. The collar variant of the drip-slip™ may be comprised of a single layer of absorbent material or multiple layers, wherein there may be, but not limited to, an absorbent layer (25) and a liquid-impermeable layer (24). The second illustration (b) shows how the fluted drip-slip™ would be worn by the wearer, tucked into the collar and draped over garments. The third illustration (c) shows a non-fluted, rectangular version of the collar guard variant with optional Velcro® fasteners (26). The final image (d) demonstrates how the non-fluted rectangular version of the collar guard is worn, tucked into the collar and draped over the garments.
[0026] FIG. 7. illustrates how the drip-slip™ can be used as a waistband and pants guard, preventing liquids and foreign debris from wetting, entering or soiling the pants. The first illustration (a) demonstrates how optional fluting (27) on the waistband guard variant allows for flexibility as the drip-slip™ is tucked into the waistband and folded over the wearer's garment (i.e. dress or pants). Optional elastic bands (28), zippers, snap buttons, adhesive tabs, drawstrings, or hook and loop fasteners may be used to secure the open ends around the wearer, further preventing debris and liquids from penetrating the guard. An optional slit (23) may be present to allow the drip-slip™ to fit comfortably around the waist, allowing more flexibility. The waistband variant of the drip-slip™ may be comprised of a single layer of absorbent material or multiple layers, wherein there may be, but not limited to, an absorbent layer (30) and a liquid-impermeable layer (29). The second illustration (b) shows how the fluted drip-slip™ would be worn by the wearer, tucked into the waistband and draped over lower-body garments. The third illustration (c) shows a non-fluted, rectangular version of the collar guard variant with optional snap button fasteners (31). Other devices that may be used for securing include elastic bands, zippers, adhesive tabs, drawstrings, or hook and loop fasteners. The final image (d) demonstrates how the non-fluted rectangular version of the waistband guard is worn, tucked into the waistband and draped over the lower-body garments.
[0027] Experiment
[0028] An absorbent pad consisting of a quilted polymer layer with a polyethylene plastic backing was trimmed into a guard the size and shape (dimensions about 25 cm×15 cm, 2 mm thick) of the folded drip-slip™ variant (FIG. 2). The guard was wrapped around the arm and tucked into the sleeve, rolled up at mid-forearm, with the absorbent side facing inward. The guard was then folded over the sleeve cuff (FIG. 4a). Two adhesive tabs were fashioned out of adhesive tape (dimensions about 4 cm×1 cm, thickness 0.25 mm) and used to secure the guard around the sleeve (FIG. 4b). The wearer was asked to let watercolor paint drip down their wrist from a paintbrush in their hand. Afterwards, the guard was palpably wet and visibly tinted, but the sleeve remained dry and unstained. The same experiment was performed without the guard, resulting in a wet and color-stained sleeve.
