Intergluteal shield

Abstract

An intergluteal shield being a crescent or heart shaped or other shaped pad having a soft fabric exterior and lacking any waterproof layers, the pad being sized to fit into the intergluteal space of a human keeping the location dry. The intergluteal shield can be used to alleviate diaper rash, Hexsel's hydrosis and other intergluteal irritations.

Claims

1. An intergluteal shield, comprising an absorbent pad lacking any waterproof layers, said pad having a size and a shape to fit into an intergluteal space of a human, thereby separating the glutes and allowing airflow therebetween, said absorbent pad having an absorbent material covered by a soft fabric exterior, and said fabric having a layer of curly cellulose fiber therein.

2. The intergluteal shield of claim 1, further comprising a tab portion of said intergluteal shield protruding from said intergluteal space and suitable for gripping.

3. The intergluteal shield of claim 1, comprising cotton sherpa fleece or bamboo fleece.

4. The intergluteal shield of claim 1, wherein said absorbent pad has an acidic pH.

5. The intergluteal shield of claim 1, said absorbent pad having a pH of 4.5-5.

6. The intergluteal shield of claim 1, wherein said shape is a heart shape, a crescent shape, a rectangular shape, or a shape having a convex curve on an edge thereof.

7. The intergluteal shield of claim 1, wherein said absorbent pad comprises a dried buffer having a pKa of 4.5-5.5.

8. The intergluteal shield of claim 1, wherein said absorbent pad comprises a dried medicament for the treatment of diaper rash.

9. The intergluteal shield of claim 1, wherein said absorbent pad is selected from bamboo, cotton, hemp, silk or lanolized wool fleece or combinations thereof.

10. The intergluteal shield of claim 1, said fabric being a non-woven stay dry fabric.

11. The intergluteal shield of claim 1, said fabric being a non-woven stay dry fabric comprising a non-woven polypropylene and polyethylene material.

12. The intergluteal shield of claim 1, wherein said fabric is a terrycloth or velvet or flannel having a pile, wherein said pile is oriented to the outside of said pad.

13. An intergluteal shield, comprising an absorbent pad lacking any waterproof layers, said pad having a size and a shape to fit into an intergluteal space of a human, thereby separating the glutes and allowing airflow therebetween, further comprising a tab portion of said intergluteal shield protruding from said intergluteal space and suitable for gripping, said tab portion being less than 3 square inches, said absorbent pad having an absorbent material covered by a soft fabric exterior, and said fabric having a layer of curly cellulose fiber therein.

14. An intergluteal shield, comprising an absorbent pad of pH 4.5-5 and lacking any waterproof layers, said pad having a size and a shape to fit into an intergluteal space of a human, thereby separating the glutes and allowing airflow therebetween, said absorbent pad having an absorbent material covered by a soft fabric exterior, and said fabric having a layer of curly cellulose fiber therein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A-C. shows several embodiments in cross section. FIG. 1A shows a cover over an absorbent filler. FIG. 1B shows a two-layer shield made of terry cloth with the loops on the outside. FIG. 1C shows a two-layer velvet shield with the pile to the outside.

(2) FIG. 2. shows a top plan view of a crescent moon shaped intergluteal shield.

(3) FIG. 3. shows a top plan view of a heart shaped intergluteal shield that is folded over for use.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a variety of shapes that could be used.

(5) FIG. 5 is a top view of an un-embossed absorbent intergluteal shield according to one embodiment.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view of the shield of FIG. 5.

(7) FIG. 7 is a top view of an un-embossed intergluteal shield according to another embodiment.

(8) FIG. 8 is a top view of a shield having embossed edging around the periphery.

(9) FIG. 9 is a side view of the shield of FIG. 8, where the edging is clearly visible.

(10) FIG. 10 is a top view of another shield having embossed edging around the periphery.

(11) FIG. 11 is a top view of yet another shield having embossing throughout in a pattern so as to leave small circular puffs of un-embossed absorbent material.

(12) FIG. 12 is a top view of yet another variation of FIG. 11, the shield having embossing throughout in a pattern so as to leave small circular puffs of un-embossed material.

(13) FIG. 13 is a top view of yet another shield having embossing throughout in a pattern so as to leave small heart-shaped puffs of un-embossed material.

(14) FIG. 14 is a top view of yet another variation of FIG. 13, the shield having embossing throughout in a pattern so as to leave small heart-shaped puffs of un-embossed material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) FIG. 1. shows various embodiments of the intergluteal shield in cross section. In FIG. 1A, a cover 10 is shown over a loosely packed absorbent filler 11, and the edges can be welded, sewn or glued. The function of the filler is merely to provide adequate air flow, and thus the filler need not be absorbent, although it preferably is. Cover 10 can be any woven or non-woven fabric, and in some embodiments is preferably a “stay-dry” non-woven material, such as is common in diapers and breast milk shield. If desired, additional wicking layers can be added.

(16) FIG. 1B shows a two-layer shield made of terry cloth fabric 13 with the loops 12 on the outside. FIG. 1C shows a two-layer velvet 14 shield, again with the pile 15 to the outside. These soft surfaces allow air flow and thus allow the intergluteal region to stay dry.

(17) FIG. 2. shows a top plan view of a crescent moon shaped intergluteal shield 20 with separate tab 21. FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of a heart shaped intergluteal shield 30 that is folded over for use. This embodiment may be particularly preferred as being very simple of manufacture, plus any edging material is away from the baby's skin during use. The fold is flat, rather than curved, thus the fit may suffer. However, a fabric with sufficient flex may provide good fit.

(18) FIG. 4 shows a variety of shapes that could be used, here each having at least one edge that is convex, and one variation having a tab, for gripping during removal. A simple rectangle would also suffice, but the convex edges, provides a better wrinkle free fit.

(19) FIG. 5-14 show a variety of design and embossment patterns.

(20) Preferred materials are natural fibers that are biodegradable, highly absorbent and non-antigenic or irritating to baby skin. However, synthetics may be preferred as providing superior wicking and airflow properties. The types of materials that can be used are described below:

(21) Bamboo—Bamboo fiber is an incredibly absorbent material and naturally resistant to bacterial growth, making it an excellent fabric for a shield. Bamboo is available in a variety of fabric styles, including terrycloth, velvet, fleece and flannel.

(22) Cotton—Cotton is the most commonly used plant based fiber on earth and cotton is often used in reusable diapers. The cotton outer layer can be woven, such as cotton velvet or terrycloth and a loose cotton fiber can be used as the filling. Terry, velvet and brushed cottons (flannel) may be particularly suitable for use herein. Cottonique® makes a natural unbleached cotton that is pH balanced for skin, and may be a particularly preferred material.

(23) Hemp—Hemp is a natural fiber that is more hydroscopic than cotton and naturally resistant to bacterial growth. Hemp materials are quite thin, while still absorbent, but they do not absorb as quickly as cotton or polyester. For this reason, in diapers, hemp fabric is often paired with another absorbent fiber, such as in a hemp/cotton blend. Hemp is available in a variety of fabric styles, including terrycloth, velvet and flannel.

(24) Modal—Modal fabric is similar to bamboo in that it is made from wood pulp, however it is made from the wood pulp of beech trees rather than bamboo. Modal has an incredibly silky feel to it, and maintains its softness and wears well over time. One key advantage to modal fabrics in diapering is that they are resistant to the mineral build up that many struggle with when washing such materials in hard water.

(25) Polyester—Polyester is a man-made material, and as such is made with chemicals and petroleum. In diapering, the word “polyester” is often replaced with “microfiber,” “minky,” and occasionally “zorb”. These products are quite absorbent, but they do wear out over time, losing the ability to absorb with continued wear. Microfiber is often used in pocket diapers and should never be used directly against a baby's skin as it can be irritating. The microscopic structure of these fibers that makes them so absorbent can also make them incredibly difficult to get thoroughly clean with each washing, and therefore tend to develop odors over time.

(26) Silk—Silk is the only 100% natural wicking material able to help keep baby bottoms drier and is naturally acidic. Silk has natural anti-bacterial properties that may keep yeast and diaper rash at bay. Silk liners are a recommended accessory for cloth diapering. Knit silk liners are also available.

(27) Fleece—Polyester fleece comes in many weights and varieties and can perform several different functions. The thinnest fleece is often used on the interior of a diaper as a stay dry layer, as described further below. Thicker fleeces can be used in making a breathable cover for diapers. If there is a very absorbent diaper underneath, fleece can be an incredibly successful fabric as a cover for diapers since it is so water resistant, yet porous for breathability. It is often sewn into “soakers,” “shorties,” and “longies” at home for economical and adorable diapering. A double layer fleece shield may be particular beneficial, avoiding the need for any filler, and yet very soft and allowing good airflow.

(28) “Stay Dry” Fabrics—Suedecloth, microfleece, and athletic fabrics—which are porous polyester fabrics—are frequently used in diapering as a “stay dry” layer. These fabrics are not designed to absorb liquids, so when used inside a diaper as the layer closest to a baby's skin the urine passes through them and into the absorbent layers of the diaper. This helps to keep moisture away from a baby's skin longer, helping the skin to “stay dry.”

(29) Wool—Wool is the most natural and breathable material available for use in diaper covers. It is naturally resistant to bacterial growth and, when lanolized, it is incredibly water resistant. Wool interlock fabric, as well as knit and crocheted items, all require hand washing and lanolizing but many who use wool as their choice for diaper covers find the benefits of wool to be worth the higher maintenance of the material. One of the benefits of wool is that it is naturally acidic.

(30) Nonwoven Polypropylene and polyethylene liners—These are typically used in disposable diapers against the baby's skin to provide a wicking surface, pulling fluid to the absorbent liner or gel inside the diaper. See e.g., US20110092935 Fabric liner for skin-contacting items.

(31) Many of these materials listed above have already been developed for diaper use, including super heavy bamboo fleece, bamboo heavy fleece, bamboo fleece, cotton sherpa (sherpa is a synthetic knitted fabric, smooth on one side and like sheeps wool fleece on the other), bamboo hemp fleece, hemp fleece, bamboo French terry, bamboo velour, white birdseye mesh wicking, hemp French terry, Polyolefin, absorbent wood based cellulose, and cotton. Each of these have also been tested for bacterial growth by our engineers, and the top three picks were cotton sherpa, bamboo heavy fleece & super heavy bamboo fleece.

(32) Cotton sherpa fleece is 90% cotton and 10% polyester of weight 510 gsm/15 oz per sq. yard and is $11 per yard at Diaper Sewing Supplies (numbers can vary, but this was the fabric actually tested). It makes great fitted diapers and diaper inserts, is very durable, shrinks when washed, and this felting up helps give good absorbency. It is often used in fitted diapers with the fuzzy sherpa side against baby's skin.

(33) Bamboo heavy fleece fabric is $16.00 per yard and is 70% bamboo viscose and 30% organic cotton and weight is 400 gsm/25 oz per yard (numbers can vary, but this is the fabric that was actually tested). It is very popular for diaper inserts—especially for heavy wetters overnight. It is quick to grab and hold moisture and shrinks about 10% when washed, and this felting up helps give it good absorbency. It is typically sewn smooth sides out for inserts and soakers. It is available in Oeko-tex Standard 100—the highest international standard meant for infant items that touch the skin and which certifies that the fibers used in this fabric are free of all known harmful substances.

(34) Bamboo Super Heavy Fleece Fabric is $17.00 per yard and is 70% bamboo viscose and 30% organic cotton of weight: 500 gsm/31 oz per yard (amounts can vary, but this is the fabric that was tested). This fabric is the ultimate in bamboo absorbency, with quick soaking power and lots of capacity. It shrinks when washed and this felting up helps it soak up liquid. It looks and feels just like the other bamboo fleeces but is thicker. It is also available in Oeko-tex Standard 100.

(35) Most preferred the outer layer of the pad is such as to help maintain an acidic pH. Begiun (2010) describes one such material. To achieve a skin-neutral pH value between 4.5 and 5.5 on the surface of adult briefs, they used curled fiber (CMC 525, Weyerhaeuser International Inc., Geneva, Switzerland), a citric acid-crosslinked and a specially processed type of cellulose fiber, interposed between the lining sheet in contact with the skin and innermost superabsorbent polymer (SAP)-containing cellulose fluff. Curled fiber is modified in a citric acidic environment and this favors the formation of cross-links to maintain a twisted and curled fiber architecture. This type of fiber has soft haptics and an excellent ratio between fluid holding and distribution characteristics. Beneath the curled fiber layer the normal cellulose and SAP containing core binds the absorbed fluid and reduces the re-wetting at the level of the skin.

(36) In standard polyacrylate superabsorbent briefs with a conventional design, the surface pH was read at values of 7.08±0.03 when wetted with a salt-containing urine replacement solution. Interposing a fluid acquisition layer containing curled fiber between the top fleece facing the patient's skin and the SAP-containing absorption core the surface pH was buffered to 4.58±0.17.

(37) Another way to reduce the pH of the shield is to soak or spray it with citric acid and/or L-lactide and allow the solution to dry. By contrast, if the infant has an acidic diarrhea, a buffer may be better than an acid to lower pH.

(38) Yet another way is to manufacture a material of known pH. See e.g., US20110021104 pH-adjusting textile containing amphoteric polymer composite nanoparticles.

(39) Medicaments can be included in the shield if provided in dry format, such as powders or materials the bind to or were absorbed by the fibers of the shield. It is noted, however, that some medicaments should not be used except under doctors prescription, such as antifungals and certain antibiotics, and all medicaments should be tested and FDA approved before use. Examples of medicaments that could be included in the shield include the following:

(40) Analgesics such as procaine, xylocaine, carbocaine, pramoxine hydrochloride or the like.

(41) Anti-lipase agents such as esterastin, lipstatin, valilactone, tetrahydrolipstatin, panclicin, ebelactone, ajoene, and combinations thereof and said protease inhibitor is a trypsin-chymotrypsin inhibitor.

(42) Anti-protease agents such as a trypsin-chymotrypsin inhibitor.

(43) Antifungal agents such as benzoic acid, salicylic acid, amphotericin B, miconazole, nystatin, tolnaftate or the like or mixtures or combinations thereof.

(44) pH control agents such as inorganic and organic buffers (pK's from 4 to 6), to control pH to between about 4.5 and about 5.5, such as carbonates, maleates, citrates, adipates, or the like, or mixtures or combinations thereof. Weakly basic anion exchange resins of agarose, dextran, cellulose and polystyrene to sequester or augment neutralization of bile salt/acid and contribute to pH control, or mixtures or combinations thereof.

(45) Anti-inflammatory agents such as antihistamines, corticosteroids, or the like, or mixtures or combinations thereof.

(46) Anti-microbial agents such as eugenol, guaiacol, zephiran chloride, or the like, or mixtures or combinations thereof.

(47) Antibiotic agents such as bacitracin, neomycin sulfate, gentamicin sulfate, erythromycin or the like, or mixtures or combinations thereof.

(48) Vitamins. Vitamin B3 has been shown to inhibit urease, thereby helping to maintain correct pH. Vitamin A has also been included in many diaper rash treatments, but there is no evidence to support its inclusion or exclusion.

(49) Emollients. Lanolin is one of the most physiological emollient constituents currently available, containing many of the lipid groups present in the human stratum corneum and having the advantage of permitting water exchange.

(50) U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,087 describes method of binding medicaments to the fibers in a diaper, but other methods could be used, including merely soaking the shield in a solution of medicament and allowing it to dry, or spraying the surface and allowing it to dry. This simple method is expected to be very useful for naturally absorbent fibers.

(51) The following references are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

(52) BEGUIN A., et al., Improving diaper design to address incontinence associated dermatitis, BMC Geriatrics 10:86 (2010).

(53) US20080145443 Diaper rash composition and method.

(54) US20110021104 pH-adjusting textile containing amphoteric polymer composite nanoparticles.

(55) US20110092935 Fabric liner for skin-contacting items.

(56) U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,532 Disposable liquid-absorbing article.

(57) U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,454 Microfiber-containing absorbent structures and absorbent articles.

(58) U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,022 Thin absorbent articles containing gelling agent.

(59) U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,770 Durable, comfortable, air-permeable allergen-barrier fabrics.

(60) U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,087 Method for forming a diaper.

(61) U.S. Pat. No. 6,676,645 Breast-milk absorbent pad.

(62) U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,201 High wet resiliency curly cellulose fibers.

(63) U.S. Pat. No. 7,364,639 Method of producing twisted, curly fibers.