Underwear abstract
A disposable underwear is formed by laying a front body and a back
body one on top of the other, providing a bonded portion on at least
one of the left and right side edges, and providing leg openings
and a waist opening. The disposable underwear includes a tightening
member in the vicinity of the waist opening. The front and back
bodies further comprise a non-bonded portion formed at the portion
between the tightening member and the bonded portion.
Underwear claims
What is claimed is:
1. A disposable underwear, comprising: a body having front and
back bodies one of which is laid on top of the other; a bonded portion
and a non-bonded portion both of which are provided on at least
one of left and right side edges of the body, the front and back
bodies being bonded to each other at the bonded portion but not
bonded at the non-bonded portion; leg openings formed between the
front body and back body for passing wearer's legs therethrough;
a waist opening formed between the front body and back body; and
a tightening member which is provided adjacent the waist opening
to be used for tightening the waist of the wearer, wherein the non-bonded
portion is formed between the tightening member and the bonded portion.
2. A disposable underwear according to claim 1, wherein the bonded
portion is formed on each of the left and right side edges of the
front and back bodies.
3. A disposable underwear according to claim 1, wherein the front
and back bodies are bonded adjacent the center of the leg openings.
4. A disposable underwear according to claim 1, wherein the strength
of the bonded portion is in a range between 0.5 N and 30 N.
5. A disposable underwear according to claim 1, wherein the tightening
member is formed integrally with the front and back bodies, the
tightening member comprises lace members extending substantially
horizontally from a side of the upper edge of the front and back
bodies, and the waist opening is tightened by tying the lace members
opposing to each other.
6. A disposable underwear according to claim 5, wherein the lace
members are provided at right and left sides of each of the front
and back bodies, and a pair of the lace members extending from the
same side are tying with each other.
7. A disposable underwear according to claim 1, wherein the tightening
member comprises a sheath, which is formed by folding downwardly
and bonding an upper edge of a waist portion of the front and back
bodies; and a cord passing through the sheath.
8. A disposable underwear according to claim 1, wherein each of
the front and back bodies is formed of nonwoven fabric of 40 g/m.sup.2
to 100 g/m.sup.2 in METSUKE.
9. A disposable underwear according to claim 1, wherein each of
the front and back bodies is formed of nonwoven fabric having the
total beam transmission efficiency of less than 60 percent.
10. A disposable underwear according to claim 1, wherein the bonded
portion is formed at a position 5 mm to 30 mm inward from the side
edges of the front and back bodies.
Underwear description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority of Application No.
2001-011893, filed Jan. 19, 2001 in Japan, the subject matter of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an underwear to be worn
by a patient before surgery in the hospital, and more specifically,
to a disposable underwear for wearing on the lower body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Conventionally, there is underwear just like a loincloth
called T-shaped band as disposable underwear to be worn by a patient
who is to be undergone medical procedure such as surgery. The T-shaped
band has a thin cord extending both sides, which is to be tied when
being worn, and loosened by a nurse or a doctor just before surgery.
[0004] However, since the T-shaped band as described above looks
like a loincloth or a diaper rather than underwear in appearance,
it gives unpleasant feeling or uneasiness to the patient. There
has been another problem that it took a lot of trouble for nurses
or doctors with loosening a knot before surgery.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide
disposable underwear that can reduce unpleasant feeling or uneasiness
of the patient before surgery by making the appearance thereof look
like everyday-use underwear, and that can easily be taken off by
nurses or doctors.
[0006] Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the
present invention will be set forth in part in the description that
follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the
art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice
of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may
be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations
particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In order to achieve the object described above, a disposable
underwear according to the invention is formed by laying a front
body and a back body one on top of the other, providing a bonded
portion on at least one of the left and right side edges, and providing
leg openings and a waist opening. It also comprises a tightening
member in the vicinity of the waist opening. The front and back
bodies further comprise a non-bonded portion formed at the portion
between the tightening member and the bonded portion.
[0008] In the invention constructed as described above, since the
overall shape is similar to that of everyday-use underwear, it advantageously
reduce unpleasant feeling or uneasiness of the patient before surgery.
In addition, when the nurse or the doctor takes his/her underwear
off immediately before surgery, he/she can insert his/her finger
into the non-bonded portion and tear it easily, whereby it can save
his/her work to take the patient's underwear off.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the construction of
disposable underpants according to a first embodiment of the present
invention, when viewed from the front;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the construction of
disposable underpants according to the first embodiment of the present
invention, when viewed from the back;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a plan view (front view) of the disposable underpants
shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 showing the positions of bonded lines;
[0012] FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory drawings showing the construction
of the principal portion of the disposable underpants according
to the first embodiment; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded front view showing the construction
of disposable underpants according to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part
hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred
embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments
are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the
art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other
embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical
changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the present inventions. The following detailed description is,
therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and scope of the
present inventions is defined only by the appended claims.
[0015] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are perspective views showing the construction
of disposable underpants according to a first embodiment of the
present invention, when viewed from the front and from the back
respectively. FIG. 3 is a plan view (front view) of the disposable
underpants in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 showing the positions of bonded
lines. FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory drawings showing the construction
of principal portions of the same disposable underpants.
[0016] The disposable underpants of the first embodiment includes
a front body 10 and a back body 12 formed of nonwoven fabric, and
a tightening cord 14 to be disposed around the waist. The front
body 10 and the back body 12 being formed of nonwoven fabric of
the same configuration are laid one on top of the other, and then
are bonded with each other at the side bonded portions 26R, 26L
and the bonded portion between leg openings 30. It is also possible
to employ a continuous sheet (nonwoven fabric) for the front body
and the back body, fold it at the center thereof and then bond the
edges. In this case, the side bonded portion is formed only on one
side.
[0017] The bonded portion 30 is formed in the shape of inverted
U, and the inner side thereof is formed with a notch 24. The side
bonded portions 26R and 26L are formed only at the portions near
the centers of the side edges of the front and back bodies. In other
words, there are formed non-bonded portions 22R and 22L that are
not to be bonded with each other between the upper ends of the bonded
portions 26R and 26L and the upper edges of the front and back bodies
10 and 12. The non-bonded portions 22R and 22L are constructed so
that one can insert his/her finger or fingers to rupture (separate)
the bonded portions 26R and 26L before surgery.
[0018] The upper ends of the front and back bodies 10 and 12 are
formed with sheaths (folded portion) 20 by folding them toward outsides
thereof. The sheaths 20 are used for passing a cord 14 therethrough.
At the position near the center of the sheath 20 of the front body
10, there is provided an opening 21 for guiding the left and right
ends of the cord 14 out of the sheath. At the position near the
center of the sheath 20 of the back body 12, there is provided an
opening 34 for joining the cord 14 to the back body 12, and the
cord 14 passing across the opening 34 is bonded to the back body
12 to form a bonded portion 32. The construction in which the back
body 12 does not have a sheath 20, and the cords 14 extend from
the upper side edges of the back body 12 and are passed through
the sheath 20 of the front body 10 (not shown).
[0019] The bonded portions 26R, 26L and 30 may be formed by bonding
the front body 10 and the back body 12 one on top of the other,
or by butt-seaming. When forming the these bonded portions 26R,
26L and 30, for example, fusion welding such as a thermal sealing
process or a sonic sealing process using ultrasonic wave may be
employed. They may be bonded by adhesive agent such as hot melt
adhesives. The bonding pattern at the bonded portions 26R, 26L and
30 may be either continuous or discontinuous.
[0020] When forming the bonded portions 26R, 26L and 30 by fusion
welding, the width of the welded line is preferably between 0.1
mm and 15 mm, and more preferably, between 0.5 mm and 10 mm. When
the width of the welded line is less than 0.1 mm, a line pressure
exerted in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the flow
of the sheet increases, which may results in rupture of the fusion-welded
portion. On the other hand, when the width of the welded line is
more than 15 mm, the wearers may have uncomfortable feeling. It
is because the welded portion is higher in rigidity in comparison
with the non-welded portion. The pattern of the welded portion that
may be employed includes linear, wavelike, zigzag, or grillwork.
It is also possible to use dotted pattern in combination to adjust
the line pressure in the direction orthogonal to the direction of
the flow of the sheet.
[0021] When forming the bonded portions 26R, 26L and 30 by the
use of adhesive agent, bonding by means of hot melt adhesives is
preferable. As a measure to apply hot melt materials that may be
employed includes solid pattern or stripe pattern by coater dyeing,
a netted pattern or dotted pattern by gravure coating, linear pattern
by bead application, and spiral pattern, wavelike pattern, or zigzag
pattern adjusted by air.
[0022] In the case of bonding by the use of adhesive agent, the
width of the adhered portion is preferably between 1 mm and 15 mm.
When the width of the adhered portion is less than 1 mm, the strength
for bonding the sheets (10, 12) deteriorates, which may result in
separation during use.
[0023] The strength at the bonded portions 26R, 26L and 30 is preferably
between 0.5 N and 30 N when expressed in peel strength in the vertical
direction of the underwear. When the peeling strength is less than
0.5 N, separation may occur during use, and when it is more than
30 N, it may resist separation when necessary. In the invention,
the peeling strength is determined to be such that it resists easy
separation during normal use before surgery, but is easily separable
when a nurse tries to take it off immediately before surgery.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 4A, the positions of the bonded portions
26R and 26L are such that the distance D from both of the side edges
in the laterally inward direction is approximately between 0.5 mm
and 30 mm, and more preferably, between 1 mm and 20 mm. When the
distance D is less than 0.5 mm, it may resist separation of the
front and back bodies or may give uncomfortable feeling to the wearer
because both side edges of these bodies come into contact with the
patient's skin. In contrast to it, when the distance D is more than
30 mm, it may impair appearance of underwear. As shown in FIG. 4B,
a pull 38 may be provided separately for making separation of bonded
portions 26R and 26L easier.
[0025] As a tightening means for the waist, a mechanical fastener
or the like may be employed instead of the cord 14.
[0026] The sheet that may be used for the front and back bodies
10 and 12 includes nonwoven fabric such as spunbonded fabric, spun-lace
fabric, needle-punched fabric, melt-blown fabric, thermal-bonded
fabric, chemical-bonded fabric formed of thermoplastic fibers. As
fibers for such nonwoven fabric, polyolefin-based fiber, polyester-based
fiber, polyamide-based fiber, and compound fiber such as thick-and-thin
type, or side-by-side type formed of polyethylene/polypropylene
or polyester may be used.
[0027] It is also possible to blend absorbent fibers to give nonwoven
fabric sweat absorbent capability. The absorbent fibers includes
pulp, rayon, cotton and acetate. In order for fusion welding the
bonded portions, it is preferable to construct the sheet with 10
to 70 percent of absorbent fiber and 30 to 90 percent of thermoplastic
fiber. When the absorbent fiber contained is less than 10 percent,
sweat absorbent capability is lowered, and when it is more than
70 percent, the sealing performance is lowered.
[0028] Nonwoven fabric is preferably colored, for example, to blue
or green of low saturation in order to avoid lack of hiding the
patient's skin or private parts when the underwear is worn. The
METSUKE, which is representing a weight for a unit of area, of nonwoven
fabric is preferably in the range between 40 g/m.sup.2 and 100 g/m.sup.2.
When METSUKE is less than 40 g/m.sup.2, the nonwoven fabric may
be transparent even when it is colored. In contrast to it, when
the METSUKE is more than 100 g/m.sup.2, the textile may be deteriorated,
and it gives uncomfortable feeling to the wearer. Accordingly, the
total beam transmission efficiency is determined to be not more
than 60 percent, and more preferably, not more than 40 percent.
[0029] When wearing the disposable underwear according to this
embodiment, the wearer inserts his/her legs from the waist opening
18 through the leg openings 16. Then, the ends of the cord 14 extending
toward the front body side 19 are tied to tighten the portion around
the waist. After the patient is laid on the surgical table, for
example, the nurse puts her hand into the non-bonded portions 22R
and 22L and separates the bonded portions 26R and 26L. Subsequently,
she separates the bonded portion 30 to release bonding of the front
body 10 and the back body 12, and then grips and pulls the cord
14 out from the non-bonded portions 22R and 22L. Consequently, the
front body 10 is completely removed from the patient on the surgical
table. The action to remove the cord 14 and the action to separate
the bonded portions 26R and 26L may be carried out in the reverse
order.
[0030] FIG. 6 is an exploded front view showing the construction
of disposable underpants according to a second embodiment of the
present invention. Disposable underpants of this embodiment are
formed by laying a front body 40 and a back body 42 in the same
configuration one on top of the other. Materials of the front and
back bodies 40 and 42 (nonwoven fabric) to be employed may be the
same as those described in conjunction with the first embodiment,
and thus will not be described again. Lace portions (belt portions)
44R and 44L for tightening the portion around the waist extend from
the upper end of the left and right side edges of the front body
40. In the same manner, lace portions 48R and 48L for tightening
the portion around the waist extend from the upper end of the left
and right side edges of the back body 42.
[0031] The front body 40 and the back body 42 are laid one on top
of the other, and then are bonded with each other at the side bonded
portions 56R and 56L and at the bonded portion 50 between leg openings.
It is also possible to employ a continuous sheet (nonwoven fabric)
for the front body and the back body, fold it at the center thereof
and then bond the edges. In this case, the side bonded portion is
formed only on one side.
[0032] The bonded portion 50 is formed in the shape of inverted
U, and the inner side thereof is formed with a notch 54. Side bonded
portions 56R and 56L are formed only at a part of (at the lower
part of) the side edges of the front and back bodies 40 and 42.
In other words, there are formed non-bonded portions 52R and 52L
between the upper ends of the bonded portions 56R and 56L and the
lace portions 44R and 44L (48R and 48L). The non-bonded portions
52R and 52L are constructed so that one can insert his/her finger
or fingers to separate (break) the bonded portions 56R and 56L immediately
before surgery.
[0033] When wearing the disposable underwear according to this
embodiment, the wearer inserts his/her legs into the waist opening
48 through the leg openings 46. Then, the lace portion 44R extending
from the right edge of the front body 40 and the lace portion 48R
extending from the right edge of the back body 42 are tied. In the
same manner, the lace portion 44L extending from the left edge of
the front body 40 and the lace portion 48L extending from the left
edge of the back body 42 are tied. After the patient is laid on
the surgical table, for example, the nurse puts her hand into the
non-bonded portions 52R and 52L and separates the bonded portions
56R and 56L. Subsequently, she separates the bonded portion 50 to
release bonding of the front body 40 and the back body 42, and then
loosens a knot of the lace portions 44R and 48R and a knot of the
lace portions 44L and 48L. Consequently, the front body 40 is completely
removed from the patient on the surgical table. The action to loosen
the knot of the lace portions and the action to separate the bonded
portions 56R and 56L may be carried out in the reverse order.
[0034] Though the embodiments of the invention has been described
thus far, the invention is not limited thereto, and may be modified
in design as needed within the scope of the invention stated in
the appended claims.
[0035] As is described thus far, according to the invention, unpleasant
feeling or uneasiness of the passenger before surgery may be reduced
because of its configuration similar to the everyday-use underwear.
In addition, since the nurse or the doctor can easily break it by
inserting her/his finger or fingers into the non-bonded portion
when he/she takes the patient's underwear off immediately before
surgery, it can advantageously save his/her work to take the patient's
underwear off. |