US2681032A - Accessory for infants' diapers - Google Patents

Description

Patented `lune 15, 1954 ACCESSORY FOR INFANTS DIAPERS Joseph D. Shaw, Cincinnati, Ohio Application May 21, 1953, Serial No. 356,470

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel accessory for infants diapers and is directed to an extremely simplied device for visibly indicating a condition I" dampness of said diapers.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel indicator device for infants diapers and particularly one that may be cheaply manufactured in quantity and produced as a single use, throw away item of merchandise.

Another object of the invention is to provide an indicator having the foregoing functions which has a novel and positive cooperation oi parts for producing a visible signal indicating whether or not an infants diaper is in a condition to be changed.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction vwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my accessory in position with respect to an infants diaper.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the accessory.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. fi is a section like Fig. 3 showing the parts of the accessory in indicating position.

Fig. is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 6, i and 8 are sectional views similar to Fig. 3 each showing a slightly modied form of my invention.

The embodiment of my invention comprises an elongated base member I6 preferably having a tubular form and constructed from a single strip of cardboard, or the like4 As best shown in Fig. 5 two side portions ll and I2 of the cardboard strip are folded on each other around a centrally located, longitudinally extending curved portion it; the ends of the sides being secured together along their longitudinal extents by a line of glue it.. It will therefore be understood that the tubular base member is somewhat flexible in directions normal to the sides l I and l2 so that it will bend to coliform to the general contour of an infants body, whilst it normally has considerable resistance to longitudinally directed cornpressive forces.

With reference to Figs. 2-5 of the drawings a resilient member l5 such as a rubber band is preferably disposed within the upper portion of the base member and has its upper end secured to the pinched upper edge portion 6 of the base member as by glue il, or the like. The lower end of the band I5 is fastened by glue or the like to the upper end of a moisture responsive, frangible means l5 which preferably takes the form of a strip of paper which is secured at its lower end to the pinched lower end I6 of the base member by means of glue, or the like. The accessory is constructed in a way such that the rangible means I8 normally holds the resilient member l5 under tension in a longitudinally stretched condition such that 'an indicator 20 formed in ther face of the rubber band is out of registry with a visible reference element 2| on the upper part of the base member which takes the form of an aperture extending through the upper end of the side Wall ll of the said base member. A pair of opposed slots 22 may be formed through the side walls of the base member near the bottom thereof to permit moisture to be readily admitted through the base member from the exterior of the base member to the frangible means it.

As best shown in Fig. 1 the lower major portion of my indicator is located within the infants diaper 23 in the area subject to the greatest amount of moisture, whilst a very small upper part extends beyond the diaper and serves as the visible indicating portion of my device. When the diaper dicator 26 thereon into registry with the aperture 2l. It is contemplated that the indicator 2) be of a contrasting color with respect to the exterior face of the side Il so that the presence of the indicator beneath the aperture 2| will provide a visible signal indicating that the infants diaper is wet and requires attention.

A modified form of my accessory is shown in Fig. 6 and comprises a tubular base member 2i similar in construction to the base member It, said base member housing a longitudinally stretchable, resilient member 25 such as a rubber band located within the base member and which carries an indicator 26 normally out of registry with a reference aperture 21 formed through the base member when the longitudinally stretchable, resilient member is held in tension. The upper end of the rubber band is glued at 28 to the pinched upper end of the base member. The band is held in tension by securing its lower end to the pinched lower end 29 of the base member by means of a water soluble glue 30, or by an adhesive that is weakened by the presence of moisture. When the adhesive becomes moist it loses its tenacity and the lower end of the longi- 3 tudinally stretchabie member 25 will be released by the force of the band in tension thus permitting the band to contract and move the indicator 25 into registry with the reference aperture 2l to give a visible signal.

With reference to Fig. 7 the modified accessory shown therein is similar to the modification shown in Fig. 6 with the exception that the ends of the tensioned rubber .band 3l are permanently fixed to the pinched ends of a base member 32 with rivets 33, or the like. The accessory further differs from said Fig. 6 in that at least the lower portion of the base member 32 is constructed from a frangible material which when moistened loses its strength thereby permitting contraction of the longitudinally stretchable member to bring an indicator 3'4 on 'the band into signalling registry with an aperture 35 formed in the base member.

With reference to Fig. 8 the base member 36 is again shown as a tube having the 4general structure of the base member I0. Resilient, longitudinally stretchable member 31 is positioned Within said base member and is secured by glue to the pinched lower end 39 thereof. The upper end of the resilient, longitudinally stretchable member is secured to an indicator element in the form of a strip of opaque material 4U whose upper end is normally interposed between a reference aperture 4| formed in the member and an aligned spot 42 positioned on the inner wall of the base member and of a color contrasting to the exterior color of the base member. Preferably the longitudinally stretchable member vcomprises a woven elastic band held in stretched condition by a frangible means in the form of a sheath 38 of normally hard, water soluble, or water weakened material such as water glass, or the like. When moisture enters the base member through opposed slots 43 therein the frangi'ble sheath 38 on the longitudinally stretchable member 31 will be dissolved or weakened thus permitting the Woven elastic band or indicator to contract, said contraction moving the upper end of the strip 40 from in front of the spot 42 to permit said spot to be seen through the aperture 4| and give a signal.

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory for infants" diapers comprising an elongated base member adapted to be worn 50 with its major portion located Within the diaper and a small part thereof extending visibly beyond the diaper, a resilient member held in longitudinally stretched condition on the base member, a frangible means of low wet strength positioned adjacent the extremity of the major portion of the base and cooperating with the base member to hold the resilient member in stretched condition, a xed reference element on the visible extended part .of the base member, and an indicator on the resilient member movable with respect to the reference element to give a visible signal when the contractile force in the said resilient member has overcome the low wet strength Aof the said frangible means.

2. An .accessory for infants diapers as set forth in claim l characterized by the fact that the resilient Ernernber ii's foreshortened and is xed to the extremity of the visible small part of the base member, and the frangible means is in the form of a strip secured to the free end of the resilient member and to the extremity of the major portion of the base member.

3. An accessory for infants diapers as set forth .in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the resilient member is fixed at one end to the extremity of the visible part of the base member and the frangible means is a moisture weakened adhesive normally securing the opposed end of the resilient member to the extremity of the major portion of the vbase member.

4. An accessory for infants diapers as set forth in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the resilient member is secured 'at 'its ends to the extremities of the base member, and the frangible means is part of the major portion of the base member that has a low Wet strength and which is located near the extremity of the said major portion.

5. An accessory for infants diapers as set forth in claim 1 characterized 'by the fact that the resilient member is fixed to the extremity of the major vportion 'of the base member, and the frangible means is a sleeve of low Wet strength 'surrounding the resilient member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,156,880 Slomon May 2, 1939 2,591,037 Adam Apr. l, 1952

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