WO1993009818A1

WO1993009818A1 - Fragrance emitting element

Info

Publication number: WO1993009818A1
Application number: PCT/SE1992/000771
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Witte
Original assignee: Stefan Witte
Priority date: 1991-11-11
Filing date: 1992-11-09
Publication date: 1993-05-27
Also published as: AU2959192A

Abstract

The invention concerns a fragrance-emitting element designed to emit a pleasant smell. The fragrance-emitting element, which is intended to be used together with bandages and plasters (6) and similar wound-protecting means or on protective panty shields (7) for women's briefs, sanitary napkins, baby's diapers and the like, consists of a fragrance layer (3) of a scented material, having one adhesive side, and of a non-permeable tape (4) which covers the fragrance layer (3) and which may be torn off therefrom.

Description

FRAGRANCE EMITTING ELEMENT

The subject invention concerns a fragrance-emitting element designed to emit a pleasant smell. Under some circumstances, it may be difficult to suppress bad smells. One source of bad smells is e.g. wounds caused by injuries or surgical operations on a patient if complications arise because the wounds, instead of healing, suppurate. Another such source is the colo- stomy bandage or plaster that patients who have undergone colostomy surgery are forced to carry henceforth, which plaster protectingly covers underlying drainage means. The liquids to be drained soak through plasters of this kind comparatively quickly and unpleasant smells may occur. Other situations in which bad smells may have to be suppressed are in connection with diapers or sanitary napkins which from time to time, perhaps as a result of leakage, are unable to prevent that unpleasant smells are emitted. Various types of odoriferous sprays are available on the market. By means of a spray can or spray tube the area surrounding a wound may be sprayed prophylactically. One disadvantage is however, that later, when the fragrance of the spray agent has largely weakened, the spray can may not be readily accessible for renewal of the application of the fragrant substance. To have to always carry a spray can on one's person may in itself be felt as a complication in itself.

The subject invention provides a fragrance-emitting element: by means of which the problems of the kind outlined above may be considerably alleviated. The characteristic features of this fragrance-emitting element are defined in the appended claims.

The invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows the fragrance-emitting element in a cross-sectional view,

F±g. 2 shows, in. a view from above and in perspec¬ tive, a plaster provided with the fragrance-emitting element in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a a thin sanitary napkin of the kind known as a panty shield, provided with the fragrance-emitting element, and

Fig. 4 shows a pair of briefs with such a shield adhering thereto.

The fragrance-emitting element in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 is composed of three layers. A bottom layer consists of an adhesive tape 1 coated with an adhesive agent on both sides and by means of which the fragrance-emitting element may be attached to a support 2, in its most simple embodiment to the skin of a person, as is the case with ordinary plasters.

A second layer 3 exteriorly of the adhesive tape 1 is the fragrance layer proper and preferably consists of cotton wool or a similar material, which is scented. On the scented layer 3 is superposed an air-impermeable, detachable tape 4.

The inventive idea is that the fragrance-emitting element should be attached adjacent for instance a wound which does not heal quickly and which for that reason or on other grounds may be the source of uncontrolled emissions of unpleasant smells. A person experiencing problems with this type of wounds may, in the peace and quiet of his own home, attach one or several fragrance- emitting elements in accordance with the invention in the area of the wound, after having cleaned the latter and applied a bandage. At this stage, the covering tape 4 keeps the fragrance-emitting element in an inactive state. On a later occasion, when the person in question may find himself in the midst of others and becomes aware of a hint of bad smell from the wound, he or she need only go to the bathroom for a moment to tear off the tape 4. The fragrance-emitting element then becomes active and eliminates all possibilities of emission of bad smells from the wound. Since the covering tape 4 prevents evaporation of scent from the element from the moment of its application, there is no weakening of the fragrance of the element but the latter may release its fragrance with maximum efficiency when best needed.

Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment according to which a couple of fragrance-emitting elements are applied on a bandage 5 on either side of a plaster 6 in order to cooperate with the latter. The distal fragrance-emitting element is shown in the drawing figure in an unused state whereas the proximal element is shown with the covering tape 4 having been removed. This embodiment is intended to show that the fragrance-emitting element in accordance with the invention may be integrated with bandages of various kinds in a simple and practical manner.

Figs. 3 and 4 llustrate another usage of the fragrance-emitting element. Fig. 3 illustrates a conven- tional thin sanitary napkin 7 of the kind known as panty shields intended to be attached on women's briefs. The shield 7 consists of a liquid-absorbing layer 8, a liquid- impermeable layer 9 attached to one side of the first- mentioned layer, an adhesive layer 10 exteriorly of layer 9, and a protective tape 11.

In accordance with the invention, the panty shield is provided with a fragrance-emitting element 12 comprising a fragrance layer 13 of a scented material, and a non- permeable tape 14 covering the fragrance layer 13 and attached thereto by means of its face 15, which is turned towards the fragrance layer and which is adherent. A tab 16 on the tape 14 facilitates tearing-off of the latter from the fragrance layer 13.

In the manner indicated, conventional panty shields 7 may be provided with a fragrance-emitting element 12, the latter preferably being attached interiorly of the protective tape 11. When a panty shield 7 of this kind is to be used, it is removed from its package, the protective tape 11 is torn off, and the panty shield 7 is applied to a pair of briefs 17 in the manner appearing from Fig. 4. When the wearer wishes to benefit from the e fects of the fragrance-emitting 12 element immediately, she removes the tape 14 already prior to applying the panty shield 7 (with the protective tape 11 already removed) in the desired position inside the pair of briefs 17. Alternatively, she may on a later occasion - if at all needed - tear off the tape 14 by momentarily detaching the front part of the shield 7 from the pair of briefs 17 to make the tape 14 acessible and then again press the panty shield 7 back into position against the pair of briefs 17.

The invention provides a means whereby according to the user's choice it becomes possible to supplement the function of protective panty shields 7 to include also that of having a fragrance-emitting effect. Owing to the position of the fragrance-emitting element 12 interiorly of the protective tape 11 the element is well sealed off during storage of the panty shield 7 inside a package, and even following a prolonged shelf life its fragrance- emitting properties are intact and their full effect is felt as soon as the protective tape 11 and the tape 14 are removed. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated in the drawings. Instead of using a fastening tape 1 both sides of which are adhesive, the fragrance layer 3 could be adhesive on its bottom or reverse side only. Obviously, the fragrance- emitting element could be used together with other types of sanitary napkins than protective panty shields and also with baby's diapers and the like.

Also other types of unpleasant smells, such as body odours, may be remedied by application of a fragrance- emitting element in accordance with the invention in an exposed place, for instance in the arm pit.

Claims

1. A fragrance-emitting element design to emit a pleasant smell, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the fragrance-emitting element consists of a fragrance layer (3) of a scented material, of an adhesive layer (1) on the bottom or rear face of the fragrance layer (3), and of a non-permeable tear-off tape (4) on the top or external face of the fragrance layer (3), said tape (4) covering the fragrance layer (3).

2. A fragrance-emitting element as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it is applied on the base (5) of a bandage, a plaster (6) or similar wound- protecting means.

3. A fragrance-emitting element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the adhesive layer is a fastening tape (1) which is adhesive on both of its sides.

4. A fragrance-emitting element as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it is applied on a protective panty shield (7) or the like on the shield side intended to be in contact with the inner face of a pair of briefs (17).