Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-22
2001-01-16
Sells, James (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S250000, C156S270000, C156S271000, C156S289000, C083S343000, C226S004000, C226S112000, C602S042000, C602S052000, C602S054000, C602S057000, C602S058000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174399
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates a method of manufacturing a multi-layered adhesive bandage wherein one of the layers is an elastic, preferably foam material. More particularly, this invention relates to a method of manufacturing adhesive bandages comprising an elastic, foam backing sheet and an absorbent, central pad adhesively attached to the backing sheet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Adhesive bandages comprising a central pad area and adjacent adhesive areas are well-known in the art and popular as first aid wound dressings. Current bandages generally comprise an elongated strip of cloth or plastic backing material coated on one surface with a pressure sensitive adhesive. A gauze or sponge pad is secured to the adhesive surface in a central location to serve as the wound cover. The wound facing surface of the pad may be plastic-coated or otherwise treated to prevent the pad from adhering to the wound. Plastic-coated release strips are placed over the adhesive areas and the entire assembly is placed in a sealed package and sterilized to be ready for use.
The adhesive bandages of the prior art are characterized by their construction of two basic components: (1) the adhesive coated backing material and (2) the wound covering pad material. The pad material may be dry or impregnated with various bactericides or other wound treatment medicaments. The capacity of the pad to absorb and hold such compositions is a limiting factor on the amount of such material which may be incorporated into the bandage.
Such prior art bandages, while serving well their purpose in an earlier day, tend to be stiff and non-pliable. Consequently, when they are used to cover a wound on, for instance, a joint such as an elbow, depending on the orientation of the elbow, the bandages will not stretch sufficiently to allow full range of motion. Or, if the bandages are applied while the elbow is bent, the bandages will tend to disengage from the wound when the arm is fully extended, exposing the wound to the elements from which it should be protected. Further, bandages in the prior art tend to be thin, a consequence of traditional manufacturing processes where, in order to achieve high production rates, much tension is placed on the various layers. This tension tends to draw down the layer thickness.
In today's active world, people desire a bandage which will conform to their bodies, no matter where the wound is, and protect and cushion the wound from further injury until it is healed. The necessary characteristics of such a bandage include a certain degree of elasticity which will allow full range of movement while still keeping the wound covered. Further, such a bandage will also have a certain amount of cushioning thickness to protect the wound until it is fully healed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved adhesive bandage meeting the characteristics discussed above. This and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and claims of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method for manufacturing an elastic adhesive strip bandage is provided, which method comprises the steps of:
(a) stretching an elastic backing layer;
(b) relaxing the elastic backing layer;
(c) placing an absorbent layer on the elastic backing layer forming a laminate; and
(d) cutting the laminate into strips.
Adhesive bandages comprising an elongated strip of material having a centrally-located blister pad and adjacent adhesive portions extending from each side of the pad area are prepared from an elastic backing material. The blister pad is applied to the center of the bandage strip and secured by, for example, adhesives. A medicated gel or other material may be deposited on the bandage strip and covered with the blister pad to provide a medicated bandage. The bandage strip is preferably left uncompacted to retain soft and absorbency, but the pad may be heat glazed to provide a nonadhering wound release surface.
Strip bandages are conveniently prepared according to the present invention from a first, continuous base material having a width equal to the overall length of the desired bandage, and a second, continuous pad material having a width at least equal to the desired pad area. The base material is fed by a vacuum drum where the moving velocity of the base material is increased slightly. Downstream of the vacuum drum, the velocity of the base material is then slowed so that the elastic nature of the material is allowed to relax. It can next passed through a station (not shown) where a medicated gel or other material can be deposited onto the center of the moving strip if desired. The pad material is then applied to the relaxed base material.
Adhesive release liners are applied and the composite structure fed to a cutting station where strips are cut or stamped transversely to machine direction of the base and pad materials to obtain individual adhesive bandages. The resulting bandages are ready to be packaged and sterilized.
The material used in the fabrication of the base or backing layer of the bandages according to the present invention is preferably an elastic film or foam material that can be elastically stretched in any direction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4622089 (1986-11-01), Lauritzen
patent: 4969970 (1990-11-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5024128 (1991-06-01), Campbell, Jr.
patent: 5190233 (1993-03-01), Nelson et al.
DeCandia Len C.
DeSalvo Philip
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc.
Lorengo J. A.
Sells James
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