Signals and indicators – Indicators – Chemically activated type
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-19
2004-08-10
Fulton, Christopher W. (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Indicators
Chemically activated type
C116S200000, C252S194000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06772708
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a wetness indicating composition having improved colorant retention and to wearable articles comprising this wetness indicating composition.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wearable and absorbent articles such as diapers are well known in the art. Absorbent articles typically have an absorbent core, which is held or positioned against the body of the wearer during use by a fastening system, such that the article catches the bodily exudates. Typical absorbent articles include a topsheet facing the wearer, which permits fluid exudates to pass through, and a backsheet, which prevents the exudates from escaping from the absorbent article.
Many advances have been made in the art since the introduction of the disposable absorbent article including the introduction of wetness indicating compositions associated with the inside surface of the outer cover of the article. These compositions comprise a colorant adapted to change in appearance, i.e., appear, disappear, change color, etc., upon contact with urine in the article. However, these compositions typically do not sufficiently retain the colorant within the composition, resulting in leaching of the colorant from the composition and into portions of the wearable article or onto the wearer. Certain attempts have been made in the art to retain the colorant, such as incorporating the colorant into adhesive compositions having high melting temperatures. However, the prior art fails to provide urine-indicating compositions having sufficient colorant retention performance. Thus, it would be desirable to provide wetness indicating compositions having minimal or zero leaching of the colorant from the carrier matrix. It would also be desirable to provide absorbent articles comprising these urine-indicating compositions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a wetness indicating composition comprising a colorant disposed in a carrier matrix. The colorant provides a visible signal when activated by urine. The colorant resists leaching from the carrier matrix by being chemically bound or by being bound by intermolecular forces to a component of the carrier matrix.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2681032 (1954-06-01), Shaw
patent: 3607782 (1971-09-01), Rosen
patent: 3675654 (1972-07-01), Baker et al.
patent: 3702610 (1972-11-01), Sheppard et al.
patent: 3731685 (1973-05-01), Eidus
patent: 3759261 (1973-09-01), Wang
patent: 3918454 (1975-11-01), Korodi et al.
patent: 3952746 (1976-04-01), Summers
patent: 4022211 (1977-05-01), Timmons et al.
patent: 4028876 (1977-06-01), Delatorre
patent: 4192311 (1980-03-01), Felfoldi
patent: 4231370 (1980-11-01), Mroz et al.
patent: 4287153 (1981-09-01), Towsend
patent: 4327731 (1982-05-01), Powell
patent: 4507121 (1985-03-01), Leung
patent: 4681576 (1987-07-01), Colon et al.
patent: 4705513 (1987-11-01), Sheldon et al.
patent: 4735622 (1988-04-01), Acuff et al.
patent: 4738674 (1988-04-01), Todd et al.
patent: 4743238 (1988-05-01), Colon et al.
patent: 4834733 (1989-05-01), Huntoon et al.
patent: 4895567 (1990-01-01), Colon et al.
patent: 4931051 (1990-06-01), Castello
patent: 5035691 (1991-07-01), Zimmel et al.
patent: 5066711 (1991-11-01), Colon et al.
patent: 5078708 (1992-01-01), Haque
patent: 5089548 (1992-02-01), Zimmel et al.
patent: 5167652 (1992-12-01), Mueller
patent: 5183742 (1993-02-01), Omoto et al.
patent: 5197958 (1993-03-01), Howell
patent: 5342861 (1994-08-01), Raykovitz
patent: 5354289 (1994-10-01), Mitchell et al.
patent: H1376 (1994-11-01), Osborn, III et al.
patent: 5389093 (1995-02-01), Howell
patent: 5435010 (1995-07-01), May
patent: 5468236 (1995-11-01), Everhart et al.
patent: 5647863 (1997-07-01), Hammons et al.
patent: 5766212 (1998-06-01), Jitoe et al.
patent: 5834099 (1998-11-01), Steinhardt et al.
patent: 5902296 (1999-05-01), Fluyeras
patent: 5902669 (1999-05-01), Steinhardt et al.
patent: 5947943 (1999-09-01), Lee
patent: 6066774 (2000-05-01), Roe
patent: 6075178 (2000-06-01), La Wilhelm et al.
patent: 6090855 (2000-07-01), Walker
patent: 6194079 (2001-02-01), Hekal
patent: 6297424 (2001-10-01), Olson et al.
patent: 6320096 (2001-11-01), Inoue et al.
patent: 6464635 (2002-10-01), Jimenez Cerrato et al.
patent: 6515194 (2003-02-01), Neading et al.
patent: 2003/0073966 (2003-04-01), Sosalla et al.
patent: 0 203 715 (1986-12-01), None
patent: 0 776 645 (1997-06-01), None
patent: 0 925 769 (1999-06-01), None
patent: 1 034 758 (2000-09-01), None
patent: 1 023 024 (2002-04-01), None
patent: WO 95/00099 (1995-01-01), None
patent: WO 98/04225 (1998-02-01), None
patent: WO 99/02985 (1999-01-01), None
patent: WO 99/20216 (1999-04-01), None
patent: WO 99/56690 (1999-11-01), None
patent: WO 00/00233 (2000-01-01), None
patent: WO 00/15169 (2000-03-01), None
patent: WO 00/76438 (2000-12-01), None
patent: WO 00/76439 (2000-12-01), None
patent: WO 00/76442 (2000-12-01), None
patent: WO 00/76443 (2000-12-01), None
Klofta Thomas James
Roe Donald Carroll
Wise Brandon Ellis
Fulton Christopher W.
Hayden Michael P.
Hoolahan Amanda J
Krebs Jay A.
Patel Ken K.
LandOfFree
Wetness indicator having improved colorant retention does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Wetness indicator having improved colorant retention, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wetness indicator having improved colorant retention will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3360289