Patent US4327731A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4327731A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Moisture indicator
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1980-07-07
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Granted: 1982-05-04
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Expires: 2000-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A moisture indicator employs an enzymatic reaction, a substrate and a chromogen for use in disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, surgical dressings, absorbent pads, garments, and like articles, or for use in any instance where moisture is to be detected. The moisture indicator, which is mounted, applied to, or built into the garment, diaper, pad or other article, is comprised of a chromogenic material, enzymes, such as those commonly used to test for carbohydrates in urine or other fluids, and a substrate material which will react with the selected enzyme or enzymes in the presence of moisture. The enzyme system or systems and the indicator agent or agents can be applied together to filter paper, wood strips, plastic fibrous materials, non-woven fabrics, or any absorbent materials for the purpose of subsequently verifying visually the presence of moisture.
Inventors
- 👤 Nelson B. Powell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/42; A61F13/00051; A61F13/00055; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/52; G01N33/528; A61F2013/00361; A61F2013/00902; A61F2013/00927; A61F13/45; A61F13/49; A61F2013/49068; A61F2013/49076; G01N33/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A disposable diaper including a moisture indicating system, said diaper including inner absorbent layers and an outer translucent moisture-impermeable layer, comprising: a chromogen capable of producing a visible pigment upon entering into a specific chemical reaction; enzyme means for effecting said specific chemical reaction with the chromogen when a substrate material in solution is present; the substrate material, in dry form; absorbent carrying medium supporting the chromogen, the enzyme means and the dry substrate material; the absorbent carrying medium being in disc-like form and positioned just underneath the translucent, moisture-impermeable layer and against the outermost absorbent layer, with means for attaching the disc-like moisture indicating system to at least one of the adjacent layers, whereby, in the presence of moisture the dry substrate becomes dissolved, causing the enzyme means to effect the specific chemical reaction, thereby yielding a pigment from the chromogen which is visible through the outer translucent layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A disposable diaper including a moisture indicating system, said diaper including inner absorbent layers and an outer translucent moisture-impermeable layer, comprising: a chromogen capable of producing a visible pigment upon entering into a specific chemical reaction; enzyme means for effecting said specific chemical reaction with the chromogen when a substrate material in solution is present; the substrate material, in dry form; absorbent carrying medium supporting the chromogen, the enzyme means and the dry substrate material; the absorbent carrying medium being in disc-like form and positioned just underneath the translucent, moisture-impermeable layer and against the outermost absorbent layer, with means for attaching the disc-like moisture indicating system to at least one of the adjacent layers, whereby, in the presence of moisture the dry substrate becomes dissolved, causing the enzyme means to effect the specific chemical reaction, thereby yielding a pigment from the chromogen which is visible through the outer translucent layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
A disposable diaper including a moisture indicating system, said diaper including inner absorbent layers and an outer translucent moisture-impermeable layer, comprising: a chromogen capable of producing a visible pigment upon entering into a specific chemical reaction; enzyme means for effecting said specific chemical reaction with the chromogen when a substrate material in solution is present; the substrate material, in dry form; absorbent carrying medium, comprising an absorbent layer of the diaper, supporting the chromogen, the enzyme means and the dry substrate material, with the chromogen, enzyme means and substrate material applied in a discrete area directly to the abosrbent layer; whereby, in the presence of moisture the dry substrate becomes dissolved, causing the enzyme means to effect the specific chemical reaction, thereby yielding a pigment from the chromogen which is visible through the outer translucent layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
A disposable diaper including a moisture indicating system, said diaper including inner absorbent layers and an outer translucent moisture-impermeable layer, comprising: a chromogen capable of producing a visible pigment upon entering into a specific chemical reaction; enzyme means for effecting said specific chemical reaction with the chromogen when a substrate material in solution is present; the substrate material, in dry form; absorbent carrying medium, comprising an absorbent layer of the diaper, supporting the chromogen, the enzyme means and the dry substrate material, with the chromogen, enzyme means and substrate material applied in a discrete area directly to the abosrbent layer; whereby, in the presence of moisture the dry substrate becomes dissolved, causing the enzyme means to effect the specific chemical reaction, thereby yielding a pigment from the chromogen which is visible through the outer translucent layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
An absorbent surgical dressing including a moisture indicating system, comprising: a chromogen capable of producing a visible pigment upon entering into a specific chemical reaction; enzyme means for effecting said specific chemical reaction with the chromogen when a substrate material in solution is present; the substrate material, in dry form; absorbent carrying medium supporting the chromogen, the enzyme means and the dry substrate material; and means for securing the moisture indicating system to the surgical dressing; whereby, in the presence of moisture the dry substrate becomes dissolved, causing the enzyme means to effect the specific chemical reaction, thereby yielding a visible pigment from the chromogen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
An absorbent surgical dressing including a moisture indicating system, comprising: a chromogen capable of producing a visible pigment upon entering into a specific chemical reaction; enzyme means for effecting said specific chemical reaction with the chromogen when a substrate material in solution is present; the substrate material, in dry form; absorbent carrying medium supporting the chromogen, the enzyme means and the dry substrate material; and means for securing the moisture indicating system to the surgical dressing; whereby, in the presence of moisture the dry substrate becomes dissolved, causing the enzyme means to effect the specific chemical reaction, thereby yielding a visible pigment from the chromogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The moisture indicating system of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the specific chemical reaction comprises oxidation of the chromogen, and wherein the enzyme means comprises means for effecting the oxidation of the chromogen in the presence of the substrate material in solution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The moisture indicating system of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the substrate material is glucose.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
The moisture indicating system of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the substrate material is glucose, wherein the specific chemical reaction comprises oxidation of the chromogen, and wherein the enzyme means comprises first enzyme means for producing an oxidizing agent in the presence of glucose in solution, by catalyzing the reaction of glucose with oxygen from the air, and second enzyme means for catalyzing the reaction of the oxidizing agent with the chromogen to oxidize the chromogen and produce the pigment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The moisture indicating system of claim 6, wherein the first enzyme means is glucose oxidase, effective to catalyze the reaction of glucose with oxygen to form gluconic acid and hydrogen perioxide, and wherein the second enzyme means is a peroxidase, effective to catalyze the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with the chromogen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The moisture indicating system of claim 7, wherein the chromogen is orthotolidine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The moisture indicating system of claim 3, wherein the absorbent carrying medium comprises a first sheet of absorbent paper impregnated with the chromogen and the enzyme means, and a second sheet of absorbent paper impregnated with the dry substate material, said two sheets being bonded together in a disc-like form.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The moisture indicating system of claim 6, wherein the substrate material is D-glucose.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The moisture indicating system of claim 1 or 3, further including means indicating degrees of wetness, on a semiquantitative basis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
The moisture indicating system of claim 11, wherein the indicating means comprises a second, non-reactive pigment carried by the absorbent carrying medium, said second pigment being of a hue and strength which mixes with varying concentrations of said visible pigment from the chromogen to produce a range of colors ranging from said second pigment alone to a deep, nearly pure concentration of said visible pigment from the chromogen, varying degrees of moisture being effective to produce varying concentrations of dissolved substrate material, which in turn is effective to produce varying concentrations of said visible pigment from the chromogen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-03 | 1985-11-02 | 1986-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-03 | 1989-11-02 | 1990-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-03 | 1993-11-02 | 1994-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |