US5197958A — Wetness indicating diaper

Claim 1

Independent Claim 154 words

A diaper for indicating wetness, comprising: an inner surface adapted to be positioned against the skin of a baby; an outer surface generally opposed to said inner surface adapted to form the exterior of said diaper; material positioned between said interior and exterior surfaces, which, when dry is insufficiently thermally conductive for a normal body temperature to raise said outer surface above a given threshold, but being sufficiently thermally conductive when wet to raise said outer surface temperature above a given threshold, at least partially thermally insulates said outer surface from said inner surface; a thermal indicator on said outer surface which provides a visual indication when said outer surface has a temperature above a given threshold; and said threshold being chosen such that said visual indication will generally not be present when a baby wearing said diaper is dry, but will generally be present when said baby secretes waste material into said diaper.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 154 words

A diaper for indicating wetness, comprising: an inner surface adapted to be positioned against the skin of a baby; an outer surface generally opposed to said inner surface adapted to form the exterior of said diaper; material positioned between said interior and exterior surfaces, which, when dry is insufficiently thermally conductive for a normal body temperature to raise said outer surface above a given threshold, but being sufficiently thermally conductive when wet to raise said outer surface temperature above a given threshold, at least partially thermally insulates said outer surface from said inner surface; a thermal indicator on said outer surface which provides a visual indication when said outer surface has a temperature above a given threshold; and said threshold being chosen such that said visual indication will generally not be present when a baby wearing said diaper is dry, but will generally be present when said baby secretes waste material into said diaper.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

The diaper of claim 1, wherein said material wicks moisture secreted from said baby toward said outer layer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 13 words

The diaper of claim 1, wherein said threshold is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

The diaper of claim 1, wherein said threshold is above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 13 words

The diaper of claim 1, wherein said threshold is above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The diaper of claim 1, wherein said threshold is above 87 degrees Fahrenheit.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

The diaper as in any of claims 1-5, wherein said thermal indicator is no longer visible when said outer shell has a temperature which falls below said threshold.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 12 words

The diaper of claim 7, wherein said thermal indicator comprises thermochromic ink.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The diaper of claim 8, wherein said thermal indicator comprises a mixture of thermochromic inks, one of which becomes colorless above said threshold.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 142 words

A diaper for indicating wetness, comprising: an outer shell having a front portion, a back portion and a connecting portion extending between said front and back portions; an inner pad attached to said outer shell solely at said front portion and said back portion, said inner pad defining an inner surface adapted to be positioned against the skin of a baby when said diaper is worn, said inner pad, when dry, at least partially thermally insulating said inner surface from said outer shell; a thermal indicator on said outer shell which provides a visual indication when said outer shell has a temperature above a given threshold, said threshold being chosen such that said visual indication will generally not be present when a baby wearing said diaper is dry, but will generally be present when said baby secretes waste material into said diaper.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 142 words

A diaper for indicating wetness, comprising: an outer shell having a front portion, a back portion and a connecting portion extending between said front and back portions; an inner pad attached to said outer shell solely at said front portion and said back portion, said inner pad defining an inner surface adapted to be positioned against the skin of a baby when said diaper is worn, said inner pad, when dry, at least partially thermally insulating said inner surface from said outer shell; a thermal indicator on said outer shell which provides a visual indication when said outer shell has a temperature above a given threshold, said threshold being chosen such that said visual indication will generally not be present when a baby wearing said diaper is dry, but will generally be present when said baby secretes waste material into said diaper.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 13 words

The diaper of claim 10, wherein said inner pad includes a sorbent layer.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The diaper of claim 11, wherein said sorbent layer is protected by a cover, said protective cover forming said inner surface of said diaper.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

The diaper of claim 12, wherein said protective cover surrounds said sorbent layer so as to separate said sorbent layer from said outer shell.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 84 words

A diaper for indicating wetness, comprising: an outer shell having a front portion, a back on and a connecting portion extending between said front and back portions; an inner pad, comprising: a sorbent layer; a protective cover defining an inner surface of said diaper; and, a layer of wicking material between said protective cover and said sorbent layer; and, a thermal indicator on said outer shell which provides a visual indication of wetness when said outer shell has a temperature above a given threshold.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 84 words

A diaper for indicating wetness, comprising: an outer shell having a front portion, a back on and a connecting portion extending between said front and back portions; an inner pad, comprising: a sorbent layer; a protective cover defining an inner surface of said diaper; and, a layer of wicking material between said protective cover and said sorbent layer; and, a thermal indicator on said outer shell which provides a visual indication of wetness when said outer shell has a temperature above a given threshold.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The diaper of claim 14, wherein said protective cover surrounds said sorbent layer, thereby separating said sorbent layer from said outer shell.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

The diaper of claim 14, wherein said inner pad has a thickness of at least 3/4 of an inch.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 86 words

A diaper for indicating wetness, comprising: an inner surface adapted to be positioned against the skin of a baby; an outer surface generally opposed to said inner surface adapted to form the exterior of said diaper; a layer positioned between said inner and outer surface providing at least some thermal insulation capacity when dry and a lower thermal insulation capacity when wet; and, a thermal indicator on said outer surface which provides a visual indication when said outer surface has a temperature above a given threshold.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 86 words

A diaper for indicating wetness, comprising: an inner surface adapted to be positioned against the skin of a baby; an outer surface generally opposed to said inner surface adapted to form the exterior of said diaper; a layer positioned between said inner and outer surface providing at least some thermal insulation capacity when dry and a lower thermal insulation capacity when wet; and, a thermal indicator on said outer surface which provides a visual indication when said outer surface has a temperature above a given threshold.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 150 words

A diaper for indicating wetness, comprising: a cloth sufficiently durable to withstand multiple washings, said cloth defining an inner surface adapted to be positioned against the skin of a baby and an outer surface, said cloth comprising: a front portion; a back portion adapted to receive the buttocks of the wearer, said back portion defining a pair of opposing laterally extending tabs; and, a connecting portion connecting said front portion and said back portion adapted to extend between the legs of the wearer; fasteners secured to one of said front portion and said back portion adapted to connect said tabs to said front portion when said diaper is worn; and, a plurality of discrete thermal indicators distributed over substantially the entire outer surface of said diaper, each of said plurality of internal indicators providing a visual indication of wetness when said outer surface has a temperature above a given threshold.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 150 words

A diaper for indicating wetness, comprising: a cloth sufficiently durable to withstand multiple washings, said cloth defining an inner surface adapted to be positioned against the skin of a baby and an outer surface, said cloth comprising: a front portion; a back portion adapted to receive the buttocks of the wearer, said back portion defining a pair of opposing laterally extending tabs; and, a connecting portion connecting said front portion and said back portion adapted to extend between the legs of the wearer; fasteners secured to one of said front portion and said back portion adapted to connect said tabs to said front portion when said diaper is worn; and, a plurality of discrete thermal indicators distributed over substantially the entire outer surface of said diaper, each of said plurality of internal indicators providing a visual indication of wetness when said outer surface has a temperature above a given threshold.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 13 words

The diaper of claim 18, wherein said thermal indicators form a repeating pattern.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

The diaper of claim 18, wherein said thermal indicators are visible when said outer surface has a temperature above a given threshold.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 23 words

The diaper of claim 18, wherein said thermal indicators are not visible when said outer surface has a temperature above a given threshold.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 37 words

The diaper of claim 18, wherein said thermal indicators appear one color when said outer surface has a temperature above a given threshold and appear another color when said outer surface has a temperature below said threshold.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 79 words

A method of detecting the wetness of a diaper having an inner surface, an outer surface and a thermal indicator, comprising: at least partially thermally insulating said inner surface of said diaper from said outer surface of said diaper; wicking any moisture from said inner surface towards said outer surface to bring said moisture into thermal contact with said thermal indicator; and, providing a visual indication when said thermal indicator is exposed to a temperature above a given threshold.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 79 words

A method of detecting the wetness of a diaper having an inner surface, an outer surface and a thermal indicator, comprising: at least partially thermally insulating said inner surface of said diaper from said outer surface of said diaper; wicking any moisture from said inner surface towards said outer surface to bring said moisture into thermal contact with said thermal indicator; and, providing a visual indication when said thermal indicator is exposed to a temperature above a given threshold.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-03-29	1996-09-28	1997-03-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-03-29	2000-09-28	2001-03-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-03-29	2004-09-28	2005-03-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Wetness indicating diaper

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