DE102021004129A1 - Absorbent pad, method for producing such an absorbent pad and use of such absorbent pads - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an absorbent pad which has a shell and a cover, and a method for producing such an absorbent pad, in which a sheet of filter paper is pressed into a depression and then punched out of the sheet, and uses of such absorbent pads.

Description

The invention relates to an absorbent pad, a method for producing such an absorbent pad and uses of such absorbent pads.

Absorbent pads are used in particular in diapers. They are often equipped with a super absorber that makes it possible to absorb a lot of liquid. However, absorbent pads are also required for other applications in which liquids are used.

The invention is based on the object of further developing such an absorbent pad and proposing new uses.

This object is achieved with an absorbent pad according to claim 1, a method according to claim 13 and uses according to claims 19 to 20. As a result, when the pad is lying on a surface, the absorber mixture does not touch the cover. Advantageous developments are the subject of the subclaims. Exemplary embodiments are described below.

A first example is an absorber pad for toilet brush holders.

When toilet brushes are used, they are wetted with water containing faeces, which then collects in the brush's drip cup.

This water, which is contaminated with bacteria and germs, usually stands in this cup for a long time and it is not uncommon for the lower part of the toilet brush to also stand in this contaminated water. The next time the brush is removed from the brush holder, this contaminated water then drips onto the floor and the toilet seat. In addition, the faecal water in the drip cups can often only be removed with considerable effort, e.g. using holders mounted on the wall.

The toilet brush holders standing on the floor are easily knocked over, which then leads to water leakage. In public facilities, hospitals, nursing and old people's homes, hotels and restaurants, the pollution caused by this water containing faeces is mostly caused by the user and not by the operator. This means that the operator of these facilities has to put in extra effort when it comes to cleaning.

So far, the brushes have either been hung over a simple drip cup or stand directly in the drip cup. Besides, it's after DE299 18317 U1 intended to use brushes in a screwed toilet brush holder, in which a pad can be inserted in the lower part of the holder. This pad should consist of a continuous material made of sponge or cellulose. A multi-layer structure is not provided here. Deodorization is also mentioned. An indication of how the deodorization is applied and with which substances is not given here.

According to the invention, an absorber as an absorber mixture or absorber material, such as in particular a super absorber or a mixture with a super absorber, is placed in the drip cup. The faecal water can penetrate through the filter paper of the pad to the absorber mixture and is absorbed there. This allows the brush to dry before it is used again and the moist environment is moved into the absorber. In this, the water is bound and an unsuitable environment for the growth of bacteria and mold is created.

The expansion clearance above the absorber is crucial. This limits the force acting on the shell and cover when the absorber is enlarged. It is also advantageous if the amount of absorber mixture is matched to the tensile strength of the heat-sealed lid and pot and the two different papers. This ensures that the pad does not absorb any more water after the intended, optimal water absorption and the tensile strength of the paper or the heat-sealed edge of the pad is not exceeded. This would cause the pad to burst open. Other absorber pads are usually provided with a filler that has components of super absorber or with pure absorber. However, these fillers or absorbers always fill the entire interior. No empty space is provided for the absorber to expand.

In addition, the pad can be provided with an applicator thread 8 . This is fastened in the pad and can be fastened to the outside of the brush holder at the other end, which is outside the pad, with a label 9 that can be glued on. This greatly simplifies insertion and removal. This is crucial for hygienic handling, especially with deep brush cups. In sensitive areas, such as hospitals and nursing homes, the absorber mixture can also be mixed with disinfecting or deodorizing or deodorizing additives.

• 1 das obere und untere Filterpapier in der Draufsicht mit Indikatorfeld,
• 2 eine schematische Seitenansicht der geformten Schale mit Randbereich und
• 3 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Absorberpads mit Abdeckung, Schale, Kleber, Absorbergemisch und Applikatorfaden mit Schildchen.

An embodiment is shown in the drawing and will be described below. It shows

• 1 the upper and lower filter paper in top view with indicator field,
• 2 a schematic side view of the molded tray with rim and
• 3 a schematic side view of an absorber pad with cover, shell, adhesive, absorber mixture and applicator thread with labels.

the 1 until 3 shows a set of parts for a round pad for use in a toilet brush drain cup. The pad has a cover 1 that defines and closes an interior space 2 that is filled with an absorber mixture 3 . This cover 1 consists of a heat-sealable filter paper. Heat-sealable filter papers can have permeabilities between >50 l/m ² s and >600 l/m ² s. The quickest possible access to water is advantageous for the cover. With the porosity, however, the permeability of the powders and granules in the pad also increases. In order to keep these ingredients safely in the pad during production and during water absorption, a permeability of > 585 l/m ² s and a weight of about 27 g/m ² are optimal for the lid. This allows aqueous liquids to penetrate the pad and be absorbed by the absorber mixture without causing the absorber mixture to escape. The cover 1 is flat and can have diameters between 3 cm and 12 cm. In order to achieve the optimal fit for the common brush cups, the cover should have a diameter of about 75 mm.

The cover can be printed with text or images. In addition, due to a blue indicator color 1b in an indicator field 1a, which was applied to the filter paper, due to bleeding of the color, it may be able to indicate the filling level of the pad. If the indicator color 1b has completely bled out of the indicator field 1a and the super absorber has turned blue, the pad must be changed.

However, it is more advantageous if an iron oxide pigment powder is partially dissolved when water enters the pad and discolors the absorber blue, for example, when the water is absorbed. the WO2016/191372 A1 refers to an indicator capable of detecting substances in the material to be absorbed. However, the absorber itself does not change color here and does not serve as an indicator.

The cover 1 is applied to a tray 4 by heat sealing. This tray is also made of heat-sealable paper with a permeability of >50 l/m ² s and a weight of 35 g/m ² . The required tensile strength of 1.5 N can be achieved in the heat-sealed area over a width of 7 mm from the combination of the different papers used for the lid and tray and the different wet tearing strengths. The permeability of the paper of the shell is only very low here, since the dimensional stability and the ability to be coated with adhesive are more important than the ingress of aqueous liquid. Nevertheless, the permeability is sufficient for absorbing watery liquids from all sides. In addition, the applicator thread 8 is glued to the inside of the bottom of the tray. This must therefore be firmer so that the load of the full pad can be borne when it is lifted out of the cup by the applicator thread 8 .

To form the tray 4, the filter paper of 95mm diameter D1 is pressed into a 10mm depression and then punched out of the sheet, with the unfolded edge 7 being heat sealed. The unfolded edge can have widths between 5 mm and 10 mm. In order to achieve the tensile strength of 1.5 N here, the edge must ideally have a width of 7 mm and be sealed at 200 °C. This gives the shell stability and remains as a shell. Due to this dimensioning of the shell, due to the small volume of the absorber mixture of 2.3 cm ³ , there is room for expansion for liquid absorption. This expansion space is about 20 times larger than the absorber mixture. In this way, the optimal filling of the pad with 48 cm ³ of liquid can be achieved.

In the WO2004/082529 For example, two papers are also placed on top of each other, but here a cushion of two papers of the same shape is created. No shell is formed and no storage space is provided for the expansion of the absorber. The combination of the papers is not specified further and the amount of absorber completely fills the interior of the absorber pad as the core.

In the CH678694 A5 a shell is formed, but this is made of vapor impermeable plastic film with a hydrophobic fibrous layer. Accordingly, there is no possibility of moisture ingress from every side. However, this is crucial for the pad, since water that has dripped into the brush cup should also reach the absorber from below through the filter paper. As a result, the entire cup remains without free water, which can lead to deposits and mold growth.

In the US2012/0226251 a frame is formed. However, this consists of a foam cushion, which has a recess into which absorber paper can be inserted. This is covered by a diffusion-open foil. A larger storage space than the volume of the absorber material is not provided here. In addition the access of watery liquids from all sides is prevented by the foam cushion.

With the pad described here, the inside bottom of the shell is dabbed thinly and extensively with a PVA glue 4a. The applicator thread 8 is placed in this glue. This is pressed on and guided outwards laterally over the edge of the pad. The absorber mixture 3 is then distributed over a large area and pressed on. It should be a PVA glue, since this, like the super absorber, comes from the group of plastics. Other adhesives have a negative effect on the behavior of the absorber mixture.

The applied glue creates a flexible and yet dimensionally stable base in the shell, on which the absorber mixture is evenly distributed and attached. This puts the pad's center of gravity on the bottom of the shell. This makes it considerably easier to place the pad in a brush cup when dropping it, and the pad usually lands in a horizontal position with the bottom of the cup facing down. This would not be possible if the absorber mixture was loosely packed, since the shell is only slightly filled with the mixture and this can therefore move uncontrollably in the interior of the pad between the shell and the cover. In addition, the glue fixes the applicator thread 8 to the bottom of the tray.

The amount of absorber mixture is 1.5 g. The absorber mixture can have the following components. It is important here that all components should have the same grain size distribution and be free-flowing, otherwise processing becomes more difficult and the materials separate.

• - einen Superabsorber, welcher ein wasserlösliches vernetztes Polymer (SAP) ist mit einer Korngröße von 0 bis 1 mm, vorzugsweise mit 0.045 bis 0,85 mm,
• - ein Calciumaluminiumsilikat in feiner Körnung mit 0 - 1 mm Korngröße, (dieses Silikat dient zur Aufnahme eines Parfümöls um dem Pad Duft zu verleihen),
• - ein Parfümöl und
• - ein Eisenoxid- Pigmentpulver (blaue Farbe).

The embodiment shows

• - a super absorber, which is a water-soluble crosslinked polymer (SAP) with a particle size of 0 to 1 mm, preferably 0.045 to 0.85 mm,
• - a fine-grain calcium aluminum silicate with a particle size of 0 - 1 mm (this silicate is used to absorb a perfume oil to give the pad a scent),
• - a perfume oil and
• - an iron oxide pigment powder (blue color).

When water enters the pad, the pigment powder is dissolved and colors the absorber blue when the water is absorbed. The fill level of the pad can be seen from this coloring of the absorber. Since the amount of the absorber mixture is very small, it is hardly recognizable in the pad when it is dry. Because the white absorber turns blue itself, it is easily recognizable and thus clearly shows its own expansion. The pad must be replaced if the absorber is consistently blue and expands to 48 cm ³ . Thus, the absorber itself is the level indicator that fills the pad to the brim. The blue coloring is for better visibility.

The small amount of absorber mixture in the interior of the pad and the heat sealing of the cover and shell in combination with two different papers prevent the absorber from escaping when it swells. The amount of absorber mixture is adjusted so that after the absorber material swells, the pad does not burst due to the "gel blocking effect" and the higher tensile strength of the paper and the heat-sealed edge, in contrast to the osmotic pressure in the absorber.

To make it easier to remove from particularly tall drip cups, the absorber pad is provided with an applicator thread 8. This thread can be made of synthetic or natural fibers. This thread is fixed to the bottom of the bowl with the help of PVA glue and led out laterally through the sealed edge. It is advantageous if the thread itself has heat-sealable fibers in addition to the synthetic or natural fibers. This allows it to be additionally fixed in the rim when the rim is heat-sealed. The thread has a length of about 30 cm outside the pad and preferably has a tag 9 at the end. This tag can be made of paper, plastic or film and is provided with a detachable adhesive pad on one side. The label can be printed on one or both sides.

To improve the sterility of the pad for about 7 days, a disinfectant in the form of active oxygen can be added. The amount added is 1 g, for example. The active oxygen is to be added as granules with a particle size of 0 - 1 mm. Otherwise, further processing will lead to demixing.

The superabsorbent should not be provided with fragrances directly. This is because water-based fragrances cause the absorber to swell. Oil-based fragrances clump the absorber and solvent-based fragrances dissolve the superabsorbent. In all cases, the addition of fragrances directly onto the absorber leads to clumping of the absorber. For further processing, however, the absorber must remain free-flowing. This can only be guaranteed if the fragrance is first incorporated into a silicate as a carrier material for the mixture during production. After the silicate has fully absorbed the fragrance, the absorber can be added are given. In addition, the silicate must have a grain size of 0 to 1 mm. This is important so that the silicate and the superabsorbent do not separate during further processing.

In addition, a small metal plate or a small magnet in round or rectangular shape can be worked into the glue on the bottom of the bowl. A round plate can have a diameter of 1 to 61 mm and a thickness of 0.1 to 10 mm, preferably a diameter of about 10 mm and a thickness of 0.3 is to be selected. A rectangular platelet can have an edge length of 35×2 mm to 35×35 mm and a thickness of 0.1 to 10 mm; a size of 10×10 mm and a thickness of 0.3 mm should preferably be used. This has the advantage that the pad can be made to adhere to magnetic or metallic surfaces and sits firmly there.

A phosphorescent or fluorescent powder can be placed in the pad. These serve to clearly identify the pad even in the dark. This greatly simplifies the placement of the pad in the dark. Especially when used in equipment that tends to be darkened.

Another component can be all plant seeds with a size between 0.01 and 1 mm. Since the components of the pad are biodegradable and the super absorber is a very good water reservoir, it is very easy for the seeds to germinate in a used pad. The germination time can then be used here as an indicator for the usage time of the pad.

Foam-forming surfactants in granular form can also be added. These can stick to the brush and serve for easy cleaning.

The absorber pad preferably has a round shape. The surrounding edge of the filter cover and filter bowl are firmly connected to each other and in the resulting filter bowl the super absorber is glued to the bottom, if necessary with various additives, depending on the application.

A similar problem exists with CO ₂ bubblers. After bubbling up, the water drips off the bubbler's CO ₂ lance. This ends up either in the bottle cup of the device or on a draining grid or draining plate.

The water is particularly difficult to remove from the bottle cups and leads to the formation of rust or mold.

Until now, the drip grids or bottle cups had to be washed out by hand.

According to the invention, an absorber pad is placed in the bottle cup or under the drip grid or at the point where the bottle is placed for filling. Thus, the dripping water can be absorbed and later easily removed with the pad.

• 4 das obere und untere Filterpapier in der Draufsicht mit dem Randbereich für die Heißversiegelung und
• 5 eine schematische Seitenansicht der einzelnen Lagen des Pads.

An embodiment is shown in the drawing and is described below. It shows

• 4 the top and bottom filter paper in plan view with the edge area for the heat seal and
• 5 a schematic side view of the individual layers of the pad.

the 4 shows a set of two parts that make up a round pod without a bowl for use in a Soda Stream or similar device with a bottle cup or drainer. The pad consists of two heat-sealable filter papers with a diameter D of 70 mm, which are heat-sealed all around the edge. Both papers 1 consist of a heat-sealable paper with a porosity of 585 l/m ² s and a weight of 27 g/m ² . the 5 shows the still unsealed pad with its individual layers in side view. A thin layer of PVA glue 2 is dabbed onto the lower paper with a diameter D1 of 60 mm on the inside of the pad, covering the entire surface. This is sprinkled with about 0.6 g of a super absorber 3. Both filter papers allow access of aqueous liquid to the absorber.

As a fill level indicator, the pad inflates in the bottle cup and prevents a bottle from being inserted into the cup when it is completely full, as well as preventing the cup from being closed.

The absorber pad is characterized in that the pad has a round shape and the surrounding edge of the two filter papers is firmly connected to one another. The absorber is applied to the lower filter paper using adhesive.

In hospitals and nursing homes, bedridden patients are forced to use a bedpan to defecate. Usually the bed has to be laid out with a wet pad beforehand. The bedpan is then pushed under the patient.

Due to the position in bed, it happens again and again that urine escapes from the pan and thus the patient, his clothes and the contaminate the bed. After a bowel movement, the bed has to be freshly made and the patient has to be changed. Also, after use, the pan must be removed by the nursing staff and transported to the scullery. This can also lead to spillage of urine. In the scullery, the pans are then usually cleaned in a dishwasher.

Stainless steel or plastic bedpans with or without lids have been used to collect urine and faeces. These are placed under the patient in bed. After the bowel movement, these are removed, closed with a lid, transported to the scullery and cleaned there.

According to the invention, an absorber pad is placed in the bedpan. This is able to absorb the urine immediately, thus preventing accidental leakage of the bedpan when the patient moves. Laying out the bed with wet pads is therefore superfluous.

• 6 das obere und untere Filterpapier in der Draufsicht mit dem Randbereich für die Heißversiegelung und
• 7 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Absorberpads mit Abdeckung, Schale, Kleber und Absorbergemisch.

An embodiment is shown in the drawing and is described below. It shows

• 6 the top and bottom filter paper in plan view with the edge area for the heat seal and
• 7 a schematic side view of an absorber pad with cover, shell, adhesive and absorber mixture.

the 7 shows a set of parts as a round pad with shell 3 for use in a bedpan. The pad has a cover 1 that defines and closes an interior space 4 that is filled with a super absorber 2 .

the 6 shows the cover 1. This consists of a heat-sealable filter paper with a diameter D of 300 mm and a permeability of >800 l/m ² s and a weight of 21 g/m ² . This allows aqueous liquids to penetrate the pad and be absorbed by the absorber.

The cover 1 is applied to a tray 3 by heat sealing. This tray is also made of heat-sealable paper with a permeability of >50 l/m ² s and a weight of 35 g/m ² . The permeability is only very low here, since the dimensional stability and the ability to be coated with adhesive are more important than the ingress of aqueous liquid.

To form the dish 3 with a diameter of 300 mm, the filter paper 5 with a diameter D1 of 380 mm is pressed into a recess and then punched out of the sheet, with the folded edge being heat-sealed. This gives the shell stability and remains as a shell. The inside bottom of the bowl is dabbed thinly and extensively with a PVA glue 6 .

The super absorber is then spread over the surface of this glue and pressed on. The amount of absorber is 10 g. The absorber 2 itself is a water-soluble crosslinked polymer (SAP). Due to the small amount of absorber and the heat sealing of the cover and tray in combination with two different papers, the absorber is prevented from escaping when it swells.

For hygienic reasons, the absorber can also be treated with a disinfectant in the form of active oxygen.

The bedpan pad is characterized in that the pad has a round shape, the peripheral edge of the filter cover and filter bowl are firmly connected to each other and in the resulting filter bowl the super absorber is glued to the bottom with various additives.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 29918317 U1 [0009]
• WO 2016/191372 A1 [0016]
• WO 2004/082529 [0019]
• CH 678694 A5 [0020]
• US2012/0226251 [0021]

Claims (26)

Absorbent pad (1), which has a shell (2) and a cover (3), so that shell and cover delimit an interior space, with an absorber as an absorber mixture or absorber material (8), such as in particular a super absorber or a mixture with a super absorber, characterized in that an empty space for expansion is arranged between the absorber mixture and the cover. suction pad after claim 1 , characterized in that the interior is only filled to a maximum of 50% and preferably to a maximum of 25% and particularly preferably to a maximum of 3% with the absorber mixture. Suction pad after one of Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that the shell (2) and the cover have a heat-sealable filter paper (4) and shell (2) and cover (3) are connected to one another via a heat seal Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the cover (3) is round and has a diameter of 50 to 100 mm and preferably about 75 mm or from 200 to 400 mm and preferably about 300 mm. Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the cover (3) has a permeability of more than 400 l/m ² s and preferably more than 500 l/m ² s and more preferably of about 585 l/m ² s or even more than 800 l /m ² s. Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the covering (3) has a weight of 15 to 35 g/m ² and preferably 25 to 30 g/m ² and more preferably of about 27.5 g/m ² . Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the cover (3) in an indicator field (5) has an indicator color which bleeds out of the field when wetted. Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that it has an iron oxide pigment powder which is partially dissolved when water enters the pad and discolors the absorber blue, for example, when the water is absorbed. Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the shell (2) has a permeability of less than 100 l/m ² s and preferably less than 75 l/m ² s and more preferably more than 50 l/m ² s. Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the shell (2) has a weight of 20 to 50 g/m ² and preferably 30 to 40 g/m ² and more preferably of about 35 g/m ² . Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 10 , characterized in that the shell (2) is round and has a diameter of 50 to 100 mm and preferably of about 61 mm. Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 11 , characterized in that the tray (2) is round, has an internal diameter of 61 mm and a heat seal edge of 2 to 10 mm, preferably about 7 mm. Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 12 , characterized in that the shell (2) is round and has a recess of 1 to 15 mm, preferably a depth of 10 mm. Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 13 , characterized in that the shell has an inner base, to which an applicator thread made of natural or artificial fibers, preferably made of heat-sealable fibers, which is guided outwards over an edge of the shell, is fastened. suction pad after Claim 14 , characterized in that the thread has a length of 5 to 50 cm and preferably 35 cm. Suction pad after one of Claims 14 or 15 , characterized in that the thread has a label (9) at the end outside the shell, which is provided with adhesive film on one side. Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 16 , characterized in that it comprises a calcium aluminum silicate comprising a deodorant or a deodorant. Suction pad after one of Claims 1 until 17 , characterized in that it has a metal or magnetic plate, preferably at the bottom of the shell. Method for producing an absorbent pad according to one of the preceding claims, in which a sheet of filter paper (4) is pressed into a depression and then punched out of the sheet, the resulting shell is filled with an absorber to a maximum of 50% as the absorber mixture or absorber material (8), such as, in particular, a superabsorbent or a mixture with one Super absorber is filled and the unfolding edge (6) of the filter paper (4) is heat sealed. procedure after claim 19 , characterized in that glue (7) is applied to an internally formed bottom of the shell (2) surrounded by the folded edge (6). procedure after claim 20 , characterized in that the absorber is applied to the glue (7). procedure after Claim 21 , characterized in that 1.2 to 1.8 g and preferably about 1.5 g absorber mixture (8) are applied. procedure after Claim 21 or 22 , characterized in that with the absorber material (8) a disinfectant is applied. Procedure according to one of claims 19 until 23 , characterized in that with the absorber material (8) provided with a calcium aluminum silicate is applied with a fragrance. Use of an absorbent pad (1) according to one of the preceding Claims 1 until 18 , as an insert in a toilet brush holder. Toilet brush holder with a drip tray, characterized in that it has a suction pad (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 18 has as an insert.

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