GB2289220A

GB2289220A - Insect repellent patch

Info

Publication number: GB2289220A
Application number: GB9509344A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patricia J Horst
Original assignee: MAXWELL P J CO Inc
Current assignee: MAXWELL P J CO Inc
Priority date: 1994-05-13
Filing date: 1995-05-09
Publication date: 1995-11-15
Also published as: GB9509344D0; CA2147595A1

Abstract

A patch comprises an absorbent pad adapted to be impregnated with a liquid insect repellent which may contain citronella oil, a layer of plastic on one side of the pad creating a vapour barrier, and a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive on the plastic enabling the patch to be stuck onto a person's skin, a person's clothing or other object such as an umbrella or a picnic table.

Description

INSECT REPELLENT PATCH AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME Background of the Invention This invention relates to the repelling of insects such as mosquitos from a person in order to avoid the annoyance, bites and stings resulting from such insects.

Most direct-applied insect repellents are either wiped onto a person's skin or are sprayed onto a person's skin and/or clothing. In either case, the skin and/or clothing becomes coated with a substance which is sometimes greasy and offensive and which may be toxic to the skin of certain people.

Summary of the Invention The general aim of the present invention is to provide a new and improved patch which is adapted to effectively repel insects and which may be worn by a person without the repellent contacting the persons' skin or leaving a greasy or toxic residue on the person's clothing.

A more detailed object of the invention is to achieve the foregoing by providing a patch having a pad of absorbent material adapted to be stuck onto a person's skin, an article of a person's clothing or other object and impregnated with a non-toxic liquid insect repellent, the repellent preferably containing citronella oil.

The invention also resides in a novel method of impregnating a patch with citronella oil and thereafter sticking the patch to a person or other object of clothing through the use of pressure-sensitive adhesive.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a person wearing a new and improved insect repelling patch incorporating the unique features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the patch as seen from the outer side thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the patch as seen from the inner side thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment hereof has been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Detailed Descrirtion of the Preferred Embodiment The present invention contemplates the provision of a patch 10 adapted to be stuck onto a person or other object and highly effective to repel mosquitos and other insects. In this particular instance, the patch has been shown as attached to the upper portion of the sleeve 11 of a person's shirt. The patch may, however, be applied to clothing at any suitable location, may be applied directly to the persons skin or may be applied to an adjacent object such as an umbrella or a picnic table.

Herein, the patch 10 is generally rectangular in shape and comprises a layer or pad 15 of absorbent material having inner and outer sides 16 and 17 (FIG. 4).

The pad preferably is made of terry cloth but could be made of non-woven material such as polypropylene and/or cotton fibers. The particular pad which has been illustrated has a length of about 3", a width of about 1-1/2" and a thickness of about 1/16".

A layer 20 (FIG. 3) of plastic such as polypropylene film is suitably fixed to the inner side 16 of the pad 15 and acts as a vapor barrier on the inner side of the pad.

The exposed side of the plastic layer is coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive 22, which may be similar to the adhesive used on conventional bandage strips. Two peel-away strips 25 of conventional release film or paper initially cover and protect the adhesive until such time as the patch 10 is used.

In carrying out the invention, the pad 15 is impregnated with a non-toxic liquid insect repellent preferably containing citronella oil. The preferred repellent is a mixture containing about 99.9 percent by weight citronella oil and approximately 0.1 percent by weight of either lemongrass oil or spearmint oil. The citronella oil produces a scent which is highly offensive to insects while the lemongrass or spearmint oils impart a fragrance making the mixture non-offensive to humans. The plastic layer 20, acting as a vapor barrier on the inner side 16 of the pad 15 retards seeping of the repellent mixture through the pad to the adhesive 22 and ultimately to the person's skin or clothing.

The pad 15 may be pre-impregnated with repellent, after which the patch 10 is packaged in an appropriate outer pouch (not shown). With such an arrangement, the patch is used simply by opening the outer pouch, removing the patch, peeling away the protective backing strips 25 and sticking the patch in place with the outer side 17 of the pad 15 facing away from the person or other object.

It has been found that, if the patch 10 is stored in a sealed outer pouch for a relatively long period of time, the fumes of the citronella oil react with the pressure-sensitive adhesive 22 and destroy the efficacy of the adhesive. To avoid that problem, a supply of repellent may be provided in a separate sealed pouch which is packaged in the outer pouch with the patch.

Upon removal of the patch and the inner pouch from the outer pouch, the inner pouch may be opened and its contents poured onto the outer side 17 of the pad 15 to impregnate the pad with repellent. The strips 25 then may be removed and the patch 10 may be applied with the adhesive.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention brings to the art a new and improved patch 10 adapted to repel insects and adapted to be applied with the repellent itself contacting the skin.

As a result, the patch is safer and less offensive to use than prior insect repellents.

Claims

I Claim:

1. A patch effective to repel insects, said patch comprising a pad made of absorbent fibers and having first and second sides, a layer of plastic on said first side of said pad and creating a vapor barrier on said first side, a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive on said plastic to enable said patch to be stuck to an object with said second side of said pad facing away from said object, said pad being impregnated with liquid insect repellent.

2. A patch as defined in claim 1 in which said insect repellent is a mixture which includes citronella oil.

3. A patch as defined in claim 2 in which said mixture also includes lemongrass oil.

4. A patch as defined in claim 2 in which said mixture also includes spearmint oil.

5. A patch as defined in claim 3 in which said mixture consists essentially of approximately 99.9 percent by weight citronella oil and approximately 0.1 percent by weight lemongrass oil.

6. A patch as defined in claim 4 in which said mixture consists essentially of approximately 99.9 percent by weight citronella oil and approximately 0.1 percent by weight spearmint oil.

7. A method of repelling insects from a person, said method comprising the steps of: (A) providing a patch having a pad of absorbent material with first and second sides, having a layer of plastic on said first side of said pad, having a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive on said plastic, and having a release film covering said adhesive; (B) impregnating said pad from the second side thereof with liquid insect repellent containing citronella oil; and (C) peeling said release film away from said adhesive and sticking said patch on a person's skin or clothing with said second side of said pad facing outwardly.

8. A patch effective to repel insects, the patch being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of repelling insects, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.