JPH10272153A - Diaper with sensor, and diaper liner with sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to accurately know about a fact that a diaper gets wet by urine, other excrement, sweat or the like, by forming a circuit out of an electroconductive material in the body of a diaper, and connecting the body of a sensor to the end of the circuit to close the circuit when the diaper gets wet. SOLUTION: In the body A of a diaper, a plurality of folded moisture permeable unwoven cloths 1a and 1b are arranged on the side directly in contact with a human body and a cover 2 comprising a non-moisture permeable material on the other side. A sheet-shaped moisture absorbent layer made of ester acrylate or the like placed into a paper bag is interposed between the unwoven cloths of the body A of the diameter and the cover 2 and is sewn together or thermally welded on the enter perimeter thereof. Moreover, a retaining part 4 having a Velcro fastener stuck on one side thereof is formed. Circuits 5 are arranged being drawn by an electroconductive material on the moisture permeable unwoven cloths 1a and 1b of the body A of the diaper as a line from the side of an anode and a line from the side of a cathode, both extending parallel, not crossing each other. Each end of the positive and negative electrodes is connected to snaps 6a and 6b engaged with a sensor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a diaper with a sensor and a diaper liner with a sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, diapers are used for cleaning stool for infants, bedridden elderly people, sick people, etc.
Not only does it cause eczema such as a rash at the site where the diaper is applied, but it is unpleasant for the person and also causes odor. Therefore, in recent years, in order to absorb moisture such as urine instantaneously and keep a portion in contact with the skin in a constantly dry state, a device provided with a moisture absorbent layer such as an acrylic ester in a diaper has been widely used. . The diaper provided with this moisture absorbent layer is excellent in that it can eliminate the cause of eczema and further eliminate discomfort due to moistening, since the site in contact with the skin is always in a dry state, but the diaper is dirty. There is a problem that it tends to be left as it is.

[0003] This problem has been serious in nursing homes and the like where elderly people who cannot speak freely are hospitalized. For this reason, in many facilities, caregivers regularly change the diaper after directly checking from the side of the diaper, or change the diaper every predetermined time regardless of the presence or absence of dirt.

Various diapers with a sensor have been invented and devised to solve such a problem. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-300724 discloses a "diaper replacement time detection sensor". According to the present invention, a pair of electrodes are provided on one surface of a substrate made of gelatin or the like which is electrically insulative in a dry state, and swells due to adhesion of urine, and a change in conductivity between the electrodes is measured by a measuring means. By measuring, it is possible to know when to change the diaper.

JP-A-6-178789 discloses a "diaper incontinence sensor". The present invention comprises a pair of electrodes made of different metals, a unit for amplifying a current caused by a potential difference between the pair of electrodes, and a unit for detecting diaper wetness based on the amplified current and informing the diaper. is there.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-180800 discloses that
A diaper with a moisture detector and a moisture sensor and a diaper wetness notification device are disclosed. According to the present invention, a positive electrode made of metal foil is provided on one side of a flat flexible water-absorbing substrate, and a negative electrode made of metal foil is provided on the other side, and an alarm is detachably connected between both electrodes. Then, an electromotive force is generated between the two electrodes by the water absorption of the flexible water-absorbing base material, and the alarm is activated by the electromotive force.

[0007]

Since these inventions all use metal as an electrode, they cannot be easily disposable, and are relatively expensive due to their complicated structure. It is not very suitable for bedridden elderly people who may use it frequently and for a long period of time.

The present invention solves the problems of these conventional diapers with a sensor, and can accurately know that the diapers have been moistened by urine or other excrement, sweat, etc., and are inexpensive and disposable. It is an object of the present invention to provide a diaper with a sensor that has little effect on the environment.

[0009]

In order to achieve these objects, the present invention comprises a diaper main body having a circuit formed by a conductive material, and a sensor main body connected to an end of the circuit.
The circuit is normally in an open state, is closed when the diaper is wet and is energized, and the sensor is activated.The diaper liner having a circuit formed of a conductive material, and a sensor body connected to the circuit end are further provided. Wherein the circuit is normally open, closed and energized when the liner is wet, and the sensor is activated.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a diaper with a sensor according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which a circuit is drawn in a diaper main body. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the diaper main body. FIG. 3 shows a configuration in which a circuit is drawn on a diaper liner. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sensor main body. FIG. 5 shows a circuit diagram in the sensor body. A is a diaper body, and a plurality of moisture-permeable nonwoven fabrics 1 folded on the side directly contacting the body.
a, 1b, etc., a cover 2 made of a non-moisture-permeable material is arranged on the other side, and a sheet-like acrylic acid put in a paper bag is provided between the nonwoven fabric of the diaper body A and the cover 2. It has a structure in which a hygroscopic layer 3 such as an ester is interposed, the entire periphery is adhered or heat welded, and a locking portion 4 is formed on one side of which a Velcro fastener is attached.

The permeable nonwoven fabric 1a, 1b of the diaper body A
In the drawing, the circuit 5 is drawn with a conductive material. The nonwoven fabric describing the circuit 5 may be any nonwoven fabric other than 1a which directly hits the body, but a nonwoven fabric in a portion close to the moisture absorbent layer 3 is desirable. In the circuit 5, a line extending from the anode side and a line extending from the cathode side run in parallel and do not intersect. Each end of the anode and the cathode leads to snaps 6a, 6b for engaging a sensor B described later. The snaps 6a and 6b are attached to the locking portion 4 of the diaper main body A.

The conductive material for drawing the circuit 5 may be a mixture of a metal powder and a resin. It is preferable in consideration of cost and the like. Examples of the carbon-based ink include ink used in calligraphy and the like. That is, ink is obtained by solidifying oily smoke or soot with glue, can easily draw a line on the nonwoven fabric, is inexpensive, and has no adverse effect on the human body. Although the method of providing the circuit 5 is described by drawing on a nonwoven fabric, a circuit impregnated with a conductive material or a thread made of a conductive material such as carbon fiber is sewn to the nonwoven fabric by a sewing machine or hand sewing. 5 may be formed.

Next, the sensor B will be described. The sensor B is a box made of a flexible and soft synthetic resin, and has a built-in circuit 5 shown in FIG. Circuit 5
Has a configuration in which the light emitting diode 7 and the speaker 8 are connected to the LSI 9 and operated by the battery 10. A terminal of the sensor B having such a configuration has a snap receiving portion 11 for engaging with the snaps 6a and 6b of the diaper main body A.
a and 11b are formed, and the receiving portions 11a and 11b are mounted to be exposed to the outside of the sensor B. Reference numeral 12 denotes an opening / closing lid for replacing the battery 10. Further, any one of the light emitting diode 7 and the speaker 8 in the circuit 5 may be omitted.

Next, the actual use of the diaper with a sensor according to the present invention having the above-described structure will be described. After applying the diaper body A so as to cover the anterior abdomen from the buttocks of an infant, a bedridden care receiver, and the like, the locking portion 4 is pressed down and fixed to the Velcro zipper that has been attached and adhered from both sides. The sensor B is fixed to the diaper main body A by pressing the snap receiving portions 11a and 11b of the sensor B into engagement with the fixed snaps 6a and 6b of the diaper main body A. When the baby or the like excretes in this state, the moisture and the like reach the hygroscopic agent layer 3 through the nonwoven fabrics 1a, 1b,. At that time, moisture or the like wets the nonwoven fabric on which the circuit 5 is drawn, and connects the anode and the cathode. As a result, the circuit 5 is energized, the light emitting diode 7 flashes, and at the same time, a chime sound or a buzzer sound is emitted from the speaker 8 to notify the mother, caregiver, etc. that the diaper is wet. The mother or the like who has learned that the diaper has become wet due to the flashing of the light emitting diode 7 or the chime sound may remove the sensor B from the diaper body A, replace it with a new diaper A, and attach the sensor B in the same manner as described above. If a microswitch is interposed between the speaker 8 of the circuit 5 and the LSI 9,
The diaper replacement time can be known only by blinking the light emitting diode 7 without generating a chime sound. That is, if only the switch is switched and the light emitting diode blinks only, the sleep of the other person in the hospital room is not disturbed at night or the like.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit 5 drawn on a diaper liner C formed by laminating a plurality of rectangular nonwoven fabrics interposed between a diaper and the skin. The circuit 5 is drawn on the nonwoven fabric on the side that does not directly touch the skin in the same manner as described above. The connection between the circuit of the diaper liner C and the sensor B can be achieved by attaching a locking piece to the upper end and fixing the snaps 6a and 6b to this.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the circuit 5 formed on the nonwoven fabric is shown as a straight circuit. However, if the circuit 5 is opened in a dry state and closed in a wet state, For good reasons, the shape is not limited to this, but may be a spiral shape. Further, in the above description, the circuit 5 is formed as a nonwoven fabric that does not directly touch the skin of the diaper body A or the diaper liner C, but is not limited thereto. That is, it may be formed on a nonwoven fabric that directly touches the skin. In this case, it is necessary to interpose a paper or cloth liner so that the circuit portion does not directly touch the skin.

[0017]

According to the diaper with the sensor according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, when the diaper is wet due to urination or the like, the sensor is activated, the light emitting diode flashes, and a chime sound is generated at the same time. You can easily find out. Especially in nursing homes where a limited number of caregivers must care for a large number of bedridden elderly people who cannot clearly tell urination etc., diapers can be exchanged effectively, Except for discomfort of the cared person, diaper rash and decubitus due to humidification of the diaper can be prevented.

In recent years, in order to prevent diaper rash, a diaper using a hygroscopic agent to instantaneously absorb moisture even when the diaper gets wet due to urination and to make the diaper surface always dry has been widely used. This diaper is excellent in that diaper rash and discomfort due to moistening of the diaper can be eliminated, but has one side effect that it is not possible to effectively discipline infants' defecation and the like. In other words, in general, infant stool training is performed when the diaper gets wet and the discomfort accompanying it is triggered.However, in the case of a diaper with a built-in desiccant, the diaper surface is dry and not uncomfortable even when urinating. Therefore, it is not necessary to complain to the mother or the like of diaper. In the diaper with the sensor according to the present invention, urination and the like can be immediately detected, so that defecation and the like can be easily performed.

Since the circuit portion in the present invention is merely formed of a conductive material on the diaper main body or the diaper liner, the method of use is the same as that of the conventional diaper, and the circuit portion can be similarly applied to the body and used. It is not affected by any movement of the body. Furthermore, if a carbon-based material is used to form the circuit, it will not cause harmful smoke or soil pollution, etc., even when disposed of as waste, such as incineration or landfill. Is nothing. In addition, since the sensor according to the present invention is fixed to the side of the flank, it does not hinder the exercise of a rapidly moving infant. Furthermore, the one in which a circuit is formed on a diaper liner can also be used for a diaper that is more widely used than before. As described above, the diaper with a sensor and the liner with a sensor according to the present invention have a simple structure and the material is not special, so that the diaper has an influence on the manufacturing cost of the diaper. Instead, it has many excellent effects as diapers used in large quantities on a daily basis, such as its excellent economic value.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view in which a part of a diaper main body is cut away.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a diaper main body.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view in which a part of a diaper liner is cut away.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a sensor main body.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram in a sensor. Reference Signs List A diaper body B sensor C diaper liner 1a non-woven fabric 1b non-woven fabric 2 cover 3 hygroscopic agent layer 4 locking portion 5 circuit 6a snap 6b snap 7 light-emitting diode 8 speaker 9 LSI 10 battery 11a snap receiving portion 11b snap receiving portion

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A diaper main body having a circuit formed of a conductive material and a sensor main body connected to an end of the circuit. The circuit is normally in an open state. A diaper with a sensor that is characterized by doing. 2. A diaper liner in which a circuit is formed by a conductive material, and a sensor body connected to an end of the circuit. The circuit is normally in an open state. A diaper liner with a sensor that operates.