Absorbent article holder and method for making and using same

Abstract

The present invention provides a holder for securing an absorbent article comprising a flexible sheet having less than four pouches designed to secure at least one edge of an outer perimeter of the absorbent article. In one embodiment, there are two pouches substantially parallel to each other and extending transversely across the flexible sheet, the two pouches designed to secure opposing edges of an outer perimeter of the absorbent article. In one embodiment, the absorbent article is a bed pad, chair pad, or the like, made from a liner, absorbent and film. Use of less than four pouches, such as pouch pairs, provides an easy method for keeping absorbent articles in their intended locations, which in turn reduces wrinkles and slippage. As a result, the likelihood of a patient developing bed sores is reduced and the effectiveness of the absorbent article is increased, thus improving patient comfort.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A holder for securing an absorbent article comprising: 
 a flexible sheet having less than four pouches designed to secure at least one edge of an outer perimeter of the absorbent article.    
     
     
         2 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein there are two pouches substantially parallel to each other and extending transversely across the flexible sheet, the two pouches designed to secure opposing edges of an outer perimeter of the absorbent article.  
     
     
         3 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein there are two pouches substantially parallel to each other and extending longitudinally along edges of the flexible sheet, the two pouches designed to secure opposing edges of an outer perimeter of the absorbent article.  
     
     
         4 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein there are multiple pairs of pouches, each pair substantially parallel to each other and designed to secure opposing edges of an outer perimeter of a different absorbent article.  
     
     
         5 . The holder of  claim 4  wherein there are two or three pairs of pouches.  
     
     
         6 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein there is one pouch in combination with additional securing means on the absorbent article or flexible sheet.  
     
     
         7 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the absorbent article is a bed pad.  
     
     
         8 . The holder of  claim 2  wherein the flexible sheet is comprised of a center section and two end sections located on either side of the center section, further wherein each pouch has an outer edge contiguous with the outer edge of the center section.  
     
     
         9 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the holder is reusable.  
     
     
         10 . The holder of  claim 9  wherein the holder is disposable after a period of time.  
     
     
         11 . The holder of  claim 10  wherein the holder is made from a film selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and a polyethylene/polypropylene combination.  
     
     
         12 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the flexible sheet is less than the width and length of a mattress.  
     
     
         13 . An absorbent article holder comprising: 
 a flexible sheet having a top surface;    at least one pair of pouches contiguous with the flexible sheet, the at least one pair of pouches designed to releasably secure an absorbent article located on the top surface of the flexible sheet.    
     
     
         14 . The holder of  claim 13  wherein the flexible sheet has one or more side wings.  
     
     
         15 . The holder of  claim 14  wherein the one or more side wings include extensions of the at least one pair of pouches.  
     
     
         16 . The holder of  claim 13  further including one or more end wings.  
     
     
         17 . The holder of  claim 13  further including one or more end wings and one or more side wings.  
     
     
         18 . The holder of  claim 14  wherein the at least one pair of pouches each have lips, further comprising additional securing means located on the underside of each lip.  
     
     
         19 . The holder of  claim 18  wherein the additional securing means is selected from the group consisting of releasable adhesive, adhesive tabs, hook material, loop material, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The holder of  claim 13  wherein the absorbent article is a chair pad.  
     
     
         21 . The holder of  claim 20  wherein the absorbent article holder has side wings secured to the underside of a seat.  
     
     
         22 . The holder of  claim 13  further comprising at least one absorbent article selected from the group consisting of chair pads and bed pads.  
     
     
         23 . A method for securing an absorbent article in a holder comprising: 
 raising an outer edge of a first pouch located in the holder; and    slipping an outer perimeter of a first edge of an absorbent article into the pouch;    raising an outer edge of a second pouch; and    slipping an outer perimeter of a second edge of the absorbent article into the second pouch.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising smoothing a top surface of the absorbent article.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising applying pressure to the first and second pouches to more firmly secure the absorbent article with releasable securing means located on inner surfaces of the first and second pouches.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the releasable securing means is selected from the group consisting of releasable adhesive, adhesive tabs, hook material, loop material, and any combination thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising: 
 raising an outer edge of a third pouch; and  
 slipping an outer perimeter of a third edge of the absorbent article into the third pouch.  
 
     
     
         28 . A method for securing an absorbent article in a holder comprising: 
 raising an outer edge of a single pouch located in the holder;    slipping an outer perimeter of a first edge of an absorbent article into the single pouch; and    applying pressure to the single pouch to more firmly secure the absorbent article with releasable securing means located on at least one inner surface of the single pouch.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising applying pressure to an outer perimeter of a second edge of the absorbent article to more firmly secure the absorbent article with releasable securing means located on the holder or the absorbent article.  
     
     
         30 . A method of making an absorbent article holder comprising: 
 providing sheet material having side edges;    transversely folding the sheet material in two or more places to create pouches having pouch edges;    securing the pouch edges to the side edges to produce a series of absorbent article holders; and    separating the series of absorbent article holders into individual absorbent article holders.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising: 
 unwinding side wing material; and  
 joining the side wing material to individual holders.  
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising: 
 unwinding end wing material; and  
 joining the end wing material to individual holders.  
 
     
     
         33 . A product made according to the process of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         34 . A method of making an absorbent article holder comprising: 
 unwinding pouch and sheet material;    joining pouch and sheet material together to form a plurality of holders;    with heating means, sealing the pouch edges with the sheet edges; and    separating the plurality of holders into individual holders.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising: 
 unwinding side wing material; and  
 joining the side wing material to individual holders.  
 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising: 
 unwinding end wing material; and  
 joining the end wing material to individual holders.  
 
     
     
         37 . A product made according to the process of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         38 . A kit, comprising: 
 at least one absorbent article;    an absorbent article holder having a flexible sheet with less than four pouches, the less than four pouches designed to secure at least one edge of an outer perimeter of the at least one absorbent article; and    instructions for securing the at least one absorbent article in the absorbent article holder, the instructions located on a container designed to contain the at least one absorbent article and absorbent article holder.    
     
     
         39 . The kit of  claim 38  wherein the instructions are placed on a separate piece of paper inside the container.  
     
     
         40 . The kit of  claim 38  wherein there are two pouches substantially parallel to each other and extending transversely across the flexible sheet, the two pouches designed to secure opposing edges of an outer perimeter of the absorbent article.  
     
     
         41 . The kit of  claim 39  further comprising a plurality of absorbent articles.  
     
     
         42 . The kit of claim  41  further comprising a plurality of absorbent article holders.  
     
     
         43 . The kit of claim  41  wherein there are multiple pairs of pouches, each pair substantially parallel to each other and designed to secure opposing edges of an outer perimeter of a different absorbent article.