Easy-to-peel securely attaching bandage

Abstract

A bandage remains securely attached to the skin of a wearer during extended exposure to arid, humid or wet conditions. The bandage is readily removed from the attached condition upon application of pressure to its exterior surface. Adhesive portions of the contain pockets or microcapsules filled with an adhesive-inactivating ingredient. The pockets are formed in the backing layer. Microcapsules, if present, are incorporated in the adhesive. The adhesive inactivating ingredient comprises oil from vegetable source, mineral source or fatty acids. The wearer ruptures the pockets or microcapsules by applying pressure to the bandage above the adhesive portions. The adhesive-inactivating ingredient is thereby released at the skin-adhesive interface, permitting an easy, pain-free removal of the bandage.

1 . A bandage, comprising:
 a. a backing layer;   b. a plurality of portions of the backing layer containing an adhesive appointed for contact with skin of a bandage wearer;   c. a plurality of microcapsules containing an adhesive-inactivating ingredient disposed in the adhesive-containing portions of the backing layer;   d. said microcapsules being operative to rupture upon application of pressure or scratching by the bandage wearer, thereby releasing said adhesive-inactivating ingredient;   e. said adhesive-inactivating ingredient, upon release, being delivered at the skin contacting interface of said adhesive, reducing adhesive bond strength and enabling pain-free removal of said bandage.   f. a central wound-contacting absorbent pad bonded by hot melt glue or strong adhesive to said backing layer;
 wherein said backing layer is embossed with microcapsules, filled with said adhesive-activating ingredient and sealed with a second polymeric layer prior to the application of said adhesive. 
   
   
   
       2 . A bandage as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is selected from a group consisting of acrylic-based, dextrin-based, and urethane-based adhesives, and adhesives based on natural and synthetic elastomers. 
   
   
       3 . A bandage as recited by  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive releasing ingredient is a member selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, olive oil, safflower oil, cotton seed oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, caster oil, sesame oil, mineral oil, liquid paraffin or fatty acids, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . A bandage as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said microcapsules are present in the adhesive contained by the adhesive-containing portions of said backing layer. 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . A bandage as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said microcapsules contain about 5 to 20 volume percent of adhesive-inactivating ingredient as compared to the volume of said adhesive. 
   
   
       10 . A method for producing an easy-to-peel, securely attaching bandage, comprising the steps of:
 a. selecting a first polymeric layer;   b. embossing said first polymeric layer to form a plurality of microcapsules therein;   c. filling said microcapsules with an adhesive-inactivating ingredient;   d. selecting a second polymeric layer;   e. spreading said second polymeric layer over said first polymeric layer to cover said filled microcapsules;   f. bonding said second polymeric layer to said first polymeric layer to form filled microcapsules of adhesive-inactivating ingredient having a backing layer; and   g. applying skin-contacting adhesive to portions of said backing layer, whereby release of the adhesive-inactivating ingredient can be triggered, and said bandage can be removed from the skin easily and without pain, when the wearer applies pressure to or scratches the backing layer, causing rupture of said microcapsules.   
   
   
       11 . A method for producing an easy-to-peel, securely attaching bandage, comprising the steps of:
 a. producing microcapsules that contain an adhesive-inactivating ingredient;   b. mixing said microcapsules with a skin-contacting adhesive to produce a microcapsule-containing adhesive;   c. selecting a backing layer;   d. coating said skin contacting portions of the bandage with said microcapsule-containing adhesive;   whereby release of the adhesive-inactivating ingredient can be triggered on demand, enabling said bandage to be removed from the skin easily and without pain, upon application of pressure to the backing layer, and consequent rupture of said microcapsules.