IP Library Granted Patent US 12,318,338
Granted Patent B2
US 12,318,338 · App. 17/403,203 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Disposable absorbent lift device

Inventors: Dan Love (Libertyville, IL); Scott A. Smith (Mundelein, IL); Steve A. Maskrey (Crystal Lake, IL); Paul I. Bottcher (Lakemoor, IL)
Assignee: Medline Industries, LP
A61G7/057A61F5/48A61F13/513A61F13/51462A61F13/51478A61F13/53A61F13/539A61G7/05784A61L15/24A61L15/28B32B5/022B32B5/08B32B5/26B32B7/14B32B27/12B32B27/32A61F2013/15024A61F2013/15056A61F2013/15154A61G7/05715A61G7/1026B32B2262/02B32B2262/067B32B2262/14B32B2307/54B32B2307/7163B32B2307/718B32B2307/724B32B2307/726B32B2307/728B32B2307/73
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,318,338
App. No.
17/403,203
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a disposable absorbent pad comprising multiple layers. In particular, the absorbent pad of the present invention maintains skin dryness by absorbing moisture while preventing leakage to the skin or the bed linens, allowing air circulation at the surface of the patient's skin to prevent heat buildup, and is strong enough to allow the patient to be repositioned, even when the pad is wet. In a particular embodiment the first layer is comprised of a fluid-permeable, porous material, the second layer is disposed under the first layer and is comprised of at least one super absorbent material, and a base layer disposed under the second layer.

Claims (23)

1. An absorbent pad comprising: a) a first layer comprising a nonwoven material; and b) a base layer disposed under the first layer, the base layer comprising a breathable film;

wherein the absorbent pad has a tensile strength at break, when measured by the ASTM D 882 method, in the range of 45 N/25 mm to 100 N/25 mm in the machine direction.

2. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , further comprising a second layer disposed under the first layer.

3. The absorbent pad of claim 2 , wherein the second layer comprises an absorbent core.

4. The absorbent pad of claim 3 , wherein the second layer comprises a formed material, and the formed material is an air-laid material.

5. The absorbent pad of claim 4 , wherein the air-laid material comprises cellulose.

6. The absorbent pad of claim 5 , wherein the cellulose is selected from the group consisting of wood fibers, plant fibers, field crop fibers, and fluff pulp.

7. The absorbent pad of claim 2 , wherein the second layer comprises a superabsorbent.

8. The absorbent pad of claim 7 , wherein the superabsorbent of the second layer comprises a polymer or copolymer of sodium polyacrylate.

9. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven material is selected from the group consisting of a hydrophilic nonwoven material, a staple nonwoven material, a melt blown nonwoven material, a spunmelt nonwoven material, a spunbond nonwoven material, SMS (spunbond meltblown spunbond) materials, spun lace materials, needle-felted materials, a thermal bonded nonwoven, a trough air bonded nonwoven material, a spunlaid nonwoven material, or any combination thereof.

10. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven material comprises polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, viscose rayon, nylon, at least one biodegradable polymeric material or a combination thereof.

11. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the first layer has a weight of 10 gsm to 20 gsm.

12. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the first layer has a Moisture Transfer Rate of between 5 sec/mL to 200 sec/mL.

13. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the first layer has an air permeability in the range of 10 seconds/100 m L to 100 seconds/100 mL.

14. The absorbent pad of claim 2 , wherein the second layer further comprises 90 gsm to 110 gsm of macerated wood pulp.

15. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the base layer further comprises a nonwoven material.

16. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the pad has a maximum lift weight of up to 325 lbs.

17. The absorbent pad of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent pad has a tensile strength at break, when measured by the ASTM D 882 method, in the range of 30 N/25 mm to 60 N/25 mm in the cross direction.

18. An absorbent pad comprising: a) a first layer comprising a nonwoven material; and b) a base layer disposed under the first layer, the base layer comprising a breathable film;

wherein the absorbent pad has a tensile strength at 25% elongation, when measured by the ASTM D 882 method, in the range of 35 N/25 mm to 55 N/25 mm in the machine direction.

19. The absorbent pad of claim 18 , wherein the absorbent pad has a tensile strength at 25% elongation, when measured by the ASTM D 882 method, in the range of 20 N/25 mm to 40 N/25 mm in the cross direction.

20. An absorbent pad comprising: a) a first layer comprising a nonwoven material; and b) a base layer disposed under the first layer, the base layer comprising a breathable film;

wherein the absorbent pad has a tensile strength at 25% elongation, when measured by the ASTM D 882 method, in the range of 20 N/25 mm to 40 N/25 mm in the cross direction.

Assignments (6)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2026
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075643/0462 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP F/K/A/ MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074331/0430 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 20, 2025
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071672/0100 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2024
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066971/0808 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
Reel/Frame 061697/0379 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2022
From: LOVE, DAN; SMITH, SCOTT A.; MASKREY, STEVE A.; BOTTCHER, PAUL L.
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 061058/0748 →