Disposable wrist/arm protector with flaps

Abstract

A disposable tubular wrist/arm protector includes at least one longitudinally extending flap in the direction of the longitudinally extending axis of the tubular assembly. The assembly having a substrate having at least one layer. The flap may be formed by folding portions of the assembly laterally inward. The flap may have at least one layer. A longitudinally extending elastic gathering member is attached to the unattached portion of the flap. The elastic gathering member contracts and raise the flap to form a side barrier, thereby an “O” shape is formed by the unattached portion of the flap in the tubular shape wrist/arm protector. The assembly may be absorbent, may be non-absorbent or partially absorbent and non-absorbent. The main focus of absorption and/or a protective barrier is the entry area of a wrist/arm protector, the flap acts as a block to the interior and/or exterior of the wrist/arm protector to absorb or repel as needed for its purpose. The flap holds the arm/wrist protector in a space relation away from the arm of a wearer, providing advanced protection.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A combination including a flap and a tubular shaped article, the combination comprising: a substrate comprising at least one layer and at least one flap comprising at least one layer. 
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the flap comprise a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion is configured to maintain an upright, perpendicular spaced relation away from the tubular shaped substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein the first portion of the flap is attached to the tubular shaped substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein the first portion of the flap is attached to the interior of the tubular shaped substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein the second portion of the flap comprise elastic. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5  wherein the elastic is a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member, such that when allowed to relax the elastic gathering member contracts and lifts the second portion of the flap away from the substrate. 
     
     
         7 . A tubular shaped wrist/arm cover comprising the combination of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . A prosthetics cover comprising the combination of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A barrier arm protector comprising the combination of  claim 1   
     
     
         10 . An expansion means for a tubular wrist/arm cover comprising the combination of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a tubular shaped article comprising at least one flap comprising the combination of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A tubular shaped article, comprising: a substrate comprising at least one layer in a tubular configuration comprising a first opening region and a second opening region, and an interior portion an exterior portion and comprising at least one flap comprising at least one layer. 
     
     
         13 . The tubular shaped article of  claim 12  wherein the flap comprise a first portion and a second portion wherein the second portion is configured to maintain an upright, perpendicular spaced relation away from the tubular shaped substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The tubular shaped article of  claim 13  wherein the first portion of the flap is attached to the tubular shaped substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The tubular shaped article of  claim 13  wherein the first portion of the flap is attached to the interior portion of the tubular shaped substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The tubular shaped article of  claim 13  wherein the second portion of the flap comprise elastic. 
     
     
         17 . The tubular shaped article of  claim 16  wherein the elastic is a longitudinally extending elastic gathering member, such that when allowed to relax the elastic gathering member contracts and lifts the second portion of the flap away from the substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The tubular shaped article of  claim 12  wherein the flap is a longitudinally extending flap. 
     
     
         19 . The tubular shaped article of  claim 13  wherein the first portion of the flap is a longitudinally extending portion. 
     
     
         20 . The tubular shaped article of  claim 13  wherein the second portion of the flap is a longitudinally extending portion.