Protective absorbent pad

Abstract

A protective pad is described for protecting clothing from inadvertent spills. The protective pad includes a liquid absorbent layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an adhesive coating. The liquid impermeable layer overlies the liquid absorbent layer, while the adhesive coating covers at least a portion of the liquid impermeable layer. The adhesive coating allows the protective pad to be conveniently adhered to a user's clothing. Subsequently, if exposed to a liquid spill, the liquid absorbent layer cooperates with the liquid impermeable layer to absorb and contain the spill so that the underlying clothing remains untouched and undamaged.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective pad comprising:
 a liquid absorbent layer comprising a liquid absorbent material:   a liquid impermeable layer overlying the liquid absorbent layer and comprising a liquid impermeable material; and   an adhesive coating covering at least a portion of the liquid impermeable layer and comprising an adhesive material.   
     
     
         2 . The protective pad of  claim 1 , further comprising a backing layer adhered to the adhesive coating. 
     
     
         3 . The protective pad of  claim 2 , wherein the backing layer comprises at least one of paper or plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The protective pad of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive coating covers at least a portion of a face of the liquid impermeable layer facing away from the liquid absorbent layer. 
     
     
         5 . The protective pad of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid impermeable layer defines a corner that is not covered by the adhesive coating. 
     
     
         6 . The protective pad of  claim 1  wherein the liquid absorbent material comprises at least one of wood cellulose, cotton, bamboo fiber, banana fiber, jute fiber, flax spinning waste, superabsorbent polymer, cellulose-based hydrogel, polypropylene fiber, or lyocell fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The protective pad of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid impermeable material comprises at least one of polyethylene, polyurethane, or poly lactic acid fiber. 
     
     
         8 . The protective pad of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive coating comprises at least one of styrene-butadiene-styrene rubber, styrene-isoprene-styrene rubber, or poly-alpha-olefin. 
     
     
         9 . The protective pad of  claim 1 , wherein the protective pad is rectangular. 
     
     
         10 . The protective pad of  claim 1 , wherein the protective pad defines a rectangle with a projection projecting therefrom. 
     
     
         11 . The protective pad of  claim 1 , wherein the protective pad defines two intersecting rectangles with differing widths. 
     
     
         12 . The protective pad of  claim 1 , wherein the protective pad is a one of plurality of protective pads forming a roll. 
     
     
         13 . The protective pad of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the protective pad is attached to a second protective pad; and   the protective pad is manually separable from the second protective pad by tearing along perforations.   
     
     
         14 . A method of protecting clothing from a spill, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a protective pad comprising:
 a liquid absorbent layer comprising a liquid absorbent material: 
 a liquid impermeable layer overlying the liquid absorbent layer and comprising a liquid impermeable material; and 
 an adhesive coating covering at least a portion of the liquid impermeable layer and comprising an adhesive material; and 
   adhering the adhesive coating to the clothing.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the protective pad further comprises a backing layer adhered to the adhesive coating. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises the step of removing the backing layer from the adhesive coating before the step of adhering the adhesive coating to the clothing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid absorbent material comprises at least one of wood cellulose, cotton, bamboo fiber, banana fiber, jute fiber, flax spinning waste, superabsorbent polymer, cellulose-based hydrogel, polypropylene fiber, or lyocell fiber. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid impermeable material comprises at least one of polyethylene, polyurethane, or poly lactic acid fiber. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adhesive coating comprises at least one of styrene-butadiene-styrene rubber, styrene-isoprene-styrene rubber, or poly-alpha-olefin. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adhesive coating covers at least a portion of a face of the liquid impermeable layer facing away from the liquid absorbent layer.