Method and apparatus for evaluating swimwear for underwater leakage

US6430989B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Sherry Van Dyke · Neenah, US
• Robin Nason · Oshkosh, US
• Daryl Steven Meyer · Oshkosh, US
• David W. Koenig · Menasha, US
• Thomas Kolb · Appleton, US
• Cynthia Helen Nordness · Oshkosh, US
• Marcille Faye Ruman · Oshkosh, US
• Faith Eileen Cochrane · Appleton, US
• Jesse Sorenson · Little Chute, US
• Devertt DeWayne Woolwine · Neenah, US
• Jerome J. Workman, Jr. · Appleton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 29, 2000
• Grant date: Aug 13, 2002
• Expiry date: Dec 29, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01M3/20
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A quantitative method of evaluating swimwear for underwater leakage using a mechanical test mannequin, a water tank, a fluorescent bowel movement simulant, and a fluorescence meter. More particularly, a swimwear garment is applied to the mannequin, the fluorescent bowel movement simulant is inserted into the swimwear garment, the mannequin and the swimwear garment are submersed into water within the water tank, and a motion mechanism attached to the mannequin moves the mannequin up and down, thereby simulating typical water play movements. The fluorescence meter can be used to quantitatively determine the amount of leakage of the fluorescent bowel movement simulant from the swimwear garment.