Three-Dimensional Gather Erection in Absorbent Articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional absorbent articles with three-dimensional gathers face challenges in maintaining the erection of the first three-dimensional gather when a large amount of urine is absorbed, leading to deformation and potential side leakage due to increased absorbent body height.
Innovation Solution
The absorbent article incorporates a design where the middle part of the liquid permeable surface sheet is joined with a folded portion that forms a projection, with an elastic stretching member arranged in the urinary-opening facing area and middle area, ensuring the three-dimensional gather remains erected even with increased absorbent body height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large amount of urine is absorbed by the high absorbent polymer, then the absorbency is improved, but the volume and height of the absorbent body increase, causing deformation of the three-dimensional gather
Solution Approach 1:
The gather-forming nonwoven fabric is divided into multiple functional zones: a first zone forming the three-dimensional gather projection, a second zone forming a folded portion, and a third zone forming a joined portion to the liquid permeable surface sheet. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function independently, maintaining gather shape even when the absorbent body expands vertically after absorbing large amounts of urine.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the gather-forming nonwoven fabric are given different structural properties: the first zone is configured to project outward to maintain the gather barrier, while the second and third zones are folded and joined to provide structural support. This local differentiation ensures that the gather maintains its erection in critical areas regardless of absorbent body expansion.
2Quantity of substance
If the absorbent body height increases after absorbing large amount of urine, then the absorbency capacity is improved, but the side leakage prevention function deteriorates due to gather deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The gather-forming nonwoven fabric is pre-configured with a specific three-dimensional structure including projection, folding, and joining portions before the absorbent article is used. This preliminary structural configuration ensures that when urine is absorbed and the absorbent body expands, the gather maintains its erection and continues to prevent side leakage effectively.
3Reliability
If the three-dimensional gather is formed to project on skin side, then the side leakage prevention is improved, but the structural complexity increases due to multiple folded and joined portions
Solution Approach 1:
The gather-forming nonwoven fabric integrates multiple functions into a single component: it forms the three-dimensional gather projection for side leakage prevention, creates folded portions for structural support, and joins to the liquid permeable surface sheet for integration. This merging of functions into one element achieves effective side leakage prevention without requiring multiple separate components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively maintains the erection of the three-dimensional gather as a barrier, preventing side leakage of body fluids even when a large amount of urine is absorbed, ensuring the absorbent article's functionality is preserved.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic stretching member arranged continuously at least in a region corresponding to the projection
Implementation Method 2
the absorbent body contains a high absorbent polymer to absorb and retain a large amount of urine
Data Source
AI summary
A middle part in the width direction of a three-dimensional gather of an absorbent article is joined with a side edge portion of a liquid permeable surface sheet, and a folded portion folded back to a side at an inner side of the joint portion is formed. The folded portion is defined by an end area, a urinary-opening facing area, and a middle area. In the end area and the middle area, a portion on an inner side in the width direction of the folded portion is joined with the liquid permeable surface sheet, and a projection with an end of a portion on an outer side in the width direction rather than the joint portion as a free end portion is formed.