Absorbent Article Elasticized Outer Sheet Folds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Absorbent articles face challenges in maintaining breathability, particularly when elastic members contract, leading to reduced airflow and moisture escape, which can result in heat and moisture trapping.
Innovation Solution
The absorbent article features an outer sheet and inner sheet with elastic members arranged between them, forming joined and non-joined regions. The outer sheet bulges to form folds due to elastic contraction, and holes are strategically placed in the folds to overlap the elastic members, enhancing breathability by creating ventilation paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If elastic members are arranged between outer sheet and inner sheet to provide flexibility, then flexibility and tactile comfort are improved, but breathability deteriorates due to reduced airflow and moisture escape when elastic members contract
Solution Approach 1:
The outer sheet is designed with a porous structure containing multiple holes that penetrate through the sheet. These holes create ventilation paths that allow air and moisture to pass through even when elastic members are in a contracted state, thereby maintaining breathability while preserving the flexibility provided by the elastic members.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a thickness dimension by forming hollow gathers that protrude from the outer sheet surface. These gathers create three-dimensional ventilation channels that extend in the thickness direction, allowing moisture and air to escape vertically while the elastic members provide horizontal flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If outer sheet is made deformable to form folds for volume in thickness direction, then tactile feel is improved, but breathability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The outer sheet incorporates a porous structure with holes positioned within the foldable regions. When the sheet deforms to form folds, these holes maintain connectivity to create ventilation paths, ensuring that the deformable structure provides both tactile comfort and breathability simultaneously.
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 improves breathability by allowing air and moisture to escape efficiently, reducing heat and moisture trapping, while maintaining flexibility and tactile comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The outer sheet is configured to be deformable so as to bulge toward a non-skin-facing surface side due to contraction of the elastic members
Implementation Method 2
The absorbent article has holes penetrating the outer sheet at positions in the folds formed by the outer sheet, the positions overlapping the elastic members in a thickness direction
Data Source
AI summary
An absorbent article (1) of the present invention has, in at least one of a front portion and a rear portion thereof, an elasticized portion (G) that is stretchable and contractible in an article lateral direction (Y). The elasticized portion (G) has an outer sheet (22) to be disposed on a side that is away from the skin of a wearer, an inner sheet (23) to be disposed on a side that is closer to the skin of the wearer than the outer sheet (22) is, and a plurality of elastic members (24) that are arranged between the outer and inner sheets in a state in which the elastic members are stretched in the article lateral direction (Y). The outer sheet (22) and the inner sheet (23) are partially joined to each other at a joined region (26). The joined region (26) is sandwiched between non-joined regions (36) where the outer sheet (22) and the inner sheet (23) are not continuously joined to each other in an article longitudinal direction or the article lateral direction. A plurality of the joined regions (26) and a plurality of the non-joined regions (36) are repeatedly arranged in the article longitudinal direction or the article lateral direction. The outer sheet (22) is configured to be deformable so as to bulge toward a non-skin-facing surface side due to contraction of the elastic members (24) and form a plurality of folds (29) along the article longitudinal direction (X) or the article lateral direction (Y). The absorbent article (1) has holes penetrating the outer sheet (22) at positions in the folds (29) formed by the outer sheet (22), the positions overlapping the elastic members (24) in a thickness direction.