Absorbent Article Embossed Region Visibility Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing absorbent articles face challenges in easily discerning the positioning location from the liquid-permeable sheet side, making it difficult to match the absorbent article's placement on the wearer.

Innovation Solution

The absorbent article features an embossed region with pair of embossed sections and a non-embossed section, where the embossed sections have a lower basis weight and higher pulp fiber mass ratio than the non-embossed sections, allowing the colored layer to be more visible through the embossed sections, facilitating easier positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the colored layer is made visible through compression from the front sheet side, then the decorative property is improved, but the positioning discernibility from the liquid-permeable sheet side is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of colored layerVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating embossed sections with different basis weight and thickness characteristics in specific locations. The embossed sections have lower basis weight and reduced thickness compared to non-embossed sections, making the colored layer more visible through these specific areas while maintaining normal structure elsewhere. This localized modification enables positioning marks to be discerned from the liquid-permeable sheet side without affecting the overall absorbent body structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes color changes by making the colored layer visible through the embossed sections from the liquid-permeable sheet side. The embossed sections are designed with specific optical properties (lower basis weight, reduced thickness) that allow the colored layer's color to transmit through, creating visible positioning marks that guide correct placement on the wearer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Illumination intensity

If the basis weight of embossed section-forming portions is reduced to enhance visibility, then the positioning mark visibility is improved, but the absorbent capacity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of embossed regionVSAvoidabsorbent material amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating embossed sections with different basis weight and thickness characteristics in specific locations. The embossed sections have lower basis weight and reduced thickness compared to non-embossed sections, making the colored layer more visible through these specific areas while maintaining normal structure elsewhere. This localized modification enables positioning marks to be discerned from the liquid-permeable sheet side without affecting the overall absorbent body structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3520752B1Absorbent article
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 UNI CHARM CORP
  • EP3520752B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3520752B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3520752B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an absorbent article wherein it is easy to discern the positioning place from the liquid-permeable sheet side, and it is easy to match the location where the absorbent article should be positioned when it is put on, with the location where it is to be placed on the wearer. The absorbent article of the disclosure has the following construction. The absorbent article (1) comprises a liquid-permeable sheet (3), an absorbent body (5), a colored layer (15) and a liquid-impermeable sheet (17), in that order, and has a lengthwise direction (L), a widthwise direction (W) and a thickness direction (T), the absorbent article (1) comprising an embossed region (29) including a pair of embossed sections (21) disposed in a mutually separated manner and a non-embossed section (27) situated between them, each of the pair of embossed sections (21) having the absorbent body (5) embossed but not having the colored layer (15) embossed, and the non-embossed section (27) not having the absorbent body (5) and colored layer (15) embossed, and in the embossed region (29), thicknesses of the embossed section-forming portions (31) of the absorbent body (5) are smaller than a thickness of a non-embossed section-forming portion (33) of the absorbent body (5).