Absorbent Article Hip-Hold Flap Folding Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing absorbent articles with extended rear areas face issues where flaps folded in the widthwise direction may inadvertently spread outward, leading to an increased size of the wrapped product and potential overlap with the sealing position, necessitating a configuration that prevents such spreading.
Innovation Solution
The absorbent article features hip-hold flaps with convex portions and anti-slipping portions on the back surface, folded inward along specific lines that pass through the flexible portions with reduced thickness, preventing outward spread during wrapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wrapping sheet width is increased to prevent flap spread, then the flaps can be contained during folding, but the size of the individually wrapped product becomes larger than intended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing anti-slipping portions at specific locations on the flaps (where they contact the wrapping sheet) while maintaining smooth surfaces elsewhere. This localized friction enhancement prevents flap spread during folding without requiring an overall increase in wrapping sheet dimensions, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable flap containment and compact wrapped product size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface parameter of the flap contact areas by adding anti-slipping portions with increased friction coefficients. This parameter modification allows the flaps to be contained during folding through enhanced grip rather than through increased wrapping sheet width, thereby preventing the wrapped product size from increasing while maintaining reliable flap containment.
2Area of stationary object
If the flaps are folded with the top sheet side inward to achieve compact wrapping, then the wrapped size is reduced, but the flaps may inadvertently spread outward in the widthwise direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by equipping the flaps with anti-slipping portions before the folding operation. These portions create preliminary resistance against the tendency of flaps to spread outward during the folding process, enabling the flaps to be folded inward compactly while maintaining position stability throughout the folding operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates convex portions with specific radius of curvature (5 to 500 mm) on the flaps. These curved surfaces work in conjunction with the anti-slipping portions to guide the folding process, allowing the flaps to bend smoothly inward along the folding line while preventing lateral spread, thus achieving both compact wrapping and position stability.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An individually wrapped absorbent article includes an absorbent article and a wrapping sheet, wherein the absorbent article includes a middle area that includes a portion corresponding to a body-fluid-excretion-orifice of a wearer upon wearing the absorbent article, and a rear area behind the middle area extends to a rear end of the absorbent article, and the absorbent article includes hip-hold flaps projecting laterally from the main body in the rear area, and an outline the hip-hold flaps has convex portions with curvature radius of 5 to 500 mm, wherein anti-slipping portions are disposed on a back surface of the hip-hold flaps, and the hip-hold flaps are folded with a top-sheet side inward along lengthwise-direction-folding-lines extending substantially in the lengthwise-direction, and the rear area is folded with the top-sheet side inward along a widthwise-direction-folding-line extending substantially in the widthwise-direction through the anti-slipping portions and apexes of the convex portions.