Absorbent Article Compact Fold Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional absorbent articles deform during use, leading to undesired shapes and configurations that increase the likelihood of fluid leakage and skin irritation, particularly when constructed with greater flexibility and thinness, and existing storage configurations do not provide adequate discretion, ease of use, or comfort.
Innovation Solution
The absorbent article features a unique folding pattern with longitudinally opposed end-sections and an intermediate section, where at least one end-section is folded along a laterally-extending end-fold-region and the intermediate section is folded along a lengthwise-fold-region, allowing controlled deformation to prevent leakage and irritation, while maintaining discretion and comfort through specific fold directions and configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the absorbent article is constructed with greater flexibility and thinness, then comfort and discretion are improved, but the article undergoes deformation during wear leading to undesired shapes and fluid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The article is pre-folded along specific fold lines (first fold line through the core, second fold line through the topsheet and backsheet) before use. This preliminary folding configuration maintains shape stability during storage and transport, and when activated by the wearer, allows controlled deformation to conform to body contours without causing fluid leakage
Solution Approach 2:
The article transitions from a stable folded state to a dynamic conforming state during use. The fold lines are designed to allow controlled movement and deformation when the article is activated, enabling it to adapt to body movements while maintaining protection against leakage
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the absorbent article is constructed with greater flexibility and thinness, then comfort is improved, but fasteners detach and contact the wearer causing irritation
Solution Approach 1:
Fasteners are positioned on specific sides of the article in advance, and the folding configuration is designed to keep fasteners oriented away from the wearer's body during normal use. This preliminary arrangement prevents fastener detachment and skin contact that would cause irritation
3Ease of operation
If conventional storage configurations are used, then the article can be stored, but the article increases in size and loses discretion and ease of use
Solution Approach 1:
The article is folded in a nested configuration where the absorbent core is folded along a first fold line, and the topsheet and backsheet are folded along a second fold line, creating a compact nested structure that reduces storage volume while maintaining ease of use when activated
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
A personal care article (20) has a longitudinal-direction (22), a lateral cross-direction (24), a first end-section (72), a second end-section (72a), and an intermediate-section (76) interposed between the first end-section (72) and the second end-section (72a). At least a portion of the first end-section has been folded along or otherwise includes a first end-fold-region (64) which is substantially convex along a backsheet-side of the article. At least a portion of the second end-section has been folded along or otherwise includes a second end-fold-region (66) which is substantially convex along the backsheet-side of the article. In other aspects, the article can include a first, lengthwise-fold-region (58) in the first end-section, a second, lengthwise-fold-region (62) in the second end-section, and a third, lengthwise-fold-region (68) in the intermediate section. Additionally, the first lengthwise-fold-region can have a first, fold-direction that is opposite a third, fold-direction of the third lengthwise-fold-region.