Absorbent Article With Folded Extension Units For Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional absorbent articles face challenges in effectively absorbing urine and preventing side leakage, especially when a large amount is excreted in a short period or with watery or loose stools, due to reduced absorption area in the inside leg region and potential interference from auxiliary absorbers.
Innovation Solution
The absorbent article features a unique absorber design with constricted portions in the center and extension units on both sides, where the outer region is folded towards the inner region, increasing the absorption capacity and preventing side leakage by distributing absorbed waste effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the width of the absorber is increased in the inside leg region, then absorption performance is improved, but the fitting feeling to the wearer is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber is designed with extension units that can dynamically extend and retract. During wear, the extension units retract to maintain good fitting feeling in the inside leg region. When urine is excreted, the extension units can extend to increase the effective absorption area, thus improving absorption performance without compromising fitting feeling during normal wear.
2Reliability
If auxiliary absorbers are erected toward the wearer, then side leakage is prevented, but bodily waste may still flow over the auxiliary absorbers when large amounts are excreted
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary absorbers are designed as extension units that can dynamically change their configuration. They are erected toward the wearer to prevent side leakage, but can also extend outward when large amounts of urine are excreted, providing an additional pathway for waste absorption and preventing overflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorber is divided into a body unit and multiple extension units. The extension units can be independently deployed to handle different absorption scenarios. When large amounts of waste are excreted, multiple extension units can be activated simultaneously, segmenting the waste handling function across multiple independent absorption zones.
3Ease of operation
If the effective absorption area is reduced in the inside leg region, then fitting feeling is improved, but absorption performance is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber transitions from a static narrow configuration during normal wear to a dynamic extended configuration when needed. The extension units remain compact during wear to maintain good fitting feeling, but can be deployed to increase the effective absorption area when urine excretion occurs, thus resolving the contradiction between fitting feeling and absorption performance.
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 enhances absorption performance and prevents side leakage while maintaining a good fitting feel for the wearer, even with high urine output or difficult-to-absorb stools, by ensuring the absorber can handle excess waste without leakage.
Implementation Method 1
an absorber (absorber 30) which is provided between the topsheet and the backsheet
Implementation Method 2
the outer region is folded toward the inner region at a side of the topsheet
Data Source
AI summary
An absorbent article according to the present invention includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorber. The absorber has a body unit having a foreside constricted portion and a backside constricted portion, and a pair of extension units extending outside in the widthwise direction of the absorber from the body unit. An outer region is folded toward an inner region at the side of the topsheet, and the maximum length of the inner region along the longitudinal direction of the absorber is shorter than the maximum length of the outer region.