Disposable Absorbent Articles Length Waist Silhouette Ratio

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current adult absorbent articles fail to adequately fit a broad range of body shapes and sizes, leading to issues such as leakage, discomfort, and poor discretion due to their generic design, which does not account for variations in Body Mass Index (BMI) and body shape, resulting in inadequate fit, gasketing, and comfort.

Innovation Solution

The development of disposable absorbent articles with varying sizes and designs that match the Body Length-to-Waist Silhouette ratio of different BMI groups, featuring adjustable Relaxed Product Length and Waist Width to provide a tailored fit, reducing leakage and enhancing comfort and discretion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If absorbent articles are designed to fit a broad range of body sizes with generic dimensions, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but fit accuracy and comfort deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefit accuracyVSAvoidproduct design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by establishing specific numerical ranges for Product Length-to-Waist Silhouette ratios corresponding to different BMI categories. Instead of using generic dimensions, the invention defines precise parameter ranges (e.g., 0.4-0.6 for normal weight, 0.3-0.5 for overweight, 0.2-0.4 for obese) that optimize fit for each body type, thereby improving fit accuracy while maintaining manageable design complexity through standardized parameter sets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If absorbent articles use fixed size categories, then manufacturing and inventory management are simplified, but adaptability to individual body shapes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to body shapesVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from fixed size categories to parameter-based sizing by defining Product Length-to-Waist Silhouette ratios that correspond to different BMI ranges. This allows the absorbent article to adapt to individual body shapes through continuous parameter adjustment rather than discrete size steps, improving adaptability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through established parameter ranges that can be implemented in existing production systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If absorbent articles are designed with excessive length to accommodate larger bodies, then coverage is improved, but discretion and comfort deteriorate due to material showing and bulk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage preventionVSAvoiddiscretion and comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by dynamically adjusting the Product Length-to-Waist Silhouette ratio according to the wearer's BMI category. For normal weight individuals (0.4-0.6), the length is optimized to prevent material showing, while for overweight (0.3-0.5) and obese (0.2-0.4) individuals, the ratio increases to provide adequate coverage and leakage prevention. This parameter-based approach ensures both discretion and reliability across different body types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If absorbent articles are designed for specific body types, then fit and comfort are optimized for that group, but versatility across all body types is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecomfortVSAvoidversatility across body types
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies segmentation by dividing the adult population into distinct BMI-based categories (normal weight, overweight, obese) and designing separate product configurations for each segment. Each segment receives optimized Product Length-to-Waist Silhouette ratios tailored to its specific body characteristics, thereby maximizing comfort within each group while maintaining overall versatility through the comprehensive multi-category design system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3821861A1Length to waist silhouettes of adult disposable absorbent articles and arrays
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO
  • EP3821861A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3821861A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3821861A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one embodiment, an array of packages may comprise three or more different sizes of disposable absorbent articles. The Product Length-to-Waist Silhouette of a second absorbent article may be equal to or less than a Product Length-to-Waist Silhouette of a first absorbent article. And the Product Length-to-Waist Silhouette of a third absorbent article may be equal to or less than a Product Length-to-Waist Silhouette of a second absorbent article. And, an Array Average Product Length-to-Waist Silhouette of first and second packages of the array may be from about 1.1 to about 0.3.