Absorbent Article Functional Enhancement Indicator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Feminine hygiene articles, particularly those with asymmetric shapes, pose challenges in proper placement and orientation due to lack of clear indicators for users, leading to potential soiling and inefficient use.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator that distinguishes functionally enhanced regions on the article, such as through printing or embossing, to guide users in correct placement and orientation within the undergarment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an asymmetrically-shaped absorbent article is used to improve coverage and prevent soiling, then the effectiveness in preventing soiling is improved, but the difficulty of correct placement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness in preventing soilingVSAvoiddifficulty of correct placement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies visual indicators (color changes, printed patterns, or embossed designs) on the absorbent article to distinguish the front and back portions. These visual cues enable users to correctly identify and place the asymmetrically-shaped article in the proper orientation within the undergarment, thereby resolving the placement difficulty while maintaining the improved soiling prevention benefits of the asymmetric design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Reliability

If an asymmetrically-shaped absorbent article is used to improve coverage, then the protection against soiling is enhanced, but the user's ability to identify proper orientation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against soilingVSAvoiduser's ability to identify proper orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Visual indicators such as color variations, printed patterns, or embossed designs are applied to the absorbent article to provide orientation information. These indicators clearly distinguish the front and back portions of the asymmetrically-shaped article, preventing loss of orientation information and enabling users to correctly identify and place the article in the proper orientation while maintaining enhanced soiling protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Ease of operation

If visual indicators are added to guide placement, then the ease of correct placement is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of correct placementVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates visual indicators (color changes, printed patterns, or embossed designs) that provide placement guidance without significantly increasing device complexity. These indicators are integrated into the existing article structure through printing or embossing processes, offering improved ease of correct placement while maintaining relatively simple device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS11554052B2Absorbent article having a functional enhancement indicator

Publication Date: 2023.01.17 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

An absorbent article includes a topsheet, an absorbent core, and a backsheet. The absorbent article has a visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator and a functionally-distinguishable portion of the article with one or more channels. The visually perceptible functional enhancement indicator corresponds to the one or more channels, and the functional enhancement indicator is visually perceptible from a body-facing side of the absorbent article but the one or more channels are not visually perceptible.