Absorbent Core with Variable Basis Weight Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing absorbent articles, such as incontinence liners, lack sufficient pliability to conform effectively to the wearer's anatomy, compromising comfort and functionality.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a fluid permeable topsheet and impermeable backsheet with an absorbent core featuring longitudinally extending channel regions of lower basis weight, allowing for increased pliability and conformity by reducing material density and basis weight in specific areas, thereby enhancing flexibility and fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the absorbent core uses uniform material density throughout, then manufacturing is simple, but pliability and conformity to wearer's anatomy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent core is designed with different basis weights in different regions: side regions have a first basis weight while the central region has a second basis weight that is 20-80% of the first basis weight. This local variation in material density provides enhanced pliability in the central region for better conformity to the wearer's anatomy, while maintaining structural integrity through the side regions.
2Ease of operation
If the central region has higher basis weight for better absorption, then absorption capacity increases, but pliability and flexibility decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The central region is designed with lower basis weight (20-80% of side regions) specifically to enhance pliability and flexibility, allowing the core to conform to the wearer's body contours. The side regions maintain higher basis weight to provide sufficient absorption capacity for urine leakage, thus distributing different functional requirements to different locations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the absorbent article uses uniform thickness, then manufacturing is easier, but conformity to wearer's anatomy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent core is constructed with varying basis weights across different regions rather than uniform thickness. The central region has reduced basis weight (20-80% of side regions) to create a thinner, more flexible profile that can better conform to the wearer's anatomy, while side regions maintain sufficient thickness for absorption functionality.
4Ease of operation
If the channel regions have lower basis weight for increased flexibility, then pliability improves, but absorption capacity in those regions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The channel regions are positioned between the front and rear sections of the absorbent core and are designed with lower basis weight to provide enhanced pliability and flexibility in these areas. This allows the core to better conform to the wearer's body shape in the channel regions, while the overall core structure maintains sufficient absorption capacity through the side regions with higher basis weight.
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
The absorbent article demonstrates improved pliability and conformity to the wearer's anatomy, resulting in increased comfort and functional performance, with a 25.2% decrease in product stiffness compared to conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
The absorbent core is enclosed between the topsheet and the backsheet and is configured to absorb, distribute and store body exudates
Data Source
AI summary
An absorbent article has a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a thickness direction, and includes a fluid permeable topsheet, a fluid impermeable backsheet and an absorbent core enclosed between the topsheet and the backsheet having, in the longitudinal direction, a front section, a rear section and a crotch section between the front section and the rear section. The absorbent core has two longitudinally extending side regions and a longitudinally extending central region between said side regions. The central region and the side regions are spaced apart in the transversal direction by longitudinally extending channel regions. Furthermore, the width of the central region in the transversal direction is less than the width of each of the side regions in the transversal direction, at least in the front section and the rear section, and the channel regions are of less basis weight than the side regions and the central region.