Absorbent Article Fastening Component Macro Pattern Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing absorbent articles face challenges in flexibility of design, material efficiency, and complexity in fastening systems, which affect their ability to handle stresses, aesthetic design, and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The absorbent article features a fastening component with a macro pattern comprising two arrays of hooks that differ in shape, directionality, orientation, spacing, material, and integration, allowing for customizable properties and reduced material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fastening material strips or patches are provided separately to the manufacturer and affixed to the article component, then the fastening system can be customized to suit size and other needs, but it requires additional processing and handling steps, increasing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fastening material directly with the article component by forming fastening elements (such as hooks) directly on the substrate that forms part of the article component. This integration eliminates the need for separate fastening material strips or patches and their associated processing and handling steps, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining customization capabilities through direct design control.
Solution Approach 2:
The article component substrate serves its own function as the base for fastening elements, eliminating the need for separate fastening material. The substrate provides both the structural base and the foundation for fastening element formation, reducing the number of components and manufacturing steps required.
2Device complexity
If fastening elements are formed directly on a preexisting substrate, then processing and handling steps are eliminated and design control is improved, but flexibility in design and material choice is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties within the fastening system by allowing different arrays of fastening elements to have different characteristics (shapes, directions, orientations, spacing, materials). This enables localized customization of fastening properties while maintaining the overall integrated structure, thus preserving design flexibility despite direct formation on substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system is divided into multiple arrays of fastening elements, each potentially having different properties. This segmentation allows for varied design characteristics in different regions of the fastening system, providing design flexibility and material choice variation while maintaining the benefit of direct formation on substrate.
3Adaptability or versatility
If varied properties are implemented within different arrays of fastening elements, then design flexibility and stress handling are improved, but material usage and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements varied properties within different arrays of fastening elements to handle different stresses and aesthetic requirements in different regions. By applying the principle of local quality, each array can be optimized for its specific function and location, allowing design flexibility and improved stress handling without requiring excessive material throughout the entire fastening system.
Data Source
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AI summary
An absorbent article includes a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet; a first waist region, a second waist region and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist region; and a fastening component. The fastening component includes a macro pattern having a first array of hooks and a second array of hooks, wherein the first and second array differ by one of the group consisting of: shapes of fastening elements, directionality of fastening elements, orientation of array, average spacing of fastening elements, whether the elements are discrete or integral or some combination, fastening element constituent materials, the number and/or types of layers from which integral fastening elements are formed, average size of the fastening elements, opacity, color and combinations thereof.