Absorbent Insert With Perimeter Seal for Underwear-Like Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current disposable absorbent garments for bedwetting are not satisfactory as they resemble diapers and do not adequately mimic conventional underwear, leading to a need for a product that is both underwear-like and capable of managing urine leakage effectively.

Innovation Solution

A containment pant system featuring a discrete absorbent insert with a fluid-permeable design, comprising two sheets and an absorbent core, where the sheets extend beyond the core perimeter to form a seal, providing a durable outer chassis and an inner pouch for containing the insert, which is designed to resemble conventional underwear while effectively managing urine leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If disposable absorbent garments are made to look and feel like conventional underwear, then user satisfaction and aesthetic appearance are improved, but the ability to effectively contain and manage urine leakage may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunderwear-like appearanceVSAvoidurine containment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements nesting by placing a disposable absorbent insert inside reusable containment pants. The insert is positioned within an inner pouch formed by containment flaps, which are themselves contained within the outer chassis of the pants. This nested structure allows the absorbent functionality to be hidden within an underwear-like outer garment, resolving the contradiction between aesthetic appearance and containment reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the absorbent system into separate functional components: a disposable absorbent insert containing the core absorbent material, and reusable containment pants providing the underwear-like structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the insert for maximum absorbency and the pants for aesthetic appearance and comfort - while working together as an integrated system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If absorbent garments use traditional diaper-like structures, then urine containment capability is improved, but user acceptance and comfort deteriorate due to the diaper-like appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveurine containment capabilityVSAvoiduser acceptance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the diaper-like absorbent core from the visible outer garment structure. The absorbent insert is contained within an inner pouch formed by containment flaps that are hidden within the chassis of the pants. This extraction allows the functional absorbent elements to be separated from the aesthetic outer structure, enabling users to wear underwear-like pants without the visible appearance of traditional diapers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Quantity of substance

If the absorbent insert has high absorbency capacity, then the amount of urine that can be contained is improved, but the thickness and bulk of the garment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabsorbent capacityVSAvoidgarment thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs thin, flexible containment flaps made of laminate material that form an inner pouch to hold the absorbent insert. These flaps create a confined space that contains the absorbent bulk within the limited volume of the pants, preventing excessive outward protrusion. The flexible nature of the flaps allows them to conform to the body shape while containing the absorbent material, thus maintaining high absorbency capacity without significant increase in external garment thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 solution provides a discreet and effective means to manage urine leakage, resembling conventional underwear while ensuring absorbency and comfort, addressing the dissatisfaction with existing products that are perceived as diaper-like.

Implementation Method 1

an absorbent core positioned between the first sheet and the second sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The absorbent insert includes an absorbent core having a core perimeter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 3

the first sheet and the second sheet extend beyond the core perimeter and are joined together to form a perimeter seal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP2872095B1Absorbent insert and containment system
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 KIMBERLY CLARK WORLDWIDE INC
  • EP2872095B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2872095B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2872095B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A discrete absorbent insert for use in a containment system includes an absorbent core positioned between a first sheet and a second sheet. The first sheet and the second sheet extend beyond the core and are joined together to form a seal. The absorbent core has at least 40% superabsorbent. The absorbent insert has an intake layer of at least 100 gsm between the first sheet and the absorbent core. The first sheet and the second sheet are fluid permeable, spunbond webs of synthetic polymer filaments. The absorbent insert has an absorbent capacity of at least 600 g. The discrete absorbent insert may have an intake rate for a first insult through the first sheet having a first value and an intake rate for a first insult through the second sheet having a second value, wherein a difference between the first value and the second value is less than 20%.