Absorbent Article Package With Weakness Line And Pouches

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional packages for absorbent articles are difficult for consumers to open and retrieve from, often resulting in spillage and damage to the container, which compromises the appearance and usability of the product.

Innovation Solution

A package design featuring a line of weakness in the top panel and pouches with transverse edges wider than the opening dimension, allowing for controlled opening and easy retrieval of absorbent articles, while preventing spillage and maintaining the container's integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the container is opened by tearing without a predetermined opening mechanism, then the consumer can access the absorbent article, but the container appearance is marred and branding is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to absorbent articleVSAvoidcontainer appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

A predetermined tear line is pre-formed in the container wall during manufacturing, allowing the consumer to easily tear open the container along this pre-defined path. This preliminary preparation enables clean opening without ad-hoc tearing that would mar the container appearance and damage branding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the opening is made large to facilitate retrieval, then the consumer can easily grasp the absorbent article, but multiple articles spill out of the container

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretrieval of absorbent articleVSAvoidnumber of articles retained in container
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The container is designed with individual pouches, each containing a single absorbent article. These pouches are arranged in stacks within the container. The predetermined tear line creates an opening that allows access to one pouch at a time, enabling the consumer to retrieve one article without causing other articles to spill out, as each article is independently contained in its own pouch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the container is made compact to improve handling, then ergonomics are improved, but the absorbent articles cannot be properly enclosed in protective pouches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling ergonomicsVSAvoidpouch enclosure structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each absorbent article is enclosed in an individual protective pouch. Multiple pouches are then stacked and nested within the container, with each pouch containing one article. This nested arrangement allows the container to remain compact and easy to handle while still providing proper protective enclosure for each absorbent article in its own pouch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Ease of manufacture

If the pouch edge is made narrow to reduce material usage, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the consumer cannot easily grasp the pouch for retrieval

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepouch material usageVSAvoidgrasping ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch is designed with differentiated edge characteristics. While the overall pouch uses minimal material, specific portions of the pouch edge are extended or thickened to create grasping tabs or enhanced grip areas. This local quality enhancement provides easy grasping for the consumer without significantly increasing overall material usage, as only specific portions of the pouch edge are modified.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP1999034B2Package for folded absorbent articles
Publication Date: 2019.03.20 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO
  • EP1999034B2 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1999034B2 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1999034B2 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A package of absorbent articles is disclosed. The package includes a container made of flexible sheet material, and a line of weakness defining a predetermined portion of the container to be separated from the container. The container has a front panel and at least a portion of the line of weakness is located within the front panel of the container. The predetermined portion has an opening dimension. The package includes a plurality of pouches arranged in a stacked relationship within the container. The pouch transverse edge width and pouch longitudinal edge width can be greater than the opening dimension.