Absorbent Article Top Sheet Convex Shape Maintenance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional absorbent articles face challenges in maintaining the liquid pervious property at the bottom portions of grooves in top sheets, leading to decreased absorption rates and potential skin irritation due to back-flow issues.

Innovation Solution

The absorbent article features a top sheet with dome-shaped convexes and through-holes penetrating in the thickness direction, where the peripheral edge portions are high-density areas that are not compressed, maintaining the shape and enhancing the liquid pervious property by forming part of the convex edges, thereby preventing a decrease in absorption rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the bottom portions of the grooves are compressed in the thickness direction to maintain convex shape, then the shape maintaining property is improved, but the liquid pervious property decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvex shape maintaining propertyVSAvoidliquid pervious property

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies different density characteristics to different regions: the peripheral edge portions of through-holes are high-density portions where fibers are pushed together, while the bottom portions of grooves maintain lower density to preserve liquid pervious property. This local differentiation allows the convex shapes to be maintained by the high-density peripheral edges without compressing the groove bottoms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If through-holes are provided at the bottom portions of grooves to improve liquid pervious property, then the absorption rate is improved, but back-flow occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid pervious propertyVSAvoidback-flow

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Through-holes are strategically positioned at the peripheral edges of convexes rather than at the bottom portions of grooves. The high-density peripheral edge portions formed by pushed fibers act as barriers that prevent back-flow while the through-holes provide liquid pervious pathways. This local positioning strategy simultaneously achieves improved absorption and back-flow prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If a large number of through-holes are provided to ensure sufficient liquid pervious property, then the absorption rate is improved, but the structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid pervious propertyVSAvoidthrough-hole structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The peripheral edge portions of through-holes serve multiple functions: they form high-density portions that maintain convex shapes, provide structural reinforcement, and prevent back-flow. This multi-functionality allows the use of fewer through-holes while achieving sufficient liquid pervious property, thereby reducing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This design maintains the shape of the convexes and enhances the liquid pervious property at the bottom portions of the grooves, reducing the likelihood of absorption rate decrease and preventing back-flow, ensuring effective liquid management and comfort.

Implementation Method 1

peripheral edge portions of the through-holes are high-density portions where constituent fibers of the nonwoven fabric are pushed to parts around the through-holes from positions corresponding to the through-holes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiber displacement and densification:

Implementation Method 2

through-holes penetrating the top sheet in a thickness direction are provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of each of the convexes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquid permeation through porous structure: Permeation

Implementation Method 3

the high-density portions are not compressed in the thickness direction, the peripheral edge portions of the through-holes rise to both the front and back sides

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStructural rigidity through fiber arrangement:

Data Source

PatentEP3714853B1Absorbent article

Publication Date: 2023.11.22 DAIO PAPER CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

Provided is an absorbent article including a top sheet that is excellent in maintaining shapes of the concaves and convexes and hardly causes a decrease in absorption rate. The above problem is solved by an absorbent article in which a plurality of dome-shaped convexes 31 protruding to a front surface side is arranged on a top sheet 22 including a nonwoven fabric, and grooves 32 are formed between adjacent convexes 31, characterized in that through-holes 80 penetrating the top sheet 22 in a thickness 22t direction are provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of each of the convexes 31, peripheral edge portions 81 of the through-holes 80 are high-density portions where constituent fibers of the nonwoven fabric are pushed to parts around the through-holes 80 from positions corresponding to the through-holes 80, a part of peripheral edges of the convexes 31 is formed by a part of the peripheral edge portions 81 of the through-holes 80, and a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of an apparent thickness 22t is in a range of 0 to 50% of the maximum value in a portion of the top sheet 22 excluding the peripheral edge portions 81 of the through-holes 80.