Disposable Absorbent Topsheet With Printed Second Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disposable absorbent products face challenges in creating visible images or color signals without requiring an underlying layer, reducing material usage, or minimizing ink consumption while maintaining visual perception.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional, fluid pervious or nonwoven web with printed colorants or lotion compositions on its second surface, featuring protrusions and interconnecting members that define apertures, allowing for depth perception and reduced ink usage by applying colorants or lotions on the web's second surface rather than the top surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If colorant is printed on a layer below the topsheet, then depth perception and visual appeal are improved, but device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by printing colorant on the second surface (bottom surface) of the topsheet rather than on an underlying layer. This utilizes the Z-dimension (thickness direction) of the single topsheet to create depth perception effects, eliminating the need for additional layers while maintaining the visual appeal benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the printing function from the underlying layer structure and relocates it to the second surface of the topsheet itself. This separation allows the topsheet to independently provide both the structural function and the visual depth effect, reducing overall device complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If colorant is printed on the top surface of the webs, then visual perception is improved, but skin comfort deteriorates due to proximity to user's skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional printing approach by printing on the second surface (bottom surface) of the topsheet instead of the first surface (top surface). This inversion places the colorant away from the user's skin while still allowing visual perception through the translucent material, thereby resolving the conflict between visual appeal and skin comfort.
3Illumination intensity
If traditional printing methods are used on absorbent articles, then visual signals are achieved, but ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by printing colorant selectively on the second surface of the topsheet in specific patterns or areas. This localized printing approach achieves effective visual signals while minimizing the total amount of ink required compared to traditional full-surface or multi-layer printing methods.
Data Source
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AI summary
A disposable absorbent article comprising a topsheet, wherein the topsheet comprises a web having thereon a colorant. The web can be a three-dimensional, fluid pervious, polymeric web or a nonwoven web. The web comprises a pattern of protrusions extending in sidewall portions to distal ends. The distal ends collectively define a discontinuous second surface in a second plane of the web. The colorant is deposited on at least a portion of the second surface of the web.