Absorbent Male Underwear with Overlapping Leak Protection Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washable absorbent male underwear for light to moderate urine incontinence faces challenges in optimizing absorbency and leakage protection without compromising comfort and conformability, particularly due to the addition of bulky and stiff materials that affect flexibility and appearance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a textile pant with an absorbent assembly featuring a liquid permeable layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an absorbent structure, where the absorbent structure overlaps the leak protection zone, minimizing the area of bulky materials and using spacer fabrics to maintain comfort and flexibility, with a cup-shaped configuration to accommodate the genitalia and prevent movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional layers (liquid permeable layer, liquid impermeable layer, absorbent structure) are added to provide incontinence protection, then absorbency and leakage protection are improved, but bulkiness and stiffness increase causing wearer discomfort and reduced flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the absorbent structure only in the front portion of the textile pant where urine incontinence occurs in males. The leak protection zone extends beyond the absorbent structure to provide targeted protection. This localized approach provides necessary incontinence protection while minimizing bulkiness and stiffness in other areas, maintaining flexibility and comfort in the rear and side portions of the underwear.
2Reliability
If multiple layers are joined together with adhesives and stitched seams to secure the absorbent assembly, then structural integrity and leakage protection are improved, but stiffness increases and comfort decreases due to chafing seams and material edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the absorbent assembly into distinct functional zones: an absorbent structure with textile absorbent material for urine absorption, and a separate leak protection zone with liquid impermeable layer for preventing leakage. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently and reduces the number of joins required within the absorbent structure itself, thereby reducing stiffness and improving comfort while maintaining structural integrity through strategic placement of joining elements.
3Reliability
If the absorbent structure is made larger to increase absorbent capacity, then absorbency is improved, but conformability and discretion are compromised due to increased bulkiness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the thickness dimension (z-direction) by incorporating a liquid impermeable layer beneath the absorbent structure to create a leak protection zone. This dimensional approach allows the absorbent structure to be kept relatively thin and conformable in the x-y plane, maintaining discretion and comfort, while the extended leak protection zone in the thickness direction provides enhanced leakage protection without increasing lateral bulkiness.
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 design enhances leakage security and comfort by minimizing the area of bulky materials, providing effective absorbency and leakage protection while maintaining a discreet and conformable fit, reducing the risk of leakage and improving wearer discretion.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid permeable top layer which lets liquid pass through into at least one underlying liquid absorbent layer
Implementation Method 2
an absorbent structure being arranged between the liquid permeable layer and the liquid impermeable layer
Implementation Method 3
a liquid barrier layer is arranged on a garment-facing side of the absorbent material to prevent liquid from escaping through the incontinence protection underwear
Data Source
AI summary
Washable absorbent male underwear including a textile pant and an absorbent assembly, the absorbent assembly including a liquid permeable layer, a liquid impermeable layer; and an absorbent structure being arranged in a front portion of the textile pant between the liquid permeable layer and the liquid impermeable layer and including a first layer of textile absorbent material, the first layer of textile absorbent material having a first absorbent area; wherein the first absorbent area defines an area of a first absorbent zone of the absorbent assembly, the absorbent assembly further comprising a leak protection zone having an area which is defined by the area of the liquid impermeable layer, the absorbent structure completely overlapping the leak protection zone, the area of the leak protection zone being greater than the area of the first absorbent zone.