Absorbent Article Package With Angled Corner Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packages for absorbent articles, such as diapers and adult incontinence undergarments, face issues with deformation due to the force exerted by densely packed flexible packages, leading to a compromised appearance and potential perception of product quality during storage and handling.
Innovation Solution
A package design featuring a wrap-around structure with corner panels and adjustable attachment zones made from multiple pieces of material, which reduces bending and deformation by allowing greater flexibility and conforming to the shape of the absorbent articles, while maintaining a cost-effective production method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If absorbent articles are densely packed in flexible packages to increase quantity per package, then the quantity of articles per package is improved, but the package stability deteriorates due to outward bending and buckling of side panels
Solution Approach 1:
The package is divided into multiple individual flexible packages, each containing absorbent articles. These segmented packages are arranged within a larger container package, allowing the force from packed articles to be distributed across multiple smaller units rather than concentrating stress on a single structure, thereby maintaining stability while increasing total quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The package combines different materials and structural elements: flexible packaging materials for individual article containment, rigid side panels for structural support, and corner panels for reinforcement. This composite approach allows the package to simultaneously accommodate densely packed articles while resisting deformation through the rigid supporting elements.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid box structures are used to contain densely packed flexible packages, then package stability is improved, but the package is susceptible to deformation when stacked during storage due to lack of flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The package incorporates flexible elements that allow dynamic adjustment to external forces. The flexible packages within the container can shift and deform slightly under stacking loads, while the rigid side panels and corner panels provide structural support that prevents catastrophic failure. This dynamic flexibility combined with rigid support structures enables the package to withstand stacking without permanent deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The package uses flexible packaging materials for individual article containment and flexible side panels that can bend and adapt to stacking forces. These flexible elements work in conjunction with rigid corner panels to create a structure that is both stable and adaptable to storage conditions, preventing the buckling issues associated with purely rigid structures.
3Strength
If corner panels with interior angles between 90° and 110° are used in the wrap-around, then resistance to deformation is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to non-standard angles
Solution Approach 1:
The corner panels are designed with specific interior angle ranges (90° to 110°, preferably 95° to 105°, most preferably approximately 100°) that optimize structural strength while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing capabilities. This parameter optimization provides enhanced deformation resistance through geometric strength without requiring complex or non-standard manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A package configuration for absorbent articles, such as disposable diapers, training pants and adult incontinence undergarments is disclosed. The package configuration may include one or more pluralities of absorbent articles, each plurality packaged in a flexible package. The one or more flexible packages may be wrapped and further contained by a wrap-around. The wrap-around may have first and second pairs of opposing side panels. Adjacent side panels from the first and second pair may be joined by corner panels. The corner panels may form interior angles with the side panels of from 100° to 170°. The presence of the angled corner panels may render the wrap-around better able to conform to the shape of the one or more flexible packages, and more resistant to deformation.