Angled Perforation Wrapper for Tampon Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional wrappers for intravaginal devices, such as tampons, face issues with opening mechanisms due to front-to-back offsetting, resulting in misaligned lines of weakness and a small opening, which affects the usage and disposal experience.
Innovation Solution
The wrapper design incorporates two angled perforated lines of weakness with varying lengths and angles to facilitate easier opening and prevent separation into multiple pieces, ensuring a larger opening for both insertion and reinsertion of the article.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a completely horizontal line of weakness is used, then the wrapper structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the opening size is minimized and the usage experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the line of weakness from a completely horizontal orientation to an angled orientation (e.g., 45 degrees from horizontal). This parameter change increases the opening size and improves usability while still allowing for simple manufacturing processes. The angled configuration provides a larger aperture for removing and reinserting the personal care article without requiring complex manufacturing steps.
2Ease of operation
If the line of weakness is angled to create a larger opening, then the ease of operation is improved, but the front-to-back offsetting causes misalignment of lines of weakness and manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wrapper into distinct segments with different line of weakness configurations. The front portion has a first line of weakness at a first angle, while the back portion has a second line of weakness at a second angle. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently, accommodating front-to-back offsetting while maintaining proper functional alignment. The segmented approach resolves the alignment issue by designing for the expected offset rather than attempting to prevent it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric line of weakness configurations where the front and back portions have different angles relative to the longitudinal axis. This asymmetry intentionally accounts for the front-to-back offsetting that occurs during high-speed manufacturing. By designing asymmetric lines of weakness, the patent ensures that despite the offset, both lines remain substantially parallel and functional, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while achieving the desired larger opening.
3Productivity
If high speed manufacturing processes are used, then productivity is improved, but front-to-back offsetting increases and manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates preliminary action by pre-planning for the front-to-back offsetting that inevitably occurs during high-speed manufacturing. The line of weakness angles are specifically designed to compensate for this expected offset. Rather than attempting to achieve perfect alignment through slower manufacturing processes, the design proactively accounts for the offset, ensuring that the lines of weakness remain substantially parallel and functional even at high production speeds. This preliminary design consideration allows high-speed manufacturing without sacrificing functional precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
Wrappers for personal care articles are described. The wrappers have a unique line of weakness that facilitates both high-speed manufacture and the consumer use experience.