Containment Pant With Nested Fluid-Impervious Pouch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current disposable absorbent garments for bedwetting are not satisfactory as they resemble diapers and do not adequately mimic conventional underwear, leading to user dissatisfaction, as they fail to provide a product that looks and feels like regular underwear while still managing bedwetting effectively.

Innovation Solution

A permanently closed containment pant with an elastically extensible chassis, a fluid-impervious pouch, and transitions that allow for movement and adjustment, designed to resemble conventional underwear, featuring a polyester and polyurethane laminate and elastic containment flaps for improved fit and functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If disposable absorbent garments are designed to look like conventional underwear, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but fluid containment capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidfluid containment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested structure where an inner fluid-impervious pouch is placed within an outer chassis that resembles conventional underwear. The pouch contains the absorbent insert and is sealed to prevent leakage, while the outer chassis provides the underwear-like appearance. This nested arrangement allows the product to simultaneously achieve aesthetic appearance and reliable fluid containment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the garment structure is made more complex to improve fluid containment, then containment capability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid containment capabilityVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the containment system into separate functional segments: an inner pouch made from laminated material for fluid imperviousness, an outer chassis for structural support and appearance, and an absorbent insert for fluid absorption. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using appropriate processes and then assembled, balancing containment capability with manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If elastic materials are added to improve fit and comfort, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefit and comfortVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates elastic materials into the chassis to modify its physical parameters, specifically its ability to stretch and conform to the body. This parameter change allows the garment to provide a comfortable fit while maintaining the overall simplicity of the containment system design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution provides a durable, comfortable, and effective containment system that resembles conventional underwear, addressing user dissatisfaction by offering a practical and aesthetically pleasing option for managing bedwetting while maintaining fluid containment.

Implementation Method 1

a fluid-impervious pouch created by joining the containment flap to the base sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid-impervious barrier:

Implementation Method 2

an elastically extensible chassis defining a waist opening, a first leg opening, and a second leg opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2872093B1Containment pant
Publication Date: 2018.09.05 KIMBERLY CLARK WORLDWIDE INC
  • EP2872093B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2872093B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2872093B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A permanently closed containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis. The sling is joined to the front waist region and the back waist region. The sling includes a fluid-impervious base sheet and a containment flap joined with the base sheet to create a fluid-impervious pouch. The sling also includes a first transition and a second transition that are elastically extensible in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction. The base sheet is a fabric laminated with polyurethane and the containment flap is a fabric laminated with polyurethane. The polyurethane surface of the base sheet is ultrasonically joined in facing relationship with the polyurethane surface of the containment flap. The permanently closed containment pant is substantially devoid of an integrated absorbent core.