Diaper Mechanical Fastener Self-Folding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disposable diapers face challenges in compact and sanitary folding for disposal, often requiring additional costly means like pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating mechanical fasteners with hook and loop elements on the diaper's waist regions, allowing for self-folding by engaging the hook elements on the outer side with loop elements on the inner side, eliminating the need for separate folding aids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If dedicated means such as pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes are used to keep the used diaper compactly folded up, then the folding compactness and sanitation are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical fastener system serves dual functions: it secures the diaper during wear by engaging waist regions, and it enables compact folding during disposal by engaging lateral zones. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate adhesive tapes, resolving the contradiction between folding compactness and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The diaper's own mechanical fastener components are utilized to achieve compact folding without requiring external dedicated means. The hook elements and loop elements on the lateral zones engage with each other to maintain the folded state, allowing the diaper to serve its own folding needs and eliminating additional manufacturing costs.
2Reliability
If hook elements and loop elements are attached to transversely opposite lateral zones for mechanical fastening, then the diaper can be securely fastened, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical fastening function is merged with the existing waist region structure. The hook elements are attached to the outer side of the first lateral zone while loop elements are attached to the inner side of the second lateral zone, combining fastening capability with the diaper's structural framework rather than adding separate complex fastening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical fastener components are localized to specific regions (lateral zones of waist regions) rather than being distributed throughout the entire diaper structure. This localized approach provides secure fastening where needed while maintaining simplicity in other areas of the diaper construction.
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
Enables compact and sanitary folding of used diapers without additional costs, ensuring secure engagement and preventing leakage during disposal.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanical fastener including first engagement regions formed in a pair of first lateral zones of the first waist region which are opposed to in the transverse direction and extending in the longitudinal direction and having a mechanical fastener function and second engagement regions formed in a pair of second lateral zones of the second waist region which are opposed to each other in the transverse direction and extending in the longitudinal direction and having a mechanical fastener function and adapted to be detachably engaged with the first engagement regions
Data Source
AI summary
A wearing article adapted to be folded up as compactly as possible in a sanitary manner utilizing the component of the wearing article itself. The wearing article having front and rear waist regions that include a first pair of lateral zones opposed to each other in a transverse direction X and extending in a longitudinal direction Y and a second pair of lateral zones opposed to each other in the transverse direction X and extending in the longitudinal direction Y, respectively. An inner sheet is provided in the respective first lateral zones with mount members defining first engagement regions and hook elements of mechanical fastener are attached to a chassis via these mount members. The respective second lateral zones of the inner sheet define second engagement regions and provided with loop elements attached thereto. The front and rear waist regions are provided with waist elastic members attached thereto under tension so as to extend in the transverse direction X. The mount members are formed by fibrous sheet adapted to be engaged with the hook members and thereby define third engagement regions.