Disposable Diaper Three-Dimensional Gather Bonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing disposable diapers face challenges in securing adequate accommodation space for excrement while maintaining operability, as high three-dimensional gathers can cause leg entrapment during wearing, and lowering their height compromises excrement containment.

Innovation Solution

A disposable diaper design featuring a pants-type configuration with strategically positioned three-dimensional gathers, where the bonded portion across the center of the diaper in the longitudinal direction suppresses the height of the gathers, ensuring accommodation space and preventing leg entrapment by maintaining a lower profile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of stationary object

If the fixed part of the three-dimensional gather is positioned outside the absorbent core in the width direction, then the accommodation space for excrement is increased, but the height of the three-dimensional gather becomes too high causing leg entrapment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation spaceVSAvoidoperability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The three-dimensional gather is segmented into multiple sections along the longitudinal direction, with different fixed part positions in different sections. The first section has the fixed part outside the absorbent core to maximize accommodation space, while the second section has the fixed part on the absorbent core to reduce height and prevent leg entrapment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the three-dimensional gather are given different properties: the front section (first section) allows the gather to rise high for excrement containment, while the rear section (second section) keeps the gather low to prevent leg entrapment. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between accommodation space and operability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the distance between the fixed part and inner edge of the three-dimensional gather is shortened to lower its height, then operability is improved, but the accommodation space becomes too small causing excrement leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveoperabilityVSAvoidaccommodation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The three-dimensional gather is divided into sections with different configurations. The first section maintains a long distance between the fixed part and inner edge to ensure adequate accommodation space, while the second section uses a short distance to prevent leg entrapment, thus resolving the contradiction through spatial segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The contradiction is resolved by transitioning from a uniform single-dimension design to a multi-sectional design where the properties vary along the longitudinal dimension. This allows different sections to optimize for different functions (accommodation space vs. operability) simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 effectively secures accommodation space for excrement, prevents leg entrapment, and enhances operability by maintaining a balanced height of the three-dimensional gathers, thereby reducing the risk of leakage.

Implementation Method 1

an upright portion (upright portion 154) shrinkable in the longitudinal direction by the elastic member (three-dimensional gather elastic member 155) and capable of being upright on the skin side in the thickness direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the upright portion includes a bonded portion (bonded portion 153) in which the sheet members are bonded to each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3406232B1Disposable diaper
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 UNI CHARM CORP
  • EP3406232B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3406232B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3406232B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The three-dimensional gather (15) of disposable diaper(10) includes a base end portion incapable of being upright, and an upright portion shrinkable in the longitudinal direction by the elastic member and capable of being upright on the skin side in the thickness direction with the base end portion as a base point. The base end portion includes a first base end portion arranged at each of the front side region and the rear side region at both outer edges of the upright portion in the longitudinal direction; and a second base end portion arranged at the outer edge of the upright portion in the width direction. The upright portion comprises a bonded portion (153) in which the sheet members (14) are bonded to each other. The bonded portion extends over the center (1LC) of the disposable diaper in the longitudinal direction and is spaced from each of the first base end portions. A distance (L4) between the center of the disposable diaper in the longitudinal direction and the rear end edge of the bonded portion is longer than a distance (L5) between the center of the disposable diaper in the longitudinal direction and the front end edge of the bonded portion.