Diaper Character Visibility via Non-Stretchable Gather Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional underpants-type disposable diapers face issues with visibility of character representations due to wrinkles and pleats in stretchable regions, making it difficult for users to easily identify essential information like size and direction during use.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates three-dimensional gathers on the inner member with a non-stretchable portion for character printing, ensuring the characters are visible inside the diaper and not affected by deformation, while the absorber and liquid impervious sheet provide necessary rigidity to prevent deformation of the non-stretchable portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If character representation is printed on the outer member, then product management information is provided, but visibility deteriorates due to wrinkles and pleats in stretchable regions
Solution Approach 1:
The diaper is divided into stretchable regions and non-stretchable regions. The character representation is specifically placed in the non-stretchable region, separating the functional stretching area from the information display area. This segmentation ensures that the character representation remains visible and undistorted while the stretchable regions can expand and contract freely.
2Ease of operation
If the entire lower torso portion is made stretchable to ensure fitting, then wearing comfort is improved, but visibility of character representation deteriorates due to contraction wrinkles and pleats
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the diaper are assigned different mechanical properties. The lower torso portion contains both stretchable regions (for comfort and fitting) and a non-stretchable region (for clear character display). This local differentiation allows the diaper to provide both wearing comfort through stretchable areas and clear information visibility through the non-stretchable character representation area, resolving the contradiction between comfort and visibility.
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
This solution maintains the aesthetic appearance and enhances the visibility of character representations, preventing deterioration due to contraction wrinkles and pleats, ensuring easy identification of product management information during use.
Implementation Method 1
a non-fixed free portion located between the fallen portions in the main unit section, and a gather elastic member attached to the free portion, such that the free portion stands up by a contraction force of the gather elastic member
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide character representation which can be easily seen at the time of wearing and excellent in visibility of characters. In order to solve the above-described problems, in an underpants-type disposable diaper, a three-dimensional gathers (90) are provided on both sides in the width direction of an inner member (10), a fallen portion (93) of each of the three-dimensional gather (90) has a fallen non-stretchable portion (97) to which a contraction force of gather elastic members (96) does not act, a character representation (98) is printed at a position in the fallen non-stretchable portion (97) of the inner member (10), and this character representation (98) is made visible from the inside of the diaper.