Incontinence Diaper Segmented Side Panel Tensile Force Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
T-shaped disposable incontinence diapers experience damage due to high tensile forces, particularly oblique tensile forces, when being placed on a user, leading to issues like tearing or severing of side portions and join connections, which is less prevalent in belt diapers or those with side portions joined to both front and rear.
Innovation Solution
The elastic or elasticized region of the rearward side portions is confined to the proximal half, extending up to the rearward lateral longitudinal periphery, with the distal half being non-elongatable, reducing the need for expensive elastic materials and minimizing tensile forces during placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the rearward side portions are made elastically elongatable in the transverse direction to enable proper fitting and closure, then the diaper can be properly placed and closed on the user, but high tensile forces are introduced into the side portions and main diaper part causing tearing or severing of join connections
Solution Approach 1:
The rearward side portions are segmented into two distinct regions: a proximal half with elastic/elasticized properties for elongation during placement, and a distal half with non-elongatable properties for stable closure. This segmentation allows the elastic region to accommodate body contours while the non-elastic region maintains structural integrity and resists tensile forces during closing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different mechanical properties are assigned to different regions of the rearward side portions. The proximal half is configured with elastic or elasticized characteristics to provide flexibility during placement, while the distal half is configured as substantially non-elongatable to provide stability during closing. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between ease of placement and strength of join connection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If elastic or elasticized materials are used throughout the rearward side portions to provide flexibility, then the diaper can accommodate user body contours, but material costs increase due to the expense of elastic materials
Solution Approach 1:
The rearward side portions are divided into a proximal half that requires elastic properties for body contour adaptation and a distal half where elastic materials are unnecessary. This segmentation reduces the total quantity of expensive elastic materials required while maintaining the necessary adaptability in the regions where it is functionally required.
Solution Approach 2:
Elastic or elasticized materials are applied locally only to the proximal half of the rearward side portions where adaptability to body contours is needed, while the distal half uses non-elastic materials. This localized application of elastic materials reduces overall material costs while preserving the necessary adaptability for proper fitting.
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 configuration reduces material costs and minimizes damage to the diaper by distributing tensile forces more evenly, enhancing the stability of the join connection and reducing the likelihood of tearing or severing during use.
Implementation Method 1
have an elastic or elasticized region that extends in the transverse direction and in the longitudinal direction
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided herein an incontinence diaper (2) which has rear lateral sections (22) of the incontinence diaper (2) which can be brought into overlapping arrangement with a front region (12) exterior, to which the lateral sections can then be removably adhered via respective closure means (28). The rear lateral sections (22) have an elastic region (42), and the extension (Q) of the rear lateral sections (22) comprises a proximal half (38) which adjoins the rear longitudinal edge (18) and a freely ending distal half (40) in the transverse direction (10), and wherein, the respective elastic region (42) is arranged completely within the proximal half (38) and has a distance of maximally 30 mm from the rear longitudinal edge (18) in the transverse direction (10), and each rear lateral section (22) is substantially non-stretchable in the entire distal half (40).