Waist Opening Texture in Pants-Type Disposable Diapers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional underpants-type disposable diapers have an insufficient texture, particularly at the waist opening, due to inadequate softness and cushioning properties, which can lead to an uncomfortable experience when worn or handled.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a waist portion with elongated waist elastic members bonded to both sheet layers via hot melt adhesive, featuring a first portion where the elastic members are not fixed to an over sheet layer and a second portion where they are, allowing the over sheet layer to contract and form wrinkles, enhancing cushioning and softness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If all waist elastic members are fixed to both outer and inner sheet layers with hot melt adhesive, then structural stability is improved, but softness and cushioning property at the waist opening edge deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidsoftness and cushioning property
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the waist elastic member fixation into two segments: a first portion where elastic members are fixed to both outer and inner sheet layers with hot melt adhesive, and a second portion where elastic members are fixed to only one sheet layer. This segmentation allows the first portion to provide structural stability while the second portion maintains softness and cushioning property by reducing adhesive contact points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different fixation qualities to different portions of the waist elastic members. The first portion uses full fixation (both sheet layers) for stability, while the second portion uses partial fixation (one sheet layer) for softness. This local differentiation of fixation quality resolves the contradiction between structural stability and comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If outer sheet layer and inner sheet layer are not bonded at the waist opening edge, then softness and cushioning property are improved, but structural integrity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoftness and cushioning propertyVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bonding region of the sheet layers into a first portion (closer to the waist opening) where outer and inner sheet layers are not bonded, and a second portion (farther from the waist opening) where they are bonded. This segmentation provides softness and cushioning at the waist opening edge while maintaining structural integrity through bonding in the second portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different bonding qualities to different regions: the first portion has no bonding between sheet layers to maximize softness and cushioning, while the second portion has bonding to ensure structural integrity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between comfort and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If hot melt adhesive is applied planarly to bond sheet layers and fix elastic members, then bonding strength is improved, but softness deteriorates due to increased adhesive amount

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidsoftness
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies hot melt adhesive only partially to the waist elastic members - specifically to the first portion but not the second portion. This partial application maintains sufficient bonding strength where needed while reducing overall adhesive quantity to preserve softness in the second portion and at the waist opening edge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different adhesive quantities to different portions: the first portion receives full adhesive application for bonding strength, while the second portion receives no adhesive to maintain softness. This local differentiation of adhesive application resolves the contradiction between bonding strength and softness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 improves the texture of the waist opening by providing increased softness and cushioning, making the diaper feel softer when handled or worn, while maintaining a neat appearance.

Implementation Method 1

a waist inner sheet layer facing insides of the waist elastic members; and a waist outer sheet layer facing outsides of the waist elastic members, the waist elastic members being bonded to the waist inner sheet layer and the waist outer sheet layer via a hot melt adhesive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHot melt adhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

in the second portion, the waist elastic member is fixed to the sheet material, and the sheet material is contracted in a width direction together with the waist elastic member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic contraction: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3639799B1Pants-type disposable diaper
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 DAIO PAPER CORP
  • EP3639799B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3639799B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3639799B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To improve texture of an end portion of a waist opening. A waist portion W has a first portion P1 and a second portion P2 each including a waist elastic member 17. The first portion P1 includes an over sheet layer 127 folded back at an edge of a waist opening WO from an outside of a waist outer sheet layer 122 and extending to an inside of a waist inner sheet layer 121. The over sheet layer 127 is formed of a sheet material 12S having a portion folded back at an edge of the waist opening WO from a position outside the waist elastic member 17 in the second portion P2 and extending to a position inside the waist elastic member 17 in the second portion P2. In the first portion P1, the waist elastic member 17 is not fixed to the sheet material 12S. In the second portion P2, the waist elastic member 17 is fixed to the sheet material 12S, and the sheet material 12S is contracted in a width direction WD together with the waist elastic member 17.