Elastic Belt Caliper Control for Undergarment Appearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Absorbent articles with elastic belt regions face challenges in achieving an undergarment-like appearance and feel while maintaining a comfortable, reliable fit and sufficient containment capacity, often compromised by the conspicuousness of the absorbent core and discrete parts.
Innovation Solution
The absorbent article features a laminate structure with nonwoven fiber inner and outer sheets and a plurality of elastic bodies in the front and back elastic belt regions, with a controlled caliper difference and artwork to create a smooth transition from the waist opening to the absorbent core, providing a lofty feel and integral appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the elastic belt region uses a thin structure to provide stretchability, then the article is easily stretchable, but the undergarment-like appearance and feel are compromised due to visible thickness variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by specifying a minimum material caliper of 0.25mm at 500Pa for the outer sheet and controlling the caliper difference between maximum and minimum points to no greater than 5mm. This transforms the design approach from using thin materials to using sufficiently thick materials with controlled thickness variation, thereby achieving both stretchability and an undergarment-like appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a laminate structure comprising an inner sheet made of nonwoven fiber and an outer sheet made of nonwoven fiber with elastic bodies. This composite material approach combines the stretchability of elastic bodies with the thickness and softness of nonwoven sheets, resolving the contradiction between being easily stretchable and maintaining an undergarment-like appearance.
2Reliability
If the absorbent core is made prominent to ensure containment capacity, then the containment capacity is sufficient, but the undergarment-like appearance is compromised due to conspicuousness of the absorbent core
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by extending the absorbent core only at least partly in the back elastic belt region rather than uniformly throughout, and by controlling the caliper profile locally with a maximum difference of no greater than 5mm. This allows sufficient containment capacity in the needed area while maintaining a smooth, undergarment-like appearance in visible areas.
3Ease of manufacture
If discrete parts are used to form the absorbent article for ease of manufacture, then the manufacturing is easier, but the overall integral impression is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the elastic belt region with the absorbent core and other components into a unified structure with controlled caliper variation. The laminate construction with inner and outer sheets bonded together creates an integrated appearance that resembles an undergarment, while still allowing for practical manufacturing of discrete components that are assembled into the final product.
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 enhances the article's undergarment-like appearance and feel, maintains containment capacity, and improves consumer acceptance by ensuring a soft, even fit and high product quality.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elastic bodies configured to stretch the front and back elastic belt regions in the transverse direction
Implementation Method 2
a laminate comprising an inner sheet made of nonwoven fiber, and an outer sheet made of nonwoven fiber
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an absorbent article continuous in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction comprising a front elastic belt region, a back elastic belt region, a crotch region, a waist opening and two leg openings； the front and back elastic belt regions being a laminate comprising an inner sheet made of nonwoven fiber, and an outer sheet made of nonwoven fiber, and a plurality of elastic bodies configured to stretch the front and back elastic belt regions in the transverse direction, the outer sheet having a material caliper of at least about 0.25mm at 500Pa； the article further comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet； the absorbent core existing through the entire longitudinal dimension of the crotch region and extending at least partly in the back elastic belt region； the back elastic belt region having a maximum caliper MaxBC and a minimum caliper MinBC according to the measurements herein, wherein the difference between the MaxBC and the MinBC is no greater than about 5mm.