Elastic Member Oblique Stripe Pattern for Disposable Wearables

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional elastic members in disposable wearing articles, such as diapers, have a non-directional pattern of sheet joined portions and joint holes, resulting in a plain appearance and poor aesthetics.

Innovation Solution

An elastic member with a stretchable structure where an elastic sheet is interposed between translucent sheet layers, featuring non-joint bands with varying widths and arrangements that create a visually appealing oblique stripe pattern upon contraction and stretching, enhancing aesthetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If sheet joined portions and joint holes are disposed in a non-directional pattern, then the elastic member achieves functional requirements such as air permeability and flexibility, but the appearance is plain and aesthetics are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair permeabilityVSAvoidaesthetics
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by arranging sheet joined portions and joint holes in a directional pattern rather than a non-directional pattern. Specifically, the sheet joined portions are arranged in a first direction intersecting the stretchable direction at an acute angle, creating an asymmetric, visually appealing oblique stripe pattern that improves aesthetics while maintaining the functional air permeability through the joint holes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimensional arrangement by configuring sheet joined portions in a specific directional pattern at acute angles to the stretchable direction. This dimensional reorganization transforms the conventional non-directional arrangement into an oblique stripe pattern, adding visual dimensionality and aesthetic appeal without compromising the functional requirements

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

2Shape

If sheet joined portions are arranged in a directional pattern to improve aesthetics, then the appearance becomes visually appealing, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaestheticsVSAvoidarrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the elastic member into distinct functional zones: stretchable regions with elastic sheets and non-joint bands without sheet joined portions. This segmentation allows the complex directional pattern to be implemented in a systematic way, where the acute angle arrangement creates visually appealing oblique stripe patterns without requiring overly complex manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 arrangement of non-joint bands with different widths and orientations creates a beautiful oblique stripe pattern, improving the aesthetic appearance of the elastic member regardless of its natural or stretched state, while maintaining flexibility and air permeability.

Implementation Method 1

a region having the elastic sheet stretchable structure has a stretchable region that contracts in a stretchable direction by contraction of the elastic sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic contraction: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the stretchable region has an extensible region that is extensible in the stretchable direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic stretching: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3689310B1Elastic member and disposable wearable item using this elastic member
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 DAIO PAPER CORP
  • EP3689310B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3689310B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3689310B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The aesthetics of an elastic member including an elastic sheet is improved. In an elastic member, a first sheet layer 20A and a second sheet layer 20B are formed of a material having translucency, an elastic sheet 30 can be visually recognized through the first sheet layer 20A and the second sheet layer 20B, first non-joint bands 51 linearly continuous along a first direction 51d intersecting an stretchable direction ED at an acute angle are repeatedly present at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the first direction 51d as non-joint bands 51 and 52 in which a portion not having sheet joined portions 40 is continuous in an unfolded state in a stretchable region 80, a plurality of sheet joined portions 40 and joint holes 31 are provided at intervals between adjacent first non-joint bands 51 in the stretchable region 80, and a unit structure including a plurality of first non-joint bands 51 having different first widths 51w determined as widths in the direction orthogonal to the first direction 51d is repeatedly present in the direction orthogonal to the first direction 51d in the stretchable region 80.