Absorbent Article Hook and Loop Fastener Adhesive Pattern

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hook and loop fasteners for absorbent articles, such as diapers, face challenges in achieving reliable attachment and durability while maintaining cost efficiency, as the adhesive attachment of knitted fabric to the carrier can compromise the number of freely moving loops and fibers available for engagement with hooks, leading to unintended opening and reduced peel strength.

Innovation Solution

A loop member with a knitted fabric laminated onto a carrier, where the adhesive pattern consists of intersecting stripes, with one set parallel to the warp threads and another set perpendicular, ensuring a higher distance between adhesive stripes compared to warp threads, allowing for increased warp thread availability for hook engagement without compromising adhesion, thus enhancing peel strength in both longitudinal and transverse directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the knitted fabric is adhesively attached to the carrier with sufficient coverage to ensure stability, then the connection strength improves, but the number of freely moving loops available for hook engagement decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidnumber of freely moving loops

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive attachment is segmented into a pattern of discrete adhesive stripes arranged in rows and columns, rather than continuous adhesive coverage. This segmentation allows specific areas to have strong adhesion while other areas remain free for hook engagement, resolving the contradiction between connection strength and loop availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the knitted fabric carrier interface have different adhesive properties - areas with adhesive stripes provide strong connection, while areas between stripes maintain loop mobility. This local differentiation of adhesive quality allows simultaneous optimization of both connection strength and hook engagement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the knitted fabric is made with lower basis weight to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the durability and resistance to detaching decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented adhesive stripe pattern concentrates adhesive bonding at specific strategic locations rather than requiring uniform high-strength bonding across the entire surface. This allows lighter, more cost-effective knitted fabric to achieve sufficient durability through targeted adhesive reinforcement at the adhesive stripe locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If adhesive coverage is increased to prevent detaching and ripping, then reliability improves, but the number of available loops for hook engagement decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to detachingVSAvoidavailable loops for hook engagement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive is applied in a segmented stripe pattern rather than continuous coverage, creating distinct bonded regions and unbonded regions. The bonded regions provide reliable attachment to prevent detaching, while the unbonded regions between stripes preserve loop availability for hook engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying adhesive uniformly across the entire surface, the invention applies adhesive partially in a stripe pattern - sufficient to ensure reliability at bonded locations, but not excessive enough to cover areas needed for hook engagement. This partial action optimizes both reliability and loop availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 solution provides improved peel strength and reliable engagement of hooks with loops, ensuring secure attachment of absorbent articles without increasing the risk of delamination, while maintaining a low basis weight for cost efficiency and maintaining the functionality of the fastener through multiple uses.

Implementation Method 1

The carrier and the knitted fabric are adhesively attached to each other such that only a part of the surface area of the carrier facing towards the knitted fabric is covered with adhesive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2441421B1Absorbent article with hook and loop fastening system

Publication Date: 2017.07.19 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C

AI summary

Absorbent article comprising a loop member for a hook and loop fastener. The loop member comprises a knitted fabric which is adhesively attached to a carrier. The adhesive pattern for attaching the knitted fabric onto a carrier has a first plurality of adhesive stripes extending substantially in the warp thread direction of the knitted fabric and a second plurality of adhesive stripes extending substantially perpendicual to the first plurality of adhesive stripes.