Fastening Member With Bonded Reinforcing Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening members in disposable diapers and wearable articles often experience stress concentration issues, leading to potential tearing and unsightly appearance, along with increased manufacturing complexity and costs due to separate tabs and materials.
Innovation Solution
A fastening member is designed with a multilayer web structure comprising a first nonwoven layer, a polymeric film layer, and a second nonwoven layer, where the polymeric film layer is bonded to the nonwoven layers at specific sites, providing varying tensile strength and stiffness across different regions, and incorporating an elastomeric film for extensibility, all made from polymers of like chemistry to enhance mechanical properties and appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate tab portion is bonded to the stretch laminate to form the fastening member, then the fastening function is achieved, but stress concentration occurs at the bond interface leading to potential tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tab portion and the stretch laminate into a single integrated fastening member formed from one continuous piece of nonwoven material. This eliminates the bond interface between separate components, thereby removing the stress concentration point that caused tearing. The fastening member is constructed as a unified structure where the tab and laminate portions are seamlessly connected without requiring additional bonding operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate materials and components are used to construct the fastening member, then functional requirements are met, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single nonwoven material that performs multiple functions simultaneously. The same material provides both the structural base and the fastening surface, eliminating the need for separate components. The nonwoven fabric is designed with inherent properties that satisfy both mechanical strength requirements and fastening functionality, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining functional versatility.
3Ease of manufacture
If the fastening member edges are not reinforced, then manufacturing is simpler, but the edges are prone to lifting and buckling under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local reinforcement to the edge regions of the fastening member by increasing the density or altering the structure of the nonwoven material specifically at the boundaries. This localized modification provides additional strength and stability to the edges where stress concentration occurs, preventing lifting and buckling, while the rest of the fastening member maintains its original simple construction for ease of manufacture.
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 effectively disperses stress concentrations, enhances mechanical strength and extensibility, and simplifies manufacturing by integrating the fastening component into a continuous, neat structure, reducing the likelihood of tearing and improving the overall appearance and performance of the fastening system.
Implementation Method 1
the polymeric film or nonwoven web being bonded to the first layer at a plurality of bond sites arranged in a pattern, the bond sites comprising areas in which structures of the first and second layers are compressed together
Implementation Method 2
incorporating an elastomeric film for extensibility
Data Source
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AI summary
A fastening member having a reinforced region is disclosed. The fastening member may have a first layer formed of a nonwoven and a second layer at its reinforced region formed of either a polymeric film or another nonwoven, bonded to the first layer by a plurality of bond sites arranged in a pattern. The polymer(s) forming the fibers of the first layer and the polymer(s) forming the film or fibers of the second layer may be of like chemistry to enhance thermal bonding between the layers at the bond sites. The fastening member may be imparted with enhanced appearance and tear resistance attributes and may be suitable for use as a fastening member of a wearable article such as a disposable diaper.