Floating Leg Gathers for Absorbent Articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional absorbent articles cause a feeling of restraint and are prone to hot and stuffy conditions, leading to rashes due to the external pressing force used to maintain the absorber against the body surface.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of floating leg gathers that are spaced apart from the body surface, allowing the absorber to maintain its form while reducing direct contact with the skin, thereby dispersing tension and preventing skin irritation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external pressing force is applied to maintain the absorber against the body surface, then leakage prevention is improved, but the feeling of restraint and hot/stuffy conditions increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pressing the absorber outward against the body, the leg gathers are configured to press inward toward the absorber, creating internal pressing force that maintains the absorber-body contact without external compression on the skin
Solution Approach 2:
The leg gathers are divided into multiple segments (first and second leg gathers) that can independently apply pressing force at different locations, allowing localized pressure distribution that maintains sealing while reducing overall restraint sensation
2Stability of the object's composition
If stretchable materials are used to generate pressing force, then the absorber is closely attached to the body surface, but skin irritation and hot/stuffy conditions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The leg gathers act as an intermediary mechanism between the stretchable material and the absorber, converting the elastic force into directed pressing force that maintains attachment while distributing pressure away from direct skin contact points
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing force is applied through a different mechanical parameter - instead of direct compression on the skin, the force is applied internally to the absorber structure, changing how the attachment force is transmitted through the system
3Reliability
If the absorber is closely attached to the body surface, then leakage is prevented, but hot and stuffy conditions lead to rashes
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing force direction is inverted to act internally on the absorber rather than externally on the skin, maintaining the necessary attachment for leakage prevention while creating space that improves air circulation and reduces temperature buildup
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 design reduces the feeling of restraint and minimizes hot and stuffy conditions, effectively preventing rashes by maintaining the absorber's functionality while keeping it spaced from the body surface.
Implementation Method 1
transferring the excreted bodily fluids from the surface of the absorber to the inside thereof to be absorbed therein
Implementation Method 2
an absorber that absorbs bodily fluids, such as urine excreted from a wearer, by means of an absorber that makes use of a super absorbent polymer (hereinafter referred to as an 'SAP'), fluffy pulp or the like
Implementation Method 3
various stretchable materials (similar to those used in pantyhose, supporters, competition swimsuits and the like) are arranged at various parts
Data Source
Figure 1(A)~1(E)
Figure 2(A)~2(B)
Figure 3(A)~3(F)
AI summary
Provided is an absorbent article that has less of a feeling of restraint at the time of wearing and in which the occurrence of hot and stuffy state and rashes is suppressed. The absorbent article including: a leak preventer in sheet form; an absorber capable of absorbing a bodily fluid, wherein at least one layer thereof is arranged above the leak preventer; a surface sheet that covers at least a part of an upper surface of the absorber and that includes a liquid impermeable area at at least a part thereof; and a pair of right and left floating leg gathers that are arranged, above the absorber, from a front end part to a rear end part in a length direction of a body of the absorbent article via a front body, a crotch part and a rear body, wherein the floating leg gather has a head part and a hanging part that connects to the head part, wherein a front end part and a rear end part of the floating leg gather are respectively coupled to the vicinity of the front end part and the vicinity of the rear end part of the body of the absorbent article, the hanging part hanging down from the head part toward the absorber; and wherein a transferring passage for bodily fluids is formed by coupling each of the hanging parts of the pair of right and left floating leg gathers to the surface sheet.