Folded Absorbent Article with Layered Core for Compact Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins and pads, face challenges in achieving efficient liquid acquisition and distribution, comfort, discretion, neatness, and ease of folding for convenient carrying and disposal, while maintaining stability and reduced size in packaging.
Innovation Solution
A folded absorbent article with a specific core structure comprising two core layers and defined fold lines, allowing for reduced thickness and improved stackability, facilitated by the positioning of fold lines adjacent to the core layers, enabling easy folding and stable packaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the absorbent core is made thicker to improve absorption capacity, then the absorption performance is improved, but the article becomes harder to fold and package
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent core is divided into two distinct layers: a first core layer extending from the front to the intermediate portion, and a second core layer extending from the front to the rear portion. This segmentation allows each layer to contribute to absorption while enabling the folded structure to achieve compact thickness through strategic layer arrangement and overlap.
2Volume of moving object
If the article is folded to reduce package size, then the stackability is improved, but the folding process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fold lines are pre-positioned at specific locations: the first fold line coincides with or is adjacent to the narrow transversal transition between the front portion and intermediate portion of the core, and the second fold line is adjacent to the rear transversal edge of the first core layer. This preliminary positioning of fold lines simplifies the folding operation by providing natural hinge points that guide the folding process and ensure consistent results.
3Ease of operation
If the fold lines are positioned to facilitate folding, then the ease of folding is improved, but the absorption distribution may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The fold lines are positioned at specific locations that balance folding ease with absorption functionality. The first fold line is placed at the narrow transition zone where the core width changes, and the second fold line is placed adjacent to the rear edge of the first core layer. These positions were selected to facilitate folding while preserving the functional integrity of the absorbent layers, ensuring that the folded structure maintains proper absorption distribution.
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 enhances the stackability and reduces the size of absorbent article packages by ensuring a homogeneous and reduced thickness, while maintaining comfort and leakage protection, facilitating easy folding and disposal.
Implementation Method 1
the absorbent core must quickly acquire body liquids into the structure from the point of application and subsequently distribute the body liquids within and throughout the absorbent core
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 3c~3d
AI summary
The invention concerns a folded absorbent article comprising an absorbent core comprising at least two core layers located between a top sheet and a back sheet, a first core layer being located between the top sheet and the second core layer, the core in its longitudinal direction having a front portion, a rear portion and an intermediate portion located between the front portion and the rear portion, a transversal width of a transition between the front portion and the intermediate portion of the core being narrower than the transversal width of the rest of the core, a first end portion of the article being folded about a first transversal fold line over a central area of the article, the first fold line coinciding with or being adjacent the narrow transversal portion of the core, the first core layer extending over the intermediate portion and at least a part of the front portion of the absorbent core and the second core layer extending over the front, intermediate and rear portions of the absorbent core, and a second end portion of the article being folded about a second and rear transversal fold line and over a central area of the, the second fold line being adjacent a rear transversal edge of the first absorbent core layer and (i) the first end portion is folded onto the central area and the second end portion is folded onto the first end portion or (ii) the second end portion is folded onto the central area and the first end portion is folded onto the second end portion.