Feminine Hygiene Protrusion With Gradient Absorbency Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current feminine hygiene products often lack a design that is both leak-proof and comfortable, with existing products either being uncomfortable due to bulkiness or failing to effectively manage fluid absorption and visibility of absorbed materials.
Innovation Solution
A feminine hygiene product featuring a protrusion with a primary channel and fluid absorbing section having a gradient of absorbency, combined with a reservoir section and a top layer that includes absorbent materials and medicaments, designed for insertion into an orifice to manage fluid absorption and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a feminine hygiene product uses traditional absorbent design, then it can absorb menstrual fluids, but it becomes bulky and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The product is divided into distinct functional sections: a reservoir section with high absorbency for storing menstrual fluids and clots, and a fluid absorbing section with gradient absorbency for wicking fluids away from the insertion site. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function efficiently without requiring excessive material throughout the entire product, thereby reducing overall bulkiness while maintaining absorption capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the product have different absorbent properties tailored to their specific functions. The reservoir section uses highly absorbent materials to maximize fluid storage, while the fluid absorbing section uses materials with gradient absorbency (highest near the reservoir, decreasing outward) to efficiently transport fluids. This localized optimization ensures high performance where needed without uniformly increasing product bulk.
2Ease of operation
If the product uses a simple single-layer design, then it is comfortable and simple, but it cannot effectively manage fluid absorption and hide absorbed materials
Solution Approach 1:
The product employs a multi-layer construction with distinct functional sections: a reservoir section for fluid storage, a fluid absorbing section with gradient absorbency for fluid transport, and a top layer for visibility concealment. Each layer performs a specific function that contributes to overall reliability, ensuring effective fluid management and material concealment while maintaining a relatively simple integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The product utilizes composite material structures combining different absorbent materials with varying properties. The fluid absorbing section incorporates materials with gradient absorbency, and the reservoir section uses highly absorbent materials, creating a composite structure that delivers superior fluid management performance compared to single-material designs.
3Quantity of substance
If the product uses high absorbency materials throughout, then it absorbs fluids effectively, but absorbed materials become visible through the top layer
Solution Approach 1:
The product separates the absorption function from the concealment function through distinct layers. The reservoir and fluid absorbing sections contain the absorbent materials needed for effective fluid management, while the top layer is specifically designed to conceal absorbed materials from view. This segmentation allows high absorbency where needed without compromising appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The top layer has specific optical properties (opacity or color matching) applied locally to the area above the reservoir section, ensuring that absorbed materials are concealed only where necessary for appearance, while the underlying absorbent layers maintain their high absorbency properties for effective fluid management.
4Reliability
If the product design focuses on leak-proof performance, then it prevents fluid leakage, but it compromises comfort due to bulkiness
Solution Approach 1:
The product achieves leak-proof performance through segmented fluid management pathways: the reservoir section contains and stores fluids, while the fluid absorbing section with gradient absorbency actively wicks fluids away from the insertion site and distribution channels. This segmentation creates multiple barriers against leakage without requiring a uniformly bulky design, as each section is optimized for its specific leak-prevention function.
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 product provides a comfortable, leak-proof solution by effectively wicking fluids away from the primary channel and absorbing them through a gradient of absorbency, while the reservoir section manages agglomerations and the top layer hides the absorbed materials, enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid absorbing section, wherein the fluid absorbing section comprises a plurality of fluid channels, wherein the plurality of fluid channels are configured to wick fluid away from the primary channel of the protrusion
Implementation Method 2
a reservoir section positioned between the top layer and the base layer, wherein the reservoir section is positioned at a distal opening of the primary channel of the protrusion, and wherein the reservoir section comprises an absorbent material
Data Source
AI summary
A feminine hygiene product that includes a top layer, a base layer, a protrusion formed in the top layer, a fluid absorbing section, and a reservoir section. The protrusion includes a primary channel, and the protrusion is configured to be inserted within an orifice of a user. The fluid absorbing section includes a plurality of fluid channels, and the plurality of fluid channels are configured to wick fluid away from the primary channel of the protrusion. The plurality of fluid channels have a gradient of absorbency, and a highest absorbency is distal from a proximal opening of the primary channel. The primary channel of the protrusion is positioned within the fluid absorbing section. The reservoir section is positioned between the top layer and the base layer. The reservoir section is positioned at a distal opening of the primary channel of the protrusion and comprises an absorbent material.