Male Incontinence Guard Fold Lines and Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing male incontinence guards lack security and discretion, particularly in securing the article in place within underwear and facilitating discreet disposal, especially in environments without immediate sanitary facilities.
Innovation Solution
A male incontinence guard design featuring a fluid-impermeable backsheet, a fluid-permeable topsheet, and an absorbent body, with pre-formed fold lines allowing for intuitive folding and secure fastening using fastening material on the garment-facing surface, ensuring the article remains in place and can be easily disposed of in a folded configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the male incontinence guard is designed with adhesive zones in side portions to fix to garment, then the security of the article is improved, but the corners may become folded over during use which compromises discretion and comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing pre-formed fold lines that guide the user to fold the side portions along predetermined paths. This pre-planned folding structure prevents the corners from folding over randomly during use, maintaining both security through proper fastening and discretion through controlled folding geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry in the fold line configuration, where the first and second fold lines are positioned at different locations relative to the longitudinal center line. This asymmetric arrangement allows the side portions to fold in a controlled manner that maintains the absorbent surface coverage while securing the article, preventing corner folding that would compromise discretion.
2Ease of operation
If the side portions are folded over the body-facing surface for disposal, then the discretion of disposal is improved, but the absorbent surface may not be completely covered compromising hygiene
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming fold lines that guide the side portions to fold over in a specific sequence and manner. The first fold line causes the first side portion to fold over, and the second fold line causes the second side portion to fold over, ensuring that the absorbent surface is completely covered during disposal while maintaining discretion.
3Reliability
If fastening material is provided on the garment-facing surface, then the security of the guard in place is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the fastening function into multiple discrete fastening elements positioned at specific locations on the garment-facing surface. These segmented fastening elements work in conjunction with the fold lines to provide secure attachment without requiring a complex overall fastening system.
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 design enhances security and discretion by maintaining the guard in place without leakage and allows for convenient, hygienic disposal by ensuring the absorbent surface is completely covered during folding, addressing the challenges of bulkiness and visibility in existing products.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent body arranged between said backsheet and said topsheet
Implementation Method 2
absorb, distribute, and store various types of body exudates
Implementation Method 3
a fluid-permeable topsheet forming a body-facing surface of the guard
Implementation Method 4
The garment-facing surface of the guard comprises at least two adhesive zones located in said side portions and arranged so as to fix said guard to the garment of a user
Data Source
AI summary
A male incontinence guard including a fluid-impermeable backsheet, a fluid-permeable topsheet, and an absorbent body arranged between said backsheet and said topsheet is disclosed. The guard includes first and second fold lines along which side regions of the article can be folded to cover at least a portion of the absorbent surface of the article. Additional fold lines may be provided to facilitate folding of a lower end region over the first and second side regions. Fastening material is provided to secure the article in the folded configuration. Also, an associated method of manufacturing and a kit comprising an incontinence guard.