Incontinence Garment Pouch for Adhesive-Free Guard Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing men's incontinence guards suffer from adhesive reliability issues, causing unwanted movement, noise during removal, and skin chafing, as well as difficulty in placement and replacement, especially in public settings.
Innovation Solution
A customized garment with a pouch system that removably holds an incontinence guard, utilizing a mesh fabric for moisture transport and a waterproof exterior to prevent leakage, with a design that allows easy access and secure retention of the guard without adhesives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesives are used to secure guards to underwear, then the guard is held in correct placement, but the adhesive becomes unreliable causing the guard to move and unstick
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive component entirely from the guard design. Instead of using adhesives to attach the guard to underwear, the guard is designed to be held in place by the pouch structure itself, which secures the guard through mechanical retention rather than chemical adhesion. This eliminates the reliability issues associated with adhesive failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The pouch acts as an intermediary between the guard and the underwear. Rather than directly attaching the guard to the underwear with adhesive, the pouch provides a mechanical interface that holds the guard securely while being attached to the underwear through reliable seams and fasteners.
2Reliability
If adhesives are used to secure guards to underwear, then the guard is held in place, but removal becomes noisy and causes unwanted attention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates adhesive-based attachment, which is the source of noisy removal. The guard is instead secured through the pouch structure using mechanical means such as elastic bands, snaps, or drawstrings that allow for quiet, discrete removal without the tearing sounds associated with adhesive failure.
3Reliability
If guard material bunches and gathers on the sides, then the guard can be secured, but it causes skin chafing in the groin and crotch area
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch is designed with different material properties in different areas. The interior surface that contacts the skin is made from soft, smooth, low-friction materials to prevent chafing, while the structural components provide the necessary security. The pouch structure distributes pressure evenly to prevent material bunching and gathering that would cause friction against sensitive skin areas.
4Manufacturing precision
If pants and underwear are pulled down to position a guard, then proper placement is achieved, but the process becomes difficult and embarrassing in public settings
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch is pre-attached to the underwear during manufacturing, creating a ready-to-use system. The guard can be inserted into the pouch without needing to pull down pants or underwear, as the pouch provides a pre-positioned receptacle that guides proper guard placement while allowing the garment to remain fully dressed.
Solution Approach 2:
The guard is nested within the pouch structure, which itself is attached to the underwear. This nested arrangement allows the guard to be positioned correctly within the pouch without requiring the user to expose or manipulate the outer garments, enabling discreet insertion and removal in public restrooms.
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 pouch system effectively manages incontinence by minimizing skin contact, reducing noise, and facilitating discreet guard placement and removal, enhancing user comfort and privacy.
Implementation Method 1
the mesh fabric transports body fluids from one side of the mesh fabric to the other side of the mesh fabric
Implementation Method 2
the mesh fabric is treated to be hydrophobic and efficiently transports body fluids
Data Source
AI summary
A garment system for incontinence management includes a pouch integrated into underwear or other close-fitting garments. The pouch comprises a front panel and a rear panel with mesh fabric, connected by vertically opposed seams and a horizontally opposed lower seam formed with a gusset. An opening between the panels allows insertion of a removable incontinence guard from the outside of the garment. The mesh fabric may be positioned against the wearer's body to efficiently wick body fluids from one side to the other, transferring moisture to the incontinence guard within the pouch. The garment may include boxer briefs, briefs, or workout clothing. This system provides improved comfort and discretion by separating the absorbent guard from direct skin contact while maintaining effective fluid management through the specialized mesh construction.