Interconnected Waist and Leg Bands for Absorbent Articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pull-on absorbent articles face issues with leg cuff elasticity losing seal effectiveness over time, leading to leakage and potential skin irritation due to excessive pressure.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates interconnected leg cuff members with waist bands that stretch and retract dynamically, forming a secure seal around the wearer's legs without excessive pressure, using elastic materials and strategic bonding to maintain fit and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elasticization of the leg cuffs is increased to maintain a seal against the wearer's body, then the seal effectiveness is improved, but the leg cuffs can irritate and/or mark the wearer's skin due to excessive pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The leg cuff is divided into multiple segments or sections along its length, allowing each segment to independently adjust to the wearer's body contours. This segmentation enables the cuff to maintain seal effectiveness through distributed elasticity while reducing localized pressure that causes skin irritation and marking.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the leg cuff are constructed with varying elastic properties - the proximal portion (near the waist) has higher elasticity to maintain seal, while the distal portion (near the leg opening) has lower elasticity to reduce pressure on sensitive skin areas. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between seal effectiveness and skin comfort.
2Reliability
If the elastomeric material in the leg cuffs is used to form a seal, then leakage is inhibited, but during prolonged use the elastomeric material loses its ability to retract sufficiently, compromising the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs elastomeric materials with specifically engineered physical parameters - including controlled durometer hardness, optimized cross-linking density, and selected polymer composition - that maintain adequate retraction force over extended periods. These parameter adjustments ensure the material retains seal effectiveness throughout the intended duration of use without excessive pressure loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg cuff utilizes composite construction combining elastomeric materials with supporting structural elements such as foam layers or mesh substrates. This composite approach provides the necessary elasticity for sealing while the supporting structure maintains the cuff's shape and retraction capability over time, preventing the material from permanently deforming during prolonged use.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional separate waist bands and leg cuffs are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but the article lacks interconnected structure that would maintain fit and seal during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The waist band and leg cuffs are merged into an interconnected elastic structure where the same elastomeric material forms continuous loops around both the waist and legs. This integration ensures coordinated movement and deformation of all elastic components, maintaining proper fit and seal relationship during wearer movement while still allowing for relatively simple one-step molding or assembly processes.
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 configuration ensures a consistent seal against exudates leakage and reduces skin irritation, maintaining effectiveness during prolonged use while providing a comfortable fit.
Implementation Method 1
The design incorporates interconnected leg cuff members with waist bands that stretch and retract dynamically, forming a secure seal around the wearer's legs without excessive pressure, using elastic materials
Data Source
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AI summary
An absorbent article includes a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between the front and back waist regions. The front waist region has a front waist edge and the back waist region has a back waist edge. The front and back waist edges define a waist opening when the absorbent article is in a wear configuration. An elastomeric waist band extends around at least a portion of the waist opening adjacent the front and back waist edges and defines a circumference of the waist opening. Each leg cuff member of a pair of leg cuff members defines a respective leg opening when the absorbent article is in the wear configuration and operatively connected to the waist band such that movement of the waist band results in movement of the leg cuff members.