Absorbent Article Intermeshing Wing Flaps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional absorbent personal care articles with foldable wings often fail to prevent bunching or twisting, leading to reduced effectiveness in fluid absorption and increased leakage due to improper placement and movement-induced deformation.
Innovation Solution
The design features left and right flaps with specific peak and furrow configurations that intermesh or form discrete overlap areas when folded, with fasteners positioned to secure the wings flat against the backsheet, ensuring proper positioning and minimizing movement-induced deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wings are used to secure the article to undergarments, then the article can be attached to the undergarment, but the article becomes prone to bunching and twisting due to movement stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The wing is divided into multiple peaks (first peak, second peak) and furrows that create segmented folding sections. This segmentation allows each section to independently accommodate movement stresses without causing overall bunching or twisting of the article.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing features asymmetric peak and furrow configurations where the first peak and second peak are positioned at different locations relative to the furrow. This asymmetric design creates a specific folding geometry that prevents twisting while maintaining secure attachment.
2Reliability
If wings are made to fold around the undergarment, then the article can be secured in place, but improper placement occurs leading to reduced absorption effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The wing is pre-formed with specific peak and furrow geometries during manufacturing. This preliminary shaping guides the user during application, ensuring correct placement around the undergarment without requiring complex folding maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The peak and furrow configuration is designed to automatically align and secure itself to the undergarment through simple folding actions. The geometry self-guides the placement process, eliminating the need for precise manual positioning by the user.
3Ease of operation
If the article is twisted or bunched, then the wings can be fastened to the undergarment, but the article becomes angled relative to the wearer reducing fluid absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented peak and furrow structure allows the wing to fold in a controlled manner that maintains article alignment with the wearer's body, preventing twisting while still enabling easy fastening.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing geometry is designed in advance to counteract the natural tendency to twist or bunch during folding. The peak and furrow configuration creates opposing forces that maintain article flatness and proper orientation during the fastening process.
Data Source
AI summary
An absorbent personal care article, such as a sanitary napkin or incontinence pad, having a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline and including a pair of opposed first and second wings extending along the longitudinal sides of the article. The first wing includes two or more peaks with furrows there between and the second wing includes one or more peaks. The peaks of the first and second wings are sized and positioned on the article such that when folded under the article and around the wearer's undergarments, the peak of the second wing extends across the longitudinal centerline of the article and into the furrow of the first wing. The inter-meshing wings help wearer's properly don the articles, improve the attachment of the article to the wearer's garment and/or reduce unwanted twisting or bunching of the article during use.