Disposable Knickers Elastic Placement for Wrinkle-Free Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disposable hygiene articles for adults, such as pant-shaped diapers, face challenges in achieving a satisfactory fit and reliable liquid absorption in the crotch area, leading to issues like wrinkling and discomfort due to the interaction of elastic components with the chassis material.

Innovation Solution

The use of thread-like or band-like elasticizing means, strategically arranged to prevent wrinkling by forming a pocket that holds liquids and feces, with specific dimensions and placements to enhance fit and comfort, including the placement of elastic elements in the outer crotch area and the use of non-elasticized sections to avoid material accumulation and skin irritation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If elasticizing means are provided in the crotch area to improve fit, then the body-hugging arrangement is improved, but wrinkling of the chassis-forming cover occurs laterally outside the absorbent core

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefitVSAvoidwrinkling
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The crotch area is divided into an inner area (adjacent to the transverse central axis) and an outer area (adjoining the inner area). Elasticizing means are provided exclusively in the outer area, while the inner area remains non-elasticized. This segmentation prevents wrinkling in the critical inner region while maintaining fit improvement in the outer region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the crotch area are given different elastic properties. The outer area has elasticizing means to improve fit, while the inner area is kept non-elasticized to prevent wrinkling. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between fit and wrinkling prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Volume of moving object

If the absorbent core is made narrow to reduce bulk, then the hygiene article becomes more compact, but the chassis-forming cover wrinkles more easily in the rear crotch area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabsorbent core widthVSAvoidwrinkling
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The crotch area is segmented into inner and outer regions. The narrow absorbent core is positioned in the inner area, while elasticizing means are placed in the outer area. This segmentation allows the narrow core design while preventing wrinkling through strategic elastic placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The outer area acts as an intermediary zone between the narrow absorbent core and the leg openings. Elasticizing means in this outer area compensate for the reduced bulk of the narrow core, preventing wrinkling while maintaining the compact overall design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If elasticizing means are continuously arranged around leg openings to prevent leakage, then sealing contact is improved, but material accumulation occurs causing skin irritation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage protectionVSAvoidskin irritation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The leg opening area is segmented into different zones with varying elastic properties. Cuff elements with elasticizing means provide leakage protection in critical areas, while non-elasticized sections are provided in other areas to prevent material accumulation and skin irritation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the leg opening have different elastic characteristics. Some sections have elasticizing means for sealing, while other sections are non-elasticized to allow material drape and prevent accumulation. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between leakage protection and skin comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 improves the fit and comfort of the hygiene article by preventing wrinkling and material accumulation, providing better leakage protection and reducing skin irritation, while maintaining effective liquid absorption.

Implementation Method 1

thread-like or band-like elasticizing means, which elasticize the second leg opening section, and with an elastic element, which is formed by a further extension of the second thread-like or band-like elasticizing means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a pocket that is open on only one side can also form between the legs of the U-shaped or V-shaped configuration when it is placed on the user and is used to hold liquids and feces passing over the side edge of the absorbent core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The absorption core usually contains superabsorbent materials (SAP), in particular in a mixture with fibres, in particular cellulose fibres, in particular in the form of cellulose fluff

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2109430B1Disposable hygiene item in the form of a pair of knickers, with an improved fit
Publication Date: 2020.03.04 PAUL HARTMANN AG
  • EP2109430B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2109430B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2109430B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a disposable absorbent hygiene item (2) in the form of a pair of knickers, said item comprising a central absorption part (22), an outer envelope (21) forming a base structure comprising a waist edge (20) which is closed all the way round in the periperal direction and forms an opening for the waist, a rear part (4) and a front part (6) comprising longitudinal lateral edge sections (16, 18), and a connecting region (10) arranged between the front part (6) and the rear part (4) and forming the leg openings (8 a, b). The item according to the invention has a central longitudinal axis (L) extending in a longitudinal direction and a transversal central axis (Q) extending through the centre of the connecting region (10), said transversal central axis dividing the connecting region into a front connecting region (10a) and a rear connecting region (10b). Each leg opening (8 a, b) comprises first thread-type or strip-type elasticating means in the front connecting region (10a) or second thread-type or strip-type elasticating means (2) in the rear connecting region (10b), which are arranged along a first section (30) or a second section (32) of each leg opening. The rear connecting region (10b) comprises an elastic element (E) between the respective longitudinal edge (5) of the central absorption part (22) and each leg opening (8 a, b), said elastic element (E) being oriented away from a region close to the leg opening, in a direction comprising both a transversal component (QQ) in the direction of the central longitudinal axis and a longitudinal component (LL) in the direction of the rear part (4).