Layered Moisture-Retaining Body for Leak-Resistant Flush Disposal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing waste treatment bags made of water-soluble or water-decomposable materials leak when not immediately dumped after use due to moisture, and urine absorbing articles fail to collect urine and feces simultaneously, posing hygiene risks and environmental concerns.

Innovation Solution

A moisture-retaining body with a laminated structure comprising a water-permeable layer, moisture-retaining layer, water-repellent layer, and support layer, each with specific properties to prevent moisture leakage and ensure quick dissolution in water, allowing safe disposal in flush toilets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a water-soluble or water-decomposable material is used for waste treatment bags, then environmental friendliness and hygienic treatment are improved, but the material dissolves or decomposes due to moisture in the contents, causing leakage when not dumped immediately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental harm from incineration and pathogen spreadVSAvoidleakage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The waste treatment bag is divided into multiple functional layers: an outer water-soluble bag body for disintegration, an intermediate moisture-retaining layer for absorbing and holding moisture, and an inner water-repellent layer for preventing leakage. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function, resolving the contradiction between water-solubility and leakage prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The moisture-retaining layer acts as an intermediary between the water-soluble outer layer and the water-repellent inner layer. It absorbs moisture from the contents and holds it, preventing the moisture from reaching the water-soluble outer layer and causing premature disintegration, while also preventing leakage to the environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a urine absorbing article with water-absorbent materials is used, then urine collection is improved, but it cannot collect feces simultaneously and requires separation structures that increase complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to collect different types of wasteVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The waste treatment bag is designed as a universal container that can collect both urine and feces simultaneously. The moisture-retaining layer's ability to absorb and hold various types of moisture allows the single structure to handle different waste types without requiring separate collection systems, simplifying the overall design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the water-absorbent sheet and feces collection bag are separated in excrement separating collectors, then hygiene during treatment is improved, but caregivers may still touch the water-absorbent sheet that has absorbed urine

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehygiene risk during treatmentVSAvoidhandling safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The moisture-retaining layer is integrated within the waste treatment bag structure, combining the moisture-absorbing function with the containment function. This integration ensures that all moisture-containing materials are enclosed within the water-soluble bag, preventing caregivers from touching contaminated surfaces during removal and treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 moisture-retaining body effectively retains moisture without leakage, ensuring hygienic disposal and reducing infection risks, while minimizing environmental impact by dissolving quickly in water.

Implementation Method 1

a water-permeable layer (12) formed of a papermaking body with a density of 40 to 60 g/m2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

a moisture-retaining layer (13) having water absorbability and water retainability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

a water-repellent layer (15) having water repellency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 4

the water-permeable layer, the moisture-retaining layer, and the support layer all have water disintegrability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP4331541B1Moisture retaining body
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 PRIMULA MODESTA CO LTD
  • EP4331541B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

Disclosed is a moisture-retaining body (10) having a water-absorbing surface (11), having a structure in which, from a water-absorbing surface (11) side, a water-permeable layer (12) having water disintegrability and water permeability, a moisture-retaining layer (13) having water disintegrability, water absorbability, and water retainability, a water-repellent layer (15) including a water-soluble film (14) and dots of a dot-like water-repellent resin with a diameter of 5 pm to 150 pm dispersed on a surface side of the water-soluble film (14) facing the moisture-retaining layer (13), and a support layer (16) having water disintegrability are sequentially laminated, as a moisture-retaining body which is quickly dissolved or decomposed by coming into contact with a large amount of water when dumped in a flush toilet or the like while being prevented from being dissolved or decomposed by retained moisture.