Leg Cuff Elastic Stress Distribution for Absorbent Article Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing absorbent articles with leg cuffs face challenges in maintaining a secure fit around the legs, leading to potential leakage and compression marks due to wearer movement, as they tend to form gaps and protrude into the crotch area.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates leg cuffs with two regions of elastic members, where the stress distribution is tailored such that the leg cuff first region has higher stress at lower elongation and the second region at higher elongation, ensuring stable contact with the leg circumference and preventing gaps and compression marks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uniform elastic members are arranged in the leg cuff, then the structure is simple, but the fit to leg circumference is poor and gaps form during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The leg cuff is divided into first and second regions with different elastic member configurations. The first region has elastic members with higher stress at lower elongation for initial contact, while the second region has elastic members with higher stress at higher elongation for maintaining fit during movement. This local differentiation optimizes fit stability at different stages of leg movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg cuff is segmented into multiple regions (first region and second region) with distinct elastic member arrangements. This segmentation allows each region to perform specific functions: the first region provides initial contact and the second region maintains fit during movement, thereby improving overall fit stability without requiring a completely complex structure.
2Reliability
If high stress is applied in the leg cuff to prevent gaps, then leakage prevention improves, but compression marks occur on the leg
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the leg cuff apply different stress levels at different elongation stages. The first region applies higher stress at low elongation for initial contact, while the second region applies higher stress at high elongation for maintaining fit during movement. This localized stress distribution prevents both gaps and compression marks by matching stress application to the actual needs of each region.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg cuff's stress distribution is made dynamic through the different stress-elongation characteristics of the first and second regions. As the leg moves and the cuff elongates, the stress distribution shifts from being dominated by the first region at low elongation to being dominated by the second region at high elongation, allowing the cuff to adapt to changing conditions and prevent both gaps and compression marks.
3Reliability
If the leg cuff extends far outward to ensure coverage, then leakage prevention improves, but the hydrophilic width is reduced and the cuff protrudes into the crotch area
Solution Approach 1:
The leg cuff's first and second regions are configured with different elastic member arrangements to provide differentiated functionality. This local quality differentiation allows the cuff to maintain effective coverage for leakage prevention while optimizing the use of available space, preventing unnecessary protrusion into the crotch area and preserving hydrophilic width.
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 design effectively prevents leakage and compression marks by maintaining consistent contact with the leg circumference, even with changes in fit due to wearer movement, while minimizing the hydrophilic width and avoiding protrusion into the crotch area.
Implementation Method 1
two or more leg elastic members extending in the longitudinal direction are arranged in the leg cuff in a stretched state
Data Source
AI summary
An absorbent article (1) of the present invention includes a leg cuff (24). The leg cuff (24) has leg elastic members (25). The leg cuff (24) can be divided, by an imaginary line (IL) passing through the center (ct) between an outermost leg elastic member (25s) that is located farthest outward and an innermost leg elastic member (25i) that is located farthest inward, into a leg cuff first region (ST) that extends from the imaginary line (IL) up to and including the outermost leg elastic member (25s) and a leg cuff second region (IT) that extends from the imaginary line (IL) up to and including the innermost leg elastic member (25i). When the elongation amount of the leg cuff first region (ST) and the leg cuff second region (IT) in a natural state is defined as 0, and the elongation amount thereof in a maximally stretched state is defined as 100, the stress in the leg cuff first region (ST) is greater than the stress in the leg cuff second region (IT) when the elongation amount is 5. Moreover, the stress in the leg cuff second region (IT) is greater than the stress in the leg cuff first region (ST) when the elongation amount is 100.