Sanitary Napkin Side Flaps with Preferential Bending Axes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sanitary napkins with side flaps are not optimally effective across various undergarment styles, as they often fail to provide consistent protection and stability, particularly in bikinis and thongs, due to design limitations.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary napkin design featuring a central absorbent pad with a liquid pervious cover layer, a liquid impervious barrier layer, and an absorbent core, along with side flaps that fold over the undergarment edges, incorporating two preferential bending axes that converge towards the centerline, allowing for adaptability across different undergarment styles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If side flaps are added to extend laterally from the side edges, then protection against soiling is improved, but stability and adaptability to various undergarment styles deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The side flaps are designed with preferential bending axes that allow them to dynamically fold along predetermined paths. This enables the flaps to adapt their configuration based on the specific undergarment style (briefs, bikinis, thongs), providing both protection and stability across different garment types rather than maintaining a fixed rigid structure
Solution Approach 2:
The side flaps are divided into multiple segments separated by preferential bending axes. This segmentation allows each flap to be folded independently along the bending axes to different degrees, enabling customization of the napkin's overall shape and fit to match various undergarment styles while maintaining protective coverage
2Object-affected harmful factors
If side flaps extend laterally to drape over undergarment edges, then soiling protection is improved, but adaptability to different undergarment styles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The preferential bending axes create dynamic folding capabilities that allow the side flaps to transition between different configurations. Users can fold the flaps to different extents depending on whether they are wearing briefs, bikinis, or thongs, making the same napkin design universally adaptable while maintaining consistent soiling protection through the flap structure
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows changes in the effective parameters of the side flaps (their extended or folded state) to adapt to different undergarment styles. By adjusting the folding degree along the preferential bending axes, the napkin can be optimized for different garment types while preserving the protective function
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 design ensures effective absorption and containment of menstrual fluid while maintaining comfort and stability, accommodating various undergarment styles by folding the flaps to secure the napkin in place, thus enhancing protection and usability.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent core between the cover layer and barrier layer
Implementation Method 2
an absorbent core between the cover layer and barrier layer
Implementation Method 3
two preferential bending axes, each axis being inward from and adjacent to a respective longitudinal side edge and extending obliquely with respect to the longitudinal centerline
Data Source
AI summary
A sanitary napkin including a central absorbent pad, the central absorbent pad having a liquid pervious cover layer, a liquid impervious barrier layer and an absorbent core between the cover layer and barrier layer. The central absorbent pad includes a pair of flaps adapted to fold over a crotch portion of an undergarment in use. The central absorbent pad further includes two preferential bending axes, each axis being inward from and adjacent to a respective longitudinal side edge and extending obliquely with respect to the longitudinal centerline, the axes converging towards the longitudinal centerline in the first distal end of the central absorbent pad. The preferential bending axes are adapted to enable the sanitary napkin to be folded from an initial substantially hourglass shape to a tapered shape.