Nested Leg Cuff Pocket for Absorbent Article Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Absorbent articles, such as diapers and adult incontinence products, often fail to prevent leakage of fecal material due to gaps between the article and the wearer's legs or waist, leading to soiling and contamination of clothing and other items.
Innovation Solution
A disposable absorbent article with a leg gasketing system that includes an inner and outer cuff, where the web of material is folded laterally outward to form a leg gasketing system pocket with an opening on the inboard longitudinal edge, providing additional containment volume and reducing leaks by trapping fecal material between layers of nonwoven material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional leg cuffs are used with simple attachment to the backsheet, then manufacturing is simpler and cost is lower, but leakage prevention capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The leg gasketing system employs nested cuffs where an inner cuff is positioned within an outer cuff, creating multiple containment layers. The inner cuff is attached to the backsheet while the outer cuff extends beyond it, forming a nested structure that traps fecal material between the cuffs and prevents leakage through gaps between the article and wearer's legs.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg gasketing system extends in the lateral direction beyond the traditional cuff structure. The outer cuff laterally extends beyond the inner cuff and backsheet attachment points, creating additional containment volume in the lateral dimension that prevents fecal material from escaping through leg gaps.
2Reliability
If the leg gasketing system uses extensive attachment to both topsheet and backsheet, then containment capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and production time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment strategy applies different attachment qualities to different regions: the inner cuff is attached to the backsheet in the waist region where strong containment is needed, while the outer cuff extends laterally with selective attachment. This localized attachment approach provides sufficient containment capability where required while reducing overall attachment complexity and production time.
3Volume of stationary object
If the web of material is folded laterally outward to form a pocket structure, then additional containment volume is created, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The leg gasketing system is segmented into distinct components: an inner cuff portion and an outer cuff portion formed by folding the web of material laterally outward. This segmentation creates discrete functional zones with the folded portion forming a pocket structure between the inner and outer cuffs, providing additional containment volume that can be manufactured with standard precision capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A disposable absorbent article may include a chassis that includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and a leg gasketing system. The leg gasketing system may include an inner cuff and an outer cuff; the inner cuff may include an inner cuff folded edge and an inner cuff material edge and the outer cuff may include an outer cuff material edge such that the web of material is folded laterally outward to form the inner cuff folded edge. The leg gasketing system may also include a leg gasketing system pocket with an opening on an inboard longitudinal edge of the pocket.