Outer Flap Elastic Strips for Lateral Leakage Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional disposable wearing articles face issues with lateral leakage of body exudates due to degradation of absorbent panel absorption performance caused by chassis elasticity and contraction, leading to creases and gaps between the wearer's body and the article.

Innovation Solution

The disposable wearing article features a design with outward-pulling outer flaps and elastic strips that ensure planar contact with the body, preventing lateral leakage by maintaining absorbent panel position and reducing creases through strategically positioned and tensioned elastic components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the chassis is made elastic to fit the wearer's body, then the fit and comfort are improved, but the absorbent panel forms longitudinal creases due to contraction forces, degrading absorption performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefit to wearer's bodyVSAvoidabsorption performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent panel is segmented into a main body portion and separate side flaps that can move independently. The side flaps are positioned to extend laterally outward from the absorbent core, allowing them to maintain planar contact with the wearer's body even when the elastic chassis contracts, thereby preventing creases in the main absorbent area while preserving absorption performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the absorbent panel are given different mechanical properties. The main absorbent core is kept relatively stiff to maintain absorption performance, while the side flaps are designed with lower stiffness to allow lateral movement and conform to the wearer's body contours, creating local adaptability without compromising overall absorption reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the side flaps are made with lower stiffness to conform to the body, then lateral flexibility is improved, but the side flaps contract laterally under chassis elasticity forces, creating gaps that cause leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral flexibilityVSAvoidleakage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Elastic strips are attached to the side flaps to provide a counteracting lateral outward force that balances the inward contractible force from the elastic chassis. This elastic restoring force prevents the side flaps from contracting laterally and creating gaps, ensuring they maintain planar contact with the wearer's body and prevent leakage while preserving lateral flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The stiffness parameter of the side flaps is optimized to be lower than the main absorbent core to allow lateral flexibility, while elastic strips are introduced to change the effective lateral force balance. The elastic strips provide a restoring force that compensates for the softness of the side flaps, maintaining reliable leakage prevention despite reduced local stiffness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 lateral leakage of body exudates by ensuring the outer flaps come into planar contact with the wearer's body, maintaining absorbent panel performance and fit, even under contraction, thus enhancing the overall effectiveness of the disposable wearing article.

Implementation Method 1

a pair of elastic strips which are elastically contractible in the lateral direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a waist elastic area which is elastically contractible in the lateral direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3318231B1Disposable wearing article
Publication Date: 2022.05.25 UNI CHARM CORP
  • EP3318231B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3318231B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3318231B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a disposable wearing article which can effectively prevent lateral leakage of body exudates by planarly fitting an outer flap positioned laterally outside of an absorbent core included in an absorbent panel on the body of a wearer with the outer flap pulled laterally outside of the article. In the article (10), the absorbent panel (30) includes the absorbent core (33) extending to front and rear waist regions (11,12)centering on a crotch region(13)and a pair of outer flaps(42) extending laterally outside of the absorbent core. At least the front waist region of the front and rear waist regions includes a waist elastic area which is elastically contractible in the lateral direction (X) and a pair of elastic strips(70)which is elastically contractible, and the elastic strips each have an outer fixing end (72) fixed on the body facing surface of the chassis(20).