Pet Absorbent Article with Inner Hook Tape and Folding Lines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing absorbent articles for pets, when wrapped around the waist, often cause pet hair to become entangled with hook members or adhesive tapes, leading to weakened attachment and potential hair damage.

Innovation Solution

The absorbent article features a liquid-permeable top surface layer, a liquid-impermeable back surface layer, and an absorbent core, with a rectangular shape and a locking member on the back surface layer side, including folding-line portions and elastic members to reduce hair entanglement by creating a gap between the pet's back and the top surface layer, and using a hook tape with specific bending resistance and placement to minimize hair contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If hook member or adhesive tape is arranged on the outer surface of the first end portion to enable engagement, then attachment strength is improved, but pet hair becomes entangled with the hook member or adhesive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidhair entanglement
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful element (hook member or adhesive tape) is extracted from the outer surface and relocated to the inner surface of the absorbent article. This allows the engagement function to be maintained while eliminating the cause of hair entanglement, as the inner surface does not contact the pet's body during application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The folding line portions act as an intermediary structure that creates a gap between the pet's body and the outer surface where the hook member is located. This intermediary space prevents direct contact between the pet's hair and the engagement mechanism, resolving the contradiction between attachment strength and hair entanglement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the first end portion is held in close contact with the pet's back during application, then proper positioning is achieved, but pet hair becomes entangled with the hook member or adhesive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidhair entanglement
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement mechanism is extracted from the outer surface to the inner surface, allowing close contact positioning without hair entanglement. The hook member remains functional for engagement while being hidden inside the article structure during the application process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The problem is solved by changing the spatial dimension of the hook member placement from the outer surface (contact dimension) to the inner surface (non-contact dimension). This dimensional relocation maintains positioning accuracy while eliminating the harmful interaction with pet hair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Area of stationary object

If the absorbent article is wrapped tightly around the pet's waist to ensure coverage, then coverage is improved, but the article may slip or detach

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidattachment reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The side portions are configured with curved surfaces that conform to the pet's waist anatomy. This curvature improves both coverage by adapting to the body contour and reliability by creating friction and mechanical interlocking that prevents slipping, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and attachment reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 effectively reduces pet hair entanglement, maintains the absorbent article's shape and attachment strength, and improves wearability by creating a gap between the pet's back and the top surface layer, preventing hair from getting caught in the hook tape.

Implementation Method 1

a pair of elastic members arranged in a stretched state in each of the pair of side portions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

an absorbent core arranged between the top surface layer and the back surface layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2702869B1Absorbent article for pets
Publication Date: 2016.03.09 UNI CHARM CORP
  • EP2702869B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2702869B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2702869B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An absorbent article for a pet includes a top surface layer, a back surface layer, and an absorbent body, and is formed in a rectangular shape having opposing first and second end portions, and a pair of opposing side portions that are perpendicular to the first and second end portions, The top surface layer side of the first end portion is arranged on the body of the pet, and the top surface layer side of the second end portion is detachably attached to the back surface layer side of the first end portion when worn. The absorbent article includes a rectangular engaging member arranged on the back surface layer side of the first end portion; and a pair of folding line portions formed on the first end portion and constituting a point where the pair of opposing side portions begin to curve towards the front surface layer side.