Raisable Topsheet Region for Feces Containment in Absorbent Articles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current absorbent articles for personal hygiene, such as diapers, face challenges in effectively containing runny feces and limiting topsheet runoff, while maintaining comfort and absorbency, with existing solutions like void spaces in the absorbent core being difficult to manufacture and potentially detrimental to overall absorbency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a raisable region on the topsheet attached to elasticized barrier leg cuffs, creating an empty volume between the raisable region and the chassis when the cuffs are raised, which helps in containing excrements and preventing runoff, while maintaining absorbency through a structured absorbent core with optional channels for improved fluid distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a void space is created in the absorbent core to contain feces, then containment of runnym feces is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and overall absorbency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The topsheet is segmented into a raisable region that can be lifted by the barrier leg cuffs, creating a separate containment space above the absorbent core. This segmentation allows the absorbent core to remain fully intact for manufacturing simplicity while the raisable region provides feces containment through a different mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating a void space within the absorbent core (horizontal dimension), the invention creates containment space by lifting the topsheet vertically upward when barrier leg cuffs are raised. This vertical dimensionality change provides containment without compromising the horizontal integrity and absorbency of the core.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the topsheet is fully attached to the chassis, then structural stability is improved, but ability to create containment space for feces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment between topsheet and chassis is applied locally rather than universally. The raisable region of the topsheet is left unattached or minimally attached, allowing it to be lifted by the barrier leg cuffs to create containment space, while other regions maintain full attachment for structural stability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If absorbent material is removed to create a pocket for feces, then containment capacity is improved, but overall absorbency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extracting absorbent material from the core to create containment space, the invention extracts the topsheet material locally to form a raisable region. This allows containment space creation without removing any absorbent material from the core, preserving overall absorbency while providing feces containment capability.
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 configuration enhances comfort and efficiency by effectively managing runny feces and urine, reducing the risk of skin irritation and runoff, while maintaining the absorbency of the article through a structured absorbent core and optimized fluid distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of barrier leg cuffs disposed symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis, each barrier leg cuff defined by a proximal edge attached to the chassis of the article, and an elasticized terminal edge that can be raised away from the chassis
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An absorbent article (20) for personal hygiene having a front edge (10) and a back edge (12) and comprising a liquid impermeable backsheet (25), a liquid permeable topsheet (24), an absorbent core (28) and a pair of barrier leg cuffs (34) disposed symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis. Each barrier leg cuff is defined by a proximal edge (36) attached to the rest of the article and an elasticized terminal edge 38 that can protrude upwards. The topsheet (24) comprises a raisable region (240) that is attached to the barrier leg cuffs at a position away from the proximal edge of the barrier leg cuff and not to the chassis of the article underneath, so that when the barrier leg cuffs are raised, the raisable region is lifted up by the barrier leg cuffs and an empty volume (300) is formed between the raisable region and the chassis of the article underneath. The article further comprises a front waist cap (62) extending inwardly from the front edge of the article and having an inward-looking edge (621) and/or a back waist cap (63) extending inwardly from the back edge of the article and having an inward-looking edge (631). A portion of the front waist cap and/or the back waist cap are raised simultaneously with the raisable portion of the topsheet. The inward-looking edge (621), (631) of the front waist cap and/or the back waist cap is not straight but comprise(s) a recess.