Removable Crotch Flap Pants for Hygienic Restroom Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Women face challenges in using public restrooms and changing sanitary napkins without soiling their pants due to the need to remove or drop them, and there is a lack of solutions that allow for easy urination and sanitary napkin management without full removal.

Innovation Solution

Pants with a removable flap and liner that includes bands for securing sanitary napkins, allowing the flap to be fastened on the waistband for easy access and concealment of the crotch area, enabling urination and sanitary napkin changes without full removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If women remove or drop their pants to use the restroom or change sanitary napkins, then they can access the crotch area easily, but their pants become soiled and undesirable to wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to crotch areaVSAvoidsoiling of pants

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pants are segmented into a main pant body and a separate removable flap that covers the crotch area. The flap can be independently removed from the waistband, allowing access to the crotch area without removing the entire pants. This segmentation enables women to use the restroom or change sanitary napkins while keeping the main pant body clean and wearable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If women keep pants fully covered to maintain hygiene, then pants remain clean, but they cannot easily access the crotch area for restroom use or sanitary napkin changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleanliness of pantsVSAvoidaccess to crotch area

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If a removable flap is added to pants to enable discreet restroom access, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestroom access convenienceVSAvoidstructure of pants

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flap is designed to be completely extractable from the waistband through removable connections. This extraction capability allows the flap to be taken out when needed for restroom access or sanitary napkin changes, and then reattached when not needed, providing flexibility without permanent structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If the flap is made removable to allow access, then ease of operation improves, but reliability of coverage decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to crotch areaVSAvoidcoverage of crotch area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flap transitions from a static permanent covering to a dynamic removable component. It can be attached to provide coverage and detached to provide access, adapting its state based on the wearer's needs. This dynamic capability allows the flap to reliably cover the crotch area when attached while enabling easy access when removed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flap is pre-attached to the waistband through removable connections, providing immediate coverage when not in use. This preliminary attachment ensures the crotch area is covered during normal activities, and the removable connections allow quick detachment when access is needed without requiring complex manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12465094B2Pants with removable flap with liner and bands

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 TURNER ERIN E

AI summary

A pair of pants with a removable flap with a liner and bands includes an open crotch area in the pair of pants, and a removable flap. The removable flap is configured to cover the open crotch area in the pair of pants. The removable flap includes a front end and a back end. The front end of the removable flap is configured to be removably fastened on or near the waistband of the pair of pants on a frontside of the waistband of the pair of pants. The back end of the removable flap is configured to be removably fastened on or near the waistband of the pair of pants on a backside of the waistband of the pair of pants. The removable flap is configured to be removed from either the frontside of the waistband and/or the backside of the waistband.