Serpentine Perforation Path for Absorbent Package Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing film packages for disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers and incontinence pants, face challenges in easy opening and recloseability, often resulting in package destruction and inadequate protection from airborne contaminants, while also being cost-ineffective for manufacturers.
Innovation Solution
A film package design featuring a serpentine-shaped path of perforations or scoring that facilitates easy opening without deforming the package, allowing it to retain structural integrity for storage and reclosure, combined with a multilayer film structure for enhanced weldability and tensile strength, and optionally including a carrying handle for improved user access and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional opening perforations are used, then opening is simplified, but package structural integrity is destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The opening path is segmented into multiple perforated regions with different characteristics. The first perforated region has perforations spaced closer together to facilitate easy tearing initiation, while the second perforated region has perforations spaced farther apart to maintain structural integrity during the opening process. This segmentation allows the package to be opened easily without complete destruction of the package structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the package film are given different local qualities through varying perforation patterns. The first perforated region is designed with higher perforation density for easy opening, while the second perforated region maintains lower perforation density to preserve strength. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of opening and structural integrity maintenance.
2Ease of operation
If package is opened for access, then content accessibility is improved, but protection from contaminants is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The package opening system is designed to be dynamic rather than permanent. The controlled opening path allows the package to be opened for access and then reclosed by bringing the first and second portions back together. The perforations are positioned and sized to allow easy separation but also to enable effective reclosure, maintaining contaminant protection when not in use while providing accessibility when needed.
3Reliability
If recloseability feature is added, then package protection is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The perforation system serves multiple functions: it facilitates easy opening, maintains structural integrity during opening, and enables recloseability. By designing the perforations to create a controlled opening path that leaves sufficient intact film for reclosure, the same structural feature achieves both opening ease and recloseability without requiring separate expensive reclosure mechanisms like zippers or flaps.
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 enables easy access to the contents while maintaining the package's structural integrity for storage, protecting the contents from dust and dirt, and is cost-effective for manufacturers by minimizing material usage and production complexity.
Implementation Method 1
A film package design featuring a serpentine-shaped path of perforations or scoring that facilitates easy opening without deforming the package
Implementation Method 2
packages formed from one or more sheets of polymer film, seamed via application of heating energy, which has caused portions of the film to melt and fuse along the seams
Implementation Method 3
application of heating energy, which has caused portions of the film to melt and fuse along the seams
Implementation Method 4
allowing it to retain structural integrity for storage and reclosure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A package containing a stack (40) of folded disposable absorbent articles (10), the package being formed of flexible polymeric film, and having a path (60) of perforations or scoring defining a serpentine-shape, is disclosed. The serpentine-shaped path may be located proximate the fold noses (30) of the articles in the stack for easy tactile identification, grasping and withdrawal of individual ones thereof, and may be configured so as to cause opening flaps (66) defined by the path to effectively draw to a closed position following access to the contents within, whereby the package may be used to store the unused supply of articles following opening. The package, and printed commercial artwork and product information on the package surfaces, may be configured such that the fold noses are disposed at the apparent bottom of the package, for improved standing stability when the package is shelved.