Hygienic Article Side Panel Lap Seam Attachment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing absorbent products with side panels composed of multiple material segments face challenges in production due to potential tearing when releasing temporary attachments, which can lead to machine jamming and discomfort during use, as they often require complex folding arrangements that induce unfavorable shear forces rather than peel forces.
Innovation Solution
The design involves side panels with material segments connected by lap seams, where the most distal segment is closer to the inner surface than the proximal segment, with temporary attachments placed on the lap seam or between the lap seam and the chassis edge, ensuring a favorable shear force is applied when releasing, reducing the risk of tearing and simplifying the folding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If side panels are composed of multiple material segments connected by lap seams, then the side panels can have desired characteristics such as elasticity or breathability while reducing material cost, but the attachment between different material segments provides a weakness that may lead to tearing when temporary attachments are released
Solution Approach 1:
The side panel is divided into multiple material segments (first material segment and second material segment) connected by a lap seam, allowing each segment to have different properties (e.g., elastic vs. breathable materials) while maintaining overall side panel functionality and reducing cost by using less expensive materials in non-critical areas
Solution Approach 2:
The temporary attachment is positioned to attach to the first material segment at a location that ensures favorable load conditions are established before the temporary attachment is broken, pre-positioning the attachment point to minimize stress on the lap seam during the release process
2Ease of operation
If temporary attachments are released by pulling side panels outwards, then the user can remove the temporary attachments, but shear forces are achieved in both the lap seam and temporary attachments which requires higher force and may lead to tearing of the materials
Solution Approach 1:
The temporary attachment is positioned on the first material segment at a specific location that creates favorable load conditions, establishing the force distribution before the attachment is broken, so that when the user pulls outward, the force is directed as a peel force rather than a shear force on the lap seam
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the temporary attachment connect the two material segments directly (which would create shear forces on the lap seam), the attachment is inverted to connect only to the first material segment, allowing the second material segment to move freely and converting the force type from shear to peel
3Ease of manufacture
If complex folding arrangements are used for side panels, then the side panels can be temporarily attached during production and transportation, but the complexity might cause production difficulties and machine jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The temporary attachment function is extracted from a complex folding arrangement and simplified to a direct attachment of the first material segment to the absorbent article, removing the need for complex Z-configurations or multiple folding steps while still achieving the goal of temporary attachment during production and transportation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
The present invention relates to a hygienic article such as a diaper comprising side panels with fastening means for attachment in the waist region. Each side panel comprises at least two material segments which are connected to each other by a lap seam. Before use of the article, i.e. During transport and storage, the side panels are folded back towards the longitudinal centreline of the article and attached to the inner or outer surface by at least one temporary attachment. An important feature of the invention to accomplish the desired load condition when breaking the temporary attachments is the order in which the material segments making up each side panel have been attached to each other in the lap seams.