Tampon Withdrawal String Helical Path Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rolled tampon designs face issues with telescoping and withdrawal string breakage due to minimal contact length between the string and the absorbent body, requiring additional materials and production steps to enhance resistance.

Innovation Solution

The withdrawal string follows a helical path around the central axis of the absorbent body, increasing the contact length and distributing pulling forces over multiple windings, thereby enhancing resistance to telescoping and preventing string breakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the withdrawal string is looped around the absorbent sheet in conventional rolled tampons, then the tampon structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the contact length between the withdrawal string and absorbent body is minimal, causing telescoping and string breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to telescoping and string breakageVSAvoidstring path configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The withdrawal string is configured to follow a helical path around the cylindrical absorbent body, utilizing the curved geometry of the tampon structure. This helical configuration increases the contact length between the string and absorbent body from minimal (conventional loop) to extended (multiple windings), thereby distributing pulling forces and preventing telescoping and string breakage while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The string path transitions from a simple planar loop (2D configuration) to a three-dimensional helical path that wraps around the cylindrical absorbent body. This dimensional change allows the string to engage multiple windings of the absorbent sheet, increasing contact length and force distribution without adding complex components or manufacturing steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If additional materials or production steps are used to increase resistance to telescoping and prevent string breakage, then reliability improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to telescoping and string breakageVSAvoidmanufacturing process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent body itself serves as the structural element that provides resistance to telescoping and string breakage through its cylindrical geometry. The helical string path utilizes the existing absorbent windings to distribute forces, eliminating the need for additional reinforcing materials or complex production steps while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3400918B1Improved tampon withdrawal system and method for the fabrication thereof

Publication Date: 2021.04.07 ONTEX BV

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AI summary

The invention pertains to the technical field of withdrawal systems for digital tampons, and methods for the fabrication thereof. More in particular, the invention describes digital tampons, comprising an essentially cylindrical absorbent body and a withdrawal string, in which the contact length of the withdrawal string and the absorbent body is enlarged to prevent telescoping and breaking of the withdrawal string. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for fabrication of said tampons.