Tear-Away Section for Absorbent Article Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pull-on absorbent articles, such as training pants, are difficult to quickly and easily remove from wearers, often requiring two hands and complex manufacturing processes due to refastenable side seams or requiring additional materials, which increases cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A disposable absorbent article with a tear away section defined by a line of weakness and a reinforcing element, featuring a grip tab for easy identification and removal, allowing for one-handed quick detachment from the waist opening to the leg opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If refastenable side seams are used to enable easy removal of training pants, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to additional materials and complex manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 1:
The side panel is divided into a first portion and a second portion that can be separated from each other. The first portion remains attached to the front waist region while the second portion can be torn away from the back waist region, enabling easy removal without requiring complex refastenable mechanisms throughout the entire side panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The tear away section is extracted as a separate, removable portion of the side panel. This extracted section includes the second portion of the side panel that can be easily separated from the back waist region, allowing the main body of the training pants to remain intact while providing easy removal capability.
2Ease of operation
If side seams are made tearable to facilitate quick removal, then ease of operation is improved, but strength is reduced making the article difficult to maintain during wear
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the side panel have different structural properties. The first portion of the side panel maintains full strength and structural integrity for normal wear, while the second portion is designed with reduced strength characteristics to enable easy tearing away for removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The side panel is pre-configured with a designated tear line and associated features (such as perforations or score lines) that guide the tearing process. This preliminary preparation ensures that when removal is needed, the tearing occurs cleanly along the predetermined path without compromising the rest of the structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional pull-on design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates requiring two hands and more time to remove the article
Solution Approach 1:
The side panel is segmented into separable portions with a defined tear line, allowing one portion to be easily removed while the other remains. This segmentation enables quick one-handed removal without requiring the article to be completely taken off, significantly reducing removal time while maintaining a simple manufacturing process that builds upon traditional pull-on construction.
Data Source
AI summary
A disposable absorbent article includes a bodyside liner, an outer cover, an absorbent body disposed between the liner and the outer cover, a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region extending between and interconnecting the front and back waist regions, and a tear away section configured to be torn from the absorbent article when at least a threshold force is applied to the tear away section. The front and back waist regions are attached to each other by side panels at least partially defining leg openings and a waist opening of the absorbent article. The tear away section extends from the waist opening to a respective leg opening and is defined by at least one line of weakness. The tear away section has a tear strength greater than the threshold force.