Tensioned Depilatory Substrate for Body Conformability

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing depilatory compositions and substrate-based products face challenges in achieving a balance between ease of handling and conformability to the body surface, leading to poor hair removal efficiency due to flexible substrates collapsing or excessively rigid articles failing to conform effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a flexible substrate coated with a depilatory composition, tensioned to increase rigidity for accurate placement, and then applied under tension to the body surface, combined with steps like hair trimming and pre-treatment skin care to enhance depilatory efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible substrate is used for depilatory articles, then conformability to the body surface is improved, but handleability during application deteriorates due to substrate collapse

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconformability to body surfaceVSAvoidhandleability during application

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate's mechanical properties are made dynamic by adjusting thickness to optimize the balance between flexibility and rigidity. The thin substrate (50-150 μm) provides sufficient flexibility for conformability while maintaining enough rigidity for handleability, allowing the substrate to adapt its behavior based on the operational requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The thickness parameter of the substrate is specifically controlled within the range of 50-150 μm to resolve the contradiction. This parameter change ensures the substrate has optimal mechanical properties for both conformability and handleability, preventing collapse during handling while maintaining body surface adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If an excessively rigid substrate is used for depilatory articles, then handleability during application is improved, but conformability to the body surface deteriorates resulting in poor contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandleability during applicationVSAvoidconformability to body surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate's mechanical properties are made dynamic by adjusting thickness to optimize the balance between flexibility and rigidity. The thin substrate (50-150 μm) provides sufficient flexibility for conformability while maintaining enough rigidity for handleability, allowing the substrate to adapt its behavior based on the operational requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The thickness parameter of the substrate is specifically controlled within the range of 50-150 μm to resolve the contradiction. This parameter change ensures the substrate has optimal mechanical properties for both conformability and handleability, preventing collapse during handling while maintaining body surface adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the substrate is made thinner to improve conformability, then conformability to the body surface is improved, but structural stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconformability to body surfaceVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The thickness parameter is optimized within a specific range (50-150 μm) to balance conformability and structural stability. This parameter change ensures the substrate is thin enough for good body surface conformability while maintaining sufficient structural integrity for handling and application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate is constructed from composite materials that provide enhanced mechanical properties. The composite structure allows the substrate to achieve optimal conformability and structural stability simultaneously, preventing collapse during handling while maintaining body surface adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 method ensures effective hair removal by maintaining handleability while conforming to the body surface, improving contact between the depilatory composition and hair, and reducing irritation through controlled tension and substrate properties.

Implementation Method 1

the flexible substrate has a mean thickness of from 50 μm to 15 μm meets the aforementioned need by being both conformable to the surface of the body and simultaneously ensuring that the depilatory article may be effectively handled during usage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

Such compositions may comprise reducing agents to degrade keratin in the hair and thus weaken the hair strands

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reduction: Reduction

Data Source

PatentEP2356965B1Method of depilation

Publication Date: 2013.07.24 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A method of removing unwanted hair from the surface of the body comprising the steps of providing a depilatory article comprising a flexible substrate at least partially coated with a depilatory composition, the coating of depilatory composition forming a coated region of the depilatory article; tensioning the coated region of the depilatory article; applying the depilatory article to the surface of the body such that the coated region is applied under tension to the unwanted hair; and removing the depilatory article from the surface of the body.