Underwear-Style Containment Pant With Removable Absorbent Insert

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disposable absorbent garments for bedwetting are not satisfactory as they resemble diapers and lack the appearance and feel of conventional underwear, leading to user dissatisfaction.

Innovation Solution

A containment pant with an elastically extensible chassis and a fluid-impervious pouch system that accommodates a discrete absorbent insert, designed to resemble conventional underwear while effectively managing urine leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If disposable absorbent garments are designed to look like conventional underwear, then aesthetic appeal and user satisfaction are improved, but urine containment effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunderwear-like appearanceVSAvoidurine containment effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The garment is divided into distinct functional zones: an outer shell resembling conventional underwear for aesthetic purposes, and an inner absorbent insert with core components for urine containment. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its specific function while working together as a unified system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The absorbent insert is nested within the outer shell garment. The insert contains an absorbent core positioned between front and back sheets, with the core nested within the absorbent material layers. This nested structure enables the underwear-like outer appearance while housing the containment functionality internally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If softer nonwoven materials are used to make the garment more underwear-like, then comfort and aesthetic appeal are improved, but fluid barrier properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort and softnessVSAvoidfluid barrier properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The garment employs composite material construction with the outer shell made of soft, comfortable nonwoven materials for underwear-like feel, while the absorbent insert incorporates fluid-barrier layers and absorbent cores. This composite approach combines materials with different properties to simultaneously achieve comfort and fluid protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the garment have different material properties optimized for their specific functions. The outer shell uses soft, breathable materials for comfort, while the absorbent insert contains specialized fluid-barrier layers and high-absorbency materials only where urine contact is expected, maintaining overall comfort while providing targeted protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If an integrated absorbent core is built into the containment pant, then urine absorption capacity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveurine absorption capacityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent system is segmented into a removable insert containing the core, separate from the main pant garment. This allows the absorbent functionality to be provided through a standardized insert that can be manufactured independently and then integrated into the garment, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The absorbent core and insert are extracted as a separate, removable component from the pant garment. This extraction simplifies the garment manufacturing process while maintaining full absorbent capacity, and allows the insert to be pre-manufactured and quality-tested independently before final assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution provides a user-friendly, underwear-like product that effectively contains urine leaks, addressing the aesthetic and functional concerns of existing products.

Implementation Method 1

an absorbent core positioned between the first sheet and the second sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The first sheet and the second sheet are fluid permeable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 3

a sling positioned within the chassis and being joined to the front waist region and the back waist region. The sling includes a fluid-impervious base sheet and a containment flap joined with the base sheet to create a fluid-impervious pouch

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid imperviousness: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 4

providing a permanently closed containment pant. The containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis defining a waist opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2872088B1Containment system
Publication Date: 2017.10.04 KIMBERLY CLARK WORLDWIDE INC
  • EP2872088B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2872088B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2872088B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for providing a containment system includes providing a permanently closed containment pant and providing a discrete absorbent insert. The containment pant includes an elastically extensible chassis and a sling positioned within the chassis that includes a fluid-impervious pouch. The pouch has a first end section maximum width of at least 145 mm, a central section maximum width of less than 115 mm, and a second end section maximum width of at least 14 mm. The containment pant is substantially devoid of an integrated absorbent core. The absorbent insert includes an absorbent core with a first end section maximum width of at least 120 mm, a central section maximum width of less than 100 mm, and a second end section maximum width of at least 120 mm. The absorbent insert is devoid of a fluid-impervious layer.