Absorbent Article Waist Cutting Guide for Proper Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional absorbent articles with an annular waist portion are difficult to manufacture stably due to the non-joined side, and users often struggle to recognize the need to cut the waist portion or identify the correct cutting position, leading to improper fitting.
Innovation Solution
An absorbent article with an annular waist portion featuring a cutting-guide portion and a partially-cut portion to guide and indicate the cutting position, along with a fastening portion that fixes to the waist portion, facilitating easy recognition and execution of the cut.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the waist portion is made annular to enable stable mass production, then manufacturing stability is improved, but it becomes difficult for users to recognize the need to cut and the correct cutting position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming a partially-cut portion in the waist portion before the product reaches the user. This pre-prepared cut section serves as an advance instruction, guiding users to cut along this predetermined path to open the waist portion. The partially-cut portion is created during manufacturing as a visual and tactile cue, eliminating the need for separate instructions while maintaining manufacturing stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The partially-cut portion acts as an intermediary element between the manufacturer's intent and the user's action. It serves as a physical mediator that translates the manufacturing decision (annular waist for stability) into user-friendly guidance (visible cut line for opening). This intermediary structure bridges the information gap without compromising either manufacturing stability or user recognizability.
2Ease of operation
If one side of the waist portion is left unjoined to form a leg hole, then ease of attachment is improved, but conveyance control on the manufacturing line becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the waist portion into two distinct functional zones: a joined section that provides structural integrity for manufacturing conveyance, and a partially-cut portion that enables easy user opening. This segmentation allows the waist to maintain its annular form during production while still providing the necessary opening functionality for attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a localized partially-cut portion with different structural properties than the rest of the waist. This local modification provides the necessary opening capability at a specific location while the remaining joined portions maintain the overall structural integrity needed for manufacturing control and conveyance.
3Productivity
If the waist portion is made annular requiring user cutting, then manufacturing stability is improved, but improper cutting or failure to cut leads to incorrect fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the correct cutting path through the partially-cut portion. This pre-established guide ensures that users cut at the intended location and angle, reducing the risk of improper cutting that would lead to incorrect fitting. The manufacturing stability benefit is maintained while fitting accuracy is improved through this preliminary guidance structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
An absorbent article (1) has an annular waistline part provided with an abdomen-side waistline part (20) and a back-side waistline part (30), and an absorbent body (10). The absorbent article (1) has a fastening part (5). The base end part of the fastening part (5) is fixed to the waistline parts (20, 30) by a fixing part (F1). The tip part of the fastening part (5) has an engagement part (51) that detachably engages with a non-skin-side surface of the waistline parts (20, 30) has a cutting guide part (40) that guides cutting of the waistline parts (20, 30) in the up-down direction, and has, in the cutting guide part (40), a partial cut part (41) in which parts of the waistline parts (20, 30) are cut in the up-down direction.