Disposable Wearable Design Pattern Compensation for Stretch Distortion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Disposable wearable articles with stretchable and non-stretchable regions face issues with design appearance differences due to uneven contraction and extension, leading to noticeable distortion when printed uniformly across both regions.

Innovation Solution

A disposable wearable article design where the stretchable region is printed with a first design and the non-stretchable region with a second design, both maintaining the same dimensions and shape at the elongation limit, ensuring the designs remain consistent and balanced during wear, with the non-stretchable sheet extending from the non-stretchable region to a region without stretchable structure for enhanced integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a uniform design is printed across both stretchable and non-stretchable regions, then manufacturing is simplified, but design appearance becomes distorted due to differential contraction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting process simplicityVSAvoiddesign appearance uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different design patterns to different regions of the elastic sheet based on their functional requirements. The stretchable region receives a first design that accounts for contraction, while the non-stretchable region receives a second design that maintains its shape, creating local quality differences that resolve the appearance distortion problem

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses asymmetric design placement where the first design and second design are intentionally made different to compensate for the asymmetric behavior of the stretchable and non-stretchable regions. This asymmetric approach ensures that when the stretchable region contracts, both regions maintain visual balance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of operation

If the stretchable region contracts during wear, then fitting to body surface is improved, but design elements become distorted due to contraction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefitting to body surfaceVSAvoiddesign element uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-adjusting the design elements before the actual wearing occurs. The first design is created with predetermined modifications that anticipate the contraction behavior, so that when contraction happens, the design elements maintain their intended appearance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If design elements are made small to maintain visibility after contraction, then design visibility is improved, but overall design impact is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign element visibilityVSAvoiddesign impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent compensates for the reduction in design element size by utilizing the orthogonal dimension (width direction) to maintain design impact. When contraction occurs in the length direction, the design elements expand or maintain prominence in the width direction, balancing visibility and impact across different dimensions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This approach minimizes the appearance difference between stretchable and non-stretchable regions during wear, maintaining design integrity and balance by ensuring the designs remain consistent and visually uniform.

Implementation Method 1

a region having the elastic sheet stretchable structure has a stretchable region which contracts in a stretchable direction by a contraction force of the elastic sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic recovery: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3815657B1Disposable wearable article
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 DAIO PAPER CORP
  • EP3815657B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3815657B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3815657B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To reduce a difference in design appearance between a stretchable region and a non-stretchable region in a worn state. The above problem is solved by a disposable wearable article having an elastic sheet stretchable structure (20X) in which a first sheet layer (20A) and a second sheet layer (20B) are bonded through joint holes (31) penetrating an elastic sheet (30) at a plurality of bonded portions arranged at intervals, in which a part of the elastic sheet (30) located in a stretchable region (80) is printed with a first design (51), a part of the elastic sheet (30) located in the non-stretchable region (70) is printed with a second design (52), the first design (51) and the second design (52) are the same when the stretchable region (80) and the non-stretchable region (70) are at an elongation at elastic limit, and a stretchable direction dimension of design elements of the first design (51) when a stretch rate of the stretchable region (80) is 130% or more is 80% or more of a stretchable direction dimension of design elements of the first design (51) when the stretchable region (80) is at the elongation at elastic limit.