Wearable Urinary Incontinence Article With Segmented Absorbent Pad
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing articles for male urinary incontinence are either thick and uncomfortable, prone to leakage, or difficult to use with urinals due to their design, which often involves wrapping layers around the male member.
Innovation Solution
A wearable article with a geometrically shaped pad featuring an inner liquid-permeable sheet, an outer liquid-impermeable sheet, and a liquid absorbent layer between them, with a centrally positioned opening and a fold line that allows the pad to be easily folded, reducing bulk and facilitating urination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the article is designed with multiple layers wrapped around the male member to absorb urine effectively, then urine absorption capability is improved, but the article becomes relatively thick and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The article is divided into a front portion and a back portion that are connected together, with the front portion specifically designed to absorb urine while the back portion provides structural support. This segmentation allows the absorbent functionality to be concentrated where needed without requiring the entire article to be thick.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of wrapping multiple layers around the male member in a circular manner (adding thickness radially), the patent positions the absorbent layers in a planar configuration where the front portion extends between the legs and the back portion connects them, distributing the absorbent material across a larger surface area rather than stacking it vertically.
2Reliability
If the article uses multiple layers pressed against the male member to absorb urine, then urine absorption is improved, but urine remains in contact with the skin causing irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The article introduces an intermediate absorbent layer (front portion) positioned between the male member and the skin. This intermediary layer absorbs urine quickly and keeps it away from the skin, preventing direct contact and subsequent irritation while maintaining effective urine absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The front portion of the article is specifically designed with absorbent properties concentrated in the area most likely to contact urine, while other portions have different structural characteristics. This localized quality ensures urine is absorbed at the source without requiring the entire article to be thick or complex.
3Reliability
If the article is wrapped around the male member to prevent leakage, then leakage prevention is improved, but it becomes difficult to use with urinals
Solution Approach 1:
The article employs elastic bands that can dynamically adjust to different states: when worn normally, the elastic bands secure the article around the waist and legs to prevent leakage; when needing to use a urinal, the elastic bands allow the article to be easily loosened and repositioned without requiring complete unwrapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The article is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides continuous leakage prevention during normal wear, allows easy removal and repositioning for urinal use, and can be quickly re-secured afterward. The elastic band design enables the same structure to accommodate both continuous wear and intermittent removal scenarios.
4Reliability
If the article uses a folded design with the male member extending downward to close the bottom side, then leakage prevention is improved, but the article becomes more noticeable and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The article employs asymmetric design where the front portion and back portion have different configurations optimized for their respective functions. The front portion is designed to absorb urine and extend between the legs, while the back portion provides structural support and connects to the front via elastic bands, creating an asymmetric layout that prevents leakage without requiring the male member to extend downward in a noticeable manner.
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 article effectively absorbs urine, minimizes skin contact and irritation, reduces leakage, and allows easy use of urinals by maintaining a thin profile and allowing the male member to be easily inserted and removed.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid absorbent layer is positioned between the inner sheet and the outer sheet
Implementation Method 2
inner liquid permeable material having an inner surface and an outer sheet formed from an outer liquid impermeable material
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable article for urinary male incontinence that is effective for absorbing urine, that prevents or minimizes the likelihood that urine will contact the skin around the wearer's abdomen, that is relatively thin such that it is not apparent when worn under the pants of the individual and can be comfortably worn under the pants of the wearer, and allows the wearer to easily release the male member for urinating in a urinal or toilet and to easily place the male member back in position in the article.