WO2012117734A1

WO2012117734A1 - Package body of absorbent article

Info

Publication number: WO2012117734A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/001417
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hideyuki Kinoshita; Yuki Noda; Toshihisa Hayashi; Akira Hashino
Original assignee: Unicharm Corporation
Priority date: 2011-03-01
Filing date: 2012-03-01
Publication date: 2012-09-07
Also published as: JP5944103B2; CN103379886A; CN103379886B; JP2012179242A

Abstract

A package body (100) of an absorbent article according to the present invention includes an absorbent article (1) and a packaging sheet (70) for packaging the absorbent article (1) individually, and the absorbent article (1) is packaged individually by folding the packaging sheet (70) and the absorbent article (1) when the absorbent article is disposed on top of the packaging sheet (70). Folds (FL1), (FL2) are formed along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article (1) in the packaging sheet (70) and the absorbent article (1), in a state that the packaged absorbent article is opened, and the folds are disposed outside an absorber (30) in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article (1).

Description

PACKAGE BODY OF ABSORBENT ARTICLE

The present disclosure relates to a package body of an absorbent article in which an absorbent article is packed individually.

PTL 1 and PTL 2 describe a package body of an absorbent article in which a sanitary napkin that serves as an absorbent article having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet is packaged individually by disposing it on a packaging sheet, and then folding it several times.

In the package body of an absorbent article, for example, the sanitary napkin that is disposed on the packaging sheet is packaged individually by folding back, in the width-direction, both sides of the sanitary napkin towards the topsheet with two folds along the longitudinal direction of the sanitary napkin as the base points, and then folding back, in the longitudinal-direction, both ends of the sanitary napkin towards the center of the longitudinal direction with two folds along the widthwise direction of the sanitary napkin as the base points.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H10-290819 (Page 5, FIG. 2) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H09-266928 (Page 4, FIG. 2)

The package body of an absorbent article described in the aforementioned patent document has the following problem. The folds in the longitudinal direction of the aforementioned package body of the absorbent article are formed in the absorber. When wearing a sanitary napkin in underwear, the back surface of the sanitary napkin is adhered along the inner surface of the underwear, and the sanitary napkin is worn in the underwear. At this time, if the creases of the folds in the longitudinal direction are deep, it is difficult to expand the sanitary napkin, and it may not be possible to appropriately dispose the sanitary napkin along the inner surface of the underwear.

Thus, the present invention is made in view of the above problem, and its purpose is to provide a package body of an absorbent article such that the wearer can easily and appropriately wear the absorbent article packaged individually by a packaging sheet in underwear.

A package body of an absorbent article according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an absorbent article having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a packaging sheet for packaging the absorbent article individually, the package body of an absorbent article being configured such that by folding the packaging sheet and the absorbent article when the absorbent article is disposed on top of the packaging sheet, the absorbent article is packaged individually, wherein folds are formed along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article in the packaging sheet and the absorbent article, in a state that the packaged absorbent article is opened, and the folds are disposed outside the absorber in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article.

Further, a package body of an absorbent article according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an absorbent article having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a packaging sheet for packaging the absorbent article individually, the package body of an absorbent article being configured such that by folding the packaging sheet and the absorbent article when the absorbent article is disposed on top of the packaging sheet, the absorbent article is packaged individually, wherein folds are formed along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article in the packaging sheet and the absorbent article, in a state that the packaged absorbent article is opened, a low rigidity region having a rigidity lower than that of the central portion positioned in the center of the longitudinal direction and the widthwise direction of the absorber is provided in the absorber, the low rigidity region is provided along the longitudinal direction, and folds are formed in the low rigidity region.

In a package body of an absorbent article that serves as an exemplary aspect according to the present invention, because the absorber is disposed inside of the folds extending along the longitudinal direction, in the widthwise direction, the folds extending along the longitudinal direction are not formed in the absorber. Furthermore, in a package body of an absorbent article that serves as another exemplary aspect, because the folds along the longitudinal direction are provided in a low rigidity region, it is difficult for creases of the absorber to be left behind. According to the package body of an absorbent article that is thus configured, because it is possible to control the difficulty in expanding the absorbent article due to the creases of the absorber, the wearer can expand the absorbent article easily, and can wear it appropriately along the inner surface of the underwear.

FIG. 1 is a plan view as seen from a skin contact surface side of a package body of an absorbent article according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a back view of the package body of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a cross-section A-A shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view that schematically shows a step of folding the package body of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view that schematically shows a step of folding the package body of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a perspective view that schematically shows a step of folding the package body of the absorbent article shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a plan view as seen from a skin contact surface side of a package body of an absorbent article according to a second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a cross-section B-B shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a plan view as seen from a skin contact surface side of a package body of an absorbent article according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a package body of an absorbent article according to a first modification. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a package body of an absorbent article according to a second modification.

(First Embodiment)
A package body of an absorbent article according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the package body of the absorbent article, and FIG. 2 is a back view of the package body of the absorbent article. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a cross-section A-A shown in FIG. 1. A package body 100 of the absorbent article has an absorbent article 1 and a packaging sheet 70 for packaging the absorbent article 1. The absorbent article 1 according to the present embodiment is a sanitary napkin, for example. The absorbent article may take various forms, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, and may comprise a panty liner (vaginal discharge sheet), an incontinence pad, or otherwise.

In the package body 100 of the absorbent article, the absorbent article 1 is packaged individually by folding the packaging sheet 70 and the absorbent article 1 when the absorbent article 1 has been disposed on the packaging sheet 70. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the state when the absorbent article 1 is opened after it has been packaged individually by the packaging sheet 70.

The absorbent article 1 has a topsheet 10 that is in contact with the skin of the wearer, a liquid-impermeable backsheet 20 that does not allow liquid to pass through, and an absorber 30. The absorber 30 is arranged between the topsheet 10 and the backsheet 20. Therefore, the absorber 30 is shown with dashed lines in FIG. 1. The absorber 30 is preferably arranged in the central portion of the longitudinal direction L and widthwise direction W of the absorbent article 1. Furthermore, in the plan view of FIG. 1, the absorbent article 1 preferably includes

wing units

43 and 44 provided outside the absorber 30 in the widthwise direction W, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. Finally, the absorbent article 1 preferably includes

side sheets

41 and 42 provided outside the absorber 30 in the widthwise direction W.

The topsheet 10 is a liquid-permeable sheet that allows liquids such as bodily fluid to pass through. The topsheet 10 covers at least the surface of the absorber 30. The topsheet 10 is not particularly limited as long as it is a sheet-like material having a structure that allows liquids to pass through, such as a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, a perforated plastic sheet, or a mesh sheet. Natural fibers or chemical fibers can be used as the material of a woven or nonwoven fabric. The topsheet 10 of the present embodiment is preferably an air-through nonwoven cloth. The core of the fibers is preferably polyethylene terephthalate, and the cladding is preferably polyethylene with a fineness of 2.2 dtex, and the fiber length is preferably 51 mm. A hydrophilic lubricant is preferably coated on the surface of the fibers. Furthermore, as for the physical properties of the topsheet, the 5% tensile strength in the cross direction crossing the conveyance direction of the absorbent article in the course of manufacturing of the absorbent article is preferably 0.6 N/25 mm or less, and most preferably 0.3 N/25 mm or less. The 5% tensile strength is tensile strength of the topsheet 10 when length of the topsheet 10 is stretched by 5%.

The backsheet 20 preferably has substantially the same length as the length of the topsheet 10. As for the backsheet 20, a film with the main constituent being polyethylene or polypropylene, an air-permeable resin film, or a sheet in which an air-permeable resin film is joined with an unwoven fabric such as spun bond or spun lace can be used. The backsheet 20 is desired to be of a material having flexibility to an extent such that a feeling of discomfort is not felt at the time of wearing. The backsheet 20 of the present embodiment is preferably configured from a liquid-impermeable polyethylene film.

The absorber 30 preferably includes hydrophilic fibers and pulp. The absorber 30 is preferably configured from a lower-layer absorber 31, and an upper-layer absorber 32 layered on top of the lower-layer absorber 31.It may however, in any of the described embodiments, comprise a single layer, i.e. the upper layer absorber 32 may be omitted. The upper-layer absorber 32 is preferably smaller in the longitudinal direction L and the widthwise direction W as compared with the lower-layer absorber 31. Note that the lower-layer absorber 31 and the upper-layer absorber 32 may be configured separately, or may be unified together. Furthermore, the lower-layer absorber 31 and the upper-layer absorber 32 are preferably joined together by a hot-melt adhesive.

The absorber 30 including the lower-layer absorber 31 and the upper-layer absorber 32 is formed by a material that can absorb bodily fluid such as menstrual blood. The absorber 30 may be formed by layering a hydrophilic fiber or a powder with an air-laid method, or it may be an air-laid sheet in which a hydrophilic fiber or a powder is molded into a sheet with an air-laid method, or may be formed by disposing a ground pulp mixed with a high absorbent polymer on a tissue (basis weight: 15 g/m², for example), and then wrapping it up with the tissue.

Furthermore, embossing in the shape of pins of 2-mm diameter is preferably performed on the topsheet 10. Note that embossing can also be performed with the conventionally used hinge-type embossing. Furthermore, the topsheet 10 and the absorber 3 are preferably joined with a hot-melt adhesive.

The

side sheets

41 and 42 are sheets covering the side regions of the absorbent article in the widthwise direction, and are arranged on both sides of the topsheet 10. The

side sheets

41 and 42 can be selected from the same material as the topsheet 10. However, in order to prevent the flow of menstrual blood outside the absorbent article 1 by crossing over the

side sheets

41 and 42, the side sheets are desired to have a hydrophobic property or water repellency. The

side sheets

41 and 42 of the present embodiment are preferably spun bond nonwoven cloth having a basis weight of 22 g/m². For example, the core of the fibers is of polypropylene and the cladding is of polyethylene.

The

side sheets

41 and 42 preferably overlap the side edges of the absorber 30, and also preferably cover the

wing units

43 and 44. The inner edge 41E in the widthwise direction of the side sheet 41 is preferably disposed adjacent to a first longitudinal fold FL1 (described later) outside from the first longitudinal fold FL1 in the widthwise direction. The inner edge 41E preferably extends parallel to the first longitudinal fold FL1. The inner edge 42E in the widthwise direction of the side sheet 42 is preferably disposed adjacent to a second longitudinal fold FL2 (described later) outside from the second longitudinal fold FL2 in the widthwise direction. The inner edge 42E preferably extends parallel to the first longitudinal fold FL2.

In the absorbent article 1, the periphery of the topsheet 10, the

sidesheets

41 and 42, and the backsheet 20 are preferably joined, and the absorber 30 is included within. As for the method of joining the topsheet 10 and the backsheet 20, any one of heat embossing, supersonic waves, or a hot-melt adhesive, or a combination of a plurality of methods can be used.

In the backsheet 20, an adhesive 50 is preferably coated in a plurality of regions on the surface that is in contact with the underwear (see FIG. 2). The adhesive 50 may be disposed intermittently along the longitudinal direction L of the backsheet 20. The adhesive 50 may also be provided on the surface of the wing unit 43 and the wing unit 44 that is in contact with the underwear in use. Before use, the adhesive 50 is preferably in contact with the packaging sheet 70, and the deterioration of the adhesive before use is prevented by the packaging sheet 70. At the time of use, the packaging sheet 70 is peeled by the wearer. Note that the deterioration of the adhesive before use can also be configured to be prevented by a protective sheet made from a paper or other material, for example, other than the packaging sheet 70. Note that a hot-melt adhesive, for example, can be used as the adhesive.

The packaging sheet 70 packages the absorbent article 1 individually. The packaging sheet 70 has a counter face surface 71 that faces the absorbent article 1 in the backsheet 20 side of the absorbent article 1, and a non-counter face surface 72 positioned outside when the absorbent article 1 is contained.

Note that with the aim of improving the texture, surface processing such as round point embossing and pear skin finish embossing may be performed on the surface of the packaging sheet 70. As for the material of the packaging sheet 70, for example, various films such as plastic films like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester, and nylon films, air-permeable films that have been elongated by inserting a filler such as barium sulfate, and films for laminating nonwoven fabric, and the like can be used. Finally, the surface of the packaging sheet 70 may be processed such that peeling is enabled without causing a decline in the adhesive power of the adhesive.

The absorbent article 1 and the packaging sheet 70 are folded at predetermined fold positions along the widthwise direction W and the longitudinal direction L with the surface sheet 10 of the absorbent article 1 kept on the inside of the packaging sheet 70. With the absorbent article 1 in the folded state, one longitudinal end of the packaging sheet 70 is preferably joined to the packaging sheet 70. The longitudinal end of the packaging sheet 70 is preferably joined to a part of the packaging sheet 70 by an adhesive tape 75.

Next, a method of folding the package body 100 of the absorbent article is explained. FIG. 4 through FIG. 6 are perspective views that schematically show steps of folding the package body 100 of the absorbent article. The steps of folding the package body 100 of the absorbent article comprise an absorbent-article loading step, a first folding step, a second folding step, a joining step, and a third folding step.

In the absorbent-article loading step, the absorbent article 1 is disposed on top of the packaging sheet 70. The packaging sheet 70 and the backsheet 20 of the absorbent article 1 face each other. Note that the configuration may be such that the absorbent article 1 is disposed on the packaging sheet 70 of a size in which a single absorbent article 1 is packaged individually. Alternatively, and for example, a plurality of absorbent articles may be disposed on a packaging sheet continuing along the conveyance direction by keeping a predetermined interval between adjacent absorbent articles. In the present embodiment, for the sake of convenience, the method of folding is explained by using a package body of an absorbent article in which a single absorbent article is packaged.

In the first folding step, as shown in FIG. 4, the packaging sheet 70 and the absorbent article 1 are folded back towards the inside from a side edge region that includes one side edge of the absorbent article 1 in the widthwise direction. The packaging sheet 70 and the absorbent article 1 are folded back with the first longitudinal fold (see FIG. 1) FL1, which extends along the longitudinal direction L. as the base point. In the second folding step, as shown in FIG. 5, the packaging sheet 70 and the absorbent article 1 are folded back towards the inside from the opposed side edge region that includes the other side edge of the absorbent article 1 in the widthwise direction W. The packaging sheet 70 and the absorbent article 1 are folded back with the second longitudinal fold (see FIG. 1) FL2, which extends along the longitudinal direction L, as the base point.

Next, in the joining step, the side edge region of the absorbent article 1 and the packaging sheet 70 that are folded back with the second longitudinal direction fold FL2 as the base point are adhered onto the packaging sheet 70 by the adhesive 50. Through this step, the absorbent article 1 is packaged individually by the packaging sheet 70. Note that in the present embodiment, the side edge regions of the packaging sheet 70 that are folded back with the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 as the base points are adhered with the help of the adhesive 50, but the side edge regions of the packaging sheet 70 may not be adhered. Furthermore, the width-direction end units of the packaging sheet 70 may be adhered by heat sealing, pressure bonding, or ultrasonic sealing.

In the third folding step, as shown in FIG. 6, the packaging sheet 70 and the absorbent article 1 are folded back towards the inside from both ends of the absorbent article 1 in the longitudinal direction L with the first widthwise fold FW1 and the second widthwise fold FW2 (see FIG. 1), which extend along the widthwise direction W, as the base points. Due to the execution of the aforementioned steps, the package body 100 of the absorbent article is folded and reduced in size.

By folding in this way, the absorbent article 1 can be packaged compactly by the packaging sheet 70. Specifically, because the size can be brought down to approximately 1/9 as compared to the case when the planar area of the absorbent article and the packaging sheet is expanded, the absorbent article can be made compact. By reducing the size of the absorbent article 1, when it is to be stored in a bag such as a small pouch or a pochette, it does not require a large storage space in the bag and can be carried around easily. Furthermore, by compactly wrapping the absorbent article 1, when it is to be carried to a toilet, for example, at the time of use, it can be placed inside the hand even in an unfolded state, and can be carried discreetly without being noticed by others.

Furthermore, the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2, in the state when the folded package body 100 of the absorbent article is opened, are preferably positioned inside the widthwise direction from the

side sheets

41 and 42 that exist outside the widthwise direction of the absorber 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 are formed in the region where the topsheet 10 and the backsheet 20 overlap. The first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 do not overlap the absorber 30 or the

sidesheets

41 and 42 in the thickness direction T. Therefore, the creases due to the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 are formed only in the topsheet 10 and the backsheet 20. Generally, as compared with the absorber 30, the topsheet 10 and the backsheet 20 have a low rigidity. It is difficult for creases to be left behind in the topsheet 10 and the backsheet 20. Note that the rigidity in the DESCRIPTION refers to the extent of resistance by an object to deformation when an attempt is made to deform the object by exerting external force. For example, the larger the rigidity, the more the extent of resistance to deformation, and the deeper the creases that are left behind at the time of folding.

Therefore, it is difficult for creases to be left behind in the longitudinal direction, and when the absorbent article 1 is worn in the underwear, the rise of the absorbent article 1 from the underwear due to the folds can be controlled. Finally, the problem of difficulty in unfolding the absorbent article towards in the widthwise direction, due to creases of the folds extending in the longitudinal direction, can be prevented. The wearer can easily dispose the absorbent article along the inner surface of the underwear, and can easily use the wing units by folding them towards the non-contact surface side of the underwear thereby enabling an improvement in wearability.

Furthermore, the

side sheets

41 and 42 are preferably provided outside the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 in the widthwise direction, and the rigidity outside the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 in the widthwise direction is high. Thus, due to the difference in the rigidity of the portion in which the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 are formed, and the portion outside from the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 in the widthwise direction, the force for opening is applied easily on both sides of the absorbent article 1 in the widthwise direction when opening the package body of the absorbent article, and the absorbent article can be expanded easily.

The adhesive 50 is preferably disposed inside and/or outside, in the widthwise direction, with respect to the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 rather than being disposed in the region overlapping the first longitudinal fold FL1 or the second longitudinal fold FL2 in thickness direction T. For example, by providing the adhesive 50 for adhering the packaging sheet 70 and the absorbent article 1 outside, in the widthwise direction, of the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2, when force is applied to the packaging sheet 70 in an attempt to unfold the absorbent article with the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 as the base points, the force is applied to the absorbent article in the direction of unfolding of both side portions in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 1, and it becomes easier to unfold the absorbent article 1.

The

wing units

43 and 44 may have lesser thickness than the absorber 30 and be comparatively more prone to the formation of wrinkles. Furthermore, an adhesive may be provided on the back surface of the

wing units

43 and 44, and when the

wing units

43 and 44 are folded back towards the non-contact surface of the underwear, the adhesive on both sides may get stuck, and wrinkles may occur in the

wing units

43 and 44. However, because it becomes easy to unfold the absorbent article, the

wing units

43 and 44 can be folded back appropriately towards the back surface, and the problem of the occurrence of wrinkles in the

wing units

43 and 44 can be prevented.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a package 101 of an absorbent article according to a second embodiment is explained in detail with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. Note that in the following explanation of the embodiment, the configuration different from the first embodiment is explained and the description about the configuration that is the same as the first embodiment is omitted. FIG. 7 is a plan view as seen from a skin contact surface side of the package 101 of the absorbent article according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a cross-section B-B shown in FIG. 7.

The absorbent article 1A according to the second embodiment is different from the absorbent article 1 according to the first embodiment. The absorber 30 extends beyond the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 in the widthwise direction. It should be noted that whilst the absorber 30 is shown to comprise a lower-layer absorber 31 and an upper-layer absorber 32, it may alternatively comprise a single layer only, i.e. the upper layer absorber 32 may be omitted. The first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 overlap the lower-layer absorber 31 in the thickness direction T. In the lower-layer absorber 31, a low rigidity region LA having a lower rigidity than that of the central portion, which is positioned in the center of the longitudinal direction L and the widthwise direction W of the absorber 30, is provided. In FIG. 7, the low rigidity region LA is shown by hatching. Note that the central portion is the portion positioned in the center of the longitudinal direction and in the center of the widthwise direction of the absorber 30, and in the present embodiment, it is the portion in which the upper-layer absorber 32 is disposed. Furthermore, the central portion is configured to include the region that is in contact with the excretion portion. The central portion may be configured to have a basis weight that is higher than the portion other than the central portion. For example, the basis weight of the central portion may be 400 to 800 g/m².

The low rigidity region LA is preferably configured to have a thickness less than that of the absorber 30 in the portion in which the upper-layer absorber 32 is disposed, and preferably to have a basis weight that is lower than that of the absorber 30 in the portion in which the upper-layer absorber 32 is disposed. The rigidity of the low rigidity region LA is lower than that of the portion in which the upper-layer absorber 32 is disposed. The low rigidity region LA is disposed to overlap at least the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 in the thickness direction. More preferably, the low rigidity region LA is disposed to span across the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 in the widthwise direction W. The width of the low rigidity region LA, in the widthwise direction, is, for example, 2 to 10 mm, and the more preferable width is less than 5 mm. Note that if the length of the low rigidity region in the widthwise direction is 10 mm or more, the absorbent article might get displaced in the low rigidity region LA, which is not desirable.

As for a method of forming the low rigidity region, for example, when the absorber is manufactured by layering ground pulp, a protruding portion may be provided in the portion corresponding to the low rigidity region of the plate in which the pulp is accumulated, and in this way, the thickness of the absorber can be reduced in the protruding portion only. Note that a mesh plate can be used as the plate. By adjusting the thickness of the protruding portion, the basis weight and the thickness of the low rigidity region can be adjusted. Furthermore, for example, by configuring the absorber through stacking of a plurality of sheets and reducing the number of sheets to be layered only in the low rigidity region, the low rigidity region can be formed.

According to the package body of the absorbent article thus configured, because the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 are formed in the low rigidity region, the creases of the absorber due to the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 can be made difficult to be left behind.

(Third Embodiment)
Next, a package 102 of an absorbent article according to a third embodiment is explained in detail with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a plan view as seen from a skin contact surface side of the package 102 of the absorbent article according to the third embodiment. As with the absorbent article 1A according to the second embodiment, the absorbent article 1B according to the third embodiment is provided with an absorber 30 extending beyond the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 in the widthwise direction, but the configuration of the low rigidity region is different from that of the absorbent article 1A according to the second embodiment. It should be noted that whilst the absorber 30 is shown to comprise a lower-layer absorber 31 and an upper-layer absorber 32, it may alternatively comprise a single layer only, i.e. the upper layer absorber 32 may be omitted.

In the absorber 30, a low rigidity region having rigidity lower than that of the upper-layer absorber 32 is provided. The low rigidity region is a region in which slits 33 are provided in the absorber 30. The slits 33 are provided intermittently along the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2. If the length of the slits 33 in the longitudinal direction is increased, it becomes difficult for creases of the absorber 30 to be left behind. However, if the length of the slits 33 in the longitudinal direction becomes too long, the rigidity of the absorber 30 in the longitudinal direction might decline. Thus, the length between the slits in the longitudinal direction is desired to be 5 mm or more, for example.

A method of forming the low rigidity region includes, for example, forming the slits by sandwiching the absorber between a pair of rolls including a roll having a blade (upper axis) and a roll having a groove (lower axis). Furthermore, for example, when the absorber is manufactured by layering ground pulp with a mesh plate, the slits can be formed in such a way that a protruding portion, etc., are provided in the portion corresponding to the slits so that the pulp is not accumulated in the protruding portion.

Next, a package body of an absorbent article according to modifications is explained in detail with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are schematic cross-sectional views of a line A-A shown in FIG. 1 of the package body of the absorbent article according to the modifications. In a package 103 of the absorbent article according to a first modification, as shown in FIG. 10, compressed units 22 in which the absorber 30 is compressed in the thickness direction T are formed outside the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 of the absorber 30 in the widthwise direction. Furthermore, compressed units 23 in which the absorber 30 and the topsheet 10 are compressed in the thickness direction T are formed inside the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 of the absorber 30 in the widthwise direction. The rigidity of the portion of the absorber 30 in which the compressed units are formed becomes high. A difference in rigidity occurs between the first longitudinal fold FL1 portion and the second longitudinal fold FL2 portion, and inside the widthwise direction and outside the widthwise direction.

By increasing the rigidity of the absorber outside the widthwise direction from the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 , the force for opening is applied easily on both sides of the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 1 when opening the package body of the absorbent article, and the absorbent article can be expanded easily. Furthermore, by increasing the rigidity of the absorber inside the widthwise direction from the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2, the durability against the force at the time of expanding can be increased by increasing the rigidity between the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 on which the maximum force is exerted at the time of opening the package body of the absorbent article.

In a package 104 of the absorbent article according to a second modification, elastic members 60 are provided in the

sidesheets

41 and 42 provided outside the widthwise direction from the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2. Three elastic members 60 each are preferably provided along the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent article 1. The elastic members 60 may be rubber threads having a fineness of 470 dtex, for example, and are disposed between the mutually folded-

back side sheets

41 and 42 in a state in which they are elongated by approximately 1.3 times in the longitudinal direction. Due to the shrinkage of the elastic members 60, the

side sheets

41 and 42 shrink, and a leakage-preventing wall is formed outside the widthwise direction of the absorber 30. By providing a leakage-preventing wall, the

side sheets

41 and 42 are superimposed and are shrunk by the elastic members, and therefore, the rigidity of the absorber 30 positioned outside the widthwise direction from the first longitudinal fold FL1 and the second longitudinal fold FL2 can be increased, and the package body of the absorbent article can be expanded easily due to the difference in rigidity. It should be noted that such elastic members 60 may be introduced in any of the other above described embodiments.

So far, the present invention is disclosed through the above embodiments. However, it should not be interpreted that the statements and drawings constituting a part of the present disclosure limit the present invention. From this disclosure, a variety of alternate embodiments, examples, and applicable techniques will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

Furthermore, other than a sanitary napkin, the absorbent article of the present invention may be a panty liner (vaginal discharge sheet), an incontinence pad, or the like. Needless to say, the present invention includes various embodiments not described herein. Therefore, the technical range of the present invention is to be defined only by the proceeding claims.

The first aspect described above may be arranged in at least the following item:
(i) A package body of an absorbent article comprising an absorbent article having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a packaging sheet for packaging the absorbent article individually, the package body being configured such that by folding the packaging sheet and the absorbent article together when the absorbent article is disposed on top of the packaging sheet, the absorbent article is packaged individually, wherein folds are formed in the packaging sheet and the absorbent article, the folds extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, and the folds are disposed outside the absorber in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article.

The second aspect described above may be arranged in at least the following item:
(ii) A package body of an absorbent article comprising an absorbent article having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a packaging sheet for packaging the absorbent article individually, the package body being configured such that by folding the packaging sheet and the absorbent article together when the absorbent article is disposed on top of the packaging sheet, the absorbent article is packaged individually, wherein folds are formed in the packaging sheet and the absorbent article, the folds extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, low rigidity regions, having a rigidity lower than that of a central portion positioned in the center of the longitudinal direction and the widthwise direction of the absorber, are provided in the absorber, the low rigidity regions are provided along the longitudinal direction, and the folds are formed in the low rigidity regions.

The aspect described in the above item (i) or (ii) may include at least the following embodiments, which may be taken in isolation or in combination with one another:
Preferably, only two longitudinally extending fold lines are provided, about which the absorbent article and packaging sheet are folded to define the folds extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the fold lines extending parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article and being spaced from one another in the widthwise direction with one fold line either side of the longitudinal centerline.

The packaging sheet and the absorbent article are preferably arranged such that they may be folded to individually package the absorbent article by folding a first longitudinally extending side edge region, which includes a first side edge of the absorbent article and a first side edge of the packaging sheet, inwardly about the first longitudinally extending fold line; folding a second longitudinally extending side edge region, which opposes the first side edge region in the widthwise direction and includes a second side edge of the absorbent article and a second side edge of the packaging sheet, inwardly about the second longitudinally extending fold line, such that the first side edge region and the second side edge region substantially completely overlap one another. The packaging sheet and the absorbent article are preferably arranged such that they may be further folded by folding a first longitudinal end region inwardly about a first widthwise extending fold line; and folding a second longitudinal end region, which opposes the first longitudinal end region in the longitudinal direction, about a second widthwise extending fold line, such that the longitudinal end regions overlap one another. The overlapping longitudinal end regions may be joined to one another.

Preferably, adhesive is coated in a plurality of regions on the backsheet, the adhesive being arranged such that it does not overlap with the folds extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article. The adhesive may be arranged in a plurality of longitudinally extending strips that are spaced from one another in the widthwise direction. The strips of adhesive may be continuous or discontinuous.

The absorber may comprises a lower-layer absorber, and an upper-layer absorber, which is layered on top of the lower-layer absorber, wherein the upper-layer absorber is smaller in the longitudinal and/or widthwise directions as compared with the lower-layer absorber. The folds extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article may be provided outside the upper-layer absorber in the transverse direction, such that they are provided in the lower-layer absorber only.

A high rigidity region having a higher rigidity than the low rigidity regions may be provided outside each of the low rigidity regions in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article. The high rigidity regions may be formed by providing sheets that cover the surface of the absorbent article in the high rigidity regions.

The low rigidity regions may be formed by slits in the absorber. Each of the low rigidity regions may be formed by a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending slits.

The low rigidity regions may be configured to have a lower basis weight as compared with that of the absorber in the central portion. The low rigidity regions may each comprise a continuous groove extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the thickness of the absorber is reduced in each low rigidity region by the groove.

A sheet material covering the outer surface of the absorbent article may be provided extending parallel to the folds and outside the folds in the widthwise direction. A pair of sheets may be provided, which each cover a side edge region of the absorbent article. Each of the sheets may cover substantially the entire region between one of the folds and a respective one of the side edges of the absorbent article.

Compressed units in which the absorber is compressed in the thickness direction may be provided in the inner side and/or in the outer side of the folds in the widthwise direction. The compressed units may comprise longitudinally extending grooves. The compressed units are preferably arranged not to overlap with the folds.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2011-044154 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Claims

A package body of an absorbent article comprising an absorbent article having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a packaging sheet for packaging the absorbent article individually, the package body being configured such that by folding the packaging sheet and the absorbent article when the absorbent article is disposed on top of the packaging sheet, the absorbent article is packaged individually, wherein
folds are formed in the packaging sheet and the absorbent article, the folds extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article in a state that the packaged absorbent article is opened, and
the folds are disposed outside the absorber in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article.
A package body of an absorbent article comprising an absorbent article having a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and an absorber disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a packaging sheet for packaging the absorbent article individually, the package body being configured such that by folding the packaging sheet and the absorbent article when the absorbent article is disposed on top of the packaging sheet, the absorbent article is packaged individually, wherein
folds are formed in the packaging sheet and the absorbent article, the folds extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article in a state that the packaged absorbent article is opened,
low rigidity regions, having a rigidity lower than that of a central portion positioned in the center of the longitudinal direction and the widthwise direction of the absorber, are provided in the absorber,
the low rigidity regions are provided along the longitudinal direction, and
the folds are formed in the low rigidity regions.
A package body according to claim 1 or 2, wherein only two longitudinally extending fold lines are provided, about which the absorbent article and packaging sheet are folded to define the folds extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the fold lines extending parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article and being spaced from one another in the widthwise direction with one fold line either side of the longitudinal centerline.
A package body according to claim 3, wherein the packaging sheet and the absorbent article are arranged such that they may be folded to individually package the absorbent article by folding a first longitudinally extending side edge region, which includes a first side edge of the absorbent article and a first side edge of the packaging sheet, inwardly about the first longitudinally extending fold line; folding a second longitudinally extending side edge region, which opposes the first side edge region in the widthwise direction and includes a second side edge of the absorbent article and a second side edge of the packaging sheet, inwardly about the second longitudinally extending fold line, such that the first side edge region and the second side edge region substantially completely overlap one another.
A package body according to claim 4, wherein the packaging sheet and the absorbent article are arranged such that they may be further folded by folding a first longitudinal end region inwardly about a first widthwise extending fold line; and folding a second longitudinal end region, which opposes the first longitudinal end region in the longitudinal direction, about a second widthwise extending fold line, such that the longitudinal end regions overlap one another.
A package body according to any preceding claim, wherein adhesive is coated in a plurality of regions on the backsheet, the adhesive being arranged such that it does not overlap with the folds extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article.
A package body according to any preceding claim, wherein the absorber comprises a lower-layer absorber, and an upper-layer absorber, which is layered on top of the lower-layer absorber, and the upper-layer absorber is smaller in the longitudinal and/or widthwise directions as compared with the lower-layer absorber.
A package body according to Claim 7, when dependent on any of Claims 2 to 6, wherein the folds extending along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article are provided outside the upper-layer absorber in the transverse direction, such that they are provided in the lower-layer absorber only.
The package body of an absorbent article according to any of claims 2 to 8, wherein a high rigidity region having a higher rigidity than the low rigidity regions is provided outside each of the low rigidity regions in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article.
The package body of an absorbent article according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the low rigidity regions are formed by slits in the absorber.
A package body according to claim 10, wherein each of the low rigidity regions is formed by a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending slits.
The package body of an absorbent article according to any of claims 2 to 11, wherein the low rigidity regions are configured to have a lower basis weight as compared with that of the absorber in the central portion.
A package body according to claim 12, wherein each of the low rigidity regions comprises a continuous groove extending in the longitudinal direction.
The package body of an absorbent article according to any one of claim 1 through claim 13, wherein a sheet material covering the outer side edge portions in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article is provided extending along the folds, outside the folds in the widthwise direction.
The package body of an absorbent article according to any one of claim 1 through claim 14, wherein compressed units in which the absorber is compressed in the thickness direction are provided in the inner side and/or in the outer side of the folds in the widthwise direction.