AU2015368909A1

AU2015368909A1 - Pull-up type absorbent article

Info

Publication number: AU2015368909A1
Application number: AU2015368909A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Aiko Onda
Original assignee: Kao Corp
Current assignee: Kao Corp
Priority date: 2014-12-24
Filing date: 2015-12-11
Publication date: 2017-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-11
Also published as: CN106999320A; CN106999320B; AU2015368909B9; JP2016120018A; AU2015368909B2; JP5960791B2; WO2016104184A1; RU2639969C1

Abstract

Provided is a pull-up type absorbent article (1) provided with a abdomen-side sheet member, a back-side sheet member, and an absorbent body. The pull-up type absorbent article has, on both sides of the absorbent body: first leakage prevention cuffs (34) having free ends located inside the side edges of an absorption body (33); and second leakage prevention cuffs (37) having free ends extending further outward than the side edges of the absorption body (33). A front surface sheet (31) and the first leakage prevention cuffs (34) have folded-back sections (31c) folded from the skin-facing surface side of the absorption body (33) to the non-skin-facing surface side thereof. Sheet materials (35) which form the first leakage prevention cuffs (34) have, on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorption body (33) at positions inside the side edges of the absorption body (33): upper affixed sections (35u) which are affixed to the front surface sheet (31); and lower affixed sections (35d) which are affixed to a lower sheet. The length L1, the length L2, the distance L3, and the distance L4 satisfy the relationships of (1) L1≤L2, (2) L2≤L1+L3, and (3) L3≤L4.

Description

1

DESCRIPTION

Title of Invention: PULL-UP TYPE ABSORBENT ARTICLE

Technical Field [0001] 5 The present invention relates to a pull-on absorbent article.

Background Art [0002] A conventional pull-on absorbent article is known that includes: an hourglass-shaped outer cover extending across a front portion that is to be placed on an 10 abdominal side of a wearer, a crotch portion that is to be placed on a crotch area of the wearer, and a rear portion that is to be placed on a dorsal side of the wearer; and an absorbent assembly fixed on an inner surface side of the outer cover, wherein two side edge portions in the front portion of the outer cover and two side edge portions in the rear portion of the outer cover are joined to form a pair of side seal portions, a waist 15 opening, and a pair of leg openings.

Also, as another type of conventional pull-on absorbent article, a pull-on absorbent article including a front-and-back split type outer cover is known in which the outer cover includes: two separate sheet members including a front sheet member that is to be placed on the abdominal side of the wearer and a rear sheet member that is to be 20 placed on the dorsal side of the wearer; and an absorbent assembly fixed to span across the front sheet member and the rear sheet member, and two lateral side edge portions of the front sheet member, and two lateral side edge portions of the rear sheet member are joined to form a pair of side seal portions (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).

[0003] 25 Also, in order to prevent leakage from the leg openings of the pull-on absorbent article, a technique is known in which leak-proof cuffs that stand upward toward the skin of the wearer are provided in the crotch portion. A technique is also known in which double leak-proof cuffs are provided on both sides of the crotch portion (see Patent Literatures 2 and 3). 2

Citation List Patent Literature [0004]

Patent Literature 1: JP 2014-195631A

Patent Literature 2: JP 2006-341061A

Patent Literature 3: JP 2012-61138A

Summary of Invention [0005]

The present invention provides a pull-on absorbent article including a front sheet member that is to be placed on an abdominal side of a wearer, a rear sheet member that is to be placed on a dorsal side of the wearer, and an elongated absorbent assembly that is fixed to span across the front sheet member and the rear sheet member, the front sheet member and the rear sheet member being joined to form a pair of side seal portions, a waist opening, and a pair of leg openings. The absorbent assembly includes a topsheet that forms a liquid-absorbing surface and a liquid retainable absorbent member, and also includes, in each of two side portions along a lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly, a first leak-proof cuff having a free end that is located inward of a side edge of the absorbent member and a second leak-proof cuff that extends outward from the side edge of the absorbent member. The topsheet and the first leak-proof cuff each include folded-back portions outside two side edges of the absorbent member, each folded-back portion being folded back over to a non-skin-facing surface side from a skin-facing surface of the absorbent member. A sheet material that forms the first leak-proof cuff includes: an upper fixing portion fixed to the topsheet; and a lower fixing portion fixed to a lower sheet, the upper fixing portion and the lower fixing portion being located at positions spaced apart widthwisely inward from each of the two side edges of the absorbent member on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member. The pull-on absorbent article satisfies all of the following relational expressions (1) to (4): (1) LI <L2; (2) L2 <L1 + L3; (3) L3 <L4; and (4) L4 <L1 + L3, 3 where LI represents a length from the folded-back portion of the first leak-proof cuff to the free end of the first leak-proof cuff, L2 represents a length of the second leak-proof cuff extending from the folded-back portion of the first leak-proof cuff to the free end of the second leak-proof cuff, L3 represents a distance between the folded-back portion of the first leak-proof cuff and the lower fixing portion, and L4 represents a distance between the folded-back portion of the topsheet and the upper fixing portion.

Brief Description of Drawings [0006] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pull-on disposable diaper according to an embodiment of the present invention in a used state (in a worn state).

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the pull-on disposable diaper shown in Fig. 1 in a laid-out and uncontracted state. As used herein, the term “laid-out and uncontracted state” refers to a state in which a pull-on absorbent article has been unfolded by separating the joining portions (side seal portions) on both sides of the diaper, and the unfolded pull-on absorbent article is stretched out to design dimensions (which are the same as the dimensions of the pull-on absorbent article when it is flattened out, without considering the influence of elastic members) by extending elastic members of the constituent members.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III shown in Fig. 2.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a relevant part, taken in the lateral direction of the article at a position indicated by the arrow Pa shown in Fig. 2.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 shows absorbent cores in plan view showing variations of non-fiber-stacked side portion formations.

Description of Embodiments [0007]

In the pull-on absorbent article including a split type outer cover, when the weight of the crotch portion increases as a result of absorbing a liquid, the crotch portion sags, and a gap is likely to be created between the leg openings and the legs of the wearer. As a result, leakage is likely to occur, or concerns about leakage are likely to arise even if no leakage has occurred. 4

In order to prevent the formation of a gap around the legs, the crotch portion may be configured to have an increased width. This configuration, however, may reduce the ease of inserting legs through the leg openings and is likely to cause the wearer to feel uncomfortable in the crotch portion.

Patent Literature 1 also discloses a pull-on diaper in which a crotch panel fixed to span across a front panel and a rear panel includes a body fluid absorbent portion and leg flaps that extend along the body fluid absorbent portion and include an outer region and an inner region, and leg elastic members are provided in the outer region. It is also disclosed that anti-leak walls configured to be capable of standing upward toward the skin of the wearer are formed on the inner surface of the crotch panel, in addition to the leg flaps having leg elastic members. However, Patent Literature 1 discloses that the distance from a base edge portion to a free edge portion of the anti-leak wall is less than the distance from a proximal edge on the body fluid absorbent portion side to the outer region of the leg flap (see claim 7 and Fig. 6). In this case, although the ease of inserting legs through the leg openings may be favorable, the anti-leak walls do not have a sufficient height. Accordingly, it cannot be said that the diaper disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is satisfactory in terms of preventing leakage and eliminating concerns about leakage.

[0008]

Also, if techniques as disclosed in Patent Literatures 2 and 3 are applied to pull-on absorbent articles including a split type outer cover, it cannot be said that the resulting pull-on absorbent articles are satisfactory in terms of achieving both ease of insertion of the legs through the leg openings and elimination of concerns about leakage.

[0009]

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pull-on absorbent article that can overcome the disadvantages of the conventional techniques described above.

[0010]

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a pull-on absorbent article according to 5 the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A pull-on disposable diaper 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter also referred to as “diaper 1”) includes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a front sheet member 2A that is to be placed on the abdominal side of the wearer when the diaper is worn, a rear sheet member 2B that is to be placed on the dorsal side of the wearer, and an elongated absorbent assembly 3 that is fixed to span across the front sheet member 2A and the rear sheet member 2B. The front sheet member 2A and the rear sheet member 2B are joined to form a pair of side seal portions 4 and 4, a waist opening 5, and a pair of leg openings 6 and 6.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the diaper 1 includes a front portion A that is to be placed on the abdominal side of the wearer when the diaper is worn, a rear portion B that is to be placed on the dorsal side of the wearer, and a crotch portion C that is located between the front portion A and the rear portion B and is to be placed on the crotch area of the wearer.

Also, the side seal portions of the diaper 1 are formed by joining two side edge portions 2a and 2a of the front sheet member 2A and two side edge portions 2b and 2b of the rear sheet member 2B to each other by a known joining method such as heat sealing.

[0011]

The diaper 1 has a longitudinal direction X of the article and a lateral direction Y of the article. In the pull-on absorbent article such as a diaper, the longitudinal direction X of the article refers to a direction corresponding to the front-back direction of the wearer, and in the pull-on absorbent article such as a diaper, the lateral direction Y of the article refers to a direction perpendicular to the direction corresponding to the front-back direction of the wearer. In the diaper 1, as indicated by X in Fig. 2, the longitudinal direction X of the article is a direction that spans across the front portion A, the crotch portion C, and the rear portion B, and as indicated by Y in Fig. 2, the lateral direction Y of the article is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X of the article in a laid-out and uncontracted state.

[0012]

In this specification, the term “skin-facing surface” refers to a surface of an absorbent article or its constituent members that faces the skin of the wearer wearing the 6 absorbent article, and the term “non-skin-facing surface” refers to a surface of the absorbent article or its constituent members that faces the side (garment side) opposite to the skin of the wearer wearing the absorbent article.

[0013]

The diaper 1 will be described in further detail. The front sheet member 2A has a length La in the longitudinal direction X of the article that is the same as a length LS of the side seal portions 4 in the same direction. The front sheet member 2A includes a body portion 20a having side seal portions 4 and 4 on both lateral sides, and does not include an extension portion that extends from the body portion 20a toward the crotch portion C. On the other hand, the rear sheet member 2B has a length Lb, in the longitudinal direction X of the article, that is longer than the length LS of the side seal portions 4 in the same direction. Accordingly, the rear sheet member 2B includes a body portion 20b having side seal portions 4 and 4 on both lateral sides, and an extension portion 21b that extends from the body portion 20b toward the crotch portion C and does not include side seal portions 4 and 4 on both lateral sides. Hereinafter, the body portion 20a of the front sheet member 2A will also be referred to as “front body portion 20a”, and the body portion 20b and the extension portion 21b of the rear sheet member 2B will also be referred to as “rear body portion 20b” and “rear extension portion 21b”, respectively.

[0014]

As shown in Fig. 2, the front sheet member 2A and the rear sheet member 2B of the diaper 1 each have a rectangular shape as viewed in plan view, and more specifically, a rectangular shape whose length in the lateral direction Y of the article is longer than the length in the longitudinal direction X of the article.

[0015]

As shown in Fig. 4, the front sheet member 2A and the rear sheet member 2B of the diaper 1 are each composed of an outer sheet 22 that forms the outer surface of the diaper, an inner sheet 23 provided on the skin-facing surface side of the outer sheet 22, and a plurality of string-shaped elastic members 24 provided between the sheets 22 and 23 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction X of the 7 article. As shown in Fig. 2, the front sheet member 2A includes a waist stretch portion G1 and a below-waist stretch portion G2, and the rear sheet member 2B includes a waist stretch portion Gl, a below-waist stretch portion G2, and an extension portion stretch portion G3.

[0016]

The waist stretch portion Gl, the below-waist stretch portion G2, and the extension portion stretch portion G3 are elastically stretched in response to the contraction of the elastic members 24 provided between the two sheets 22 and 23 in a stretched state.

In each of the front sheet member 2A and the rear sheet member 2B, the waist stretch portion Gl is formed at a position outside of a lengthwise end portion of the absorbent assembly 3 in the longitudinal direction X of the article. In each of the front sheet member 2A and the rear sheet member 2B, the below-waist stretch portion G2 is formed at a position closer to the crotch portion C in the longitudinal direction X of the article than the waist stretch portion Gl. The extension portion stretch portion G3 is formed in the rear extension portion 21b. It is preferable that the waist stretch portions Gl, the below-waist stretch portions G2, and the extension portion stretch portion G3 are stretchable in at least portions located outside of two side edges of an absorbent member 33 in the lateral direction Y of the article.

Also, it is preferable that elastic members 24 that form the below-waist stretch portion G2 and/or the extension portion stretch portion G3 are, in overlapping portions where the elastic member 24 overlap a widthwise center portion of the absorbent member 33, heat-treated to lose their elasticity, or cut so that the elastic members 24 do not cause the front sheet member 2A and the rear sheet member 2B to contract.

[0017]

The two sheets 22 and 23 that constitute the front sheet member 2A and the rear sheet member 2B may be fixed to each other substantially entirely with an adhesive, or may be joined to each other at a plurality of joining portions provided in a dispersed manner in an area where the elastic members 24 are not provided, as with two sheet members of an elastic stretch member disclosed in JP 2005-80859A.

In the front sheet member 2A and the rear sheet member 2B of the diaper 1, the outer sheet 22 is folded back to the inner sheet 23 side at a waist end portion 51 that 8 forms an opening rim end of the waist opening 5. The folded portion covers the skin-facing surface side of the lengthwise end portion of the absorbent assembly 3, and a portion overlapping the absorbent assembly 3 is joined to the skin-facing surface of a topsheet 31 and a first leak-proof cuff forming sheet material 35.

[0018]

As shown in Fig. 3, the absorbent assembly 3 of the diaper 1 includes a liquid permeable topsheet 31 that forms a liquid-absorbing surface, a liquid-impermeable backsheet 32, and a liquid retainable absorbent member 33 that is disposed between the sheets 31 and 32. As shown in Fig. 1, the absorbent assembly 3 has a shape elongated in the longitudinal direction X of the article. The absorbent member 33 includes an absorbent core 33a made of aggregates of fibers such as pulp fibers (or may be a nonwoven fabric) alone or interspersed with absorbent polymer particles, and a core wrap sheet 33b that covers the absorbent core 33a. The absorbent member 33 includes non-fiber-stacked side portions 33c provided on two sides of the absorbent core 33a across its lengthwise center line, the non-fiber-stacked side portions 33c being portions containing no material for forming the absorbent core or containing a material for forming the absorbent core in a basis weight less than that of the other portions. The absorbent member 33 also includes, in a widthwise center portion of the absorbent core 33a, a non-fiber-stacked center portion 33d containing no material for forming the absorbent core or containing a material for forming the absorbent core in a basis weight less than other portions. The absorbent member 33 also has a shape elongated in the longitudinal direction X of the article.

[0019]

The absorbent assembly 3 includes, in each of two side portions along the lengthwise direction thereof, a first leak-proof cuff 34 having a free end 34a located inward of a side edge 33s of the absorbent member 33, and a second leak-proof cuff 37 that extends outward, in the width direction of the absorbent assembly 3, from the side edge 33s of the absorbent member 33. The lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly 3 is the same as the lengthwise direction of the article, and the width direction of the absorbent assembly 3 is the same as the width direction of the article. Accordingly, hereinafter, the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly 3 will also be referred to as “lengthwise direction X”, and the width direction of the absorbent 9 assembly 3 will also be referred to as “width direction Y”. The free end 34a of the first leak-proof cuff 34 need only be at least located inward of the side edge 33s of the absorbent member 33 in a laid-out and uncontracted state shown in Fig. 2. Likewise, the second leak-proof cuff 37 also need only extend outward from the side edge 33s of the absorbent member 33 in the laid-out and uncontracted state shown in Fig. 2.

[0020]

Each first leak-proof cuff 34 includes a liquid resistant or water repellent sheet material 35 and first leak-proof cuff forming elastic members 36 fixed to the sheet material 35. In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the sheet material 35 that forms the first leak-proof cuff 34 is a stacked sheet having a two-layer structure portion formed by folding one sheet in half at the free end 34a of the first leak-proof cuff 34, and the first leak-proof cuff forming elastic members 36 are fixed, with an adhesive, between the layers of the two-layer structure portion of the first leak-proof cuff 34 in the vicinity of the free end 37a. The layers of the two-layer structure portion may be entirely joined with an adhesive or the like, or may be partially joined by a method such as applying an adhesive in a pattern.

[0021]

As shown in Fig. 3, the topsheet 31 of the diaper 1 includes folded-back portions 31c outside two side edges 33s of the absorbent member 33, each folded-back portion 31c being folded back from the skin-facing surface side to the non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent member 33. To be more specific, the topsheet 31 is a rectangular sheet elongated in the same direction as the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly 3, wherein a center region at the center in the width direction Y of the absorbent assembly 3 is located on the skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member 33, and two side end regions located on both sides of the center region are folded down toward the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member 33.

Also, as shown in Fig. 3, each first leak-proof cuff 34 includes a folded-back portion 34c outside the corresponding one of the two side edges 33s of the absorbent member 33, the folded-back portion 34c being folded back from the skin-facing surface side to the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member 33. To be more specific, the first leak-proof cuff 34 is folded back to further cover the topsheet 31, which has been folded back to cover the side portions of the absorbent member 33, from 10 the outside.

The folded-back portions 31c of the topsheet 31 and the folded-back portions 34c of the first leak-proof cuffs 34 may be formed by being folded to have an arc cross sectional shape, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0022]

Each of the sheet materials 35 forming the first leak-proof cuffs 34 includes an upper fixing portion 35u at a position spaced apart widthwisely inward from the corresponding one of the two side edges 33s of the absorbent member 33 on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member 33, the upper fixing portion 35u being fixed to the topsheet 31 folded down toward the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member 33. Also, each of the sheet materials 35 forming the first leak-proof cuffs 34 includes a lower fixing portion 35d at a position spaced apart widthwisely inward from the corresponding one of the two side edges 33s of the absorbent member 33 on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member 33, the lower fixing portion 35d being fixed to the backsheet 32. An outer widthwise end portion of the lower fixing portion 35d serves as a base end portion 34d of the first leak-proof cuff 34. In the diaper 1, the backsheet 32 is the "lower sheet" of the present invention. The lower sheet is a sheet provided on the outer surface side (on the bottom side of Fig. 3) of the pull-on absorbent article below a portion of the sheet material 35 forming the first leak-proof cuff 34 in the thickness direction of the pull-on absorbent article such as the diaper 1, the portion being located on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member 33.

[0023]

In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the backsheet 32 has a rectangular shape with long sides extending in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly 3 as viewed in plan view, and as shown in Fig. 3, two side portions of the backsheet 32 extend outward in the width direction Y from positions of the folded-back portions 34a of the first leak-proof cuffs 34 described above. Also, the backsheet 32 extends from two ends 33a and 33b of the absorbent member 33 in the lengthwise direction X of the absorbent assembly 3. 11 [0024]

In the absorbent assembly 3, as shown in Fig. 4, a portion that overlaps the front sheet member 2A is joined to the front sheet member 2A with a joining means such as an adhesive, and end portions of the second leak-proof cuffs 37 are also joined to the front sheet member 2A. Likewise, a portion that overlaps the rear sheet member 2B is joined to the rear sheet member 2B with a joining means such as an adhesive, and end portions of the second leak-proof cuffs 37 are also joined to the rear sheet member 2B. Also, in end portions in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly 3, the first leak-proof cuffs 34 are joined to the topsheet 31 on the skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member 33, with the first leak-proof cuffs 34 being bent inward in the width direction of the absorbent assembly so as to lie flat on the topsheet 31. As the method for fixing the absorbent assembly 3, an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive can be used, but instead of or together with an adhesive, it is also possible to use any other joining method such as heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing.

[0025]

In the diaper 1 shown in Fig. 3, each sheet material 35 forming the first leak-proof cuff 34 is joined to the topsheet 31 and the backsheet 32 with an adhesive 9, thereby to form the upper fixing portion 35u and the lower fixing portion 35d. As the method for fixing the sheet material 35, it is also possible to use, instead of or together with an adhesive, any other joining method such as heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing.

[0026]

Each second leak-proof cuff 37 includes a liquid resistant or water repellent sheet material 38 and second leak-proof cuff forming elastic members 39 fixed to the sheet material 38. In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the sheet material 38 that forms the second leak-proof cuff 37 is a stacked sheet having a two-layer structure portion formed by folding one sheet in half at a free end 37a of the second leak-proof cuff 37, and the second leak-proof cuff forming elastic members 39 are fixed, with an adhesive, between the layers of the two-layer structure portion in the vicinity of the free end 37a of the second leak-proof cuff 37. The layers of the two-layer structure portion may be entirely joined with an adhesive or the like, or may be partially joined by a method such as applying an adhesive in a pattern. 12 [0027]

As shown in Fig. 3, the second leak-proof cuffs 37 of the diaper 1 are formed from a single continuous sheet composed of the sheet material 38 that forms one of the second leak-proof cuffs 37 and the sheet material 38 that forms the other second leak-proof cuff 37. To be specific, two side portions of a rectangular sheet are folded toward the skin-facing surface side, so that two-layer structure portions constituting a pair of right and left second leak-proof cuffs 37 are formed.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the sheet materials 38 and 38 that form the second leak-proof cuffs 37 are sheet materials different from the first leak-proof cuff forming sheet materials, and are joined to the non-skin-facing surface of the backsheet 32 in the crotch portion C of the diaper 1 with an adhesive 9. Each sheet material 38 that forms the second leak-proof cuff 37 and the backsheet 32 that is the lower sheet may be entirely joined, or may be partially joined by a method such as applying an adhesive in a pattern. As the method for joining the sheet material 38 that forms the second leak-proof cuffs 37 to the backsheet 32, it is also possible to use, instead of or together with an adhesive, any other joining method such as heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing. As the sheet materials 38 that form the second leak-proof cuffs 37, the sheet material that forms one of the second leak-proof cuffs 37 and the sheet material that forms the other second leak-proof cuff 37 may be separate sheet materials, and the separate sheet materials may be spaced apart from each other, or may partially overlap.

[0028]

As shown in Fig. 3, the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment satisfies all of the following relational expressions (1) to (4): (1) LI <L2; (2) L2 <L1 + L3; (3) L3 <L4; and (4) L4 <L1 + L3, where LI represents a length from the folded-back portion 34c to the free end 34a of each first leak-proof cuff 34, L2 represents a length of the second leak-proof cuff 37 extending from the folded-back portion 34c of the first leak-proof cuff 34 to the free 13 end of the second leak-proof cuff 37, L3 represents a distance between the folded-back portion 34c and the lower fixing portion 35d of the first leak-proof cuff 34, and L4 represents a distance between the folded-back portion 31c of the topsheet 31 and the upper fixing portion 35u.

It is determined whether or not these relational expressions are satisfied in the laid-out and uncontracted state shown in Fig. 2. For example, the position of the folded-back portion 34c of each first leak-proof cuff 34 is determined in a state in which a portion of the first leak-proof cuff 34 to be placed on the skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member is bent to lie flat on the topsheet 31 as indicated by reference numeral 34’ in Fig. 3. Also, the lengths LI to L4 as well as a distance L5 and a total length L, which will be described later, are lengths or distances measured in the lateral direction Y of the article, and the length or distance between two points is measured in the diaper in its laid-out and uncontracted state as viewed in plan view. Also, these relational expressions only need be satisfied in at least an area where a distance L (see Fig. 3) between the free ends 37a of the second leak-proof cuffs is the shortest in the laid-out and uncontracted state. Also, the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment is bilaterally symmetric about a center line CL in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly 3, and for this reason, the following description will be given by using reference numerals such as LI to L4 shown on the left side of the diagrams, but the configuration on the right side is the same.

[0029]

As a result of the relational expression (1) being satisfied, the first leak-proof cuff 34 can be reliably covered with the second leak-proof cuff, and leakage from the crotch area can be prevented. In addition thereto, it is possible to prevent concerns arising about leakage being visible due to the first leak-proof cuff 34 being viewable from the crotch area. Furthermore, as a result of LI <L2 being satisfied, it is possible to overcome the problem of the leg catching on the first leak-proof cuff 34 when inserting the leg through the leg opening.

[0030]

Furthermore, the topsheet 31 is folded down toward the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member 33, and the upper fixing portion 35u formed by the sheet material 35 forming the first leak-proof cuff 34 and the topsheet 31 being fixed 14 is present at a position spaced apart from the side edge of the absorbent member 33 on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member 33. Accordingly, a side portion S of the absorbent member 33 is bent in the vicinity of the upper fixing portion 35u, which allows the first leak-proof cuff 34 to easily stand up toward the skin of the wearer. In addition, as a result of the relational expression (2) being satisfied, in the case where the crotch portion C sags while the diaper is worn, particularly due to absorption of a liquid, the first leak-proof cuff 34 including the base end portion 34b and the folded-back portion 34c stands up significantly. As a result of both the relational expression (1) and the relational expression (2) being satisfied, it is possible to ensure that the first leak-proof cuff itself has a sufficient height while preventing the width of the liquid-absorbing surface 30 from being reduced as a result of the width between the first leak-proof cuffs 34 being reduced as in the configuration in which the length LI of the first leak-proof cuff 34 is long. Accordingly, even in the case where the crotch portion C sags due to the absorption of a liquid while the diaper is worn, the state in which the first leak-proof cuff 34 is in contact with the skin of the wearer is maintained in a stable manner, and the occurrence of leakage from a gap created around the leg is prevented. It is also possible to prevent parents, caregivers and the wearer from feeling concerned about leakage from a created gap.

[0031]

Furthermore, as a result of the relational expression (3) being satisfied, the fit of the first leak-proof cuff 34 is improved. That is, as a result of the end portion of the absorbent member standing upward, it is possible to enhance the standing ability of the first leak-proof cuff 34 when the first leak-proof cuff 34 including the base end portion 34b and the folded-back portion 34c stands up significantly. According, the effect of maintaining the state in which the first leak-proof cuff 34 is in contact with the skin of the wearer in a stable manner can be further enhanced. Furthermore, as a result of the relational expression (4) being satisfied, the absorbent member can be covered by the first leak-proof cuff 34. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the wearer's leg and an outer garment from being stained due to an end of the absorbent member contaminated with excrement sticking out from the end of the first leak-proof cuff.

[0032]

In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, an elastic member 33e for 15 lifting the side portion is fixed between the side edge portion 33s of the absorbent member 33 and the topsheet 31 covering the side edge portion 33s, which allows the side portion S of the absorbent member 33 to easily stand up. The elastic member 33e may be joined to the core wrap sheet 33b, may be fixed to the topsheet 31, or may be joined to both the core wrap sheet 33b and the topsheet 31. Also, an intermediate elastic member 40 is provided at a center portion between the free end 34a and the base end portion 34b of the first leak-proof cuff 34. The presence of the intermediate elastic member 40 enables, when the first leak-proof cuff 34 stands up, the standing state of its intermediate portion to be maintained in a stable manner, and it is possible to prevent leakage caused by the intermediate portion being bent in an unexpected direction, specifically, by the intermediate portion being bent outward and extending from the second leak-proof cuff 34, or by the intermediate portion being bent inward and blocking the urination member of the wearer.

[0033]

In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, in the laid-out and uncontracted state, elastic members 39c of one of the second leak-proof cuffs 37 and elastic members 39d of the other second leak-proof cuff 37 are disposed in parallel to each other and extend in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly 3. In a conventional diaper having such a configuration, the crotch portion C is relatively likely to sag as a result of absorbing a liquid, but by using the configuration of the present invention, as described above, it is possible to effectively prevent leakage and eliminate concerns about leakage.

In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the pair of right and left second leak-proof cuffs 37 and 37 are also formed in parallel to each other, and extend in the lengthwise direction X of the absorbent assembly. Also, the pair of right and left first leak-proof cuffs 34 and 34 are also formed in parallel to each other, and extend in the lengthwise direction X of the absorbent assembly.

[0034]

From the viewpoint of further ensuring that one or more effects described above are obtained, it is preferable that the following relationships are also satisfied.

With respect to the relational expression (1), a ratio of the length L2 to the length LI (length L2 of second leak-proof cuff 37 extending from folded-back portion 16 34c of first leak-proof cuff 34 to free end of second leak-proof cuff 37 / length LI from folded-back portion 34c to free end 34a of first leak-proof cuff 34) is preferably from 1.0 to 6.0, and more preferably from 1.2 to 4.0.

Also, with respect to the relational expression (2), a ratio of a total length of the length LI and the length L3 to the length L2 [(length LI from folded-back portion 34c to free end 34a of first leak-proof cuff 34 + distance L3 between folded-back portion 34c of first leak-proof cuff 34 and lower fixing portion 35d) / length L2 from folded-back portion 34c of first leak-proof cuff 34 to free end of second leak-proof cuff 37] is preferably from 1.0 to 7.0, and more preferably from 1.2 to 4.0.

Also, with respect to the relational expression (3), a ratio of the length L4 to the length L3 (distance L4 between folded-back portion 31c of topsheet 31 and upper fixing portion 35u / distance L3 between folded-back portion 34c of first leak-proof cuff 34 and lower fixing portion 35d) is preferably from 1.0 to 6.0, and more preferably from 1.2 to 4.0.

Also, with respect to the relational expression (4), a ratio of a total of the length LI and the length L3 to the length L4 [(length LI from folded-back portion 34c to free end 34a of first leak-proof cuff 34 + distance L3 between folded-back portion 34c of first leak-proof cuff 34 and lower fixing portion 35d) / distance L4 between folded-back portion 31c of topsheet 31 and upper fixing portion 35u] is preferably from 1.0 to 7.0, and more preferably from 1.2 to 4.0.

[0035]

Also, with respect to the length LI that is a length from the folded-back portion to the free end of the first leak-proof cuff, the length L2 that is a length of the second leak-proof cuff extending from the folded-back portion of the first leak-proof cuff to the free end of the second leak-proof cuff, the distance L3 that is a distance between the folded-back portion of the first leak-proof cuff and the lower fixing portion, and the distance L4 that is a distance between the folded-back portion of the topsheet and the upper fixing portion, ratios thereof to the distance L between the free ends 37a of the second leak-proof cuffs (hereinafter, also referred to as the total length L of the absorbent assembly 3) preferably satisfy the following ranges from the same viewpoint. A proportion of the length LI to the total length L is preferably 5% or more, and more preferably 8% or more, and is preferably 40% or less, and more preferably 35% or less, and is preferably from 5 to 40%, and more preferably from 8 to 35%. 17

Also, the length LI is preferably 10 mm or more, more preferably 15 mm or more, and is preferably 100 mm or less, and more preferably 60 mm or less, and is preferably from 10 to 100 mm, and more preferably from 15 to 60 mm. A proportion of the length L2 to the total length L is preferably 5% or more, and more preferably 8% or more, and is preferably 40% or less, and more preferably 35% or less, and is preferably from 5 to 40%, and more preferably from 8 to 35%. Also, the length L2 is preferably 10 mm or more, and more preferably 15 mm or more, and is preferably 100 mm or less, and more preferably 70 mm or less, and is preferably from 10 to 100 mm, and more preferably from 15 to 70 mm.

[0036] A proportion of the length L3 to the total length L is preferably 3% or more, and more preferably 5% or more, and is preferably 40% or less, and more preferably 35% or less, and is preferably from 3 to 40%, and more preferably from 5 to 35%. Also, the length L3 is preferably 10 mm or more, and more preferably 15 mm or more, and is preferably 80 mm or less, and more preferably 60 mm or less, and is preferably from 10 to 80 mm, and more preferably from 15 to 60 mm. A proportion of the total length of the length LI and the length L3 (LI + L3) to the total length L is preferably 10% or more, and more preferably 20% or more, and is preferably 80% or less, and more preferably 60% or less, and is preferably from 3 to 80%, and more preferably from 5 to 60%.

[0037] A proportion of the length L4 to the total length L is preferably 3% or more, and more preferably 5% or more, and is preferably 40% or less, and more preferably 35% or less, and is preferably from 3 to 40%, and more preferably from 5 to 35%. Also, the length L3 is preferably 10 mm or more, and more preferably 15 mm or more, and is preferably 80 mm or less, and more preferably 60 mm or less, and is preferably from 10 to 80 mm, and more preferably from 15 to 60 mm.

[0038]

Also, in the diaper 1, as shown in Fig. 2, the sheet material 38 that forms the second leak-proof cuff 37 has a length L7 that is shorter than a length L6, the length L7 18 being the length of the sheet material 38 in the lengthwise direction X of the absorbent assembly 3, and the length L6 being the length of the absorbent member 33 in the same direction. To be more specific, in the sheet material 38 constituting the second leak-proof cuff 37 and the absorbent member 33, it is preferable that their end portions 38a and 33a on the front sheet member 2A side are located on the front sheet member 2A, or more specifically, on the body portion 20a of the front sheet member 2A, and the end portion 38a of the sheet material 38 is terminated at a position closer to the crotch portion C than the end portion 33a of the absorbent member 33.

Also, in the sheet material 38 constituting the second leak-proof cuff 37 and the absorbent member 33, it is preferable that their end portions 38b and 33b on the rear sheet member 2B side are located on the rear sheet member 2B, or more specifically, on the body portion 20b of the rear sheet member 2B, and the end portion 38b of the sheet material 38 is terminated at a position closer to the crotch portion C than the end portion 33b of the absorbent member 33.

[0039]

With the configuration in which the length L7 of the sheet material 38 is shorter than the length L6 of the absorbent member 33, the air permeability of a tubular below-waist portion D of the diaper 1 can be improved. The tubular below-waist portion D is a tubular portion formed by the front sheet member 2A and the rear sheet member 2B being coupled by the pair of side seal portions 4 to form an annular shape.

[0040]

In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the elastic members 36 of the first leak-proof cuff 34 are longer in the lengthwise direction X of the absorbent assembly 3 than the elastic members 39 of the second leak-proof cuff 37. With this configuration, the fit of the first leak-proof cuff 34 to the skin of the wearer is improved.

As used herein, the length of the elastic members refers to a length of a portion of the elastic members that contributes to imparting a stretching property to the first leak-proof cuff 34 or the second leak-proof cuff 37. For example, if an end portion of the first leak-proof cuff 34 or the second leak-proof cuff 37 in the lengthwise direction X includes an unstretched portion, the length of that portion is not included in the length of the elastic members. 19 [0041]

In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, one end portion of the elastic members 39 for forming second leak-proof cuffs 37 overlaps the body portion 20a of the front sheet 2A, and the other end portion overlaps with the body portion 20b of the rear sheet 2B. In other words, in the elastic members 39 of the second leak-proof cuff 37, an end portion on the front sheet member 2A side and an end portion on the rear sheet 2B are located at positions closer to the waist end portions 51 from the lower ends of the side seal portions 4. With this configuration, the fit of the second leak-proof cuffs 37 to the skin of the wearer is improved.

It is preferable that the free end 34a of the first leak-proof cuff 34 comes into contact with the vicinity of the upper joint of the thigh of the wearer, and the free end 37a of the second leak-proof cuff 37 comes into contact with an area around the thigh that is spaced apart from the upper joint of the thigh.

[0042]

Also, as shown in Fig. 3, in the first leak-proof cuff 34, the upper fixing portion 35u fixed to the topsheet 31 is located at an inner position in the width direction Y of the absorbent assembly 3, or in other words, at a position closer to the center line CL in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly 3 than the lower fixing portion 35d fixed to the backsheet 32 (lower sheet). With this configuration, the desired standing ability of the first leak-proof cuff can be maximized without being limited by the standing state of the absorbent member.

It is preferable that the distance L5 between the upper fixing portion 35u and the lower fixing portion 35d does not exceed the length L4 that is the distance between the folded-back portion 3 lc of the topsheet 31 and the upper fixing portions 35u. A proportion of the distance L5 between the upper fixing portion 35u and the lower fixing portions 35d to the length L4 that is the distance between the folded-back portion 31c of the topsheet 31 and the upper fixing portion 35u (L5 / L4) is preferably 3% or more, and more preferably 5% or more, and is preferably 97% or less, and more preferably 95% or less, and is preferably from 3 to 97%, and more preferably from 5 to 95%. Also, the distance L5 is preferably 5 mm or more, more preferably 8 mm or more, and is preferably 80 mm or less, more preferably 60 mm or less, and is preferably from 10 to 80 mm, and more preferably from 15 to 60 mm. 20 [0043]

In the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the pair of right and left second leak-proof cuffs 37 and 37 each include a plurality of elastic members 39a and 39b, and an end portion 32c of the backsheet 32 in the width direction disposed on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member 33 is located in a space 37a between the outermost elastic member 39a and the innermost elastic member 39b of the second leak-proof cuff 37. As a result of having this configuration, the diaper 1 exhibits a further improved capability to prevent fecal matter from flowing out from the diaper. That is, because the innermost elastic member 39b fits to the thigh of the wearer, an entire portion of the second leak-proof cuff that covers the absorbent member is covered by the backsheet. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent fecal matter from flowing out from the second leak-proof cuff sheet. Also, because the innermost elastic member 39b is located at an inner position with respect to the outermost elastic member 39a, the hardness and the fit of the elastic member around the leg are further improved, and leakage can be prevented while reducing uncomfortableness.

The configuration in which the end portion 32c is located in the space 37a between the elastic member 39a and the elastic member 39b also encompasses a configuration in which the end portion 32c of the backsheet 32 is located above the elastic member 39a or the elastic member 39b.

[0044]

Also, as described above, in the diaper 1 according to the present embodiment, the absorbent core 33a of the absorbent member 33 includes non-fiber-stacked side portions 33c and 33c on both sides of the lengthwise center line CL of the absorbent assembly, and the position of an outer end portion of the upper fixing portion 35u of the sheet material 35 forming the first leak-proof cuff 34, or in other words, the position of the base end portion 34b of the first leak-proof cuff 34 overlaps the non-fiber-stacked side portion 33c, or is located inward of the non-fiber-stacked side portion 33c in the width direction, or in other words, at a position closer to the center line CL in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly 3.

This configuration allows the side portion S of the absorbent member 33 to more easily stand up, and the effect of the present invention is further improved. 21 [0045]

The materials that are used to form the diaper 1 will be described.

As the topsheet 31, the backsheet 32, and the absorbent member 33 that constitute the absorbent assembly 3, it is possible to use materials that are conventionally used in absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, without any limitation. For example, as the topsheet 31, a hydrophilic and liquid permeable nonwoven fabric or the like can be used. As the backsheet 32, a liquid-impermeable or water-repellent resin fdm, a stack composed of a resin film and a nonwoven fabric, or the like can be used. The backsheet 32 may be vapor permeable.

As the absorbent member 33, it is possible to use, for example, a member obtained by covering an absorbent core with a core wrap sheet, the absorbent core being made of aggregates of fibers such as pulp fibers (or may be a nonwoven fabric) alone or interspersed with absorbent polymer particles, and the core wrap sheet being made of a water permeable thin paper sheet, a nonwoven fabric, or the like.

[0046]

As the sheet materials 35 and 38 that form the first leak-proof cuffs and the second leak-proof cuffs, it is possible to use various types of sheet materials that are conventionally used in this type of article, without any limitation. The sheet materials 35 and 38 are preferably nonwoven fabrics. It is also possible to use a stack composed of a resin film and a nonwoven fabric, a stacked nonwoven fabric (SM, SMS, SMMS or the like) including a spun-bonded layer (S) and a melt-blown layer (M), or the like.

[0047]

As the outer sheet 22 and the inner sheet 23, it is possible to use various types of sheet materials that are conventionally used in this type of article, without any limitation. The outer sheet 22 and the inner sheet 23 are preferably made of a nonwoven fabric, and from the viewpoint of flexibility and the like, it is preferable to use a single-layer nonwoven fabric or a stacked nonwoven fabric having two layers or more made of an air-through nonwoven fabric, a heat roll nonwoven fabric, a spun-laced nonwoven fabric, a spun-bonded nonwoven fabric, a melt-blown nonwoven fabric, and the like. It is also possible to use a sheet obtained by integrating any of the nonwoven fabrics mentioned above with a film.

As the elastic members 24, 36, 33e, 39 and 40, it is possible to use various 22 types of known elastic members used in absorbent articles such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins. Examples of elastic materials of the elastic members include synthetic rubbers such as styrene-butadiene, butadiene, isoprene and neoprene, natural rubbers, EVA, stretching polyolefin, and polyurethane. The elastic members are preferably in the form of a cord (flattened rubber, or the like) or a strip (flat rubber, or the like) having a rectangular, square, circular or polygonal cross section, or in the form of a multi-filament type yam.

[0048]

In the backsheet 32 of the diaper 1 described above, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each side portion along the lengthwise direction is provided on the skin-contacting surface side of the two-layer structure portion of the sheet material 38 that forms the second leak-proof cuff 37, but in a diaper (not shown) according to a second embodiment of the present invention, each of the two side portions of the backsheet 32 in the lengthwise direction X of the article is located between the layers of the two-layer structure portion of the sheet material forming a second leak-proof cuff 37, and the second leak-proof cuff 37 is composed of a side portion of the backsheet 32 and a sheet material 38 folded back to cover the side portion. In the second embodiment, the side portion of the backsheet 32 does not necessarily extend to the position of a second leak-proof cuff forming elastic member 39 (see Fig. 3). The side portion of the backsheet 32 may extend to the position of the second leak-proof cuff forming elastic member 39 such that all or some of elastic members 39 are present on the non-skin-contacting surface side or the non-skin-contacting surface side of side portion of the backsheet 32. However, it is preferable that the side portion of the backsheet 32 is located in the space 37a between the elastic member 39a and the elastic member 39b. As a result of having this configuration, the diaper 1 exhibits a further improved capability to prevent fecal matter from flowing out of the diaper. Also, in the sheet material 38 covering the skin-contacting surface side of the side portion of the backsheet 32, its center-side end portion in the lateral direction Y of the article does not necessarily extend to the position of the lower fixing portion 35d of the first leak-proof cuff 34, but may extend to the position of the lower fixing portion 35d of the first leak-proof cuff 34. In the case of a configuration in which the center-side end portion does not extend to the position of the lower fixing portion 35d of the first leak-proof cuff 34, it is preferable that the first leak-proof cuff forming sheet material 35 is joined 23 to a portion of the backsheet 32 that is not covered with the sheet material 38 to form a lower fixing portion 35d. In the case of a configuration in which the center-side end portion extends to the position of the lower fixing portion 35d of the first leak-proof cuff 34, it is preferable that the first leak-proof cuff forming sheet material 35 is joined 5 to the sheet material 38 to form a lower fixing portion 35d.

[0049]

The diaper according to the second embodiment also provides the same advantageous effects as those of the diaper 1 described above by satisfying the above-described relational expressions (1) to (4). 10 Furthermore, with the diaper according to the second embodiment, it is possible to prevent the backsheet 32 from coming into direct contact with the skin when the second leak-proof cuffs fit to the legs of the wearer, and thus the tactile feel around the legs is improved. Also, because the backsheet 32 is exposed, it is possible to prevent damage to the backsheet 32 when the diaper is in use. From this viewpoint, it 15 is preferable that the sheet material 38 folded back to cover the side portion of the backsheet 32 is made of a nonwoven fabric. It is also preferable that the sheet material 38 is joined to the sheet material 35 that forms the second leak-proof cuff to form a lower fixing portion 35d. The second embodiment is the same as the diaper 1 according to the embodiment described above including preferable configurations 20 except for the above differences.

[0050]

The present invention has been described above by way of the preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments given above and can be modified as appropriate. 25 [0051]

For example, the front sheet member 2A may be configured, as in the rear sheet member 2B, to include an extension portion that extends from a lower end of the side seal portion 4 toward the crotch portion C. Also, the rear sheet member 2B may be configured to not include an extension portion as in the front sheet member 2A. 24 [0052]

Also, either one or both of the elastic member 33e for lifting the side portion and the intermediate elastic member 40 may be omitted.

Also, Figs. 2 and 3 show the absorbent core 33a including, in addition to the non-fiber-stacked side portions 33c, the non-fiber-stacked center portion 33d, but the absorbent member 33 according to the present invention may include an absorbent core 33a that includes only the non-fiber-stacked side portions 33c and does not include the non-fiber-stacked center portion 33d. Also, the non-fiber-stacked side portions 33c of the absorbent core 33a may have configurations as shown in Fig. 5.

Also, the core wrap sheet that covers the absorbent core may be composed of one sheet covering the entire absorbent core 33a, or a combined sheet of two or more sheets covering the entire absorbent core 33a. For example, the sheet covering the skin-facing surface side of the absorbent core 33a and the sheet covering the non-skin-facing surface side may be separate sheets.

[0053]

The side seal portions 4 may each include a non-joining portion outside the side seal portion, the non-boding portion being a portion that has a small width (for example, 0 to 20 mm) and is joined to neither the front sheet member 2A nor the rear sheet member 2B.

Also, the pull-on absorbent article may be used as, in addition to an infant pull-on disposable diaper and an adult pull-on disposable diaper, a pull-on sanitary napkin, and the like.

[0054]

With respect to the embodiments described above, the present invention further discloses the following absorbent article. <1> A pull-on absorbent article comprising a front sheet member that is to be placed on an abdominal side of a wearer, a rear sheet member that is to be placed on a dorsal side of the wearer, and an elongated absorbent assembly that is fixed to span across the front sheet member and the rear sheet member, the front sheet member and the rear sheet member being joined to form a pair of side seal portions, a waist opening, and a pair of leg openings, 25 wherein the absorbent assembly includes a topsheet that forms a liquid-absorbing surface and a liquid retainable absorbent member, and also includes, in each of two side portions along a lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly, a first leak-proof cuff having a free end that is located inward of a side edge of the absorbent member and a second leak-proof cuff that extends outward from the side edge of the absorbent member, the topsheet and the first leak-proof cuff each include folded-back portions outside two side edges of the absorbent member, each folded-back portion being folded back over to a non-skin-facing surface side from a skin-facing surface of the absorbent member, a sheet material that forms the first leak-proof cuff includes: an upper fixing portion fixed to the topsheet; and a lower fixing portion fixed to a lower sheet, the upper fixing portion and the lower fixing portion being located at positions spaced apart widthwisely inward from each of the two side edges of the absorbent member on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member, and the pull-on absorbent article satisfies all of the following relational expressions (1) to (4): (1) LI <L2; (2) L2 <L1 + L3; (3) L3 <L4; and (4) L4 <L1 + L3, where LI represents a length from the folded-back portion of the first leak-proof cuff to the free end of the first leak-proof cuff, L2 represents a length of the second leak-proof cuff extending from the folded-back portion of the first leak-proof cuff to the free end of the second leak-proof cuff, L3 represents a distance between the folded-back portion of the first leak-proof cuff and the lower fixing portion, and L4 represents a distance between the folded-back portion of the topsheet and the upper fixing portion.

[0055] <2> 26

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in <1> above, wherein an elastic member of one of the second leak-proof cuffs and an elastic member of the other of the second leak-proof cuffs are provided in parallel to each other and extend in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly. <3>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in <1> or <2> above, wherein a liquid-impermeable backsheet is provided on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member, and a sheet material that forms the second leak-proof cuff is a sheet material different from the sheet material that constitutes the first leak-proof cuff, and is provided on a non-skin-facing surface side of the backsheet in a crotch portion of the pull-on absorbent article. <4>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in <1> or <2> above, wherein a liquid-impermeable backsheet is provided on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member, and the second leak-proof cuff includes a side portion of the backsheet and a sheet material folded back to cover the side portion, the sheet material being made of a nonwoven fabric. <5>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <4> above, wherein the sheet material that forms the second leak-proof cuff has a length, in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly, that is shorter than a length of the absorbent member in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly.

[0056] <6>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <4> above, wherein elastic members of the first leak-proof cuffs have a length, in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly, that is longer than elastic members of the second leak-proof cuffs. <7>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <6> above, wherein, in the elastic members of the second leak-proof cuffs, an end portion 27 on the front sheet member side and an end portion on the rear sheet side are located at positions closer to waist end portions than lower ends of the side seal portions. <8>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <7> above, wherein in the first leak-proof cuff, the upper fixing portion is located inward, in the width direction of the absorbent assembly, of the lower fixing portion. <9>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <8> above, wherein each of the second leak-proof cuffs includes a plurality of elastic members, a liquid-impermeable backsheet is provided on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member, and a widthwise end portion of the backsheet is located between an outermost elastic member and an innermost elastic member of the second leak-proof culf. <10>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <9> above, wherein the absorbent member includes an absorbent core and a core wrap sheet that covers the absorbent core, the absorbent core includes a non-fiber-stacked side portion on each side of a lengthwise center line of the absorbent assembly, and a position of an outer end portion of the upper fixing portion overlaps the non-fiber-stacked side portion or is located inward of the non-fiber-stacked side portion in the width direction.

[0057] <11>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <9> above, wherein a ratio of the length L2 to the length LI (length L2 of second leak-proof cuff 37 extending from folded-back portion 34c of first leak-proof cuff 34 to free end of second leak-proof cuff 37 / length LI from folded-back portion 34c to free end 34a of first leak-proof cuff 34) is from 1.0 to 6.0, and preferably from 1.2 to 4.0. <12>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of<l>to<ll> above, wherein a ratio of a total length of the length LI and the length L3 to the length 28 L2 [(length LI from folded-back portion 34c to free end 34a of first leak-proof cuff 34 + distance L3 between folded-back portion 34c of first leak-proof cuff 34 and lower fixing portion 35d) / length L2 from folded-back portion 34c of first leak-proof cuff 34 to free end of second leak-proof cuff 37] is from 1.0 to 7.0, and preferably from 1.2 to 4.0. <13>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <12> above, wherein a ratio of the length L4 to the length L3 (distance L4 between folded-back portion 31c of topsheet 31 and upper fixing portion 35u / distance L3 between folded-back portion 34c of first leak-proof cuff 34 and lower fixing portion 35d) is from 1.0 to 6.0, and preferably from 1.2 to 4.0. <14>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <13> above, wherein a ratio of a total of the length LI and the length L3 to the length L4 [(length LI from folded-back portion 34c to free end 34a of first leak-proof cuff 34 + distance L3 between folded-back portion 34c of first leak-proof cuff 34 and lower fixing portion 35d) / distance L4 between folded-back portion 31c of topsheet 31 and upper fixing portion 35u] is from 1.0 to 7.0, and preferably from 1.2 to 4.0. <15>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <14> above, wherein a proportion of the length LI to a total length L of the absorbent assembly is preferably 5% or more, and more preferably 8% or more, and is preferably 40% or less, and more preferably 35% or less.

[0058] <16>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <15> above, wherein the length LI is preferably 10 mm or more, and more preferably 15 mm or more, and is preferably 100 mm or less, and more preferably 60 mm or less. <17>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <16> above, wherein a proportion of the length L2 to a total length L of the absorbent assembly is preferably 5% or more, and more preferably 8% or more, and is preferably 40% or less, and more preferably 35% or less. <18> 29

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <17> above, wherein the length L2 is preferably 10 mm or more, and more preferably 15 mm or more, and is preferably 100 mm or less, and more preferably 70 mm or less. <19>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <18> above, wherein a proportion of the length L3 to a total length L of the absorbent assembly is preferably 3% or more, and more preferably 5% or more, and is preferably 40% or less, and more preferably 35% or less. <20>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <19> above, wherein the length L3 is preferably 10 mm or more, and more preferably 15 mm or more, and is preferably 80 mm or less, and more preferably 60 mm or less, and is preferably from 10 to 80 mm, and more preferably from 15 to 60 mm.

[0059] <21>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <20> above, wherein a proportion of a total length of the length LI and the length L3 (LI + L3) to a total length L of the absorbent assembly is preferably 10% or more, and more preferably 20% or more, and is preferably 80% or less, and more preferably 60% or less. <22>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <21> above, wherein a proportion of the length L4 to a total length L of the absorbent assembly is preferably 3% or more, and more preferably 5% or more, and is preferably 40% or less, and more preferably 35% or less. <23>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <22> above, wherein the length L3 is preferably 10 mm or more, and more preferably 15 mm or more, and is preferably 80 mm or less, and more preferably 60 mm or less. <24>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <23> above, wherein in the sheet material that constitutes the second leak-proof cuff, an end portion on the front sheet member side is located on the body portion of the front sheet 30 member, and the end portion of the sheet material is terminated at a position closer to the crotch portion than the end portion of the absorbent member. <25>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <24> above, wherein, in the sheet material that forms the second leak-proof cuff, an end portion on the rear sheet member side is located on the body portion of the rear sheet member, and the end portion of the sheet material is terminated at a position closer to the crotch portion than the end portion of the absorbent member.

[0060] <26>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <13> above, wherein the free end 34a of the first leak-proof cuff 34 preferably comes into contact with the vicinity of an upper joint of a thigh of the wearer, and the free end 37a of the second leak-proof cuff 37 comes into contact with an area around the thigh that is spaced apart from the upper joint of the thigh. <27>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <26> above, wherein a distance L5 between the upper fixing portion and the lower fixing portion does not exceed the distance L4 between the folded-back portion of the topsheet and the upper fixing portion. <28>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <27> above, wherein a proportion of a distance L5 between the upper fixing portion and the lower fixing portion to the length L4 that is a distance between the folded-back portion of the topsheet and the upper fixing portion is preferably 3% or more, and more preferably 5% or more, and is preferably 97% or less, and more preferably 95% or less. <29>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <28> above, wherein the rear sheet member has a length, in the longitudinal direction X of the article, that is longer than a length of the side seal portions in the longitudinal direction X of the article, thereby to form a body portion having the side seal portions 31 on two lateral sides thereof and an extension portion that extends from the body portion toward the crotch portion C and does not include the side seal portions on two lateral sides thereof. <30>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <13> above, wherein the front sheet member 2A includes a body portion 20a having the side seal portions 4 and 4 on two lateral sides thereof, and does not include an extension portion that extends from the body portion 20a toward the crotch portion C.

[0061] <31>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <30> above, wherein the front sheet portion includes a waist stretch portion and a below-waist stretch portion, and the rear sheet member includes a waist stretch portion, a below-waist stretch portion, and an extension portion stretch portion. <32>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <31> above, wherein two sheets constituting the front sheet member and the rear sheet member are joined to each other at a plurality of joining portions formed in a dispersed manner in an area where the elastic members are not provided. <33>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <32> above, wherein the absorbent core includes, in a widthwise center portion of the absorbent core, a non-fiber-stacked center portion that contains no material for forming the absorbent core or contains a material for forming the absorbent core in a basis weight less than other portions. <34>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <33> above, wherein a sheet material that forms one of the second leak-proof cuffs and a sheet material that forms the other of the second leak-proof cuffs are made of a single continuous sheet. <35>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1>, <2> and <4> to 32 <34> above, wherein a sheet material that forms the second leak-proof cuff is a sheet material different from the sheet material that constitutes the first leak-proof cuff.

[0062] 5 <36>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <35> above, wherein an elastic member for lifting a side portion is fixed between a side edge portion of the absorbent member and the topsheet covering the side edge portion. <37> 10 The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <36> above, wherein an intermediate elastic member is provided in a center portion between the free end and a base end portion of the first leak-proof cuff. <38>

The pull-on absorbent article as set forth in any one of <1> to <37> above, 15 wherein a sheet material that forms the first leak-proof cuff or the second leak-proof cuff is a nonwoven fabric.

Industrial Applicability [0063]

With the pull-on wearing article according to the present embodiment, it is 20 possible to prevent leakage from a gap created around the legs and concerns arising about leakage being visible while maintaining the ease of wearing and a good fit.

Claims

1. A pull-on absorbent article comprising a front sheet member that is to be placed on an abdominal side of a wearer, a rear sheet member that is to be placed on a dorsal side of the wearer, and an elongated absorbent assembly that is fixed to span across the front sheet member and the rear sheet member, the front sheet member and the rear sheet member being joined to form a pair of side seal portions, a waist opening, and a pair of leg openings, wherein the absorbent assembly includes a topsheet that forms a liquid-absorbing surface and a liquid retainable absorbent member, and also includes, in each of two side portions along a lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly, a first leak-proof cuff having a free end that is located inward of a side edge of the absorbent member and a second leak-proof cuff that extends outward from the side edge of the absorbent member, the topsheet and the first leak-proof cuff each include folded-back portions outside two side edges of the absorbent member, each folded-back portion being folded back over to a non-skin-facing surface side from a skin-facing surface of the absorbent member, a sheet material that forms the first leak-proof cuff includes: an upper fixing portion fixed to the topsheet; and a lower fixing portion fixed to a lower sheet, the upper fixing portion and the lower fixing portion being located at positions spaced apart widthwisely inward from each of the two side edges of the absorbent member on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member, and the pull-on absorbent article satisfies all of the following relational expressions (1) to (4): (1) LI <L2; (2) L2 <L1 + L3; (3) L3 <L4; and (4) L4 <L1 + L3, where LI represents a length from the folded-back portion of the first leak-proof cuff to the free end of the first leak-proof cuff, L2 represents a length of the second leak-proof cuff extending from the folded-back portion of the first leak-proof cuff to the free end of the second leak-proof cuff, L3 represents a distance between the folded-back portion of the first leak-proof cuff and the lower fixing portion, and L4 represents a distance between the folded-back portion of the topsheet and the upper fixing portion.

2. The pull-on absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein an elastic member of one of the second leak-proof cuffs and an elastic member of the other of the second leak-proof cuffs are provided in parallel to each other and extend in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly.

3. The pull-on absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a liquid-impermeable backsheet is provided on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member, and a sheet material that forms the second leak-proof cuff is a sheet material different from the sheet material that constitutes the first leak-proof cuff, and is provided on a non-skin-facing surface side of the backsheet in a crotch portion of the pull-on absorbent article.

4. The pull-on absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a liquid-impermeable backsheet is provided on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member, and the second leak-proof cuff includes a side portion of the backsheet and a sheet material folded back to cover the side portion, the sheet material being made of a nonwoven fabric.

5. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sheet material that forms the second leak-proof cuff has a length, in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly, that is shorter than a length of the absorbent member in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly.

6. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein elastic members of the first leak-proof cuffs have a length, in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent assembly, that is longer than elastic members of the second leak-proof cuffs.

7. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, in the elastic members of the second leak-proof cuffs, an end portion on the front sheet member side and an end portion on the rear sheet side are located at positions closer to waist end portions than lower ends of the side seal portions.

8. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein in the first leak-proof cuff, the upper fixing portion is located inward, in the width direction of the absorbent assembly, of the lower fixing portion.

9. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each of the second leak-proof cuffs includes a plurality of elastic members, a liquid-impermeable backsheet is provided on the non-skin-facing surface side of the absorbent member, and a widthwise end portion of the backsheet is located between an outermost elastic member and an innermost elastic member of the second leak-proof cuff.

10. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the absorbent member includes an absorbent core and a core wrap sheet that covers the absorbent core, the absorbent core includes a non-fiber-stacked side portion on each side of a lengthwise center line of the absorbent assembly, and a position of an outer end portion of the upper fixing portion overlaps the non-fiber-stacked side portion or is located inward of the non-fiber-stacked side portion in the width direction.

11. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the absorbent core includes, in a widthwise center portion of the absorbent core, a non-fiber-stacked center portion that contains no material for forming the absorbent core or contains a material for forming the absorbent core in a basis weight less than other portions.

12. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a ratio of the length L2 to the length LI is from 1.0 to 6.0.

13. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a ratio of a total length of the length LI and the length L3 to the length L2 is from 1.0 to 7.0.

14. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a ratio of the length L4 to the length L3 is from 1.0 to 6.0.

15. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a ratio of a total of the length LI and the length L3 to the length L4 is from 1.0 to 7.0.

16. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein a proportion of the length LI to a total width of the absorbent assembly is from 5 to 40%.

17. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the length LI is from 10 to 100 mm.

18. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein a proportion of the length L2 to the total width of the absorbent assembly is from 5 to 40%.

19. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the length L2 is from 10 to 100 mm.

20. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein a proportion of the length L3 to the total width of the absorbent assembly is from 3 to 40%.

21. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the length L3 is from 10 to 80 mm.

22. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein a proportion of the total length of the length LI and the length L3 to the total width of the absorbent assembly is from 10 to 80%.

23. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein a proportion of the length L4 to the total width of the absorbent assembly is from 3 to 40%.

24. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the length L3 is from 10 to 80 mm.

25. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the free end of the first leak-proof cuff comes into contact with the vicinity of an upper joint of a thigh of a wearer, and the free end of the second leak-proof cuff comes into contact with an area around the thigh that is spaced apart from the upper joint of the thigh.

26. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein a distance between the upper fixing portion and the lower fixing portion does not exceed the distance between the folded-back portion of the topsheet and the upper fixing portion.

27. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein a proportion of the distance between the upper fixing portion and the lower fixing portion to the distance between the folded-back portion of the topsheet and the upper fixing portion is from 3 to 97%.

28. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the rear sheet member has a length, in a longitudinal direction of the article, that is longer than a length of the side seal portions in the longitudinal direction of the article, thereby to form: a body portion having the side seal portions on two lateral sides thereof; and an extension portion that extends from the body portion toward the crotch portion and does not include the side seal portions on two lateral sides thereof.

29. The pull-on absorbent article according to claim 28, wherein, in the sheet material that forms the second leak-proof cuff, an end portion on the rear sheet member side is located on the body portion of the rear sheet member, and the end portion of the sheet material is terminated at a position closer to the crotch portion than the end portion of the absorbent member.

30. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein the front sheet member includes a body portion having the side seal portions on two lateral sides thereof, and does not include an extension portion that extends from the body portion toward the crotch portion.

31. The pull-on absorbent article according to claim 30, wherein in the sheet material that constitutes the second leak-proof cuff, an end portion on the front sheet member side is located on the body portion of the front sheet member, and the end portion of the sheet material is terminated at a position closer to the crotch portion than the end portion of the absorbent member.

32. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein the front sheet portion includes a waist stretch portion and a below-waist stretch portion, and the rear sheet member includes a waist stretch portion, a below-waist stretch portion, and an extension portion stretch portion.

33. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 32, wherein two sheets constituting the front sheet member and the rear sheet member are joined to each other at a plurality of joining portions formed in a dispersed manner in an area where the elastic members are not provided.

34. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 33, wherein a sheet material that forms one of the second leak-proof cuffs and a sheet material that forms the other of the second leak-proof cuffs are made of a single continuous sheet.

35. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 34, wherein a sheet material that forms the second leak-proof cuff is a sheet material different from the sheet material that constitutes the first leak-proof cuff.

36. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 35, wherein an elastic member for lifting a side portion is fixed between a side edge portion of the absorbent member and the topsheet covering the side edge portion.

37. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 36, wherein an intermediate elastic member is provided in a center portion between the free end and a base end portion of the first leak-proof cuff.

38. The pull-on absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 37, wherein a sheet material that forms the first leak-proof cuff or the second leak-proof cuff is a nonwoven fabric.