AU2021442131A1 - Absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an absorbent article (10) comprising an absorbent core (32) that has liquid absorbency, wherein: in an unfolded and extended state, the absorbent core (32) is provided with a narrow section (M), the length of which in the widthwise direction is less than that of an end part on one side in the front-rear direction; the narrow section (M) is provided to a below-crotch part which is positioned below the crotch of the wearer during wearing; on one side, the absorbent core (32) is provided with a pair of fold inducing parts (43) and a pair of slits (40); the pair of fold inducing parts (43) are each inclined from said one side toward the other side in the front-rear direction, and from the center in the widthwise direction toward the outer side; the pair of slits (40) each extend in the front-rear direction and are provided on either side in the widthwise direction; in the front-rear direction, the slits (40) are each positioned more to the other side than the fold inducing parts (43) and each have a part which overlaps with the narrow section (M) in the front-rear direction; and the respective ends of the slits (40) on one side are positioned more to the other side than the end of the narrow section (M) on said one side.

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE ABSORBENT ARTICLE FIELD

[0001]

The present invention relates to an absorbent article. BACKGROUND

[0002]

Absorbent articles having an absorbent core are widely known.

For example, as in Patent Literature 1, an absorbent pad is

disclosed in which its absorbent core has a central region that corresponds to the excretion portion of a wearer and a

circumferential region that is thinner and has higher stiffness than the central region, and in which, even when receiving a force directing inward from a widthwise outer side during usage, the absorbent core is likely to maintain its shape due to the

circumferential region having high stiffness.

[CITATION LIST] [PATENT LITERATURE]

[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.

2017-47147 SUMMARY

[TECHNICAL PROBLEM]

[0004]

In the absorbent pad of Patent Literature 1, the absorbent pad

is made be likely to deform so that the central region protrudes

toward the wearer's skin due to a groove formed on the non-skin surface side of the absorbent body. But, in such an absorbent

pad, when putting on the absorbent pad, the wearer's legs come into contact with the absorbent pad (absorbent core) until the

absorbent article is completely pulled up from the feet side to

the wearer's crotch, and therefore it causes a risk that the

central region of the absorbent pad deforms so as not to protrude

toward the wearer's skin, making the wearer to feel discomfort.

[0005] The present invention was achieved in light of problems that described above and an aspect of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article that reduces discomfort during putting on the absorbent article.

[SOLUTION TO PROBLEM]

[00061 A main aspect of the present invention for achieving the above

described aspect is an absorbent article having a front-back

direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction that

intersect each other, the absorbent article including a liquid absorbent absorbent core, in an unfolded and stretched state, the absorbent core including a narrow portion where a widthwise length is shorter than in an end portion on a one side in the

front-back direction, the narrow portion being provided in a crotch portion that is to be positioned at a crotch of a wearer

while the absorbent article is put on, the absorbent core including a pair of fold inducing portions and a pair of slits,

on the one side in the front-back direction, each of the pair of

fold inducing portions being inclined from the one side to

another side in the front-back direction and from a central

portion outward in the width direction, the pair of slits each extending in the front-back direction and being provided on two

sides in the width direction, in the front-back direction, the slit being positioned on the other side with respect to the fold

inducing portion, the slit having a portion that overlaps the

narrow portion with respect to the front-back direction, and a

one-side end of the slit being positioned on the other side with respect to a one-side end of the narrow portion.

Features of the present invention other than the above will become clear by reading the description of the present

specification with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF THE INVENTION]

[0007]

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce discomfort caused by excrement during putting on the absorbent article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[00081 FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an underpants-shaped

disposable diaper 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 with an absorbent

pad 10 attached, in an unfolded and stretched state when viewed

from a skin side.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the absorbent pad 10 in the

unfolded and stretched state when viewed from the skin side. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the absorbent pad 10 in the

unfolded and stretched state when viewed from a non-skin side. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line

51-51 in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of an absorbent core 32 in FIG.

3 when viewed from the skin side. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating deformation

of the absorbent core 32 while the absorbent pad 10 is put on.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram illustrating slits 40 and fold

inducing portions 43 of a first embodiment.

FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modified example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8C is an explanatory diagram illustrating another modified example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of an absorbent pad 100 in the

unfolded and stretched state when viewed from the skin side.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a front side section 1OF of an absorbent core 320 in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[00091 At least following matters will become clear with description of

this specification and attached drawings.

An absorbent article having a front-back direction, a width

direction, and a thickness direction that intersect each other, the absorbent article including a liquid-absorbent absorbent core, in an unfolded and stretched state, the absorbent core including a narrow portion where a widthwise length is shorter than in an end portion on a one side in the front-back direction, the narrow portion being provided in a crotch portion that is to be positioned at a crotch of a wearer while the absorbent article is put on, the absorbent core including a pair of fold inducing portions and a pair of slits, on the one side in the front-back direction, each of the pair of fold inducing portions being inclined from the one side to another side in the front-back direction and from a central portion outward in the width direction, the pair of slits each extending in the front-back direction and being provided on two sides in the width direction, in the front-back direction, the slit being positioned on the other side with respect to the fold inducing portion, the slit having a portion that overlaps the narrow portion with respect to the front-back direction, and a one-side end of the slit being positioned on the other side with respect to a one-side end of the narrow portion.

[0010]

According to the above-described absorbent article, the fold

inducing portions induces the slits to be folded toward the non skin side during usage of the absorbent article, and therefore

the region interposed between the pair of slits is made likely to be formed into a shape protruding toward the skin side. This

makes the absorbent core likely to come closer to the wearer's

excretion opening, and therefore excrement is more rapidly

absorbed, enabling to reduce discomfort caused by the excrement during putting on the absorbent article.

[0011] In the absorbent article, it is desirable that the pair of fold

inducing portions are continuous at end portions on the one side.

[0012]

According to the above-described absorbent article, since the

pair of fold inducing portions are continuous with each other, it makes an external force likely to be transmitted to the slits through the fold inducing portions, making the slits likely to be folded toward the skin side.

[0013] In the absorbent article, it is desirable that the fold inducing portions are each a compressed portion.

[0014] According to the above-described absorbent article, it is possible to provide an absorbent article in which the fold inducing portions are formed by a simple step.

[0015] In the absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorbent article has either of a matching point at which at least a part of an other-side end of the fold inducing portion matches a one side edge of the slit when viewed in the thickness direction, and an intersecting point at which a virtual region obtained by extending the fold inducing portion toward the other side intersects the one-side edge of the slit.

[0016] According to the above-described absorbent article, a force is likely to be transmitted to the slits from the fold inducing portions at the matching point or the intersecting point, and this makes it likely to induce the slits to be folded toward the non-skin side, and makes the region interposed between the pair of slits likely to form into a shape protruding toward the skin side.

[0017] In the absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorbent article is an absorbent pad, a temporary fixing portion is provided on a non-skin-side surface of the absorbent article, the temporary fixing portion being a portion for detachably fixing the absorbent pad to a skin-side surface of a disposable diaper or clothing, and the either of the matching point and the intersecting point is provided inside two ends of the temporary fixing portion in the width direction.

[0018] According to the above-described absorbent article, compared to

the regions of the absorbent article outside the two widthwise

ends of the temporary fixing portion, the region of the absorbent article which is inside the two widthwise ends of the temporary

fixing portion are further fixed to a disposable diaper or clothing. Therefore, a force applied from the wearer's legs and

a force caused by lateral contraction of the disposable diaper

or clothing is likely to be transmitted to the slits through

the fold inducing portions. This makes it likely to induce the

slits to be folded toward the non-skin side.

[0019]

In the absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorbent core includes an other-side fold inducing portion and a pair of the

slits, on the other side, each of a pair of the other-side fold inducing portions is inclined from the other side to the one side

and from the central portion outward in the width direction, and in the front-back direction, the slit is positioned on the one

side with respect to the other-side fold inducing portion, and

an other-side end of the slit is positioned on the one side with

respect to an other-side end of the narrow portion.

[0020] According to the above-described absorbent article, in addition

to the one side in the front-back direction of the absorbent article, the slits on the other side are induced to be folded

toward the non-skin side by the other-side fold inducing portions,

making the region interposed between the pair of slits likely to

be formed into a shape protruding toward the skin side. This enables the absorbent article to be put on in either of the

front-back orientations.

[0021]

In the absorbent article, it is desirable that when the narrow

portion is divided into three equal parts in the front-back

direction, namely a one-side portion, a central portion, and an

other-side portion, the one-side portion is provided with at least a part of the fold inducing portion, the central portion is provided with at least a part of the slit, and the other-side portion is provided with at least a part of the other-side fold inducing portion.

[0022]

According to the above-described absorbent article, the absorbent article can be put on in either of the front-back orientations.

Simultaneously, while putting on the absorbent article, the slits

provided in the central portion in the front-back direction are

induced to be folded toward the non-skin side by the fold inducing

portions positioned on the wearer's front side in the front-back direction or the other-side fold inducing portions. This makes

the region interposed between the pair of slits likely to be formed into a shape protruding toward the skin side.

[0023] In the absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorbent

article has an portion where the narrow portion and the fold inducing portion overlap with respect to the front-back direction.

[0024]

According to the above-described absorbent article, when putting

on the absorbent article, it makes the shape of the absorbent

core likely to change from the fold inducing portions before folding is made from the slits. The slits are folded toward the

non-skin side due to the change in the shape of the fold inducing portions, making the region between the pair of slits likely to

be formed into a protruding shape.

[0025]

In the absorbent article, it is desirable that a front-back direction length of the portion where the narrow portion and the

fold inducing portion overlap is half a front-back-direction length of the fold inducing portion.

[0026]

According to the above-described absorbent article, when putting

on the absorbent article, it makes the shape of the absorbent

core likely to change from the fold inducing portions before folding is made from the slits. This makes it likely to generate folding with a protruding shape extending toward the non-skin side from the slits due to the change in the shape of the fold inducing portions.

[0027] In the absorbent article, it is desirable that a front-back direction length of the slit is longer than a front-back direction length of the fold inducing portion.

[0028] According to the above-described absorbent article, compared with the case where the front-back-direction length of the fold inducing portion is longer than the front-back-direction length of the slit, the excrement absorbed by the absorbent core is more likely to be diffused in the front-back direction of the absorbent core due to the slit that extends in the front-back direction.

[0029] In the absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorbent core includes a pair of notched portions, and the notched portion is provided in a side end portion in the width direction, and is located on the one side with respect to the fold inducing portion.

[0030] According to the above-described absorbent article, the fold inducing portions induce the slits to be folded toward the non skin side while the absorbent article is put on, and this makes the region interposed between the pair of slits likely to be formed into a shape protruding toward the skin side. The notched portions located on the one side with respect to the fold inducing portions makes it likely to form the portion of the absorbent core that is located on the one side with respect to the fold inducing portions, into a shape following the bulge of the wearer's abdomen.

[0031] In the absorbent article, it is desirable that the absorbent article further comprises: a pair of stretching members that stretch and contract in the front-back direction; and a folding portion that is for folding the absorbent article in the front back direction and that extends along the width direction, the pair of stretching members are provided at positions that are located outside the slits in the width direction and on the non skin side with respect to the absorbent core, and that cross the folding portion.

[0032]

According to the above-described absorbent article, portions of

the absorbent core that are located outside the slits in the

width direction are likely to be pulled up by the stretching members in a put-on state. Therefore, it is possible to reduce

the risk of the leakage of excrement from the outside of the absorbent core in the width direction.

[00331 In the absorbent article, it is desirable that a front-back

direction length of a stretching region of the stretching member is shorter than a front-back-direction length of the narrow

portion.

[0034]

According to the above-described absorbent article, it is

possible to reduce the risk that the deformation of the absorbent core caused by the fold inducing portions and the slits are

hindered by the stretching/contracting force of the stretching member.

[00351 In the absorbent article, it is desirable that the slit extends

from the one side to the other side, and the front-back-direction length of the stretching region of the stretching member is

shorter than a front-back-direction length of the slit.

[00361 According to the above-described absorbent article, it is

possible to reduce the risk that the deformation of the absorbent

core caused by the fold inducing portions and the slits are

hindered by the stretching/contracting force of the stretching member.

[0037] First Embodiment The following describes embodiments of an "absorbent article" of the present invention by way of example of an absorbent pad 10 which is used being attached to the inner side (skin side) of an underpants-shaped disposable diaper 1 for adults (hereinafter, also referred to as a "diaper 1"). The diaper 1 and the absorbent pad 10 are separate members.

[00381 Underpants-shaped Disposable Diaper 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the diaper 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the diaper 1 with the absorbent pad attached, in an unfolded and stretched state when viewed from the skin side. The diaper 1 is an underpants-shaped disposable diaper and is of a so-called two-piece type diaper. The diaper 1 has a front waist portion 1A that is positioned on the wearer's front side, a back waist portion 1B that is positioned on the wearer's back side, and a crotch portion 1C that is positioned in the wearer's crotch portion. The diaper 1 includes an exterior body 2 that constitutes the front waist portion 1A and the back waist portion 1B, and an absorbent body 3 having an absorbent core 4 that absorbs excrement such as urine. In the present embodiment, there will be described a configuration in which the absorbent pad 10 is used being attached to the inner side of the two-piece-type underpants-shaped diaper 1. But the configuration is not limited thereto. The absorbent pad 10 may be arranged on the inner side of a so-called three-piece-type underpants-shaped disposable diaper having the front waist portion 1A and the back waist portion 1B as separate components or may be arranged on the inner side of a tape-type disposable diaper.

[00391 Attaching the absorbent pad 10 to the diaper 1 allows the diaper 1 to be used continuously by replacing only the absorbent pad 10 after the wearer performs excretion. Therefore, the diaper 1 can be used for a long period of time.

[0040]

Absorbent Pad 10 FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the absorbent pad 10 in the

unfolded and stretched state when viewed from the skin side. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the absorbent pad 10 in the unfolded

and stretched state when viewed from the non-skin side. FIG. 5

is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line Si-Si

in FIG. 3. The absorbent pad 10 has a front-back direction, a

width direction, and a thickness direction that intersect with each other. In the front-back direction, the side corresponding

to the wearer's stomach is the front side, and the side corresponding to the wearer's back is the back side. Further,

while the absorbent pad is put on, the side corresponding to the wearer's trunk is defined as the upper side, and the side

corresponding to the wearer's crotch is defined as the lower side. Note that the vertical direction is a direction conforming to

the front-back direction. In the thickness direction, the side

that comes into contact with the wearer's body is defined as the

skin side, and the opposite side thereof is defined as the non

skin side. In FIG. 3 and the like, the center line C-C represents the center in the width direction, and the center line CL

represents the center in the front-back direction. A portion of the absorbent pad 10 positioned on the front side with respect

to the center line CL in the front-back direction will also be

referred to as a front side section 10F, and a portion positioned

on the back side with respect to the center line CL will also be referred to as a back side section 10R.

[0041] The "unfolded state" of the absorbent pad 10 refers to a state

where the absorbent pad 10 is fully unfolded. The "stretched

state" refers to a state where the absorbent pad 10 is stretched

so as to eliminate wrinkles, specifically a state where the

absorbent pad 10 is stretched until the dimension of the constituent members of the absorbent pad 10 (e.g., side sheets and the like to be described later) match or are close to the dimensions of the members on their own.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the absorbent pad 10 has a substantially

rectangular shape in a plan view, and has a shape that is substantially symmetrical with respect to the widthwise center

line C-C and is substantially symmetrical with respect to the

front-back center line CL. The absorbent pad 10 includes a skin

side sheet 20, a non-skin-side sheet 22, an absorbent body 30,

side sheets 50, leg stretching members 54, and hook portions 25.

[0043]

The skin-side sheet 20 is a liquid-permeable sheet member, and is formed of a hydrophilic air-through nonwoven fabric sheet, a

spunbond nonwoven fabric sheet, or the like. The skin-side sheet covers the entirety of the skin-side surface of the absorbent

body 30. The non-skin-side sheet 22 is a liquid-impermeable sheet member, and for example, an appropriate resin film such as

polyethylene (PE) or the like is used. The non-skin-side sheet

22 covers the entirety of the non-skin-side surface of the

absorbent body 30.

[0044] The absorbent body 30 has an absorbent core 32 and a liquid

permeable core-wrapping sheet 34, which is formed of tissue paper or nonwoven fabric and covers the absorbent core 32. The

absorbent core 32 absorbs excrement such as urine and feces, and

is obtained by shaping liquid-absorbent fibers (e.g., pulp) or

liquid-absorbent granules (e.g., superabsorbent polymer (SAP)) into a predetermined shape. The shape and characteristics of

the absorbent core 32 will be described later.

[0045]

The side sheets 50 are provided on two widthwise sides of the

skin-side sheet 20 and the non-skin-side sheet 22. The side

sheets 50 extend outward in the width direction beyond two

widthwise ends of the absorbent body 30. The side sheets 50 are folded back inward in the width direction and toward the skin side in the thickness direction at fold positions, which are two widthwise ends of the absorbent pad 10, forming a pair of leak proof wall portions 51. In the leak-proof wall portions 51, leak-proof-wall stretching members 52 and 52 such as elastic strings are fixed with being stretched along the front-back direction of the absorbent pad 10. The contraction of these leak-proof-wall stretching members 52 and 52 in the front-back direction causes the pair of leak-proof wall portions 51 to rise toward the skin side at two widthwise end portions of the absorbent pad 10. Thus, the leak-proof wall portions function as leak-proof walls (leg side gathers) of the absorbent pad 10. Note that a configuration is acceptable in which, without providing the side sheets 50, the leak-proof wall portions 51 are formed by extending the non-skin-side sheets 22 to the outside of the absorbent body 30 in the width direction. Further, a configuration is acceptable in which the leak-proof wall portions 51 are not provided.

[0046] The leg stretching members 54 are provided in two widthwise end portions, between the non-skin-side surface of the non-skin-side sheet 22 and the skin-side surface of the side sheet 50. The leg stretching members 54 are each a stretching member such as an elastic string that is capable of stretching and contracting in the front-back direction, and the leg stretching member 54 gives stretchability around the leg to form a leg gather portion. Note that, in FIG. 3 and the like, the stretching regions where the leg stretching members 54 are capable of stretching and contracting are shown as the leg stretching members 54.

[0047] The hook portions 25 are each a temporary fixing portion for detachably fixing the absorbent pad 10 to the skin-side surface of the diaper 1, and are provided on the non-skin-side surface of the absorbent pad 10 (the non-skin side of the non-skin-side sheet 22) as shown in FIG. 4. The hook portion 25 of the present embodiment is a hook-and-loop fastener. However, as the temporary fixing portion, it is possible to use conventionally known adhesive means, for example, an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive, a double-sided tape, and the like. Further, the hook portion 25 can be used not for temporarily fixing the absorbent pad 10 to the diaper 1 but also for temporarily fixing the absorbent pad 10 to the skin-side surface of clothing such as underwear.

[0048]

Put-on state

Generally, it is known that, by making the widthwise central portion of the absorbent article in a put-on state protrude

toward the skin side, it is possible to bring the absorbent article (absorbent core) into contact with the wearer's excretion

opening, making it possible to rapidly absorb excrement and an discomfort during putting on the absorbent article likely to

reduce. However, in the conventional absorbent article during usage and while being in a put-on state, there is a risk that,

when a force is applied inward from the outside in the width

direction by the wearer's legs, the absorbent article (absorbent

core) deforms into a shape contrary to the intention of the

wearer. In particular, the absorbent core is a thick member among the constituent members of the absorbent article and has

high stiffness, and therefore once the absorbent core has deformed into a shape contrary to the intention of the wearer,

so-called creases are formed, and the deformation thereof is less

likely to be corrected. Thus, there is a risk that the absorbent

core continues to give the wearer an discomfort or unpleasantness.

[0049]

In contrast, in the absorbent pad 10 of the present embodiment, the absorbent core 32 makes it possible to reduce discomfort or

unpleasantness during usage, by making the absorbent core 32

(absorbent pad 10) likely to deform so as to be close to the

wearer's excretion opening. Hereinafter, the absorbent core 32

will be described.

[0050] Absorbent Core 32 FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the absorbent core 32 in FIG. 3 when viewed from the skin side. As shown in FIG. 6, the absorbent core 32 has a substantially hourglass shape in a plan view, and has a shape that is substantially symmetrical with respect to the widthwise center line C-C and is substantially symmetrical with respect to the front-back center line CL. Further, the absorbent core 32 includes a narrow portion M having a shorter widthwise length than front and back end portions in the front-back direction. The narrow portion M is positioned in the wearer's crotch during usage. Specifically, the narrow portion M is a portion that is narrowed and curved toward the central portion in the front-back direction and inward in the width direction from the front and back end portions in the front-back direction such that the absorbent core 32 has the shortest widthwise length at its central portion in the front back direction. The "narrow portion M" is a region where the widthwise length is shorter than in a portion of the absorbent core 32 having the longest widthwise length. The narrow portion M is a portion including the center in the front-back direction (center line CL) . The "front end portion in the front-back direction" refers to a portion of the front side section 1OF that has the longest widthwise length and that is located on the front side with respect to the narrow portion M. The "back end portion in the front-back direction" refers to a portion of the back side section 1CR that has the longest widthwise length and that is located on the back side with respect to the narrow portion M. As shown in FIG. 6, concerning the widthwise length, the front end portion in the front-back direction and the back end portion in the front-back direction are portions of the absorbent core 32 that have the longest widthwise length (front side section 1OF and back side section 10R), and the narrow portion M has a widthwise length shorter than those of the front end portion in the front-back direction and the back end portion in the front- back direction. Note that, as shown in FIG. 6, the front end of the narrow portion M is defined as a front end Mf, and the back end of the narrow portion M is defined as a back end Mr. Note that the front side with respect to the narrow portion M (front end Mf) is referred to as a front portion F, and the back side with respect to the narrow portion M (back end Mr) is referred to as a back portion R. The front portion F is a front end portion in the front-back direction and the back portion R is a back end portion in the front-back direction.

[0051] It is preferable that the length of the narrow portion M in the front-back direction is 125 mm or more. Accordingly, when putting on the absorbent pad, it is possible to firstly prevent the absorbent core 32 from being deformed from the slits 40 before the deformation caused by fold inducing portions 43, and it is possible to reduce the risk that the absorbent core 32 deforms into a shape contrary to the intention of the wearer.

[0052] The absorbent core 32 includes a pair of fold inducing portions 43. On the front side of the absorbent core 32 in the front back direction, that is, on the front side section 10F, a front fold inducing portion (one-side fold inducing portion) 43fa and a front fold inducing portion (one-side fold inducing portion) 43fb are provided as the fold inducing portions 43. On the back side of the absorbent core 32 in the front-back direction, that is, on the back side section 10R, a back fold inducing portion (other-side fold inducing portion) 43ra and a back fold inducing portion (other-side fold inducing portion) 43rb are provided as the fold inducing portions 43. Forming the fold inducing portions 43 by compression increases the density of the liquid absorbent fibers, making the stiffness higher than in the region where the fold inducing portions 43 are not located. Further, the fold inducing portions 43 can be formed by a simple step. The fold inducing portions 43 of the present embodiment are each a compressed portion obtained by compressing the absorbent core

32 in the thickness direction from the non-skin side toward the

skin side. Note that the fold inducing portions 43 that are

formed by compression may be a compressed portion obtained by

compressing the absorbent core 32 in the thickness direction from the skin side toward the non-skin side. Compressing the

absorbent core 32 from the non-skin side toward the skin side makes the fold inducing portions 43 likely to be folded so that

the absorbent core 32 protrude from the skin side toward the non

skin side.

[00531 The absorbent core 32 includes a pair of slits 40. As the slits , the front side section 1OF of the absorbent core 32 is

provided with slits 40fa and 40fb, and the back side section 1CR is provided with slits 40ra and 40rb. Each slit 40 is a

penetration portion that penetrates the absorbent core 32 in the thickness direction. Note that the slits 40 may be a portion

where liquid-absorbent fibers such as a pulp or liquid-absorbent granules such as superabsorbent polymer (SAP) are completely

absent, but also may be a portion where some liquid-absorbent

fibers or liquid-absorbent granules exist. The slits 40 are each

a portion where the amount of the liquid-absorbent fibers or the

liquid-absorbent granules is clearly smaller than in the surrounding region and where the stiffness is lower than in the

surrounding region.

[0054]

The slits 40 of the present embodiment are provide as follow:

the slits 40fa and 40ra located on the one side in the width

direction (on the left side when viewed from the skin-side surface) are continuous, and the slits 40fb and 40rb located on

the other side in the width direction (on the right side when viewed from the skin-side surface) are continuous, and the

continuous slits 40fa and 40ra and the continuous slits 40fb and

rb straddle the center in the front-back direction. Since the

slit 40fa of the front side section 1OF and the slit 40ra of the

back portion R are continuous, and the slit 40fb of the front side section 1OF and the slit 40rb of the back portion R are continuous, it makes folding likely to occur at the slits 40. This makes a region X between the slits 40fa, 40ra and the slits fb, 40rb likely to become into a shape protruding toward the skin side.

[00551 The width (thickness) of the slit 40 is preferably 3 mm or more, and the whole length of the slit 40 in the front-back direction is preferably 80 mm or more. This makes the absorbent core 32 likely to deform from the slits 40, and simultaneously makes the slits 40 likely to diffuse in the front-back direction the excrement absorbed by the absorbent core 32.

[00561 The configuration of the front side section 1OF is similar to the configuration of the back side section 10R, and therefore the following describes the configuration of the front side section 10F.

[0057] The fold inducing portions 43 are each a portion for inducing deformation caused by folding of the absorbent core 32 and is a portion having different stiffness from the stiffness of the regions that are adjacent to each other. In the present embodiment, since the fold inducing portions 43 are formed by compressing the absorbent core 32 in the thickness direction, the fold inducing portions 43 have higher stiffness than the adjacent regions. Therefore, the fold inducing portion 43 is a portion which is likely to serve as a starting point of the deformation of the absorbent core 32.

[00581 The front fold inducing portion 43fa is inclined from the front side to the back side in the front-back direction, and from the central portion outward in the width direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the front fold inducing portion 43fa is a substantially straight-line-shaped region that having a predetermined width (thickness) and that is inclined obliquely downward and leftward from the central portion in the width direction. Similarly, the front fold inducing portion 43fb is inclined from the front side to the back side in the front-back direction, and from the central portion outward in the width direction. Specifically, the front fold inducing portion 43fb is a substantially straight-line-shaped region that having a predetermined width (thickness) and that is inclined obliquely downward and rightward from the central portion in the width direction.

[00591 The slits 40fa and 40fb extend in the front-back direction and are provided on two widthwise sides. The slits 40fa and 40fb of

the present embodiment include linear portions in the front side of the front side section 1OF in the front-back direction, and

include curved portions that are curved outward in the width direction, on the back side in the front-back direction. The

slits 40fa and 40fb are portions which penetrate the absorbent core 32 in the thickness direction, and therefore have lower

stiffness than adjacent regions. Accordingly, the slits 40fa

and 40fb are portions which are likely to serve as starting

points of deformation of the absorbent core 32.

[00601 In the front-back direction, the slit 40 is positioned on the

back side with respect to the fold inducing portions 43, the slit has a portion that overlaps the narrow portion M with respect

to the front-back direction, and the front end of the slit 40 is

positioned on the back side with respect to the front end of the

narrow portion M. Therefore, the absorbent core 32 is likely to deform while the absorbent pad is put on as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating deformation of the absorbent core 32 while the absorbent pad 10 is put on.

[00611

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, in the front-back

direction, the slits 40fa and 40fb are positioned on the back

side with respect to the front fold inducing portions 43fa and

43fb. That is, the portions of the compressed portions that are

located on the front side with respect to the slits 40fa and 40fb

are front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb. Further, the

slits 40fa and 40fb are provided as a whole in the narrow portion M, and therefore the entire regions of the slits 40fa and 40fb

overlap the narrow portion M with respect to the front-back direction, and the front ends of the slits 40fa and 40fb are

positioned on the back side with respect to the front end Mf of

the narrow portion M.

[0062]

The deformation of the absorbent core 32 when putting on the absorbent pad 10 will be described. The deformation of the

absorbent core 32 when putting on the absorbent pad 10 is mainly caused by a force applied to the absorbent core 32 (absorbent

pad 10) from the wearer's legs or a force applied to the absorbent core 32 (absorbent pad 10) from the outside such as the diaper 1

or clothing.

[00631 First, at the time of putting on the absorbent pad 10, when the

absorbent pad 10 is attached to the inner side of the diaper 1,

the front end portion of the front side section 1OF and the back

end portion of the back side section 1R of the absorbent pad 10 are deformed so as to rise toward the skin side due to the annular

shape that constitutes the waist portion of the diaper 1 (clothing). This makes the front fold inducing portions 43fa

and 43fb likely to fold toward the non-skin side.

[0064]

Subsequently, when pulling up the diaper 1 to which the absorbent pad 10 is attached (FIG. 1) from the feet side toward the wearer's

crotch, that the absorbent core 32 includes the narrow portion M makes it possible to reduce the risk that the wearer's legs come

into contact with the central portion of the absorbent core 32

in the front-back direction before the wearer's legs come into

contact with the portions of the absorbent core 32 which are

located on the front side with respect to the slits 40fa and fb. When a force is applied from the outside inward in the width direction to the region of the absorbent core 32 which is located on the front side with respect to the slits 40fa and fb, the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb positioned on the front side with respect to the slits 40fa and 40fb are likely to deformed so as to be folded toward the non-skin side. Consequently, the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb are more likely to be folded toward the non-skin side.

[00651 Further, when the absorbent pad 10 (diaper 1) is pulled up to

the wearer's crotch and a force is applied from the outside inward in the lateral direction to the narrow portion M where

the slits 40fa and 40fb are provided by the wearer's legs, the slits 40fa and 40fb that overlap the narrow portion M with respect

to the front-back direction are likely to deform. When the force is applied to the narrow portion M from the outside in the lateral

direction, an external force such as a force caused by the diaper 1 or a force caused by the wearer's legs (hereinafter, also

simply referred to as an "external force") is transmitted from

the front fold inducing portions 43fa, 43fb to the slits 40fa,

fb due to the deformation of the front fold inducing portions

43fa, 43fb which are folded toward the non-skin side. This makes it likely to induce the deformation of the slits 40fa, 40fb

toward the non-skin side. That is, it reduces the risk of folding toward the skin side the slits 40fa and 40fb positioned on the

back side with respect to the front fold inducing portions 43fa

and 43fb folded toward the non-skin side, and it makes the slits

fa and 40fb likely to be folded toward the non-skin side.

[00661 By folding the slits 40fa and 40fb toward the non-skin side, the region X between the slits 40fa and 40fb in the front-back

direction can be formed into a shape protruding toward the skin

side, as shown in FIG. 7. Making the region X have a shape

protruding toward the skin side brings the absorbent pad closer

to the wearer's excretion opening and makes the absorbent pad likely to fit to the excretion opening, making it possible to rapidly absorb excrement. This can reduce discomfort which is given to the wearer and is caused by the excrement remaining on the surface of the absorbent pad 10.

[0067]

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram illustrating slits 40 and fold inducing portions 43 of a first embodiment. It is preferable

that, as shown in FIG. 8A, there are provided matching points G

at which at least parts of the front fold inducing portions 43fa

and 43fb match the edges of the slits 40fa and 40fb. The matching

point G makes it likely to transmit an external force to the slit fa from the front fold inducing portion 43fa, and makes it

likely to transmit the external force to the slit 40fb from the front fold inducing portion 43fb. This makes it likely to induce

the slits 40fa and 40fb to be folded toward the non-skin side, and makes the region X between the slits 40fa and 40fb likely to

protrude toward the skin side. Note that the compressed portions that constitute the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb

may be provided on the back side with respect to the front ends

of the slits 40fa and 40fb. Here, the fold inducing portions 43

in the present embodiment are portions located on the front side

with respect to the matching points with the slit 40fa or 40fb.

[00681 Further, as described above, the absorbent pad 10 has the hook portions 25 on the non-skin-side surface. It is preferable that,

as shown in FIG. 3, the matching points G at which the front fold

inducing portions 43fa and 43fb match the edges of the slits 40fa

and 40fb are provided inside two ends of these hook portions 25 in the width direction. Compared to the regions of the absorbent

pad 10 that are outside the two widthwise ends of these hook portions 25, the region of the absorbent pad 10 that is inside

two ends of these hook portions 25 in the width direction is in

a state of being further fixed to the diaper 1. Therefore, by

providing the matching points G inside the two widthwise ends of

these hook portions 25, it makes the external force likely to be transmitted to the slits 40fa and 40fb through the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb, making it possible to easily fold the slits 40fa and 40fb toward the non-skin side. This makes the region X between the slit 40fa and the slit 40fb likely to protrude toward the skin side.

[00691 It is preferable that as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8A, the front fold

inducing portion 43fa and the front fold inducing portion 43fb

are continuous at their front end portions. By making the front

fold inducing portion 43fa and the front fold inducing portion

43fb continuous, it makes an external force such as a force caused by the diaper 1 or the wearer's legs likely to be

transmitted to the slit 40fa and the slit 40fb through the front fold inducing portion 43fa and the front fold inducing portion

43fb. The slit 40fa and the slit 40fb are folded toward the non skin side, making the region X between the slit 40fa and the slit

fb likely to protrude toward the skin side.

[0070]

It is preferable that there is a portion where the narrow portion

M overlaps the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb with

respect to the front-back direction. More preferably, the front

back-direction length of the portion where the narrow portion M overlaps the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb is half

the front-back-direction length of the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb. As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, in the

present embodiment, the entire regions of the front fold inducing

portions 43fa and 43fb overlap the narrow portion M with respect

to the front-back direction. By making the narrow portion M overlap the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb with

respect to the front-back direction, it reduces the risk that, when putting on the absorbent pad 10, the absorbent pad 10 is

folded from the slits 40fa and 40fb before the front fold inducing

portions 43fa and 43fb are folded. First, this makes it likely

to induce the deformation of the absorbent core 32 from the front

fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb, and subsequently, due to the folding of the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb the slits 40fa and 40fb are induced to be folded toward the non skin side. Therefore, the region X interposed between the slits fa and 40fb is likely to be formed into a shape protruding toward the skin side.

[0071] Note that the length in the front-back direction between the

front end of the front fold inducing portions 43fa, 43fb and the

front end Mf which is the front end of the narrow portion M is

preferably 30 mm or less. In this case, an external force is

likely to be applied firstly to the deformation of the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb, making it likely to induce the

folding of the slits 40fa and 40fb toward the non-skin side from the deformation of the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb.

[0072] It is preferable that, as shown in FIG. 6, the length L40f of

the slits 40fa and 40fb in the front-back direction is longer than the length L43f of the front fold inducing portions 43fa

and 43fb in the front-back direction (L40f > L43f). Since the

slits 40fa and 40fb extend along the front-back direction, the

excrement absorbed by the absorbent core 32 is more likely to be

diffused in the front-back direction of the absorbent core 32 compared with the case where the length L43f of the front fold

inducing portions 43fa and 43fb in the front-back direction is longer than the length L40f of the slits 40fa and 40fb in the

front-back direction. Consequently, the excrement is likely to

be absorbed in a wide range of the absorbent core 32.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 3, the absorbent pad 10 before use, which is in

a packaged state or the like, is folded in the front-back direction at a folding portion H that extends along the width

direction and that is provided at the central portion including

the front-back center. Further, the absorbent pad 10 includes a

pair of leg stretching members 54 that stretch and contract in

the front-back direction on two widthwise sides. It is preferable that the pair of leg stretching members 54 are provided at positions that are located outside the slits 40fa and 40fb in the width direction and cross the folding portion H.

Therefore, the portions of the absorbent pad 10 that are located outside the slits 40fa and 40fb in the width direction are likely

to be pulled up by the leg stretching members 54, and the absorbent pad 10 (absorbent core 32) can be formed in a curved

shape so that two widthwise side end portions are positioned

above the widthwise central portion when the absorbent pad 10

(absorbent core 32) in a put-on state is viewed in the front

back direction. This can reduce the risk of the leakage of excrement from the outside of the absorbent core 32 in the width

direction. Note that, in the present embodiment, each of two widthwise sides are provided with two leg stretching members 54.

However, a configuration is acceptable in which each of two widthwise sides are provided with one leg stretching member 54,

and the number of the leg stretching members 54 may be any number.

[0074]

It is preferable that the length T54 of the stretching region of

the leg stretching members 54 in the front-back direction is

shorter than the length TM of the narrow portion M in the front

back direction (T54 < TM). This makes it possible to reduce the risk of the stretching/contracting force of the leg stretching

members 54 hindering the deformation of the absorbent core 32 caused by the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb and the

slits 40fa and 40fb and the risk of generating the deformation

of the absorbent core 32 contrary to the intention.

[0075] Further, the slits 40fa and 40fb provided in the front side

section 1OF extend up to the back side of the absorbent core 32, and are respectively continuous with the slits 40ra and 40rb.

It is more preferable that the length T54 of the stretching

region of the leg stretching member 54 in the front-back

direction is shorter than the length T40 of the continuous slits

fa, 40ra and the length T40 of the continuous slits 40fb, 40rb in the front-back direction. It is possible to further reduce the risk of the stretching/contracting force of the leg stretching members 54 hindering the deformation of the absorbent core 32 caused by the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb and the slits 40fa and 40fb and the risk of generating the deformation of the absorbent core 32 contrary to the intention.

[0076]

As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the absorbent core 32 includes

a pair of notched portions 38 in the front side section 10F. The

notched portions 38 provided in the front side section 1OF are

provided in the side end portions in the width direction, and are located on the front side with respect to the front fold

inducing portions 43fa and 43fb. In the present embodiment, a portion below the notched portion 38 is the narrow portion M,

and a portion on the front side with respect to the notched portion 38 is the front portion F. The notched portions 38

provided in the front side section 1OF make it likely to form the region X interposed between the pair of slits 40fa and 40fb

into a shape protruding toward the skin side due to induction

using the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb.

Simultaneously, the front portion F is made likely to be pulled

up toward the skin side by deformation starting from the notched portions 38 located on the front side with respect to the front

fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb. This makes the front portion F likely to be formed into a shape conforming to the

wearer's abdomen.

[0077]

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8A, in the absorbent pad 10 (absorbent core 32), as well as front side section 10F, the back

side section 1CR has the slits 40ra and 40rb and the back fold inducing portions 43ra and 43rb. As shown in FIG.6 and the like,

also in the back side section 10R, in the front-back direction,

the slits 40ra and 40rb are positioned on the front side with

respect to the back fold inducing portions 43ra and 43rb, and

the slits 40ra and 40rb have a portion that overlaps the narrow portion M with respect to the front-back direction, and the back ends of the slits 40ra and 40rb are positioned on the front side with respect to the back end of the narrow portion M. Therefore, even when the absorbent pad 10 is put on backward, the absorbent core 32 is likely to deform as shown in FIG. 7, making it possible to put on the absorbent pad 10 in either of the front-back orientations.

[0078]

Similar to the front side section 10F, the absorbent core 32 also

includes a pair of notched portions 38 in the back side section

R. The notched portions 38 provided in the back side section 1R are provided in the side end portions in the width direction,

and are located on the back side with respect to the back fold inducing portions 43ra and 43rb. Therefore, even in the case

where the absorbent article 10 is put on backward, it makes it likely to form the region X interposed between the pair of slits

ra and 40rb into a shape protruding toward the skin side due to induction using the back fold inducing portions 43ra and 43rb.

Simultaneously, the back portion R is made likely to be pulled

up toward the skin side by deformation starting from the notched

portions 38. This makes the back portion R likely to be formed

into a shape conforming to the wearer's abdomen.

[0079]

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable that, when the narrow portion M is divided into three equal parts in the front

back direction, namely a front-side portion Ml, a central portion

M2, and a back-side portion M3, the front-side portion Ml is

provided with at least parts of the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb, the central portion M2 is provided with at least

parts of the slit 40fa, 40fb, 40ra, and 40rb, and the back-side portion M3 is provided with at least parts of the back fold

inducing portions 43ra and 43rb. Therefore, while enabling the

absorbent pad 10 to be put on being reversed in the front-back

orientation, the slits 40fa, 40fb, 40ra, and 40rb are likely to

be induced to be folded toward the non-skin side by the front fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb located on the wearer's front side or the back fold inducing portions 43ra and 43rb.

This makes the region X interposed between the slits 40fa, 40ra

and the slits 40fb, 40fb likely to be formed into a shape protruding toward the skin side.

[00801 The fold inducing portions 43 and the slits 40 may have the

configurations as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C. FIGS. 8B and 8C are

explanatory diagrams illustrating modified examples of the first

embodiment.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 8B, the front fold inducing portion 43fa on the

left side in the width direction and the front fold inducing portion 43fb on the right side in the width direction may be

spaced apart from each other without being continuous. Specifically, the front end of the front fold inducing portion

43fa and the end of the front fold inducing portion 43fb are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Even

in such a case, the front fold inducing portion 43fa and the

front fold inducing portion 43fb respectively transmit an

external force to the slits 40fa and 40fb. This makes the slits

fa and 40fb be folded toward the non-skin side, making the absorbent core 32 likely to deform so that the region X between

the slit 40fa and the slit 40fb protrudes toward the skin side.

[0082] The following configuration may be employed: as shown in FIG. 8C,

the matching points G at which the front fold inducing portion

43fa and the front fold inducing portion 43fb respectively match the slits 40fa and 40fb are not provided, and the front fold

inducing portion 43fa and the front fold inducing portion 43fb are respectively spaced apart from the slits 40fa and 40fb. In

such a case, it is preferable that there are provided an

intersecting point J at which a virtual region 43v obtained by

extending the front fold inducing portion 43fa backward

intersects the front edge of the slit 40fa, and an intersecting point J at which a virtual region 43v obtained by extending the front fold inducing portion 43fb backward intersects the front edge of the slit 40fb. In FIG. 8C, the virtual regions 43v are indicated by dotted lines. Accordingly, an external force is transmitted to the slits 40fa and 40fb due to the folding of the front fold inducing portion 43fa and the front fold inducing portion 43fb, making the slits 40fa and 40fb be folded toward the non-skin side. This makes the absorbent core 32 likely to deform so that the region X between the slit 40fa and the slit fb protrudes toward the skin side.

[00831 Further, in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the front fold inducing portion 43fa

and the front fold inducing portion 43fb having a shape continuous from the front side to the back side have been

described, but the configuration is not limited thereto. The following configuration may be employed: the front fold inducing

portions 43fa are an aggregate of compressed portions intermittently compressed, and the front fold inducing portions

43fb are an aggregate of compressed portions intermittently

compressed.

[0084] Second Embodiment Absorbent Pad 100

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of an absorbent pad 100 in the unfolded and stretched state when viewed from the skin side. FIG.

is an explanatory diagram illustrating a front side section

1OF of an absorbent core 320 in FIG. 9. Hereinafter, portions

of the absorbent pad 100 according to a second embodiment different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly

described. Portions that are common to the configuration of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference signs or

the like, and the detailed description of the basic configuration

of the absorbent pad 100 will not be repeated. Further, some of

the configurations of the absorbent pad 10 of the first

embodiment can also be applied to the absorbent pad 100 of the second embodiment.

[00851 Similar to the first embodiment, the absorbent pad 100 of the second embodiment includes a skin-side sheet 20, a non-skin-side sheet 22, an absorbent body 30, side sheets 50, leg stretching members 54, and hook portions 25. Similar to the first embodiment, the absorbent core 320 includes a narrow portion M, a pair of slits 40, and fold inducing portions 43 that have a predetermined width (thickness) and that are formed of a plurality of compressed portions 45.

[00861 The absorbent core 320 of the second embodiment is provided with substantially grid-shaped compressed portions 45 throughout substantially the entire region excluding the central region Z that is located in the central portion in the front-back direction and in the central portion in the width direction. The compressed portions 45 have discontinuous portions that are not continuous in the width direction and the front-back direction. The region where the compressed portion 45 is provided has high stiffness, and a difference in stiffness is generated between the region where the compressed portion 45 is provided and the adjacent region where the compressed portion 45 is not provided. In the second embodiment, the compressed portion 45 is not provided in the central region Z, and the compressed portion 45 is not provided in a region of the absorbent core 320 between the pair of slits 40 in the width direction.

[0087] The fold inducing portion 43 of the second embodiment is a portion where the stiffness is different between the adjacent compressed portions 45 and the region where the compressed portion 45 is not provided. Specifically, the old inducing portion 43 is a portion where the stiffness is different between the adjacent compressed portions 45 and the central region Z. Since the absorbent core 32 is compressed in the thickness direction, the stiffness is higher than in the adjacent region. In FIG. 10, the fold inducing portion 43 of the second embodiment is the compressed portion 45 provided in a region surrounded by virtual lines 43w, and is a portion that makes it likely to occur deformation. Each of the compressed portions 45 (fold inducing portions 43) is inclined backward from the front side and outward from the central portion in the width direction as shown in FIG. 10. Therefore, the fold inducing portions 43 transmit an external force to the slits 40fa and 40fb, and induce the slits fa and 40fb so that the slits are folded toward the non-skin side. This makes the region X between the slit 40fa and the slit fb likely to protrude toward the skin side, making the absorbent core 32 likely to deform into a shape as shown in FIG.

7.

[0088] In addition, the absorbent core 32 of the second embodiment is provided with the substantially grid-shaped compressed portions

throughout substantially the entire region excluding the central region Z. Since there are intermittently portions having

high stiffness, the compressed portions 45 are portions where

the absorbent core 32 has a small thickness (has a short thickness

length) and that are likely to serve as a folding starting point.

That is, in the region excluding the central region Z of the absorbent core 32 of the second embodiment, the absorbent core

32 is likely to deform due to the pair of slits 40 and the compressed portions 45. This makes the external force when

putting on the diaper likely to be transmitted to the slits 40fa

and 40fb through the fold inducing portions 43, making the slits

fa and 40fb likely to be induced to be folded toward the non skin side. Accordingly, the central region Z between the slits

fa and 40fb is likely to protrude toward the skin side. Further, since the region between the slits 40fa and 40fb protruding

toward the skin side is the central region Z in which the

compressed portion 45 is not provided, the central region Z is

likely to come close to the wearer's excretion opening with

keeping in a state of a flatter surface. This makes the excrement likely to be rapidly absorbed while enhancing the texture for the wearer's excretion opening, making it possible to reduce unpleasantness or discomfort during putting on the diaper.

[00891 Note that the configuration of the absorbent core 32 of the

second embodiment is not necessarily limited to one in which the compressed portion 45 is not provided in the central region Z.

For example, compressed portions similar to the compressed

portions 45, which are provided in the front portion F or the

back portion R, may be provided between the pair of slits 40fa

and 40fb. Even in the case where compressed portions are provided between the pair of slits 40fa and 40fb, by providing a

portion where there is a difference in stiffness between the compressed portion 45 and the region which is adjacent to the

compressed portion and does not have the compressed portion, it is possible to induce the slits 40fa and 40fb to be folded toward

the non-skin side by the fold inducing portions 43. This makes the region between the slit 40fa and the slit 40fb likely to

protrude toward the skin side. Further, providing the compressed

portions in a wider range of the absorbent core 32 allows the

thickness (the length in the thickness direction) of the

absorbent core 32 to decrease, and makes it likely to promote the deformation of the absorbent core 32 because of increase of

the stiffness of the entire absorbent core 32.

[00901 Other Embodiments

Although the above embodiments of the present invention have been

described, but the above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate the understanding of the present invention and are

not intended to limit the interpretation of the present invention. In addition, the present invention can be modified or improved

without departing from the spirit thereof, and additionally, it

is needless to say that equivalents thereof are included in the

present invention.

[0091]

In the above embodiments, the absorbent article of the present

invention is described as the absorbent pad 10 which is arranged

inside of the underpants-shaped disposable diaper 1 for adults.

However, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the absorbent article of the present invention may be a sanitary

napkin and an absorbent pad which are attached to clothing or the like on its own, an underpants-shaped disposable diaper or

tape-type disposable diaper for adults and children, a shorts

type sanitary napkin, an absorbent pad arranged inside of a

disposable diaper for children.

[0092] In the above embodiments, the fold inducing portions 43 are

formed by compressing the absorbent core 32, but the configuration is not limited thereto. It is sufficient that the

fold inducing portion 43 is a portion of the absorbent core 32 having different stiffness. For example, the fold inducing

portion 43 may be a portion of the absorbent core 32 in which the mass (g/m 2 ) per unit area of the liquid-absorbent fibers is

different, or may be a penetration portion that penetrates the

absorbent core in the thickness direction.

[00931 In the above embodiments, the slits 40 are each a penetration portion that includes a linear portion and a curved portion, but

the configuration is not limited thereto. It is sufficient that the slits 40 have any shape that extends in the front-back

direction. The slits 40 can be any shape such as a rectangular

shape that does not have to include a curved portion or a linear

shape.

[0094]

In addition, in the above embodiments, the slit 40fa and the slit ra on the one side (left side) in the width direction are

continuous, and the slit 40fb and the slit 40rb on the other side

(right side) in the width direction are continuous. However, it

is sufficient that the slits 40 have a shape extending along the

front-back direction. The slit 40fa and the slit 40ra may be spaced apart from each other, and the slit 40fb and the slit 40rb may be spaced apart from each other.

[00951 In the above embodiments, the fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb are provided at positions that overlap the narrow portions

M with respect to the front-back direction, but the configuration is not limited thereto. It is sufficient that the slits 40fa

and 40fb are provided on the back side with respect to the fold

inducing portions 43fa and 43fb. For example, the entirety of

the fold inducing portions 43fa and 43fb may be provided in the

front portion F, or may be provided so as to straddle the front portion F and the narrow portion M.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[00961 1: underpants-shaped disposable diaper (diaper), 2: exterior body,

3: absorbent body 4: absorbent core,

, 100: absorbent pad (absorbent article),

1OF: front side section (one side),

1CR: back side section (other side),

: skin-side sheet, 22: non-skin-side sheet,

: hook portion (temporary fixing portion), : absorbent body,

32, 320: absorbent core,

34: core-wrapping sheet,

38: notched portion, : slit,

fa, 40fb, 40ra, 40rb: slit, 43: fold inducing portion,

43fa, 43fb: front fold inducing portion (fold inducing portion),

43ra, 43rb: back fold inducing portion (other-side fold inducing

portion),

43v: virtual region,

: compressed portion,

: side sheet, 51: leak-proof wall portion,

52: leak-proof-wall stretching member, 54: leg stretching member,

M: narrow portion, F: front portion,

R: back portion,

H: folding portion,

X: central region,

G: matching point, J: intersecting point

Claims (14)

1. [Claim 1] An absorbent article having a front-back direction, a width

   direction, and a thickness direction that intersect each other,

   the absorbent article comprising a liquid-absorbent absorbent core, in an unfolded and stretched state,

   the absorbent core including a narrow portion where a

   widthwise length is shorter than in an end portion on a one side

   in the front-back direction,

   the narrow portion being provided in a crotch portion that is to be positioned at a crotch of a wearer while the absorbent

   article is put on, the absorbent core including a pair of fold inducing

   portions and a pair of slits, on the one side in the front-back direction,

   each of the pair of fold inducing portions being inclined from the one side to another side in the front-back direction

   and from a central portion outward in the width direction,

   the pair of slits each extending in the front-back direction

   and being provided on two sides in the width direction,

   in the front-back direction, the slit being positioned on the other side with respect

   to the fold inducing portion, the slit having a portion that overlaps the narrow portion

   with respect to the front-back direction, and

   a one-side end of the slit being positioned on the other

   side with respect to a one-side end of the narrow portion.
2. [Claim 2]

   The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the pair of fold inducing portions are continuous at end

   portions on the one side.
3. [Claim 3]

   The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

   the fold inducing portions are each a compressed portion.

   [Claim 1] An absorbent article having a front-back direction, a width

   direction, and a thickness direction that intersect each other,

   the absorbent article comprising a liquid-absorbent absorbent core, in an unfolded and stretched state,

   the absorbent core including a narrow portion where a

   widthwise length is shorter than in an end portion on a one side

   in the front-back direction,

   the narrow portion being provided in a crotch portion that is to be positioned at a crotch of a wearer while the absorbent

   article is put on, the absorbent core including a pair of fold inducing

   portions and a pair of slits, on the one side in the front-back direction,

   each of the pair of fold inducing portions being inclined from the one side to another side in the front-back direction

   and from a central portion outward in the width direction,

   the pair of slits each extending in the front-back direction

   and being provided on two sides in the width direction,

   in the front-back direction, the slit being positioned on the other side with respect

   to the fold inducing portion, the slit having a portion that overlaps the narrow portion

   with respect to the front-back direction, and

   a one-side end of the slit being positioned on the other

   side with respect to a one-side end of the narrow portion.

   [Claim 2]

   The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the pair of fold inducing portions are continuous at end

   portions on the one side.

   [Claim 3]

   The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

   the fold inducing portions are each a compressed portion.
4. [Claim 4]

   The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

   the absorbent article has either of a matching point at which at least a part of an other-side end of the fold inducing portion matches a one-side edge of the slit when viewed in the thickness direction, and

   an intersecting point at which a virtual region obtained

   by extending the fold inducing portion toward the other side

   intersects the one-side edge of the slit.
5. [Claim 5] The absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein

   the absorbent article is an absorbent pad, a temporary fixing portion is provided on a non-skin-side

   surface of the absorbent article, the temporary fixing portion being a portion for

   detachably fixing the absorbent pad to a skin-side surface of a disposable diaper or clothing, and

   the either of the matching point and the intersecting point

   is provided inside two ends of the temporary fixing portion in

   the width direction.
6. [Claim 6] The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

   wherein the absorbent core includes an other-side fold inducing

   portion and a pair of the slits, on the other side,

   each of a pair of the other-side fold inducing portions is

   inclined from the other side to the one side and from the central portion outward in the width direction, and

   in the front-back direction, the slit is positioned on the one side with respect to the

   other-side fold inducing portion, and

   an other-side end of the slit is positioned on the one

   side with respect to an other-side end of the narrow portion.
7. [Claim 7]

   The absorbent article according to claim 6, wherein

   when the narrow portion is divided into three equal parts in

   the front-back direction, namely a one-side portion, a central

   portion, and an other-side portion, the one-side portion is provided with at least a part of

   the fold inducing portion, the central portion is provided with at least a part of

   the slit, and

   the other-side portion is provided with at least a part

   of the other-side fold inducing portion.
8. [Claim 8] The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

   wherein the absorbent article has an portion where the narrow portion

   and the fold inducing portion overlap with respect to the front back direction.
9. [Claim 9] The absorbent article according to claim 8, wherein

   a front-back-direction length of the portion where the narrow

   portion and the fold inducing portion overlap is half a front

   back-direction length of the fold inducing portion.
10. [Claim 10] The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

    wherein a front-back-direction length of the slit is longer than a

    front-back-direction length of the fold inducing portion.
11. [Claim 11]

    The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein

    the absorbent core includes a pair of notched portions, and the notched portion is provided in a side end portion in the

    width direction, and is located on the one side with respect to

    the fold inducing portion.
12. [Claim 12]

    The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the absorbent article further comprises: a pair of stretching members that stretch and contract in the front-back direction; and a folding portion that is for folding the absorbent article in the front-back direction and that extends along the width direction, the pair of stretching members are provided at positions that are located outside the slits in the width direction and on the non-skin side with respect to the absorbent core, and that cross the folding portion.
13. [Claim 13] The absorbent article according to claim 12, wherein a front-back-direction length of a stretching region of the stretching member is shorter than a front-back-direction length of the narrow portion.
14. [Claim 14] The absorbent article according to claim 13, wherein the slit extends from the one side to the other side, and the front-back-direction length of the stretching region of the stretching member is shorter than a front-back-direction length of the slit.

    㻝㻛㻝㻜

    㼃㻵㻰㼀㻴㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㼁㻼

    㼂㻱㻾㼀㻵㻯㻭㻸 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻰㻻㼃㻺

    㻲㻵㻳㻚㻌㻝

    㻞㻛㻝㻜

    㼃㻵㻰㼀㻴㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀 㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻙 㻮㻭㻯㻷 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻮㻭㻯㻷 㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㻲㻵㻳㻚㻌㻞

    㻟㻛㻝㻜

    㼃㻵㻰㼀㻴㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻵㻿㻰㻱 㻵㻺㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㼁㻼

    㼂㻱㻾㼀㻵㻯㻭㻸 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻰㻻㼃㻺

    㻌㻔㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕 㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻙 㻮㻭㻯㻷 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻮㻭㻯㻷㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻔㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕

    㼁㻼

    㼂㻱㻾㼀㻵㻯㻭㻸 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻰㻻㼃㻺

    㻲㻵㻳㻚㻌㻟

    㻠㻛㻝㻜

    㼃㻵㻰㼀㻴㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㼁㻼

    㼂㻱㻾㼀㻵㻯㻭㻸 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻰㻻㼃㻺

    㻌㻔㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕 㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻙 㻮㻭㻯㻷 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻮㻭㻯㻷㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻔㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕

    㼁㻼

    㼂㻱㻾㼀㻵㻯㻭㻸 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻰㻻㼃㻺

    㻲㻵㻳㻚㻌㻠

    㼃㻵㻰㼀㻴㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㻿㻷㻵㻺㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㼀㻴㻵㻯㻷㻺㻱㻿㻿 㻡㻛㻝㻜

    㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻺㻻㻺㻙㻿㻷㻵㻺㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㻲㻵㻳㻚㻌㻡

    㻢㻛㻝㻜

    㼃㻵㻰㼀㻴㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻵㻿㻰㻱 㻵㻺㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㻌㻔㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕 㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻙 㻮㻭㻯㻷 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻮㻭㻯㻷㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻔㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕

    㻲㻵㻳㻚㻌㻢

    㻣㻛㻝㻜

    㻻㻺㻱 㻸㻭 㻌㻿㻵㻰 㻰㻵㻾㻱㼀㻱㻾㻭㻸 㻱 㻯㼀㻵㻻 㻺 㻻㼀㻴 㻱㻾㻌㻿 㻵㻰㻱

    㻔㻿㻷㻵㻺㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕 㼁㻼 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㼂㻱㻾㼀㻵㻯㻭㻸

    㻰㻻㼃㻺 㻔㻺㻻㻺㻙 㻿㻷㻵㻺㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕 㻻 㻺㼀㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕 㻲㻾 㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻔㻻 㻺㼀㻙 㻷㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻰㻱㻕 㻲㻾㻻㻭㻯㻷 㻭㻯 㻮 㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵 㻮 㼀㻵㻻㻺 㻯 㻔㻻㼀㻴 㻰 㻾㻱 㻵

    㻲㻵㻳㻚㻌㻣

    㼃㻵㻰㼀㻴㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㼃㻵㻰㼀㻴㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㼃㻵㻰㼀㻴㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻵㻿㻰㻱 㻵㻺㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻵㻿㻰㻱 㻵㻺㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻵㻿㻰㻱 㻵㻺㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㻌㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀 㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀 㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀 㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻤㻛㻝㻜

    㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻙㻮㻭㻯㻷㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻙㻮㻭㻯㻷㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻙㻮㻭㻯㻷㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻮㻭㻯㻷 㻮㻭㻯㻷 㻮㻭㻯㻷 㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㻲㻵㻳㻚㻌㻤㻭 㻲㻵㻳㻚㻌㻤㻮 㻲㻵㻳㻚㻌㻤㻯

    㻥㻛㻝㻜

    㼃㻵㻰㼀㻴㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻵㻿㻰㻱 㻵㻺㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㼁㻼

    㼂㻱㻾㼀㻵㻯㻭㻸 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻰㻻㼃㻺

    㻌㻔㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕 㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻙 㻮㻭㻯㻷 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻮㻭㻯㻷㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻔㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕

    㼁㻼

    㼂㻱㻾㼀㻵㻯㻭㻸 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻰㻻㼃㻺

    㻲㻵㻳㻚㻌㻥

    㻝㻜㻛㻝㻜

    㼃㻵㻰㼀㻴㻌㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻵㻿㻰㻱 㻵㻺㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻻㼁㼀㻿㻵㻰㻱

    㼁㻼 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺 㼂㻱㻾㼀㻵㻯㻭㻸

    㻰㻻㼃㻺

    㻌㻔㻻㻺㻱㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕 㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻲㻾㻻㻺㼀㻙㻮㻭㻯㻷 㻰㻵㻾㻱㻯㼀㻵㻻㻺

    㻮㻭㻯㻷㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱 㻔㻻㼀㻴㻱㻾㻌㻿㻵㻰㻱㻕

    㻲㻵㻳㻚㻌㻝㻜