CN107072826B

CN107072826B - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: CN107072826B
Application number: CN201580048037.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 合田文美; 野本贵志
Original assignee: Unicharm Corp
Current assignee: Unicharm Corp
Priority date: 2014-11-05
Filing date: 2015-08-20
Publication date: 2020-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2035-08-20
Also published as: CN107072826A; JP6429596B2; WO2016072125A1; JP2016087119A

Abstract

A liquid absorbent layer (13) of an absorbent article (10) has a 1 st end region (41) and a 2 nd end region (42) which are opposed to each other in a longitudinal direction (Y), at least the 1 st end region (41) of the 1 st end region (41) and the 2 nd end region (42) has a 1 st lateral portion (45) and a 2 nd lateral portion (46) which are opposed to each other across a longitudinal centerline (P), and at least one slit-shaped 1 st separating portion (51) which is disposed in at least one of the 1 st lateral portion (45) and the 2 nd lateral portion (46) and which penetrates the liquid absorbent layer (13), the 1 st separating portion (51) has an inner end (51a) and an outer end (51b) which are located on the longitudinal centerline (P) side, a virtual line (K) passing through the inner end (51a) and the outer end (51b) extends at an acute angle Q relative to a longitudinal centerline (P) of a crossing line (3583) which intersects the longitudinal centerline (P).

Description

Absorbent article

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin.

Background

Conventionally, absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins are known. For example, patent document 1 discloses an absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction and including a liquid-permeable surface layer, a liquid-impermeable back surface layer, and a liquid absorbent layer interposed between the surface layer and the back surface layer.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2012-125625

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

According to the absorbent article disclosed in patent document 1, since a plurality of concave portions extending in the transverse direction are arranged at both end portions of the liquid absorbent layer, the absorbent article is excellent in the diffusion of body fluid, and can be easily folded in the longitudinal direction along the concave portions, and can take a curved shape along the body.

However, when the wearer moves his or her legs during walking or the like, the undergarment is pulled diagonally forward and/or diagonally backward, but both end portions of the absorbent article are not extended diagonally forward and/or diagonally backward, and therefore, the undergarment cannot be deformed in accordance with the movement of the undergarment, and the wearer may feel a feeling of wearing the undergarment, and may feel a feeling of foreign matter in wearing the absorbent article.

The present invention aims to provide an absorbent article which is an improvement over conventional absorbent articles, can follow the movement of underwear during walking or the like, and can suppress the feeling of foreign matter when the absorbent article is worn.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention relates to an absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline, the absorbent article including a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and a liquid-absorbent layer interposed between the top sheet and the back sheet.

In the absorbent article of the present invention, the liquid absorbent layer has a 1 st end region and a 2 nd end region which are opposed to each other in the longitudinal direction, at least the 1 st end region of the 1 st end region and the 2 nd end region has a 1 st side portion and a 2 nd side portion which are opposed to each other with the longitudinal centerline interposed therebetween, and at least one slit-shaped 1 st separating portion which is disposed in at least one of the 1 st side portion and the 2 nd side portion and penetrates the liquid absorbent layer, the 1 st separating portion has an outer end and an inner end which is located on the longitudinal centerline side, a virtual line passing through the inner end and the outer end extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal centerline, and an intersection angle of the virtual line with the longitudinal centerline, which intersects the transverse centerline, is an acute angle.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

In the absorbent article according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, at least one 1 st separating portion is disposed in at least the 1 st end region of the 1 st end region and the 2 nd end region of the liquid absorbent layer at least in the 1 st side portion and the 2 nd side portion, so that even when the undergarment is pulled in a direction inclined to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction such as when the wearer walks, the absorbent article can follow the movement of the undergarment, and the wearer is not given a feeling of foreign matter due to wearing the absorbent article.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a sanitary napkin seen from the front side, which is shown as an example of an absorbent article according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sanitary napkin as viewed from the back side.

Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line III-III of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the liquid absorbent layer.

Fig. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the region surrounded by the V line of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a partially enlarged view of an area surrounded by the VI line of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view when the liquid absorbent layer is pulled in the longitudinal direction and the oblique direction.

Fig. 8 is a view showing a state of use of the sanitary napkin.

Fig. 9 (a) is a plan view of a liquid absorbent layer according to a modification. Fig. 9 (b) is a plan view of a liquid absorbent layer according to another example of the modification.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a sanitary napkin according to embodiment 2 of the present invention, viewed from the front surface side.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the sanitary napkin according to embodiment 2 viewed from the back side.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, a sanitary napkin 10 shown as an example of the absorbent article of the present invention has a longitudinal direction Y and a lateral direction X, a longitudinal center line P bisecting the dimension of the lateral direction X, and a lateral center line Q bisecting the dimension of the longitudinal direction Y, and the sanitary napkin 10 includes a front surface facing the skin of the wearer, a back surface on the opposite side of the front surface, a convex first end edge 10a and a convex second end edge 10b, both

side edges

10c and 10d convexly curved at the central portion located on the lateral center line Q, a liquid-permeable front sheet 11 located on the front surface side, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 12 located on the back surface side, a liquid-absorbent layer 13 located between the front sheet 11 and the back sheet 12, and a leakage-preventive sheet 14 covering the bottom surface of the liquid-absorbent layer 13. In order to improve the flexibility of the sanitary napkin 10, an intermediate sheet made of a relatively bulky fibrous nonwoven fabric may be disposed between the topsheet 11 and the liquid absorbent layer 13. The outer peripheral edge of the sanitary napkin 10 defined by the 1 st and 2

nd edges

10a, 10b and the

side edges

10c, 10d has a concave-convex shape continuously extending in the circumferential direction, and can give a soft impression as compared with the case where the outer peripheral edge is linear, and has uniform appearance as a whole and excellent appearance.

In the present invention, in the region where the liquid absorbent layer 13 is present, the layer formed of a single or a plurality of sheet materials on the front side is referred to as the front surface layer 18 (in the present embodiment, only the front surface sheet 11), and the layer formed of a single or a plurality of sheet members on the back side of the liquid absorbent layer 13 is referred to as the back surface layer 19 (in the present embodiment, the back surface sheet 12 and the leakproof sheet 14). Thus, the liquid absorbent layer 13 is interposed between the surface layer 18 and the back surface layer 19.

The back sheet 12 extends further outward in the lateral direction X than the front sheet 11, and a pair of side sheets 20 are fixed to the front surface side thereof. The side sheet 20 extends from both

side edges

10c, 10d of the sanitary napkin 10 to the bottom surface of the liquid absorbent layer 13. End flaps 22 positioned outside the liquid absorbent layer 13 in the longitudinal direction Y are formed in parts of the front sheet 11, the back sheet 12, and the side sheet 20, and flaps 24 are formed in parts of the back sheet 12 and the side sheet 20, the flaps 24 being positioned outside the liquid absorbent layer 13 in the lateral direction X and having a pair of flaps 23 that are convexly curved outward in the vicinity of the lateral centerline Q. Leakage of body fluid can be prevented by disposing the leakage-preventing sheet 14 on the bottom surface of the liquid absorbent layer 13. In the present embodiment, the pair of side sheets 20 are formed of a separate sheet member from the back sheet 12, but the side sheets 20 may not be disposed, the back sheet 12 may be formed of a sheet material having the size of the entire sanitary napkin 10, and the flaps 23 may be formed of the back sheet 12.

Referring to fig. 2, a plurality of 1 st fastening portions 31 for attaching the sanitary napkin 10 to clothing such as underwear and formed of a pressure-sensitive adhesive are disposed on the back side of the sanitary napkin 10, that is, on the outer surface of the back sheet 12, and the 1 st fastening portions 31 extend linearly in the longitudinal direction Y and are arranged at a predetermined distance in the transverse direction X in the center portion of the sanitary napkin 10. Further, the 2 nd fixing portion 32 formed of a pressure-sensitive adhesive is also disposed on the outer surface of the wing portion 23. The 1 st fixing part 31 and the 2 nd fixing part 32 are covered with a spacer 33 made of a plastic film or a fiber nonwoven fabric. The 1 st fastening part 31 and the 2 nd fastening part 32 preferably have a fastening strength sufficient for fastening to the clothes of the wearer at a practical level, specifically, a fastening strength of about 2.0N to 4.0N.

Although not shown, a seal portion (peripheral edge seal (japanese: ラウンドシール)) for joining the sheet members by a known joining means, for example, various heat welding means such as hot embossing and ultrasonic processing, is formed at the outer peripheral edge of the sanitary napkin 10 defined by the 1 st and 2

nd edges

10a, 10b and the

side edges

10c, 10 d. In addition to the outer peripheral edges joined by the seal portions, for example, a hot melt adhesive known in the art can be used as the sheet member overlapped with each other, and a hot melt adhesive made of a known rubber adhesive or the like or a mixture thereof is preferably used so as not to hinder the stretchability of the entire sanitary napkin 10.

As the front sheet 11 and the back sheet 12, known fiber nonwoven fabrics such as spunbond fiber nonwoven fabric and SMS fiber nonwoven fabric can be suitably used, and as the leakage-preventing sheet 14, a leakage-preventing plastic film can be suitably used. The liquid absorbent layer 13 includes: an absorbent core 28 shaped into a strip (japanese: パネル) of a predetermined shape and size, having a semi-rigidity and a recovery from elasticity higher in bending rigidity than the sheet member; and a core wrap sheet 29 which is a selectively attachable member, is liquid-permeable, and wraps the absorbent core to improve shape retention and liquid diffusion properties.

Referring to fig. 4, the liquid absorbent layer 13 has a curved 1 st edge 13a and a curved 2 nd edge 13b that are spaced apart from and opposed to each other in the longitudinal direction Y, and both

side edges

13c and 13d located between the

edges

13a and 13 b. For convenience of explanation, the liquid absorbent layer 13 is divided in the longitudinal direction Y into a 1 st end region 41 located on the abdominal side of the wearer, a 2 nd end region 42 located on the back side of the wearer, and a middle region 43 located between the both

end regions

41 and 42, and is divided in the transverse direction X into a 1 st lateral portion 45 located between the longitudinal center line P and the side edge 13c, and a 2 nd lateral portion 46 located between the longitudinal center line P and the side edge 13 d.

In the present embodiment, the dimension L2 in the longitudinal direction Y of the 1 st end region 41 and the dimension L3 in the longitudinal direction Y of the 2 nd end region 42 are about 25% to 35% of the dimension L in the longitudinal direction Y of the liquid absorbent layer 13, and the dimension L in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate region 43 is about 30% to 50% of the dimension L in the longitudinal direction Y of the liquid absorbent layer 13, wherein the dimension L in the longitudinal direction Y of the 1 st end region 41, the dimension L in the longitudinal direction Y of the 2 nd end region 42 may be larger or smaller than the dimension L4 in the longitudinal direction Y of the intermediate region 43, the dimension L2 in the longitudinal direction Y of the 1 st end region 41 and the dimension L in the longitudinal direction Y of the 2 nd end region 42 may be different, and the 1 st separation sections 4 to 51 formed by a plurality of slits penetrating the liquid absorbent layer 13 in the thickness direction (Z direction) are arranged in the liquid absorbent layer 13.

< part 1 of separation >

Referring to fig. 4 to 6, in the present embodiment, a plurality of 1 st separated portions 51 independent of each other are disposed in the 1 st side portion 45 and the 2 nd side portion 46 of the 1 st end region 41 and the 1 st side portion 45 and the 2 nd side portion 46 of the 2 nd end region 42, respectively. The 1 st separated portion 51 has an inner end 51a located on the side of the longitudinal center line P and an outer end 51b located on the side of the

side edges

13c and 13d, and a straight imaginary line K passing through the inner end 51a and the outer end 51b extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal center line P. The 1 st separated part 51 has a shape convexly curved inward or outward in the oblique direction R, and a separation distance between the inner end 51a and the longitudinal centerline P is smaller than a separation distance between the outer end 51b and the longitudinal centerline P. Here, the "oblique direction R" is a direction inclined at about 10 to 80 degrees with respect to the longitudinal centerline P and the transverse centerline Q.

Referring to fig. 6, an imaginary line K connecting the inner end 51a and the outer end 51b of the 1 st separating portion 51 forms an acute angle (90 degrees or less) with an intersection angle α of the longitudinal center line P facing the transverse center line Q, and the 1 st end region 41 and the 2 nd end region 42 (fig. 4) have a separating means 60 extending obliquely from the transverse center line Q side toward the longitudinal center line P and formed by regularly arranging one or a plurality of the 1 st separating portions 51, specifically, the separating means 60 is preferably provided with the 1 st separating means 61 to the 4 th separating means 64, the 1 st separating means 61 to the 4 th separating means 64 are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line P at the 1 st side portion 45 and the 2 nd side portion 46 of the 1 st end region 41, and are separated from each other from the 1 st end edge 13a side toward the transverse center line Q side, the 4 th separating means 64 is formed by only one 1 st separating portion 51, and at least one of the inner end 51a and the outer end 51b of the 1 st separating portion 51 of the 1 st separating means that at least one of the adjacent separating portions 51 of the 1 st separating means that the adjacent separating portions 51 and the adjacent portions are inclined in the direction R overlapping each other along the imaginary line R1 st oblique direction, which the adjacent portions 51.

Referring to fig. 4, as in the 1 st end region 41, a plurality of separation units 60 including a plurality of 1 st separation portions 51 are also arranged in the 2 nd end region 42. Since the dimension in the longitudinal direction Y of the 2 nd end region 42 is larger than the dimension in the longitudinal direction Y of the 1 st end region 41, more separation units 60 are arranged than the separation units 60 arranged in the 1 st end region 41, and the 1 st to 5 th separation units 61 to 65 are arranged so as to be obliquely spaced in the longitudinal direction Y.

In the present embodiment, the 1 st separating portion 51 is disposed in plural in the 1 st end region 41 and the 2 nd end region 42, but as long as the effect of the present invention described later is produced, at least one 1 st separating portion 51 may be disposed in each of the 1 st side portion 45 and the 2 nd side portion 46 with respect to one of the 1 st end region 41 and the 2 nd end region 42. The 1 st separated portion 51 may be linear, convex, or the like, instead of being curved, or may extend continuously in series from the vicinity of the longitudinal centerline P to both

side edges

13c and 13d in the 1 st side portion 41 and/or the 2 nd side portion 42.

< part 2 of separation >

Referring to fig. 4 to 6, the 1 st end region 41 and the 2 nd end region 42 have a convex 2 nd separating portion 52 disposed on the longitudinal center line P toward the 1 st end edge 13a and the 2 nd end edge 13b, respectively. The 2 nd separating portions 52 are preferably symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal centerline P and are arranged so as to be separated from each other in the longitudinal direction Y. The 2 nd separating portion 52 may be formed in any known shape such as a straight line, an angular shape, a curved line, and a flat shape, as long as it is positioned on the longitudinal center line P, without being symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line P.

< isolation sections 3 and 4 >

A plurality of 3 rd separated portions 53 extending in a wave-like manner in the transverse direction X and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction Y are provided in the portion of the 1 st end region 41 on the transverse center line Q side and in the portion of the 2 nd end region 42 on the transverse center line Q side with respect to the intermediate region 43 as the center. The 3 rd separating portion 53 extends in the transverse direction X so as to intersect the longitudinal center line P, and both ends thereof do not extend to both side edges 13c and 13d of the liquid absorbent layer 13. In the intermediate region 43, there are 4 th separated portions 54 between the 3 rd separated portions 53 separated from each other in the longitudinal direction Y, and the 4 th separated portions 54 extend in a wavy manner in the transverse direction X and are symmetrically arranged with respect to the longitudinal center line P without intersecting the longitudinal center line P. The outer end edge of the 4 th separation portion 54 extends to both

side edges

13c, 13d of the liquid absorbent layer 13, and both

side edges

13c, 13d are partially separated by the 4 th separation portion 54.

As the liquid absorbent layer 13 of the present embodiment, it is preferable to use a liquid absorbent layer formed of a single layer of air-laid fibrous nonwoven fabric or a stack of a plurality of layers of air-laid fibrous nonwoven fabrics, which does not contain superabsorbent polymer particles. This is because, since the super absorbent polymer particles are not contained, the respective separating sections 51 to 54 are easily formed in the production process thereof, and the fine particulate super absorbent polymer particles do not leak from the respective separating sections 51 to 54. As a method for forming the respective separating sections 51 to 54 in the liquid absorbent layer 13, a known cutting means can be used, and when the liquid absorbent layer 13 contains superabsorbent polymer particles, the superabsorbent polymer particles can be prevented from leaking from the cut surfaces by: when a heat-fusible material such as thermoplastic fibers is mixed with the super-absorbent polymer particles and the absorbent core 28 alone or the core wrap sheet 29 is wrapped around the absorbent core 28 and partially cut by a cutting means, the heat-fusible material (the core wrap sheet 29 is also fused together when the core wrap sheet 29 is formed of thermoplastic fibers) is fused at the same time as or before the cutting, and the heat-fusible material prevents the super-absorbent polymer particles from leaking from the cut surface.

Referring to fig. 7, in a state where forces F1 and F2 are applied to pull the liquid absorbent layer 13 outward in the longitudinal direction Y and the oblique direction R, the 1 st to 4 th separation sections 51 to 54 are opened, and the liquid absorbent layer 13 is slightly extended in both directions R, Y, the liquid absorbent layer 13 has a size L in the longitudinal direction Y increased due to the openings of the separation sections, but the outer peripheral edge of the liquid absorbent layer 13 intersects with the 1 st separation section 51 and the 4 th separation section 54, so that the outer peripheral edge is partially cut at a plurality of locations, so to speak, the liquid absorbent layer 13 is further extended and the size L1 in the longitudinal direction Y is increased, and the liquid absorbent layer 13 disposed on the sanitary napkin 10 is fixed to the surface layer 18 and the back surface layer 19, so that when forces F1 and F2 are applied to pull the entire sanitary napkin 10 outward in the longitudinal direction Y and the oblique direction R, the original extensibility is suppressed, and therefore, the degree of extensibility of the liquid absorbent layer 13 is determined by the elastic extensibility of the surface layer 18 and the nonwoven fabric sheet (when forces F1 and F L are applied to the elastic layer, and F1, and 2, the extensible in the longitudinal direction R, preferably, and the elastic direction R.

With reference to fig. 8, it is known, according to the applicant's knowledge: in a state where the sanitary napkin 10 is worn, when a part of the undergarment 70 to which the sanitary napkin 10 is attached, particularly a part facing a groin of a wearer, moves the legs in the front-rear direction during walking of the wearer, the sanitary napkin 10 is stretched in the inclined direction R by a force F2 that is pulled in the inclined direction R with respect to the longitudinal centerline P, instead of being stretched by a force that extends along the longitudinal centerline (a line that coincides with the longitudinal centerline P of the sanitary napkin 10). Since the undergarment 70 is usually made of a stretchable material, when a force F2 to pull the sanitary napkin 10 in the oblique direction R is applied by the movement of the wearer, the sanitary napkin 10 is easily stretched, but when the sanitary napkin 10 attached to the undergarment 70 cannot follow the movement of the undergarment 70, the wearer may feel a foreign body sensation by damaging the wearing sensation and the sanitary napkin 10 may be displaced and the 1 st fastening part 31 and the 2 nd fastening part 32 may be detached from the undergarment 70.

In the 1 st end region 41 and the 2 nd end region 42 of the sanitary napkin 10 of the present embodiment, since the 1 st separating portion 51 inclined with respect to the longitudinal center line P is disposed, when a force to extend the sanitary napkin 10 in the oblique direction R acts on the 1 st end region 41 and the 2 nd end region 42 in conjunction with the movement of the undergarment 70, the 1 st separating portion 51 opens and the 1 st end region 41 and the 2 nd end region 42 extend in the oblique direction R, and the liquid absorbent layer 13 and the sanitary napkin 10 including the liquid absorbent layer 13 can follow the movement of the undergarment 70. Therefore, when the wearer walks, the wearing feeling of the sanitary napkin 10 is not impaired and the foreign body feeling is not given, and the sanitary napkin 10 is not displaced with respect to the underwear 70 and the first fastening portion 31 and the second fastening portion 32 are not released from the fastening.

As described above, since the intersection angle α on the lateral center line Q side of the imaginary line K connecting the inner end 51a and the outer end 51b of the 1 st separated portion 51 and the longitudinal center line P is an acute angle, when the pulling force F2 acts, the 1 st end region 41 and the 2 nd end region 42 are extended outward in the oblique direction R, in the case where the intersection angle α is a right angle (≈ 90 degrees), in this case, the 1 st separated portion 51 is parallel to the lateral center line Q, and an obtuse angle (90 degrees or more), that is, in the case where the 1 st separated portion 51 is a shape extending substantially parallel to the lateral center line Q in the lateral direction X, or a shape extending obliquely so as to approach the longitudinal center line P from the 1 st end edge 13a side, the 1 st end region 41 and/or the 2 nd end region 42 is hard to be extended outward in the oblique direction R, and therefore the sanitary napkin 10 is not able to conform to the movement of the undergarment 70, it is preferable that the intersection angle α is an acute angle (0 degree to 90 degrees), more preferable that is about 50 degrees, and this is a possibility that the sanitary napkin is opened in the direction 3880 degrees or more, because the extension is caused by the force in the case where the intersection angle 1 st separated portion α and the extension is not less than the extension direction R.

In one of the ventral side and the back side of the undergarment 70, as long as the sanitary napkin 10 conforms to the undergarment 70, a large degree of foreign body sensation is not given to the wearer, and therefore, it is preferable that at least one of the 1 st end region 41 and the 2 nd end region 42 have at least one 1 st separating portion 51 disposed in each of the 1 st side portion 45 and the 2 nd side portion 46. In order to extend both sides of the 1 st end region 41 and/or both sides of the 2 nd end region 42 equally in the oblique direction R, it is preferable that the 1 st separating portion 51 disposed in the 1 st side portion 45 and the 2 nd side portion 46 are located at positions facing each other in the lateral direction X. More preferably, as in the present embodiment, since the plurality of 1 st divided portions 51 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line P in each of the 1 st side portion 45 and the 2 nd side portion 46, and the portions extending in the oblique direction R are the same on both sides of the 1 st end region 41 and the 2 nd end region 42, the overall compliance is improved as compared with the asymmetric case.

The liquid absorbent layer 13 includes a plurality of separation units 60 each including a plurality of the 1 st separation units 51, which are inclined with respect to the vertical center line P. Since the 1 st separating portion 51 has this arrangement, the entire region where the separating unit 60 is located can be regularly elongated, and the extensibility to elongation in the oblique direction R can be further improved, as compared with the case where the 1 st separating portion 51 is arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line P but irregularly.

Further, the 1 st separating portion 51 has a curved shape in which the inner end 51a and/or the outer end 51b of any 1 st separating portion 51 constituting the separating means 60 and the adjacent 1 st separating portion 51 overlap each other in the oblique direction R, and the adjacent 1 st separating portions 51 are bent in opposite directions to each other. In the portion of the undergarment 70 facing the groin portion, there is a possibility that a force to twist the entire undergarment by a movement or a change in posture of the wearer may act, but since the first separating portion 51 has such a shape and arrangement, even if a force to twist the undergarment 70 acts, the portion of the liquid absorbent layer 13 located between the first separating portions 51 is bent toward the body of the wearer, and the first end region 41 and the second end region 42 are deformed three-dimensionally to improve the fit to the body. By utilizing such three-dimensional deformation, the sanitary napkin 10 absorbs the force to twist it, and the decrease in absorbency due to the crack of the liquid absorbent layer 13 can be suppressed.

Since the 2 nd separated portion 52 located on the longitudinal center line P is disposed in the 1 st and 2

nd end regions

41 and 42, the 1 st and 2

nd end regions

41 and 42 can be elongated not only in the outer side in the oblique direction R but also in the longitudinal direction Y. Since the 3 rd separating portion 53 and the 4 th separating portion 54 are located in the intermediate region 43 of the liquid absorbent layer 13, when the sanitary napkin 10 is elongated in the longitudinal direction Y, a plurality of strip-like shapes are formed between the separating

portions

53 and 54 so as to be partially connected in the longitudinal direction Y. Since the sanitary napkin 10 is excellent in extensibility in the longitudinal direction Y in this manner, the entire sanitary napkin can be curved to follow the shape of the wearer's body, and the wearing sensation can be improved. In addition, although not shown, the surface layer 18 and the back surface layer 19 may be formed with projections and depressions alternately extending in the longitudinal direction by a known gear drawing process, thereby improving the extensibility of the sanitary napkin 10 in the transverse direction X. In this case, when the undergarment 70 is elongated in the transverse direction X, the 1 st separated portion 51 of the liquid absorbent layer 13 is opened, and the sanitary napkin 10 can conform to the movement of the undergarment 70. In this way, since the 1 st separating portion 51 can be opened in the oblique direction R oblique to the longitudinal direction Y and the lateral direction X, when a force to pull the sanitary napkin 10 in the lateral direction X and the longitudinal direction Y acts on the sanitary napkin, the 1 st separating portion 51 is opened to a desired extent and the liquid absorbent layer 13 can be extended.

In the present embodiment, the core wrap sheet 29 is separated from the absorbent core 28 to form an opening in each of the separating sections 51 to 54, but the following configuration may be adopted: the separating sections 51 to 54 are disposed only in the absorbent core 28, and the core wrap sheet 29 wraps the absorbent core 28 in which the separating sections are disposed. In the case of this embodiment, in order to allow the core wrap sheet 29 to be elongated in accordance with the elongation of the absorbent core 28 due to the opening of each of the separating sections 51 to 54, it is preferable that the core wrap sheet 29 is formed of a sheet material having extensibility. Further, a color that can be seen from the outside may be provided on the skin-facing surface side of the liquid absorbent layer 13 along the contour of the 1 st separating portion 51. The colored portion on the liquid absorbent layer 13 is visible to the wearer through the surface layer 18 and/or the back layer 19, thereby improving the appearance. Further, the presence of the 1 st separated portion 51 can be visually recognized by the wearer, so that the sanitary napkin 10 can be made to conform to the underwear 70 with a sense of reassurance, and the wearer can be recognized that the sanitary napkin 10 actually stretches when worn.

In the present embodiment, the sanitary napkin 10 is disposed such that the 1 st end region 41 is positioned on the front side (ventral side) of the wearer, but may be disposed such that the 1 st end region 41 is positioned on the rear side (back side). As described above, each of the separation portions of the liquid absorbent layer 13 may be disposed in at least one of the 1 st end region 41 and the 2 nd end region 42 of the sanitary napkin 10, but when only one of the separation portions is disposed, it is preferably disposed only in the end region located on the rear side. This is because the undergarment 70 is stretched in the oblique direction R more along the hip of the wearer on the rear side than on the front side. Further, as in the present embodiment, since the respective divided portions 51 to 54 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line P, that is, the respective divided portions 51 to 54 arranged in the 1 st side portion 45 and the 2 nd side portion 46 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the 1 st end region 41 and/or the 2 nd end region 42, the conformability to the oblique direction R is excellent, but the respective divided portions 51 to 54 may be arranged in a state where they are displaced in the lateral direction X, being asymmetrical entirely or partially, or the number, shape, and intersection angle of the imaginary lines K may be different for the respective divided portions 51 to 54 of the 1 st side portion 45 and the 2 nd side portion 46.

< modification example >

Fig. 9 (a) is a plan view of the liquid absorbent layer 13 in a modification of the sanitary napkin 10, and in this modification, the no 2 nd separation section 52, no 3 rd separation section 53, and no 4 th separation section 54 are disposed in the 1 st end region 41 and no 2 nd end region 42 of the liquid absorbent layer 13. Since the no 2 nd to 4 th separating portions 52 to 54 are arranged in this manner, when a force F2 that attempts to pull the sanitary napkin 10 in the oblique direction R is applied, the 1 st end region 41 and the 2 nd end region 42 do not extend in the longitudinal direction Y but extend only outward in the oblique direction R. Therefore, when the sanitary napkin is attached to the undergarment 70 during use or is peeled off from the undergarment 70 after use, the sanitary napkin 10 can be easily handled without being elongated in the longitudinal direction together with the undergarment 70, and the conformability of the undergarment 70 to the R direction in the worn state is also improved.

Fig. 9 (b) is a plan view of the liquid absorbent layer 13 in an example of another modification of the sanitary napkin 10, in which the 1 st separating portion 51 is formed of a slit extending straight obliquely with respect to the longitudinal centerline P, and even if the 1 st separating portion 51 is straight instead of curved in this way, the above-described technical effect can be produced because an imaginary line K passing through the inner end 51a and the outer end 51b thereof intersects the longitudinal centerline P and an intersection angle α opposing the transverse centerline Q forms an acute angle.

< embodiment 2 >

Referring to fig. 10, in the present embodiment, the front surface layer 18 and the back surface layer 19 are formed of a single sheet member or a plurality of sheet members (the front surface layer 18 is the front surface sheet 11 and the intermediate sheet, and the back surface layer 19 is the back surface sheet 12 and the leakage preventive sheet 14), and have extensibility in the longitudinal direction Y and/or the transverse direction X. That is, all the sheets constituting the front and back sheets 8 and 9 have elastic or inelastic extensibility. As the sheet having non-elasticity and extensibility, for example, the following sheets can be used: a predetermined extensibility to be elongated in the longitudinal direction Y is imparted by subjecting various known fiber nonwoven fabrics such as spunbond fiber nonwoven fabrics and SMS (spunbond, meltblown, spunbond) fiber nonwoven fabrics, and plastic films to gear drawing and slit processing. In the present embodiment, a fibrous nonwoven fabric sheet or plastic sheet having extensibility imparted by a known gear drawing process is used for each of the sheets constituting the front surface layer and the back surface layer.

Here, in the present invention, the "sheet having extensibility" refers to a sheet that can be extended by 3% or more with respect to the dimension in the longitudinal direction Y in a natural state, that is, a sheet having a length of 1.03 times or more with respect to the length before an extension force is applied, when a target sheet is extended from the natural state in the longitudinal direction Y with a force of 30mN/25 mm.

< measurement of elongation of sheet having elongation >

An instron-type universal tensile tester (autograph ag-1, manufactured by shimadzu corporation) was used for measuring the elongation of the sheet having elongation, and as a specific measurement method, a sample having a size of 50mm × 25mm in the longitudinal direction Y and the transverse direction X was cut from the sheet having elongation, the sample was mounted with both ends of the sample held by a jig, the length of 30mm in the longitudinal direction Y was pulled at a speed of 100mm/min, and the elongation (%) when an elongation force of 30mN was applied to the longitudinal direction Y per 25mm width dimension in the transverse direction X was measured.

At least one of the sheet members constituting the front surface layer 18 and the back surface layer 19 may be formed of a sheet having stretchability in the longitudinal direction Y and/or the lateral direction X. The sheet having stretchability may be formed of a stretchable composite sheet obtained by joining a nonwoven fabric of fibers having stretchability and a nonwoven fabric of fibers having non-stretchability, in addition to the nonwoven fabric having elastic stretchability described above, a multilayer structure such as a spunbond nonwoven fabric composed of elastic fibers alone, an SMS (spunbond meltblown spunbond) nonwoven fabric, or an SM (spunbond meltblown) nonwoven fabric. The stretchable composite sheet may be formed of a plurality of layers in which a stretchable fibrous nonwoven fabric is disposed between two non-stretchable fibrous nonwoven fabrics. The non-stretchable fibrous nonwoven fabric may be formed of various known fibrous nonwoven fabrics such as a through-air fibrous nonwoven fabric and a hot-roll fibrous nonwoven fabric, in addition to a spunbond fibrous nonwoven fabric. Examples of the constituent fibers of the nonwoven fabric used as the inelastic sheet include fibers made of Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), Polyester (PET), and the like.

The sanitary napkin 10 has concave compressed grooves 81-83 on the skin-facing surface side in the region where the liquid absorbent layer 13 is present. The compression grooves 81-83 have a vertically long annular outer peripheral portion 81, a heart-shaped decorative portion 82 located inside the outer peripheral portion 81, and curved portions 83 located at separate and opposite positions in the longitudinal direction Y. The compressed grooves 81 to 83 function as a body fluid guide groove for diffusing body fluid and a deformation assisting means capable of deforming in accordance with the body shape, and in the present embodiment, the liquid absorbent layer 13 in which the plurality of separating portions 51 to 54 are arranged is included, and all members constituting the sanitary napkin 10 have extensibility, and therefore, the extension suppressing means can also function to suppress the sanitary napkin 10 from excessively extending in one direction in conformity with the underwear 70.

Referring to fig. 11, a fixing member for fixing the sanitary napkin 10 to underwear 70 is disposed on the back side thereof. The fixing members include a central fixing member 85 extending in the longitudinal direction Y at the central portion in the transverse direction X of the sanitary napkin 10, a pair of side fixing members 86 disposed on the both flap portions 23, and a pair of end fixing members 87 located outside the central fixing member 85 in the longitudinal direction Y. By disposing the pair of side fixing members 86 and the pair of end fixing members 87 on the back side of the sanitary napkin 10 in this manner, the sanitary napkin 10 is stretched in the longitudinal direction Y and the transverse direction X between the side fixing members 86 and the end fixing members 87 in accordance with the movement of the undergarment 70 in a state where the sanitary napkin 10 is attached to the undergarment 70. Since the end fixing member 87 is disposed so as to intersect the 1 st end edge 13a and the 2 nd end edge 13b of the liquid absorbent layer 13, the liquid absorbent layer 13 extends in the longitudinal direction Y when a force for pulling the liquid absorbent layer 10 in the longitudinal direction Y is applied to conform to the movement of the undergarment 70.

Preferably, the non-extensible regions (regions not subjected to gear drawing) of the respective sheets constituting the front surface layer 18 and the back surface layer 19 are located in the arrangement regions of the fixing members 85 to 87. When the extensible regions of the respective sheets subjected to the gear drawing process are located in the arrangement regions of the respective fixing members 85 to 87, it is difficult to exhibit the extensibility because the respective fixing members 85 to 87 are fixed to the undergarment 70, and when the arrangement regions are extended when the respective fixing members 85 to 87 are peeled from the undergarment 70 after wearing, particularly the back surface layer 19 is extended, and the peeling force is not applied to the arrangement regions, so that it may be said that the peeling operation is difficult.

In addition, as long as not specifically explicitly described, various known materials generally used in this field can be used for each structural member constituting the sanitary napkin 10 without limitation, in addition to the materials described in the present specification. The terms "1 st" to "4 th" used in the present specification and claims are only used to distinguish the same elements, positions, and the like.

The disclosure of the present invention described above can be organized into at least the following items.

An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, a longitudinal centerline, and a transverse centerline, the absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable surface layer, a liquid-impermeable back surface layer, and a liquid-absorbent layer interposed between the surface layer and the back surface layer, wherein the liquid-absorbent layer has a 1 st end region and a 2 nd end region that are opposed to each other in the longitudinal direction, at least the 1 st end region of the 1 st end region and the 2 nd end region has a 1 st side portion and a 2 nd side portion that are opposed to each other with the longitudinal centerline interposed therebetween, and at least one slit-shaped 1 st separating portion that is disposed in at least one of the 1 st side portion and the 2 nd side portion and penetrates the liquid-absorbent layer, the 1 st separating portion has an outer end and an inner end that is located on the longitudinal centerline side, and an imaginary line passing through the inner end and the outer end extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal centerline, an intersection angle facing the transverse center line among intersection angles of the imaginary line and the longitudinal center line is an acute angle.

The present invention disclosed in the above paragraphs includes at least the following embodiments, which may be individually configured or combined.

(1) The 1 st separating portion is disposed on the 1 st side portion and the 2 nd side portion so as to face each other in the lateral direction.

(2) An intersection angle facing the transverse centerline is between about 50 degrees and about 80 degrees.

(3) The 1 st end region has at least one separation unit formed of a plurality of the 1 st separated portions and extending obliquely with respect to the longitudinal centerline, and the absorbent article is arranged such that parts of adjacent ones of the 1 st separated portions in the separation unit overlap each other in a direction oblique with respect to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction.

(4) The 1 st separated part is bent, and adjacent separated parts are bent in opposite directions.

(5) A slit-shaped 2 nd separating portion penetrating the liquid absorbent layer is disposed in the 1 st end region, and the 2 nd separating portion is located on the longitudinal centerline and has a shape protruding outward in the longitudinal direction.

(6) The liquid absorbent layer further includes an intermediate region located between the 1 st end region and the 2 nd end region, a plurality of slit-shaped 3 rd separating portions and 4 th separating portions penetrating the liquid absorbent layer are arranged in the intermediate region, the 3 rd separating portions are located at positions separated from each other in the longitudinal direction and extend in the transverse direction so as to intersect the longitudinal center line, and the 4 th separating portions extend from side edges of the liquid absorbent layer toward the longitudinal center line between the 3 rd separating portions and are located at positions facing each other across the longitudinal center line.

(7) The 1 st and 4 th separated parts are located at positions symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line, and the 2 nd and 3 rd separated parts have shapes symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line.

(8) The liquid absorbent layer has an absorbent core and a core wrap sheet for wrapping the absorbent core, the core wrap sheet being formed of a sheet having extensibility.

(9) Coloring is applied along the 1 st separating portion on the front surface side or the back surface side of the liquid absorbent layer.

(10) At least one of the surface layer and the back layer is formed of a sheet having extensibility.

(11) At least one of the surface layer and the back surface layer is formed of a sheet having stretchability.

Description of the reference numerals

10: sanitary napkin (absorbent article)

13: liquid absorption layer

13c, 13 d: side edge of liquid absorption layer

18: surface layer

19: back layer

28: absorbent core

29: core cladding sheet

41: 1 st end region

42: 2 nd end region

43: middle area

45: 1 st side part

46: 2 nd side part

51: 1 st separation part

51 a: 1 st separated part inner end

51 b: outer end of No. 1 separating part

52: 2 nd separation part

53: 3 rd separation part

54: 4 th separation part

60: separation unit

K: imaginary line passing through the inner and outer ends of the 1 st separated part

P: longitudinal center line

Q: transverse center line

X: transverse direction

Y: longitudinal direction

Claims

1. An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, a longitudinal centerline, and a transverse centerline, the absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and a liquid-absorbent layer interposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent article being characterized in that,

the liquid absorbent layer has a 1 st end region and a 2 nd end region opposed to each other in the longitudinal direction,

at least the 1 st end region of the 1 st end region and the 2 nd end region has a 1 st side portion and a 2 nd side portion opposed to each other with the longitudinal centerline interposed therebetween, and at least one slit-shaped 1 st separating portion disposed in at least one of the 1 st side portion and the 2 nd side portion and penetrating the liquid absorbent layer,

the 1 st separating portion has an outer end and an inner end located on the side of the longitudinal centerline, and an imaginary line passing through the inner end and the outer end extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal centerline, and an intersection angle facing the transverse centerline among intersection angles of the imaginary line and the longitudinal centerline is an acute angle,

a slit-shaped 2 nd separating portion penetrating the liquid absorbent layer is disposed in the 1 st end region, the 2 nd separating portion being located on the longitudinal centerline and having a shape protruding outward in the longitudinal direction,

the liquid absorbent layer further includes an intermediate region located between the 1 st end region and the 2 nd end region, a plurality of slit-shaped 3 rd separating portions and 4 th separating portions penetrating the liquid absorbent layer are arranged in the intermediate region, the 3 rd separating portions are located at positions separated from each other in the longitudinal direction and extend in the transverse direction so as to intersect the longitudinal center line, and the 4 th separating portions extend from side edges of the liquid absorbent layer toward the longitudinal center line between the 3 rd separating portions and are located at positions facing each other across the longitudinal center line.

2. An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, a longitudinal centerline, and a transverse centerline, the absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable topsheet, a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and a liquid-absorbent layer interposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent article being characterized in that,

coloring is applied along the 1 st separating portion on the front side or the back side of the liquid absorbent layer.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the 1 st separating portion is disposed on the 1 st side portion and the 2 nd side portion so as to face each other in the lateral direction.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the intersection angle facing the transverse center line is 50 to 80 degrees.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the 1 st end region has at least one separation unit formed of a plurality of the 1 st separation portions and extending obliquely with respect to the longitudinal centerline, and the absorbent article is arranged such that parts of the adjacent 1 st separation portions of the separation units overlap each other in a direction oblique to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 5,

the 1 st separated part is bent, and adjacent separated parts are bent in opposite directions.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1,

the 1 st and 4 th separated parts are located at positions symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line, and the 2 nd and 3 rd separated parts have shapes symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the liquid absorbent layer has an absorbent core and a core wrap sheet for wrapping the absorbent core, the core wrap sheet being formed of a sheet having extensibility.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

at least one of the surface layer and the back layer is formed of a sheet having extensibility.

10. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

at least one of the surface layer and the back surface layer is formed of a sheet having stretchability.