CN111182867A

CN111182867A - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: CN111182867A
Application number: CN201880064433.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 渡边纱纪子; 深山拓也; 坂口智
Original assignee: Unicharm Corp
Current assignee: Unicharm Corp
Priority date: 2017-10-06
Filing date: 2018-09-21
Publication date: 2020-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-21
Also published as: TW201929801A; CN111182867B; WO2019069719A1; EA202090847A1; JP2019068905A; TWI795445B; JP7257101B2

Abstract

An absorbent article is provided which can ensure design as clothing while allowing characters, symbols, or figures to be recognized. An absorbent article (10) is provided with: the waist belt comprises a front-back direction (L), a width direction (W) orthogonal to the front-back direction, a thickness direction, a front waistline region (S1), a rear waistline region (S3), an absorber (40) straddling the front waistline region and the rear waistline region, and a fastening belt (90) for fastening the front waistline region and the rear waistline region. A valley portion FL1 that is valley-folded when viewed from the skin surface side is provided on the outer side in the width direction than the outer edge of the absorbent body. In the unfolded state of the absorbent article, characters, symbols, or figures are formed on the skin surface side of the absorbent article. The characters, symbols or figures (80) are arranged in the area hidden inside the absorbent article in the state of being folded by the valley part.

Description

Absorbent article

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an absorbent article including a fastening tape for fastening a front waistline region and a rear waistline region.

Background

It is known that predetermined patterns and/or characters are formed on an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper in order to reduce mental loads such as a sense of depression and a feeling of aversion to a user or a helper (patent document 1).

In the absorbent article described in patent document 1, predetermined graphics and/or characters are shielded by the shielding sheet in a natural state before use. The graphics and/or text are visible from the non-use side in the extended state of the absorbent article.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2007-215804

Disclosure of Invention

In the absorbent article described in patent document 1, the design formed on the absorbent article is provided on the outer side of the absorbent article, that is, on the side opposite to the skin of the wearer. Thus, the design is always visible in a state where the absorbent article is worn.

If the figures and/or characters for reducing the mental burden such as the feeling of depression or aversion of the user or the facilitator are always visible on the outside of the absorbent article during wearing, the design of the absorbent article may be impaired.

Therefore, an absorbent article that can recognize letters, signs, or figures while ensuring the designability as a garment is desired.

The absorbent article has: a front-back direction; a width direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction; a thickness direction; a front waistline region; a rear waist region; an absorber spanning the front waistline region and the rear waistline region; and a fastening tape for fastening the front waistline region and the rear waistline region. The valley portion is provided at a position outside the outer edge of the absorbent body in the width direction when viewed from the skin surface side. In the unfolded state of the absorbent article, characters, symbols, or figures are formed on the skin surface side of the absorbent article. The characters, symbols or figures are provided in the region hidden inside the absorbent article in the folded state by the valley portions.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an absorbent article according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent article folded at the valley portions shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the absorbent article according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent article taken along line F1-F1 shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the fastening tape in a folded state.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the deployed fastening strip.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening tape taken along line F2-F2 shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening tape taken along line F3-F3 shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the fastener tape according to embodiment 3 in an expanded state.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a container in which a plurality of absorbent articles are stored.

Detailed Description

(1) Brief description of the embodiments

At least the following matters will be apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

An absorbent article according to one embodiment includes: a front-back direction; a width direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction; a thickness direction; a front waistline region; a rear waist region; an absorber spanning the front waistline region and the rear waistline region; and a fastening band that fastens the front waistline region and the rear waistline region, wherein a valley portion that is valley-folded when viewed from a skin surface side is provided at a position outside an outer edge of the absorber in the width direction, and in a developed state of the absorbent article, characters, symbols, or figures are formed on the skin surface side of the absorbent article, and the characters, symbols, or figures are provided in a region hidden inside the absorbent article in a state of being folded by the valley portion.

In the absorbent article according to this aspect, the characters, symbols, or graphics formed on the absorbent article are provided in the region hidden inside the absorbent article in the folded state at the valley portions. Therefore, before the absorbent article is worn, the characters, symbols, or figures are difficult to see.

Further, when an assistant such as a parent or a mediator spreads the absorbent article, characters, symbols, or figures are visible. That is, characters, symbols, or figures are visible by the wearing motion of the absorbent article. By making letters, signs or figures which are difficult to be seen at first suddenly visible, it is easy to bring surprise to an assistant such as a parent or a mediator.

Further, characters, symbols, or figures are formed on the skin surface side of the absorbent article. Therefore, the characters, symbols, or figures are difficult to see when the absorbent article is worn.

Therefore, the characters, symbols, and figures are visible during the wearing operation of the absorbent article, but are difficult to see during the wearing period of the absorbent article. Thereby, the design as an absorbent article can be ensured during wearing of the absorbent article.

According to a preferred embodiment, the valley portion passes through the fastening band.

The fastening band is a part to be grasped by an assistant such as a parent or a mediator during the wearing action. Therefore, the vicinity of the valley portion passing through the fastening band is an area where the assistor gazes. Since the characters, symbols, or figures are hidden in the region, the characters, symbols, or figures can be easily recognized by the assistant when the valley portion is expanded.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fastening band is folded by the valley portion, and the characters, symbols, or figures are provided on the fastening band.

The fastening band is a part to be grasped by an assistant such as a parent or a mediator during the wearing action. When the folded fastening tape is unfolded during wearing, the characters, symbols or figures can be seen, so that the characters, symbols or figures can be more easily recognized by the assistant.

According to a preferred embodiment, the front waistline region or the rear waistline region includes a sheet member that accommodates at least a part of the fastening tape folded by the valley portion, and the region of the fastening tape where the characters, symbols, or figures are formed is covered with the sheet member in the state where the fastening tape is folded by the valley portion.

Since the characters, symbols, or figures are covered by the sheet in the state where the fastening tape is folded, it becomes more difficult to see the characters, symbols, or figures before the putting-in operation of the absorbent article.

According to a preferred aspect, the fastening band further includes a peak-folded portion that is folded by a peak when viewed from the skin surface side, the peak-folded portion being provided offset from the valley-folded portion in the width direction, and a free end portion of the fastening band extends outward in the width direction in a state where the fastening band is folded by the valley-folded portion and the peak-folded portion.

Since the free end portion of the fastener tape in the state where the valley fold portion and the peak fold portion are folded extends outward in the width direction, the assistant can easily spread the fastener tape by merely grasping the free end portion of the fastener tape and pulling it outward in the width direction. Further, since the characters, symbols, or figures formed on the fastening tape are visible by the operation of the expansion, the characters, symbols, or figures can be recognized more easily by the assistant.

According to a preferred aspect, the valley fold portion is provided outside the peak fold portion in the width direction in a state where the fastening tape is unfolded.

Thus, the fastening band is hidden in the region inside the fastening band in the folded state of the valley fold and the peak fold, and is located outside the peak fold in the unfolded state. Therefore, the characters, symbols, or figures provided in the region hidden inside the fastener tape move further outward in the width direction by the operation of expanding the fastener tape. Therefore, the assistor can more easily see the characters, symbols, or figures during the wearing action.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fastening tape includes a base material and a hook member provided on the base material, and the characters, symbols, or figures are provided between the base material and the hook member.

Since the characters, symbols, or figures are provided between the base material and the hook material, the ink, which is the material constituting the characters, symbols, or figures, is prevented from directly adhering to the skin of the wearer or the assistor. This can suppress the influence on the skin of the wearer or the assistor.

According to a preferred aspect, the absorbent article includes a pair of the fastening tapes, and the characters, symbols, or figures provided on one of the fastening tapes are different from the characters, symbols, or figures provided on the other of the fastening tapes.

This can improve the design of characters, symbols, or figures. In addition, two different behavioral or psychological effects may be given to the helper.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the character, symbol, or figure is located on the outer side in the width direction than the valley portion.

For example, when the wearer wears the absorbent article in a state of lying on the absorbent article placed on the floor, the assistant can easily see the side of the outer region in the width direction. The region on the outer side in the width direction than the valley fold portion is a region extending outward in the width direction when the components of the absorbent article are unfolded. Therefore, by positioning at least a part of the characters, symbols, or figures at the outer side in the width direction than the valley fold portion, the auxiliary person can more easily see the characters, symbols, or figures during the wearing action.

According to a preferred embodiment, the characters, symbols, or figures are provided on both sides of the valley portion.

Since the area in which characters, symbols, or figures can be formed becomes large, various designs can be provided.

According to a preferred embodiment, the distance from the edge of the character, symbol, or figure on the outer side in the width direction to the valley portion is greater than the distance from the edge of the character, symbol, or figure on the inner side in the width direction to the valley portion.

Since the characters, symbols, or figures are formed to be longer in the width direction than the valley portions in the expanded state, the characters, symbols, or figures are more easily visible to the assistant during the wearing action.

According to a preferred embodiment, a distance from an edge of the character, symbol, or figure on the outer side in the width direction to the valley portion is smaller than a distance from an edge of the character, symbol, or figure on the inner side in the width direction to the valley portion.

Since the characters, symbols, or figures are formed shorter in the width direction than the valley portions in the expanded state, it is difficult for the assistant to directly touch the characters, symbols, or figures during the wearing action. This can suppress the influence given to the skin of the assistant.

According to a preferred embodiment, the characters, symbols, or figures are formed of display elements that promote an action or psychological action on an assistant who wears the absorbent article.

Thus, the assistor can give the assistor a psychological effect such as a sense of satisfaction or a sense of achievement to the assistor while the absorbent article is being worn.

An absorbent article container according to one aspect includes a plurality of absorbent articles and a package that contains the plurality of absorbent articles, wherein only some of the plurality of absorbent articles contained in the package are absorbent articles that include the aforementioned characters, symbols, or graphics.

According to this aspect, only a part of the plurality of absorbent articles housed in the package has the aforementioned characters, symbols, or graphics. When the assistant or the user finds characters, symbols, or figures when the absorbent article is unfolded, the assistant or the user can obtain a satisfactory feeling of selecting an absorbent article having high rarity. This can improve the purchasing intention of the assistant or user.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. In which it is noted that the drawings are schematic, and the proportions of the respective dimensions and the like are different from those in reality. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined with reference to the following description. In addition, the drawings may include portions having different dimensional relationships or ratios from each other.

(2) Embodiment 1

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an absorbent article according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent article folded at the valley portions shown in fig. 1. The absorbent article 10 may be, for example, a disposable diaper. The absorbent article 10 according to the present embodiment is preferably worn by an infant or a person requiring assistance, particularly by an assistant such as a parent or a person who needs assistance.

The absorbent article 10 has a front waistline region S1, a crotch region S2, and a rear waistline region S3. The front waistline region S1 is a portion that contacts the front waistline portion (abdomen portion) of the wearer. The back waistline region S3 is a portion that contacts the back waistline portion (back portion) of the wearer. The crotch region S2 is located between the front waistline region S1 and the rear waistline region S3.

The absorbent article 10 has a front-back direction L and a width direction W. The front-rear direction L is a direction from the front waistline region S1 toward the rear waistline region S3, or a direction from the rear waistline region S3 toward the front waistline region S1. The width direction W is a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction L. The thickness direction is a direction from the skin surface side of the absorbent article 10 toward the non-skin surface side, or a direction from the non-skin surface side toward the skin surface side.

The absorbent article 10 may have a top sheet, a back sheet, and an absorber 40. The top sheet can be positioned on the skin surface side of the absorbent article and has liquid permeability. The back sheet may be positioned on the non-skin side of the absorbent article and has liquid impermeability.

The absorber 40 comprises a material that absorbs bodily fluids of the wearer. The absorber 40 is provided between the front sheet and the back sheet. The absorber 40 spans the front waistline region S1 and the rear waistline region S3.

The absorbent article 10 may have a pair of fastening tapes 90 that fasten the front waistline region S1 and the rear waistline region S3. The fastening tapes 90 may be provided on both sides of the rear waistline region S3 in the width direction W. The fastening tape 90 fastens the front waistline region S1 and the rear waistline region S3 when the absorbent article 10 is worn. Specifically, the absorbent article 10 is held on the body of the wearer by fastening the fastening tape 90 provided in the rear waistline region S3 to the front waistline region S1.

The absorbent article 10 is folded when packaged before use. In the present embodiment, the valley portion FL1 that is valley-folded (depressed from the fold line) when viewed from the skin surface side of the absorbent article 10 is provided outside the outer edge of the absorber 40 in the width direction W. The valley portions FL1 may extend in the front-rear direction L and pass through the rear waistline region S3. Fig. 2 shows a state in which a part of the absorbent article 10 is folded at the pair of valley portions FL 1. Instead of the embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2, the valley portion FL1 may pass through the fastening tape 90.

The absorbent article 10 may have a fold line, not shown, extending in the width direction W in the crotch region S2, for example, in addition to the valley portion FL 1.

In the unfolded state of the absorbent article 10, characters, symbols, or figures 80 can be formed on the skin surface side of the absorbent article 10. In the example shown in fig. 1, the figure of the infant or the animal is formed, but the invention is not limited thereto, and various characters, symbols, or figures 80 may be formed. The characters, symbols, or graphics 80 may be provided on a sheet, for example, a topsheet, which is positioned on the skin surface side of the absorber 40.

The characters, symbols, or graphics 80 are provided in the region hidden inside the absorbent article 10 in the folded state by the valley portion FL 1. Therefore, before the absorbent article 10 is worn, the characters, symbols, or graphics 80 are not easily visible.

When an assistant such as a parent or a facilitator spreads the absorbent article, characters, symbols, or figures 80 can be seen. That is, the characters, symbols, or figures 80 are visible according to the wearing motion of the absorbent article. By making the text, symbol or figure 80 which is difficult to see at first suddenly visible, the user can be easily surprised by the assistant such as a parent or a mediator.

Further, characters, symbols, or graphics 80 are formed on the skin surface side of the absorbent article. Therefore, the characters, symbols, or figures 80 are difficult to see when the absorbent article 10 is worn.

Therefore, the characters, symbols, or graphics 80 are visible during the wearing operation of the absorbent article 10, but are difficult to see during the wearing of the absorbent article 10. This can ensure design as the absorbent article 10 during wearing of the absorbent article 10.

Preferably, the characters, symbols, or figures 80 are formed of display elements that promote an action or psychological action on the assistor who is performing the wearing action of the absorbent article 10. The display elements for promoting the action may be characters such as "touch" and "scratch" or symbols or graphics for promoting such actions. The display elements that promote psychological effects may be, for example, characters such as "thank you" or graphics such as a smiling face of an infant.

Thus, the assistor can give the assistor a psychological effect such as a sense of satisfaction or a sense of achievement to the assistor while the absorbent article 10 is being worn.

The letters, symbols, or graphics 80 may be provided on both sides of the rear waistline region S3 in the width direction W. In this case, one of the characters, symbols or figures 80 may be different from the other of the characters, symbols or figures 80. This can improve the design of the characters, symbols, or figures 80. In addition, the helper can be given two different behavioral or psychological effects.

Preferably, at least a part of the character, symbol, or graphic 80 is located on the outer side in the width direction W than the valley portion FL 1. For example, when the absorbent article 10 is worn while the wearer is lying on the absorbent article 10 placed on the floor, the assistor can easily see the side of the region outside in the width direction W. The region on the outer side in the width direction W than the valley portion FL1 is a region extending outward in the width direction W when the components of the absorbent article 10 are unfolded. Therefore, by positioning at least a part of the characters, symbols, or graphics 80 at the outer side in the width direction W than the valley portion FL1, the characters, symbols, or graphics 80 can be more easily seen by the assistant during the wearing action.

Further, the characters, symbols, or figures 80 may be provided on both sides with the valley portion FL1 interposed therebetween. Thus, the area where the characters, symbols, or figures 80 can be formed is enlarged, and thus characters, symbols, or figures of various designs can be provided.

(3) Embodiment 2

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the absorbent article according to embodiment 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent article taken along line F1-F1 shown in fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the fastening tape in a folded state. Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the deployed fastening strip. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening tape taken along line F2-F2 shown in fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening tape taken along line F3-F3 shown in fig. 6.

Hereinafter, it should be noted that the same components as those in embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The absorbent article 10 may have a topsheet 50, a backsheet 62, and an absorbent 40. The top sheet 50 is positioned on the skin surface side of the absorbent article 10 and covers the absorber 40. The back sheet 62 may be positioned on the non-skin surface side of the absorbent article 10 and has liquid impermeability. Further, an exterior sheet 60 may be provided on the non-skin surface side of the back sheet 62.

The absorber 40 comprises a material that absorbs bodily fluids of the wearer. The absorber 40 is provided between the front sheet 50 and the back sheet 62. The absorber 40 may have an absorbent core 40a that absorbs body fluid of the wearer and a core wrap 40b that wraps the absorbent core 40 a.

The side sheet 70 may be provided from the end of the absorber 40 in the width direction to the outside of the absorber 40. The side panel 70 may extend in the front-rear direction L up to the front waistline region S1, the crotch region S2, and the rear waistline region S3. The side sheet 70 may be formed of a plurality of laminated nonwoven fabrics of 1 sheet or 2 sheets or more.

In the present embodiment, the valley fold portion FL1 that is valley folded when viewed from the skin surface side of the absorbent article 10 passes through the fastening tape 90. More specifically, the fastening band 90 is expandably folded by the valley portion FL 1. In this case, the letters, symbols or figures 80 may be provided on the fastening tape 90. More specifically, the characters, symbols, or figures 80 may be provided on the skin surface side of the fastening tape 90 in the expanded state. As described in embodiment 1, the characters, symbols, or figures 80 may be constituted by display elements that promote an action or psychological action on the assistor who is performing the wearing operation of the absorbent article 10.

The fastening band 90 is a part to be grasped by an assistant such as a parent or a mediator during the wearing action. Therefore, the vicinity of the valley portion FL1 passing through the fastening band 90 is the region where the assistor gazes. Since the characters, symbols, or figures 80 are hidden in this area, the characters, symbols, or figures 80 are easily recognized by the assistant when the folded portion FL1 is unfolded. In particular, by providing the characters, symbols, or figures 80 on the fastener tape 90, the characters, symbols, or figures 80 can be seen by the action of unfolding the folded fastener tape. Therefore, the assistant can suddenly see the characters, signs or figures 80 which are difficult to see before in the wearing action, and further becomes surprised.

The characters, symbols, or figures 80 are provided on the pair of fastening tapes 90, respectively, and the characters, symbols, or figures 80 provided on one fastening tape 90 may be different from the characters, symbols, or figures 80 provided on the other fastening tape 90.

The fastening tape 90 may include a base material 91 fixed to the rear waistline region S3 and a hook member 92 provided on the base material 91 and engageable with the front waistline region S1. A plurality of hooks capable of engaging with the front waistline region S1 may be provided on one surface (engaging surface) of the hook member 92.

Preferably, the fastening tape 90 further has a peak-folded portion FL2 that is folded (creased and raised) when viewed from the skin surface side. Therefore, the peak-folded portion FL2 is provided offset from the valley-folded portion FL1 in the width direction W. More preferably, in the state where the fastening tape 90 is unfolded, the valley fold portion FL1 is provided on the outer side in the width direction W than the peak fold portion FL 2. In this case, the fastener tape 90 is in a three-folded state in a state where the valley folded portion FL1 and the peak folded portion FL2 are folded. In this case, the free end 93 of the fastener tape 90 extends outward in the width direction W in the state where the fastener tape 90 is folded. The fixed end portion 94 of the fastening tape 90 opposite to the free end portion 93 may be fixed to a sheet existing in the rear waistline region S3, for example, the topsheet 50 and/or the outer sheet 60.

Since the free end portion 93 of the fastener tape 90 in the state where the valley folded portion FL1 and the peak folded portion FL2 are folded extends outward in the width direction W, the assistant can easily unfold the fastener tape 90 only by grasping the free end portion 93 of the fastener tape 90 and pulling it outward in the width direction. Further, the characters, signs or figures 80 formed on the fastening tape 90 can be seen by the spreading operation, and therefore, the characters, signs or figures 80 can be recognized more easily by the assistant.

Further, since the valley portion FL1 is provided at the outer side in the width direction W than the peak portion FL2 in the state where the fastener tape 90 is unfolded, the region hidden inside the fastener tape 90 in the state where the fastener tape 90 is folded at the valley portion FL1 and the peak portion FL2 is located at the outer side than the peak portion FL2 in the unfolded state. Therefore, the characters, symbols, or figures 80 provided in the region hidden inside the fastening tape 90 move outward in the width direction W by the operation of expanding the fastening tape 90. Thus, the assistive person can more easily see the characters, symbols, or figures 80 during the wearing action.

In the state where the fastening tape 90 is folded, a part of the hook material 92 may face the other part of the hook material 92 in the plane folded to overlap each other. That is, the hook members 92 may be provided on both sides with the valley portions FL1 interposed therebetween. In this case, since the hook members 92 face each other in the folded state of the fastener tape 90, the hook members 92 can be prevented from being accidentally stuck to the nonwoven fabric constituting the absorbent article 10.

Preferably, the front waistline region S1 or the rear waistline region S3 includes a receiving portion 72 for receiving at least a part of the fastening tape 90 folded by the valley portion FL 1. The housing portion 72 may be formed of a sheet member such as the side sheet 70 or the exterior sheet 60 described above. In this case, the sheet member (side sheet 70 in the illustrated example) covers the region where the characters, symbols, or graphics 80 are formed.

Since the characters, symbols, or figures 80 are covered by the side sheet 70 in the state where the fastening tape 90 is folded, it is more difficult to see the characters, symbols, or figures 80 before the putting-in operation of the absorbent article 10. Thus, the user feels more surprised when the user spreads the fastening tape 90 and sees the characters, symbols, or figures 80. Therefore, the desire to purchase can be increased for consumers such as the facilitator.

As described above, when the folded fastening band 90 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 72, the free end portion 93 of the fastening band 90 preferably protrudes from the accommodating portion 72 to the outside. When the absorbent article 10 is worn by the person needing assistance, the person needing assistance is first laid on the absorbent article in a state where the absorbent article is placed on the floor. At this time, if the free end 93 of the fastening tape 90 protrudes from the accommodating portion 72 to the outside, the fastening tape 90 can be easily pulled and unfolded.

Preferably, the letter, symbol or graphic 80 is provided between the base material 91 and the hook material 92. Thus, the text, indicia or graphic 80 can be viewed through the hook material 92. In this case, the hook material 92 may be transparent or translucent. The total light transmittance of the hook material 92 may be preferably 60% or more, and more preferably 86% or more. For example, the total light transmittance of the hook material 92 may be in the range of 80 to 90%. Here, the total light transmittance of the hook material 92 can be measured by a measuring device "NIPPON DENSHOKU 300A" or "HAZEMETER NDH 7000" (japan electrochromic industry). In this measurement, light is irradiated from the flat surface (surface on the side where no hooks are formed) side of the hook member 92.

Since the characters, symbols, or figures 80 are provided between the base 91 and the hook member 92, the ink, which is the material constituting the characters, symbols, or figures 80, is prevented from directly adhering to the skin of the wearer or the assistor. This can suppress the influence on the skin of the wearer or the assistor.

Preferably, at least a part of the character, symbol, or graphic 80 is located outward in the width direction W from the valley portion FL 1. For example, when the absorbent article 10 is worn while the wearer is lying on the absorbent article 10 placed on the floor, the assistor can easily see the side of the region outside in the width direction W. The region on the outer side in the width direction W than the valley portion FL1 is a region extending outward in the width direction W when the components of the absorbent article 10 (in this example, the fastening tape 90) are unfolded. Therefore, by positioning at least a part of the characters, symbols, or graphics 80 at the outer side in the width direction W than the valley portion FL1, the auxiliary person can more easily see the characters, symbols, or graphics 80 during the wearing action.

Preferably, the characters, symbols or graphics 80 are provided on both sides with the valley portion FL1 interposed therebetween. This allows the area in which the characters, symbols, or figures 80 can be formed to be larger, and thus various designs can be provided.

More preferably, in the deployed state of the fastener tape 90, the distance L2 from the edge of the character, symbol, or graphic 80 on the outer side in the width direction W to the valley portion FL1 is greater than the distance L1 from the edge of the character, symbol, or graphic 80 on the inner side in the width direction W to the valley portion FL 1.

In the unfolded state, the text, symbol, or graphic 80 extends further outward in the width direction than the valley portion FL1, and therefore the text, symbol, or graphic 80 is more easily visible to the assistant during the wearing action.

(4) Embodiment 3

The absorbent article according to embodiment 3 will be described below. The absorbent article according to embodiment 3 is the same as the absorbent article according to embodiment 2, except for the arrangement of the characters, symbols, or graphics 80 formed in the fastening tape 90. The same configuration as that of the absorbent article according to embodiment 2 will not be described.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the fastening tape in an expanded state according to embodiment 3. The characters, symbols, or figures 80 are provided on both sides with the valley portions FL1 interposed therebetween.

In the state where the fastener tape 90 is unfolded, the distance L2 from the edge of the character, mark, or graphic 80 on the outer side in the width direction W to the valley portion FL1 is smaller than the distance L1 from the edge of the character, mark, or graphic 80 on the inner side in the width direction W to the valley portion FL 1.

In the unfolded state, the text, symbol, or graphic 80 has a shorter range extending outward in the width direction than the valley portion FL1, and therefore, it is difficult for the assistant to directly touch the text, symbol, or graphic 80 during the wearing operation. This can suppress the influence of the ink constituting the characters, symbols, or figures 80 on the skin of the assistant.

(5) Absorbent article container

The following describes the container of the absorbent article 10. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a container 100 in which a plurality of absorbent articles 10 are stored. The container 100 includes a plurality of absorbent articles 10 and a package 102 that contains the plurality of absorbent articles. The package 102 may have any form as long as it can house a plurality of absorbent articles 10. A plurality of absorbent articles 10 are housed in a folded state in the package 102.

Preferably, only a part of the plurality of absorbent articles 10 housed in the package 102 is the absorbent article described in the above embodiment. That is, some of the absorbent articles 10 contained in the package 102 include the aforementioned characters, symbols, or graphics 80. On the other hand, the other absorbent articles among the plurality of absorbent articles housed in the package 102 do not include the aforementioned characters, symbols, or graphics 80.

The absorbent article 10 including the aforementioned characters, symbols, or graphics 80 may be 30% or less, preferably 25% or less, more preferably 20% or less of the total number of absorbent articles contained in the package 102.

According to this embodiment, only a part of the plurality of absorbent articles 10 housed in the package 102 has the aforementioned characters, symbols, or graphics 80. Therefore, when the assistant or the user finds the characters, symbols, or figures 80 when unfolding the folded absorbent article, the satisfaction of selecting an absorbent article having high rarity can be obtained. This can improve the purchasing intention of the assistant or user. Further, if the assisting person is given an action or psychological action each time the absorbent article is worn, the assisting person may be burdened. Since about 8 absorbent articles are often used a day, when the absorbent articles 10 including the above-described characters, symbols, or graphics 80 are 20 to 30% or less of the total number of absorbent articles contained in the package 102, the assistant sees the absorbent articles having the characters, symbols, or graphics 80 about 1 or 2 times a day. This allows the assistant to act on the action or psychological action without placing an excessive burden on the assistant. Furthermore, by reducing the proportion of the absorbent article having the characters, symbols, or graphics 80 to 20% or less, the rareness can also be improved.

In addition, when the user is an infant, the frequency of use of the absorbent article varies according to the number of months of the infant, and therefore, the ratio of the absorbent article having the characters, symbols, or graphics 80 may vary according to the number of months. Further, instead of the above-described embodiment, the characters, symbols, or graphics 80 may be provided on all of the plurality of absorbent articles housed in the package 102.

(6) Other ways

While the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the present specification. The present invention can be implemented as modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present specification is for illustrative purposes and does not limit the present invention in any way.

In addition, the entire contents of japanese patent application nos. 2017-195830, which was filed on 6.10.2017, are incorporated herein by reference.

Industrial applicability

An absorbent article capable of providing recognizable letters, marks or figures and ensuring the designability as clothes.

Description of the reference numerals

10 absorbent article

80 characters, figures or signs

90 fastening band

91 base material

92 hook material

93 free end of the shaft

94 fixed end

FL1 valley fold

FL2 peak fold

S1 front waistline region

S2 crotch region

S3 rear waist region

Claims

1. An absorbent article having:

a front-back direction;

a width direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction;

a thickness direction;

a front waistline region;

a rear waist region;

an absorber spanning the front waistline region and the rear waistline region; and

a fastening tape for fastening the front waistline region and the rear waistline region, wherein,

a valley portion that is valley-folded when viewed from the skin surface side is provided at a position outside the outer edge of the absorbent body in the width direction,

characters, symbols or figures are formed on the skin surface side of the absorbent article in the unfolded state of the absorbent article,

the characters, symbols, or figures are provided in a region hidden inside the absorbent article in a state of being folded by the valley portion.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1,

the valley fold passes through the fastening band.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2,

the fastening band is folded by the valley portion,

the characters, marks or figures are arranged on the fastening belt.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3,

the front waistline region or the rear waistline region includes a sheet member that accommodates at least a part of the fastening tape folded by the valley portion,

in a state where the fastening tape is folded by the valley portion, a region of the fastening tape where the characters, symbols, or figures are formed is covered with the sheet member.

5. The absorbent article of claim 3 or 4,

the fastening band further has a peak-folded portion which is folded by a peak when viewed from the skin surface side,

the peak-fold part is arranged in the width direction and deviated from the valley-fold part,

in a state where the fastening band is folded at the valley fold portion and the peak fold portion, a free end portion of the fastening band extends outward in the width direction.

6. The absorbent article of claim 5,

the valley fold portion is provided at a position outside the peak fold portion in the width direction in a state where the fastening tape is unfolded.

7. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 3 to 6,

the fastening tape comprises a base material and a hook material provided on the base material,

the characters, symbols or figures are arranged between the base material and the hook material.

8. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 3 to 7,

the absorbent article has a pair of the fastening tapes,

the characters, symbols or figures provided on one of the fastening tapes are different from the characters, symbols or figures provided on the other of the fastening tapes.

9. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

at least a part of the character, symbol or figure is located outside the valley portion in the width direction.

10. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

the characters, symbols or figures are provided on both sides with the valley portions therebetween.

11. The absorbent article of claim 10,

the distance from the edge of the character, symbol, or figure on the outer side in the width direction to the valley portion is longer than the distance from the edge of the character, symbol, or figure on the inner side in the width direction to the valley portion.

12. The absorbent article of claim 10,

the distance from the edge of the character, symbol, or figure on the outer side in the width direction to the valley portion is smaller than the distance from the edge of the character, symbol, or figure on the inner side in the width direction to the valley portion.

13. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 12,

the characters, symbols, or figures are display elements that promote an action or psychological effect on an assistant who wears the absorbent article.

14. An absorbent article container comprising a plurality of absorbent articles and a package for containing the plurality of absorbent articles, wherein,

the absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 13 is only a part of the plurality of absorbent articles contained in the package.