CN111225643B

CN111225643B - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: CN111225643B
Application number: CN201880067654.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 植田麻穗; 藤井敬司
Original assignee: Unicharm Corp
Current assignee: Unicharm Corp
Priority date: 2017-11-07
Filing date: 2018-10-29
Publication date: 2023-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-29
Also published as: JP7107662B2; JP2019084042A; TWM574902U; BR102018072659A2; CN111225643A; WO2019093180A1

Abstract

An absorbent article (1) is provided with a front waist section (20) and a rear waist section (30), and at least one of the front waist section (20) and the rear waist section (30) is provided with a hole (50) that penetrates in the front-rear direction. The absorbent article (1) is characterized in that a non-overlapping region (30 NL) of both the front waist section (20) and the rear waist section (30), in which the front waist section (20) and the rear waist section (30) do not overlap each other in the front-rear direction, is provided with at least one hole (50).

Description

Absorbent article

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an absorbent article.

Background

A disposable diaper and the like are known as an absorbent article for absorbing excrement such as urine. For example, patent document 1 describes that moisture accumulation in the tape-type disposable diaper 1 and in the pants-type disposable diaper 30 is prevented by forming a plurality of slits 8 penetrating the diaper in the thickness direction.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2002-65731

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the natural state of the

disposable diapers

1 and 30 described in patent document 1, there is a possibility that the wearer of the

disposable diapers

1 and 30 or a person wearing the

disposable diapers

1 and 30 to another person may not be able to see the slits 8 due to contraction of the waist opening elastic members 7, and good air permeability may not be recognized from the appearance.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to make through holes in an absorbent article easily visible to a wearer of the absorbent article or a person who wears the absorbent article to another person, so that good breathability of the absorbent article is easily recognized.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, a main invention is an absorbent article having a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-rear direction intersecting each other. The absorbent article includes: a front waist portion; a rear waist portion; and a hole that penetrates at least one of the front waist portion and the rear waist portion in the front-rear direction. At least one of the holes is provided in a non-overlapping region of the front and rear waist portions where the front and rear waist portions do not overlap with each other in the front-rear direction.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the present specification and drawings.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The present invention makes the through holes in the absorbent article easily visible, so that good breathability of the absorbent article is more easily identified.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a schematic front view of a natural state of the diaper 1 as viewed from the front side. Fig. 1B is a schematic rear view of the natural state of the diaper 1 as viewed from the rear side.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in a developed and extended state when viewed from the skin side.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view III-III in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view IV-IV in fig. 2.

Fig. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing a modification provided in a non-overlapping area of the diaper 1.

Fig. 6A isbase:Sub>A schematic view ofbase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A section in the rear side waist portion 30 in fig. 2. Fig. 6B is a schematic view of a B-B section in the rear waist portion 30 in fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view showing a modification of the arrangement of the holes 50 in the rear-side non-overlapping region 30NL.

Detailed Description

At least the following matters will become clear from the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

An absorbent article has a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-rear direction that intersect each other. The absorbent article includes: a front side waist portion; a rear waist portion; and a hole that penetrates at least one of the front waist portion and the rear waist portion in the front-rear direction. At least one of the holes is provided in a non-overlapping region of the front and rear waist portions where the front and rear waist portions do not overlap with each other in the front-rear direction.

According to the absorbent article, the at least one hole is easily visible from both the front side and the rear side in a natural state. Further, since the holes are provided in the non-overlapping area, the user can see the other side from one side in the front-rear direction through the holes, so that the user can easily recognize the holes as through-holes. Therefore, the through holes in the absorbent article are easily visible to the user, and the user can easily recognize good air permeability.

In the absorbent article, it is preferable that the rear waist portion includes a rear non-overlapping region that does not overlap with the front waist portion in the front-rear direction, and it is preferable that at least one of the apertures is provided in the rear non-overlapping region.

According to such an absorbent article, the at least one hole in the rear side waist portion is easily visible from both the rear side and the front side, and it can be easily recognized that the hole is a through hole. Therefore, the through holes in the absorbent article are easily visible to the user, and the user can easily recognize good air permeability.

In the absorbent article, it is preferable that the front side waist portion and the rear side waist portion are joined together at both end portions in the left-right direction, and it is preferable that the rear side non-overlapping area is provided at a portion that protrudes more downward than a lowermost edge of the joined both end portions.

According to such an absorbent article, when the absorbent article is worn, the rear non-overlapping region serves as the hip covering portion to cover the hip region of the wearer, and the hole provided in the hip covering portion is made easy to be confirmed by the user. This enables the user to easily recognize good air permeability in the hip region as the sweat-prone region.

In the absorbent article, it is preferable that the rear waist portion includes an elastic member that stretches and contracts in the left-right direction, and that the rear waist portion includes a rear overlap region that overlaps with the front waist portion in the front-rear direction. Preferably, an interval between a first lower end elastic member at a lowermost position of the rear non-overlapping region and the elastic member adjacent to an upper side of the first lower end elastic member is greater than an interval between a second lower end elastic member at a lowermost position of the rear overlapping region and the elastic member adjacent to an upper side of the second lower end elastic member.

According to such an absorbent article, since the contractive force in the rear non-overlapping region can be made smaller than the contractive force in the rear overlapping region, the possibility that the holes in the rear non-overlapping region are covered with wrinkles is reduced, so that the holes in the rear waist body portion can be easily seen even when the absorbent article is viewed from the front side.

In the absorbent article, it is preferable that the tension of the first lower end elastic member is smaller than the tension of the second lower end elastic member.

According to such an absorbent article, since the contraction force in the rear non-overlapping region can be made smaller, the possibility that the hole in the rear non-overlapping region is covered with the gathers is reduced, so that the hole in the rear waist portion is more easily visible even in the case where the absorbent article is viewed from the front side.

In the absorbent article, it is preferable that at least one of the holes is provided on a lower side in the vertical direction than the first lower end elastic member in the rear non-overlapping region.

According to such an absorbent article, since the tension due to the elastic member (first lower end elastic member) is less likely to act on the region below the first lower end elastic member, wrinkles are less likely to be formed. Therefore, the holes arranged in this area are less susceptible to wrinkles and shrinkage and are therefore more easily visible.

The absorbent article preferably further includes an absorbent body having liquid absorbency, the front upper end portion of the absorbent body being joined to the front waistline portion, and the rear upper end portion of the absorbent body being joined to the rear waistline portion. Both end portions in the left-right direction of the absorbent main body are also preferably provided with leg elastic members that stretch in the up-down direction, and at least one of the holes is preferably provided in a region of the rear non-overlapping region that does not overlap in the up-down direction with a range in which stretchability due to the leg elastic members is exhibited.

According to such an absorbent article, the contraction force by the leg elastic members is less likely to act on the region that does not overlap with the range in which the stretchability by the leg elastic members is exhibited in the up-down direction. Therefore, the hole arranged in this region is less likely to wrinkle in the up-down direction, so that deterioration in visibility thereof is more easily suppressed. Therefore, the user can easily recognize good breathability obtained by the rear non-overlapping area.

The absorbent article preferably further includes an absorbent main body having liquid absorbency, the front upper end portion of the absorbent main body being joined to the front waist portion, and the rear upper end portion of the absorbent main body being joined to the rear waist portion. Preferably, both end portions of the absorbent main body in the left-right direction are provided with leg elastic members that expand and contract in the up-down direction. In a region of the rear non-overlapping region that overlaps in the up-down direction with a range in which stretchability due to the leg elastic members is exhibited, preferably, at least one of the holes is provided at a position at which a distance from an end portion on a side of the absorbent main body in the left-right direction is not less than 1/2 of a distance in the left-right direction between the end portion on the side of the absorbent main body and an end portion on a side of the rear waist portion.

According to such an absorbent article, since the hole is disposed at a position at a distance of not less than a predetermined distance from the leg elastic member, the contraction force by the leg elastic member is less likely to act on the hole at such a far position. This means that the hole is less likely to wrinkle in the up-down direction, and deterioration in visibility thereof is easily suppressed. This enables the user to easily recognize the good breathability obtained through the rear non-overlapping area.

In the absorbent article, it is preferable that the rear waist portion includes: a rear-side overlap region that overlaps with the front-side waist portion in the front-rear direction; and a rear non-overlapping region that does not overlap with the front waist portion in the front-rear direction. The number per unit area of the apertures provided in the rear non-overlapping region is preferably less than the number per unit area of the apertures provided in the rear overlapping region.

According to such an absorbent article, since the opening density is made low in the rear non-overlapping region having a lower strength than the rear overlapping region, it is possible to suppress the strength of the rear non-overlapping region from becoming too low. This means that the rear non-overlapping area is difficult to tear and the holes are more easily noticed, so that the user can easily recognize good breathability.

= = disposable diaper according to the present embodiment = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = the embodiment

< < Structure of Disposable diaper 1 > >)

Fig. 1A is a schematic front view of a natural state of a diaper 1 serving as an example of an absorbent article of the present embodiment when viewed from the front side. Fig. 1B is a schematic rear view of the natural state of the diaper 1 as viewed from the rear side. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the diaper 1 in an unfolded and extended state as viewed from the skin side. Fig. 3 is a sectional view III-III in fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view IV-IV of fig. 2.

In the following description, the diaper 1 in the state shown in fig. 1A and 1B (natural state) has a "vertical direction", the waist opening BH side in the vertical direction of the diaper 1 is referred to as "upper side", and the crotch side of the diaper 1 is referred to as "lower side". The diaper 1 also has a "left-right direction" intersecting the up-down direction and a "front-back direction" intersecting both the up-down direction and the left-right direction. The front side in the front-rear direction is referred to as "ventral side", and the rear side in the front-rear direction is referred to as "dorsal side". In addition, the front-back direction is also referred to as "thickness direction", the side in contact with the wearer is referred to as "skin side", and the opposite side thereof is referred to as "non-skin side". The longitudinal direction of the diaper 1 in the state shown in fig. 2 (unfolded and extended state) is referred to as "longitudinal direction". One side in the length direction is referred to as "ventral side", and the other side in the length direction is referred to as "dorsal side". The end portion on one side and the end portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction are also referred to as being located on the "upper side", and the side of the substantially central portion C10 in the longitudinal direction is also referred to as being located on the "lower side". The center in the left-right direction is indicated by a line C-C in fig. 2 and the like.

Note that the "natural state" of the diaper 1 is defined as follows. With the diaper 1 packaged as a product, after the diaper 1 is taken out from its package for the first time, both the front side waist portion 20 and the back side waist portion 30 are stretched outward in the left-right direction. The front side waist portion 20 and the rear side waist portion 30 are elongated to such an extent that the respective member elements are uniform in size or have a nearly uniform length. After continuously maintaining this extended state for 15 seconds, the extended state of the diaper 1 is released, and the diaper 1 is placed on a flat surface such as a table or the like. The state of the diaper 1 after being placed on a flat surface for 5 minutes in this state is referred to as a natural state. The "developed state" is a state in which each joint portion between the side end portion 20a of the front waist portion 20 and the side end portion 30a of the rear waist portion 30 is separated and the diaper 1 as a whole is developed into a flat developed state. The "stretched state" refers to a state in which the diaper 1 (the front waist portion 20 and the rear waist portion 30) is stretched to such an extent that wrinkles disappear. More specifically, this refers to a state of being elongated such that the dimensions of the members (the front waist section 20 and the rear waist section 30) constituting the diaper 1 coincide with the dimensions of the members alone thereof or have a length close to the coincidence.

The disposable diaper 1 according to the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "diaper 1") is a so-called three-piece pants-type diaper designed to be worn mainly by infants. The diaper 1 comprises: an absorbent main body 10 disposed in the crotch of a wearer; a front waist portion 20 joined to the front upper end portion of the absorbent main body 10 and covering the abdominal side of the wearer; and a rear waist portion 30 joined to the rear upper end portion of the absorbent main body 10 and covering the back side of the wearer. The front waistline portion 20 and the rear waistline portion 30 are also sometimes referred to as "waistline portions".

As shown in fig. 2, in the developed state of the diaper 1, the front waist portion 20 and the rear waist portion 30 are arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction with a space therebetween so as to be parallel to each other. The absorbent main body 10 is bridged (span across) between the

waistline portions

20, 30, and the longitudinal end portions of the absorbent main body 10 are bonded and fixed to the

waistline portions

20, 30 using an adhesive or the like, respectively, so as to form a substantially H-shaped outline in plan view. Then, from the unfolded state having the substantially H-shaped contour, the absorbent main body 10 is folded in two with the substantially central portion C10 in the longitudinal direction as a folded position, thereby producing a folded-in-two state. In the folded-in state, two mutually opposing end portions in the left-right direction of the front waist portion 20 and the rear waist portion 30, that is, a side end portion 20a (also referred to as "end portion") of the front waist portion 20 and a side end portion 30a (also referred to as "end portion") of the rear waist portion 30 are joined together by welding or the like. Thus, the front side waist portion 20 and the rear side waist portion 30 are joined together in a ring shape, thereby obtaining the pants-type diaper 1 provided with the waist opening BH and the pair of leg openings LH, LH as shown in fig. 1A and 1B.

As shown in fig. 2, 3, and 4, the absorbent main body 10 has a substantially rectangular outline in plan view, and the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10 is arranged so as to be aligned in the up-down direction. The absorbent body 10 includes an absorbent body 11, a topsheet 13 covering the absorbent body 11 from the skin side, an exterior sheet 14 covering the absorbent body 11 from the non-skin side, and a backsheet 15.

The absorbent body 11 includes an absorbent core 11c having liquid absorbency capable of absorbing excrement such as urine and a liquid permeable core-covering sheet 11r such as tissue paper for covering the outer peripheral surface of the absorbent core 11 c. The absorbent core 11c is a molded body made by molding a predetermined liquid absorbent material into a predetermined shape (for example, a substantially hourglass-shaped profile in a plan view). Examples of the liquid absorbent material include liquid absorbent fibers such as pulp fibers and the like, and liquid absorbent particulates such as super absorbent polymers (so-called SAP).

The front sheet 13 is a liquid-permeable sheet such as a nonwoven fabric having a plan view size protruding from the absorbent body 11 in both the up-down direction and the left-right direction. The back sheet 15 is a liquid-impermeable leakproof sheet having a plan view size projecting from the absorbent body 11 in both the vertical direction and the lateral direction. The nonwoven fabric exterior sheet 14 is provided on the non-skin side of the back sheet 15.

Leg gathers LG (leg stretch portions) which stretch in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10 are provided at both lateral end portions of the absorbent main body 10, that is, at positions where the leg openings LH are formed. The leg gathers LG (see fig. 4 and the like) are formed by sandwiching and fixing the leg elastic members 45 such as rubber threads and the like in the thickness direction between the backsheet 15 and the exterior sheet 14 in a state where the leg elastic members 45 are extended along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10. Stretchability in the longitudinal direction (up-down direction) of the absorbent main body 10 due to the leg elastic members 45 is imparted to the leg gathers LG, improving the fit of the leg opening LH when the diaper 1 is worn.

A pair of leg side gathers LSG (three-dimensional gathers) are provided inside the leg gathers LG in the left-right direction of the absorbent main body 10. The leg side gathers LSG are provided on the skin side of the absorbent main body 10 and serve as leakage preventing walls to prevent liquid from leaking out from the gaps at the leg openings. The leg side gathers LSG are formed such that the outer sheet 14 stands up toward the skin side at both ends in the left-right direction of the absorbent main body 10. A leakage preventing wall elastic member 46 such as a rubber thread or the like is provided at the left-right direction inside end portion of the leg side gather LSG in a state of being elongated in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent main body 10. The stretchability imparted by the leakage-preventing-wall elastic member 46 causes the leg-side gathers LSG to rise toward the skin side.

As shown in fig. 3, the front waist portion 20 includes a skin side sheet 21 and a non-skin side sheet 22, and the skin side sheet 21 and the non-skin side sheet 22 are overlapped and joined to each other in order from the skin side in the thickness direction. The back waist portion 30 includes a skin side sheet 31 and a non-skin side sheet 32, and the skin side sheet 31 and the non-skin side sheet 32 are overlapped and joined to each other in order from the skin side in the thickness direction. The skin side sheet 21, the non-skin side sheet 22, the skin side sheet 31, and the non-skin side sheet 32 are each constituted by a sheet member made of nonwoven fabric which may be spunbond, spunbond/meltblown/spunbond (SMS), or the like and has a substantially rectangular profile in plan view. In the present embodiment, SMS nonwoven fabric is used for the

skin side sheets

21 and 31, and spunbond nonwoven fabric is used for the

non-skin side sheets

22 and 32. The spunbonded nonwoven fabric may be composed of a single material fiber of a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), or the like, or may be composed of a composite fiber having a sheath-core structure of PP, PE, or the like.

The skin side sheets 21 and the non-skin side sheets 22 and the skin side sheets 31 and the non-skin side sheets 32 are joined together using an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive, respectively, so as to form the front and rear

waist body portions

20 and 30.

As shown in fig. 3, in order to improve the feel of the upper end portion of the front waist portion 20 and to improve the durability, the non-skin side sheet 22 is folded back downward on the skin side so as to be folded around the front upper edge 20t at the upper end of the front waist portion 20, thereby forming a folded-back portion 22f. Similarly, at the upper portion of the rear side waist portion 30, the non-skin side sheet 32 is also folded back downward on the skin side in such a manner as to be folded around the rear upper edge 30t at the upper end of the rear side waist portion 30, thereby forming a folded-back portion 32f.

The front side waist portion 20 includes a sheet member 24, and the sheet member 24 is arranged to cover the skin side from the lower end of the folded-back portion 22f to the upper end of the abdomen side of the absorbent main body 10. Similarly, the rear side waist portion 30 includes a sheet member 34, and the sheet member 34 is arranged to cover the skin side from the lower end portion of the folded-back portion 32f to the upper end portion of the back side of the absorbent main body 10. The

sheet members

24 and 34 are rectangular sheet members made of nonwoven fabric or the like. The

sheet members

24, 34 can suppress the vertical end portions of the absorbent main body 10 from directly contacting the skin of the wearer, and can realize a good feel around the waistline when worn. The

sheet members

24, 34 make it possible to improve the strength at the upper end portions in the up-down direction of the front and

rear waist portions

20, 30.

Further, a plurality of holes 50 penetrating from the skin side to the non-skin side are provided at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in the front waist portion 20 and the rear waist portion 30 (see fig. 1A, 1B, and 2). The holes 50 will be described in more detail later.

A plurality of elastic members 25 such as rubber strings are arranged between the skin side sheet 21 and the non-skin side sheet 22 of the front waist portion 20 in the left-right direction. When the elastic member 25 is in a state of being stretched in the left-right direction, the elastic member 25 is joined and fixed to the skin side sheet 21 and the non-skin side sheet 22 using an adhesive or the like. The plurality of elastic members 25 are arranged in parallel with each other at an interval in the vertical direction.

Similarly, a plurality of elastic members 35 such as rubber threads or the like are arranged between the skin side sheet 31 and the non-skin side sheet 32 of the rear waist portion 30 in the left-right direction. When the elastic member 35 is in a state of being stretched in the left-right direction, the elastic member 35 is joined and fixed to the skin side sheet 31 and the non-skin side sheet 32 using an adhesive or the like. The plurality of elastic members 35 are arranged in parallel at intervals in the vertical direction.

The

elastic members

25 and 35 give stretchability in the left-right direction to the front waist portion 20 and the rear waist portion 30, and form a plurality of gathers in a natural state of the front waist portion 20 and the rear waist portion 30. Many of the gathers formed in the front and

rear waist portions

20, 30 have a contour extending in the up-down direction because the

sheets

21, 22, 31, 32 are all wrinkled in the left-right direction.

Note that the

elastic members

25, 35 in the region overlapping the absorbent body 11 in the vicinity of the center portion in the left-right direction are configured to be discontinuous, so that stretchability caused by the

elastic members

25, 35 is not exhibited in this region. Thereby, contraction in the left-right direction is suppressed from acting on the absorbent body 11, making it easier to maintain the absorbent body 11 substantially flat, and leakage of excrement and the like can be suppressed.

< < hole 50> >)

The aperture 50 will now be described. The plurality of holes 50 provided in the front side waist portion 20 and the back side waist portion 30 each penetrate the

skin side sheets

21, 31 and the

non-skin side sheets

22, 32, improving the air permeability from the skin side to the non-skin side when the diaper 1 is worn. The holes 50 in the front and

rear waist sections

20, 30 each have a generally circular outline and are of generally the same size as each other. As shown in fig. 2, in the front waist portion 20, a plurality of holes 50 are arranged on the left and right outer sides of the absorbent body 10, so that a staggered pattern is formed in a region 11f that vertically overlaps with the absorbent body 11. When the hole 50 is provided, the elastic member 25 is preferably not cut by the hole 50, i.e., the elastic member 25 is preferably not discontinuous by the hole 50. As shown in fig. 2, the hole 50 in the present embodiment is disposed in a region between the elastic members 25 adjacent in the vertical direction so as not to overlap the elastic members 25. Therefore, since the hole 50 is disposed so as not to overlap the elastic member 25, the elastic member 25 is not discontinuous by the hole 50.

Similarly, in the rear waist portion 30, a plurality of holes 50 are arranged on the left-right direction outer side of the absorbent main body 10, so that a staggered pattern is formed in the region 11b that overlaps with the absorbent body 11 in the up-down direction. As shown in fig. 2, the holes 50 are each disposed in a region between the elastic members 35 adjacent in the vertical direction so as not to overlap with the elastic member 35, so that the elastic member 35 is not discontinuous by the holes 50.

Note that the region where the hole 50 is provided is not limited thereto. For example, in the front waist portion 20 and the rear waist portion 30, the holes 50 may be provided in an upper region in the vertical direction of the

regions

11f and 11b and an upper region of the upper end portion of the absorbent body 11.

The diaper 1 includes an overlapping region where the front waist portion 20 and the back waist portion 30 overlap in the front-back direction and a non-overlapping region where they do not overlap in the front-back direction. Here, the phrase "overlap in the front-rear direction" means that the front waist portion 20 and the rear waist portion 30 include portions that overlap in the front-rear direction in a natural state. Similarly, "not overlapping in the front-rear direction" means that the front waist section 20 and the rear waist section 30 do not include a portion overlapping in the front-rear direction in a natural state. That is, when a person who attempts to use the diaper 1 (or a person who purchases the diaper) takes out the diaper 1 from its package for actual use, the region where the front side waist portion 20 and the back side waist portion 30 are observed to overlap is an overlapping region, and the portion which is not observed to overlap is a non-overlapping region.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 1A and 1B, the front waist portion 20 and the rear waist portion 30 overlap in the front-rear direction in a region where the

side end portions

20a and 30a are formed in the up-down direction. However, the front waist portion 20 and the rear waist portion 30 do not overlap in the region below the

side end portions

20a and 30 a. That is, the rear waist portion 30 includes a rear overlapping region 30L overlapping with the front waist portion 20 in a region overlapping with the side end portion (end portion) 30a in the front-rear direction, and includes a rear non-overlapping region 30NL not overlapping with the front waist portion 20 in a region protruding to the lower side of the lowermost edge of the side end portion (end portion) 30 a. In the diaper 1, there is at least one hole 50 provided in each rear non-overlapping region 30NL. The rear non-overlapping region 30NL is a portion that is visible from both the front and rear sides in the natural state of the diaper 1 (see fig. 1A and 1B). This means that any holes 50 arranged in these portions are in a natural state that is easily seen from the front side and the rear side and are easily recognized as through holes.

Consider a case where the holes 50 are provided only in the overlapping region where the front waist section 20 and the rear waist section 30 overlap in the front-rear direction. These holes 50 are then easily visible only from one or the other of the front and rear sides in this area. Further, in this case, since the hole 50 is provided in the

waistline portions

20, 30 overlapped in the front-rear direction, it is difficult to recognize that the hole 50 is actually a through hole. For example, when a user of the diaper 1 (a person who tries to put the diaper 1 on someone or a wearer of the diaper 1) looks from the front side in the front-rear direction at the hole 50 provided in the overlapping region of the front side waist body portion 20, it is sometimes difficult to recognize that the hole 50 is actually a through hole because the hole 50 appears to be blocked at the rear side in the front-rear direction by the rear side waist body portion 30 overlapping the hole 50.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, there are holes 50 provided in each rear non-overlapping region 30NL. This enables the user of the diaper 1 to see through these holes 50 from one side in the front-rear direction to the other. That is, these holes 50 are visible from both the front and rear sides, and are also easily identified as through holes. This means that good breathability of the diaper 1 can be easily recognized. Further, the rear non-overlapping region 30NL is also a portion that serves as a hip covering portion covering the hip region of the wearer when the diaper 1 is worn. Therefore, the user easily recognizes good air permeability of the diaper 1 in the hip region, which is a region that is likely to sweat during wearing.

Note that, although the rear non-overlapping region 30NL on the rear waist portion 30 is shown as a non-overlapping region of the diaper 1 in fig. 1A and 1B, a non-overlapping region may be provided in other portions of the front waist portion 20 or the rear waist portion 30. Fig. 5A and 5B show a modification provided in a non-overlapping area of the diaper 1. Fig. 5A is a schematic front view of a diaper 1 of a modification in a natural state viewed from the front side. Fig. 5B is a schematic rear view of the diaper 1 of the modification in a natural state viewed from the rear side. As shown in fig. 5A and 5B, in the diaper 1 of the modified example, the upper edge 30t of the rear waist portion 30 is positioned on the upper side in the vertical direction than the upper edge 20t of the front waist portion 20. That is, the upper end of the rear waist portion 30 of the modified example protrudes upward beyond the upper edge 20t of the front waist portion 20. The protruding region constitutes a non-overlapping region 30NLU that does not overlap with the front waist portion 20 in the front-rear direction. There is a hole 50 provided in the rear non-overlapping region 30NLU.

In this modification, the hole 50 provided in the rear-side non-overlapping region 30NLU is also visible from both the front side and the rear side, and is clear at a glance as a through-hole. Therefore, the user easily recognizes the good air permeability obtained by the diaper 1 of the modification in the rear non-overlapping region 30NLU. Note that although in fig. 5A and 5B, the rear non-overlapping region 30NLU is provided at the upper end portion of the rear waist portion 30, a non-overlapping region may be provided on the front waist portion 20 side, in which at least one hole 50 is provided at the non-overlapping region of the front waist portion 20. In this case, the holes 50 are also visible from both the front side and the rear side, and are clear at a glance as through holes, similar to that described above. This enables the user to easily recognize good air permeability of the diaper 1.

Further, in the diaper 1 shown in fig. 2, the interval Lx between the lowermost elastic member 35a (first elastic member) positioned in the rear non-overlapping region 30NL and the elastic member 35b adjacent to the upper side of the elastic member 35a in the up-down direction is preferably larger than the interval Ly between the lowermost elastic member 35c (second elastic member) positioned in the region of the rear waist portion 30 overlapping with the front waist portion 20 (the region where the

side end portions

20a, 30a are formed in the up-down direction) and the elastic member 35d adjacent to the upper side of the elastic member 35c in the up-down direction (Lx > Ly). Employing such a configuration for the elastic member 35 reduces the contraction force at the non-overlapping rear non-overlapping region 30NL, so that a smaller number of wrinkles are formed in the rear non-overlapping region 30NL, and the holes 50 in the rear non-overlapping region 30NL are made more easily visible.

The "contractive force" here means a force that maintains the contracted state of the front waist portion 20 or the rear waist portion 30 in a natural state. More specifically, in the case where the diaper 1 is divided at any position in the left-right direction so as to form the respective right and left halves of the front or

rear waist portion

20 or 30, the interaction force between the right and left halves is a contractive force. As the contraction force increases, the contracted state is adopted in the natural state, and the number of wrinkles generated increases.

Fig. 6A isbase:Sub>A schematic view ofbase:Sub>A cross sectionbase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A of the rear waist portion 30 in fig. 2. Fig. 6B is a schematic view of a B-B cross section of the rear waist portion 30 in fig. 2. Fig. 6A shows a cross section of a region including the foregoing interval Ly, and fig. 6B is a cross section of a region including the foregoing interval Lx. In fig. 6A and 6B, the skin side sheet 31 and the non-skin side sheet 32 are each integrally shown, and are shown by hatched regions inclined obliquely downward to the left in the sectional view.

As shown in fig. 6A and 6B, the rear waist section 30 contracts in the left-right direction due to the elastic member 35 contracting in the left-right direction, so that a plurality of gathers are formed as undulations in the thickness direction. When this occurs, the magnitude of the contraction force at the sectionbase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A shown in fig. 6A is larger than the magnitude of the contraction force at the section B-B shown in fig. 6B. Therefore, the number of gathers formed in the rear side waist portion 30 per unit area is larger in thebase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A section than in the B-B section.

This means that in fig. 6A in which many gathers are formed, some of the holes 50 are covered by the gathers, and therefore the number of holes 50 that can be seen when the rear side waist body portion 30 is viewed from the non-skin side is reduced. Further, as the rear waist portion 30 itself is wrinkled in the right and left direction, the hole 50 is also wrinkled in the right and left direction, so that the hole 50 is not easily visible. However, in fig. 6B with less wrinkles, when the rear side waist portion 30 is viewed from the non-skin side, the hole 50 is less likely to be covered by the wrinkles. Further, since the shrinkage in the left-right direction is less in fig. 6B than in fig. 6A, the degree of wrinkling of the hole 50 wrinkled in the left-right direction is also less, so that the hole 50 is more easily visible.

Further, the tension of the elastic member 35a to the lowermost position of the rear non-overlapping region 30NL is preferably smaller than the tension of the elastic member 35c to the lowermost position in the region of the rear waist portion 30 overlapping with the front waist portion 20. This makes the contraction force in the rear non-overlapping region 30NL small, reducing the number of wrinkles formed in the rear non-overlapping region 30NL. This in turn reduces the likelihood that the apertures 50 in the rear non-overlapping region 30NL will be covered by a pleat, so that the apertures in the rear non-overlapping region 30NL are more easily visible when the diaper 1 is viewed from the front and rear sides.

The hole 50 is also preferably provided at a position lower than the lowest position of the rear non-overlapping region 30NL than the elastic member 35 a. The tension of the elastic member 35 is less likely to act on the region on the lower side of the elastic member 35a, and is less likely to contract in this region than other regions, so that wrinkles are less likely to form thereat in the rear side waist portion 30. This means that the holes 50 arranged in these areas are less susceptible to wrinkling and shrinkage and are therefore more easily visible. Therefore, the user more easily recognizes that the diaper 1 has good air permeability.

Further, as shown in fig. 2, at least some of the holes 50 provided in the rear-side non-overlapping region 30NL are arranged in regions where: this region does not overlap in the up-down direction with a range (a range shown by a solid line in fig. 2, hereinafter also referred to as "effective length" of the leg elastic member 45) that exhibits stretchability due to the leg elastic member 45 that forms the leg gather LG. In other words, there is at least one hole 50 provided in the region of each rear non-overlapping region 30NL, wherein the rear non-overlapping region 30NL does not overlap the effective length of the leg elastic member 45 in the up-down direction.

A force that contracts the rear non-overlapping region 30NL in the up-down direction acts within the effective length range of the leg elastic member 45 in the up-down direction. Therefore, any holes 50 disposed in these areas are more prone to wrinkling in the up-down direction, so that they may become less visible. In contrast, in a region that does not overlap with the range (effective length) in which the stretchability due to the leg elastic member 45 is exhibited in the up-down direction, the contraction force in the up-down direction due to the leg elastic member 45 does not easily act. This means that the hole 50 arranged in this area is less likely to wrinkle in the up-down direction, making it easier to suppress deterioration of its visibility. Therefore, by providing some of the holes 50 in the regions that do not overlap with the effective length of the leg elastic members 45, it is possible for the user to easily recognize the good breathability of the rear non-overlapping region 30NL.

However, some of the holes 50 may be provided in the region of the rear non-overlapping region 30NL that overlaps with the effective length of the leg elastic member 45 in the up-down direction. Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view showing a modification of the arrangement of the holes 50 in one rear-side non-overlapping region 30NL. In fig. 7, the holes 50L of the plurality of holes 50 provided in the rear non-overlapping region 30NL are arranged in a region overlapping with the effective length of the leg elastic member 45 in the up-down direction.

In the case where there are some holes 50 overlapping the effective length of the leg elastic member 45 in the up-down direction, these holes 50 are each preferably arranged at a position separated from the leg elastic member 45 by a predetermined distance in the left-right direction. In fig. 7, if the distance in the left-right direction between the end portion 10es in the left-right direction of the absorbent main body 10 and the end portion 30es in the left-right direction of the rear waist portion 30 is denoted as WS30, the hole 50L is provided at a position not less than 1/2 of the distance from the end portion 10es in the left-right direction of the absorbent main body 10. By disposing the hole 50L at a distance from the leg elastic member 45 of not less than the predetermined distance (WS 30 × 1/2), the stretchability caused by the leg elastic member 45 is less likely to act as far as the position of the hole 50L, and the hole 50L is less likely to wrinkle in the up-down direction, so that deterioration in visibility thereof is more likely to be suppressed. This can make the user easily recognize the good air permeability of the rear non-overlapping region 30NL.

In the rear waist portion 30 of the diaper 1, the number of holes 50 per unit area provided in the rear non-overlapping region 30NL which does not overlap with the front waist portion 20 in the front-rear direction is smaller than the number of holes 50 per unit area provided in a region (rear overlapping region 30L) which overlaps with the front waist portion 20 in the front-rear direction. That is, in the rear waist portion 30, the opening density in the rear non-overlapping region 30NL is smaller than the opening density in the rear overlapping region 30L.

The rear non-overlapping region 30NL (hip covering portion) has no other sheet member (has no sheet member stacked thereon) overlapped thereon in the front-rear direction, and thus its strength is easily lower than that of the rear overlapping region 30L. This increases the possibility that the rear non-overlapping region 30NL may be torn by being caught by fingers of a user (a person wearing the diaper 1 or a person wearing the diaper 1 to another person) or the like when the diaper 1 is worn. Therefore, by making the opening density at the rear non-overlapping region 30NL lower than the opening density at the rear overlapping region 30L, excessive decrease in strength is suppressed, and the rear non-overlapping region 30NL can be made less likely to tear. Further, since the opening density is reduced, each hole 50 in the rear non-overlapping region 30NL is more easily noticed, which can make the user easily recognize its good air permeability.

= other embodiments = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = misalignment = = =

The above-described embodiments are merely to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and they are not intended to be interpreted in a manner of limiting the scope of the present invention. Of course, variations and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes functional equivalents to such variations and modifications. For example, the following modifications may be made.

Although in the above-described embodiment, the holes 50 are formed in both the front side waist portion 20 and the rear side waist portion 30, it is not limited thereto. For example, the holes 50 may be formed only in one or the other of the front and

rear waist portions

20 and 30. However, the air permeability of the diaper 1 can be improved by forming the holes 50 in both the front side waist portion 20 and the back side waist portion 30.

Although in the above-described embodiment, the holes 50 provided in the front and

rear waist portions

20 and 30 have a circular contour, it is not limited thereto. For example, through holes may be provided that are rectangular or oval or have an arbitrarily selected contour, such as a star shape. Further, holes 50 different in contour from each other and holes 50 different in size from each other may be provided in the front side waist body portion 20 and the rear side waist body portion 30.

Although the diaper 1 according to the above-described embodiment is designed to be worn by infants, it is not limited thereto, and the diaper 1 may be designed to be worn by adults. Further, although in the above-described embodiments, an example of a so-called three-piece type disposable diaper 1 is given as an example of an absorbent article, it is not limited thereto. For example, a so-called two-piece disposable diaper in which the front waist portion 20 and the back waist portion 30 are integrally formed, or a tape-type disposable diaper may be used.

Description of the reference numerals

1. Diaper (absorbent article)

10. Absorbent body, 10es end (left and right direction)

11. Absorbent body

11c absorbent core and 11r core wrapping sheet

11f region and 11b region

13. Front sheet, 14 outer sheet, 15 back sheet

20. A front waist part,

20a side end part (end part), 20t front upper edge

21. Skin side sheet, 22 non-skin side sheet, and 22f folded-back part

24. Sheet member, 25 elastic member, 26 elastic member, 28 elastic member

30. Back side waist part

30a side end (end), 30es end (left-right direction), and 30t rear upper edge

30L rear overlap area

30NL rear non-overlapping region, 30NLU rear non-overlapping region

31. Skin side sheet, 32 non-skin side sheet, and 32f folded-back part

34. Sheet member, 35 elastic member

35a elastic member (first elastic member), 35b elastic member

35c elastic member (second elastic member), 35d elastic member

45. Leg elastic member, 46 leakage preventing wall elastic member

50. Hole, 50L hole

BH waist opening and LH leg opening

LG leg gather and LSG leg side gather (three-dimensional gather).

Claims

1. A pants-type disposable diaper having a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-rear direction intersecting with each other, comprising:

a front waist portion;

a rear waist portion;

an absorbent body; and

an elastic member that expands and contracts in the left-right direction,

a hole that penetrates at least one of the front waist portion and the rear waist portion in a front-rear direction,

wherein at least one of the front waist portion and the rear waist portion has a skin side sheet and a non-skin side sheet provided on a non-skin side of the skin side sheet,

the skin-side sheet and the non-skin-side sheet are provided on the non-skin side of the absorbent body,

at least one of the holes is provided in a non-overlapping region of the front and rear waist portions where the front and rear waist portions do not overlap with each other in the front-rear direction,

the elastic member is provided between the skin side sheet and the non-skin side sheet above the absorbent body in the vertical direction,

the rear waist portion includes:

a rear-side overlap region that overlaps with the front-side waist portion in the front-rear direction; and

a rear non-overlapping region that does not overlap with the front waist portion in the front-rear direction,

the front side waist portion and the rear side waist portion are joined together at both end portions in the left-right direction,

the rear non-overlapping area is provided at a portion that protrudes further downward than a lowermost edge of the joined both end portions,

at least one of the holes is provided in the rear-side overlap region and the rear-side non-overlap region, respectively, and

the number per unit area of the apertures provided in the rear non-overlapping region is less than the number per unit area of the apertures provided in the rear overlapping region.

2. A pants-type disposable diaper according to claim 1,

the rear waist portion includes an elastic member that stretches and contracts in the left-right direction;

an interval between a first lower end elastic member at a lowermost position of the rear non-overlapping region and the elastic member adjacent to an upper side of the first lower end elastic member is larger than an interval between a second lower end elastic member at a lowermost position of the rear overlapping region and the elastic member adjacent to an upper side of the second lower end elastic member.

3. A pants-type disposable diaper according to claim 2,

the tension of the first lower end elastic member is less than the tension of the second lower end elastic member.

4. A pants-type disposable diaper according to claim 2 or 3,

at least one of the holes is provided on a lower side in the up-down direction than the first lower-end elastic member in the rear non-overlapping region.

5. A pants-type disposable diaper according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the pants-type disposable diaper further includes an absorbent main body having liquid absorbency;

a front upper end portion of the absorbent main body joined to the front waist portion, and a rear upper end portion of the absorbent main body joined to the rear waist portion;

leg elastic members that expand and contract in the vertical direction are provided at both ends of the absorbent main body in the horizontal direction; and is

At least one of the holes is provided in a region of the rear non-overlapping region that does not overlap, in the up-down direction, with a range in which stretchability due to the leg elastic member is exhibited.

6. A pants-type disposable diaper according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

In a region of the rear-side non-overlapping region that overlaps in the up-down direction with a range that exhibits stretchability due to the leg elastic member,

at least one of the holes is provided at a position not less than 1/2 of the distance in the left-right direction between the end portion on the side of the absorbent main body and the end portion on the side of the rear waist portion from the end portion on the side of the absorbent main body in the left-right direction.

7. A pants-type disposable diaper having a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, and a front-rear direction that intersect with each other, comprising:

a front waist portion;

a rear waist portion;

an absorbent body;

a top sheet covering the absorber from the skin side; and

an elastic member that expands and contracts in the left-right direction,

a hole that penetrates at least one of the front waist portion and the rear waist portion in the front-rear direction,

characterized in that the diaper comprises a sheet member located closer to the skin than the topsheet,

the elastic member is not provided between the topsheet and the sheet member at a position above the absorbent body in the vertical direction,

the rear waist portion includes:

the front waist portion and the rear waist portion are joined together at both end portions in the left-right direction,

the rear non-overlapping region is provided at a portion that protrudes further downward than a lowermost edge of the joined both end portions,

8. A pants-type disposable diaper according to claim 7,

9. A pants-type disposable diaper according to claim 8,

10. A pants-type disposable diaper according to claim 8 or 9,

at least one of the holes is provided below the first lower end elastic member in the vertical direction in the rear non-overlapping region.

11. A pants-type disposable diaper according to any one of claims 7 to 9,

At least one of the holes is provided in a region of the rear non-overlapping region that does not overlap with a range in which stretchability due to the leg elastic member is exhibited in the up-down direction.

12. A pants-type disposable diaper according to any one of claims 7 to 9,