CN115486993A

CN115486993A - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: CN115486993A
Application number: CN202110670384.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 槙秀晃; 泷野俊介; 钱月盈; 沈莲莲; 徐兴旺
Original assignee: Unicharm Corp
Current assignee: Unicharm Corp
Priority date: 2021-06-17
Filing date: 2021-06-17
Publication date: 2022-12-20
Also published as: WO2022264625A1

Abstract

Provided is an absorbent article which can improve the feeling of comfort of a consumer regarding the absorption effect of the absorbent article and can exhibit an appropriate absorption effect in the prone position of the wearer. The absorbent article (1) includes an absorbent main body (10). The absorbent body (10) comprises a front sheet (11 a), a back sheet (12 a), an absorbent body (13) which is arranged between the front sheet (11 a) and the back sheet (12 a) and absorbs the excrement of a wearer, and a liquid-permeable intermediate sheet (14) which is arranged between the front sheet (11 a) and the absorbent body (13) in a partial region of a region where the front sheet (11 a) and the absorbent body (13) overlap. A protruding part (14 a) protruding in the direction from the crotch region (103) to the front waistline region (101) is formed at the front end part of the center sheet (14) on the front waistline side. A recessed portion (14 b) recessed in the direction from the rear waist region (102) toward the crotch region (103) is formed in the rear end portion of the center sheet (14) on the rear waist side.

Description

Absorbent article

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an absorbent article.

Background

Conventionally, in an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper, a structure in which an intermediate sheet is provided between a top sheet and an absorbent core is known. For example, patent document 1 discloses a structure in which a fiber layer is provided between a top sheet and an absorbent core. Patent document 2 discloses a structure in which a secondary topsheet is provided between a primary topsheet and an absorbent core.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: JP 2016-523137A

Patent document 2: japanese patent publication No. 2019-529057

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

As the intermediate sheet provided between the top sheet and the absorbent core, a sheet formed in a simple rectangular shape like the fiber layer disclosed in patent document 1 is generally used. However, such a simple shape is difficult to catch the eyes of the consumer, and it is difficult for the consumer to think of the absorption effect of the intermediate sheet. Further, there is room for improvement also from the viewpoint of allowing the intermediate sheet to exhibit an absorption effect suitable for an actual use state (for example, a prone posture).

Accordingly, an object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an absorbent article that can improve the feeling of comfort of the consumer in the absorption effect of the absorbent article and can exhibit an appropriate absorption effect in the prone position of the wearer.

Means for solving the problems

An absorbent article according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an absorbent body divided into a front waistline region located on a front waistline side of a wearer, a rear waistline region located on a rear waistline side of the wearer, and a crotch region located between the front waistline region and the rear waistline region in a front-rear direction, the absorbent body including: a liquid-permeable top sheet that faces the skin of a wearer; a liquid-impermeable back sheet disposed on the opposite side of the front sheet to the skin side; an absorbent body which is disposed between the front sheet and the back sheet and absorbs excrement of a wearer; and a liquid-permeable intermediate sheet disposed between the top sheet and the absorber in a partial region of a region where the top sheet and the absorber overlap, wherein a convex portion protruding in a direction from the crotch region toward the front waist region is formed at a front end portion on the front waist side of the intermediate sheet, and a concave portion recessed in a direction from the rear waist region toward the crotch region is formed at a rear end portion on the rear waist side of the intermediate sheet.

In the absorbent article according to one aspect of the present disclosure, an intermediate sheet is provided between the topsheet and the absorbent body. This can improve the absorption of excrement when the absorbent main body is pressurized in the portion where the intermediate sheet is provided. In addition, a convex portion and a concave portion are formed at both end portions of the intermediate sheet in the front-rear direction. Thus, the intermediate sheet is formed into a brand-new shape different from a general rectangular shape, thereby easily attracting the attention of consumers. In other words, the presence of the middle sheet can be effectively made recognized by the consumer. This can improve the feeling of comfort of the consumer with respect to the absorption effect of the absorbent article. Further, since the convex portion is provided at the front end portion of the intermediate sheet, the amount of the intermediate sheet provided at a portion of the absorbent main body which is easily pressurized when the wearer is in the prone posture can be increased in accordance with the convex portion. This can suitably improve the absorption of excrement when the wearer is in the prone posture. On the other hand, since the concave portion is provided at the rear end portion of the intermediate sheet, the amount of the intermediate sheet provided at a portion of the absorbent main body which is not easily pressurized when the wearer is in the prone posture can be reduced by the concave portion of the concave portion. By not providing an extra intermediate sheet in the portion of the absorbent main body that is not easily pressurized in this manner, the excrement can be smoothly guided from the top sheet to the absorbent body in this portion, and the occurrence of liquid remaining in the top sheet can be appropriately suppressed. Therefore, according to the absorbent article, the feeling of comfort of the consumer in the absorption effect of the absorbent article can be improved, and the appropriate absorption performance can be exhibited in the prone position of the wearer.

The convex portion and the concave portion may be formed in shapes corresponding to each other, and the front end portion of the intermediate piece may have a shape matching the rear end portion of the intermediate piece. Since the rear end portion of the intermediate sheet of the front stage can be matched with the front end portion of the intermediate sheet of the rear stage, the trimming loss in manufacturing can be reduced.

The intermediate sheet may be configured to be visually recognizable when viewed from the skin side of the front sheet. According to the above configuration, the presence of the intermediate sheet can be reliably recognized by the consumer.

The intermediate sheet may be colored in a different color from each of the front sheet, the back sheet, and the absorber. According to the above configuration, the presence of the intermediate sheet can be effectively recognized by the consumer.

The convex portions and the concave portions may be arranged so as not to overlap with the central portion in the front-rear direction of the absorbent main body. According to the above configuration, even in a state where the absorbent body is folded in two at the center portion in the front-rear direction, visibility of the convex portion and the concave portion can be ensured.

When the absorbent main body is divided into a 1 st portion on the front waistline side and a 2 nd portion on the back waistline side by a boundary line passing through the center of the absorbent main body in the front-back direction and extending along the width direction orthogonal to the front-back direction, the 1 st region occupied by the intermediate sheet in the 1 st portion may be larger than the 2 nd region occupied by the intermediate sheet in the 2 nd portion. According to the above configuration, the middle sheet can suitably improve the absorbency of urine.

When the absorbent body is divided into a 1 st portion on the front waistline side and a 2 nd portion on the back waistline side by a boundary line passing through the center of the absorbent body in the front-back direction and extending along the width direction orthogonal to the front-back direction, the 2 nd region occupied by the intermediate sheet in the 2 nd portion may be larger than the 1 st region occupied by the intermediate sheet in the 1 st portion. According to the above configuration, the absorption of excrement by the wearer in the supine position or sitting position can be suitably improved.

The absorbent body may be an SAP sheet substantially formed of a Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) material, and when the absorbent body is folded in two along a boundary line in a width direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, passing through a central portion in the front-rear direction of the absorbent body, an area of a region where a part of the intermediate sheet disposed at a position closer to the front waistline than the boundary line and a part of the intermediate sheet disposed at a position closer to the rear waistline than the boundary line overlap each other may be 25% or less of an entire area of the intermediate sheet. According to the above configuration, it is possible to suppress the consumer from being given a bad impression that the absorbent article is thick and bulky.

The absorbent main body may have a pair of leg gathers provided at least in the crotch region, the pair of leg gathers may extend in the front-rear direction on both sides of a widthwise middle portion of the absorbent main body that is orthogonal to the front-rear direction, or top portions of the pair of leg gathers may be positioned inward in the width direction than widthwise end portions of the intermediate sheet in an extended state in which the absorbent main body is extended in the front-rear direction. According to the above configuration, the consumer can effectively recognize that the intermediate sheet is widely provided to the position hidden by the leg gathers, and therefore, the feeling of comfort of the absorption effect of the absorbent article by the consumer can be improved. Further, urine flowing outward in the width direction can be appropriately absorbed.

The absorbent main body may have at least a pair of leg gathers provided in the crotch region, the pair of leg gathers may extend in the front-rear direction on both sides of a widthwise middle portion of the absorbent main body that is orthogonal to the front-rear direction, or top portions of the pair of leg gathers may be located on the outer side in the width direction than widthwise end portions of the intermediate sheet in an extended state in which the absorbent article is extended in the front-rear direction. According to the above configuration, visibility of the shape of the intermediate sheet can be ensured even in the extended state. Further, the intermediate sheet can be appropriately fitted to the crotch portion of the wearer.

The absorbent main body may have a pair of leg gathers provided at least in the crotch region, the pair of leg gathers may extend in the front-rear direction on both sides of a widthwise middle portion of the absorbent main body that is orthogonal to the front-rear direction, the front-rear direction ends of the pair of leg gathers may be fixed to the topsheet, the front end of the intermediate sheet may be positioned inward of the fixed ends of the pair of leg gathers on the front waistline side, and the rear end of the intermediate sheet may be positioned inward of the fixed ends of the pair of leg gathers on the rear waistline side. According to the above configuration, after the leg side gathers stand up when the absorbent article is used, visibility of the convex portions and the concave portions of the intermediate sheet can be ensured. Further, it is possible to avoid the absorbent surface on the intermediate sheet being obstructed by the end portions of the leg gathers in the front-rear direction.

The absorbent body may have an indicator portion disposed between the absorbent body and the back sheet and configured to change color when in contact with liquid, or the intermediate sheet may overlap at least a part of the indicator portion. According to the above configuration, the color change range of the indicator portion can be enlarged early in the portion where the center sheet overlaps the indicator portion, and early replacement of the absorbent article can be promoted.

When the absorbent main body is divided into a 1 st portion on the front waistline side and a 2 nd portion on the back waistline side by a boundary line passing through the central portion in the front-back direction of the absorbent main body and extending along the width direction orthogonal to the front-back direction, the area in which the center sheet overlaps the indicator in the 1 st portion may be larger than the area in which the center sheet overlaps the indicator in the 2 nd portion. According to the above configuration, urine can be efficiently diffused by the portion of the intermediate sheet disposed in the 1 st portion, and the color change range of the indicator portion in the 1 st portion can be enlarged early.

When the absorbent main body is divided into a 1 st portion on the front waistline side and a 2 nd portion on the back waistline side by a boundary line passing through the central portion in the front-back direction of the absorbent main body and extending along the width direction orthogonal to the front-back direction, the area in which the center sheet overlaps the indicator in the 2 nd portion may be larger than the area in which the center sheet overlaps the indicator in the 1 st portion. According to the above configuration, urine flowing to the back side of the wearer can be efficiently diffused by the portion of the intermediate sheet disposed in the 2 nd portion, and the color change range of the indicator portion in the 2 nd portion can be enlarged early.

The absorbent article may be a pants-type disposable diaper, or the absorbent article may have belt portions arranged in the front waistline region and the rear waistline region and including stretchable portions stretchable and contractible in a width direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, or the intermediate sheet may not overlap the belt portions. According to the above configuration, the intermediate sheet can be prevented from being deformed (stretched and contracted) by the stretchable portion of the belt portion. Thus, the pants-type disposable diaper can ensure visibility of the shape of the intermediate sheet.

The absorbent article may be a pants-type disposable diaper, and the absorbent article may have a belt portion disposed in the front waistline region and the rear waistline region and including a stretchable portion stretchable and contractible in a width direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, or a part of the intermediate sheet may overlap the belt portion in at least one of the front waistline region and the rear waistline region. According to the above configuration, since the part of the intermediate sheet can be pressed and fixed to the skin of the wearer by the belt portion, urine flowing along the skin of the wearer can be appropriately captured by the part of the intermediate sheet.

The stretchable portion may not be provided in a portion of the intermediate sheet that overlaps the belt portion. According to the above configuration, by providing the intermediate sheet at a position reaching the belt portion, the absorbent surface of the intermediate sheet can be enlarged, and the visibility of the shape of the intermediate sheet can be ensured without extending and contracting the portion of the intermediate sheet overlapping the belt portion.

The belt portion may have a non-stretchable region in which no stretchable portion is provided in a central portion in the width direction of at least one of the front waistline region and the rear waistline region, at least one of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the intermediate sheet may reach the non-stretchable region, or the length of the intermediate sheet in the width direction may be shorter than the length of the non-stretchable region in the width direction. According to the above configuration, the absorption surface of the intermediate sheet can be enlarged by making the front-rear direction end portion of the intermediate sheet reach the non-stretchable region. Further, the portion of the intermediate sheet overlapping the tape portion is not stretched and contracted, and visibility of the shape of the intermediate sheet can be ensured.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present disclosure, an absorbent article can be provided that can improve the feeling of comfort of a consumer regarding the absorption effect of the absorbent article and that can exhibit an appropriate absorption effect in a prone position of a wearer.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the absorbent article of embodiment 1 as viewed from the non-skin surface side.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent article according to embodiment 1 as viewed from the skin surface side.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the absorbent article according to modification 1 of embodiment 1, as viewed from the non-skin surface side.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the absorbent article according to modification 1 of embodiment 1, as viewed from the skin surface side.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the absorbent article according to modification 2 of embodiment 1, as viewed from the skin surface side.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the absorbent article of embodiment 2.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the absorbent article of embodiment 2 as viewed from the non-skin surface side in a state in which the absorbent article of embodiment 2 is unfolded and stretched.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the absorbent article of embodiment 2 as viewed from the skin surface side in a state in which the absorbent article of embodiment 2 is unfolded and stretched.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the absorbent article according to modification 1 of embodiment 2 as viewed from the non-skin surface side in a state in which the absorbent article according to modification 1 of embodiment 2 is unfolded and stretched.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the absorbent article according to modification 2 of embodiment 2 as viewed from the non-skin surface side in a state in which the absorbent article according to modification 2 of embodiment 2 is unfolded and extended.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a modification of the intermediate sheet.

Description of the reference numerals

1. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, absorbent article; 10. 20, an absorbent main body; 11a, 21a, surface sheet; 12a, 22a, a back sheet; 13. 23, an absorber; 14. 14A, 14B, 24, an intermediate sheet; 14a, a convex portion; 14b, a recess; 15. 25, an indication part; 27. 28, a belt portion; 101. 201, front waistline region; 102. 202, a rear waist region; 103. 203, a crotch region; 116. a leg side gather; 116b, a top; 271. 281, an elastic member (expansion part); BL, boundary line; l, the front-back direction; p1, part 1; p2, part 2; r1, region 1; r2, region 2; r3, a non-telescopic area; w, width direction.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an absorbent article according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. The drawings are schematic, and the scale of each dimension and the like may be different from those in reality.

[ embodiment 1 ]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the absorbent article 1 according to embodiment 1, viewed from the non-skin surface side. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent article 1 viewed from the skin surface side. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III shown in fig. 2. Fig. 1 and 2 are plan views showing an extended state in which the absorbent article 1 is extended to a state in which no gathers are formed. In the present embodiment, the "skin surface side" refers to a side facing the skin of the wearer in the use state (worn state) of the absorbent article 1. The "non-skin surface side" refers to a side facing the opposite side of the skin of the wearer in the use state (wearing state) of the absorbent article 1. In the present embodiment, "wearer" refers to a person wearing the absorbent article 1, and "wearer" refers to a person wearing the absorbent article 1 on a wearer.

Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction in the extended state of the absorbent article 1 (see fig. 1 and 2) is referred to as the front-back direction L, the width direction in the extended state of the absorbent article 1, which is the direction orthogonal to the front-back direction L, is referred to as the width direction W, and the direction orthogonal to the front-back direction L and the width direction W is referred to as the thickness direction T (see fig. 3). The front-back direction L is a direction extending from the front side of the body of the wearer to the back side of the body in the use state of the absorbent article 1. The width direction W is a direction that coincides with the left-right direction of the wearer in the use state of the absorbent article 1. The thickness direction T is a direction in which components (a skin-facing sheet 11, a non-skin-facing sheet 12, an absorber 13, and the like described later) constituting the absorbent article 1 are stacked.

The absorbent article 1 is, for example, a disposable diaper. The absorbent article 1 may be a disposable diaper for children or a disposable diaper for adults. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the absorbent article 1 is a disposable diaper for children. The absorbent article 1 includes an absorbent main body 10 that absorbs excrement.

The absorbent main body 10 is divided into a front waistline region 101, a rear waistline region 102, and a crotch region 103. The front waistline region 101 is a region located on the front waistline side of the wearer in the use state. The back waistline region 102 is a region located on the back waistline side of the wearer in the use state. The crotch region 103 is a region located between the front waistline region 101 and the back waistline region 102 in the front-back direction L and located in the crotch of the wearer in the use state.

The absorbent body 10 includes a skin-facing sheet 11, a non-skin-facing sheet 12, an absorbent body 13, an intermediate sheet 14, and an indicator 15.

The skin sheet 11 includes a surface sheet 11a and a pair of side sheets 11b.

The topsheet 11a is a liquid-permeable sheet facing the skin of the wearer. The front sheet 11a may be made of, for example, a liquid-permeable nonwoven fabric. The topsheet 11a is disposed on the skin surface side so as to cover the absorbent body 13, and allows excrement (e.g., liquid components such as urine) excreted by the wearer to pass from the skin surface side to the absorbent body 13 side.

The pair of side sheets 11b are disposed over the entire region in the front-rear direction L so as to cover both side portions in the width direction W of the top sheet 11a at positions outside the central portion in the width direction W of the absorbent body 13. The side sheet 11b is a liquid-impermeable sheet, and may be made of, for example, a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric.

An elastic member 116a (see fig. 2) such as a rubber thread is provided along the front-rear direction L at an inner end portion in the width direction W of each side sheet 11b. The front end of the elastic member 116a reaches the front waistline region 101, and the rear end of the elastic member 116a reaches the rear waistline region 102. The outer portion (portion outside the line segment L1 shown in fig. 2) in the width direction W of each side sheet 11b is fixed to the front sheet 11a by an adhesive or the like. Both ends in the front-rear direction L of the inner portion (portion inward of the line segment L1 shown in fig. 2) in the width direction W of each side sheet 11b are also fixed to the front sheet 11a with an adhesive or the like. The method of fixing the side sheet 11b to the surface sheet 11a is not limited to the attachment using an adhesive or the like, and may be ultrasonic bonding, thermal welding using an embossing roll, or the like.

A region B1 indicated by a dashed line frame and diagonal line hatching in fig. 2 indicates a region where the end portion on the front waistline side (front waistline region 101 side) of the inner portion in the width direction W of each side sheet 11B is fixed to the front sheet 11a. Similarly, a region B2 indicated by a dotted line frame and diagonal line hatching indicates a region in which the end portion of the rear waistline side (the rear waistline region 102 side) of the inner portion in the width direction W of each side sheet 11B is fixed to the front sheet 11a.

Elastic members 115a such as elastic sheets are provided between the outer end portions of the side sheets 11b in the width direction W and the outer nonwoven fabric 12b described later along the front-rear direction L. The front ends of the elastic members 115a reach the front waistline region 101, and the rear ends of the elastic members 115a reach the rear waistline region 102.

The non-skin surface sheet 12 includes a back sheet 12a and outer nonwoven fabrics 12b.

The back sheet 12a is a liquid-impermeable sheet disposed on the side opposite to the skin side with respect to the front sheet 11a. The back sheet 12a can be formed of a film, for example. The back sheet 12a is disposed on the non-skin surface side so as to cover the absorbent body 13, and has a function of preventing excrement from leaking to the outside. The back sheet 12a is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the thickness direction T (see fig. 3).

The outer nonwoven fabric 12b is disposed on the non-skin surface side of the back sheet 12 a. The outer nonwoven fabric 12b is a liquid-impermeable sheet, and may be formed of, for example, a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric.

The absorber 13 is disposed between the front sheet 11a and the back sheet 12a, and has a structure for absorbing excrement of the wearer. The absorbent body 13 includes an absorbent core 13a and a core wrap 13b.

The absorbent core 13a is, for example, a laminate of absorbent materials containing comminuted pulp or superabsorbent polymer (SAP) or a mixture thereof. In the present embodiment, the absorbent core 13a is configured as a Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) sheet substantially formed of SAP material. That is, the absorbent core 13a substantially does not contain materials other than SAP materials.

The core wrap 13b is disposed so as to cover the skin surface side and the non-skin surface side of the absorbent core 13 a. The core wrap layer 13b is, for example, a tissue paper or a nonwoven fabric sheet.

The absorber 13 is provided in the center portion in the width direction W of the absorbent main body 10 over substantially the entire region in the front-rear direction L except for both end portions in the front-rear direction L. The absorber 13 is formed in a rectangular shape smaller than the back sheet 12a, and is disposed inward of the edge of the back sheet 12a when viewed in the thickness direction T. That is, when viewed in the thickness direction T, the entire absorber 13 is accommodated in the region where the back sheet 12a is provided.

The intermediate sheet 14 is disposed between the front sheet 11a and the absorbent body 13 in a partial region of the region where the front sheet 11a and the absorbent body 13 overlap. In the present embodiment, the intermediate sheet 14 is disposed at a position inward of the edge of the absorbent body 13 in the center portion in the width direction W of the absorbent body 10 when viewed from the thickness direction T. That is, when viewed from the thickness direction T, the entire center sheet 14 is accommodated in the region where the absorbent body 13 is provided. The intermediate sheet 14 may be made of, for example, a hot air nonwoven fabric. The air-through nonwoven fabric can be formed of, for example, hydrophilic polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or the like. The intermediate sheet 14 has a fiber density smaller than that of the surface sheet 11a.

As shown in fig. 2, the intermediate sheet 14 is configured to be visually recognizable when viewed from the skin side of the front sheet 11a. In the present embodiment, the intermediate sheet 14 is colored in a color different from each of the front sheet 11a, the back sheet 12a, and the absorbent body 13. More specifically, the intermediate sheet 14 may have a color different from the front sheet 11a, the back sheet 12a, and the absorbent body 13 to such an extent that a person with normal eyesight can distinguish the intermediate sheet 14 from the front sheet 11a, the back sheet 12a, and the absorbent body 13. For example, the intermediate sheet 14 may have a different color tone from the front sheet 11a, the back sheet 12a, and the absorber 13, or may have the same color tone as the front sheet 11a, the back sheet 12a, and the absorber 13 and a different lightness or chroma from the front sheet 11a, the back sheet 12a, and the absorber 13. For example, the intermediate sheet 14 may be colored so that the color of the intermediate sheet 14 is not similar to the colors of the front sheet 11a, the back sheet 12a, and the absorbent body 13. In this case, the degree of non-similar colors can be defined as, for example, a hue number difference of 6 or more in 24 hues of the ostwald hue circle. In addition, in consideration of design, at least one of the front surface sheet 11a and the back surface sheet 12a may be printed in multiple colors. In such a case, the intermediate sheet 14 may be colored in a color different from the color used for most (for example, 70% or more) of the front sheet 11a and the back sheet 12 a. That is, the same color as that of the intermediate sheet 14 may be used in parts of the front sheet 11a and the back sheet 12a as long as the intermediate sheet 14 can be distinguished from the front sheet 11a and the back sheet 12 a. When the color tone of the outer nonwoven fabric 12b is also visually recognized through the front sheet 11a, the intermediate sheet 14 may be colored in a color different from that of the outer nonwoven fabric 12b. For example, the intermediate sheet 14 is colored green, and the front sheet 11a, the back sheet 12a, the outer nonwoven fabric 12b, and the absorbent body 13 are mainly constituted by white-colored portions.

As shown in fig. 2, the intermediate sheet 14 is composed of a 1 st portion 141, a 2 nd portion 142, and a 3 rd portion 143. The 1 st portion 141 is a rectangular-shaped portion extending with an equal width along the front-rear direction L. The 1 st portion 141 has a pair of

side portions

141a and 141b extending in the front-rear direction L on both sides in the width direction W. The 2 nd part 142 is a part connected to the front end of the 1 st part 141 on the front waistline side. The 3 rd portion 143 is a portion connected to a rear end portion on the rear waistline side of the 1 st portion 141.

A convex portion 14a protruding forward (i.e., in a direction from the crotch region 103 toward the front waistline region 101) is formed at the front end portion of the 2 nd portion 142 (i.e., the end portion on the front waistline side of the center sheet 14). In the present embodiment, the convex portion 14a is formed in a triangular shape as an example. For example, the distal end of the convex portion 14a is located at the center of the intermediate sheet 14 in the width direction W. That is, the convex portion 14a is formed in an isosceles triangle shape having a boundary between the 1 st part 141 and the 2 nd part 142 as a base. The tip of the convex portion 14a may be angled or rounded.

A recess 14b recessed forward (i.e., in a direction from the rear waistline region 102 toward the crotch region 103) is formed in a rear end portion of the 3 rd portion 143 (i.e., an end portion on the rear waistline side of the center sheet 14). In the present embodiment, the concave portion 14b is formed in a triangular shape corresponding to the convex portion 14a, for example. That is, the convex portion 14a and the concave portion 14b are formed in shapes corresponding to each other. In other words, the convex portion 14a is formed to fit into the concave portion 14b. As a result, the front end portion of the intermediate sheet 14 (i.e., the front end portion 142a of the 2 nd portion 142 including the convex portion 14 a) has a shape matching the rear end portion of the intermediate sheet 14 (i.e., the rear end portion 143a of the 3 rd portion 143 including the concave portion 14 b).

The indicator 15 is disposed between the absorbent body 13 and the back sheet 12 a. The indicator 15 is configured to change color when in contact with a liquid. For example, the indicator 15 is yellow before contacting with the liquid and changes to blue when contacting with the liquid. In the present embodiment, the indicating portions 15 are formed in two lines extending in the front-rear direction L at the center portion in the width direction W of the absorbent main body 10.

As shown in fig. 2, the absorbent main body 10 includes a pair of leg stretch units 115 and a pair of leg side gathers 116 as functional structures thereof.

The pair of leg stretch units 115 includes elastic members 115a serving as stretchable portions stretchable in the front-rear direction L on both sides (both ends in the width direction W) of the absorbent main body 10. In the leg stretch units 115, the elastic members 115a contract, and thereby leg gathers that improve the fit around the legs of the wearer in the crotch region 103 are formed in the use state.

The pair of leg side gathers 116 are provided on the inner side in the width direction W than the respective leg stretch units 115. The leg side gathers 116 are mainly constituted by portions between the regions B1 and B2 in the inner portion (portion on the inner side of the line segment L1 shown in fig. 2) in the width direction W of the side sheet 11B. As described above, both end portions in the front-rear direction L of the leg side gathers 116 are fixed to the topsheet 11a in the regions B1, B2. Therefore, the inner end B1a in the front-rear direction L of the region B1 becomes a fixed end on the front waistline side of the leg gathers 116, and the inner end B2a in the front-rear direction L of the region B2 becomes a fixed end on the back waistline side of the leg gathers 116.

The leg side gathers 116 can be raised by contraction in the front-rear direction L. The elastic member 116a contracts in the use state, and the leg side gathers 116 are in the standing state, thereby suppressing leakage of excrement to the outside of the absorbent main body 10 (side leakage). That is, the leg side gathers 116 are in an erected state, and a leakage preventive cuff for preventing leakage of excrement to the outside along the surface of the top sheet 11a is formed in the crotch region 103.

The absorbent article 1 includes a pair of

fastening ears

21A, 21B and an object belt portion 30 as a structure for wearing and fixing the absorbent main body 10 to a wearer.

The pair of

fastening ears

21A, 21B are fixed to the target belt portion 30, thereby wearing and fixing the absorbent main body 10 to the wearer. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a pair of

fastening ears

21A, 21B are provided at both ends of the absorbent main body 10 in the width direction W of the rear waistline region 102. The pair of hook and

loop fasteners

21A, 21B are members extending outward in the width direction W. The pair of hook and

loop fasteners

21A, 21B are sandwiched and fixed between the side sheet 11B and the outer nonwoven fabric 12B of the absorbent main body 10, and are provided at positions rearward of the rear ends of the elastic members 115a. The pair of

fastening tabs

21A, 21B are provided symmetrically with respect to the center portion of the absorbent main body 10 in the width direction W and at the same position in the front-rear direction. The pair of hook and

loop fasteners

21A, 21B have the same shape and structure, and each have a fixing portion 210 as a portion to be fixed to the target band portion 30.

As shown in fig. 1, the target belt portion 30 is provided in the front waistline region 101 of the absorbent main body 10. The target band portion 30 is a portion to which the fixing portions 210 of the pair of hook and

loop fasteners

21A, 21B are fixed. The target tape portion 30 is bonded to the outer nonwoven fabric 12b in the front waistline region 101. That is, as shown in fig. 1, the target tape portion 30 is overlapped with the back sheet 12a via the outer nonwoven fabric 12b.

[ Effect ]

Next, the operation and effect of the absorbent article 1 will be described.

The absorbent article 1 includes an absorbent main body 10, and the absorbent main body 10 is divided into a front waistline region 101 located on the front waistline side of the wearer, a rear waistline region 102 located on the rear waistline side of the wearer, and a crotch region 103 located between the front waistline region 101 and the rear waistline region 102 in the front-rear direction L. The absorbent body 10 includes a liquid-permeable front sheet 11a facing the skin of the wearer, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 12a disposed on the opposite side of the front sheet 11a from the skin, an absorbent body 13 disposed between the front sheet 11a and the back sheet 12a and absorbing the excreta of the wearer, and a liquid-permeable intermediate sheet 14 disposed between the front sheet 11a and the absorbent body 13 in a partial region of a region where the front sheet 11a and the absorbent body 13 overlap. A convex portion 14a protruding in a direction from the crotch region 103 toward the front waistline region 101 is formed at the front end portion of the center sheet 14 on the front waistline side. A concave portion 14b that is concave in a direction from the rear waistline region 102 toward the crotch region 103 is formed in the rear end portion on the rear waistline side of the center sheet 14.

In the absorbent article 1, an intermediate sheet 14 is provided between the topsheet 11a and the absorbent member 13. This can improve the absorption of excrement when the absorbent body 10 is pressurized in the portion where the intermediate sheet 14 is provided. In addition, a convex portion 14a and a concave portion 14b are formed at both end portions of the intermediate sheet 14 in the front-rear direction L. In this way, the intermediate sheet 14 is formed into a new shape different from a general rectangular shape, and thus easily attracts the attention of the consumer. In other words, the presence of the center sheet 14 can be effectively recognized by the consumer. This can improve the feeling of comfort of the consumer with respect to the absorption effect of the absorbent article 1. Further, since the convex portions 14a are provided at the front end portion of the intermediate sheet 14, the amount of the intermediate sheet 14 provided at the portion of the absorbent main body 10 that is easily pressurized when the wearer is in the prone posture (portion that is easily subjected to body pressure) can be increased in accordance with the convex portions 14a. This can suitably improve the absorption of excrement when the wearer is in the prone position. On the other hand, since the concave portion 14b is provided at the rear end portion of the intermediate sheet 14, the amount of the intermediate sheet 14 provided at a portion of the absorbent main body 10 that is not easily pressurized when the wearer is in the prone posture can be reduced by the concave portion of the concave portion 14b. By not providing an excess intermediate sheet 14 in the portion of the absorbent main body that is not easily pressurized in this way, the excrement can be smoothly guided from the top sheet 11a to the absorbent body 13 in this portion, and the generation of liquid residue in the top sheet 11a can be appropriately suppressed. Therefore, according to the absorbent article 1, the feeling of reassurance of the absorption effect of the consumer on the absorbent article 1 can be improved, and the appropriate absorption performance can be exhibited in the prone position of the wearer.

The above effects are supplemented. The intermediate sheet 14 functions as a cushion region for temporarily storing excrement before it is absorbed by the absorbent body 13 together with the top sheet 11a. The intermediate sheet 14 functions to store the amount of excrement that cannot be stored in the surface sheet 11a any more (i.e., functions to assist the surface sheet 11 a) in a portion that is pressurized particularly during use (i.e., a portion in which the surface sheet 11a is pressurized and thinned and the amount of excrement that can be temporarily stored in the surface sheet 11a is reduced compared to that in normal use). On the other hand, in a portion that is not pressurized in use, a sufficient buffer region can be secured only with the surface sheet 11a. If the intermediate sheet 14 is provided in such a portion, the intermediate sheet 14 may prevent the excrement from smoothly moving from the top sheet 11a to the absorbent body 13. If the area of the intermediate sheet 14 is too large, the above-described difference in fiber density (fiber density of the intermediate sheet 14 < fiber density of the surface sheet 11 a) may cause a wide range of regions in which liquid tends to remain in the surface sheet 11a, thereby reducing the feeling of use (dryness) of the wearer. That is, if the intermediate sheet 14 is provided at a portion where there is no problem even if the intermediate sheet 14 is provided, there is a possibility that the time until the movement of the excrement to the absorbent body 13 and the absorption of the excrement by the absorbent body 13 are completed may be prolonged. According to the absorbent article 1, the portion that is easily pressed during use, which is assumed to be in the prone position for a relatively long period of time (i.e., the portion on the front waistline region 101 side of the crotch region 103), and preferably the portion where the intermediate sheet 14 is disposed can be appropriately covered with the convex portions 14a. In addition, the recess 14b can be provided to appropriately reduce the amount of the intermediate sheet 14 in a portion that is not easily pressed during use (i.e., a portion of the crotch region 103 on the side of the rear waistline region 102) that is assumed to be in the prone position for a relatively long period of time, and preferably, in a portion where the intermediate sheet 14 is omitted.

The convex portion 14a and the concave portion 14b may be formed in shapes corresponding to each other, or the front end portion of the intermediate sheet 14 may have a shape matching the rear end portion of the intermediate sheet 14. As a method of manufacturing the intermediate sheet 14, a method of continuously manufacturing the intermediate sheet 14 by continuously cutting while conveying a long belt-like member, which becomes a base material of the intermediate sheet 14, by a conveyor belt or the like may be considered. According to the configuration of the present embodiment, in such a case, the rear end portion of the front intermediate sheet 14 can be made to coincide with the front end portion of the rear intermediate sheet 14. This can reduce trimming loss in manufacturing.

The intermediate sheet 14 may be configured to be visually recognizable when viewed from the skin side of the front sheet 11a. In this case, for example, when a wearer who is a consumer wears the absorbent article 1 on the wearer, or when the consumer holds a sample of a good sample in the hand in a store or the like, the presence of the intermediate sheet 14 can be reliably recognized by the consumer (wearer).

The intermediate sheet 14 may be colored in a color different from each of the front sheet 11a, the back sheet 12a, and the absorbent body 13. In this case, in the above-described case or the like, the presence of the intermediate sheet 14 can be effectively recognized by the consumer (wearer).

The convex portions 14a and the concave portions 14b may be arranged so as not to overlap with the central portion in the front-rear direction L of the absorbent main body 10. More specifically, as shown in fig. 2, the 2 nd portion 142 including the convex portion 14a and the 3 rd portion 143 including the concave portion 14b may be arranged so as not to overlap with a boundary line BL passing through the central portion in the front-rear direction L of the absorbent main body 10 and parallel to the width direction W. If the convex portions 14a or the concave portions 14b are disposed at the center portion in the front-rear direction L of the absorbent main body 10, in a state where the absorbent main body 10 is folded in two at the center portion in the front-rear direction L (i.e., in a state where the absorbent main body 10 is folded in two along the boundary line BL), the convex portions 14a or the concave portions 14b overlap with the portions with creases, and the convex portions 14a or the concave portions 14b are difficult to visually recognize due to the creases. In contrast, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, even in a state where the absorbent body 10 is folded in two at the center portion in the front-rear direction L, visibility of the convex portions 14a and the concave portions 14b can be ensured.

As shown in fig. 2, when the absorbent main body 10 is divided into two parts, a 1 st part P1 on the front waistline side and a 2 nd part P2 on the rear waistline side by the boundary line BL, the 1 st region R1 occupied by the center sheet 14 in the 1 st part P1 may be larger than the 2 nd region R2 occupied by the center sheet 14 in the 2 nd part P2. According to the above configuration, the amount of the center sheet 14 (i.e., the area of the 1 st region R1) in the 1 st portion P1 on the front waistline side facing the urination orifice of the wearer is made larger than the amount of the center sheet 14 (i.e., the area of the 2 nd region R2) in the 2 nd portion P2 on the rear waistline side, whereby the absorbency of urine (excrement) into the center sheet 14 can be suitably improved. In addition, from the viewpoint of enhancing the above-described effect, it is preferable that the 1 st region R1 overlaps with the urination port of the wearer in the use state.

The absorbent body 13 may be an SAP sheet substantially formed of a Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) material. When the absorbent body 10 is folded in two at the boundary line BL, the area of a region in which a part of the intermediate sheet 14 disposed at the front waistline side of the boundary line BL (i.e., the 1 st region R1 of the intermediate sheet 14) and a part of the intermediate sheet 14 disposed at the rear waistline side of the boundary line BL (i.e., the 2 nd region R2 of the intermediate sheet 14) overlap each other may be 25% or less of the entire area of the intermediate sheet 14. In the case of the present embodiment (fig. 2), the 2 nd region R2 is smaller than the 1 st region R1, and when the absorbent body 10 is folded in two at the boundary BL, the entire 2 nd region R2 of the intermediate sheet 14 partially overlaps the 1 st region R1 of the intermediate sheet 14. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the area of the overlapped region is equal to the area of the 2 nd region R2 of the intermediate sheet 14. By configuring the absorber 13 as an SAP sheet, the absorber 13 can be made thin, and therefore the absorbent main body 10 can be made thin. On the other hand, when the absorbent member 13 is thinned in this way, the thickness of the intermediate sheet 14 is easily increased. In particular, in the stored state of the absorbent article 1 (the state in which the absorbent body 10 is folded in two at the boundary BL), if the regions of the intermediate sheet 14 that partially overlap each other before and after the boundary BL (that is, the regions having the largest thickness in the stored state) are large, there is a possibility that the consumer will be given a bad impression that the absorbent article 1 is thick and bulky. According to the above configuration, the consumer can be prevented from having the impression as described above about the absorbent article 1 by limiting the region of the center sheet 14 in which the portions located in front of and behind the boundary line BL partially overlap each other to 25% or less of the entire area of the center sheet 14.

The absorbent main body 10 may have a pair of leg side gathers 116 provided at least in the crotch region 103. The pair of leg side gathers 116 may extend in the front-rear direction L on both sides across the center portion in the width direction W of the absorbent main body 10. As shown in fig. 2, in the extended state in which the absorbent main body 10 is extended in the front-rear direction L, the top portions 116b of the pair of leg side gathers 116 may be located inward in the width direction W from the ends in the width direction W of the intermediate sheet 14 (i.e., the

side portions

141a, 141b of the 1 st portion 141). In other words, as shown in fig. 2, the distance d1 between the top portions 116b of the pair of leg side gathers 116 may be shorter than the width d2 of the intermediate sheet 14 (the distance between the hem 141a and the hem 141 b). In this case, in the extended state, the part of the intermediate sheet 14 including the

side portions

141a and 141b is hidden by the pair of leg side gathers 116. Here, the top 116b of the leg side gather 116 refers to a portion located at the top end in a state where the leg side gather 116 stands up. That is, the top 116b of the leg side gather 116 is the portion of the leg side gather 116 which is positioned innermost in the width direction W in the above-described extended state. According to the above structure, in the extended state, the end portions in the width direction W of the intermediate sheet 14 (the edge portions including the

side portions

141a, 141 b) are hidden by the leg side gathers 116. After the leg side gathers 116 are raised when the absorbent article 1 is used, the end portions in the width direction W of the intermediate sheet 14 that were hidden by the leg side gathers 116 are exposed, and the entire intermediate sheet 14 can be visually recognized. This can effectively make the consumer recognize that the intermediate sheet 14 is widely provided to the position hidden by the leg gathers 116, and therefore can improve the feeling of comfort of the absorption effect of the absorbent article 1 by the consumer. Further, by providing the intermediate sheet 14 widely in the width direction W of the absorbent main body 10, urine flowing outward in the width direction W can be appropriately absorbed.

The ends of the pair of leg side gathers 116 in the front-rear direction L may be fixed to the top sheet 11a. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the end portions of the leg side gathers 116 in the front-rear direction L are fixed to the topsheet 11a in the regions B1, B2. The front end of the intermediate sheet 14 may be located inward of the fixed ends of the pair of leg gathers 116 on the front waist side (in the present embodiment, the ends B1a of the region B1). The rear end portion of the intermediate sheet 14 may be located inward of the fixed ends on the rear waistline side of the pair of leg gathers 116 (in the present embodiment, the end portion B2a of the region B2). According to the above-described structure, after the leg gathers 116 stand up when the absorbent article 1 is used, the end portions in the front-rear direction L of the intermediate sheet 14 are not hidden by the leg gathers 116, and therefore the visibility of the convex portions 14a and the concave portions 14b of the intermediate sheet 14 can be ensured. Further, it is possible to avoid the absorbent surface on the intermediate sheet 14 being obstructed by the end portions in the front-rear direction L of the leg side gathers 116 (i.e., the regions B1, B2 which are portions fixed to the topsheet 11 a).

The absorbent body 10 may have an indicator 15 disposed between the absorbent body 13 and the back sheet 12a and configured to change color when in contact with liquid. As shown in fig. 1, the intermediate sheet 14 may at least partially overlap the indicating portion 15. The intermediate sheet 14 can spread urine excreted by the wearer. Therefore, in the portion where the center sheet 14 overlaps the indicator 15, the color change range of the indicator 15 can be enlarged early, and early replacement of the absorbent article 1 can be promoted.

As shown in fig. 1, when the absorbent body 10 is divided into a 1 st portion P1 on the front waistline side and a 2 nd portion P2 on the rear waistline side by a boundary line BL, the area where the center sheet 14 overlaps the indicator 15 in the 1 st portion P1 may be larger than the area where the center sheet 14 overlaps the indicator 15 in the 2 nd portion P2. By making the area where the indicator 15 overlaps the center sheet 14 larger in the 1 st portion P1 on the front waistline side facing the urination orifice of the wearer, urine can be spread efficiently by the portion of the center sheet 14 disposed in the 1 st portion P1, and the color change range of the indicator 15 in the 1 st portion P1 can be widened early.

[ 1 st modification of embodiment 1 ]

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the absorbent article 1A according to modification 1 of embodiment 1, as viewed from the non-skin surface side. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the absorbent article 1A viewed from the skin surface side. The absorbent article 1A differs from the absorbent article 1 in that the center sheet 14 is disposed at a position closer to the rear waistline region 102 than the position of the center sheet 14 of the absorbent article 1. The other structure of the absorbent article 1A is the same as that of the absorbent article 1 described above.

As shown in fig. 5, in the absorbent article 1A, when the absorbent main body 10 is divided into a 1 st part P1 on the front waistline side and a 2 nd part P2 on the rear waistline side by a boundary line BL, a 2 nd region R2 occupied by the center sheet 14 in the 2 nd part P2 is larger than a 1 st region R1 occupied by the center sheet 14 in the 1 st part P1. In the case where the period during which the wearer is in the supine or sitting position is relatively long, the 2 nd part P2 is more easily pressurized than the 1 st part P1. Thus, according to the above configuration, by making the amount of the center sheet 14 of the 2 nd part P2 (i.e., the area of the 2 nd region R2) that is easily pressurized when the wearer is in the supine position or sitting position in the absorbent main body 10 larger than the amount of the center sheet 14 of the 1 st part P1 (i.e., the area of the 1 st region R1), the absorption of excrement when the wearer is in the supine position or sitting position can be appropriately improved. Further, from the viewpoint of improving the above-described effect, it is preferable that the 2 nd region R2 overlaps at least a part of the buttocks (buttocks) of the wearer in the use state. In addition, in the supine position or sitting position, portions of the 2 nd portion P2 corresponding to both side portions of the buttocks (buttocks) of the wearer across a slit (cleft buttocks) (i.e., portions pressed by being sandwiched between the ground and the body of the wearer) are particularly easily pressed. In the present embodiment, the recessed portion 14b is recessed most forward in the center in the width direction W of the 3 rd portion 143. In other words, the 3 rd portion 143 has portions where the recesses 14b (depressions) are not provided on both sides in the width direction W. With this configuration, the following effects are obtained. That is, the concave portion 14b is disposed in a portion where a slit (cleft of buttocks) of the buttocks (buttocks) of the wearer is located in the supine posture or the sitting posture (a portion which is not so pressurized even in the supine posture or the sitting posture), so that the amount of the center sheet 14 can be reduced. On the other hand, in the case of the supine posture or sitting posture, the amount of the intermediate sheet 14 can be secured by disposing both side portions of the concave portion 14b of the 3 rd portion 143 with respect to the portions (particularly, portions which are easily pressurized in the case of the supine posture or sitting posture) where both side portions (i.e., portions having flesh) of the cleft (cleft buttocks) of the buttocks of the wearer are located.

As shown in fig. 4, in the absorbent article 1A, when the absorbent body 10 is divided into a 1 st part P1 on the front waistline side and a 2 nd part P2 on the back waistline side by a boundary line BL, the region where the center sheet 14 overlaps with the indicator 15 in the 2 nd part P2 is larger than the region where the center sheet 14 overlaps with the indicator 15 in the 1 st part P1. According to the above configuration, when the period during which the wearer is in the supine position is relatively long, urine flowing to the back side of the wearer can be efficiently diffused by the portion of the center sheet 14 disposed in the 2 nd portion P2, and the color change range of the indicator 15 in the 2 nd portion P2 can be expanded early.

[ 2 nd modification of embodiment 1 ]

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the absorbent article 1B according to the 2 nd modification of embodiment 1, as viewed from the skin surface side. The absorbent article 1B differs from the absorbent article 1 in that the width (length in the width direction W) of the center sheet 14 is shorter than the width of the center sheet 14 of the absorbent article 1. The other structure of the absorbent article 1B is the same as that of the absorbent article 1 described above.

As shown in fig. 6, in the extended state in which the absorbent article 1 is extended in the front-rear direction L, the top portions 116b of the pair of leg side gathers 116 are positioned further outward in the width direction W than the end portions in the width direction W of the intermediate sheet 14 (i.e., the

side portions

141a, 141b of the 1 st portion 141). In other words, the distance d1 between the top portions 116b of the pair of leg side gathers 116 is longer than the width d2 of the intermediate sheet 14 (the distance between the

side portions

141a and 141 b). According to the above configuration, even in the extended state, the intermediate sheet 14 is not hidden by the leg side gathers 116, and visibility of the shape of the intermediate sheet 14 can be ensured. Further, since the width d2 of the intermediate sheet 14 is shorter than the distance d1 between the top portions 116b of the pair of leg side gathers 116 (that is, the intermediate sheet 14 is formed to be narrow), the intermediate sheet 14 can be appropriately fitted to the crotch portion of the wearer.

[ 2 nd embodiment ]

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the absorbent article 2 according to embodiment 2. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the absorbent article 2 as viewed from the non-skin surface side in a state where the absorbent article 2 is unfolded and stretched. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the absorbent article 2 as viewed from the skin surface side in a state where the absorbent article 2 is unfolded and stretched. The absorbent article 2 is a pants-type disposable diaper. The absorbent article 2 may be a disposable diaper for infants or adult.

As shown in fig. 7, the absorbent article 2 is provided with a waist opening H1 and a pair of left and right leg openings H2. The waist opening H1 is a portion through which the waist of the wearer passes, and the pair of leg openings H2 are portions through which the left and right legs of the wearer pass. In a state where the absorbent article 2 is worn by a wearer, locking portions E extending in the vertical direction are provided in portions located on both the left and right sides of the waist of the wearer. Fig. 8 and 9 show a state in which the absorbent article 2 is extended by pulling apart the locking portion E.

The absorbent article 2 includes an absorbent main body 20 that absorbs excrement, as in the absorbent article 1 of embodiment 1. The absorbent main body 20 is divided into a front waistline region 201, a rear waistline region 202, and a crotch region 203. The front waistline region 201 is a region located on the front waistline side of the wearer in the use state. The back waistline region 202 is a region located on the back waistline side of the wearer in the use state. The crotch region 203 is a region located between the front waistline region 201 and the back waistline region 202 in the front-to-back direction L and located in the crotch of the wearer in a use state.

The absorbent main body 20 is folded in two at a boundary line BL passing through the center portion of the absorbent main body 20 in the front-rear direction L (longitudinal direction) and parallel to the width direction W, and both side end portions in the width direction W (left-right direction) of each of the front waistline region 201 and the rear waistline region 202 are joined to each other by thermal welding, ultrasonic welding, or the like to form a pair of locking portions E, thereby forming the pants-type absorbent article 2 shown in fig. 7.

The absorbent body 20 includes a skin-facing sheet 21, a non-skin-facing sheet 22, an absorbent body 23, an intermediate sheet 24, and an indicator 25, as in the absorbent body 10 of the absorbent article 1 according to embodiment 1. The skin sheet 21, the non-skin sheet 22, the absorber 23, the intermediate sheet 24, and the indication section 25 have the same configurations as the skin sheet 11, the non-skin sheet 12, the absorber 13, the intermediate sheet 14, and the indication section 15 of the absorbent main body 10. That is, the skin sheet 21 includes a top sheet 21a and a pair of side sheets 21b, as in the skin sheet 11. The structure of the surface sheet 21a and the side sheet 21b is the same as that of the surface sheet 11a and the side sheet 11b. The non-skin-facing sheet 22 includes a back sheet 22a and outer nonwoven fabrics 22b, similarly to the non-skin-facing sheet 12. The back sheet 22a and the outer nonwoven fabric 22b have the same structure as the back sheet 12a and the outer nonwoven fabric 12b. The intermediate sheet 24 has convex portions 24a and concave portions 24b similar to the convex portions 14a and concave portions 14b of the intermediate sheet 14.

The belt portion 27 including a plurality of elastic members 271 (stretchable and contractible portions) such as rubber threads that are stretchable and contractible in the width direction W is provided in the front waistline region 201 of the absorbent main body 20. In the present embodiment, the plurality of elastic members 271 are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the front-rear direction L in substantially the entire region of the front waistline region 201 in the front-rear direction L. That is, the belt portion 27 is provided over substantially the entire front-rear direction L of the front waistline region 201.

The belt portion 28 including a plurality of elastic members 281 (stretchable portions) such as rubber threads stretchable in the width direction W is provided in the rear waistline region 202 of the absorbent main body 20. In the present embodiment, the plurality of elastic members 281 are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the front-rear direction L in substantially the entire region of the rear waistline region 202 in the front-rear direction L. That is, the belt portion 28 is provided over substantially the entire region of the rear waistline region 202 in the front-to-rear direction L.

The plurality of

elastic members

271 and 281 are fixed in an extended state between the skin sheet 21 and the non-skin sheet 22. Thus, when the absorbent article 2 is worn by the wearer, the front waistline region 201 and the back waistline region 202 extend and contract in the width direction W, and fit to the waistline of the wearer.

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, the absorbent article 2 includes

belt portions

27, 28 arranged in the front waistline region 201 and the rear waistline region 202 and including

elastic members

271, 281 which are stretchable in the width direction W. The intermediate sheet 24 does not overlap the

belt portions

27 and 28. By disposing the intermediate sheet 24 so as not to overlap the

belt portions

27, 28 in this way, the intermediate sheet 24 can be prevented from being deformed (stretched) by the

elastic members

271, 281 of the

belt portions

27, 28. Thus, in the pants-type disposable diaper, visibility of the shape of the intermediate sheet 24 can be ensured.

[ 1 st modification of the 2 nd embodiment ]

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the absorbent article 2A according to modification 1 of embodiment 2, as viewed from the non-skin surface side. The absorbent article 2A differs from the absorbent article 2 in that the intermediate sheet 24 is disposed at a position closer to the front waistline region 201 side than the position of the intermediate sheet 24 of the absorbent article 2. The other structure of the absorbent article 2A is the same as that of the absorbent article 2 described above.

As shown in fig. 10, in the absorbent article 2A, a part of the center sheet 24 (a part of the convex portion 24a in the present embodiment) overlaps the belt portion 27 in the front waistline region 201. By overlapping the belt portion 27 with the part of the intermediate sheet 24 in this manner, the part of the intermediate sheet 24 can be pressed and fixed to the skin of the wearer by the belt portion 27, and therefore urine flowing along the skin of the wearer can be appropriately captured by the part of the intermediate sheet 24. Note that a part of the center sheet 24 (for example, a part including an end portion where the recess 24b is formed) may overlap the belt portion 28 in the rear waistline region 202. Further, a part of the center sheet 24 on the convex portion 24a side may overlap the belt portion 27 in the front waistline region 201, and a part of the center sheet 24 on the concave portion 24b side may overlap the belt portion 28 in the rear waistline region 202. That is, by overlapping at least one of the

belt portions

27 and 28 with at least one of the front waistline region 201 and the rear waistline region 202 of the center sheet 24, the same effect as that of the absorbent article 2A described above can be obtained.

[ 2 nd modification of embodiment 2 ]

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the absorbent article 2B according to modification 2 of embodiment 2, as viewed from the non-skin surface side. The absorbent article 2B is different from the absorbent article 2A in that the belt portion 27 is provided with the non-stretchable region R3. The other structure of the absorbent article 2B is the same as that of the absorbent article 2A described above.

As shown in fig. 11, in the absorbent article 2B, the elastic member 271 is not provided in a portion where a part of the intermediate sheet 24 (a part of the projection 24a in the present embodiment) overlaps with the belt portion 27. According to the above configuration, by providing the intermediate sheet 24 at a position reaching the belt portion 27, the absorption surface of the intermediate sheet 24 can be enlarged, and the visibility of the shape of the intermediate sheet 24 can be ensured without stretching the portion of the intermediate sheet 24 overlapping the belt portion 27.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 11, the belt portion 27 has a non-stretch region R3 where no elastic member 271 is provided in the center portion in the width direction W of the front waistline region 201. Then, the front end portion (the end portion on the side where the convex portion 24a is formed) of the intermediate sheet 24 reaches the non-stretching region R3. The width d2 (length in the width direction W) of the intermediate sheet 24 is shorter than the width d3 (length in the width direction W) of the non-stretchable region R3. According to the above configuration, the belt portion 27 is provided with the non-stretchable region R3 having the width d3 larger than the width d2 of the intermediate sheet 24, and the front end portion of the intermediate sheet 24 reaches the non-stretchable region R3, whereby the absorption surface of the intermediate sheet 24 can be enlarged. Further, the portion of the intermediate sheet 24 overlapping the belt portion 27 can be prevented from expanding and contracting, and visibility of the shape of the intermediate sheet 24 can be ensured.

In the present embodiment, the non-stretchable region R3 is provided at the center portion in the width direction W of the belt portion 27 of the front waistline region 201, and the front end portion of the intermediate sheet 24 reaches the non-stretchable region R3, but a non-stretchable region similar to the non-stretchable region R3 may be provided at the center portion in the width direction W of the belt portion 28 of the rear waistline region 202, and the rear end portion (the end portion on the side where the concave portion 24b is formed) of the intermediate sheet 24 may reach the non-stretchable region. Further, a non-stretchable region may be provided in the center portion in the width direction W of each of the

belt portions

27, 28, and the front end portion of the intermediate sheet 24 may reach the non-stretchable region of the belt portion 27 and the rear end portion of the intermediate sheet 24 may reach the non-stretchable region of the belt portion 28. In any of the above cases, the same effects as those of the absorbent article 2B described above are obtained.

The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. The material and shape of each structure are not limited to those described above, and various materials and shapes can be used. In addition, a part of the configuration of one embodiment or modification described above can be arbitrarily applied to the configuration of the other embodiment or modification. As an example, in the absorbent article 2 of embodiment 2, both side end portions in the width direction W of the intermediate sheet 24 are hidden by the side sheets 21B in the extended state, but the configuration of the absorbent article 1B of modification 2 of embodiment 1 described above may be applied so that both side end portions in the width direction W of the intermediate sheet 24 are not hidden by the side sheets 21B.

The shapes of the convex portions 14a and the concave portions 14b of the intermediate sheet 14 are not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the

intermediate sheets

14A and 14B of the modification shown in (a) and (B) of fig. 12 may be used instead of the intermediate sheet 14 of embodiment 1 (or the intermediate sheet 24 of embodiment 2). While the convex portions 14A and the concave portions 14b of the intermediate sheet 14 are formed over the entire region in the width direction W of the intermediate sheet 14, the convex portions 14A and the concave portions 14b of the intermediate sheet 14A are formed in a part in the width direction W of the intermediate sheet 14A (in this example, a central portion except both end portions in the width direction W). The convex portions 14a and the concave portions 14B of the intermediate sheet 14 are formed in a triangular shape, whereas the convex portions 14a and the concave portions 14B of the intermediate sheet 14B are formed in a curved shape (in this example, a semi-elliptical shape).

In the above embodiment, the convex portion 14a and the concave portion 14b are formed in the shapes corresponding to each other, but the convex portion 14a and the concave portion 14b do not necessarily have to have the shapes corresponding to each other. For example, instead of the intermediate sheet 14 of embodiment 1 (or the intermediate sheet 24 of embodiment 2), an intermediate sheet having the semi-elliptical convex portions 14a shown in fig. 12 (B) and having the triangular concave portions 14B similar to the intermediate sheet 14 of embodiment 1 may be used.

In the absorbent article 2 according to embodiment 2, the absorbent body 20 in which the front waistline region 201, the rear waistline region 202, and the crotch region 203 are continuously (integrally) formed is illustrated, but the absorbent body 20 may be configured by joining the respective members of the front waistline region 201, the rear waistline region 202, and the crotch region 203, which are originally separate members, to each other.

Claims

1. An absorbent article in which, in the case of a disposable absorbent article,

the absorbent article includes an absorbent main body divided into a front waistline region located on a front waistline side of a wearer, a rear waistline region located on a rear waistline side of the wearer, and a crotch region located between the front waistline region and the rear waistline region in a front-rear direction,

the absorbent main body has:

a liquid-permeable top sheet that faces the skin of the wearer;

a liquid-impermeable back sheet disposed on the opposite side of the front sheet from the skin side;

an absorbent body disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, and absorbing excrement from the wearer; and

a liquid-permeable intermediate sheet disposed between the top sheet and the absorbent body in a partial region of a region where the top sheet and the absorbent body overlap,

a convex portion protruding in a direction from the crotch region toward the front waistline region is formed at a front end portion of the front waistline side of the center panel,

a concave portion that is concave in a direction from the rear waistline region toward the crotch region is formed in a rear end portion on the rear waistline side of the center panel.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein,

the convex portion and the concave portion are formed in shapes corresponding to each other,

the front end portion of the intermediate sheet has a shape matching the rear end portion of the intermediate sheet.

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

the intermediate sheet is configured to be visually recognizable when viewed from the skin side of the front sheet.

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

the intermediate sheet is colored in a different color from each of the front sheet, the back sheet, and the absorber.

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

the convex portion and the concave portion are arranged so as not to overlap with a central portion of the absorbent main body in the front-rear direction.

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

when the absorbent main body is divided into a 1 st portion on the front waistline side and a 2 nd portion on the back waistline side by a boundary line passing through the center portion in the front-back direction of the absorbent main body and extending along a width direction orthogonal to the front-back direction, a 1 st region occupied by the center sheet in the 1 st portion is larger than a 2 nd region occupied by the center sheet in the 2 nd portion.

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

when the absorbent main body is divided into a 1 st portion on the front waistline side and a 2 nd portion on the back waistline side by a boundary line passing through the center portion in the front-back direction of the absorbent main body and extending along a width direction orthogonal to the front-back direction, a 2 nd region occupied by the intermediate sheet in the 2 nd portion is larger than a 1 st region occupied by the intermediate sheet in the 1 st portion.

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

the absorption body is an SAP-sheet essentially formed of a superabsorbent polymer material,

when the absorbent body is folded in two along a boundary line in a width direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, the boundary line passing through a center portion of the absorbent body in the front-rear direction, an area of a region where a part of the intermediate sheet disposed at a position closer to the front waistline side than the boundary line and a part of the intermediate sheet disposed at a position closer to the rear waistline side than the boundary line overlap each other is 25% or less of an entire area of the intermediate sheet.

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

the absorbent main body has a pair of leg gathers provided at least in the crotch region,

the pair of leg side gathers extend in the front-rear direction on both sides of a widthwise central portion of the absorbent main body across the front-rear direction,

in an extended state in which the absorbent main body is extended in the front-rear direction, the top portions of the pair of leg side gathers are located inward in the width direction than the end portions in the width direction of the intermediate sheet.

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

the pair of leg gathers extend in the front-back direction on both sides of a widthwise central portion of the absorbent main body that is orthogonal to the front-back direction,

in an extended state in which the absorbent article is extended in the front-rear direction, the top portions of the pair of leg gathers are located on the outer side in the width direction than the end portions in the width direction of the center sheet.

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

the front-rear direction end portions of the pair of leg side gathers are fixed to the topsheet,

the front end portion of the intermediate sheet is positioned inward of the fixed ends of the pair of leg gathers on the front waistline side,

the rear end of the intermediate sheet is located inward of the fixed ends of the pair of leg gathers on the rear waistline side.

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

the absorbent main body has an indicator portion disposed between the absorbent body and the back sheet and configured to change color when contacted with liquid,

the intermediate sheet overlaps at least a part of the indicating portion.

13. The absorbent article of claim 12,

when the absorbent body is divided into a 1 st portion on the front waistline side and a 2 nd portion on the back waistline side by a boundary line passing through the center portion in the front-back direction of the absorbent body and extending along a width direction orthogonal to the front-back direction, a region where the center sheet overlaps with the indicator in the 1 st portion is larger than a region where the center sheet overlaps with the indicator in the 2 nd portion.

14. The absorbent article of claim 12, wherein,

when the absorbent main body is divided into a 1 st portion on the front waistline side and a 2 nd portion on the back waistline side by a boundary line passing through the center portion in the front-back direction of the absorbent main body and extending along the width direction orthogonal to the front-back direction, a region where the center sheet overlaps the indicator in the 2 nd portion is larger than a region where the center sheet overlaps the indicator in the 1 st portion.

15. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1, 2, 13, 14, wherein,

the absorbent article is a pants-type disposable diaper,

the absorbent article has a belt portion disposed in the front waistline region and the rear waistline region and including a stretchable portion stretchable in a width direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction,

the intermediate sheet does not overlap with the webbing portion.

16. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1, 2, 13, 14, wherein,

the absorbent article is a pants-type disposable diaper,

a part of the intermediate sheet overlaps the belt portion in at least one of the front waistline region and the back waistline region.

17. The absorbent article of claim 16,

the stretchable portion is not provided in a portion of the intermediate sheet that overlaps with the belt portion.

18. The absorbent article of claim 17,

the belt portion has a non-stretchable region in which the stretchable portion is not provided in a central portion in the width direction of at least one of the front waistline region and the rear waistline region,

at least one of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the intermediate sheet reaches the non-stretch region,

the intermediate sheet has a length in the width direction that is shorter than a length in the width direction of the non-stretchable region.