CN116019637A - Absorbent article - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles. The absorbent article (1) comprises an absorber (8) having a narrowed portion in the width direction of the crotch region, a top sheet (9) provided on the skin surface side of the absorber (8), and three-dimensional gathers (3 BL,3 BR) provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction at portions of the top sheet (9) overlapping with the ends of the absorber (8) in the width direction. The rigidity of the overlapped portion of the three-dimensional gathers (3 BL,3 BR) and the top sheet (9) is higher than the rigidity of the portion of the top sheet (9) on the inner side in the width direction than the overlapped portion.

Description

Absorbent article

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles.

Background

For example, an absorbent article is disclosed in which three-dimensional gathers extending in the longitudinal direction are provided laterally in the longitudinal direction of a top sheet (for example, japanese patent application laid-open No. 2018-068464). In the case of such an absorbent article, the three-dimensional gathers stand up with respect to the top sheet, and thus, leakage of urine and water contained in a watery toilet from the side in the longitudinal direction of the top sheet can be prevented.

Disclosure of Invention

For example, in the case where the shape of the absorbent body has a narrowed portion in the width direction, if the three-dimensional gather is provided on the side in the longitudinal direction of the top sheet, the top sheet stands up from the portion overlapping the narrowest portion of the narrowed portion to the free end of the three-dimensional gather. In this case, the distance from the portion of the top sheet overlapping the narrowest portion to the free end of the three-dimensional gather in the standing state becomes longer than in the case where only the three-dimensional gather is standing. Therefore, the position of the free end of the three-dimensional gather becomes unstable. Therefore, it is difficult to bring the free end of the three-dimensional gather into contact with the appropriate position of the skin.

The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a technique that facilitates bringing a free end of a three-dimensional gather into contact with an appropriate position of skin when the three-dimensional gather is provided in an absorbent article having an absorber with a narrowed portion in a width direction.

In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, a portion having high rigidity is provided between a portion of the top sheet overlapping the narrowest portion of the narrowed portion and the free end of the three-dimensional gather in the standing state.

The present invention provides an absorbent article. The absorbent article has a length along a longitudinal direction and a width along a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The absorbent article includes an absorbent body having a narrowed portion in the width direction of a crotch region, a top sheet provided on a skin surface side of the absorbent body, and three-dimensional gathers provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction at portions of the top sheet overlapping with end portions of the absorbent body in the width direction. The rigidity of the overlapping portion where the three-dimensional gather and the top sheet overlap is higher than the rigidity of a portion of the top sheet that is on the inner side in the width direction than the overlapping portion.

In the absorbent article, the overlapping portion may be provided in a region in the width direction from a standing line of the top sheet or from an outer adjacent portion in the width direction of the standing line to an end portion in the width direction of the absorbent body in a state in which the three-dimensional gather is standing.

The absorbent article may further include a water impermeable sheet covering the absorbent body from the non-skin surface side. The water-impermeable sheet may overlap the three-dimensional pleats and the topsheet at the overlapping portion.

In the absorbent article, the three-dimensional gather may extend inward in the width direction from the overlapping portion in the standing state.

In the absorbent article, the three-dimensional gather may have a bending portion that extends in the longitudinal direction and bends a part of a portion extending inward in the width direction from the overlapping portion toward the outer side in the width direction.

In the absorbent article, the absorber may have an absorbent core and a water-permeable sheet wrapping the absorbent core. The width of the water permeable sheet in a state of covering the absorbent core may be constant, and the width of the abdomen or back of the absorbent body may be the same.

In the absorbent article, the absorbent core may be raised from the widthwise end portion of the absorbent core in the crotch region toward the skin surface side in the worn state.

In the absorbent article, a portion overlapping the narrowest portion of the narrowed portion of the absorbent body may be a bent end, and may be raised further outward in the width direction than the bent end in the wearing state.

In the absorbent article, the absorber may have an absorbent core and a water-permeable sheet wrapping the absorbent core. The absorbent core may have a thick portion provided on a central side in the width direction and a thin portion thinner than the thick portion in the front-rear direction of the narrowed portion.

In the absorbent article, the absorbent core may be raised toward the skin surface side from a boundary between the thick portion and the thin portion in the worn state.

In the absorbent article, the absorbent core may be folded from the outer side in the width direction toward the skin surface side from the thin-walled portion in the wearing state.

The absorbent article may further include an outer sheet disposed on the non-skin surface side of the absorbent body and forming an outer surface, and a stretchable member provided so as to extend across the absorbent body on the abdomen side of the wearer when viewed in the thickness direction and bonded to the outer sheet in a stretched state. The outer cover sheet and the absorbent body may be non-bonded in the region where the stretchable member crosses the absorbent body.

The absorbent article may further include a pair of water impermeable side sheets disposed on both sides of the absorber in the width direction and forming the three-dimensional gathers. The side surface portions of the absorber of the pair of side sheets and the absorber side of the three-dimensional gather may be provided intermittently with high rigidity portions.

In the absorbent article, the high rigidity portion may be provided by thermal fusion.

In the absorbent article, the high rigidity portion may have a higher density on the absorber side surface portion than on the absorber side of the three-dimensional gather.

According to the present invention, when the three-dimensional gather is provided in the absorbent article having the absorbent body having the narrowed portion in the width direction, the free end of the three-dimensional gather can be easily brought into contact with the appropriate position of the skin.

Drawings

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are designated by like reference numerals.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pants-type disposable diaper for adults according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper of the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is an example of an exploded view of the diaper of the embodiment.

Fig. 4A is an example of a detailed view of a three-dimensional gather portion.

Fig. 4B is an example of a detailed view of the three-dimensional gather portion.

Fig. 5 is an example of a partial enlarged view of the vicinity of the bonding portion.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the diaper of modification 2 cut in the width direction.

Fig. 7 is a view showing the structure of the side sheet.

Fig. 8 is a view showing a high rigidity portion of a side sheet in the case of being assembled to the diaper of modification 3.

Fig. 9A is a cross-sectional view of the diaper according to modification 4.

Fig. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the diaper of modification 4 cut in the width direction.

Detailed Description

Embodiment(s)

Hereinafter, a diaper according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following configurations of the embodiments are examples, and the present disclosure is not limited to these configurations.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pants-type disposable diaper for adults (hereinafter, simply referred to as "diaper") according to an embodiment. In a diaper, a direction connecting a front body disposed to face an abdomen of a wearer and a rear body disposed to face a back is taken as a longitudinal direction. The crotch portion disposed in the crotch (disposed opposite to the crotch) of the wearer is located between the front body (one side in the longitudinal direction) and the rear body (the other side in the longitudinal direction) (the center in the longitudinal direction). In addition, when the wearer wears the diaper, the side facing the skin of the wearer is referred to as the skin-facing side, and the opposite side to the skin-facing side is referred to as the non-skin-facing side. The direction connecting the skin surface side and the non-skin surface side is referred to as the thickness direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction is referred to as the width direction. Further, the thickness direction is to be viewed as a plane. The diaper 1 has a length along the longitudinal direction and a lateral width along the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and is put on the crotch of the wearer. The term "direction" used herein means a direction which coincides with the front, rear, left, and right of the wearer in the state where the wearer wears the diaper 1. For example, in the case of the right-left direction as referred to in the present application, this means a direction which coincides with the right-left direction of the wearer in a state where the wearer wears the diaper 1.

In the present embodiment, a pants-type disposable diaper having a tubular structure with an opening into which the abdominal region of the wearer enters and a pair of left and right openings through which the left and right lower limbs of the wearer pass is illustrated as an example of an absorbent article, but the "absorbent article" herein is not limited to pants-type disposable diapers for adults. The term "absorbent article" as used herein includes pants-type disposable diapers for children. Further, various absorbent articles such as a belt-type disposable diaper capable of wrapping the abdomen and crotch are included, and the belt-type disposable diaper is configured such that a belt fixed near one end portion of a sheet-like member that covers the crotch (pudendum) of a wearer from the front to the back is attached near the other end portion of the sheet-like member to form a tubular structure.

The diaper 1 has a crotch region 1B which is a region corresponding to the crotch region of a wearer's pudendum (crotch) in a worn state, a front body region 1F which is a region corresponding to a front body at a waistline of the wearer and is used to cover the abdomen side of the wearer, and a back body region 1R which is a region corresponding to a back body at the waistline of the wearer and is used to cover the back side of the wearer. Here, the front body region 1F is located on the front side of the crotch region 1B, and the rear body region 1R is located on the rear side of the crotch region 1B. Since the diaper 1 in the present embodiment is a pants-type disposable diaper, the left edge of the front body region 1F and the left edge of the rear body region 1R are joined to each other, and the right edge of the front body region 1F and the right edge of the rear body region 1R are joined to each other. Thus, in the diaper 1, the waist-abdomen opening 2T is formed by the upper edge of the front body region 1F and the upper edge of the rear body region 1R. In the diaper 1, a left leg opening 2L is formed in a left portion of the crotch region 1B where the above-described joining is not performed, and a right leg opening 2R is formed in a right portion of the crotch region 1B. When the diaper 1 is worn with the left lower limb of the wearer inserted through the left lower limb opening 2L, the right lower limb of the wearer inserted through the right lower limb opening 2R, and the waist and abdomen of the wearer entering the waist and abdomen opening 2T, the diaper 1 is fixed to the wearer's body in a state in which the front body region 1F is disposed on the abdomen side of the wearer, the rear body region 1R is disposed on the back side of the wearer, and the left lower limb opening 2L and the right lower limb opening 2R are disposed around the thigh of the wearer. Since the diaper 1 is fixed to the body of the wearer in this manner, the wearer can freely move while wearing the diaper 1.

In the diaper 1, an absorber capable of absorbing and retaining liquid is mainly disposed around the crotch region 1B. In the diaper 1, in order to suppress formation of a gap which becomes a flow-out path of liquid between the diaper 1 and the skin of the wearer, the three-dimensional gather 3BL is provided in the left leg opening 2L around the thigh of the left leg of the wearer, the three-dimensional gather 3BR is provided in the right leg opening 2R around the thigh of the right leg of the wearer, and the waist gather 3R is provided in a portion around the abdomen of the wearer. Further, leg gathers 3LL, 3LR are provided at positions around the root portions of the legs of the wearer. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR and the waist gather 3R are brought into close contact with the skin of the wearer by the elastic force of the rubber threads. The leg gathers 3LL and 3LR prevent gaps from being formed between the root portions of the legs of the wearer and the diaper 1. Thus, the discharged matter discharged from the pudendum of the wearer is absorbed by the absorber of the diaper 1 almost without leaking out from the diaper 1.

The diaper 1 can be used in combination with an inner pad, not shown. The inner pad is a substantially rectangular absorbent article having an absorber, and absorbs discharged liquid. When the combined diaper 1 and inner pad is used, the inner pad is placed so as to be in contact with the discharge hole of the wearer on the skin surface side of the absorber of the diaper 1. The discharged liquid is first absorbed by the inner pad, and only the discharged liquid which cannot be absorbed by the inner pad reaches the absorber of the diaper 1 and is then absorbed. Therefore, even when the amount of discharged liquid is large, leakage of discharged liquid from the diaper 1 can be prevented. In addition, when the amount of discharged liquid is small and the discharged liquid can be absorbed by the inner pad, only the inner pad needs to be replaced even if the discharged liquid is generated, so that nursing cost can be reduced. In addition, the diaper 1 can be used for a long period of time.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diaper 1 of the embodiment. The diaper 1 has a cover sheet 4 (an example of what is referred to herein as an "outer cover sheet") and an inner cover sheet 5. The cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheet 5 are substantially hourglass-shaped (gourd-shaped) sheets that are attached together to form the outer surface of the diaper 1, and are identical in shape except for the front body region 1F-side end and the rear body region 1R-side end. In the state of wearing the wearer, the cover sheet 4 is laminated on the non-skin side of the wearer and the inner cover sheet 5 is laminated on the skin side. Rubber threads for forming the waist gather 3R and the leg gathers 3LL, 3LR are provided between the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheet 5. Further, a stretchable member such as a belt-like rubber may be appropriately selected instead of the rubber wire.

For example, in order to suppress leakage of discharged material, nonwoven fabrics composed of a liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin can be used as the material of the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheet 5. Here, examples of the liquid-impermeable thermoplastic resin include Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

The diaper 1 has a backsheet 6, an absorber 8, and a topsheet 9 laminated in this order on the wearer-side surfaces of the cover sheet 4 and the inner cover sheet 5. The backsheet 6 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped sheet having a length extending from the front body to the rear body of the wearer through the crotch in the longitudinal direction and a predetermined lateral width in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The absorber 8 and the top sheet 9 are sheet-like members having a substantially rectangular appearance like the backsheet 6, and are sequentially laminated on the backsheet 6 in a state where the longitudinal direction matches the longitudinal direction of the backsheet 6. The backsheet 6 is a sheet formed of a liquid impermeable thermoplastic resin as a material to suppress leakage of discharged material. The top sheet 9 is a sheet-like member disposed on the skin surface side of the wearer so as to cover the water absorbing surface of the absorber 8. Part or all of the top sheet 9 has liquid permeability. Therefore, in a state where the diaper 1 is worn, liquid discharged from the wearer is absorbed by the top sheet 9 which can contact with the skin of the wearer, and is immersed in the absorber 8. Examples of the liquid-permeable sheet include woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and porous films. In addition, the topsheet 9 may have hydrophilic properties.

The absorber 8 has an absorbent core 8c constituted by a pad and a core wrap sheet 7 (an example of a "water-permeable sheet" of the present disclosure) that wraps the absorbent core 8 c. The absorbent core 8c is substantially hourglass-shaped. The absorbent core 8c has the following structure: in the gaps between the short fibers of cellulose fibers such as pulp fibers, rayon fibers, and cotton fibers and/or the short fibers obtained by hydrophilizing synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate, a particulate absorbent resin (high molecular absorbent material) such as SAP (superabsorbent polymer: super Absorbent Polymer), which is a hydrophilic polymer having a crosslinked structure capable of absorbing and retaining water, is held. When the absorbent core 8c absorbs liquid discharged from the wearer, the absorbent resin in the gaps held in the short fibers is inflated to hold the liquid in the short fibers. In the present embodiment, the absorbent core 8c is substantially hourglass-shaped with a narrowed central portion. The absorbent core 8c can take an appropriate shape according to the purpose. Examples of the shape of the absorbent core 8c include a rectangular shape, an elliptical shape, and various other shapes.

The core wrap sheet 7 is a thin liquid-permeable sheet, and by wrapping the absorbent core 8c with the core wrap sheet 7, the SAP of the absorbent core 8c is less likely to be mixed into other structures. In addition, the deformation of the absorbent core 8c can be suppressed. The core wrap sheet 7 can be formed of pulp fibers, and as an example, a tissue paper (tissue paper) can be used. The core wrap sheet 7 may be 1 sheet, but may be composed of 2 sheets, that is, an upper sheet disposed on the skin side of the wearer and a lower sheet disposed on the non-skin side of the wearer and wound around the side surface and the skin side of the absorbent core. In the case where the core wrap sheet 7 is formed of 2 sheets, the width direction end portion of the upper side sheet may be wrapped with other sheets (for example, side sheets 10L and 10R, back sheet 6, and top sheet 9 described later). Further, since the absorber 8 is wrapped with the backsheet 6 and the topsheet 9, the shape of the absorber can be suppressed by these sheets, and therefore, the core wrap sheet 7 may not be provided.

The backsheet 6, absorbent body 8, topsheet 9 all extend from the front body region 1F to the back body region 1R. Thus, when the backsheet 6, the absorber 8, and the topsheet 9 are laminated to cover the wearer's pudendum (crotch), both longitudinal ends of the backsheet 6, the absorber 8, and the topsheet 9 are positioned on the wearer's abdomen and back. That is, the pudendum of the wearer is covered with the absorber 8 from the abdomen side to the back side of the wearer. Therefore, regardless of the wearer's abdomen-down posture or back-down posture, the discharged liquid is discharged outside the body, and the discharged liquid is brought into contact with the absorber 8 via the top sheet 9.

The diaper 1 has elongated belt-shaped side panels 10L and 10R for forming the above-described three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3 BR. The side sheets 10L and 10R are provided on the long side of the top sheet 9. The rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 are bonded to the side panels 10L, 10R along the longitudinal direction. Thus, the edge 4F4 of the cover sheet 4, which is the left edge of the front body region 1F, and the edge 4R4, which is the left edge of the back body region 1R, are joined to each other, and the edge 4F5 of the cover sheet 4, which is the right edge of the front body region 1F, and the edge 4R5, which is the right edge of the back body region 1R, are joined to each other, so that the diaper 1 in the finished state shown in fig. 1 is obtained, and thus the side sheets 10L, 10R are pulled in the longitudinal direction by the contraction force of the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 and rise from the top sheet 9 along the folding lines 10L2, 10R 2. As a result, three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR (described in detail below) are formed which prevent liquid from flowing out of the left and right lower limb openings 2L, 2R. The bonding method of the edge 4F4 and the edge 4R4, and the edge 4F5 and the edge 4R5 is not particularly limited, and can be performed by, for example, heat sealing, high-frequency sealing, ultrasonic sealing, or the like.

The diaper 1 further includes an end sheet 11F laminated on the wearer-side surface in the front region 1F of the cover sheet 4 and an end sheet 11R laminated on the wearer-side surface in the back region 1R of the cover sheet 4 with the backsheet 6, the absorber 8, the top sheet 9, and the side sheets 10L and 10R interposed therebetween. The end sheets 11F and 11R are long sheets that overlap the cover sheet 4 at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the top sheet 9. The end sheets 11F and 11R are non-water-impermeable nonwoven fabrics, and reinforce the cover sheet 4 mainly in the waist-contacting portion of the diaper 1. The end sheets 11F and 11R are disposed closer to the skin surface than the laminate formed by the backsheet 6, the absorber 8, the top sheet 9, and the side sheets 10L and 10R, and prevent the end portions of the laminate from directly contacting the skin surface to give a wearer discomfort.

Fig. 3 is a view schematically showing a state in which the diaper 1 of the embodiment is developed and extended. The left view of fig. 3 schematically shows the internal structure in the case of the diaper 1 in the developed and elongated state as seen from the left side. The right-hand drawing of fig. 3 schematically shows a plan view of the diaper 1 in the unfolded and extended state. In the right drawing of fig. 3, the side panels 10L and 10R and the end panels 11L and 11R are not shown. One end side of the cover sheet 4 is folded back at folding lines 4FF, 4RF shown in fig. 2. The above-described waist gather 3R is formed by bonding rubber threads (linear rubber) 4F1, 4F2 to the front region of the cover sheet 4 and bonding rubber threads (linear rubber) 4R1, 4R2 to the rear region of the cover sheet 4. The rubber lines 4F1, 4F2 are provided in the order of the rubber lines 4F1, 4F2 from the folded line 4FF side along the folded line 4FF forming the upper edge of the precursor region 1F when folded back. The rubber threads 4R1, 4R2 are also provided in the order of the rubber threads 4R1, 4R2 from the folded-back thread 4RF side along the folded-back thread 4RF forming the upper edge of the rear body region 1R when folded back, as with the rubber threads 4F1, 4F 2.

Therefore, the rubber threads 4F1, 4F2 are provided on the cover sheet 4 in such an orientation that the waistline direction, which is the extension and contraction direction, is the right-left direction of the diaper 1. The rubber threads 4R1, 4R2 are provided on the cover sheet 4 in such an orientation that the longitudinal direction, which is the extension and contraction direction, is the lateral direction of the diaper 1. Thus, when the edge 4F4 and the edge 4R4 are joined to each other and the edge 4F5 and the edge 4R5 are joined to each other, the rubber threads 4F1, 4F2 and the rubber threads 4R1, 4R2 form a substantially annular stretchable member surrounding along the waist-abdomen opening 2T, and function to shrink the waist-abdomen opening 2T in the waistline direction. That is, the rubber threads 4F1, 4F2 and the rubber threads 4R1, 4R2 exert a contractive force to bring the diaper 1 into close contact with the wearer, preventing a gap from being formed between the diaper 1 and the abdominal circumference of the wearer. A part of the plurality of rubber threads 4F2 and the rubber thread 4R2 on the crotch region 1B side overlaps the absorber 8.

The rubber wires 4F1, 4R1 are provided so as to extend in the left-right direction along the portions of the front body region 1F and the rear body region 1R that are the upper edges shown in fig. 1. The rubber wires 4F2, 4R2 are disposed in parallel with a predetermined interval. The rubber threads 4F1, 4R1 fasten the abdomen of the wearer relatively firmly above the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 in the state of wearing the diaper 1. The rubber threads 4F1 and 4R1 prevent the diaper 1 from being put on the wearer by being closely attached to the wearer, and prevent leakage of discharged materials from the abdomen and back. The rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 alleviate the sense of compression to the wearer caused by the contraction force of the rubber threads 4F1, 4R 1. In addition, in the case of using the inner pad, the displacement of the inner pad is suppressed.

Further, the rubber thread 4F3 and the rubber thread 4R3 are adhered to the cover sheet 4. The rubber threads 4F3 and 4R3 are stretchable members provided in the crotch region 1B side of the rubber threads 4F2 and 4R2 in the cover sheet 4. However, the rubber threads 4F3, 4R3 are arranged to be curved in the direction of the crotch region 1B, unlike other rubber threads which are bonded so as not to be bent from the left end to the right end of the cover sheet 4. In this way, the arrangement regions of the rubber threads 4F3, 4R3 have the function of leg gathers 3LL, 3LR by being arranged so as to be bent by the rubber threads 4F3, 4R3, so that the peripheries of the left and right lower limb openings 2L, 2R are brought into contact with the skin surface of the wearer.

The rubber thread 4F3 on the front body region 1F side is continuous across the absorber 8 in the width direction. The portion of the rubber thread 4F3 that crosses the absorber 8 in the width direction corresponds to the vicinity of the pubic bone of the wearer. The urethral opening of the wearer is in contact with the skin surface side of the diaper 1 on the crotch side of the portion where the rubber thread 4F3 crosses the absorber 8.

On the other hand, the rubber thread 4R3 on the rear body region 1R side overlaps the widthwise outer side of the absorbent core 8c at the narrowed portion of the hourglass-shaped absorbent core, but does not cross the absorbent body 8 in the widthwise direction. The arrangement region of the rubber thread 4R3 is in contact with the buttocks of the wearer in the vicinity of the absorber 8. In the back region 1R, the diaper 1 is strongly pressed by the pressure applied to the buttocks of the wearer than in the front region 1F. Therefore, the rubber thread 4R3 is not provided at the widthwise central portion of the absorber 8, and the diaper 1 is biased to come into contact with the wearer with an appropriate contact force so as to separate the widthwise end portions of the absorber 8 from each other.

The cover sheet 4 is folded back at the folded-back lines 4FF, 4RF and extends to the arrangement region of the rubber lines 4F1, 4R1, and the arrangement region of the rubber lines 4F1, 4R1 is reinforced by the folded-back portion. The end pieces 11L, 11R are provided in the arrangement regions of the rubber threads 4F2, 4R2 to which the cover piece 4 folded back at the folded-back lines 4FF, 4RF does not extend, and reinforce the arrangement regions of the rubber threads 4F2, 4R 2.

In the present application, the state in which the sheets overlap is not limited to the state in which the overlapped sheets overlap each other in a state of being in full contact with each other, and is a concept including a state in which a part of the sheets overlap each other. For example, the end piece 11F is overlapped in a state where a part of one end side in the longitudinal direction of the back piece 6 is in contact with a part of the cover piece 4. In addition to the backsheet 6 and the topsheet 9 sandwiching the absorber 8, the cover sheet 4, the end sheets 11F, 11R, the inner cover sheet 5, and the side sheets 10L, 10R are laminated to form the diaper 1, so that the diaper 1 can be said to have a laminate in which the plurality of sheets are laminated.

Next, the structure of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR of the diaper 1 will be described in detail. Fig. 4A is an example of a cross-sectional view of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR before standing up. Fig. 4B is an example of a cross-sectional view of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR after being raised. The cross-sectional view shown in fig. 4A and 4B is a cross-sectional view of the crotch region at the narrowed portion of the absorbent core 8c, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

As shown in fig. 4A, the core wrap sheet 7 covers the entire absorbent core 8 c. Further, the space is created at the widthwise end of the absorbent core 8c in fig. 4A because: although the core wrap sheet 7 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape (an example of the "width of the water permeable sheet" of the present disclosure is substantially constant) in accordance with the width of the absorbent core 8ca in the front and rear body regions, the absorbent core 8c is narrowed in the width direction in the crotch region. The core wrap sheet 7 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape according to the width of the absorbent core 8ca in the front and rear body regions, thereby preventing the overall shape of the hourglass-shaped absorbent body 8 from being deformed.

The backsheet 6 is further covered with such a core wrap sheet 7 from the non-skin surface side. The top sheet 9 is laminated on the skin surface side so as to overlap the core wrap sheet 7 and the back sheet 6. The side sheets 10L and 10R are provided so as to cover the laminated body from the outer side in the width direction. The side sheets 10L and 10R are folded one by one to have a double-layered structure. The skin-surface-side end portions of the side sheets 10L, 10R are folded back from the inner side to the outer side in the width direction, and rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 are provided at the folded back portions.

Further, in the diaper 1, adhesive portions 20L, 20R (an example of "overlapping portions" of the present disclosure) that adhere the side sheets 10L, 10R, the top sheet 9, and the bottom sheet 6 (an example of "water impermeable sheet" of the present disclosure) to each other are provided. As shown in fig. 4A, the adhesive parts 20L and 20R are provided in predetermined regions outside the widthwise end portions of the absorbent body 8 (widthwise end portions of the absorbent core 8ca, shown by broken lines in fig. 4A) as a reference. The areas and sizes of the adhesive portions 20L and 20R are not limited to those described above, and may be any areas from the widthwise end portions of the absorbent body 8 to the widthwise outer end portions of the side panels 10L and 10R. For example, the absorbent body 8 may be provided in an outer region than the end portion thereof so as not to overlap the end portion in the width direction. The bonding of the bonding portions 20L and 20R is achieved by, for example, melting a hot melt adhesive. In the adhesive portions 20L, 20R, the backsheet 6 may not overlap.

When such rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 shrink in the longitudinal direction, as shown in fig. 4B, the portions of the side sheets 10L, 10R provided with the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 stand up from the top sheet 9 with the end portions of the adhesive portions 20L, 20R as standing lines. The side panels 10L and 10R in the raised state correspond to the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3 BR. The end portions of the bonding portions 20L, 20R serving as standing lines correspond to the folding lines 10L2, 10R2 shown in fig. 2. Further, by providing a crease or the like (an example of a "bent portion of a three-dimensional gather" of the present disclosure) in advance in the portion of the side sheet 10L, 10R where the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 are provided, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR stand up in a コ -like shape opening to the outside in the width direction as shown in fig. 4B.

Further, the rubber threads 10L1 and 10R1 shrink in the longitudinal direction, whereby the adhesive portions 20L and 20R are pulled toward the skin surface side. Thus, the widthwise end portions of the top sheet 9 bonded to the side sheets 10L, 10R via the bonding portions 20L, 20R are also pulled toward the skin surface side. Thus, the widthwise end portions of the top sheet 9 are raised toward the skin surface side with the portions overlapping the vicinity of the narrowest portions 22 (see right view in fig. 3) of the narrowed portions of the absorbent core 8c as bent ends 23L, 23R (an example of a "rising line" in the present disclosure). In the wearing state of the diaper 1 of the present embodiment, the bent ends 23L and 23R are formed at the portions overlapping the narrowest portion 22 of the narrowed portion of the absorbent core 8c, and are raised further to the outside than the bent ends in the width direction. With this structure, the diaper 1 can easily bring the free ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR into contact with the skin of the wearer at appropriate positions.

Fig. 5 is an example of a partial enlarged view of the vicinity of the adhesive parts 20L, 20R and the top sheet 9 in fig. 4A and 4B. Fig. 5 shows a state in which the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR are raised straight toward the skin surface side when the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR are viewed in cross section. As shown in fig. 5, the adhesive portions 20L, 20R function as beams in a state where the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are erected, respectively. The adhesive portions 20L and 20R functioning as such beams are not present in the internal space formed by the standing three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, and the top sheet 9 in the width direction, but are located outside the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR in the width direction, respectively.

The adhesive portion 20L located at the narrowed portion of the upper absorbent pad 8a is located between the bent end 23L and the widthwise end of the absorber 8 (corresponding to the widthwise end of the upper absorbent pad 8aa, shown by the broken line in fig. 4A) in a state in which the three-dimensional gather 3BL is standing. Alternatively, the adhesive portion 20L located at the narrowed portion of the upper absorbent pad 8a may be located in a region between the bent end 23L and the widthwise end of the absorbent body 8 without overlapping the bent end 23L in the widthwise direction in the state where the three-dimensional gather 3BL is standing. The same applies to the bonded portion 20R.

As shown in fig. 4A and 4B, the outer side in the width direction of the narrowest portion 22 of the narrowed portion (see fig. 3 and 4B) of the absorbent core 8c is defined as the side flaps 21L, 21R. The top sheet 9, the bottom sheet 6, the side sheets 10L, 10R, and the like are laminated on the side flaps 21L, 21R. In the wearing state of the diaper 1, the absorbent core 8c in the crotch region is raised from the widthwise end portion toward the skin surface side as shown in fig. 4B. This is because: the widthwise end portions of the absorbent core 8c of the side flaps 21L, 21R are bases at the time of rising, and the top sheet 9, the back sheet 6, and the side sheets 10L, 10R on the bases rise toward the skin surface side. The side flaps 21L and 21R are laminated with a plurality of sheets, and thus serve as stable bases. Therefore, in the crotch region, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR can be brought into stable contact with the skin even if a distance exists from the widthwise end of the absorbent core 8c to the free ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3 BR.

As shown in fig. 3, the rubber thread 4F3 bonded to the cover sheet 4 forming the outer surface in a stretched state crosses the absorber 8 when viewed in the thickness direction. Here, in the region where the rubber thread 4F3 crosses the crotch region, the cover sheet 4 and the absorber 8 are non-bonded, more specifically, in this region, the inner cover sheet 5 and the backsheet 6 are non-bonded. Therefore, the absorber 8 is not contracted by contraction of the rubber thread 4F3, and the cover sheet 4 can lift the absorber 8 toward the skin surface side. With this configuration, the diaper 1 lifts the absorber 8 toward the wearer on the abdomen side, and the free ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR are easily brought into contact with appropriate positions of the skin of the wearer on the abdomen side of the wearer.

[ action/Effect ]

According to the diaper 1 described above, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR in the standing state extend inward in the width direction from the adhesive portions 20L and 20R (see fig. 4B). According to the diaper 1, the skin is prevented from coming into contact with the adhesive portions 20L, 20R, as compared with the case where the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR extend to the outside in the width direction than the adhesive portions 20L, 20R. The inner sides of the top sheet 9 and the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR in the width direction are in contact with the skin. Here, there are no portions having high rigidity such as the adhesive portions 20L, 20R on the inner sides in the width direction of the top sheet 9 and the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3 BR. This can improve the feel of the skin and reduce the discomfort of the wearer.

In addition, according to the diaper 1 described above, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR are folded back from the inner side to the outer side in the width direction. Thus, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR are along the skin from the fold-back lines 10L2 and 10R2 to the inner side in the width direction and the free end (the portion where the rubber lines 10L1 and 10R1 are provided). In other words, other regions of the diaper 1 (for example, the water impermeable backsheet 6) are restrained from coming into contact with the skin. Thus, the uncomfortable feeling of the wearer can be reduced.

In addition, according to the diaper 1 described above, the absorbent core 8c has an hourglass shape having a narrowed portion in the width direction. In this way, when the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR extending in the longitudinal direction so as to overlap the widthwise ends of the front and rear body regions of the absorbent core 8c are provided, the side flaps 21L and 21R of the top sheet 9 (the region of the absorbent core 8c outside the narrowest portion 22 of the narrowed portion in the widthwise direction, see fig. 3 and 4B) are integrally erected with the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR with the portions overlapping the narrowest portion 22 of the absorbent core 8c in the thickness direction being the bent ends 23L and 23R (see fig. 4B), thereby constituting a barrier laterally in the widthwise direction. In this case, the distance from the bent ends 23L, 23R to the free ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR becomes long, and therefore, the free ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR may be less likely to contact the skin at a proper position. However, according to the diaper 1 described above, the adhesive portions 20L, 20R having high rigidity are located midway from the folded ends 23L, 23R to the free ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3 BR. This suppresses a change in the relative positions of the adhesive portions 20L, 20R with respect to the upper absorbent pad 8 a. This can also suppress the change in the position of the free ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3 BR. As a result, as described above, the area from the fold-back lines 10L2, 10R2 of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR to the inner side in the width direction and the free end can be appropriately brought into contact with the skin. Thus, a good skin feel can be achieved.

Modification 1

The three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR may not extend inward in the width direction of the adhesive portions 20L, 20R in the standing state. The three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR may not be コ -shaped, which is open to the outside in the width direction as shown in fig. 4B, in the raised state.

Modification 2

Next, a diaper 1 according to modification 2 of the present embodiment will be described. Fig. 6 is an example of a cross-sectional view of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR before standing up. The cross-sectional view in fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view in the case where the diaper 1 is cut in the width direction on the side of the front body region where the absorbent core 8c is not narrowed. The absorbent core 8c has a thick portion 80 provided on the widthwise central side and a thin portion 81 thinner than the thick portion in the front-rear direction of the narrowed portion. The thick-wall portion 80 has the same width as the narrowest portion 22 shown in fig. 3 and is provided in front and rear body regions as narrowed portions. The thick portion 80 also extends to the crotch region, and the thickness is uniform in the longitudinal direction. The thin portion 81 forms a widened region that extends outward in the width direction than the narrowest portion 22, and the pulp has a lower mass-to-pulp ratio than the thick portion.

In the wearing state of the diaper 1 having such a configuration, the diaper stands up from the boundary between the thick portion 80 and the thin portion 81 toward the skin surface side. Further, bent ends 23L, 23R shown in fig. 4B are provided on the extension line of the crotch side of the boundary between the thick portion 80 and the thin portion 81. Therefore, the diaper 1 is raised from the boundary and the folded ends 23L, 23R to the skin surface side on the outer side in the width direction. In the worn state, the diaper 1 is folded from the thin portion 81 of the absorbent core 8c to the skin surface side from the outer side in the width direction. With this structure, the diaper 1 can easily bring the free ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR into contact with the skin of the wearer at appropriate positions.

As shown in fig. 6, the non-skin surface side of the thick portion 80 of the absorbent core 8c is bonded to the core wrap sheet 7 with a hot melt adhesive HM. Therefore, the rigidity of the thick portion 80 on the non-skin surface side can be further improved. Further, since the non-skin surface side of the thin portion 81 is not coated with the hot melt adhesive, the thin portion 81 is easily folded toward the skin surface side with the boundary with the thick portion 80 as the starting point. In order to facilitate bending of the thin portion 81 toward the skin surface, at least the boundary between the thin portion 81 and the thick portion 80 may be not coated with a hot melt adhesive.

Modification 3

Next, a diaper 1 according to modification 3 of the present embodiment will be described. Fig. 7 is a view showing the structure of the side sheet. More specifically, the side panels 10L and 10R constituting the diaper 1 are drawn out. Rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 are added to the inner sides of the side sheets 10L, 10R in the width direction, and the side sheets are raised toward the skin surface side with the folded-back threads 10L2, 10R2 as a boundary by the biasing force of the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1, thereby forming three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR. In the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, the extending regions of the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 are in contact with the skin surface of the wearer to function as leakage preventing walls. On the other hand, in the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR, the region below the three-dimensional gathers, which is the region between the extension region of the rubber threads 10L1, 10R1 and the folded-back threads 10L2, 10R2, that is, the absorbent core side region, becomes a buffer region for the three-dimensional gathers 3BL, 3BR to sufficiently rise under the application of the force of the rubber threads 10L1, 10R 1.

The outer regions of the fold lines 10L2, 10R2 in the width direction cover part of the side surface portion and the bottom surface portion of the absorbent core 8c, and an absorbent core side surface region is formed in the side surface portion of the absorbent core 8 c. The high rigidity portions 10LW1 and 10RW1 are provided in the lower side region of the three-dimensional gather, and the high rigidity portions 10LW2 and 10RW2 are provided in the side region of the absorbent core. The high rigidity portions 10LW1, 10RW1, 10LW2, 10RW2 are formed by, for example, ultrasonic welding the side pieces 10L, 10R, and have higher rigidity than surrounding portions. The method for forming the high rigidity portions 10LW1, 10RW1, 10LW2, and 10RW2 is not limited to ultrasonic welding, and may be formed by thermal welding such as heat sealing and high-frequency sealing. Alternatively, the adhesive may be formed by intermittently applying an adhesive such as a hot melt adhesive. The high rigidity portions 10LW2, 10RW2 are larger than the high rigidity portions 10LW1, 10RW 1. In addition, the high rigidity portions 10LW2, 10RW2 are provided at a higher density than the high rigidity portions 10LW1, 10RW 1. Therefore, the side sheets 10L, 10R have rigidity by the high rigidity portions 10LW1, 10RW1 in the three-dimensional gather lower region and rigidity by the high rigidity portions 10LW2, 10RW2 in the absorbent core side regions, in particular, have strong rigidity in the absorbent core side regions.

Fig. 8 is a view showing a high rigidity portion of a side sheet in the case of being incorporated into a diaper. In the present figure, the side sheet 10L is described as an example, but the configuration of the side sheet 10R is also the same. The rubber thread 10L1 extends to the widthwise inner end portion of the side sheet 10L. The arrangement region of the rubber thread 10L1 stands up and comes into contact with the skin surface of the wearer when worn, forming the upper region of the three-dimensional gather 3 BL. In the lower region of the three-dimensional gather, small high rigidity portions 10LW1 are provided at intervals. The lower region of the three-dimensional gather may contact the skin surface of the wearer, and thus may cause discomfort to the wearer when the rigidity is high, but the high rigidity portion 10LW1 is sufficiently small and has a low arrangement density, so that the discomfort to the wearer can be reduced.

In contrast, in the absorbent core side area, the large high rigidity portions 10LW2 are arranged at a high density. The absorbent core side surface region is outside the three-dimensional gather 3BL when worn, and therefore does not come into contact with the skin surface of the wearer. Therefore, even if the large high rigidity portions 10LW2 are provided at a high density, the wearer hardly feels uncomfortable.

By providing the side sheet 10L with the high rigidity portions 10LW1, 10LW2, the side sheet 10L can be reinforced. In particular, by reinforcing the side sheet 10L provided on the side surface portion of the absorbent core 8c with the high rigidity portion 10LW2, the structure of the absorbent core 8c is easily maintained, and the deformation can be suppressed.

Modification 4

Next, a diaper 1 according to modification 4 of the present embodiment will be described. Fig. 9A is an example of a cross-sectional view of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR before standing up. Fig. 9B is an example of a cross-sectional view of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR after being raised. As shown in fig. 9A and 9B, the absorbent core 8c has a 2-layer structure of an upper layer absorbent pad 8a and a lower layer absorbent pad 8B in the crotch region. The upper layer absorbent pad 8a is substantially hourglass-shaped, and the lower layer absorbent pad 8b is rectangular. The width of the lower absorbent pad 8b is substantially the same as the width of the narrowed portion of the upper absorbent pad 8 a. The core wrap sheet 7 covers the entire absorbent core 8c including the upper absorbent pad 8a from the lower absorbent pad 8b side. Further, the space is generated at the widthwise end of the upper absorbent pad 8a in fig. 9A because: although the core wrap sheet 7 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape (an example of the "width of the water permeable sheet" of the present disclosure is substantially constant) in accordance with the width of the upper layer absorbent pad 8aa in the front and rear body regions, the upper layer absorbent pad 8a is narrowed in the width direction in the crotch region. The core wrap sheet 7 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape according to the width of the upper layer absorbent pad 8aa in the front and rear body regions, so that the entire absorber 8 including the hourglass-shaped upper layer absorbent pad 8a can be prevented from being deformed. The thick portion 80 shown in fig. 6 may be a portion where the upper layer absorbent pad 8a and the lower layer absorbent pad 8b overlap, and the thin portion 81 may be a portion where the upper layer absorbent pad 8a does not overlap the lower layer absorbent pad 8b but is widened outward in the width direction.

In this modification, as shown in fig. 9B, the side sheets 10L and 10R provided with the rubber threads 10L1 and 10R1 are raised from the top sheet 9 with the end portions of the adhesive portions 20L and 20R as the raising lines. Further, by providing a crease or the like in the portion of the side sheet 10L, 10R where the rubber thread 10L1, 10R1 is provided, as shown in fig. 9B, the three-dimensional gathers 3BL,3BR are erected in a コ -like shape opening to the outside in the width direction. With this structure, the diaper 1 can easily bring the free ends of the three-dimensional gathers 3BL and 3BR into contact with the skin of the wearer at appropriate positions.

The embodiments and modifications disclosed above can be combined.

Claims (15)

1. An absorbent article (1) having a length along a longitudinal direction and a width along a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, characterized in that the absorbent article (1) comprises:

an absorber (8) having a narrowed portion in the width direction of the crotch region;

a top sheet (9) provided on the skin surface side of the absorber (8); and

three-dimensional gathers (3 BL,3 BR) provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction at a portion of the top sheet (9) overlapping with the end portion of the absorber (8) in the width direction;

The rigidity of the overlapped portion of the three-dimensional gathers (3 BL,3 BR) and the top sheet (9) is higher than the rigidity of the portion of the top sheet (9) on the inner side in the width direction than the overlapped portion.

2. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that,

the overlapping portion is provided in a region in the width direction from a standing line of the top sheet (9) or from an outer adjacent portion in the width direction of the standing line to an end portion in the width direction of the absorber (8) in a state in which the three-dimensional gathers (3 BL,3 BR) are standing.

3. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

further comprising a water impermeable sheet (6) covering the absorbent body (8) from the non-skin surface side;

the water-impermeable sheet (6) overlaps the three-dimensional gathers (3 BL,3 BR) and the top sheet (9) at the overlapping portion.

4. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

the three-dimensional gathers (3 BL,3 BR) extend inward in the width direction from the overlapping portion in an erected state.

5. The absorbent article (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that,

the three-dimensional gathers (3 BL,3 BR) have a bending portion that extends in the longitudinal direction and bends a part of a portion extending inward in the width direction from the overlapping portion toward the outside in the width direction.

6. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

the absorbent body (8) has an absorbent core and a water permeable sheet surrounding the absorbent core;

the width of the water permeable sheet in a state of covering the absorbent core is constant, and the width of the abdomen or back of the absorbent body is the same.

7. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

in the wearing state, the absorbent core stands up from the widthwise end portion of the crotch region toward the skin surface side.

8. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

in the wearing state, a portion overlapping the narrowest portion of the narrowed portion of the absorber (8) is a bent end, and the portion is raised further to the outside in the width direction than the bent end.

9. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

the absorbent body (8) has an absorbent core and a water permeable sheet surrounding the absorbent core;

the absorbent core has a thick portion provided on a central side in the width direction and a thin portion thinner than the thick portion in the front-rear direction of the narrowed portion.

10. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that,

The absorbent core is raised toward the skin surface side from the boundary between the thick portion and the thin portion in the worn state.

11. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that,

in the wearing state, the outer side in the width direction from the thin wall portion of the absorbent core is folded toward the skin surface side.

12. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

further comprises:

an outer sheet (4) which is disposed on the non-skin surface side of the absorber (8) and forms an outer surface; and

a stretchable member provided so as to cross the absorber (8) when viewed in the thickness direction on the abdomen side of the wearer and bonded to the outer sheet (4) in a stretched state;

in the region where the stretchable member crosses the absorber (8), the outer sheet (4) and the absorber (8) are non-bonded.

13. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

further comprising a pair of water impermeable side sheets (10L, 10R) which are arranged on both sides in the width direction of the absorbent body (8) and form the three-dimensional gathers (3 BL,3 BR);

a side surface portion of the absorber (8) of the pair of side sheets (10L, 10R) and the absorber side of the three-dimensional gathers (3 BL,3 BR) are provided intermittently with high rigidity portions.

14. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that,

the high rigidity portion is provided by thermal fusion.

15. Absorbent article (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that,

the density of the high rigidity portion is higher at the side face portion of the absorber (8) than at the absorber side of the three-dimensional gathers (3 BL,3 BR).

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